Lebanon

Judicial Council Prepares for Major Reshuffle and Appointments
Judicial Council Prepares for Major Reshuffle and Appointments

Now meeting in full capacity, Lebanon’s Higher Judicial Council is preparing to launch the long-awaited process of judicial transfers and appointments. “Discussions on the matter have already begun, with the Council emphasizing its commitment to objective criteria based on competence, integrity and the actual needs of the judiciary. The goal ...

Lebanese Army Removes Israeli Flag, Boosts Southern Deployment
Lebanese Army Removes Israeli Flag, Boosts Southern Deployment

The Lebanese Army has taken down an Israeli flag raised by the Israeli Golani regiment on Rweissat al-Hadb hill, located on the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab in the Bint Jbeil district, according to a report by the National News Agency (NNA) on Monday. The flag removal is part of a broader response by the Lebanese Army, which has stepped up its ...

Peace vs. Normalization: Distinct Paths, Diverging Logics in ME Diplomacy
SpotlightPeace vs. Normalization: Distinct Paths, Diverging Logics in ME Diplomacy

From the peace treaties signed between Israel and certain Arab States – most notably Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 – to the wave of diplomatic normalizations initiated in 2020 with the Abraham Accords, two concepts have consistently shaped discussions about regional diplomacy: peace agreements and normalization. Although these terms are ...

Bank Reform in Lebanon: Central Authority Under Growing Pressure
Bank Reform in Lebanon: Central Authority Under Growing Pressure

The parliamentary subcommittee tasked with banking reform held a pivotal session to examine Articles 5 and 6 of the draft law proposing the creation of an independent banking authority. Two competing visions are at the center of the debate. The first, supported by Banque du Liban (BDL), calls for the establishment of a new, autonomous body ...

Joe Saddi Seeks US Support to Reform Lebanon’s Energy Sector
Joe Saddi Seeks US Support to Reform Lebanon’s Energy Sector

Lebanon’s Minister of Energy and Water, Joe Saddi, is on an official visit to Washington, where he has held a series of high-level meetings with United States officials and World Bank representatives in a bid to secure international backing for Lebanon’s ailing energy sector. Saddi met with Laura Lochman, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for ...

Pharmaceutical Syndicate Urges Immediate Action Against Counterfeit Drugs
Pharmaceutical Syndicate Urges Immediate Action Against Counterfeit Drugs

The Pharmaceutical Importers’ Syndicate called on Monday for the immediate implementation of a unified plan to combat the surge of counterfeit and smuggled medications in Lebanon. The group stressed the urgent need for strict oversight from relevant ministries and agencies to protect citizens’ right to safe and effective medicines. In a ...

Judicial Appointments: Is the Deadlock About to End?
Judicial Appointments: Is the Deadlock About to End?

Lebanon appears poised to move forward with long-delayed judicial appointments and reshuffles, according to well-placed judicial sources – an overdue step after more than five years of political deadlock. The process had been blocked since 2020, when then-President Michel Aoun rejected a package of proposed judicial transfers submitted by the ...

Salam Reaffirms Support for Arab Peace Initiative and Commitment to Policy Statement
Salam Reaffirms Support for Arab Peace Initiative and Commitment to Policy Statement

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Monday reiterated his firm support for the Arab Peace Initiative, emphasizing the refugees’ right of return and the need for a two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Speaking after a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Salam underlined that his remarks were ...

Aoun Vows No Immunity for Wrongdoers
Aoun Vows No Immunity for Wrongdoers

President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering stance on accountability and transparency, declaring that “no case will remain closed and no official will be granted protection.” His remarks came after a meeting on Monday with a delegation from the International Federation of Lebanese Businessmen and Businesswomen. “No ...

Rubio's Warning About a Potential Syrian Civil War Puts Lebanon on the Edge
Rubio's Warning About a Potential Syrian Civil War Puts Lebanon on the Edge

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent warning about Syria's potential descent into a "full-scale civil war of epic proportions" has not gone unnoticed. This cautionary note has raised alarm bells not only within Syria's borders but also in neighboring Lebanon, which remains precariously balanced on a fragile socio-political ...

Syria Reopens Arida Border Crossing with Lebanon
Syria Reopens Arida Border Crossing with Lebanon

The General Authority for Land and Sea Ports in Syria announced on Monday that the Arida border crossing with Lebanon, located in rural Tartus, will reopen to passenger traffic starting Tuesday morning, June 3, 2025. In an official statement, the authority said, “We inform travelers that the Arida border crossing with Lebanon will be opened for ...