A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For October 24-25/2019 Addressing the Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
October 24-25/2019
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on October 24-25/2019
US Says Lebanese Protesters Have ‘Legitimate’ Grievances
U.S. Embassy Beirut Supports the Demonstrations In Lebanon
UK Embassy in Lebanon: Necessary Reforms Should Be Implemented Urgently
Lebanon’s Aoun Says Willing to Meet Protesters
Lebanon’s President Aoun refuses to step down, blames corruption for crisis
Protesters Dissatisfied with President Speech
No Signs of Abating as Mass Lebanese Protests Enter Week Two
Hariri Meets with EU Ambassadors
Hariri, Jumblat Back Aoun’s Call for Govt. Reshuffle
Al-Rahi Urges ‘Small, Neutral and Competent’ Government
Bassil Tells FPMers ‘Don’t Fear’ as They Chant Own ‘Hela Ho’ Slogan
ISF Contains Riad al-Solh Scuffles between Protesters, ‘Nasrallah Defenders’
Drug Lord Delivers Blunt Support for Lebanon Protests
UNIFIL Observes United Nations Day
Odds mount against Lebanon’s protest movement after president’s speech
Lebanon: Religious Authorities Express Solidarity With Protesters
UK Says Lebanon Protesters Must Be Heard, Reforms Enacted
Arab League Advises Lebanon’s PM to Hold Dialogue with Protesters
Lebanon: Religious Authorities Express Solidarity With Protesters
Lebanon Top Banking Official: Operations to Fully Resume when Crisis Ends
The Final Chapter of Lebanon’s Incorporation with Tehran’s Axis
News Analysi/Domestic problems, rather than foreign intervention, trigger Lebanon’s protests: analysts
Aoun, Hezbollah to cling to power, come hell or high water
Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on October 24-25/2019
Odds mount against Lebanon’s protest movement after president’s speech/Khaled Yacoub Oweis/The National/October 24, 2019
The Final Chapter of Lebanon’s Incorporation with Tehran’s Axis/Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al-Awsat/October,24/2019
News Analysi/Domestic problems, rather than foreign intervention, trigger Lebanon’s protests: analysts/Dana Halawi/Xinhua/October 24/2019
Aoun, Hezbollah to cling to power, come hell or high water/Elias Sakr/Annahar/October 24/2019
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on October 24-25/2019
US Says Lebanese Protesters Have ‘Legitimate’ Grievances
Agence France Presse./Naharnet/October 24/2019
The United States called Wednesday on Lebanon’s leaders to meet the “legitimate” grievances of citizens who have led a week of unprecedented protests against corruption. David Schenker, the top State Department official for the Middle East, said the United States “stands ready to assist the Lebanese government” in taking action, without commenting on a reform package presented by Prime Minister Saad Hariri. The demonstrations show the need for a “frank discussion” between leaders and citizens over “the Lebanese people’s longstanding demands for economic reform and an end to endemic corruption,” Schenker told reporters. “It will be up to the Lebanese people to decide whether these measures go far enough to satisfy their legitimate desires for a prosperous and thriving country free of the corruption that has undermined its potential for too long,” he said. Protests sparked on October 17 by a proposed tax on calls made through WhatsApp and other messaging apps have morphed into a massive movement seeking to revamp the entire political system. The demonstrations have crossed sectarian lines, bringing historic unity in a country still scarred by its civil war which ended in 1990. The United States backed the Taif agreement that ended the war but more recently has focused its policy on trying to sideline Hezbollah, the Iranian-linked and strenuously anti-Israel Shiite militant movement which is part of Lebanon’s government.
U.S. Embassy Beirut Supports the Demonstrations In Lebanon
October 24/2019
“Recent events underscore the need for a frank discussion between the Lebanese people and their leadership about the future of their country and reflect the Lebanese people’s longstanding demands for economic reform and an end to endemic corruption.”
-Senior State Department official at press opportunity, 10/23/2019′
UK Embassy in Lebanon: Necessary Reforms Should Be Implemented Urgently
Naharnet/October 24/2019
The British Embassy in Lebanon issued a statement over the anti-government mass protests that entered their second week on Thursday. The embassy issued the statement on Twitter and said: A week after these protests started, the Lebanese people have expressed legitimate frustrations, which must be heard. This is an important moment for Lebanon: the necessary reforms should be implemented urgently.The UK will continue to support a secure, stable, sovereign and prosperous Lebanon, including a stronger and fairer economy, quality education for all, improved services, and enhanced security.
Lebanon’s Aoun Says Willing to Meet Protesters
Asharq Al-Awsat/Thursday, 24 October, 2019
Lebanon’s president offered Thursday to meet the protesters whose week-old mobilization demanding a complete overhaul of the political and sectarian system has brought the country to a standstill. Michel Aoun’s first speech since the start of the unprecedented protest movement was met with disdain by demonstrators who see him and the entire political class as part of the problem and not the solution.
Sparked on October 17 by a proposed tax on calls made through messaging apps, the protests have morphed into a cross-sectarian street mobilization against a political system seen as corrupt and broken. “I am ready to meet your representatives… to hear your demands,” Aoun said. He suggested that a government reshuffle might be needed, an option that Prime Minister Saad Hariri also hinted he was open to. “It has become necessary to review the current government situation so that the executive authority can pursue its responsibilities,” Aoun said. Hariri on Monday presented a package of reforms, including cutting ministerial salaries, but the rallies have continued, crippling Beirut and other major cities. “The reform paper that was approved will be the first step to save Lebanon and remove the specter of financial and economic collapse,” Aoun said.
“It was your first achievement because you helped remove obstacles in front of it and it was adopted in record speed,” the president told the protesters.
But dozens of demonstrators listening to the speech on loudspeakers outside parliament booed it and resume their calls for an end of the current system, an AFP reporter said. Among them, Rabah Shahrour said he was fed up with hearing the same public addresses for years. “The street was looking for a little hope from him,” he said of the president’s speech. “But sadly the president today spoke in generalities. We’ve being hearing these generalities for three years, and they haven’t led to anything,” he said.
