A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For November 19-20/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 34th Day

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A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For November 19-20/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 34th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
November 19-20/2019

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on November 19-20/2019
Lebanese Protesters Force Postponement of Controversial Parliament Session
Protest-hit Lebanon assembly postpones session citing security
Protests force Lebanese parliament to postpone session, banks reopen
Protesters Form Human Chain, Force Postponement of Parliament Session
Scuffles as Protesters in Beirut Block Lawmakers’ Path
Protesters force postponement of Lebanese parliament session
Berri Says Some Didn’t ‘Honor Their Promises’ on Legislative Session
Hizbullah MP Rides Scooter, Chants with Protesters Besieging Parliament
Lebanese protesters gather around parliament to block lawmakers from entering
Protests Force Lebanon, North Korea World Cup Qualifier into Empty Stadium
Lebanon: Hariri Insists on Technocrat Government but Not Rushing to Preside It
White House holding up Lebanon aid, official confirms
Hariri Invited to Attend Independence Day Parade
ABL Lauds Security Measures, Behavior of Clients, Employees
3 Riad al-Solh Protesters Hurt in Evening Scuffles with Riot Police
Gunshots Fired from Lawmaker’s Convoy in Bab Idriss
Banks Open in Lebanon after Week-Long Strike
Lebanese parliament postponed after protesters block MPs from entry

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on November 19-20/2019
Lebanese Protesters Force Postponement of Controversial Parliament Session
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 19 November, 2019
Lebanon’s parliament, besieged by angry protesters, Tuesday for a second time postponed a session that had been due to discuss draft laws which critics charge would let corrupt politicians off the hook. From early morning, hundreds of noisy demonstrators and riot police had faced off and at times scuffled outside the assembly in Beirut, with activists also trying to block MPs’ convoys. “Revolution, revolution,” chanted the protesters, punching the air with their fists and waving Lebanese flags, in the latest rally in over a month of street protests. “This parliament is ours,” chanted one woman through a megaphone as others banged pots and pans. Then, shortly before noon and after several parties had said they would boycott the session, parliament official Adnane Daher appeared before TV cameras. “The session has been postponed to a date to be determined later,” he said, citing “exceptional conditions, in particular security conditions”. “This is a new achievement for the revolution,” cheered Mohamed Ataya, a 28-year-old demonstrator, vowing that no session would be held “as long as the people control the street”.
‘Great danger’
Lebanon, its economy in turmoil, has since October 17 been rocked by an unprecedented wave of popular street revolts that have cut across sectarian lines. What started with protests against government plans to tax online phone calls made through WhatsApp and other online providers has turned into a broader popular revolt against the perceived ineptitude and corruption of the entire ruling class. Amid the month-old crisis the prime minister, Saad Hariri, bowed to street pressure and resigned on October 29, but the parliamentary consultations needed to form a new government have yet to be started. A former minister, Mohamad Safadi, who had been considered to replace Hariri, has withdrawn his bid for the top job after more massive protests. Tuesday’s plans for a parliamentary session, already postponed by a week, had further stoked anger as MPs were scheduled to discuss a bill to grant an amnesty to thousands convicted of a range of offenses. The anti-government demonstrators see the draft law as a way to exonerate people convicted or suspected of involvement in crimes ranging from tax evasion to breaches of environmental regulations. “They want an amnesty to escape (charges) of tax evasion and to release criminals onto the streets,” said one activist who gave her name as Tracy, 24, and who criticized the “illegitimate” parliament. The specialist non-government group Legal Agenda labeled the proposed law “a great danger”. The parliamentarians had also been due to consider a bill to create a court specializing in financial crimes and the mismanagement of public funds, whose judges would be appointed by the legislature, raising further fears of conflicts of interest. Protesters condemned the move to hold the session after Hariri’s resignation, saying officials should focus on appointing his replacement and forming a new government.
Banks reopen
Lebanon’s street protests, including widespread roadblocks with burning car tires, have at times brought the country close to a standstill, and sent the already struggling economy deeper into crisis. Amid the turmoil, banks stayed shut for weeks and restricted withdrawals, foreign currency transactions and access to dollars, often causing bank clients’ tempers to flare. In rare good news for Lebanese citizens, banks were due to reopen on Tuesday. The Federation of Syndicates of Banks Employees in Lebanon had announced the end of a strike on Monday, saying new security measures had been agreed with authorities to protect banks. The Lebanese pound has been pegged to the US dollar at around 1,500 for two decades and the currencies are used interchangeably in daily life. But amid the deepening economic crisis, the exchange rate in the parallel market has surpassed 1,800 Lebanese pounds for every dollar. The Association of Banks in Lebanon announced on Sunday “temporary” arrangements authorizing the withdrawal of $1,000 per week for those with accounts in US dollars. On Monday, the US State Department spokeswoman tweeted that Washington “proudly” stands with the Lebanese people who are demanding an end to endemic corruption. Morgan Ortagus posted a video recorded on Friday in which she blasted Russia for seeking to miscast the Lebanese protests as a “plot by the United States.”

