Press Digest for Wednesday April 24, 2013

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.

• Sheikh Assir: Hezbollah's intervention in Syria is unacceptable                       

The Imam of Bilal bin Rabah mosque, Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir told An-Nahar newspaper on Wednesday that he repeatedly warned against the danger of interfering in the Syrian crisis.         

Sheikh al-Assir voiced his regret that the Lebanese government did not take up its responsibilities of simply saying that "Hezbollah's military intervention in Syria will constitute a threat to civil peace in Lebanon."

According to the Daily, Al-Assir said that he issued an edict (fatwa) permitting Jihad activities against the "criminal" regime in Syria.

He also declared the establishment of armed resistance battalions, noting that he can no longer "play deaf" nor remain in such a state of compramised security.

• Berri: Process of new government's formation is positive

Speaker Nabih Berri told As-Safir newspaper on Wednesday that the process of the new government's formation is "positive".

He noted that the Amal movement and Hezbollah are adamant on facilitating Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam's mission.

Berri revealed to the Daily that he supports the principle of ministries' rotation, adding that PM-Designate Salam has the sole right to determine the size of his government.        

• PM-Designate Salam submits to President Sleiman governmental formula

Sources told As-Safir newspaper on Wednesday that Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam submitted to President Michel Sleiman on Tuesday at the Baabda Palace the governmental formula comprised of 24 ministers not running for the parliamentary elections.

The sources added that the formula also entails the principle of rotation of ministries'.

Sources said that President Sleiman encouraged PM-Designate Salam to proceed with contacting the basic political powers in order to form the new government as soon as possible.    

• Israel: Next war on Lebanon to be settled in one month

As-Safir newspaper quoted on Wednesday Israeli generals as saying that the next war on Lebanon "will be settled in a matter of one month."

According to the Daily, the Israeli generals added that Israel is ready for "all possibilities at the Israeli-Syrian border with the aggravation of bloodshed in Syria".