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.
Speaker of the parliament Nabih Berri
said that the sub-parliamentary committee related to discussing the electoral
law is a solution for the current impasse.
Berri said to
As-Safir newspaper that
the represented parties in the committee should give up on negative points and
transform them into positive stances away from previously mentioned positions.
Berri
pointed at the possibility of suggesting new ideas that lead to an agreement
on an electoral law if participating forces have the will and added: "if a
participating party does not propose a law different than that which suits it, we
will not reach a solution."
The
Speaker added that if there were a need, he is ready to extend the time of the
sub-parliamentary committee and mentioned that its daily meetings will be
intensive seemingly since its members are only to discuss draft laws related to
the elections.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that he is
convinced that an electoral law can be reached and added that the recent contacts
and consultations almost led to a consensus based
on the need
of breaking the vicious cycle and reaching
a point that removes the country from the current impasse.
Mikati expressed to
An-Nahar his optimism regarding
the sub-parliamentary session which is expected to be held on the 8th of
January and said that it will be the entrance to discussions of a new electoral law.
The Prime Minister said that all draft laws
will be discussed and expressed his support to the law proposed by Former
Minister Fouad Boutros if some amendments were made on it so it serves the
demands of various parties.
The Syrian TV broadcast new recordings said
to be between MP Okab Sakr and Syrian opposition officials.
In this context, the Syrian journalist Rafik
Lotf said that he has various other recordings that prove Sakr's involvement in
smuggling arms to the Syrian opposition.
Al-Akhbar newspaper said that none of the
calls between Sakr and opposition officials dealt with food, milk, and blankets;
they were all related to communication devices and money as well as calls for
fighting against the regime.
To
read the full text of the recordings, please click on this
link.
Al-Akhbar newspaper said that after the
singer Fadel SHaker sold his residence in Nabih Berri Avenue in Haret Saida for double its price (more than $ US 3.5
million), Sheikh Ahmad Assir decided to sell his house in Jezzine for more than
$ US 1.5 million.
In this context, the newspaper said that the aforementioned amounts of
money raised questions regarding the possibility of using the amounts to fund Sheikh
Assir's movement.
Lebanese figures who recently met with the UN
Peace Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi said to
Al-Joumhouria newspaper that the
latter did not think of resigning despite the difficulties that he has faced
especially in the last period when his mission was questioned by the regime and
the opposition.
The figures quoted Brahimi as saying that he fears the coming days in Syria
seemingly since military operations are escalating in an unprecedented way.
Sources said
to
Al-Joumhouria newspaper that MP Sami Gemayel suggested that members of the
sub-parliamentary committee pay for the "Keyrouz Hotel"
located across Parliament.
Gemayel, which will present this suggestion
after the holidays, based it on the fact that the parliament did not discuss a
budget for this issue.
Upon Gemayel's suggestion, he said that "he
who considers himself threatened should pay the cost of the hotel especially if
the mission needs almost 10 days."