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.
- The Orthodox gathering’s electoral draft law could blow up the Amal-FPM alliance
Change
and Reform Bloc sources confirmed that Speaker Nabih Berri will call
for a General Authority session to tackle the electoral law, noting
that all talks are now focused on holding the session before the 15th of May, without resorting to means to solving the political crisis currently at hand.
Sources told
Al-Akhbar newspaper that a
solution lies within agreeing on an electoral law, postponing the elections,
and the subsequent formation of political cabinet either under the banner of national
unity or national interest, for the purpose of supervising the
elections.
March 8 sources noted that the electoral file and
especially the Orthodox gathering’s electoral draft “could blow up the
Amal-Free Patriotic Movement alliance”.
Sources
told
An-Nahar newspaper that the National Struggle Front MPs’ response
to Speaker Nabih Berri concerning the electoral proposal he presented to
MP Walid Jumblatt in their last meeting in Ain el-Tineh, will be
negative.
In this regard, the answer pertaining to the electoral
proposal will be confirmed on Monday after Berri receives caretaker
Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour.
In the details, the newspaper
noted that Berri's proposal is based upon a hybrid law whereby 55-60% of
it is based upon the majoritarian system on condition of the "one man
one vote" principle and 40-45% of it based upon the law of proportional representation.
Speaker
Nabih Berri stressed that he is ready to approve a hybrid law with 60%
of it based on the majoritarian system and 40% on the
proportional representation law, considering that “what matters most is 'sowing the
seeds' of proportionality in the elections for the sake of laying the foundations for a better political life in the country."
Concerning the possibility of holding
a General Authority session before the 15th of May, Berri told
An-Nahar
newspaper that he will not hold a session before the aforementioned
date adding that he will keep on exerting efforts in the coming days to
reach consensus.
As for the scheduled session, Speaker Berri said that “it will remain open until a new electoral law is reached”.
Berri
also noted that the extension of the parliament's mandate is a decision to be made by lawmakers who may extend the term by up to 6 months, a year, or even four years.
Following the announcement broadcast by Israel's Channel 2 on Sunday concerning the drone shot
down north of Haifa last Thursday, security sources rushed to debunk the analysis. The channel had stated that the drone took off from Beirut but was not launched by
Hezbollah.
According
to the security sources, Israeli's are rushing to conclusions in
announcing their estimates and accusing Hezbollah, adding that Channel
2 had also been quick to analyze "since no Lebanese group has the capacity to launch a drone from Beirut and having it reach Israel."
The sources also said that “International forces are widely spread at sea and in the
regional waters” adding that these forces can spot all suspicious activities launched from the Lebanese side,
An-Nahar wrote.
In this regard, the sources mentioned
that no action was recorded "at all" stressing that “it was either an
Israeli amateur who may have set it off from and to the Israeli shore
or Hamas; the drone was definitely not
launched from Lebanon," they added.
Baabda
sources expressed awe via
Al-Joumhouria Daily in regards to reports stating that President Michel Sleiman is seeking a 2
year term prolongation.
The sources said that “President Sleiman who
has stressed throughout his presidential term on respecting durations
and constitutional dates related to entitlements, especially those associated with the country's elections, will definitely reject all attempts linked to hindering the electoral process and the appointment of a new head of state.
The sources also noted that Sleiman "who had
refused the delay of the municipal elections and threatened to appeal
any constitutional violation related to the parliamentary election terms will insist on refusing anything that would affect the presidential
entitlement”.