Category: Politics

Internal Security Forces chief, Major General Imad Othman, welcomed on Monday in his office, the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Lebanon, Javed Tanveer Khan, who came on a visit during which they discussed the general security situation in the country.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The President of the Arab Parliament H.E. Mr. Adel bin AbdulRahman AlAssomi, has received an official letter from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Trk, in response to his letter addressed on 29 January 2024 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, and the ongoing genocidal war against children, women and the elderly resulting in thousands of martyrs and wounded.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights shared the Arab Parliament’s deep concern regarding serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law taking place since 7 October 2023 in the Gaza Strip, and the fast deterioration in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Trk stressed that he will continue to call for an immediate ceasefire, the prompt and effective delivery of humanitarian aid, respect for international law, and the humane treatment, and that he will also continue to appeal to all States, entities and individuals with influence over the
parties involved in this conflict to do all in their power to ensure an end to the suffering, and an end to the occupation, and accountability for the perpetrators of human rights violations and justice for victims.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights added that his Office has issued numerous detailed recommendations over many years on the situation in Palestine and will present two additional reports on Israeli settlements and human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, at the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council starting later this month.

Trk thanked the President of the Arab Parliament for his coordination and communication and for sharing with him the situation in the Gaza Strip, adding that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights stands in solidarity with all those whose rights are violated and will continue to work toward a future where human rights can be enjoyed equally by all.

The President of the Arab Parliament apprec
iates the response of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and its interaction with the Arab Parliament’s calls for a cessation of war and escalating and continued bloodshed, and for countering the crimes of the occupation entity and the daily massacres committed against the Palestinians, and he looks forward to the prompt response of human rights and international organizations, and national, international and regional parliaments he has addressed, to work toward an immediate ceasefire and to stop the genocidal war perpetrated by the Israeli occupation entity against the Palestinian people.

The President of the Arab Parliament reiterated that the Arab Parliament continues to play its role in supporting the Palestinian people in all fora at all regional and international levels to achieve their legitimate rights notably the establishment of their independent State with the city of Jerusalem as its capital.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Monday will receive Former Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, at 2:00 pm today at the Grand Serail.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Hezbollah Secretary-General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, on Monday welcomed the Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, Ziad Nakhaleh.

According to a statement, the meeting involved discussing “the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, both on the ground and politically, as well as the situations of the support fronts and the support provided by the axis of resistance in various arenas. The discussions also touched upon existing possibilities and expected developments, whether on the field or in political communications.”

Both parties emphasized “the necessity of perseverance and continuing strong efforts to achieve the promised victory.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, arrived a while ago at the Grand Serail, for a meeting with Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

In an interview with ‘Russia Today’, former Progressive Socialist Party Chief Walid Jumblatt highlighted some of the points he discussed with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, during his visit to Moscow, amongst which was the Palestinian issue where he described the two-state solution as being a ‘big lie’.

‘My position was clear and identical to Lavrov’s position. Where will this state be established, on the rubble of Gaza?’ Jumblatt questioned, noting that there is a possibility of displacing its population after its complete destruction, so that only Rafah remains of Gaza.

He added, ‘It seems that the Israelis will begin the systematic destruction of Rafah, thus forcing the Palestinians to migrate to the whole world and the West Bank, where there are 800 thousand settlers…Hence, where can this state be established? There is an impossibility…but it is just propaganda for some of the Arab world and Western public opinion to perhaps give the Palestinians their rights, but they will not give th
em their rights, for that is impossible….’

Asked to comment on the Arab stance regarding the Palestinian issue, Jumblatt said: ‘I am not here to comment on the Arab position. I gave my opinion at a certain stage, and when we see the map of the Arab world there are positions that are okay, but I am not here to talk about the Arab stance…’

‘The war continues, and the Israeli strategic goal, which lies in forced or voluntary transfer and displacement, is a detail, while the pursuant goal is the complete Judaization of Gaza and Jerusalem,’ he underlined.

At the internal Lebanese level, Jumblatt said in response to a question: ‘We want and agree to implement Resolution 1701, but this implementation can only be through consensus between Hezbollah and the various Lebanese forces, and through the state, and strengthening the Lebanese army to fill the vacuum in this region, on the condition that we apply the same matters to Israel. I mention it here. The armistice agreement dictates that Lebanon and Israel have
a certain neutral distance in northern Lebanon as well as Palestine. But implementing the armistice agreement from one side is not logical.’

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The Sultanate of Oman voiced its categorical rejection of the Israeli occupation forces’ move to storm the Palestinian City of Rafah, which is now sheltering hundreds of thousands of unarmed civilians displaced from the northern section of the Gaza Strip. Oman noted that this chaotic situation was a direct outcome of Israel’s brutal aggression that left about 30,000 dead and tens of thousands wounded or missing.

In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry today, Oman pointed out that Israel’s action was in flagrant defiance of the international law and international human charters. It also warned against the serious fallouts of this persistent and indiscriminate aggression against the Gaza Strip.

In the statement, Oman reiterated its plea to the international community to take concrete measures to put to practice the global political positions to address Israel’s arrogance and force it to accept a ceasefire and provide humanitarian needs for the displaced population in the Gaza Strip.

Oman urged the inte
rnational community to hold Israel fully accountable for the catastrophic targeting of civilians, property and facilities in the Gaza Strip.

Source: Oman News Agency

The media office of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his arrival in Beirut this evening to partake in the commemoration of the assassination of martyr Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and his companions to be held on Wednesday afternoon, February 14, 2024.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants strongly condemned, in an issued statement on Sunday, “the aggressive Israeli plans to storm the city of Rafah, in continuation of the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip and the forced displacement of Palestinians.”

