LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
March 10/2013

Bible Quotation for today/The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic
Gospel of Saint Mark( 02/01-12): "The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic": "When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was in the house. Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them. Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him. When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”— He said to the paralytic— “I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.” He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Latest analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases from miscellaneous sources

What Does The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic Teach Us?
By: Elias Bejjani *
March 10/13
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11/28-30) .
Does Almighty God, Our loving Father listen to our prayers, intercessions, and supplications for the benefit of others and responds positively to them when we call on Him through prayers to rescue and help them? Definitely He does and "The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic" is a great prove among many other miracles that Jesus and His disciples performed on the request of those others who requested help for family members, friends, acquaintances, servants etc. There is no doubt that the habit of praying for others in any manner or pattern is a desirable religious practice, especially when the prayers are for the sake of those who are sick, persecuted, oppressed, poor, lonely and distressed, or have fallen prey to evil temptations.
Jesus brought Lazarus back to live after he had been buried for four days on the request of his two faithful sisters Martha and Mary and said to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die; 26 and those who live and believe in me will never die". John 11/25 and 26). In the same context Jesus healed the Roman Officer's Servant on the request of the officer, and told him, “Go home, and what you believe will be done for you." And the officer's servant was healed that very moment. (Matthew 08/05-13). And in the same realm of the faith of those who asked Jesus to help others, He cured the Canaanite woman's daughter and responded to her request saying: "You are a woman of great faith! What you want will be done for you.” And at that very moment her daughter was healed". (Matthew 08/21-28)
On the fifth Lenten Sunday, the Catholic Maronites cite and recall with great reverence the Gospel of Saint Mark( 02/01-12): "The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic": "When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was in the house. Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them. Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him. When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”— He said to the paralytic— “I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.” He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
This great miracle in its theological essence and core demonstrates beyond doubt that intercessions, prayers and supplications for the benefit of others are acceptable faith rituals that Almighty God attentively hears and definitely answers. It is interesting to learn that the paralytic man as stated in the Gospel of St. Mark, didn't personally call on Jesus to cure him, nor he asked Him for forgiveness, mercy or help, although as many theologians believe Jesus used to visit Capernaum, where the man lives, and preach in its Synagogue frequently. Apparently this crippled man was lacking faith, hope, distancing himself from God and totally ignoring the Gospel's teaching. He did not believe that the Lord can cure him. What also makes this miracle remarkable and distinguishable lies in the fact that the paralytic's relatives and friends, or perhaps some of Jesus' disciples were adamant that the Lord is able to heal this sick man who has been totally crippled for 38 years if He just touches him. This strong faith and hope made four of them carry the paralytic on his mat and rush to the house where Jesus was preaching. When they could not break through the crowd to inter the house they climbed with the paralytic to the roof, made a hole in it and let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on in front of Jesus and begged for his cure. Jesus was taken by their strong faith and fulfilled their request.
Jesus forgave the paralytic his sins first (“Son, your sins are forgiven you) and after that cured his body: "Arise, and take up your bed, and walk". Like the scribes many nowadays still question the reason and rationale that made Jesus give priority to the man's sins. Jesus' wisdom illustrates that sin is the actual death and the cause for eternal anguish in Hell. He absolved his sins first because sin cripples those who fall in its traps, annihilates their hopes, faith, morals and values, kills their human feelings, inflicts numbness on their consciences and keeps them far away from Almighty God. Jesus wanted to save the man's soul before He cures his earthy body.
"For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?" (Mark 08:/36 & 37).
Almighty God is always waiting for us, we, His Children to come to Him and ask for His help and mercy either for ourselves or for others. He never leaves us alone. Meanwhile it is a Godly faith obligation to extend our hand and pull up those who are falling and unable to pray for themselves especially the mentally sick, the unconscious, and the paralyzed. In this realm of faith, love and care for others comes our prayers to Virgin Mary and to all Saints whom we do not worship, but ask for their intercessions and blessings.
In this loving and forgiving context, prayers for others, alive or dead, loved ones or enemies, relatives or strangers, are religiously desirable. God hears and responds because He never abandons His children no matter what they do or say, provided that they turn to Him with faith and repentance and ask for His mercy and forgiveness either for themselves or for others. "Are any among you in trouble? They should pray. Are any among you happy? They should sing praises. Are any among you sick? They should send for the church elders, who will pray for them and rub olive oil on them in the name of the Lord. This prayer made in faith will heal the sick; the Lord will restore them to health, and the sins they have committed will be forgiven. So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect. Elijah was the same kind of person as we are. He prayed earnestly that there would be no rain, and no rain fell on the land for three and a half years. 18 Once again he prayed, and the sky poured out its rain and the earth produced its crops." (James 05/13-17)
Our Gracious God does not disappoint any person when he seek His help with faith and confidence. With great interest and parental love, He listens to worshipers' prayers and requests and definitely respond to them in His own way, wisdom, time and manner.
"Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened". (Matthew 07/07 &08)
In conclusion, God sees and hears us all the time, let us all fear Him in all what we think, do and say. Meanwhile praying for others whether they are parents, relatives, strangers, acquaintances, enemies, or friends, and for countries, is an act that exhibits the faith, caring, love, and hope of those who offer the prayers. Almighty God, Who is a loving, forgiving, passionate, and merciful Father listens to these prayers and always answers them in His own wisdom and mercy that mostly we are unable to grasp because of our limited human understanding. "
"All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21/22)
O, Lord, endow us with graces of faith, hope, wisdom, and patience. Help us to be loving, caring, humble and meek. Show us the just paths. Help us to be on your right with the righteous on the Judgment Day.

Canada Condemns Violence Against Christian Community in Pakistan
March 9, 2013 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
“Canada condemns in the strongest terms today’s attack in Lahore, Pakistan, which resulted in the ransacking and burning of dozens of homes targeting Christian families.
“On behalf of all Canadians, I offer my sympathies to the families affected by this senseless act of violence.
“We urge the government of Pakistan and local authorities to fully investigate and prosecute those responsible.
“Canada calls on Pakistani authorities to implement safeguards to ensure that their blasphemy laws are no longer abused. The safety and dignity of all citizens in Pakistan must be protected and promoted.
“Canada will continue to work with the people of Pakistan to address their challenges.”

Jabhat al-Nusra and Hezbollah In First Confrontation
By: Jean Aziz for Al-Monitor Lebanon Pulse. Posted on March 8.

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/03/jabhat-al-nusra-hezbollah-confrontation.html
While the Iraq-Syria border was witnessing the first armed confrontation pitting Sunni jihadists against Iraqi and Syrian soldiers, leaving scores of people dead, a wide stretch of border between Lebanon and Syria was the scene of direct and unprecedented contact between Shiite Hezbollah militants and Sunni jihadists belonging to Jabhat al-Nusra. This new and serious development is likely to have serious repercussions in the coming weeks. There are several theories about how this situation came to pass.
One week prior, amid sporadic clashes on both sides of the northeastern border of Lebanon and Syria, regular Syrian army forces had redeployed in al-Nabk, near the Lebanese border. Official Lebanese sources confirmed the event. On first glance, the redeployment would appear to be unremarkable given the movement of Syrian army units since the beginning of the civil war almost two years ago, but upon closer inspection, the seriousness of the maneuver becomes apparent.
The al-Nabk area stretches more than 45 kilometers along the border region. It starts to the west at the Jabal Akrum area of Akkar, north of Lebanon, and extends to Arsal, in the Bekaa to the east, along a strip of rugged mountainous land where the Lebanese state — including administrative authorities as well as security forces — has not had a presence for decades. What is more important about this strip from which the Syrian army withdrew is that it is now almost completely controlled by the jihadists of Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian offshoot of al-Qaeda and rebel fighting force. In addition, the adjacent Lebanese territory is inhabited by an overwhelmingly Shiite population, which points to Hezbollah having a dominant presence there.
Thus, after nearly two years of recurring tensions and sporadic clashes between conflicting and volatile components on both sides of the border, Shiite Hezbollah and Sunni Jabhat al-Nusra today stand face to face along a significant length of the Lebanese-Syrian border in the absence of a restrictive or deterrent force in the form of the Lebanese or Syrian state. Remarkably, this development resulted from a sudden redeployment by the Syrian army.
The army still has an effective presence west of al-Nabk, whose inhabitants are, demographically speaking, predominantly Sunni, rather than Shiite, Lebanese. It responds almost daily to incidents of infiltration by fundamentalist Sunni insurgents from Lebanon. The situation is similar further to the east in the central Bekaa, where the regular Syrian army is still deployed in the face of a Sunni Lebanese demographic, no more than 30 kilometers from the center Damascus. In short, the Syrian army remains deployed in areas adjacent to Sunni regions, but has strategically withdrawn from Lebanese Shiite villages, paving the way for Jabhat al-Nusra to fill the vacuum, putting it in direct conflict with Hezbollah members.
The new situation triggered contrasting responses in Beirut. Supporters of the Syrian opposition were quick to accuse the Syrian regime of having hatched a “conspiracy” to further fuel tensions over Syria. They believe the army's movement was an attempt by Damascus regime to illustrate that its collapse would cause mayhem in the region. Moreover, the government of Bashar al-Assad regime is trying, allegedly, to lure its Lebanese Shiite ally, Hezbollah, into fully engaging in the Syrian crisis in an attempt to perhaps have Iran and maybe Iraq follow suit. Thus, the Syrian conflict would be transformed into a regional issue, the resolution of which would necessitate more than bilateral negotiations between the regime and the opposition.
Meanwhile, Lebanese friends of the Syrian regime are peddling a different story. They believe that for the past few weeks the armed Syrian opposition had been pressuring the the Syrian army in al-Nabk, leading it to withdraw. They add that the armed opposition had taken advantage of the fact that the Syrian regime had regained control of the Aleppo-Hama road by anticipating that it would loosen its grip on the Shiite area. Moreover, the opposition had also allegedly taken advantage of the regime’s pressure points in the city of Raqqa and south of Damascus, forcing the army to withdraw from Shiite villages so that Jabhat al-Nusra would come face to face with Hezbollah.
The Lebanese Shiite group will ostensibly provide Jabhat al-Nusra with a viable excuse for upping its sectarian rhetoric. Hezbollah’s engagement would put pressure on the West, which is keen to preserve Lebanon’s stability. Most important, however, should Hezbollah step into the Syrian conflict, the issue of its arms would become part of the Syrian crisis and any potential settlement. This is a common goal of the Lebanese opposition and the Syrian armed opposition as well as the Arab and other regional states supporting them.
The pertinent question, however, is what would the consequences be of a direct confrontation between the jihadists and Hezbollah? Military experts agree that both sides will keep checking the pulse and carefully monitor the situation before launching an attack. A few sporadic skirmishes might erupt between the parties throughout the mountainous strip for a few weeks, until the snow melts in the area. Afterwards, a new war might erupt involving Sunnis, Shiites and Alawites, as was the case of the armed ambush that took place in Iraq in Anbar province. The Syrian crisis is likely to spill over into Iraq.
A confrontation between Jabhat al-Nusra and Hezbollah certainly has strategic value in the ongoing conflict. Jabhat al-Nusra could pressure Damascus and Zabadani through the Lebanese region of Arsal. Moreover, the Sunni jihadists could also put military pressure on the Syrian Alawite and Christian coast in the west. Such dangerous developments on the battlefield would exacerbate the crisis in Lebanon and in Syria and worsen relations between the two countries.
**Jean Aziz is a contributing writer for Al-Monitor’s Lebanon Pulse, a columnist at Al-Akhbar (Lebanese), and host of a weekly political talk show on OTV.
**About This Article
Summary :
For the first time in the 23-month-old Syrian civil war, Jabhat al-Nusra and Hezbollah have been involved in direct confrontations, writes Jean Aziz.
Original Title:
Jabhat al-Nusra Face to Face with Hezbollah for First Time
Author: Jean Aziz
Translated by: Sahar Ghoussoub