‘All of them to go’
Jad al-Hajj, a mechanical engineering student, said he would also remain in the street after what he described as the president’s “meaningless” speech.
“We want him to go and for this era to end — for all of them to go, including him,” he told AFP. More than a quarter of Lebanon’s population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank. Almost three decades since the end of Lebanon’s civil war, political deadlock has stymied efforts to tackle mounting economic woes compounded by the eight-year civil war in neighboring Syria. In previous days, tens of thousands have gathered all over Lebanon, with largely peaceful rallies morphing into celebrations at night. But in central Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square on Thursday, numbers were much lower than in previous days. The British embassy in Beirut joined the United States in calling on Lebanese leaders to meet the “legitimate” frustrations of citizens. “The necessary reforms should be implemented urgently,” it said on Twitter.
‘Our basic rights’
In his speech, Aoun said he respected the right of protesters to speak up but urged them to open up the roads. Early Thursday morning, demonstrators blocked roads around the capital, AFP correspondents and Lebanese media reported. Sitting on the pavement of a major east-west artery, a 30-year-old who had trained as a chef said he had been protesting since the first day.
“People think we’re playing but we’re actually asking for our most basic rights: water, food, electricity, healthcare, pensions, medicine, schooling,” he said.
Banks, schools and universities remained closed.
The president also echoed calls in the street to stamp out graft in Lebanon, which ranked 138 out of 180 in Transparency International’s 2018 corruption index.
“Every person who stole public money should be held accountable but it is important their sect doesn’t defend him blindly,” he said. On Wednesday, a state prosecutor charged former prime minister Najib Mikati over corruption allegations, in a move whose timing appeared as a nod to protesters.
Mikati, 63, along with his brother, his son and a Lebanese bank have been accused of “illicit enrichment” over allegations of wrongly receiving millions of dollars in subsidized housing loans. The former premier denies the accusations.
On Wednesday, the army deployed in the streets, sparking fears of clashes.
But protesters faced the troops chanting “peaceful, peaceful” and a video of one soldier seemingly in tears was shared widely online.
In the southern Shiite-majority city of Nabatieh, police however tried to disperse protesters by force, leaving several injured, the National News Agency said.
Lebanon’s President Aoun refuses to step down, blames corruption for crisis
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Thursday, 24 October 2019
Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun refused to step down and said on Thursday that sectarianism and corruption had destroyed the country, in his first address to the nation since the outbreak of nationwide anti-government demonstrations last week. “I heard many calls for the change of government; government cannot be changed overnight. It must happen through constitutional reforms,” said Aoun, who blamed corruption across all political parties and sectarianism for the “destroying” the country. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said he welcomed Aoun’s call for the need to review the current government through existing constitutional mechanisms in a tweet on Thursday. Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said on Thursday in a tweet that the best solution out of mass protests triggered by an economic crisis is to speed up a government reshuffle as proposed by Aoun.
“I have taken Lebanon to a place of safety and stability,” claimed Aoun, after saying that “sectarianism and corruption have destroyed the country.” Aoun pointed to corruption across all the political parties as causing the crisis.
“Politicians must return embezzled funds. The corruption has no religion or sect … Let’s expose the corrupt and leave the matter in hands of judiciary,” says Lebanese President Michel Aoun, addressing Lebanon after a week of anti-government protests. “All political parties are responsible for protecting public funds from being stolen,” he added. Aoun pointed to the reforms proposed by the government under Prime Minister Saad Hariri as the solution to the crisis. “The reforms that have been passed are the first step to saving Lebanon,” he said, listing a number of reforms including a bill which would remove political immunity from parliamentarians and government officials. Aoun linked the reforms’ success to the Lebanese people, saying “freedom of expression is a right respected and cherished by all people,” and calling on citizens to monitor the reforms to ensure their success.
The Lebanese president ended his speech by refusing to step down and instead calling for dialogue as the solution. “Let’s initiate a constructive dialogue where practical measures are taken to reach the best results. Dialogue is the best way to solution,” he stated.
“I am ready to meet your representatives … to hear your demands.”
Speech unlikely to quell protests
Along with all other major political parties, Aoun’s Future Patriotic Movement (FPM) has been targeted by the protesters, many of whom have demanded the resignation of the entire government. Aoun’s son-in-law Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil has been a particular target of protesters’ chants.
Many roads and highways across the country remain blocked, including the major highways into Beirut, according to Al Arabiya’s correspondent. The army is deployed across the country, including in Nabatieh in the south, where protesters came under attack last night. In the morning, Aoun receivied the UN Secretary-General’s Representative in Beirut, Jan Kubis, who briefed him on the position of the International Support Group on the current developments, according to a tweet by the official account for the Lebanese Presidency. After Aoun, Walid Joumblatt, the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party and a former ally of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, is set to speak. Joumblatt has previously said the country needs a new, non-sectarian law, but that he is against the resignation of the government. The only cabinet ministers that have resigned so far are four from the Lebanese Forces party.
Speaker of Parliament and head of the Shia Amal party Nabih Berri appeared to criticize the protests, saying Lebanon cannot withstand its current state of “suspension,” Lebanese Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV reported. There have been fears that Amal and Hezbollah supporters may try and attack protesters after a showdown with the Lebanese Army on Monday.
Protesters Dissatisfied with President Speech
Associated Press./Naharnet/October 24/2019
showed dissatisfaction with a speech that came eight days after the uprising began. Protesters around Lebanon booed and resumed their calls for fundamental reform. Some people said the speech came “eight days late and failed to give any hope.” Another protester said “sadly the president today spoke in generalities. We’ve being hearing these generalities for three years, and they haven’t led to anything.”As Aoun spoke, hundreds of people gathered in downtown Beirut listening to his speech through a giant speaker, shouted: “Come on, leave, your term has left us hungry.” The protesters have been venting their frustration at daily woes from lack of healthcare to power cuts, and calling for the replacement of a political system they say is corrupt and broken. Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday presented a package of reforms, including cutting ministerial salaries, but the peaceful rallies have continued, crippling Beirut and other major cities. Jad al-Hajj, a mechanical engineering student, said he would also remain in the street after what he described as the president’s “meaningless” speech. “We want him to go and for this era to end — for all of them to go, including him,” he told AFP.
