Protests on Gaza-Israel Border

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on both sides of the Israeli-Gaza border on Thursday to mark a year since Israel’s three-week war in Gaza, and to call for an end to the blockade of the area imposed by Israel and Egypt.
About 85 of the several hundred demonstrators inside Gaza were foreigners, part of a group of more than 1,000 who arrived in Cairo in hopes of entering the territory but were stopped by the Egyptian authorities. After days of negotiation, Egypt permitted a small delegation to cross the normally closed border at the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
On the Israeli side, about 1,000 people rallied in protest as well, most of them Israeli Arabs but also Israeli Jews who object to the blockade. NYT

Israeli security officials watched as demonstrators gathered on the Palestinian side of the Israeli-Gaza border on Thursday to mark a year since Israel’s three-week war in Gaza.

Gunman kills 5 in Finland before killing himself

A Kosovan-born gunman shot dead four people in a Finnish shopping mall on Thursday and killed his ex-girlfriend in an apartment before killing himself in Finland’s third shooting spree in as many years.
Police said Ibrahim Shkupolli, 43, killed three men and a woman at the Sello mall in Espoo, a town near Helsinki, as shoppers stocked up for the New Year holiday. Reuters

saudi ambasador apologized to Bishop Matar over Okaz article

The Secretariat of the Maronite Diocese of Beirut issued a statement in which said that the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Ali Awad Asiri has contacted Bishop Boulos Matar, The Archbishop of Beirut to convey to him the respect and love of Saudi minister of information , Abdul Aziz Khoja and offered an apology for what was reported in the Okaz newspaper . He said the author of the article is not that well known and does not represent the official stand of the kingdom

Former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid died

Former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, known as a champion of democracy and moderate Islam, died Wednesday at the age of 69 after a long struggle with strokes, diabetes and near blindness.
Better known as Gus Dur to his constituents, the late Muslim cleric was Indonesia’s first democratically elected president. He came to power in 1999 following the fall of military strongman Suharto in 1998. VOA

Najjar said Nasrallah’s speech is harmful

Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar said during an interview with Future News on Thursday, that Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech on the occasion of Ashura on last Sunday “harms more than helps, because it creates sensitivities.” He added that he does not “see any Christian leader giving instructions to Shiite or Sunni leaders.”

Moussawi says Nasrallah’s speech meant to reassure rather than provoke

Hezbollah International Relations Officer Ammar Moussawi told LBCI television on Thursday that the Lebanese should not feel threatened by Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech on the occasion of Ashura lasr Sunday , because his speech was “meant to reassure rather than provoke.”
“The reports saying that the cabinet was formed last month under the pressure of Hezbollah’s arms are shameful,” he added. He also said Hezbollah’s arms target Israel, and not Lebanese.
The Christian community of March 14 was outraged by Nasrallah’s speech and considered it a warning that their fate will be the same as of the Christians of Iraq if they don’t follow the Iranian Syrian axis

Jumblatt , Wahab to have lunch together this Sunday

Central News Agency CNA, has reported that PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt was invited for lunch this coming Sunday by former minister Wiam Wahab at his home town of al Jahiliah in the Shouf region of Mt Lebanon. CNA sources stressed that this meeting has no connection with Jumblatt’s upcoming visit to Syria, but comes as part of Jumblatt’s effort to meet with his former foes to unite the Druze community.

Assad keen on special relations with Lebanon

During a meeting with former Lebanese PM Salim al-Hoss, Syrian President Bashar al- Assad on Thursday said that the special relations with Lebanon preserve common interests and reflect the ties of brotherhood and history, Syrian news agency SANA.
The Assad-Hoss meeting tackled the developments in the region “especially in the occupied Palestinian territories and the dire need to end the suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip due to the imposed inhumane siege.”

2 injured Hamas members arrested in connection with Haret Hraik explosion

Judge Rahif Ramadan ordered the arrest of two Hamas members who were injured during the Haret Hraik explosion after they were interrogated .
One of them was reportedly transported to the military hospital while the other was detained at the military police station pending further investigation
Earlier today a security source said the investigation is 95 % complete and the perpetrators of the Haret Hraik explosion are not strangers , a hint that this may be an inside job within Hamas

Perpetrators of Haret Hraik explosion not strangers

A high-ranking Lebanese security source said preliminary reports indicate that the investigation of the Haret Hraik explosion are 95 % complete and perpetrators behind it were not strangers
“However, this can only be confirmed after completion of the probe and questioning the witnesses,” the source added in remarks published Thursday by Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
Many speculated that Israeli Mossad was behind the explosion that targeted Hamas officials . 2 Hamas officials were killed in the explosion that took place in Hezbollah stronghold south of Beirut