Lebanese Elections Likely to Face Postponement
By: Elie Hajj for Al-Monitor Lebanon Pulse. Posted on March 8.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/03/us-lebanese-election-efforts.html
Regardless of the governing electoral law, the Lebanese elections need to happen to ensure the stable and continuous functioning of the constitutional bodies.
So far, however, nothing indicates that the Lebanese people will head to the ballot box — at least not this summer.
President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati had signed a decree inviting voters to participate in the elections in a remarkably quick way. This step intimidated the Hezbollah-led March 8 Coalition, which constitutes a majority in the government. Hezbollah refuses to revert to the applicable 1960 electoral law based on political and demographic balances and data that have completely changed.
Hezbollah and its allies are not the only ones rejecting the 1960 law. Most March 14 Christians, allied with the Sunni-based Future Movement, also share this stance. Oddly enough, the March 14 Christians agreed with their Christian opponents and gathered around General Michel Aoun and the Free Patriotic Movement. They felt that the Orthodox Gathering Law best represents the Christians in the parliament, as it stipulates for people of a certain sect to vote for their members of parliament from the same sect to achieve the effective balance that was set forth in the Taif Accord, despite the disparity in percentages and figures between the Christians (38% of the total number of residents) and the Muslims and Druze (62%).
The surprising stand taken by the two main parties that represent the Christians of March 14 — the Phalangist Party and the Lebanese Forces — may strain relations with their Sunni allies. They believe that the Future Movement and its understood ally, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, prefer the 1960 law because it guarantees them a large number of parliamentary seats, to the detriment of Christians. Matters have evolved and escalated to public rivalry, opening old files on social media between the supporters of the Future Movement and the Lebanese Forces.
However, these tensions between the allies quickly vanished, after the Future Movement expressed its understanding of the aspirations of its Christian allies and agreed to adopt a law based on a mix between the majority and proportional systems to represent the Christians properly.
Officials from the two Christian parties publicly voiced political messages, which state that they only agreed on the Orthodox Law to push their allies and other parties to abandon the 1960 law. They also want a law that all components of the Lebanese society agree on, so that Sunnis, Druze or any other sect do not feel that there is any plan to exclude them or to weaken their presence and interests in the country. As a result, the disagreements were reduced after they appeared tense for a number of days.
In the past few days, continuous meetings have been held and many calls have been made between both parties to seek a new common proposal for the parliamentary elections, in order to reunite the coalition’s visions, especially as the 8th anniversary of the movement nears. It is noteworthy that the March 14 Coalition created a political and public setting that led to the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon and to the establishment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to try the assassins of the late PM Rafiq Hariri.
However, although the party won the parliamentary elections twice in 2005 and 2009, it failed in its style of ruling. The reasons behind this can be summarized by the opposing pressure from Hezbollah and its allies and the accumulation of political mistakes committed by March 14 Forces, in addition to unfulfilled promises. Moreover, the severe financial dearth that the Future Movement, the strongest party in the coalition, endured did not help either.
Arab, and specifically Gulf, conditions burdened the March 14 forces, especially former PM Saad Hariri, who has been living between Saudi Arabia and France for two years for security and other reasons. They caused the coalition to lose its credibility to a large extent before a public that preferred to support its principles from afar, without participating in the political activities and public movements that the party called for on several occasions.
LF Vice President George Adwan MP told Al-Monitor that the next few days will witness the announcement of a consensus over an electoral law that satisfies the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt. The Future Movement is clinging to an agreement with Jumblatt at the electoral level, knowing that he has a moderate stance that maintains balance in both the cabinet and parliament.
Other sources told Al-Monitor that the discussed draft law dictates the election of 70 MPs out of 127 in the parliament, based on the majority system, just like before. The remaining 58 MPs are to be elected based on the proportional representation in governorates.
The sources added that the issue of the distribution of governorates in Mount Lebanon was resolved by labeling every district that has more than five MPs a governorate.
The mountain region will be divided into the following governorates: Byblos, Keserwan, North Metn, Baabda, Chouf and Alay. This way, Jumblatt and the Kataeb will have gotten rid of the burden of Shiite voting that only takes on one direction, based on Hezbollah’s decision. They have limited it to Baabda district, so that it does not decisively affect North Metn, Chouf or Alay. Thus, the biggest obstacle in front of establishing consensus between March 14 and Jumblatt was removed.
However, prominent politicians confirmed to Al-Monitor that neither this electoral proposal presented by March 14 and Jumblatt nor the Orthodox Law will pass. The first will be rejected by Shiites, while the second will be rejected by the Sunnis, Druze and March 14 Christians, who only saw it as a way to get rid of the 1960 law.
Since the 1960 law has been “buried,” and parties have been competing to declare its death, there will not be any elections in Lebanon, at least not according to the schedule as stipulated in the constitution. In the absence of any sudden developments that might turn things around, the US ambassador will have wasted her time visiting politicians. Washington’s efforts to maintain stability in Lebanon seem to have been to no avail.
Elie Hajj writes on politics for An-Nahar, Lebanon. He previously wrote for Al-Anbaa (Kuwait) and the online paper Elaph.
nese-election-efforts.html#ixzz2N5qIxlYr

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman: FM must express cabinet’s stances
Now Lebanon/Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Friday said that the Foreign Minister must express the views of the cabinet. “The cabinet has adopted a policy of disassociation from the Syrian crisis… The stances and proposals made before international venues by politicians and ministers, especially the foreign minister, must reflect the disassociation policy without any confusion,” the National News Agency quoted Suleiman as saying following his meeting with FM Adnan Mansour. The foreign minister’s stances “require a prior consultation with the president, who in turn must discuss them with the premier,” Suleiman added.
Suleiman’s comments came after Lebanon's foreign minister called on Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo to allow the Syrian government retake its seat at the Arab League, from which it was suspended in 2011. March 14 leaders slammed the statement, saying it violated Lebanon’s dissociation policy. On Thursday, the Amal Movement-affiliated minister commented on the criticism against his statements and said that he was “ doing what is best” for Lebanon and all its people.

Hezbollah MP: Resistance to keep targeting “real enemies”
Now Lebanon/Loyalty to the Resistance bloc leader MP Mohammad Raad on Saturday said that the resistance would continue targeting its “real enemies.”“The resistance has taken huge steps against the project of tyranny in Lebanon and the region,” the National News Agency quoted Raad as saying. Raad also said that some parties were inciting for a Sunni-Shiite strife. “Local and regional agents are hiding behind the takfiri phenomenon in order to provoke the resistance and drag it into a confrontation that would take on a Sunni-Shiite aspect,” Raad said. “These people do not want glory for the Sunnis or the Shiites, they want to weaken both [parties] so that they can keep them under their control” he added.

MP Alain Aoun says Christians should not submit candidacy for elections
Now Lebanon/Change and Reform bloc MP Alain Aoun said that Christians should not submit their candidacy for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
“Lebanese [politicians] who submit their candidacy for the elections, especially the Christians, will pay a great moral and political cost before Christian public opinion,” Aoun told As-Safir newspaper in a brief interview published Saturday.On Friday, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel issued a decree calling on citizens who wish to run for the elections to submit their candidacy requests starting from March 11.
Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Najib Miqati and President Michel Suleiman signed off on a decree to hold the elections on June 9, a move that would have elections held according to the current 1960 law if the country’s political parties fail to reach a consensus on a new electoral draft.
The electoral decree sparked angry responses from the March 8 coalition, who oppose holding the elections under the current 1960 electoral law.

Public Works and Transportation Minister Ghazi Aridi calls on Mansour to not interfere in Syrian affairs
Now Lebanon/Public Works and Transportation Minister Ghazi Aridi on Saturday condemned the statement made by Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour during the Arab foreign ministers meeting on Syria.
“The foreign minister has put Lebanon’s interests at risk, this is why he should [adopt] the disassociation policy and refrain from interfering in the Syrian crisis,” Aridi told As-Sharq radio station.
Moreover, Aridi also reiterated the importance of maintaining good ties with the Gulf countries.
“The political, human and social ties [with the gulf] will not change by mood swings or a misconduct, these are great countries that have played the biggest role in helping Lebanon,” Aridi added.
On Wednesday, Lebanon's foreign minister called on Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo to allow the Syrian government retake its seat at the Arab League, from which it was suspended in 2011. March 14 leaders slammed the statement, saying it violated Lebanon’s dissociation policy.
On Thursday, the Amal Movement-affiliated minister commented on the criticism against his statements and said that he was “doing what is best” for Lebanon and all its people.

