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.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported that Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan
Nasrallah discussed the conflict with the Free Patriotic Movement during
meetings with cadres from the organizational body of Hezbollah, noting that the
party is working on resolving the conflict.
Nasrallah confirmed that the alliance with Aoun is solid and cannot be
broken.
Nasrallah praised Aoun’s positions, stressing the need to resolve the
current dispute and to improve the relationship.
Separately, Nasrallah stressed that the coalition between Hezbollah and Amal
movement is stable, and must be maintained.
Accordingly,
al-Akhbar Daily confirmed that the efforts to find a solution
for the dispute between the two parties are ongoing, noting that Hezbollah does
not see any need for mediation between the allies.
Sources reported that Hezbollah has been positive towards FPM’s remarks and
demands, and will be starting discussions with Speaker Nabih Berri to find a solution.
Security sources told
al-Joumhouriya Daily that the deployment plan will not
be limited to the border; instead the army will be deployed on both sides of the border. This will aim at creating a back-up force and a
second fence line in order to maintain security and stop infiltrations into
Syria and the other way around.
Sources from Electricité Du Liban confirmed that the company’s
contract workers are still on strike and are not collecting bills or
repairing damages; they are also preventing anyone from carrying out these
duties.
Commenting on abstaining from paying the protesters’ salaries
for May and June, the same sources told
an-Nahar newspaper that the company has
already delivered a list of salaries to the service companies, but the latter
said that it will pay only when the contractors sign the contracts.
Imam of
Sidon's Bilal bin Rabah mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Assir said that those who are politically affected by
his movement are claiming that Sidon has witnessed an economic and commercial slowdown.
He added that they are desperately trying to talk him into ending his sit-in.
Commenting on Hezbollah
statement that the party considers any attempt by Assir to block Sidon’s road as "a
red line", Sheikh Assir told
al-Anbaa Daily that his supporters have been losing
their dignity because of the policy adopted by Berri and Nasrallah. He stressed
that his supporters will be confronting any armed attack by what he describes as the “Shabbiha
of Hassan Nasrallah and Nabih Berri”, adding that he is the one who draws the
red lines, not Berri nor Nasrallah.
Sources close to PM Najib
Mikati denied recent reports that the reason behind halting the medical
aid for refugees is the STL funding, stressing that the government has
separated from the beginning between this humanitarian matter and any other issue.
The sources told
as-Safir Daily that the decision to stop financial support of medical services for Syrian refugees emerged after specialized international bodies failed to help the government bear the burden. The same sources
noted that Lebanon decided to temporary suspend the services until the process
is being reorganized and the international committees help the government find
funding sources.
Change and Reform bloc MP
Alain Aoun said that the bloc's reaction to what happened regarding EDL contractors’
issue is much less than what its reaction will be in case a proposal for an electoral
draft law is refused. He noted that, in case of refusal, serious positions will be
taken and the bloc will be calling for escalation.
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria , MP Aoun said that they are putting the final touch to a new
proposal for an electoral law, and that 70% of the project is finalized.