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.
Palestinian sources reported to
As Safir Newspaper that Hezbollah is coordinating with Palestinian organizations and Hamas since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gazza.
In this context,
Al Akhbar Daily published that a considerable number of rockets were smuggled during the past few days into Gaza, stressing that Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards are alerted for any possible attack.
Al Akhbar added that Iran and Hezbollah are in continuous contact with Hamas to provide the organization with weaponry in preparation for a potential long battle.
Imam of the Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir will be holding on Saturday a press conference to announce “the next step” he and his partisans will be taking.
In this context,
As Safir Daily published that Assir is likely to postpone the announcement of forming a military wing.
Sources also reported that Asssir will call for a new open-ended sit-in to demand the arrest of the persons who shot dead his 2 partisans. However, this step could face several obstacles with the cabinet’s latest security decisions and Army Commandar Jean Kawaji’s warning of blocking any road in Sidon.
An-Nahar Daily published on Saturday that MP Walid Jumblatt has contacted Former PMs Saad Hariri and Fouad Siniora as well as the Islamic Group to discuss forming a national unity cabinet that includes all Lebanese parties.
According to the newspaper, Jumblatt is expected to contact Kataeb and Lebanese Forces parties for the same purpose.
The article adds that Hezbollah, Amal Movement and FPM leader Michel Aoun agreed on the formation of a national unity cabinet but rejected the idea of a neutral cabinet.
In this context, Baabda sources reported to the daily that the National Dialogue session will be held at the end of this month but would be cancelled if March 14 figures boycotted the meeting.
Al-Diyar Daily reported on Saturday that Former PM Saad Hariri gave the green light to finance Sheikh Assir if the latter decided to arm his partisans.
According to the newspaper, Hariri considers that Assir and his partisans are the Sunni force that could stand against Hezbollah.
The article added that the Shiite party cannot afford killing the Sheikh because this will lead to a sectarian clash.
US officials accused Hezbollah of setting up training military camps near chemical weapons warehouses in Syria.
US top officials reported to
The New York Times Daily that this news renewed concern that these weapons could “fall into wrong hands”. However, the officials added that there is no clue the party is trying to seize the arms.
According to a US Defense Department assessment, any military effort to seize the stockpiles of weapons would require more than 75,000 troops.