Report: Nigerian Islamists Claim to Kill 7 Hostages, Including 2 Lebanese
Naharnet/Nigerian Islamist group Ansaru on Saturday claimed to have killed seven foreign hostages – including two Lebanese men -- abducted from a construction site last month in the country's restive north, SITE Intelligence Group said. There was however no confirmation from Nigerian authorities or the countries where the hostages were said to come from. An official from the Lebanese-Nigerian construction company, Setraco, told Agence France Presse he was aware of the report but could not confirm it. According to SITE, "Al-Qabidun 'Ala al-Jamr (Grippers of Embers) Media Foundation, an affiliate of the Sinam al-Islam Network, issued the communique in Arabic and English on March 9, 2013, and also provided screen captures of a forthcoming video showing the dead hostages."
"In the communique, the group stated that the attempts by the British and Nigerian governments to rescue the hostages, and their alleged arrest and killing of people, forced it to carry out the execution," SITE said.
Police last month said the victims of the February 16 kidnapping in Bauchi state included four Lebanese, one Briton, a Greek citizen and an Italian. A company official later said the Middle Eastern hostages included two Lebanese and two Syrians. Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour later identified the two Lebanese men as Imad al-Indari and Carlos Abu Aziz.
Back then, he said he gave his instructions to the Lebanese embassy there to coordinate with the local authorities over the release of the men.
On Saturday, Mansour told LBCI television: "We don't have any details or information about the killing of Lebanese citizens in Nigeria and we are continuing our contacts concerning this issue."
Later on Saturday, Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Mansour telephoned the Lebanese charge d'affaires in Abuja Wassim Ibrahim to inquire about the unconfirmed information.“Ibrahim told him that nothing has been confirmed so far,” NNA added. “Mansour asked Ibrahim to intensify his contacts with the relevant Nigerian authorities over the issue and to immediately provide him with any information he manages to obtain in this regard,” NNA said. In an email statement sent to journalists announcing the claim, Ansaru said it has "the custody of seven persons, which include Lebanese and their European counterparts working with Setraco," the Lebanese-owned company targeted in the attack. The two-paragraph statement in English cited "the transgressions and atrocities done to the religion of Allah ... by the European countries in many places such as Afghanistan and Mali".Ansaru has been mentioned in connection with several kidnappings, including the May 2011 abductions of a Briton and an Italian working for a construction firm in Kebbi state, near the border with Niger.
It also claimed the December kidnapping of a French engineer in Katsina state, bordering Niger. The victim's whereabouts remain unknown.
Agence France PresseNaharnet

Kataeb leader: “The devil is in the details” of the mixed electoral law
Now Lebanon/Lebanon’s Kataeb party leader Amine Gemayel said that a mixed electoral law might get consensus “but the devil is in the details and that is what we are trying to avoid.”
“A group of leaders are currently communicating to reach common ground regarding the electoral law to provide fair representation,” Gemayel told Al-Jazeera television in an interview aired on Saturday.
The Kataeb leader also said that “it is in all parties’ interest to reach a consensus. We have put aside the Orthodox proposal, let us discuss a new electoral law that provides true parity.”
Lebanon’s political circles are currently debating prospective electoral law proposals that may be adopted for the upcoming parliamentary elections but have so far failed to reach a consensus on a proposal that would replace the 1960 law despite the cabinet’s approval in September 2012 of a draft law based on proportionality and 13 electoral districts.
Sources told NOW on Wednesday evening that the Progressive Socialist Party, the Future Movement and independent March 14 Christian MPs had reached an agreement on a mixed electoral law.
They added that the law is based on majoritarian voting in 26 electoral districts and proportional voting in 9 other districts.
Referring to the Syrian crisis, Gemayel said: “President [Bashar] al-Assad must understand that after the Arab Spring, no dictator will keep his position.”
“As much as we sympathize with the people’s right to be free; we are against engaging Lebanon in the bloody conflict in Syria, for such a thing would cause Lebanon’s destruction and civil war which does not benefit anyone,” he added.The Syrian crisis has split Lebanon’s political scene between pro-Syrian regime parties affiliated with the March 8 alliance – spearheaded by Hezbollah – and parties associated with the March 14 coalition –most prominently the Future Movement– who back the rebels.Syria is witnessing a violent uprising against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, which has so far killed more than 70,000 people since its outbreak in March 2011, according to figures released by the United Nations.

Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi Honors Informer in Samaha Case for 'Uncovering Major Plot against Lebanon'
Naharnet/Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi honored on Friday the informer in the case of former Minister Michel Samaha. He described Milad Kfouri as a “citizen who demonstrated special patriotism because he uncovered a dangerous plot” against the country. He made his remarks after meeting with Kfouri's wife Hiyam and his two lawyers Samir Abi Raad and Joseph Khoury. Rifi presented Kfouri's wife with a commemorative plaque in her husband's honor.“Kfouri played an important and central role in uncovering the plot that was aimed at carrying out terrorist attacks in Lebanon, disregarding dangers against him for the sake of the nation” said the ISF chief. He voiced the Internal Security Forces' readiness to continue on providing his wife and family with the necessary protection “in line with Lebanese law and moral and national obligations.”
Samaha was arrested in August on suspicion of transporting explosives from Syria to Lebanon in order to carry out attacks in the country at the Syrian regime's behest.The Military Tribunal ordered in February the death sentence against the former minister and Syrian security chief Ali Mamlouk for preparing explosives, and transporting them from Syria to Lebanon to carry out attacks and assassination attempts to provoke sectarian strife at the orders of the Syrian regime.Mamlouk and a colonel identified by his first name Adnan, also linked and wanted in the case, have not been apprehended.Media reports said that Kfouri, who has used several aliases, was behind reporting Samaha to the ISF Intelligence Branch.

Gemayel Urges Feasible Alternative to Orthodox Law, Says Settlement Possible
Naharnet/Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel on Saturday revealed that “contacts are ongoing between a group of leaders in order to reach common ground and a settlement over the electoral law.”“There is an inclination to endorse a hybrid electoral law that enjoys consensus and no one has an interest in instability,” Gemayel said in an interview on Al-Jazeera television.Defending a decision by President Michel Suleiman and Premier Najib Miqati to sign a decree calling on electoral bodies to hold the parliamentary elections, Gemayel said: “What Suleiman and Miqati did was a constitutional measure, as the deadline was approaching and it is their duty to call on electoral bodies to hold the polls.”“Those describing the law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering as heresy must suggest a feasible proposal,” Gemayel added.Under the Orthodox Gathering's controversial draft law, each sect would elect its own lawmakers.“I call on all parties to agree on a new law that achieves real partnership among all the components of society and proper Christian and Muslim representation, a law that enhances national unity,” Gemayel added.Turning to the issue of the Syrian conflict, Gemayel said: “We're against dragging Lebanon into the ongoing bloody conflict in Syria and the Phalange Party has called for positive neutrality in line with the Baabda Declaration.”He stressed that Syrian President Bashar Assad “cannot survive and no dictator can stay in power after this popular revolution in Syria.”“Positive neutrality is essential in order to prevent importing the Syrian revolution into Lebanon and turning it into a civil war among the Lebanese,” Gemayel urged.“We will do all we can to convince everyone to stop their military interference in Syria,” he vowed.

Duraid Lahham Prevented from Filming in the North for Second Time
Naharnet/Syrian actor Duraid Lahham was prevented again on Saturday from shooting movie scenes in the northern port city of Tripoli, the state-run National News Agency reported.
The NNA said that several youths rallied near the building and banned the technical team accompanying Lahham from carrying on its work.The actor didn't bicker with the protesters and complied calmly to their requests, it added, without giving further details.In February, Lahham visited Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, a day after he was forced out of a Qalamoun town in northern Lebanon over his support for the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad.He was shooting a movie scene at a villa in the area when several men chanting anti-Assad slogans asked the actor to leave the town.
ISF immediately interfered and Lahham left.Lahham, a comedian and a director, is well-known for his acts under the nickname Ghawar al-Toushe.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea : Our Allies Did Not Understand our Stance over Electoral Law
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated that his party is “playing a complicated political game” over the parliamentary electoral law, reported the Kuwaiti al-Anba daily Saturday.
He said: “Some of our allies did not understand our stance, but I will soon hold a press conference to discuss at length the details of the discussions over the new law.”
“The LF was misunderstood and it was wronged at different instances over its position,” he added.
“Discussions have however started to take their right course and we may reach an agreement over a new law that enjoys consensus over the next few days,” revealed Geagea.
“Should we fail to do so before March 20, then the term of the current parliament will be extended from a technical perspective, not a political one,” he explained.
Some March 14 alliance members were critical of the Lebanese Forces for its approval of the Orthodox Gathering parliamentary electoral law.
The proposal calls for dividing Lebanon into a single electoral district and allows each sect to vote for its own lawmakers under a proportional representation system.
The proposal also enjoys the support of the Christian Phalange Party, Free Patriotic Movement, and Marada Movement.
The draft-law has been rejected by President Michel Suleiman, Premier Najib Miqati, the Mustaqbal bloc, independent March 14 figures, and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Jumblat, who all said that the proposal fuels sectarian divisions in Lebanon. The ongoing dispute over a new electoral law is threatening to postpone the elections, which are scheduled for June 9.
Asked if he would have adopted the policy of disassociation from regional developments if he were president, Geagea responded: “Such a government as the current one would not exist had I been president.”
“The Syrian army is attacking its people with Scud missiles, fighter jets, and tanks,” he added.
“The government must therefore take the moral position over these developments, but given that the March 8 camp is controlling a number of ministries, some aid is being passed to the Syrian regime,” said the LF leader.
This was recently demonstrated by Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour at the Arab League when he suggested that Syria's seat at the League should be restored, Geagea stated.
“He acted like Syrian President Bashar Assad's foreign minister despite Suleiman's different position on Syria,” he added.
“Mansour was not attempting to deliver a message, but he simply wanted to stress that the Syrian regime still exists and it controls the whole situation in its country,” he said.
Asked if foreign diplomats had issued warnings that the fall of the Syrian regime would negatively affect Christians, he replied: “We never received such warnings. The survival of the regime will be worse on Christians in Lebanon and Syria than its collapse.”Commenting on the impact of the Syrian crisis on Hizbullah, he noted: “This is the first time in seven years that the party is uncomfortable on all levels because Syria serves as its arms depot and training base.”“No Hizbullah member or Shiite can now head to Syria,” he said. “Hizbullah has lost a number of its weapons depots in Syria because it either cannot reach them or it was forced to empty them due to the ongoing crisis,” remarked the LF leader. “The crisis is stretching on because Iran is supplying $500 million to a billion dollars to the regime. The crisis will continue as long as a single Iranian rial or Hizbullah member is able to fight in Syria,” he stressed. Hizbullah has systematically denied sending fighters into Syria, though its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah acknowledged in October 2012 that party members had fought Syrian rebels but said they were acting as individuals and not under the group's direction.Recently, Louay al-Meqdad, spokesman for the Supreme Council of the Free Syrian Army, has accused Hizbullah of shelling Syrian territory with artillery and rocket launchers from bases inside Lebanon.FSA chief of staff General Selim Idriss has threatened to shell positions of Hizbullah in Lebanon.