No Signs of Abating as Mass Lebanese Protests Enter Week Two
Agence France Presse./Naharnet/October 24/2019
Ballooning anti-government nationwide protests have been ongoing for one week Thursday without any signs of abating, with demonstrators blocking main roads in Beirut and other parts of the country. Sparked on October 17 by a proposed tax on calls made through messaging apps, the protests have morphed into a cross-sectarian street mobilisation against a political system seen as corrupt and broken. On Thursday morning demonstrators set up roadblocks around the capital, AFP correspondents and Lebanese media reported. A dozen young protesters had blocked one major east-west artery, pitching tents in the middle of the road. Sitting on the pavement with a red and white keffiyeh on his shoulders, a 30-year-old who had trained as a chef said he had been protesting since the first day. “We’re here closing the main road to stop some movement in this country,” he said, asking not to be identified. “People think we’re playing but we’re actually asking for our most basic rights: water, food, electricity, healthcare, pensions, medicine, schooling,” he told AFP.
‘Revolution, revolution’
Embattled Prime Minister Saad Hariri has presented a package of reforms, including cutting ministerial salaries, but the rallies have continued, crippling Beirut and other major cities. As President Michel Aoun was expected to break his silence later in the day, dozens of young protesters marched in the direction of the capital’s Martyrs’ Square chanting: “Revolution, revolution.” Washington on Wednesday called on Lebanon’s leaders to meet the “legitimate” grievances of citizens. More than a quarter of Lebanon’s population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank. Almost three decades since the end of Lebanon’s civil war, political deadlock has stymied efforts to tackle mounting economic woes compounded by the eight-year civil war in neighbouring Syria. Protesters are asking for a new political system — which they say has been dominated by the same families for decades — and an end to corruption, as well as voicing more personal political grievances. Blocking another street in Beirut with a dozen other young demonstrators, a 22-year-old said he had been up all night to protest corruption but also to demand his Lebanese nationality. “I’m protesting because my mother is Lebanese and I’m not,” said the young man, who was born in Lebanon to a Palestinian-Syrian. Thousands of people born to Lebanese mothers but foreign fathers remain unable to acquire citizenship. “I think I have the right to have the Lebanese nationality,” he said, leaning against a motorbike parked in the middle of an intersection.
Yoga mats
In the mountain town of Aley southeast of the capital, a dozen women and men sat cross-legged on colourful yoga mats in the middle of the grey asphalt road. Banks, schools and universities remain closed. The protests have largely been peaceful and cheerful, with night-time gatherings turning to celebrations.
On Wednesday, the army deployed in the streets, sparking fears of the kinds of clashes seen during the first two days of the demonstrations. But protesters faced the troops chanting “peaceful, peaceful” and a video of one soldier seemingly in tears was shared widely online. In the southern city of Nabatieh however, a Shiite stronghold of the Hizbullah and Amal movements, police tried to disperse protesters by force, leaving several injured, according to the National News Agency. Protesters are demanding an end to what they view as widespread corruption, and the return of money they say was stolen from the people.
On Wednesday, a state prosecutor charged former Prime Minister Najib Miqati over corruption allegations, in a move whose timing appeared as a nod to protesters. Miqati, 63, along with his brother, his son and a Lebanese bank have been accused of “illicit enrichment” over allegations of wrongly receiving millions of dollars in subsidised housing loans. The former premier denies the allegations.Lebanon ranked 138 out of 180 in Transparency International’s 2018 corruption index, and residents suffer chronic electricity and water shortages.
Hariri, Jumblat Back Aoun’s Call for Govt. Reshuffle
Naharnet/October 24/2019
Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Thursday welcomed President Michel Aoun’s call for a government reshuffle. “I called Mr. President and welcomed his call for reevaluating the current government situation according to the applicable constitutional mechanisms,” Hariri tweeted. Jumblat also welcomed the suggestion in a tweet. “After listening to President Aoun’s speech, and seeing as we are on the same sinking boat and we share his fear of an economic collapse, we believe that the best solution lies in speeding up the government reshuffle and later calling for parliamentary elections under a modern, non-sectarian law,” Jumblat said. In an address to the nation, his first since the eruption of the unprecedented popular revolt, the president said it has become necessary to “review the current government situation so that the executive authority can pursue its responsibilities.”
Protesters on the streets have called for the government’s resignation and the formation of an independent technocrat cabinet. Media reports have said that the ruling parties were considering a government reshuffle that would replace “provocative” ministers.
Hariri Meets with EU Ambassadors
Naharnet/October 24/2019
Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks Thursday afternoon at the Center House with the ambassadors of European Union countries, in the presence of the EU Ambassador to Lebanon Ralph Tarraf. The meeting focused on the latest developments in Lebanon, Hariri’s office said in a terse statement, adding that the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon will later issue a statement concerning the meeting. The meeting was attended by the ambassadors of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Britain. Hariri’s adviser former minister Ghattas Khoury also attended the talks. Hariri met earlier with Spanish Ambassador Jose Maria Ferre de la Pena and discussed with him the latest developments.
Al-Rahi Urges ‘Small, Neutral and Competent’ Government
Naharnet/October 24/2019
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Thursday welcomed President Michel Aoun’s address to the nation and called for the formation of a “small, neutral and competent” government. “President Michel Aoun addressed the Lebanese clearly and frankly, pinpointing their suffering and describing the Lebanese people as lively people who are capable of achieving change,” al-Rahi said in a statement released by Bkirki. Lauding Aoun’s announcement that he is ready to engage in dialogue with the protesters, al-Rahi expressed relief over the president’s promise to “fight corruption, rescue the economic and financial situation, retrieve the looted funds, conduct accountability and lift bank secrecy and immunity off anyone involved in public affairs.” The patriarch also backed the president’s called for “reevaluating the current government situation,” while calling for “a small, neutral and competent government that rescues Lebanon and creates confidence among citizens.”He added that “the popular movement and its legitimate demands have started to yield results.”