Protest-hit Lebanon assembly postpones session citing security
AFP, Beirut/Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Lebanon’s parliament, besieged by protesters, said Tuesday it had indefinitely postponed a session that had been due to discuss controversial draft laws. “The session has been postponed to a date to be determined later,” said parliament official Adnane Daher, reading a statement in front of television cameras, citing “exceptional conditions, in particular security conditions.”Lebanese protesters began gathering on Tuesday morning around the parliament in Beirut, where the legislative session was scheduled, to block lawmakers from reaching the building amid tight security measures, according to the Lebanese National News Agency. Banks were set to reopen for the first time in a week after announcing temporary steps, such as a weekly cap of $1,000 on withdrawals of hard currency and transfers abroad limited to urgent personal expenses, in moves to prevent capital flight. A month after the start of nationwide protests, Lebanon is in serious political and economic crisis with no indication of its leaders agreeing on a new government to replace the outgoing cabinet of Saad al-Hariri, who quit as premier on October 29. Near parliament, riot police scuffled with a group of protesters who were trying to use a cable to remove a barbed wire barricade blocking a road, a Reuters witness said. The protests have been fueled by perceptions of corruption among the sectarian politicians who have governed Lebanon for decades and are blamed for leading the country into its worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 civil war.

Protests force Lebanese parliament to postpone session, banks reopen
Arab News/November 19, 2019
BEIRUT: Protesters prevented Lebanon’s parliament from holding its first session in two months on Tuesday, escalating a wave of demonstrations against rulers blamed for steering the country towards economic collapse. Banks reopened after a one-week closure, with police stationed at branches and banks applying restrictions on hard currency withdrawals and transfers abroad. The protests erupted last month, fuelled by corruption among the sectarian politicians who have governed Lebanon for decades. Protesters want to see the entire ruling class gone from power. Lebanon’s economic troubles have increased since then. Despite the depth of the economic crisis, the worst since the 1975-90 civil war, politicians have been unable to form a new government since Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri quit on Oct. 29. Near parliament on Tuesday, gunfire was heard as several dozen protesters forced two SUVs with official plates and tinted windows to turn back as they approached the building, Lebanese television showed. The vehicles sped away after they were struck by demonstrators chanting “Out, out, out!”
Parliament postponed the session indefinitely.
“This is a new victory for the revolution and we are continuing until we achieve our goals,” said protester Abdelrazek Hamoud. The session’s agenda had included reelecting members of parliamentary committees and discussion of an amnesty law that would lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners. Protesters were angry the MPs were not tackling their demands for reform. Security forces had fanned out before dawn, shutting down roads around parliament with barbed wire. Police scuffled with protesters who tried to remove a barbed wire barricade. Ahmad Mekdash, a civil engineer, said: “They should be meeting right now to form a new cabinet and not to pass laws, especially laws that aren’t urgent.” The economic crisis, rooted in years of government waste and corruption, has now filtered into the financial system which faces dollar shortages and a weakening of the pegged pound. Banks had mostly been closed since the protests started. Though the banking association on Sunday had agreed a weekly cap of $1,000 on cash withdrawals from U.S. dollar accounts, some depositors found they could only withdraw a lesser amount.
Six customers at Bank Audi were told they could only take out a maximum of $300. Several customers at BankMed were told the cap was $400.
A banking source said the $1,000 figure had been set as a ceiling and for some customers it was less depending on the amount in their account. “I have an account with $8,000 dollars and they won’t let me withdraw above 300. They told me you can take $1,000 out only if your account has above $100,000 in it,” said Bank Audi customer Charif Baalbaki, 43, a copywriter. Bank of Beirut customer Khalid Maarouf, 40, who works in textiles, said he didn’t know how he was going to come up with dollar payments he needed to make this month. “I need $20,000 before the end of the month to make payments to people and I can only get $1,000 each week,” he said. Caretaker finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil said Lebanon was in “a critical condition” requiring a new government. But in the last few days he said there had been “no real new effort” towards forming one. Hariri, who is aligned with Western and Gulf Arab states, wants to return as prime minister of specialist ministers devoid of any other politicians, while the Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies say the government should include politicians. Capital Economics said in a research note: “Pressure is growing on Lebanon’s dollar peg and, in the event of a devaluation, the pound could fall by as much as 50% against the dollar.”The central bank has vowed to maintain its currency peg of 1507.5 to the dollar, in place since 1997. The dollar buying price on a parallel market was 1820-1830 pounds on Tuesday according to five currency dealers, about 20% higher than the official rate.