President Michel Suleiman Meets Mansour, Says Stances Should Reflect Dissociation Policy
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman stressed on Saturday that any stance taken by government officials, in particular, the Foreign Minister should reflect the state's dissociation policy.
“Stances taken by government officials and ministers, in particular the FM, in international forums should reflect (the dissociation policy) without any confusion,” Suleiman said after talks with FM Adnan Mansour at the Baabda Palace.He pointed out that if any other official has another stance - over the developments in Syria - has to tackle it with the President, who in turn discusses it with Prime Minister Najib Miqati.
For his part, Mansour clarified to the president his recent statements over Syria at the Arab Foreign Ministers meeting, and briefed him on the preparations for the Arab League on March 26 and 27. Earlier, Qatari Ambassador to Lebanon Saad bin Ali al-Muhannadi handed over to Suleiman an invitation from Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to attend the Arab Summit, which will be held in Doha.
Mansour called in his speech as he was preparing to hand over the chairmanship of the Arab Ministerial Council to Egypt on Wednesday for scrapping a decision to suspend the membership of Syria from the Arab League.
The minister's statement drew the rejection of several officials locally including Prime Minister Najib Miqati.On Thursday, the FM down played criticism on his speech, saying that he “carefully” chose his words as he is keen to preserve Lebanon's best interest.The Arab League suspended Syria in November 2011 as a sharp rebuke for Assad's leadership over its brutal crackdown on demonstrators seeking to topple his regime.
It said at the time the suspension would apply until Assad implemented an Arab deal to end violence against protesters.A year later, the League recognized the Syrian National Coalition headed by Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib as the "legitimate representative and main interlocutor with the Arab League.

Gunman Robs $17,000 from Byblos Bank in Jnah
Naharnet/An armed gunman robbed on Saturday Byblos Bank's Jnah branch in Beirut, reported the National News Agency. It said that the gunman, dressed in from head to toe in black, entered the bank, robbed it at gunpoint, and fled to an unknown location. Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) said he fled on motorbike to the Bir Hassan neighborhood in Beirut. In December, the Military Tribunal charged 12 people with robbing a number of banks and the attempted murder of a soldier and two judges.Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported in September that the bank robbery network had a list to target several politicians and officials.

Contacts ongoing between Mustaqbal, PSP to Reach Agreement on New Electoral Law
Naharnet/Efforts are ongoing between members of the March 14 camp and other political powers in Lebanon in order to reach an agreement over a new parliamentary electoral law, reported the daily An Nahar Saturday.
Head of the Mustaqbal bloc Fouad Saniora's circles told the daily that the discussions, which have been described as “positive”, included the bloc, March 14 figures, and the Progressive Socialist Party.
Media reports said Thursday that the March 14 opposition alliance and the PSP had agreed on a law that allows the elections to take place in 26 districts based on the winner-takes-all system and 9 governorates based on proportionality.Informed political and Mustaqbal bloc sources told several newspapers that the hybrid formula will be announced within the coming days.
Under the deal, 70 lawmakers would be chosen through the winner-takes-all system and 58 through proportionality based on a division of 26 districts for the first system and 9 governorates for the second.

Berri Calls for Alternative Electoral Law to Replace 1960, Orthodox Proposals
Naharnet /Speaker Nabih Berri expressed hope on Saturday that the political foes will soon reach common ground over a hybrid electoral law that would serve as an alternative for the 1960 and the so-called Orthodox Gathering laws.“We should create an alternative electoral law that gathers the proportional and winners-take-all systems to replace the 1960 and Orthodox laws,” Berri's visitors quoted him as saying.
The visitors said in comments published in the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that the rival parties have “enough” time to reach consensus. “We have three-and-a-half months until the elections, which will be held on June 9. We have sufficient time to agree on a new electoral law if all foes were ready,” Berri said. The speaker warned of forcing the March 8 alliance to agree on staging the elections according to the 1960 law that is based on winners-take-all system as it will prompt the coalition to insist on adoption of the Orthodox proposal.President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati signed on Monday a decree calling on electoral bodies to hold the elections based on the 1960 law, which has been opposed by the rival March 8 and 14 camps.On Friday, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel issued an order for nominees wishing to run in the parliamentary elections to submit their candidacies.
The nominees should submit their request at the Interior Ministry headquarters in Beirut between March 11 and April 10. Berri told his visitors that he doesn't favor the adoption of the Orthodox draft-law but insisted that it is better than the 1960 law. The so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal by the joint parliamentary committees has been adopted, but it drew a sharp debate among the opposition's factions and with foes.
The elections are likely to be postponed if the parliament gives the green light to the proposal that divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.
The draft-law has been rejected by al-Mustaqbal bloc, the centrist National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat, and the March 14 opposition’s Christian independent MPs. It has been also criticized by Suleiman and Miqati.

Independent March 14 Figures in Lebanon Continue Efforts to Reach Agreement on New Electoral Law
Naharnet /A meeting of March 14 independent figures held a meeting on Friday to discuss a new parliamentary electoral law in light of Interior Minister Marwan Charbel's opening of the door for nominees to submit their candidacies, reported the daily An Nahar Saturday. MP Butros Harb told the daily that the talks focused on a law that “offers fair representation for Christians, while maintaining national unity.”
The meeting was held at the lawmaker's residence and away from the media spotlight. The independent March 14 figures had rejected the Orthodox Gathering electoral law, saying that it harms Lebanon's diversity.
The gatherers said after a meeting at MP Butros Harb's residence in February: “This law paves the way for the formation of sectarian statelets and the division of Lebanon in a manner that contradicts the country's diversity.”
The proposal enjoys the support of the Christian Phalange Party, Lebanese Forces, Free Patriotic Movement, and Marada Movement. The proposal calls for dividing Lebanon into a single electoral district and allows each sect to vote for its own lawmakers under a proportional representation system. The draft-law has been rejected by President Michel Suleiman, Premier Najib Miqati, the Mustaqbal bloc, and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Jumblat. The ongoing dispute over a new electoral law is threatening to postpone the elections, which are scheduled for June 9.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel Says Consensus Essential to Hold Polls, Expects Majority to Obstruct 1960 Law
Naharnet /Interior Minister Marwan Charbel expected on Saturday that the cabinet will not be able to form the independent authority overseeing the elections as the majority will obstruct the matter over its rejection to adopt the 1960 law during the upcoming parliamentary elections. “The formation of the authority requires a decree and the approval of (the simple majority) half plus one,” Charbel said in comments published in An Nahar newspapers.
The minister reiterated his rejection to the the adoption of the 1960 law, which is based on winners-take-all system, however, he pointed out that he has no other solution.
“I am obliged to start preparing for the polls according to the law that is in effect,” Charbel noted.
He expressed belief that the elections will not be held if the disputes between the rival parties continue over the electoral law, stressing that the only solution would be by consensus over a new proposal.
President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati signed on Monday a decree calling on electoral bodies to hold the elections based on the 1960 law, which has been opposed by the rival March 8 and 14 camps.
On Friday, Charbel issued an order for nominees wishing to run in the parliamentary elections to submit their candidacies.
The nominees should submit their request at the Interior Ministry headquarters in Beirut between March 11 and April 10.
Charbel told As Safir newspaper that he will send a memo to the Higher Committee for Consultations to give a legal opinion if the 1960 law can still be adopted or not.
The 1960 law has been rejected by the rival March 8 and 14 camps, who have so far failed to agree on a new one, with the ongoing dispute threatening to postpone the elections.
The so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal by the joint parliamentary committees has been adopted, but it drew a sharp debate among the opposition's factions and with foes.
The elections are likely to be postponed if the parliament gives the green light to the proposal that divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.
The draft-law has been rejected by al-Mustaqbal bloc, the centrist National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat, and the March 14 opposition’s Christian independent MPs. It has been also criticized by Suleiman and Miqati.

Union of Bank Employees In Lebanon to Strike over Contract Disagreements
Naharnet/The Union of Bank Employees threatened Friday to take escalatory measures starting next week if the Association of Banks in Lebanon failed to produce any result over the controversial collective contracts, the al-Mustaqbal daily said Saturday.
Head of the Union, Georges Hajj called, in a press conference on Friday, on affiliated trade unions to hold general strikes beginning next week and to participate in all the moves planned by the union.
“Dialogue has long ended and the hour of confrontation is here. The union calls for the participation of all affiliated unions in the sit-in that will be held in the northern city of Tripoli next week and the one that will be held before the Association of Banks in Lebanon in the first week of April,” said Hajj. “We will close the doors of any banking institution that tries to expel staff during the strike,” said Hajj.
“We are the largest militia in wartime and the largest union in peacetime,” he concluded.
Almost three years of negotiations on the collective labor agreement between the union of bank employees and the Association of Banks in Lebanon, failed to reach an suitable agreement.
Hajj said that over three years of dialogue, dozens of meetings were held but reached a dead end, and dialogue has consequently come to halt.
“The reasons prompted by banks to reject the terms of the contract are illogical. Productivity in the banking sector is high ... It is not true that the capital is one of the factors that uplifted the banking sector. It is the sector employees who represent human capital and they are essential partners in it,” said Hajj.
The long-standing differences have stalled an agreement over the collective contract. While banks demand employees to increase working hours without offering a pay hike, the union utterly rejects any increase in working hours without being offered an equivalent salary increase.Banks were also demanding that the number of monthly salaries per year be consolidated into 12 months instead of 16, a measure which could cut the value of future wage increases by leaving the overall value of salaries the same.The collective labor agreement governs the relationship between Lebanese banks and employees. The first version was adopted back in 1972. Bank employees receive, in accordance with the collective contract, higher allowances than those granted in the labor law and by the National Social Security Fund.

