Presidential Election: Frangieh Wary of the Dialogue

2024-06-14 13:06 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Free Patriotic Movement Gebran Bassil Lebanese Forces

Many political forces, particularly the opposition led by the Lebanese Forces (LF), are aiming to replicate the presidential election scenario of June 14, 2023. In that election session, Sleiman Frangieh, leader of the Marada Movement who is backed by the Hezbollah-Amal duo, received 51 votes, while Dr. Jihad Azour, the candidate supported by the ...

Southern Front: Most Alarming Surge in Violence

2024-06-13 22:54 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

In one of the most violent exchanges across the southern front, Hezbollah fired “at least 215 rockets into northern Israel,” over the past 24 hours, drawing a strong Israeli retaliation with airstrikes, artillery shelling and phosphorus bombing. The rocket barrage launched by the Iranian-backed party followed the elimination on Tuesday ...

Geagea: Three Approaches for Serious Dialogue Without Undermining the Constitution

2024-06-13 20:29 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea reiterated in a statement on Thursday the three approaches put forth by his party in an effort to resolve the presidential deadlock. He once again accused the Amal-Hezbollah alliance of "using dialogue as a pretext to eventually elect their candidate," Sleiman Frangieh, the head of the Marada party. On ...

Presidential Election: Bassil in Favor of Consensus Candidate

2024-06-13 20:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

MP Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), said Thursday that his efforts to narrow the gap between parliamentary groups to facilitate the election of a president of the Republic are aligned with similar initiatives by other parliamentary blocs. In a public briefing about the outcome of his recent tour of political forces, ...

MP Abdel Massih Withdraws from the Tajaddod Bloc

2024-06-13 18:38 - Reading : less than a minute

MP Adib Abdel Massih announced on Thursday his withdrawal from the Tajaddod bloc, blaming "a fifth column" for divisions and disputes within the bloc. He said he planned to set up a political group "made up of prominent figures from the Koura region" in North Lebanon. The Tajaddod bloc also includes MPs Michel Moawad, Fouad Makhzoumi, and Achraf ...

Zouk Power Plant: Inflammable Chemicals Yet to Be Removed

Joanne Naoum 2024-06-13 18:13 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Three years on, hazardous inflammable materials that have been stored at the Zouk Mikael thermal power plant in Keserwan have yet to be relocated. The issue is on the agenda of the caretaker government’s meeting on Friday. In the meantime, Lebanese officials are trading blame for the lack of action. Minister of the Environment Nasser Yassine ...

Presidential Elections: Bassil's Position Is Divisive

This Is Beirut 2024-06-13 14:48 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Gebran Bassil

Launched on Monday, the initiative of the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Gebran Bassil, which is in line with that of the Amal-Hezbollah tandem for unlocking the presidential deadlock, has raised strong reservations within opposition circles. However, it enjoys the support of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), which is engaged in ...

Joseph Aoun Discusses Army Needs in Washington

This Is Beirut 2024-06-13 14:39 - Reading : less than a minute

Joseph Aoun

The Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Army, General Joseph Aoun, held talks on Wednesday with the Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Congress, Michael McCaul, and Gregory Meeks, the former head of this committee, according to an army press release. He also met with several members of the US-Lebanon Friendship ...

The Evolution of Boycotting: From Recent Movements to Historical Roots

Salam Zaatari 2024-06-13 09:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Palestine

Pepsi has recently launched its TV and billboard campaign in the Middle East with the slogan "Stay thirsty," featuring some of the region's top actors, singers and football players, including Amr Diab, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Lebanese singer Nawal al-Zoghby. The Pepsi ad aired almost at the same time as Israel's new massacre in Gaza's ...

Hajjar Stands Firm on His Decision, Aoun Forced to Comply

Carole Salloum 2024-06-12 20:37 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Ghada Aoun

Judge Ghada Aoun's noncompliance with any directive was no surprise, as she considers herself above any guidance or discipline. History has shown her rejection of both. This time, however, there is no going back on Judge Hajjar's decision, no matter how Judge Aoun attempts to evade it, with the support of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and a ...

Crowds Flock to Tyre Beach Despite War

This Is Beirut 2024-06-12 17:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Many Lebanese and expatriates come to enjoy the beach at Tyre despite the bombing raids just a few kilometers away. With AFP

J. Aoun’s US Visit Tackled Army’s Support and Situation in Lebanon

This Is Beirut 2024-06-12 15:46 - Reading : less than a minute

Joseph Aoun

The Army Commander-in-chief Gen. Joseph Aoun met during his visit to the United States the Chairman of the Armed Forces Committee in the US Senate, Senator Jack Reed, and the US Joint Chief of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown Jr., as well as the American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL) team, according to an army statement. The discussions covered ...