Protesters Form Human Chain, Force Postponement of Parliament Session
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 19/2019
Lebanon’s parliament, besieged by angry protesters, Tuesday for a second time postponed a session that had been due to discuss draft laws which critics charge would let corrupt politicians off the hook. From early morning protesters from different parts of Lebanon formed a human chain blocking roads leading to the parliament assembly in Downtown Beirut to stop lawmakers from attending a session they deem as “unconstitutional”. Scuffles with riot police broke out while women stood as barriers between the two sides to prevent clashes. The Parliament is set to discuss several controversial laws, already postponed for a week due to pressure from the street. It was planned to convene in two session, one to elect the secretariat and committee members, and another that includes draft laws related to fighting corruption as well as pensions and a general amnesty law. The general amnesty law would include thousands of people. “Revolution, revolution,” chanted the protesters, punching the air with their fists and waving Lebanese flags, in the latest rally in over a month of street protests. “This parliament is ours,” chanted one woman through a megaphone as others banged pots and pans. Then, shortly before noon and after several parties had said they would boycott the session, parliament official Adnane Daher appeared before TV cameras. “The session has been postponed to a date to be determined later,” he said, citing “exceptional conditions, in particular security conditions”.”This is a new achievement for the revolution,” cheered Mohamed Ataya, a 28-year-old demonstrator, vowing that no session would be held “as long as the people control the street”.
‘Great danger’
Lebanon, its economy in turmoil, has since October 17 been rocked by an unprecedented wave of popular street revolts that have cut across sectarian lines. What started with protests against government plans to tax online phone calls made through WhatsApp and other online providers has turned into a broader popular revolt against the perceived ineptitude and corruption of the entire ruling class. Amid the month-old crisis the prime minister, Saad Hariri, bowed to street pressure and resigned on October 29, but the parliamentary consultations needed to form a new government have yet to be started.
A former minister, Mohamad Safadi, who had been considered to replace Hariri, has withdrawn his bid for the top job after more massive protests. The anti-government demonstrators see the draft law as a way to exonerate people convicted or suspected of involvement in crimes ranging from tax evasion to breaches of environmental regulations. “They want an amnesty to escape (charges) of tax evasion and to release criminals onto the streets,” said one activist who gave her name as Tracy, 24, and who criticized the “illegitimate” parliament. The specialist non-government group Legal Agenda labelled the proposed law “a great danger”. The parliamentarians had also been due to consider a bill to create a court specialising in financial crimes and the mismanagement of public funds, whose judges would be appointed by the legislature, raising further fears of conflicts of interest.