Safadi Denies Saudi Investors Withdrew Deposits from Banks
Naharnet/Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi denied on Saturday that Saudi investors pulled deposits from Lebanese banks. “The Lebanese banking system guarantees the free movement of capital and confidentiality, therefor, investors have the right to manage their money however they like,” Safadi said. The minister pointed out that there are no financial, security or political fears that threaten Saudi deposits in Lebanese banks.
“The Saudi kingdom supports political, security and financial stability in Lebanon,” Safadi added. On Friday, head of the Economic Committees Adnan Kassar denied the rumors that investors have pulled $1 billion of their deposits from Lebanon. “Media should be careful in reporting accurate, objective and credible news away from any rumors,” he said.Kassar stressed the importance of preserving the ties between Lebanon and the Gulf states after the Gulf Cooperation Council expressed “great concern” over the government's failure to abide by the Baabda Declaration.The Baabda Declaration was sponsored by Suleiman and calls for different parties to adhere to the disassociation policy to avoid the spread of the unrest in Syria to Lebanese territories. Media reports said the deteriorating ties will affect the interests of Lebanon in GCC states including the conditions of around 600,000 expatriates in the Gulf. Lebanese parties are sharply divided over the crisis in Syria as the March 8 alliance continuously expresses its support to Syrian President Bashar Assad, while the March 14 camp backs the popular revolt.

Head of Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance bloc, MP Mohammed Raad,: Resistance Won't Be Dragged into Sunni-Shiite Strife
Naharnet/Head of Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance bloc, MP Mohammed Raad, on Saturday accused what he called “the local and regional agents” of “hiding behind the fabricated trend of Takfirism (Islamist extremism) with the aim of provoking the Resistance and dragging it into a confrontation that takes the form of a Sunni-Shiite strife.”
“But they do not want the dignity of the Sunni community or the Shiite community, they rather want to weaken everyone and keep them under their hegemony so that they can continue to have the upper hand in the region,” Raad added. “We have the responsibility of remaining patient in order to foil the enemy's plot and the scheme they have resorted to, and we don't doubt for a moment that we will achieve our goals and that we will achieve the victory we are preparing for,” the top Hizbullah official added. He stressed that Hizbullah will not be preoccupied with “the trends that are moving from one street to another and from one region to another in an attempt to incite, provoke and create an uproar.” “Their only target is the Resistance and they are nothing but tools tasked with creating these atmospheres that scare and mislead the public opinion and push it to despair,” Raad noted.
He declared that “the Resistance has made great progress in confronting the scheme that wants to dominate Lebanon and the region and any retreat is not acceptable at all.”
“The Resistance will maintain its preparedness to achieve its goals and confront its real enemies, and we will not be preoccupied by lackeys and tools and we will confront the perpetrators of the hostile schemes being plotted against our nation,” Raad stressed. Hizbullah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has recently warned that “some parties are pushing Lebanon in a very rapid manner to sectarian strife and working on that night and day.”
He warned that “some statements and remarks by some MPs who belong to the dear Sunni sect are taking a very provocative and seditious course."
"Some parties must shoulder their responsibilities and we are extremely keen on civil peace, but no one should make wrong calculations," Nasrallah has said, in remarks described as an implicit threat by some of Hizbullah's Sunni rivals. Islamist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir and his supporters staged four rallies between March 1 and March 5 to protest claims that Hizbullah rented apartments in the vicinity of Asir's mosque in the Sidon suburb of Abra. Last month, Asir urged officials and authorities to force the evacuation of apartments allegedly inhabited by Hizbullah gunmen near his mosque to avert a possible “strife or any dangerous incident.”
“We will not give up on our right to live in dignity... We will escalate our measures if our demands weren't met,” Asir vowed on Sunday. “Recently, the mosque's neighbors, and we're among them, noticed some rented apartments that are inhabited by young men who are not residents of the area, and the neighbors thought that they are students,” Asir has said, adding that “a dispute happened recently and heavily armed young men came out of these rented apartments and threatened the neighbors.” Nasrallah later hinted that the party will not tolerate the evacuation of any of its offices in Sidon and its suburbs. “We have a lot of allies in Sidon, especially in the Sunni sect. But thousands of Shiites have been residing in Sidon since hundreds of years, do they need a permission now? We were among those who fought to liberate Sidon and the South and we have offices, houses, mosques and complexes in Sidon since 30 years."

Jordan King Tasks Caretaker PM to Form New Cabinet
Naharnet/King Abdullah II of Jordan reappointed Abdullah Nsur as premier and tasked him with forming the new government after talks between his chief of staff and parliamentarians, the royal palace said.
"The king has accepted the resignation of the (previous) government and charged Abdullah Nsur to form a new government," the palace said. On January 29 Nsur tendered the resignation of his government following parliamentary elections which were boycotted by Islamists, the main opposition force. King Abdullah had then instructed his chief of staff, Fayez Tarawneh to conduct consultations with members of parliament to appoint a new premier, in what was a new mechanism to involve the assembly in choosing the head of the government. On Saturday the palace said the king had received "a comprehensive report on the consultations conducted by Tarawneh with members of the assembly." Parliamentary sources told AFP that Nsur and Interior Minister Awad Khlifat were the frontrunners chosen by MPs for the post of prime minister.The parliamentary elections were won by people close to the regime, businessmen and tribal leaders, as the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood boycotted them.Agence France Presse

U.N. Peacekeepers Seized in Syria Arrive Safe in Jordan
Naharnet/The United Nations welcomed the release on Saturday of 21 Filipino peacekeepers, who had been seized by Syrian rebels on the Golan Heights, as they crossed to freedom in Jordan after a three-day ordeal.
Philippine authorities also expressed relief at the release of the 21 members of the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). A Jordanian military official said the peacekeepers were greeted by border guards as they crossed from Syria in the afternoon and "underwent medical examinations." They then boarded an army bus and were given a military escort to the east Amman headquarters of the armed forces where they were "handed over to the U.N. representative in Jordan Costanza Farina in the presence of the Philippines ambassador," the official added in a statement. An Agence France Presse correspondent said the peacekeepers were also greeted by Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, government spokesman Samih Maaytah and Chief of Staff Mashaal al-Zebn. They are members of the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) monitoring the armistice line between Syria and Israel that followed the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.The men were seized by rebels Wednesday near the armistice line with Israel in the first abduction of its kind since the the start of an uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad two years ago. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "appreciates the efforts of all concerned to secure their safe release," said a statement from his office in New York after the Filipinos crossed over from Syria. "The secretary general emphasizes to all parties the impartiality of United Nations peacekeepers," it added.
The Philippine military spokesman told AFP no decision had been taken about where the peacekeepers would go next but that Manila's envoy to Amman "will be directly coordinating with the Jordanian authorities for their turnover to us.""The Filipino U.N. peacekeeping contingent's (to the Golan Heights) commander, Colonel Cirilito Sobejana, is now on his way to Jordan to meet his men," said Manila Colonel Arnulfo Burgos.
Ambassador Olivia V Palala earlier told AFP all the men were "safe and sound" and that future plans for them would be made in coordination with the United Nations.
The peacekeepers were abducted by rebels from the Yarmuk Martyrs Brigade in Jamla village just a mile to the Syrian side of the armistice line with Israel that followed the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, in the village of Jamla.
The rebels had made conditions for their release, namely that Syrian troops move 20 kilometers (12 miles) back from Jamla.
They also demanded that the International Committee of the Red Cross "guarantees the safe exit from the strife-torn area of Jamla of civilians," said the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman.
On Friday a U.N. attempt to pick up the peacekeepers was aborted when Syrian troops shelled the area. Syria denied the shelling and the foreign ministry sent letters to Ban and the U.N. Security Council on Saturday "condemning attacks by terrorist groups against U.N. forces and residents" near the armistice line, state news agency SANA said.It also called on the U.N. to "clearly condemn terrorist groups" -- the term used by the regime to describe the rebels, the official Syrian news agency added. The abduction was condemned by world powers and triggered a flurry of diplomatic action to secure the peacekeepers' release.
It also sparked fears that more governments would withdraw their contingents from the already depleted U.N. mission. Israel warned that any further reduction in UNDOF strength risked creating a security vacuum in the no-man's land between the two sides on the strategic Golan plateau, which it seized in the 1967 Six-Day War.Agence France Presse

Kabul Suicide Bomber Kills Nine during Hagel Visit
Naharnet/A suicide bomber on a bicycle killed nine people outside the defense ministry in central Kabul on Saturday during a visit to the Afghan capital by new U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
The blast occurred near the main entrance gate to the heavily-guarded ministry, and Taliban militants immediately claimed the attack was timed to send a message to Hagel, who arrived in Kabul late on Friday. One Afghan soldier covered in blood at the scene said he had helped carry five people from the attack site, where several cars were damaged and a wall was left pock-marked.
Gunfire erupted after the loud explosion was heard across Kabul as streets around the blast were closed off by security forces.
Hagel was at a U.S. facility in the city less than a mile from the attack but reporters traveling with him were informed that he was not under any threat.
"The secretary was in a briefing when the incident occurred. The briefing continued as planned without interruption," a spokesman for the Pentagon chief said.
Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the Afghan defense ministry, told reporters at the scene that the bomber had arrived on a bicycle and detonated himself 30 meters (100 feet) from the ministry gate.
Police said in a statement that nine civilians had died and 13 others were injured including two military personnel, without giving further details.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told AFP: "This was not a direct attack to target him (Hagel) but we want to send a message that we are always capable of hitting Kabul even when the top U.S. defense official is there."
Hagel arrived in Kabul as the international military coalition prepares to pull out by the end of next year and leave Afghan security forces to battle the Taliban insurgency that has raged across the south and east of the country.
"We have a lot of big issues and challenges ahead as we prepare for a responsible transition," he told reporters on his plane before he arrived.
"That transition has to be done right, it has to be done in partnership with the Afghans (and) with our allies."Hagel was sworn in 10 days ago as heavy cuts loom for the U.S. military, but he said Americans realized that Afghanistan remained a major conflict zone with U.S. troops fighting against Islamist militants since the 9/11 attacks. "We have 66,000 troops still at war in a combat zone, that reality is there," he said. "I don't minimize or marginalize anything just because we may be transitioning to a new phase, we're still at war in Afghanistan." A total of 100,000 NATO-led international troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan, with all combat forces due to exit by the end of 2014. President Barack Obama last month announced that 34,000 U.S. troops would withdraw in the next year, halving the size of the current 66,000-strong U.S. force.
Afghan forces are assuming control of security across the country, but there are widespread fears that they will be unable to face down the Taliban and that the country could tip into greater instability.
Agence France Presse

