Press Digest for Wednesday June 20, 2012

The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving English-language readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.

• Star of David on Naqoura Rd,residents outraged                    

An-Nahar Lebanese Daily reported on Wednesday that unknown assailants placed a logo of the Star of David on the tombstone of a resistance martyr at the town of Yareen and al-Dhaira. The Daily added that another star was found on Naqoura road, reaping outrage from local residents.                         

• Military Sources: Dangerous interception elapsed at Ain el-Helwe                        

The Lebanese Daily As-Safir wrote on Wednesday that Military Intelligence Official Brigadier General Ali Shahrour made phone calls with several Palestinian factions to calm the situation in Ain el-Helwe refugee camp. Most prominently he spoke with Usbat al- Ansar  Major General Subhi Abu Arab and Sheikh Jamal Khattab.                

The paper pointed to the efforts made between the LAF and Palestinian factions in Northern Lebanon as well, in order to contain the situation at the Naher el-Bared camp.                   

Within this context, the military source added that there was a conspiracy at play in the past few days to wreak havoc between the military institution and Palestinians and it was only halted due to the high awareness of both parties.                     

Meanwhile Al-Hayat Newspaper revealed via official Lebanese security sources that members belonging to Jund al-Sham and Fateh al-Islam spearheaded the attack on the LAF which took place at Taamir neighborhood.                     

• Al-Asseer: We refuse attacks on LAF and demeaning Palestinians              

Sheikh Ahmad al-Asseer voiced support both for the LAF and against the offending of Palestinian factions in the country. Through Al-Liwaa Daily, the Islamic Sheikh voiced his fear from the incitement of conflict in Palestinian camps and spreading them throughout the country.                        

Al-Asseer was quoted as saying that the LAF is in “one eye”, while Palestinians are in the other.                 

• Raheem: Islamists bail paid by Mikati                  

Sheikh Nabil Rhayyem confirmed to Al-Joumhouria Lebanese Daily that the bails that were paid to enable the release of a number if Islamists were paid by Prime Minister Najib Mikati. The sum reached 7 million Lebanese Pounds and was paid by Mikati’s charity.            

Rhayyem added that the steps taken yesterday serve Tripoli’s security and set the troubled city at a level of much needed ease.   

• Siniora’s attempted assassination needed car bombs                    

Close sources to head of the Future Bloc, Former PM Fouad Siniora revealed that international and local warnings pertaining to the assassination of Siniora go as far back as 3 months rather than 2 days. The sources added that the assassination plan was meticulously drawn and all that was needed were car bombs along the path the MP takes.             

The sources confirmed via Al-Joumhouria newspapers that the information that Siniora received contains warnings to other Lebanese figures on the ‘hit list” – which include seven prominent Lebanese leaders, two of which are from the North.