Scuffles as Protesters in Beirut Block Lawmakers’ Path
Associated Press/Naharnet/November 19/2019
Scuffles broke out in central Beirut on Tuesday as thousands of anti-government protesters tried to prevent lawmakers from reaching Parliament, outraged that a session was planned even though the country is still without a Cabinet. When one legislator headed toward the building and could not reach it and turned back, his bodyguards opened fire in the air to clear the way. No one was hurt in the incident. The house was to meet but the protesters on the streets question the constitutionality of such a session in the absence of a government. An earlier session last Tuesday was postponed amid nationwide protests that have gripped Lebanon since mid-October. Heavy police and army reinforcements were deployed in downtown Beirut since late Monday to cordon off the area around the parliament. Hundreds of young protesters thronged around the parliament building, blocking the entrances and vowing to disrupt the session. Some protesters tried to break through the barbed wire, scuffling with riot police, while women protesters tried to form a live barrier between the two sides. “We are here today because there is a parliament session that is anti-constitutional,” said protester Rania al-Akhras, speaking in English and decrying the ineffectiveness of the legislators. “What they need to be doing is selecting a prime minister and a government.” Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned his government on Oct. 29 in response to the protests, which erupted over proposed new taxes but have since snowballed into calls for the government to resign and for the entire political elite that has ruled Lebanon since the end of its 1975-90 civil war to step aside. President Michel Aoun has not set a date for consultations to select a new prime minister and there are deep divisions between the country’s political powers over the shape of the future Cabinet.
The political deadlock comes as Lebanon is passing through its worst economic and financial crisis in decades. The country, which suffers from widespread corruption, has one of the highest debts in the world, standing at $86 billion or 150 of the GDP. Lebanon’s bank staff resumed work Tuesday after a week-long strike. New regulations have been imposed that officially limit withdrawals and dollar transfers. The demonstrators have accused the banks of corruption and mismanagement. The banks first closed when the protests erupted in October but later opened for a week. Depositors then rushed in to withdraw money, but banks had begun imposing informal capital controls that angered many clients and added to the turmoil, prompting the bank employees’ strike. On Monday, the Banks Association declared formal controls, limiting withdrawals to $1,000 per week, and allowing transfers abroad only for “urgent matters.”

Protesters force postponement of Lebanese parliament session
Associated Press/November 19/2019
Hundreds of young protesters thronged around the parliament building, blocking the entrances and vowing to disrupt the session.
BEIRUT: Thousands of protesters rallying against the Lebanese political elite blocked roads in central Beirut on Tuesday, preventing lawmakers from reaching the parliament and forcing the postponement of a legislative session.
The session had been scheduled even though the country is still without a Cabinet following the prime minister’s resignation amid unprecedented demonstrations that have gripped Lebanon since mid-October. The protesters scuffled with riot police as they closed all roads leading to the parliament building in Beirut. When one legislator headed toward the building and could not reach it and turned back, his bodyguards opened fire in the air to clear the way. No one was hurt in the shooting. The protesters are questioning the constitutionality of a parliament session in the absence of a government. An earlier session last Tuesday was postponed amid the protests. Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned his government on Oct. 29 in response to the protests, which erupted over proposed new taxes but have since snowballed into calls for the government to resign and for the entire political elite that has ruled Lebanon since the end of its 1975-90 civil war to step aside. The political deadlock comes as Lebanon is passing through its worst economic and financial crisis in decades. The country, which suffers from widespread corruption, has one of the highest debts in the world, standing at $86 billion, or 150 of the GDP.
Meanwhile, Lebanese banks reopened to customers on Tuesday after a week-long strike during which bank employees refused to come to work, fearing for their security amid random capital controls that have angered clients.On Monday, the Banks Association declared formal controls, limiting withdrawals to $1,000 per week, and allowing transfers abroad only for “urgent matters.”However, most banks on Tuesday were allowing depositors to withdraw only $500 from U.S. dollar accounts. Heavy police and army reinforcements were deployed in downtown Beirut since late Monday to cordon off the area around the parliament. Thousands of young protesters thronged around the parliament building, blocking the entrances and vowing to disrupt the session. Some protesters tried to break through the barbed wire, scuffling with riot police, while women protesters tried to form a live barrier between the two sides.
“We are here today because there is a parliament session that is anti-constitutional,” said protester Rania al-Akhras, speaking in English and decrying the ineffectiveness of the legislators. “What they need to be doing is selecting a prime minister and a government.” Later Tuesday, the parliament’s secretary-general, Adnan Daher, read a statement saying that the session has been postponed “until a new date is set.” He added that current parliamentary committees will continue their work as there was no session on Tuesday to elect new committees. President Michel Aoun has not set a date for consultations to select a new prime minister and there are deep divisions between the country’s political powers over the shape of the future Cabinet.

