A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 24-25/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 69th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
December 25/2019
Tites For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 25-26/2019
The Actual Needed Christmas Spirit/Elias Bejjani/December 25/2019
Christmas And The obligations Of The Righteous/Elias Bejjani/December 25/2019
Christmas And The obligations Of The Righteous
Aoun, Diab meeting concludes at Baabda palace
Report: Demonstrators Relay Message Shunning PM-Designate
Mashnouq to Velayati: Thank You for Announcing Iranian Support of Diab
Protesters Stage Sit-in Outside Central Bank
Hariri extends wellwishes to Lebanese on Christmas, New Year
Berri Says No Problem with Forming ‘One-Sided’ Govt.
Berri in Christmas message hopes Lebanese get inspired by values of love, salvation
Rahi: Rulers Brought Lebanon to Collapse and Citizens to Poverty
Rahi receives Christmas well-wishes
Syrian ports closed for maritime navigation due to prevailing weather conditions
Lebanon banks ‘trapping’ state salaries: minister
No Christmas miracle in Lebanon as economic crisis deepens/Timour Azhari/AL JAZEERA NEWS/December 24/2019
Details For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 24-25/2019
The Actual Needed Christmas Spirit
Elias Bejjani/December 25/2019
Inside each of an angel and a demon. With the birth of the Lord Jesus, let us bridle and silence Satan and leave the angel free to lead us to the paths of love and forgiveness
Christmas And The obligations Of The Righteous
Elias Bejjani/December 25/2019
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/81746/elias-bejjani-christmas-and-the-obligations-of-the-righteous-%d8%b0%d9%83%d8%b1%d9%89-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%ac%d9%8a%d8%af-%d9%88%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%ac%d8%a8/
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. (Luke 02/11)
Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 02/14)
The holy birth of Jesus Christ bears numerous blessed vital values and principles including love, giving, redemption, modesty and forgiveness.
Christmas is a role model of love because God, our Father Himself is love.
Accordingly and in a bid to cleanse us from our original sin He came down from heaven, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. (John15/12)
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John15/13)
Christmas is way of giving …God gave us Himself because He is a caring, generous, forgiving and loving and father.
Christmas embodies all principles of genuine redemption. Jesus Christ redeemed us and for our sake He joyfully was crucified, and tolerated all kinds of torture, humiliation and pain
Christmas is a dignified image of modesty ..Jesus Christ accepted to be born into a manger and to live his life on earth in an extremely simple and humble manner.
Let us continuously remind our selves that when our day comes that could be at any moment, we shall not be able to take any thing that is earthly with us for the Day of judgment except our work and acts, be righteous or evil.
Christmas is a holy act of forgiveness ….God, and because He is a loving and forgiving has Sent His Son Jesus Christ redeem to free us from the bondage of the original sin that Adam and Eve committed.
Christmas requires that we all genuinely pray and pray for those who are hurt, lonely, deserted by their beloved ones, feel betrayed, are enduring pain silently pain, suffer anguish, deprived from happiness, warmth and joy .
Christmas is ought to teach us that it is the duty of every believer to practice his/her faith not only verbally and via routine rituals, but and most importantly through actual deeds of righteousness….
Christmas’ spirit is not only rituals of decorations, festivities, gifts and joyful celebrations…But deeds in all ways and means by helping those who need help in all field and domains.
Christmas’s spirit is a calls to honour and actually abide by all Bible teachings and values.
In this realm we have a Biblical obligation to open our hearts and with love extend our hand to all those who are in need, and we are able to help him remembering always that Almighty God showered on us all sorts of graces and capabilities so we can share them with others.
Christmas is a time to hold to the Ten Commandments, foremost of which is “Honour your father and your mother”.
Christmas is a good time for us to attentively hear and positively respond to our conscience, which is the voice of God within us.
Christmas should revive in our minds and hearts the importance of fighting all kinds temptations so we do not become slaves to earthly wealth, or power of authority.
Christmas for us as patriotic and faithful Lebanese is a time to pray for the safe and dignified return of our Southern people who were forced to take refuge in Israel since the year 2000.
Christmas for each and every loving and caring Lebanese is a holy opportunity for calling loudly on all the Lebanese politicians and clergymen, as well as on the UN for the release of the thousands of Lebanese citizens who are arbitrarily and unjustly imprisoned in Syrian prisons.
Most importantly Christmas is a time for praying and working for the liberation of our dear homeland Lebanon, from the Iranian occupation.
No one should never ever lose sight for a moment or keep a blind eye on the sacrifices of our heroic righteous martyrs who willing sacrificed themselves for our homeland, identity, existence, and dignity. Our prayers goes for them on this Holy Day and for peace in each and evry country, especially in the chaotic and troubled Middle East.