The Beirut Bug
Anthony ElGhossain/Now Lebanon
Aviators, cologne, and other symptoms of the Lebanese condition
This is a public safety announcement: While traveling to Lebanon this year, you’ll likely experience rapid “re-Lebanization,” a troubling process of moral and social degeneration linked to “relapsing remitting Lebanese-ness” — a genetic disorder that has perplexed the public health community. Researchers believe that the severity of symptoms depend on your proximity to Lebanon. To reduce your re-Lebanization risk, then, please consider vacationing in Siberia, Antarctica, or the Falklands. (Areas with significant Lebanese diaspora populations may trigger symptoms too. Avoid the Americas, Europe, West Africa, the Arab Gulf, and Lacoste stores around the world.)
Airports in Europe will test your ability to cope; apparently, the convergence of transatlantic travelers and their European diaspora counterparts increases contagion risks. A government official who isn’t important enough to name told NOW that “airport lounges are incubators for the disease… After prolonged exposure to damn Lebanese people in a confined area, even the most civil people succumb!”
As you approach the departure gate, the diverse human terrain of America and Europe will recede. Sepia tones — the olive, bronze, brown, and “comme le caramel” of Lebanese folk — will surface instead. With a knowing glance, a wink, and a smirk, you’ll quickly identify your compatriots. At your leisure, you may now deploy the slightly contrived, but always welcome, “Keef el shabeb?!?”
Boarding accelerates the emergence of symptoms. All of you will become less patient and courteous, inordinately sensitive to the transformation of others, and increasingly oblivious to your own behavior.
Men: You’ll sprout perma-stubble and misplaced tufts of hair; slip on designer jeans, blazers, unconscionably large wristwatches, and aviators (on a plane son!); lose precisely three shirt buttons; and gain a dollop of gel and two conflicting scents of cologne. Men under the age of forty may exhibit signs of Invisible Pecs Syndrome (IPS) — or, the needless puffing of the chest. Even the best of us (ahem) are guilty of this one. Men over the age of forty will develop ex-militiaman knuckles and stare holes into your skull; don’t be a hero — let them stare.
Women: You’ll invariably grow more alluring; trade in jeans for “Juicy” sweatpants or upscale spray-on black pants; showcase El Dorado’s treasures on your arms; and unleash a deadly combination of heels, belts, and fur jackets. (Fiercely sexy.) Meanwhile, some of you’ll become less conversational — chattiness, of course, correlating inversely to the amount of Botox in your lips.
Kids, you’ll essentially morph into amplified versions of your former selves: You’ll scream, slouch, and kick your mom’s bag repeatedly, forcing strangers to feignedly proclaim how cute y’all are. (Wlik, yeeii, shoo mahdoum!) Those of you with exceedingly European first names and hopelessly Arab surnames (such as Jean-François Aazraeyel Abou-Jazra) will babble in an incomprehensible tongue that resembles French.
And, then, something happens on the plane. If you’re flying with Middle East Airlines, you’ll feel strangely comfortable. Scientists have linked this overwhelming ease to the omnipresent Fairuz, who’ll serenade you until the cabin crew — balanced by gender, sect, and language skills — prepare a delicious meal of President cheese, oddly thick orange juice, and a single olive. (The Fairuz-President cocktail reverses its effects as you leave Beirut: You’ll all feel glum and at least one of you will cry incessantly.) On other carriers, you’ll struggle with the push-pull of your Levantine superiority and inferiority complexes: Teutonic stewardesses and flamboyantly British stewards will stir your passions more than anything this side of Israeli claims to hummus.
Excited by the impending invasion of your motherland, you’ll begin YELLING FOR NO APPARENT REASON!!! Yelling on your phones, you’ll breathlessly inform the tribe that you’re on the tarmac a continent away — and, for some reason that escapes me, beg them not to leave until you land. You’ll yell obscenities in Arabic, forgetting that everyone on the plane can understand what you’re saying. (Guilty again... Kiss ikhta, I said I was sorry.) Eventually, the more ‘civil’ among you will yell at others to stop yelling at the cabin crew, who’ll be yelling on the P.A. system for everyone to calm down.
Taxiing in, you’ll click off your seatbelt a split second before the sign allows you to do so, rush three seats back to collect your extra back, and then rush forward to jam the aisle. Doctors are not sure what causes this behavior.
After disembarking, Beirut’s smell — Mediterranean mist, terra rossa, pine, tarmac, and a hint of sewage — will contribute to your deterioration. As your primary motor cortex and a ‘suppressant’ lobe unique to the Lebanese malfunction, you’ll find yourself unable to stand in line, use your ‘indoor voice,’ speak without gesticulating madly, or converse without expressing permanent disdain and incredulity towards others.
As you walk down the single, mystical staircase linking the world to Beirut, middle-aged men in faux-leather jackets will light their cigarettes with dramatic flair. One of them will use the NO SMOKING sign as vertical ashtray and dare you — with his eyes, no less — to speak up. Don’t…
On a good day, you’ll pass through passport control and customs in under three minutes: “Ahlan habibi. Hamdillah aal salemeh… Tfadal(e).” You won’t even have time to activate your cell phone — but, thankfully, you’ve kept it on throughout your journey. On a bad day, you’ll forget to complete the landing card or needlessly fill one despite the prominent Cedar adorning your passport. You’ll jockey from line to line, as others somehow move faster than the one you’re in. Because of recent ‘intelligence concerns,’ you’ll run through a maze of General Security, Internal Security, Pseudo-Security (of the “is-he-or-isn’t-he-mukhabarat variety”). Try to answer questions about your grandfather’s cousin’s daughter’s husband with a straight face.
At luggage, the smoker clothed in faux-leather will check every piece — regardless of color, shape, or size — before removing the only unmistakable bag: a leopard-print suitcase bound by pink leather straps purchased at the Kinshasa duty free store. Sigh to indicate your displeasure.
Collecting your items, after fighting with some pesky porter, you’ll encounter backgammon-playing, chain-smoking customs officials. They’ve never stopped a soul, but legend has it that they’ve stopped everyone. This time, naturally, the most distracted official — smoking, leering at some woman fifty meters to your right — will stop you: “Where are you arriving from? Amerka? Ameeerrka, eh??? Step aside—ya habibi!—for further questioning.” Feeling less than generous, you’ll rant about how militias, cartels, and crooks are sucking this country dry and implore him to let you — a mere citizen — pass. He’ll grin and oblige, but only after disassembling the camera you’ve dared to bring to Lebanon. With the last remnants of your civility dropping, you’ll explain: “Please forgive me, but I need to supplement the New World Order’s daily overflights and satellite imagery with my Polaroids. Yalla, marrikna bi sharaf rabbak.” Now — only now! — he’ll understand that you’re not to be jerked around.
Walk down a wondrous hallway lined with cameras broadcasting your arrival to a crowd waiting mere seconds ahead. Bank left to meet the mob: family members, friends, and strangers they’ve met while waiting for their babies to return from Babylon. You’ll hold a meet-and-greet and press conference on site, to explain how you’ve somehow grown taller, shorter, heavier, slimmer, tanner, and paler all at once. They’ll ask you what you want to eat, while informing you what they’ve already cooked. And, then, as you maneuver past the porters and taxi drivers, the final question: “How was your trip?”
It’s almost too much. Almost…
**Anthony Elghossain is an attorney at a global law firm based in Washington, DC. He blogs at Page Lebanon. Follow him @pagelebanon.

Hikmat Shehabi and the experience of power
Michael Young/Now Lebanon
On Wednesday, Walid Jumblatt had this to say about Hikmat Shehabi, the former military chief of staff in Syria, who died earlier this week. He was “a flag among Syria’s flags,” the Druze leader said.
He may have been a flag, but in recent years he had been one at half-mast, caught in an ambiguous relationship with the regime of Bashar al-Assad. His ties to the regime were not what they had been, though Shehabi had not joined the opposition, as did Manaf Tlass, another prominent Sunni who had edged his way to the center of power in Damascus.
And yet, though trusted, Shehabi was never trusted enough. In a pattern familiar in the Alawite-dominated regime, Shehabi as chief of staff was seconded by Ali Aslan, an Alawite whose presence guarded against Shehabi’s using military units to organize a coup. To pair Sunni officers off with what were effectively Alawite commissars was Hafiz al-Assad’s method of protecting his minority leadership.
At the same time, when it came to Syrian policy in Lebanon, Shehabi benefited from a division of labor mandated by Assad, whereby certain Syrian officials ‘handled’ specific Lebanese politicians. Shehabi was Jumblatt’s sponsor in Damascus, a relationship that began after the Druze leader went to Syria in the aftermath of his father’s assassination in 1977. At many times throughout the Lebanon war, Shehabi gave the Progressive Socialist Party vital assistance in fighting the Lebanese Army and Christian militias.
“He was a tough man,” Jumblatt would later recall of the person who had helped steer him through the intricate byways of the Assad regime. The friendship was an odd one – until the end Jumblatt would call Shehabi regularly at his home in southern California – for it was built on a murder. It was the assassination of Kamal Jumblatt by Syria’s security services that brought Walid to Damascus, first as a supplicant, afterward as a prominent Lebanese partner of Syria.
Shehabi’s star waned in 1998, when Hafez al-Assad began shaping the Syrian system to accommodate Bashar, his designated successor. Like Abdul Halim Khaddam, Shehabi reportedly opposed Bashar’s rise to the presidency, and resigned from the chief of staff post. In retrospect, how right the two men were.
And yet despite having earned Jumblatt’s esteem, Shehabi for a long time was a pillar of the vampiric Syrian order in Lebanon, the very order that Jumblatt helped overthrow in 2005. Jumblatt’s actions told us much about the Druze leader’s mindset at one time. For him, the golden age was the 1990s, when he and Rafiq Hariri forged a political alliance. Reconstruction projects ensured that there was plenty of money circulating in Lebanon for political patronage, while Jumblatt’s friends in Syria, Shehabi above all, guaranteed that election laws were devised in ways that protected his interests.
Everything changed under Bashar. By then Jumblatt no longer enjoyed the same consideration in the Syrian capital, and Bashar’s decision to extend Emile Lahoud’s term in 2004 was viewed by many politicians in Beirut, including Hariri and Jumblatt, as an effort to marginalize them. Even Elie Firzli, then the deputy speaker of parliament and another prominent friend of Syria, saw the dangers in the decision. He would later tell me that he had warned Bashar al-Assad against keeping Lahoud in office.
No wonder Jumblatt longed for the days of Hikmat Shehabi and what he stood for. Perhaps it’s no small irony that Shehabi died even as the system in which he had once held a powerful position was in an advanced stage of disintegration. Bashar may resist for a bit longer, but the edifice that his father built and that Shehabi and those like him upheld cannot be salvaged. Its survival would have gained from the continuity provided by his father’s old comrades, those tough men who sustained the criminal enterprise that led Syria after 1970.
Recall how many observers explained Bashar’s missteps at the start of the last decade as due to the machinations of the ‘old guard’? The reality is that the old guard had been pushed aside, its competency and experience in repression ignored as the rising generation of Bashar took over. Perhaps we should breathe a sigh of relief that the young thugs, to whom Syria was given on a silver platter, were all brutality and no discernment. That proved to be their downfall, as they accumulated mistakes born of disdain and amateurism.
That’s not to say one should regret Hikmat Shehabi. Quite the contrary. But his generation of officers had thrived in a viper’s nest of military politics. This did not create admirable men, but it did create men who thought twice before taking important decisions. In Lebanon they could be without pity, ordering the bombardment of civilian neighborhoods with no compunction whatsoever. But they measured well the flaws in others and usually avoided decisive errors.
Their law was what the president told them to do. Now Syrians are fighting to end all that. They wish to be finally rid of the stranglehold of Hafiz al-Assad’s men, to whichever generation they belong.
**Michael Young is the opinion editor of The Daily Star newspaper in Lebanon. He tweets @BeirutCalling