Berri Says Some Didn’t ‘Honor Their Promises’ on Legislative Session
Naharnet/November 19/2019
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday lamented that “some parties did not honor their promises” regarding Tuesday’s botched legislative session. “The parliamentary blocs and MPs were honest, according to their statements, but other sides did not honor their promises,” Berri told his visitors, hours after he was forced to postpone the session due to lack of quorum. Several parliamentary blocs and MPs boycotted the controversial session, as others failed to reach parliament due to a blockade imposed by thousands of anti-corruption protesters. According to TV networks, only five out of 128 MPs managed to enter parliament building. Berri had postponed the session last Tuesday over “security concerns.”MPs were scheduled to discuss a bill to grant amnesty to thousands convicted of a range of offenses. The demonstrators see the draft law as a way to clear powerful figures charged with or convicted of crimes ranging from tax evasion to breaches of environmental regulations. “They want an amnesty to escape (charges) of tax evasion and to release criminals onto the streets,” said one activist who gave her name as Tracy, 24, and who criticized the “illegitimate” parliament. The non-government group Legal Agenda labelled the proposed law “a great danger.”The parliamentarians had also been due to consider a bill to create a court specializing in financial crimes and the mismanagement of public funds.Its judges would be appointed by the legislature, raising further fears of conflicts of interest among protesters.

Hizbullah MP Rides Scooter, Chants with Protesters Besieging Parliament
Naharnet/November 19/2019
Footage of Hizbullah MP Ali Ammar riding a scooter near parliament and chanting with protesters besieging the legislature’s building has gone viral on social media in Lebanon. A video shows Ammar arriving on foot to a road-blocking protest near parliament, where a controversial legislative session was due to be held. Ammar then engages in an apparently friendly chat with protesters before leaving the area. Another video shows Ammar raising his fist in the air and chanting “down with the rule of thugs” with protesters as he arrives to another road-blocking point. And as protesters chant “Hela, Hela, Hela, Hela, Ho, parliament is closed, sweetie!”, Ammar starts clapping. Ammar is seen smiling in most of the videos. A picture circulated on social media meanwhile shows him riding a scooter driven by an unidentified person. It was not immediately clear whether he was arriving or leaving the parliament area. Social media users meanwhile lauded the peaceful behavior of both protesters and the Hizbullah lawmaker.

Lebanese protesters gather around parliament to block lawmakers from entering
Agencies/Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Lebanese protesters began gathering on Tuesday morning around the parliament in Beirut, where a legislative session is scheduled, to block lawmakers from reaching the building amid tight security measures, according to the Lebanese National News Agency. Banks were set to reopen for the first time in a week after announcing temporary steps, such as a weekly cap of $1,000 on withdrawals of hard currency and transfers abroad limited to urgent personal expenses, in moves to prevent capital flight. A month after the start of nationwide protests, Lebanon is in serious political and economic crisis with no indication of its leaders agreeing on a new government to replace the outgoing cabinet of Saad al-Hariri, who quit as premier on October 29. Near parliament, riot police scuffled with a group of protesters who were trying to use a cable to remove a barbed wire barricade blocking a road, a Reuters witness said.
The protests have been fueled by perceptions of corruption among the sectarian politicians who have governed Lebanon for decades and are blamed for leading the country into its worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 civil war.

Protests Force Lebanon, North Korea World Cup Qualifier into Empty Stadium
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 19 November, 2019
Amid month-long anti-government protests, Lebanon will host North Korea in an empty stadium in a World Cup qualifying game. The Asian Football Confederation said the decision followed advice “to guarantee high security standards and a safe environment for the teams and match officials.” The game is to be played Tuesday at the 49,000-capacity Sports City Stadium in Beirut. Lebanon and North Korea trail one point behind South Korea in Group H. Two teams advance to the next round. Lebanon has been rocked by protests during an economic crisis which led Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign three weeks ago. A parliamentary session was postponed Tuesday by the demonstrations.

