Press digest for Wednesday 08-08-2012

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.           

• Kanaan: electoral draft law close to Bkirki’s proposal               

Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan said that the electoral draft law is close to Bkirki’s proposal which emerged after a series of meetings.           
In a statement to An-Nahar Daily, Kanaan noted that the draft law approved by cabinet may require some modifications that should be discussed by the Christian movements in Parliament.           

Separately, Bkirki hesitated in commenting on the draft law. Sources told An-Nahar that Bkirki supports any law that represents all parties and takes into consideration equality between all sects in Lebanon.             

Also commenting on the electoral draft law, Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi told As-Safir newspaper that "proportionality" is the best way to represent all religious sects.             

• French source: France annoyed by the deportation of Syrian refugees               

A French source said that France is "very annoyed with the deportation" of the Syrian nationals from Lebanon to Syria.               

In a statement to Al-Hayat Newspaper, the source said that the hand-over of14 Syrians to the Syrian regime is a “dishonorable act” performed by the Lebanese government. The source added that France condemns detaining Syrian activists and opposition members and delivering them to the regime, noting that France will discuss this matter with Lebanese officials.                      

• Karam: Jalili’s visit to Lebanon "hit" government’s structure  

Lebanese Forces bloc MP Fadi Karam said that the visit of Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Said Jalili to Lebanon came to "rock " the structure of the Lebanese government, and "to end the dialogue and to cancel everything related to the defense strategy".                   

In an interview with Al-Seyassah al-Kuwaitia Daily, Karam said that the visit aims in the first place, at supporting Hezbollah and the Syrian regime, which is on the verge of collapse.                

Karam noted that Hezbollah and its allies decided to launch a “political attack”, after receiving Iran’s support, and will impose their conditions regarding the defense strategy. Karam pointed that this fact explains the Lebanese Forces’ decision not to participate in the dialogue, because “Hezbollah would not allow the discussion of the arms issue”.