Obama’s Israel visit is on - to sweeten pill of nuclear Iran
DEBKAfile Special Report March 9, 2013/
President Barack Obama will visit Israel later this month, the 20th, even if Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu fails to put together a governing coalition beforehand. "We're going," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a briefing for reporters Friday, March 9. In answer to a question, he said, "The formation of the Israeli government is the responsibility of Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior officials of the Israeli government..."
Secretary of state John Kerry thought otherwise when he skipped a visit to Israel as not worthwhile until a government is in place. (Netanyahu’s deadline for forming a government has been extended to March16.)
debkafile reports from its Washington sources that President Obama’s calculations for making the trip are a lot more complicated than Kerry’s. According to some Israeli circles, none of them are good news for their country.
He arrives less than a month after the last Six-Power (US, Russia, UK, France, China and Germany) nuclear discussions with Iran ended in Kazakhstan. After those talks, US and Western media trumpeted “an unusual sense of optimism” or more cautiously allowed “a faint and perhaps fleeting light at the end of one of the world’s most durable tunnels.”
Western sources predicted on the strength of these assessments that the follow-up to Kazakhstan in April, shortly after Obama’s talks in Jerusalem, would be devoted to “cementing that progress,” which translated into rewarding putative nuclear concessions by Iran with the easing of economic sanctions.
However, according to debkafile’s military and intelligence sources, this diplomatic fluff, while representing elation in Washington, London, Moscow, Paris and Berlin, caused serious disenchantment in Jerusalem, which viewed it as a smokescreen for concessions to, and not by, Iran.
They have found that the “fleeting light” appearing at the end of the Iranian nuclear tunnel obscures three dangerous US concessions to Tehran:
1. President Obama has given in to the Fordo uranium enrichment plant continuing to operate instead of shutting down, as demanded by Israel – even though its function is to turn out 20 percent pure (near-weapons grade) uranium;
2. He has even consented to the Iranians continuing to manufacture uranium to that level;
3. Washington has dropped its insistence on Iran sending out of the country its stocks of 3.5-5 percent enriched uranium.
With these gains, the Iranian negotiators must have been laughing all the way home from their talks with the six big powers on 26-27 of February and crowing over what one Israeli official called "Tehran’s huge success and Israel’s total defeat.”Conscious of how these concessions to the Islamic Republic are received in Jerusalem, it is no wonder that President Obama brushed off the invitation to address the Israeli Knesset, where lawmakers would likely put him on the spot. He has chosen instead to deliver a speech at Jerusalem’s Convention Center, so as to deliver his message straight to the Israeli public.
By going over the heads of Israel’s government and parliament to face a less informed audience, he believes he can get away with sweet-talking his surrender to a nuclear Iran.
Former military intelligence chief, Amos Yadlin stepped in with a timely comment last week when he said that an Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities would be no more than a one-night operation.
So when Air Force One lands in Israel March 20 and Israeli dignitaries push forward to greet the US president, a small group of anonymous Air Force pilots will be watching from a distance, waiting for the order to fly out and carry out their mission in a single night.After Jerusalem, President Obama continues to the Palestinian Authority and then Jordan

Walid Jumblatt on the Fate of Syria and Lebanon
Druze leader: 'If the Orthodox law stands, I will not run.'
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Lebanese MP, Druze leader, and head of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblatt is not at ease these days. From his standpoint nearly all of the recent developments in and around Lebanon bode ill, especially in regards to the Syrian crisis, which threatens to plunge Lebanon into chaos. Domestic discourse has degenerated to the basest sectarian levels in light of the Orthodox Gathering law, which stipulates that voters can only elect candidates from their sect or denomination.
In a wide-ranging, in-depth interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Jumblatt discussed his objections to the controversial new legislation, the toll taken on Lebanon by the Syrian crisis, Lebanon’s troubled attempts to settle on a new electoral system, and declared that he will not stand in future elections if they are conducted under the controversial new law.
Asharq Al-Awsat: Does President Suleiman’s and Prime Minister Mikati’s signature of the electoral bodies decree mean that the elections will be held in accordance with the 1960 election law?
Walid Jumblatt: Signing that decree is among the duties and powers of the president and the prime minister. The second stage is forming a body to oversee election campaigns, and this is a prerogative of the government. I expect that this undertaking will meet considerable opposition from the March 8 Alliance within the government. Despite President Suleiman’s and PM Mikati’s signing of the decree, they have both declared their commitment to hold discussions so as to reach a consensus on the election law.
Q: What do you think is the solution?
The logical solution is to bridge the gap between the government’s draft law, which calls for a plurality voting system, and the law which calls for a majority system. The evidence suggests that President Suleiman is willing to go forward with a law that mixes the plurality and majority systems. The Future Movement refused to introduce a plurality system, but it has now agreed to combine the plurality and majority systems and craft a draft law introducing a mixed system upon which all parties can agree. The dispute over the shape of some electoral districts persists and we must resolve this.
Q: It’s as if each side wants to win the election before it is actually held by tailoring the law to their advantage . . .
Yes, but it is linked to the political strife that has been exacerbated by the events in Syria, so it is better that we agree on an election law and that elections be held as scheduled. Then a new technocratic government free of bias may be formed rather than the country being dragged into the dark tunnel by the postponement of the elections. If this were to happen, the country would slip into a downward spiral fraught with economic, political, and security dangers.
Q: Could there be a delay on technical grounds?
A technical delay and a political delay are two different things. The former is acceptable for up to two or three months, especially considering that the Lebanese voter may not be accustomed to a plurality system. How the plurality and majority systems will be combined must be explained in detail to the voter. At the polls the voter could possibly be faced with a regular ballot box, a majority box, and a plurality box. Thus delaying the elections on technical grounds is acceptable for two or three months to ensure that the system is thoroughly explained to the voters and politicians, including myself. As for a political delay, it would drop the country into a political labyrinth to the detriment of everyone.
Q: Do you think there are some who do want to delay the elections through political means?
When we hear the statements from some Free Patriotic Movement members and their insistence on the Orthodox law, which threatens to tear the country apart and negate the principle of respecting the rights of other sects, yes we begin to suspect that there are some who mean to postpone the election through political means. The leader of the Free Patriotic Movement [General Michel Aoun] suggested the unheard of proposition that the government act as the legislative body, eliminating the role of the National Assembly. Yes, I do suspect that there is a plan to politically postpone the elections. However, I do not of course know what the Lebanese Forces Party’s real intentions are.
Q: What would a political delay do to the country?
Political postponement would plunge the country into a maelstrom of the unknown, and it would give the international community the impression that we cannot hold elections on schedule. This would deal a severe blow to the Lebanese economy and possibly cause investors to flee, not to mention the destabilizing effects it would have on Lebanon’s security and politics.
Q: Given the current sectarian turmoil and degenerating security situation in some areas in Lebanon, do you think elections can be held under these conditions?
The turmoil is a reality and it’s being addressed. For example, let’s look at (Sheikh) Ahmad Al-Asir. Part of dealing with him is arresting those who shot his bodyguards, and moderate Sunnis such as Sheikh Saad Al-Hariri and Mrs. Bahia Al-Hariri must come out saying that they reject this inflammatory rhetoric. However it is still the state’s duty to arrest those who killed Sheikh Asir’s bodyguards so that the whole Sheikh Asir issue can be scaled down to its proper size. This way we can return to the issue of redirecting the muzzles of the Hezbollah’s rifles, which defended the south against Israel in 2006 and liberated the south in 2000, so that they point at those who threaten Lebanon and thus continue to defend the country. Today Hezbollah has become embroiled in external affairs connected to the Syrian civil war, and this creates tension and spurs other groups, such as the March 14 Alliance, to take reactive measures. Some guns fight for the regime in Syria while others fight for the people, and this is causing political tension to spillover into Lebanon.
Q: Is any group in Lebanon actually capable of effecting change in Syria?
No. The stance of the Western community, and specifically the United States, as demonstrated by Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit, is divergent on the Saudis’ stance. They want to give humanitarian aid, saying that they do not want to provide weapons, despite the fact that it would expedite the downfall of the regime, because of the so-called extremists lurking in the Syrian Revolution.

