Geagea: The new cabinet takes Lebanon several steps back

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said during a ceremony to adopt his party’s by-laws:”  Some sides didn’t expect the Lebanese Forces to succeed when it agreed to the national charter and decided to take part in the building of the state”, adding that “some even believed that an LF without arms would fail, but we proved them wrong …our position is now stronger than any weapons.” (more…)

Aoun: March 14 presence in government was a crime against Lebanon

Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun launched another attack on on Tuesday against the March 14 alliance following his bloc’s weekly meeting.

He said : The presence of March 14 MPs in the government was a crime against Lebanon,” adding that “tomorrow we will tell you the crimes they committed.” (more…)

Maronite Patriarch: Having a cabinet is better than nothing

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai condemned the regressive economic situation in Lebanon which prompting the youth to emigrate persist, and called on the government to work on reducing people’s suffering.

He said on Tuesday “the government must be held accountable based on its accomplishments ”, the National News Agency quoted him as saying. (more…)

Charbel prevents Rifi from traveling to France

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel  has reportedly prevented  Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi  from  travel outside of Lebanon “during this critical time” in the country.

Rifi was reportedly planning to take part in a security conference in France, according to  Al-Akhbar newspaper.

Former PM Saad Hariri is reportedly still in Paris because he has received several threats on his life . (more…)

Op-ED: Israel, the Apartheid State of 21st Century

The so-called democratic government of Israel has two systems of education and two different curricula in its present day Apartheid system of Education.

Syria’s opposition meeting was a PR exercise

Allowing opposition figures to meet openly was an attempt to show the world Syria is serious about reform, if only it were true

Aoun, Hezbollah want the clause on STL to be in black and white

A Liwaa newspaper reported that sources close to the ministerial committee charged with drafting the ministerial policy statement ruled out any decision on the clause pertaining to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon before an agreement is reached on this issue . (more…)

Syrian opposition supports the popular uprising, report

Syrian opposition members met Monday in Damascus, the first such gathering sanctioned by the government, but activists abroad rejected the move, signaling that President Bashar al-Assad’s offer of a national dialogue could widen divisions within the opposition. (more…)

Jumblatt: Only free people can Liberate oppressed Palestinians

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt headed on Saturday to an undisclosed location after instructing his representatives in the cabinet not to accept any “explosive” policy statement draft, the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa daily reported. (more…)

Mirza: I haven’t received anything from STL

Lebanese prosecutor Judge Said Mirza told Future TV that he has not received any documents from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon regarding the indictments in the assassination of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri .

There were rumors that the Lebanese judicial authorities received copies of the indictments from STL prior to announcement during first week of July . (more…)