Lebanon: Hariri Insists on Technocrat Government but Not Rushing to Preside It
Beirut- Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 19 November, 2019
Obstacles to the appointment of a new Lebanese prime minister are mainly caused by a dispute over the form of the new government. While caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri is insisting on a cabinet of technocrats, but not necessarily under his premiership, the Shiiite duo, represented by Amal Movement and Hezbollah, in addition to the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), are demanding a “techno-political” government, which would include the ruling political parties along with experts. Sources quoted Hariri as saying, during a meeting of the Future Movement political bureau on Monday, that he was keen on the need to form a new government as soon as possible, “today before tomorrow”, in order to get the country out of the current crises. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, the sources said Hariri emphasized that it was not necessary that he presided the government, but insisted on a cabinet of technocrats. “I support it because it is the only way to get the country out of its various crises,” he was quoted as saying, underlining the urgent need to speed up the holding of binding parliamentary consultations. The sources quoted Hariri as saying that it was not important for him to assume the premiership. What is important is forming a government of technocrats “to cause a shock, and meet the demands of the popular movement,” Hariri noted according to the sources. “The country can no longer bear crises, and now needs to be saved; because the vacuum is deadly,” he added. In parallel, ministerial sources close to the presidential palace told Asharq Al-Awsat that there were no signs of an imminent invitation for parliamentary consultations. The sources added that consultations over the name of the new prime minister have resumed, especially after former Minister Mohammed Safadi backed down from becoming the new premier.

White House holding up Lebanon aid, official confirms
AFP, Washington/Wednesday, 20 November 2019
The White House is holding up security assistance to Lebanon valued at more than $100 million, leaving lawmakers and policymakers in the dark, a senior State Department official publicly confirmed. David Hale, the top career diplomat at the State Department, acknowledged the freeze as he spoke under oath to lawmakers in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. Asked about the controversial delay in military assistance to Ukraine, Hale said that it was not an isolated case and pointed to Lebanon. “There was information that came to me starting in late June that a hold had been placed on both Ukraine assistance and Lebanon military assistance without any explanation,” said Hale, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, according to a transcript released by lawmakers late Monday. “It’s still not been released,” he said in the November 6 deposition when asked about the status of aid to Lebanon. Asked why the White House was not disbursing money approved by Congress, Hale said there was apparently “a dispute over the efficacy of the assistance,” but his full answer was redacted. The Trump administration, which has not explained its decision, has been pressing for the isolation of Hezbollah, the militant Shia movement allied with Iran that has seats in the government.
The aid freeze came before the outbreak of massive protests in Lebanon against economic hardship and corruption, which triggered the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Two senior Democrats, in a recent letter to the White House, said that the “indefinite and unexplained hold” affected $105 million in aid to Lebanon including military vehicles, weapons and ammunition. Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Ted Deutch, head of its Middle East subcommittee, wrote that Lebanon “continues to face imminent threats to its security forces from a resurgent ISIS, al-Qaeda and its affiliates as well as an increasingly strong Hezbollah.”“A more capable (Lebanese Armed Forces) is clearly in the interests of the United States and Lebanon,” they wrote. Hale said the top State Department and Pentagon officials handling the Middle East wondered if aid freezes by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget had become “a new normal.”There was no immediate allegation that the Trump administration sought personal gain from blocking the aid to Lebanon. In the case of Ukraine, Trump is facing accusations over charges that he withheld assistance needed to fight Russian-backed separatists as he pressed Ukraine to dig up dirt on domestic rival Joe Biden. Trump denies wrongdoing.

Hariri Invited to Attend Independence Day Parade
Naharnet/November 19/2019
Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri met Tuesday evening at the Center House with a delegation from the Army Command, which was led by Brigadier General Wassim Saleh.A statement issued by Hariri’s office said the delegation invited the caretaker premier to attend the military parade that will be held Friday at the Ministry of Defense in Yarze on the occasion of Lebanon’s Independence Day. Hariri stepped down on October 29 in the face of unprecedented street protests against the entire ruling class. President Michel Aoun has not set a date for binding parliamentary consultations to name a new premier, arguing that there is a need to secure prior consensus on the nature of the new government.

ABL Lauds Security Measures, Behavior of Clients, Employees
Naharnet/November 19/2019
The Association of Banks in Lebanon on Tuesday lauded a security plan devised by the Interior Ministry and the Internal Security Forces to ensure the safety of bank employees amid the turbulent situations in the country. A statement issued after the first day of banking operations which followed around a one-week strike by employees said ABL had contacted banks to “follow up on the developments after a long period of compulsory closure.” “As a result of these contacts, it turned out that banks had served a relatively large number of clients, who showed appreciation of the temporary general instructions that ABL had provided bank employees with yesterday in order to overcome the current extraordinary circumstances,” ABL added. It also thanked caretaker Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan and ISF chief Maj. Gen. Imad Othman for “their quick and effective response to the Association’s request that the appropriate security conditions be created in order to resume banking operations.”“The security plan that has been put into effect since this morning has created a climate of general relief in the vicinity of banks, which reflected positively on employees’ performance and citizens’ cooperation with their banks,” ABL said. Lebanese banks reopened to customers on Tuesday after a week-long strike during which bank employees refused to come to work, fearing for their security amid random capital controls that have angered clients. On Monday, ABL declared formal controls, limiting withdrawals to $1,000 per week, and allowing transfers abroad only for “urgent matters.”However, most banks on Tuesday were allowing depositors to withdraw only $500 from U.S. dollar accounts.