The longer we prolong the life of the regime, the longer the civil war will continue to rage across Syria, and with each day Syria’s sectarian rifts grow deeper. This has been the US’s policy ever since the Siege of Baba Amr. Secretary Kerry’s statements increased my suspicions that there is a conspiracy working against the unity of Syria.
Q: What must the West do in regards to the Syrian crisis, and why this rationing of material support?
It seems as if the West wants to prolong the Syrian civil war, evidenced by the promises it made to the Syrian opposition, the Syrian National Council, and its grandiose pledges to the Syrian National Coalition. However on the ground it is clear, unless there is something that I am missing, that they are proceeding with their designs to dismember Syria and redraw the map of the region, having started that already in Iraq.
Q: We are now entering the third year of the Syrian crisis. If things continue as they have, how long do you expect the crisis will last?
United States’ policy does not care much about the fate of the Arab Middle East. It is interested in its internal affairs and its primary concern is to protect Israel over all else. What did the previous US administration do regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict? Nothing, of course. In his famous speech at Cairo University, Obama said that there would be a return to negotiations after a settlement freeze. But settlements continue to be built, and negotiations were cut off because they are useless. Thus it is apparent that the US is only focused on protecting Israel, non-recognition of the surroundings, and the destruction of Syria. Syria is being undermined because it was a pivotal force in the resistance to Israel, and now it is being destroyed. The Americans and the Israelis are sitting back watching.
Q: Two years into the Syrian crisis, it’s clear that divisions are widening between the minority groups on the one hand and the Sunni majority on the other.
The various and sometimes suspicious articles of Fouad Ajami and others worry me. I fear that they are encouraging a remapping of the region and erasing the borders of laid out in Sykes-Picot. This could drag the region into a downward spiral of sectarian conflict and perhaps nationalist separatist movements, we should not forget the issue of the Kurds in Syria.
Q: In what sense have the Druze succeeded and it what sense have they failed in Syria?
I was clear when I called on Syrian Druze to forgo serving in the Syrian army. The Syrian military was once a resistance force against Israel, having won heroic battles against Israel in the 1973 war and during the invasion of Lebanon at Sultan Yacoub, Ain Zhalta, and Beirut. Together with the Arab Syrian army we brought down the sinister May 17 Agreement. However the regime has transformed it, and today this army is led by criminals who suppress their own people. That’s why I called on the Arab Druze to leave the army so that they could protect themselves and their future, and thus respect the Arab Druze heritage of resisting Israel, something which started when they, along with other Syrians, opposed the fragmentation of Syria in 1925.
Q: Where have they succeeded and where have they failed?
It is not about success or failure. My repeated calls have begun to resonate, as shown with the martyrdom of Lt. Khaldun Zinedine. Druze are refusing to be conscribed and the regime is in need of men. They called up the reserve regiments and very few Druze answered the call. Yes, I think I succeeded, but there is more work to be done. There are Syrian Druze officers who defected to join the revolution in the regions of Idlib and Horan and more must follow in their footsteps.
I feel that I succeeded despite the many difficulties. The regime has basically destroyed the political, tribal, and family structures of not only the Druze in Syria, but also of the Alawites. We cannot lump the entire Alawite sect into the category of traitors because the regime has also destroyed its tribal structures and assassinated its senior leaders. I do what I am doing to protect the heritage and the future of the Druze, because their fate is bound to Syria in the same manner as the majority of Arabs in Syria, for they are Arabs before they are Druze.
Q: Do you worry about the fate of the minority groups in Syria if the situation continues to worsen?
This view is preached by the regime, an alliance of the minorities . . . It doesn’t care about anything, not about the unity of Syria, its heritage, its people, of whom it has killed and arrested tens of thousands. It has razed thousands of cities and villages to the ground, and it has led Syria to its own systematic destruction.
Q: Do you think that dialogue can somehow salvage what is left of Syria and find some sort of settlement that would end the crisis?
Sheikh Moaz Khatib was bold when he said that he was prepared to negotiate on the condition that tens of thousands of detainees be released. The cynical answer from Bashar Al-Assad was that he is prepared for dialogue once the rebels lay down their arms. When a correspondent asked him about the martyrs of the Syrian revolution, he said to her, “Can you give me their names?” He is schizophrenic. Judging by most of his speeches I think he’s living in another world, which explains how he can treat his own people the way he does and ignore the fact that there are tens of thousands of dead and missing by writing them all off as terrorists. So how can there be a solution? There is none except to topple the regime.
As for the major countries, this one wants a political solution, that one wants a clearer translation of the 2012 Geneva Conference. They say that at the Geneva Conference Lavrov, Fabius, and Clinton came to a specific agreement on how to address the Syrian crisis, and then they began to accuse one another. Clinton and Fabius said that they would implement the solution after Bashar was overthrown, and the Russians said we agreed on a political solution with a transitional government vested with total powers and from there we would deal with the issue of Bashar. All the sides involved are leaving Syria to tear itself apart, no more, no less. The terms of the first Arab League initiative were very clear: engage in dialogue, respect peaceful movements, release detainees, investigate cases of missing persons, hold culprits accountable, and hold free elections that will lead to the exchange of power.
Then these demands disappeared and were replaced by various observer missions which failed. Now we are approaching this from the angle of the Geneva Conference. How sly that all was! And it confirms that there is a conspiracy to destroy Syria
Q: Returning to Lebanon, are you afraid that the Syrian crisis will spillover into Lebanon?
Yes, I’m afraid that could happen. In Tripoli there are some politicians who finance groups, I won’t say that they are Takfirist or Salafist groups, but they are extremists. And these politicians are making a mistake. Some Arab countries are also making the mistake of encouraging Asir to keep up his incendiary and slanderous rhetoric which is denigrating to a number of leaders in the Shi’ite community. There is a political dispute in Lebanon which dialogue can resolve. And if it can, Hezbollah must communicate to the Iranian leadership to refocus its aim on Israel, and not on defending the Syrian regime.
Q: Sheikh Al-Asir and his associates say that they are defending a targeted community . . .
Who is this targeted community? There is an angst which we must understand, regardless of Hezbollah’s policies, among large segments of the Shi’ites in Lebanon who are worried that there is a conspiracy against them. In contrast, some believe that the Sunnis mean to deal with their historic frustrations which resulted from the Syrian takeover of Lebanon. They think that if the regime falls, they will be able to exact revenge against those who were in business with Syria. This view must be rectified. I am among those who were in business with the Syrian regime for 29 years, along with prominent Sunni figures and others. Rafiq Hariri, senior Christian and Muslim officials all had dealings with the Syrian regime at that time so as to preserve the Arab identity of Lebanon and to maintain the Taif Agreement. We cannot simplify things down to Sunni and Shi’a; this would be a grievous error.
Q: There are those who say that Hezbollah’s actions led to this reaction from the Sunni street . . .
If this is the argument, it still does nothing to address the sectarian turmoil and the inflammatory speeches appearing here and there. It can only be addressed by sitting down at the negotiating table and coming to an understanding regarding the issue of arms and mutual openness about Lebanon’s future. There are two basic components: Sunni and Shi’ite. There is no option except for coming to an agreement regarding Lebanon’s future and staying committed to the principle of non-intervention so as to not become entangled in the events unfolding in Syria. This way we can prevent the Syrian civil war from spilling over into Lebanon. Yes, the era of Syrian control harmed many prominent Lebanese patriots. Yes, the era of Syrian control included assassinations. However we should not forget there is another side to this coin, considering that we were able, with Syria, to prevent the partition and fragmentation of Lebanon and force the Israeli occupation out of most of the occupied Lebanese territory.
Q: You were among these involved in such negotiations from 2006 to 2012, but despite the prolonged talks, little was produced.
I disagree. We cannot reject dialogue in principle. Brandishing weapons, domestically or abroad, is unacceptable, just as the principle of rejecting dialogue is unacceptable. We must return to the underlying key issues: using weapons only at appropriate times and circumstances and only at the disposal of the Lebanese state. This is what President Michel Suleiman said. We know that the security and military system of Hezbollah is not a strictly local system—it is a regional system. We know this. However the Islamic Republic of Iran has not been acting in a common-sense manner. They claim that they stand with the oppressed in Palestine and elsewhere, and today they stand with the ongoing persecution in Syria, with a Syrian regime that kills its people, contradicting what Imam Khomeini advocated, as I understand it.
Q: What does Lebanon desire from Iran?
That it not use Lebanon as a bargaining chip during dialogue with the US. We know full-well that dialogues between Iran and the US have begun, but we do not want to them to come at the expense of Lebanon and the Arabs.
Q: Do you feel that Lebanon is likely to be used as a bargaining chip during negotiations?
It wouldn’t be the first time. It is time for us to become a legitimate country, and get out of the cycle of being used as a bargaining chip and maintaining the status quo, that being the truce with Israel, and rejecting settlement construction, and non-entry into any negotiations with Israel until a just two-state solution emerges.
Q: Returning to Lebanese politics, with the emergence of the Orthodox Gathering law, we can see a unified Christian position emerging for the first time in many years . . .
I disagree. There are independent Christians, and first among them is President Michel Suleiman, who absolutely opposes the Orthodox law, and it’s a good that happened. If he hadn’t come out in opposition with other senior Christians MPs, such as Sheikh Boutros Harb, things could have become even more starkly sectarian. There is no consensus over the Orthodox law at all.
Q: They say that the Christian MPs received votes from non-Christians, and this reflects the good work done by Christian representatives?
If we followed this argument to its logical end, we can also say that Muslim MPs received votes from non-Muslims. Lebanon is rooted in diversity and a mixed co-existence. If we were to operate based on the principle that voters can only elect representatives from their specific sect or denomination, then the Lebanese model will be dead.
Q: Does this law demonstrate the fears of the Christian community in Lebanon?
I think not. Those who proposed this law are unfortunately sequestering the Christian community and distorting the national Arab-Christian history and its historical openness to Islam and Arab identity. It betrays the legacy of Mikhail Naima and Gibran Khalil Gibran and the Arab Awakenings of Nasif al-Yaziji and others. Christian banners still fly high in the Arab resistance and Arab renaissance, beyond the reach of these naïve leaders who are ignorant of their own history. George Antonius was one of the pioneers of Arab nationalism, as were George Habash and Nayef Hawatmeh.
Q: Will you run in the new elections?
If the Orthodox law stands, I will not run.
Q: What about your son Timor?
There will come a time for Timor to run, but he must undergo political training first. He will be at my side; he accompanied me on my recent trip to Saudi Arabia and he will accompany me on future trips. Timor will definitely continue to work at the offices in Mokhtara. I promised the party that new blood would have a bigger role, and this is a separate issue from Timor. Mokhtara must remain a home to all Lebanese.