The Ministry called on the UN Security Council ‘to assume its responsibilities by adopting a decision for an immediate ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, leading to the recognition of the Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy and in accordance with the principles of international law.’

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s press office issued a statement this evening, in which it indicated that the recent media campaigns launched against the Prime Minister lack credibility and reasoning.

It said: ‘Since the Council of Ministers issued the decision to appoint Major General Hassan Audeh as Chief of Staff, a number of politicians and journalists launched a campaign against the decision and accused the Prime Minister and the government of confiscating the powers of the President of the Republic and overthrowing the Taif Agreement… Some also fantasized about alleged scenarios of communication between the Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Shura Council, Judge Fadi Elias….’

The statement categorically denied such allegations, asserting that ‘His Excellency the Prime Minister did not consult with the Chairman of the State Shura Council regarding the appointment issue, and no communication occurred between them regarding this dossier or any other, and therefore everything that is said to the co
ntrary is a mere fabrication with known directions…’

The statement continued to emphasize that the Prime Minister was clear in his approach to this file when it was presented to the Council of Ministers, as he explained the reasons for the decision and its necessity to ensure the stability of the army institution, following the Defense Minister’s stance in refraining to carry out his duty in this regard.

‘It was necessary for the Council of Ministers, with its comprehensive authority, to take the appropriate decision,’ the statement maintained.

It went on to state that if some are not in favor of the decision, they can always resort to legal methods to appeal it, assuring that the government will submit to any judicial decision that may be issued in this regard in the event of any appeal, adding that the Prime Minister has clearly stated this in the appointment session, while reiterating his adherence to the Taif Agreement.

Finally, the statement concluded by stressing that ‘the clear truth is that the
government is managing the affairs of the state and its people, while others are refraining from carrying out their duty in electing a new president, to restore full compliance with the work of constitutional institutions…Elect a president so Lebanon can rest!’

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

In an interview with ‘Russia Today’, former Progressive Socialist Party Chief Walid Jumblatt highlighted some of the points he discussed with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, during his visit to Moscow, amongst which was the Palestinian issue where he described the two-state solution as being a ‘big lie’.

‘My position was clear and identical to Lavrov’s position. Where will this state be established, on the rubble of Gaza?’ Jumblatt questioned, noting that there is a possibility of displacing its population after its complete destruction, so that only Rafah remains of Gaza.

He added, ‘It seems that the Israelis will begin the systematic destruction of Rafah, thus forcing the Palestinians to migrate to the whole world and the West Bank, where there are 800 thousand settlers…Hence, where can this state be established? There is an impossibility…but it is just propaganda for some of the Arab world and Western public opinion to perhaps give the Palestinians their rights, but they will not give th
em their rights, for that is impossible….’

Asked to comment on the Arab stance regarding the Palestinian issue, Jumblatt said: ‘I am not here to comment on the Arab position. I gave my opinion at a certain stage, and when we see the map of the Arab world there are positions that are okay, but I am not here to talk about the Arab stance…’

‘The war continues, and the Israeli strategic goal, which lies in forced or voluntary transfer and displacement, is a detail, while the pursuant goal is the complete Judaization of Gaza and Jerusalem,’ he underlined.

At the internal Lebanese level, Jumblatt said in response to a question: ‘We want and agree to implement Resolution 1701, but this implementation can only be through consensus between Hezbollah and the various Lebanese forces, and through the state, and strengthening the Lebanese army to fill the vacuum in this region, on the condition that we apply the same matters to Israel. I mention it here. The armistice agreement dictates that Lebanon and Israel have
a certain neutral distance in northern Lebanon as well as Palestine. But implementing the armistice agreement from one side is not logical.’

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri received in Ain al-Tineh, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and the accompanying delegation, in the presence of the Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani.

Discussions reportedly touched on the situation in Lebanon and the region in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the Lebanese border villages in the south with occupied Palestine.

Abdullahian described the meeting with the Speaker as ‘good.’

Berri also received Deputy Speaker, Elias Bou Saab, who briefed Berri on the results of his visit abroad, in addition to discussing the political situation, developments, and legislative affairs.

Source: National news agency – Lebanon

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Saturday that his country did not want to see an expansion of the war in the region, Lebanese TV channel al-Manar reported.

“Iran and Lebanon confirm that the war is not the solution, and we never want to expand the scope of the war,” he said during a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib in Beirut.

The top Iranian diplomat also called on the United States to pressure Israel to stop the attacks on Gaza and the West Bank.

Amir-Abdollahian said the U.S. was taking two different approaches: One is to continue supplying Israel with weapons and participate in the Gaza war, and the second is talking about a political solution to be reached soon.

For his part, Bou Habib said Lebanon had never wanted a war but sought stability, calm, and a comprehensive and just peace in the region.

“We stressed the need for the international community to assume its responsibility by stopping Israel’s war against Lebanon and Gaza,” Bou H
abib said.

During his meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati earlier in the day, Amir-Abdollahian emphasized the necessity to exert more efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza and reach just solutions for all countries in the region, according to a statement released by Lebanon’s Council of Ministers.

The Iranian minister added the U.S.-led attacks in Yemen had worsened the crisis in the region, according to a statement released by Al-Intishar, a local news website.

Amir-Abdollahian also met with Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to discuss the latest developments on Saturday.

Nasrallah said the resistance groups constituted a vital element in the region, and the victory of the Palestinians and the Islamic resistance is inevitable, according to Al-Intishar.

Source: National news agency – Lebanon