Bassil Tells FPMers ‘Don’t Fear’ as They Chant Own ‘Hela Ho’ Slogan
Naharnet/October 24/2019
Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Thursday told party members not to be scared of the ongoing popular revolt in the country.“The most important thing is: do not fear and do not shake. This Movement does not fear and does not shake,” Bassil told FPMers inside the movement’s headquarters in Sin el-Fil as they came up with their own “Hela, Hela, Ho” pro-Bassil chant in response to the popular slogan used by protesters on the streets – and in some instances inside cafes and supermarkets. “Hela, Hela, Hela, Hela, Ho, Jebran Bassil menhebbo (we love him)”, the supporters chanted. “Hela, Hela, Hela, Hela, Ho, Jebran Bassil k*** emmo” has become the protests’ most popular slogan, mainly in Beirut and the northern Metn areas.Literally translated, the last two words of the slogan seek to insult a person through cursing their mother, but in Lebanon it basically means “f*** you”.
Bassil asked supporters not to care about minor “details.”“What’s important is that we are strong and prudent,” he added.
ISF Contains Riad al-Solh Scuffles between Protesters, ‘Nasrallah Defenders’
Naharnet/October 24/2019
Scuffles renewed Thursday at Beirut’s Riad al-Solh Square between anti-government protesters and young men accusing them of “insulting” Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. The scuffles had first erupted Wednesday evening but took a more violent turn on Thursday with the increase in the numbers of both the protesters and the “Nasrallah defenders.”Riot police intervened twice on Thursday and separated between the two groups. Al-Jadeed TV meanwhile said an army force had also arrived on the scene. Several people were injured according to TV networks. The pro-Nasrallah group tried to remove tents erected by the protesters during the scuffles. Protesters responded by chanting “All of them means all of them”, a slogan popularized during the 2015 protests and heavily used during the 2019 revolt. Some protesters and media reports said the Nasrallah supporters share the demonstrators’ grievances but refuse any mention or reference to Nasrallah. Other protesters and reports said the pro-Nasrallah young men were deliberately seeking to disrupt the sit-in. Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat meanwhile condemned “attacks on protesters, wherever they may come from.”
Drug Lord Delivers Blunt Support for Lebanon Protests
Agence France Presse./Naharnet/October 24/2019
A week into daily demonstrations that have gone on into the early hours, the Lebanese may be in need of a pick me up — and the country’s most famous drug dealer offered just that Thursday. Nouh Zoaiter, a hashish dealer on the run from Lebanese authorities, delivered a blunt message in support of anti-corruption protests that have crippled the country. The self-styled Lebanese Robin Hood released a video on a local news site calling on protesters in the eastern Baalbek region to demonstrate on Thursday evening. “I hope that everyone who goes to the protests brings a Lebanese flag with them,” he said, in an address laced with anger. “I hope that every oppressed and deprived person goes to the square,” he said, wearing a baseball cap backwards, a hoodie and a chain around his neck. Protests sparked on October 17 by a proposed tax on calls made through messaging apps like WhatsApp have morphed into unprecedented cross-sectarian street demonstrations. Demonstrators are demanding corruption be weeded out, as well as the overthrow of the entire political class. In downtown Beirut, where tens of thousands have gathered daily, graffiti reading “Nouh Zoaiter for president” has been scrawled in at least one location. Baalbek, a poor and somewhat lawless area close to the Syrian border, is affiliated with powerful political party and armed group Hizbullah. It is known as the drug capital of Lebanon, with hashish grown relatively openly. Zoaiter, who courts media attention, did not say if he would attend Thursday’s protest but is wanted on 4,000 charges, according to an AFP correspondent in Baalbek. In February Lebanese security forces seized 20 truckloads of Zoaitar’s hash from a farm in Bekaa, local media reported.
In 2014 a bullet grazed his shoulder during a shootout with the Lebanese Army, a local newspaper reported.
UNIFIL Observes United Nations Day
Naharnet/October 24/2019
UNIFIL on Thursday marked the 74th United Nations Day at its headquarters in Naqoura, south Lebanon, “joining the global call for international peace and security as enshrined in the U.N. Charter,” a UNIFIL statement said. UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col said the Day serves as a reminder to act collectively for maintaining peace around the world. “In south Lebanon, this means reaffirming and fulfilling our shared commitment to the cessation of hostilities,” he said, while addressing a ceremony organized to mark U.N. Day. “I call on all stakeholders to exercise restraint and to maintain their active engagement with UNIFIL which plays a critical role in de-escalating tensions, including through its liaison and coordination mechanism,” the UNIFIL head added. He emphasized that “the 13 years of relative stability in south Lebanon -– achieved collectively with the cooperation of both the parties to the conflict and the host population -– has ensured an ideal environment for growth and development in UNIFIL’s area of operations.” “We have a collective responsibility to remain on the path to peace,” he told the ceremony, attended by representatives of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), other security entities, local leaders and fellow peacekeepers, among others. During the ceremony, Major General Del Col and LAF South Litani Sector Commander Brigadier General Roger Helou representing the LAF Commander, laid wreaths at the UNIFIL cenotaph to pay tribute to the more than 300 UNIFIL peacekeepers who paid their lives while serving for peace in south Lebanon. “With the completion of 74 years of continued service for world peace, the U.N. is on course to celebrate the platinum jubilee of its founding next year. Today also marks the pre-launch of the “UN75” campaign, which once fully launched in January 2020 will be the biggest-ever global conversation on the role of global cooperation in building the future we want,” the UNIFIL statement said. “The campaign will see dialogues held around the world, with the aim of involving the global public in a large and inclusive conversation, on the role of the U.N. in building a better future for all,” it added. U.N. Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the U.N. Charter. Lebanon is one of the 51 founding members of the U.N.