3 Riad al-Solh Protesters Hurt in Evening Scuffles with Riot Police
Naharnet/November 19/2019
Three protesters were injured and several were arrested in scuffles with riot police Tuesday evening at Beirut’s Riad al-Solh Square, the National News Agency said.NNA said the skirmishes broke out after some protesters tried to cross the barbed wire and enter into Nejmeh Square where parliament building is located. The protesters also “hurled water bottles at security forces,” the agency added. Live TV footage meanwhile showed a standoff among protesters themselves, with some hurling insults and a number of protesters chasing a young man who was carrying a baton.

Gunshots Fired from Lawmaker’s Convoy in Bab Idriss
Naharnet/November 19/2019
Gunshots were fired into the air on Tuesday when a lawmaker’s convoy was making its way by force through crowds of protesters in Beirut’s Bab Idriss area blocking routes to the parliament building. The gunshots were fired from inside the vehicle according to a video footage filmed by one of the protesters. No one was hurt in the incident. A photo taken of the car plate number went viral on social media and was reportedly identified as allegedly belonging to caretaker Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil. But in remarks made to reporters, Khalil said it was not his, “I have been here since 8:00 a.m,” he said.
The Minister later told reporters standing outside the parliament building: “I was giving a statement to you when the incident happened. I have spoken with the Minister of Interior and told her that the duty of security sources is to open the road for deputies to reach the parliament instead of filing random accusations.”Lebanese protesters from different parts of Lebanon formed a human chain on Tuesday blocking roads leading to the parliament assembly in Downtown Beirut to stop lawmakers from attending a legislative session they deem as “unconstitutional”. Other reports alleged the convoy was that of caretaker Minister Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, while others said it belongs to caretaker Minister of State for Presidency Affairs Salim Jreissati. Both Ministers denied.

Banks Open in Lebanon after Week-Long Strike
Naharnet/November 19/2019
Banks in Lebanon opened on Tuesday after a week of strikes following incidents with clients angered by restrictions on withdrawals, as a protest movement entered its second month. The Federation of Syndicates of Banks Employees in Lebanon announced the end of the strike on Monday, saying new security measures had been agreed with authorities to protect banking institutions. The situation remains tense in the country, as an unprecendented protest movement against the ruling elite entered its second month on Sunday.
Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have filled streets and blocked roads across the country since October 17, demanding the ouster of a political class they deem incompetent and corrupt. The demonstrations led to the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his government, but a new premier has yet to be named weeks later. A parliamentary session to discuss several controversial laws, already postponed for a week due to pressure from the street, is set for Tuesday. A call has gone out for protesters to form a human chain blocking routes to the parliament building at the heart of the capital Beirut to stop lawmakers from attending the session. Lawmakers are expected to discuss a general amnesty law that would include thousands of people. Activists say the text could exonerate those convicted or suspected of involvement in tax evasion or environmental crimes. Protesters have demanded prioritisation of legislation that will bring corrupt officials to justice or recuperate misappropriated public funds. The protests have brought the country to a standstill and the already struggling economy closer to crisis. Banks have only opened for one week over the month of rallies, with restrictions on withdrawals, foreign currency transactions and access to dollars causing bank clients’ tempers to flair.Protesters have also often blocked banks from opening to make a statement against a banking system they see has part of the problem. “It is unacceptable that bank employees become scapegoats, that they be humiliated and held responsible,” the president of the bank employees union, George al-Hajj, told a news conference on Monday.  He said the strike has been called off after new security measures were adopted, including the posting police in front of banks. The Association of Banks in Lebanon announced on Sunday “temporary” arrangements authorising the withdrawal of $1,000 per week for those with accounts in US dollars.  The Lebanese pound has been pegged to the US dollar at around 1,500 for two decades and the currencies are used interchangeably in daily life. But amid the deepening economic crisis, the exchange rate in the parallel market has surpassed 1,800 Lebanese pounds for every dollar.

