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.
A western diplomatic
report revealed that the United States had advised the Israeli leadership of
the need to avoid any risk that might endanger its security especially that the
current American administration tries to avoid getting involved in foreign
conflicts.
According to
as-Safir Daily,
the diplomatic report noted that there are hints of a hidden conflict between
the US administration and the Israeli government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu
concerning two main issues:
- Tel Aviv’s wish to strike Iran’s nuclear
program under US cover.
- Tel Aviv’s aspiration to guarantee an
international cover, mainly from the US, to reoccupy the Palestinian Gaza Strip
and Egypt’s Sinai.
The Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam stressed that he is
still waiting for the political parties to present their proposals regarding
the cabinet formation, noting that he is open for any visit and dialogue that
could help in resolving any issue. Salam denied reports stating that he refused
to schedule a meeting with March 8 forces or with caretaker Energy Minister
Gebran Bassil.
Salam told
as-Safir daily that he seeks to achieve national
interest through total agreement, stressing that he will not call each bloc or figure,
as it has been usually done, in order to prevent the formation process from
turning into a “bazar” that could only lead to a heterogeneous cabinet, during
the first session of which, debates will erupt between the members.
“I refuse to form a cabinet that might fail at the first beginning,
I prefer resigning rather than failing,” he added.
EU Ambassador Angelina
Eichhorst denounced the involvement of Hezbollah in the ongoing conflict in Syria,
warning against its repercussions on Lebanon’s future and stability.
Eichhorst told
al-Joumhouria
newspaper that the European Union has supported the dissociation policy adopted
by the former cabinet of Najib Mikati, pointing out that the EU truly
appreciates the assistance offered to the Syrian refugees.
However, the EU ambassador
added that sending militants to the bordering towns to get involved in the
battles is an act which violates the dissociation policy, stressing that “Hezbollah
has to understand the gravity of this case and be aware of its repercussions.”
An Israeli source stressed that chemical weapons had been
actually used in Syria, noting that what has not yet been clarified is the extent
of the use of these weapons and the party using them.
In a statement to
Acharq al-Awsat newspaper, the source
stressed that the probe launched in this case must be serious, since such use
can create dangers and threaten security in the region beyond the Syrian borders.
Caretaker Interior and Municipalities Minister Marwan Charbel
reiterated that the airport road will never be blocked under any circumstance,
pointing out that he deployed every possible effort to release the nine
hostages in Aazaz and bring them back to their families.
“The state which the case has reached exceeded our capabilities,”
Charbel said.
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria daily, Charbel stressed that
he is implementing the security decisions taken in the case of Sidon mainly
that of Sheikh Ahmad Assir, noting that Assir and all the other parties have
been informed of the decisions and have a duty to commit to them.