Odds mount against Lebanon’s protest movement after president’s speech
Khaled Yacoub Oweis/The National/October 24, 2019
The Arab uprisings have shown the resilience of regime elements with powerful outsie backers
The mass demonstrations sweeping Lebanon have hit a wall of resistance, with the political class mostly closing ranks and the Hezbollah-backed president giving no inkling of major compromise.
In his first public appearance since the protests began eight days ago, President Michel Aoun suggested a government reshuffle during a televised speech on Thursday. Sunni Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who has also ignored the street demands to quit, quickly endorsed the possibility.
It is a tactic that has been employed across the Middle East in response to mass calls for change and for dignity, including during the Arab uprisings of 2010-2011, but often to little effect. Where the regimes or major elements associated with them have had a powerful outside sponsor, they have withstood the challenge from the masses.
In this regard, Lebanon is similar to Syria and Iraq in that Iran has shown its willingness to support its clients to the hilt.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah predicted that the demonstrations would not last long and hinted at deploying his militiamen, as he did in 2008 when the cabinet sought to dismantle the Shiite group’s private communications network.
But today a large proportion of Shiites have joined the protest movement, although directing their wrath more towards Nabih Berri, the speaker of parliament since 1992 and head of the Amal movement, Hezbollah’s main Shiite ally.
This is the first time that this complete narrative of community representation is changing
Lebanese economist Ishac Diwan
Mr Aoun, 84, allied with Hezbollah in 2006 in a move that led him to the presidency 10 years later, having reversed his enmity towards Syria’s ruling Assad family.
In his speech on Thursday, Mr Aoun recycled old vows to combat corruption and hold anyone convicted of misconduct accountable. He did not mention his son-in-law, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, a defender of Hezbollah abroad, who has been groomed to become president.
Mr Bassil at one point was of the power ministry overseeing Lebanon’s disastrous electricity infrastructure, where tens of billions of dollars have been wasted or stolen since the 1990s.
The Maronite Christian minister has been whipping sectarian sentiment among his community as part of preparations to succeed Mr Aoun. But that may no longer be an effective political strategy in Lebanon.
The protests have been cross-sectarian, drawing Lebanese from all backgrounds.
“Removal of all [leaders], means the removal of all,” has been a common slogan demonstrators have thundered across the small country of 6.1 million.
Prominent Lebanese economist Ishac Diwan said the country is undergoing a revolution aimed at shaping a new national identity shaped by “individuals who reject the system”.
Mr Diwan told France Culture radio that leaders in Lebanon’s current confessional system can no longer escape being identified with corruption, having benefited from the state, the private sector, and dominated the credit resources.
“This is the first time that this complete narrative of community representation is changing,” Mr Diwan said.
On the street in Beirut, Mr Aoun’s speech was derided, stoking more of the abuse he and Mr Basil have been receiving from Lebanese from all walks of life.
But Mr Aoun showed political cunning, inviting the demonstrators to meet him while knowing that they lack a leadership. A similar tactic, used in Jordan, managed to sow divisions among the “hirak”, as the street opposition movement in the kingdom is known.
Lebanese political commentator Youssef Bazzi said it will be difficult at this stage for Lebanon’s protest movement to put together a manifesto, partly due to the depth of anger exploding on the street.
Instead of resigning, Mr Aoun adopted a provocative stance and sought to hijack the uprising by suggesting he should be given full power to conduct a purge, according to Mr Bazzi.
Mr Bazzi said the Hezbollah-Amal-Aoun axis and the backing of Iran would make it difficult for the protest movement to change the system fundamentally in the short term, pointing to Syria and Iraq as examples.
“My own conviction is that the Arab uprisings will last for decades,” he told The National. “Since 2011 they have been erupting in waves, as soon as one ends, another starts.”
There has been no official comment from Iran on the upheaval in Lebanon. In Syria, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intervened directly to preserve Bashar Al Assad, after Hezbollah could not bear the burden alone.
With Hezbollah in such a powerful position domestically in terms of military capability, any role Iran plays will be much less apparent.
Lebanon: Religious Authorities Express Solidarity With Protesters
Beirut- Asharq Al-Awsat/Thursday, 24 October, 2019
Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdullatif Derian expressed his support for the just social demands and called on “the pillars of the state” to respond to the needs of the people. In a statement on Wednesday, he also hoped that the recent decisions of the Council of Ministers would be the beginning of the desired reforms, and an expression of the sincere intention to implement them. Dar al-Fatwa expressed its “high appreciation for the behavior of the protesters, which was characterized by national discipline in the streets and public squares of Beirut and in many other Lebanese cities,” and reiterated its support for the “right social demands and the nationalist slogans raised by citizens throughout Lebanon.”In parallel, the Council of Patriarchs and Bishops called on President Michel Aoun to immediately begin consultations with political and community leaders to make appropriate decisions on people’s demands in order to avoid financial and economic collapse. While the Council considered that the series of government reforms was a positive first step, it called for the amendment of the ministerial team and the appointment of “people of competence, integrity, and patriotism.”Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, who chaired the extraordinary session of the Council on Wednesday, said in a statement: “The State has gone too far in deviation, intransigence, and corruption prompting the people to revolt.”He declared solidarity with the protestors stating: “The people have sent a message that rose above sectarian divisions.”
“The people showed that they are more united than their leaders, and gave evidence of the will of national life in a time of disintegration and sedition,” he added.