Lebanese parliament postponed after protesters block MPs from entry
Sunniva Rose/The National/November 19/ 2019
Banks reopened on Tuesday, but altercations between riot police and protesters caused a planned parliamentary session to be postponed
Lebanon’s government once again postponed a parliamentary session on Tuesday as demonstrators scuffled with riot police while attempting to block MPs from entering the government building.
The house was due to meet on Tuesday for a legislative session despite opposition from demonstrators who are outraged at the delay in forming a new Cabinet several weeks after protests began. They have raised questions about the constitutionality of the session in the absence of a government.
Lawmakers gave no indication as to when the session may be held in future.
The session was scheduled to be held last Tuesday but was postponed by the parliament speaker for security reasons amid the nationwide unrest.
scuffles broke out between protesters and riot police as the former bypassed the first line of barbed wires and got closer and started throwing stones . I have witnessed at least one protester arrested #Lebanon #Lebanonprotests
“Right now, I may be taking a short break, but I’ll never get tired of protesting. We will live in dignity or we will die,” she told The National, a bandanna printed with the Lebanese flag tied around her head. Anti-riot police watched her wearily as she spoke, standing guard in front of a barbed wire fence that blocked one of the main entrances to downtown Beirut in front of Le Grey, a luxury hotel. Mrs Hanna was one of the thousands of protesters who clashed with anti-riot police and blocked entrances to Lebanon’s Parliament on Tuesday morning, forcing it to postpone indefinitely two parliamentary sessions due to the “exceptional circumstances.”It is the second time in two weeks that parliament had to cancel sessions because of protests. Crowds gathered as early as 7.30am to stop MPs from attending the parliamentary sessions scheduled for 11am and 1pm, blocking roads with their cars and checking ambulances to make sure no politician was inside. The Lebanese Red Cross denied rumours that its ambulances were used to smuggle MPs into parliament.
However, at least one politician clashed with protesters as he attempted to force his way through in a convoy of several cars with tinted glass windows. In videos widely shared on social media, shots appeared to be fired in the air from one of the cars, although there were no reports of injuries or casualties.
Protesters confirmed the incident but were unsure which politician was inside the convoy. Caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, the most unpopular political figure with protesters, denied that it was his. Other MPs attempted to negotiate their way in.
Several protesters blocking the entrance to parliament near the United Nations headquarters told The National that they stopped Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar from entering on foot. One of them said that they chanted popular protest songs at him such as “the parliament is blocked, oh handsome one”, and “the people are the red line”.
“We then saw pictures of him riding a motorcycle to get in, but we are unsure if he managed,” said Jennifer Harb, 25.
Protesters also attempted to remove barbed wire fences that had been set up near parliament, leading to violent scuffles with anti-riot police. At least two people were arrested, said one witness, Rabab Nasser, 24.
“This is the blood of one of them,” she said, showing the palms of her hands and looking dazed as she sat in a small park near the UN headquarters.Dozens of people also banged loudly against scaffolding outside a dilapidated theatre that has been abandoned since the civil war.
“We are here so that politicians cannot ignore us,” said Patricia Gebrayel, 26, a marketing professional. Despite the continued protests, some progress appears to be being made. Banks reopened for the first time in a week after announcing temporary steps, such as a weekly cap of US$1,000 on withdrawals of hard currency and transfers abroad limited to urgent personal expenses. Seeking to avoid capital flight, the Association of Banks in Lebanon announced on Sunday that cash withdrawals would be limited to $1,000 a week and transfers abroad would be restricted to urgent personal spending only.
The central bank has said deposits are safe and that it has the capacity to maintain the value of the Lebanese pound, which is pegged to the US dollar. In Beirut’s Hamra district, about 50 people were waiting at a branch of Blom Bank shortly after it opened, a witness said.
In the Sodeco area of the capital, about 20 people each were waiting at another branch of Blom Bank and at a branch of Bank Audi, a witness said. “Everyone has a lack of trust, there’s a state of panic, and people’s feelings are justifiable because no one is giving them any trust,” said a customer at the bank, who declined to give his name. In the southern city of Sidon, about 50 people were waiting at a branch of Blom Bank before opening, a witness said.
* Agencies contributed to this report