Lebanon Speaker urges UN to stop its bias towards Israel

Lebanon’s Speaker Nabih Berri on Friday urged the United Nations Security Council, especially the permanent member states, to “stop treating Israel as an exception to international law, and hence, implementing UNSCR 1701 and halting threats of resorting to force against Lebanon.”

On the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of establishing the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Berri in a statement stressed “Lebanon’s keenness and commitment to implementing the obligations of UNSCRs 425 and 1701.” (more…)

Lebanon, Jordan PMs sign several agreements

Lebanese PM Saad Hariri and his Jordanian counterpart Samir al-Rifai headed the meeting of the Lebanese-Jordanian committee and signed 16 agreements, Memorandums of Understanding and protocols on bilateral cooperation in several fields.

Jordan PM in Lebanon to ink several agreements

Jordanian Prime Minister Samir al-Rifai is in Beirut at the head of a high-level ministerial delegation to sign several agreements with Lebanon in various fields. (more…)

Riot at Roumieh Prison by Fatah al Islam inmates

A verbal brawl erupted Friday at Roumieh jail between guards and Fatah al-Islam inmates who demanded longer visiting hours with their parents/families
The security guards managed to contain the situation.

Syria’s link to Hezbollah clouds honeymoon with U.S.

Emboldened by its strong ties with Iran and Turkey, Syria is ignoring U.S. demands that it stop backing Hezbollah, despite the risk that this will spoil its rapprochement with Washington and raise regional tensions.

Syria’s support for the armed Lebanese Shi’ite movement is at odds with its stated aims of improving relations with the United States and resuming peace negotiations with Hezbollah’s arch-foe Israel, diplomats and political analysts said. (more…)

Lebanese Police graduate from U.S. training program

The U.S. embassy in Lebanon Thursday announced the graduation of Lebanese police officers from an American training course amid internal debate over the nature of this program, stating that “the first class of 73 Internal Security Forces (ISF) cadets and officers” graduated on Wednesday “from the newly developed Community Policing training class.” (more…)

Iran FM calls on Lebanon to drafts U.N. Resolution on Israeli provocations

Iran has called on the Islamic World to stop Israel’s use of force against Palestinian protesters enraged by Israeli provocations in East Jerusalem al-Quds.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki made the request by forwarding official letters to Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC); Amr Moussa, the Arab League Secretary-General, plus Walid al-Muallem, Ali al-Shami, Nasser Judeh and Marty Natalegawa, the respective foreign ministers of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Indonesia. (more…)

MP Nicolas: The presidency is off limits

FPM MP Nabil Nicolas told New TV on Friday that Tawhid Movement leader Wiam Wahhab should not have called for President Michel Suleiman’s resignation, adding, “The presidency is off limits.”

Nicolas said that his bloc is not concerned with the criticisms made by Wahhab.

“Wahhab’s statement is personal, and it does not reflect the [Change and Reform bloc’s position],” he added.

He also said that some political figures “are exploiting Wahhab’s move to [pretend to be] defending the presidency.” (more…)

Sfeir defends Suleiman

Following talks with former MP Ghattas Khoury in Bkirki , Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutos Sfeir defended President Michel Suleiman on Friday, saying he rejected everything that harmed the seat of the presidency and constitutional authorities.

On Thursday, Sfeir said the head of state was “doing his job in the best manner.”

“Every time they search for someone to attack him and now is the turn of the president,” Sfeir said.

Suleiman “needs some help and we should stand by him,” the patriarch stressed. (more…)

Israel “insulted” the U.S. by expanding illegal settlements

“The announcement of the settlements on the very day that the vice president was there was insulting. It was just really a very unfortunate and difficult moment for everyone; the U.S., our vice president, who had gone to reassert America’s strong support for Israeli security, and I regret deeply that that occurred and made that view known.” – Sec. Hillary Clinton in an interview with CNN, 12 March 2010.

As the diplomatic row over Israel’s smack down of Vice President Joe Biden unfolds, governmental officials in both the United States and Israel continue to question the timing of Interior Minister’s Eli Yishai’s announcement of plans to build 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem. (more…)