UK Says Lebanon Protesters Must Be Heard, Reforms Enacted
Beirut- Asharq Al-Awsat/Thursday, 24 October, 2019
The “legitimate frustrations” of Lebanon’s protesters should be heard and reforms enacted urgently, the British embassy in Lebanon said on Thursday amid nationwide protests that have swept the country since last week. The British position echoed that of the United States and France, close allies of Lebanon which have voiced exasperation at delays in enacting reforms and fighting corruption. Protesters expressing outrage at the country’s ruling elite have called for their resignation and the return of money they say has been looted from the state. Lebanese leaders are discussing a possible government reshuffle to defuse the unprecedented protests that have shut down banks, schools, and roadways, government sources said on Wednesday.”A week after these protests started, the Lebanese people have expressed legitimate frustrations, which must be heard. This is an important moment for Lebanon: the necessary reforms should be implemented urgently,” the British embassy tweet said.
The United States said on Wednesday it supported the right of protesters to demonstrate peacefully and said the Lebanese people were “rightfully angered” over their government’s refusal to tackle corruption. France also urged Beirut to carry out the reforms, considered key to unlocking some $11 billion in financing pledged by Western donor countries and lending institutions last year. Protesters have said they are not satisfied with emergency reform measures announced this week that include halving ministers’ salaries and taxes on banks.
“The UK will continue to support a secure, stable, sovereign and prosperous Lebanon, including a stronger and fairer economy, quality education for all, improved services, and enhanced security,” said a second tweet from the UK embassy. Protests in Lebanon entered a second week on Thursday with demonstrators blocking main roads in Beirut and other parts of the country.
Sparked on October 17 by a proposed tax on calls made through messaging apps, the protests have morphed into a cross-sectarian street mobilization against a political system seen as corrupt and broken. On Thursday morning, demonstrators set up roadblocks around the capital.
One major east-west artery was blocked by a dozen young protesters, who pitched tents in the middle of the road. Sitting on the pavement with a red and white keffiyeh on his shoulders, a 30-year-old who had trained as a chef, said he had been protesting since the first day.
“We’re here closing the main road to stop some movement in this country,” he said, asking not to be identified. “People think we’re playing but we’re actually asking for our most basic rights: water, food, electricity, healthcare, pensions, medicine, schooling,” he told AFP.
Embattled Prime Minister Saad Hariri has presented a package of reforms, including cutting ministerial salaries, but the rallies have continued, crippling Beirut and other major cities. President Michel Aoun was expected to speak later in the day. On Wednesday, Hariri held meetings with security and military leaders, stressing the need to maintain security and open roads, the state-run National News Agency reported. More than a quarter of Lebanon’s population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank. Almost three decades after the end of Lebanon’s civil war, the political deadlock has stymied efforts to tackle mounting economic woes which have been compounded by the eight-year civil war in neighboring Syria.
Arab League Advises Lebanon’s PM to Hold Dialogue with Protesters
Beirut – Khalil Fleihan/Asharq Al-Awsat/Thursday, 24 October, 2019
The Arab League advised Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Wednesday “to initiate talks with representatives from the popular movement” to resolve his country’s “dangerous crisis.” A diplomatic source, who attended a meeting between the International Support Group for Lebanon and the PM at the Grand Serail in Beirut on Tuesday, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Arab League Representative Ambassador Abdel Rahman Solh informed Hariri of the League’s stance from the protests sweeping Beirut and other cities. “Lebanon cannot face the consensus supporting the popular intifada, which gathered around 1.5 million protesters in the squares of Beirut and other areas,” the source said. He said Solh explained to Hariri that the Arab League does not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs. However, the organization wants to help the country overcome its current crisis. The source added: “Another meeting of ISG representatives was held on Wednesday in Yarzeh upon the request of UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis, who attended Tuesday’s meeting at the Grand Serail.”Asharq Al-Awsat learned that participants in the Yarzeh meeting tasked Kubis to meet with President Michel Aoun on Thursday and inform him about the results of the Group’s talks with Hariri and its meeting in Yarzeh. The ISG decided that the government should kick off direct talks with representatives from the popular movement instead of addressing each other through the media. On the seventh day of demonstrations, hundreds of thousands of people remained on the streets over their anger with a political class they accuse of pushing the economy to the point of collapse. On Thursday, banks remained close for a sixth working day and all schools and universities remained shut. Protesters also shut down many highways across the country, despite attempts from the Lebanese Army to unblock them.
Lebanon: Religious Authorities Express Solidarity With Protesters
Beirut- Asharq Al-Awsat/Thursday, 24 October, 2019
Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdullatif Derian expressed his support for the just social demands and called on “the pillars of the state” to respond to the needs of the people. In a statement on Wednesday, he also hoped that the recent decisions of the Council of Ministers would be the beginning of the desired reforms, and an expression of the sincere intention to implement them. Dar al-Fatwa expressed its “high appreciation for the behavior of the protesters, which was characterized by national discipline in the streets and public squares of Beirut and in many other Lebanese cities,” and reiterated its support for the “right social demands and the nationalist slogans raised by citizens throughout Lebanon.” In parallel, the Council of Patriarchs and Bishops called on President Michel Aoun to immediately begin consultations with political and community leaders to make appropriate decisions on people’s demands in order to avoid financial and economic collapse. While the Council considered that the series of government reforms was a positive first step, it called for the amendment of the ministerial team and the appointment of “people of competence, integrity, and patriotism.”Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, who chaired the extraordinary session of the Council on Wednesday, said in a statement: “The State has gone too far in deviation, intransigence, and corruption prompting the people to revolt.”He declared solidarity with the protestors stating: “The people have sent a message that rose above sectarian divisions.”“The people showed that they are more united than their leaders, and gave evidence of the will of national life in a time of disintegration and sedition,” he added.
Lebanon Top Banking Official: Operations to Fully Resume when Crisis Ends
Asharq Al-Awsat/Thursday, 24 October, 2019
A senior Lebanese banking official hoped on Thursday the country’s political crisis would end soon and that banking operations would fully resume when it does. “Once normalcy is restored, we are very confident that we can resume servicing our customers in full capacity,” Salim Sfeir, chairman of the Association of Banks in Lebanon and of Bank of Beirut told Reuters. Banks have remained shut for six working days as protesters flood Lebanon’s streets demanding the government’s resignation. President Michel Aoun said he was ready for dialogue with protesters, who blame the political elite for economic hardship and corruption. He suggested a government reshuffle was possible. The rallies have gone on for a week despite the government announcing reforms to try and defuse them. The Association of Banks said earlier Thursday they would remain closed on Friday to protect customers, employees and properties. In a statement, the Association urged a political solution to the crisis and “reassured citizens that the banks are ready to resume their work as soon as the situation stabilizes.”
Bank operations will be limited to providing month-end wages via ATMs, the statement added.
The Final Chapter of Lebanon’s Incorporation with Tehran’s Axis
Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al-Awsat/October,24/2019
Fourth Caliph Ali Ibn Abi-Taleb once famously said: “Had poverty been a man, I would have killed it!”
I reckon that few would argue about the suffering of the Lebanese these days. The pressing collapse of their living standards, has naturally, driven them to organize mass demonstrations. It is natural that they would blame their politicians who are part of a government that is in place under a flimsy and distorted façade of democracy. No one should ever blame the Lebanese – especially, their frustrated youth – for their anger and despair from those who pose as “rulers”, regardless whether they are, or not. They should not be blamed either for their “rejection” caused by disappointments and dead ends.
All the above is natural, justified and true.
However, somewhere, at a certain stage, one must look further and deeper than the phenomena that some are exploiting to ride the wave of protests and later divert the demands away from the real issues, and exploit the anger for their own goals! Without straying into a labyrinth of details, it is quite enough to look at what Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary General of Hezbollah, said on Saturday when he uncovered a truth that may have escaped the protesters. Nasrallah used the “Forty Days Memorial” of Imam Al-Hussein (the Prophet’s nephew) to hit two birds with one stone:
Bird number One was deepening the sectarian fratricidal injury, and adding to it the salt of resurrecting old animosities and grudges, through the narrative of how Al-Hussein was martyred. The intention to justify the regional sectarian political project he is openly serving under the auspices, sponsorship and support of the mullahs in Tehran. Bird number Two was telling the Lebanese, indeed the whole world, that he controls Lebanon. He is the sole master. He alone decides who lives and who dies; who is imprisoned following conviction of corruption and who is regarded as a “hero of resistance against Israel”, even if he happened to be until recently an avowed enemy of the “resistance”!
Nasrallah’s speech, for those who read it with an open mind and the bare minimum of political memory and analytical ability, is nothing but a manifesto of a ruling party. His message is loud and clear, and reads as follows:
1- I, alone, am the decision maker, and I, exclusively, have the acceptable blueprint for Lebanon’s identity, political orientations and regional role.
2- So far, I have not used the excessive force I possess “in every area in the country” and my advice to you is to never test me, because “if I decide to take to the street, I shall not leave it…!”
3- This presidency – i.e., the rule of President Michel Aoun – is mine. I have chosen it and it belongs to me. This government is also mine, with Hezbollah and its allies enjoying the majority of cabinet portfolios. Therefore, never dare think of changing the status quo; i.e. never ever touch what I have imposed on you, including your president, electoral law and government, thanks to the arsenal which I alone possess, and enjoy the exclusive right to use wherever and whenever I choose.
4- If anyone among you would ever contemplate challenging my will, which is the only “legitimacy” in the land, he or she would be responsible for his or her actions. Here, it is worth noting that Hezbollah has so far refused cooperating with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) investigating the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and his companions. It has also refused to hand over its party members who have been accused of this crime. Still, the pro-Iran militia has other options beside assassinations, including concocting accusations of corruption against anybody. This is not something new, neither to the party nor the Syrian-Lebanese security apparatus which oversaw the publishing of “documents” on the subject through its political tools, media and camouflaged online sites.
All the above means that more pressure is being put on the current Prime Minister Saad Hariri – the son of Rafik – to provide an official Sunni cover to the final chapter of Iran’s permanent takeover of Lebanon. In fact, this is what Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, who is Aoun’s son-in-law and Hezbollah’s virtual presidential candidate, set in motion, when he intentionally delivered a speech just before Saad Hariri’s. Interestingly, Bassil – who behaves as a president anyway – delivered his speech from the presidential palace, and virtually offered Hariri Jr. to the Hezbollah-led coalition, and abandon whoever are left of his former allies in the March 14 alliance created after his father’s assassination.
In other words, Hezbollah, through Bassil, intends to liquidate the last remaining opposition its project of absolute – and official – hegemony over Lebanon. It is doing this through blackmailing opponents with accusations of corruption in a country where the judiciary is unable to confront armed hegemony. Just a reminder, intimidating the judiciary and the likelihood that it could be targeted was a major reason for setting up the STL.
Furthermore, among the demonstrators, there were voices calling for cancelling the Taif Accords and others demanding punishment for corrupt politicians and senior officials during the last 30 years.
Cancelling the Taif is a well-known political aim for both Hezbollah and Aoun. As for the 30 years issue, it is truly significant because it alludes to the existence of one corrupt camp, which is the one that was in government during the said period. One way or another, it is Rafik Hariri and those included in his cabinets. However, those who keep mentioning the last 30 years – led by Nasrallah and Aoun – ignore the fact that the real power in Lebanon during those years was the Syrian regime, which is Aoun’s new ally and Hezbollah’s old one, through its intelligence officers Ghazi Kanaan, Rustom Ghazaleh, and the Syrian–Lebanese security apparatus. They are also intentionally ignoring the fact that “corruption” should mean: Illegal arms, protection money, smuggling, expelling and repelling local talents and foreign investment, evading taxes, drug trade, importing and selling fake medicines, money laundering, and illegal expropriation of land by clients, supporters and frontmen. Lebanon is, therefore between two choices: either submit to Hezbollah’s dictates and voluntarily join the Tehran camp, or push the situation to tension that forces people to call the army to take over. The latter option is complicated because Hezbollah and the Aounists have already penetrated the military and security institutions!
News Analysi/Domestic problems, rather than foreign intervention, trigger Lebanon’s protests: analysts
Dana Halawi/Xinhua/October 24/2019
The massive protests that swept through Lebanon in the past week were triggered by domestic problems rather than foreign intervention, Lebanese analysts said. “This protests started genuinely by people in Lebanon because the current political class has committed a lot of mistakes in the past years without being held accountable for its false practices and failing policies,” Pierre Khoury, a Lebanese economist and political researcher, told Xinhua. Khoury, editor-in-chief of the Strategic File news website, noted that the big number of people from different religions and sects who participated in the protests shows that they were not organized. He explained that the fires that broke out in several areas of Lebanon due to the rise in temperature earlier this month and the government’s failure to properly deal with the problem as well as the recent cabinet’s decision to impose taxes sparked the protests.
Large swathes of forests were destroyed in more than 103 massive fires in several towns and villages in Lebanon while the government failed to respond promptly because of poor maintenance of three firefighting helicopters purchased by the country in 2009.
Lebanon asked for help from Cyprus and Greece which sent their jets to help Lebanese firefighters put out the fires. Then the Lebanese cabinet approved last Thursday a fee of six U.S. dollars per month on the users of WhatsApp and other Internet calling applications, in addition to imposing taxes on fuel and other basic commodities and services. Angry Lebanese citizens immediately took to the streets right after the cabinet’s decisions to protest, and the demonstrations quickly grew to all areas in Lebanon in the past week. Protesters blocked roads and burned tires while calling for the resignation of the government and a complete change of the current political system in the country.
In an effort to calm the situation, Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced earlier this week an economic plan which aims at adopting reforms that would increase help for vulnerable people in the country without imposing any new taxes. The salaries of ministers and lawmakers will also be reduced by 50 percent in addition to a series of other reforms. However, the announced reforms were not enough to quell the anger and dissatisfaction of the Lebanese, who continued to protest, demanding for the government’s resignation. Commenting on some press reports that hinted the possible existence of a foreign force mobilizing the protests in such an unprecedented manner, Khoury said he believed that the protests started genuinely by the Lebanese, though it was possible that they received support later on.
Khoury reasoned that when the voters found out that the politicians who they voted for failed to fulfill their promises, they decided to react and ask for a change. Makram Rabah, a political analyst and history professor of the American University of Beirut, also believed that there is no direct foreign intervention in the protests because the Americans are currently not very much involved in the affairs in Lebanon. Rabah noted that the protests have covered areas all over Lebanon, while the Lebanese diaspora in several countries also held demonstrations to voice their support for a political change in Lebanon.
“This is an urgent wake-up call which started by people themselves as they realized that this system is corrupted and it is no longer capable of providing them with basic services,” he said.
Rabah explained that Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), abandoned Lebanon financially because of Iran-allied Hezbollah’s dominance in the country which has left Lebanon exposed to such protests.”Now people know that no one will bail the country out, this is why they acted,” Rabah said. Hilal Kashan, chair of the Political Studies Department at the American University of Beirut, believed that the Lebanese are suffering financially to such great extent that they do not need an external force to mobilize them. “Maybe some outside forces can capitalize on these protests and take advantage of them, but people will take it to the streets anyway because they are angry and they cannot bear the current situation anymore,” he said. The Lebanese people have been suffering for many years from insufficient basic services such as electricity, water and proper healthcare, while having to pay heavy taxes without earning enough income due to the economic slowdown in the country, the analysts noted.
Aoun, Hezbollah to cling to power, come hell or high water
Elias Sakr/Annahar/October 24/2019
While Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and his Iranian-backed Shiite ally haven’t dictated much of the post-war policies, they are equally responsible for today’s crisis. As demonstrations to topple the government gained momentum across Lebanon, Foreign Minister and President Michel Aoun’s son-in-law Gebran Bassil warned those who took to the streets of an imminent financial crisis. “Imagine the situation without a government, security (stability), money in markets and banks, and without flour and fuel,” he said from the Baabda Presidential Palace in an attempt to persuade dissidents to end their rebellion against his government.
Bassil was telling the truth but only half the story.
The other half is that this ruling class is unlikely to steer Lebanon clear of a financial meltdown of the government’s own making in recent years; though the root cause is rampant corruption and unsustainable economic, fiscal and monetary policies that date back to the early ’90s. While Bassil and his Iranian-backed Shiite ally haven’t dictated much of these post-war policies, they are equally responsible for today’s crisis. By completely aligning Lebanon with the Iranian axis, they have provoked Gulf countries to halt their investments and refrain from providing financial aid to a country that relies on capital inflows to compensate for its trade deficit.
The result is an acceleration in the balance of payment deficit that forced the Central Bank to burn through its usable foreign currency reserves, estimated today by Moody’s at $6-10 billion. This has led to a depreciation in the market exchange rate of the Lebanese pound against the dollar. The Lebanese pound will depreciate further as protests– sparked by the failed policies of a Cabinet that Bassil and his allies dominate– continue to engulf the small Mediterranean country. Yes, Bassil is right to sound the alarm but protestors are equally right not to trust him to tackle and contain the crisis; a crisis that will worsen under the pressure of political instability and a potential deterioration in security conditions if the protesters’ demands aren’t met. Ideally, Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigns and a new 8-member Cabinet is formed where the defense and interior portfolios are assigned to security officials. Other key portfolios are assigned to technocrats tasked with devising an action plan to address the financial crisis and forming an independent body to investigate the embezzlement of public funds. The Cabinet would supervise early parliamentary elections, giving the Lebanese people the opportunity to take their future into their own hands. But will Hezbollah, Aoun and its allies, who command a parliamentary majority, agree to such a scenario? Probably not, because they know too well that they, along with other members of the ruling class, are set to lose their grip on power. Instead, expect them to fight tooth and nail to maintain their dominion, even if it means plunging Lebanon into turmoil.