May God Bless you all and shower upon you, your families, friends, and beloved ones all graces of joy, health, love, forgiveness, meekness and hope.
Aoun, Diab meeting concludes at Baabda palace
NNA/December 24/2019
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, on Tuesday afternoon met at the Baabda palace with Prime Minister-designate, Dr. Hassan Diab, who extended to him well-wishes on the occasion of the holy Christmas. Diab briefed the President on the outcome of the non-binding parliamentary consultations and the meetings he is undertaking to form the new government. On emerging, Diab said that talks touched on the general headlines, pointing out the existence of full response.
“We are still in the first two days.. God willing, matters are going as should be,” Diab corroborated.
Report: Demonstrators Relay Message Shunning PM-Designate
Naharnet/December 24/2019
Lebanon’s demonstrators clearly conveyed to PM-designate Hassan Diab that they are not ready to extend support, or accept a PM designated by the “Shiite duo” (Hizbullah and AMAL Movement) and their allies, the Kuwaiti As-Siyasah newspaper reported on Tuesday. The refusal of protesters to meet Diab reflects a large part of this message, said the daily. According to Movement sources, “Diab does not constitute a guarantee for the formation of a transitional government capable of removing Lebanon from corruption, given that the March 8 group will not accept the formation of a credible government capable of fighting the corrupt and conducting accountability, law and order.”As-Siyasah said the “Shiite duo” did not appreciate that Diab plans on forming a government of independents without any political representation. Therefore, they dispatched delegates saying the chances for such a government are off-limits and that March 8 group only accepts a government of politicians and technocrats. A prominent senior source of March 8 says the formation of a “so-called independent government is out of the question.”On Sunday, prominent street leaders shunned an invitation by the prime minister-designate to sit for talks over the formation of a new government, saying they are not ready to extend support.
Mashnouq to Velayati: Thank You for Announcing Iranian Support of Diab
Naharnet/December 24/2019
Ex-interior minister and Beirut MP Nouhad al-Mashnouq on Tuesday said Iran has welcomed the designation of new PM Hassan Diab which proves that the latter “does not represent the Lebanese or the Sunni community in Beirut.”“We very much thank (Top Advisor to Iranian Leader) Ali Velyati for supporting the designation of Diab. His defense of Diab is a clear and frank declaration that he represents those who assigned him, and he does not represent the Lebanese, the people of Beirut, or the Sunnis,” Mashnouq lashed out in a tweet. Iranian agencies quoted Velayati as saying that “Iran welcomes Diab’s appointment in respect for the choice made by the Lebanese.”Velayati also said that demonstrations in Lebanon after the appointment of Diab to form the new cabinet are taking place at the “instigation” of Saudi Arabia and Israel, and that they will diminish in the end with the formation of the government. Mashnouq added saying “as for the prophecy of Velayati that protests will diminish in Lebanon, he must not confuse between Lebanon and Iran. His regime has killed 1500 (Iranian) demonstrators. In Lebanon the army and security forces protect the protesters with wisdom. The revolution will flourish under the shadow of a PM-designate strange to his own people.”
Protesters Stage Sit-in Outside Central Bank
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 24/2019
A group of students staged a sit-in near Lebanon’s central bank in Hamra protesting the bank’s “financial and economic policies,” as the nation faces its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. The protesters voiced calls for “change,” asserting refusal to pay taxes, demanding that levies be imposed on “profits and insurance.”A dollar-liquidity crisis has pushed banks to impose informal capital controls on dollar deposits and the Lebanese pound, officially pegged to the US dollar, has lost around 30 percent of its value on the black market. The faltering economy has pushed several companies to close, while surviving businesses try to stay open by paying half-salaries and laying off employees. A recession of more than 0.2 percent is expected for this year, the World Bank says.The international community, donors, and financial organisations have warned that debt-saddled Lebanon could ill afford any delay in getting a new government.
Hariri extends wellwishes to Lebanese on Christmas, New Year
NNA/December 24/2019
Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri congratulated the Lebanese people, in general, and Christians, in particular, on the occasion of Christmas and New Year. Hariri hoped that the holidays would bring the values of love, peace and rapprochement amongst the Lebanese, as well as salvation to help rescue the nation from its problems and crises.
Berri Says No Problem with Forming ‘One-Sided’ Govt.
Naharnet/December 24/2019
Speaker Nabih Berri said there is nothing wrong with forming a “one-sided” government if the PM-designate Hassan Diab fails to convince all political parties to participate in the cabinet he is about to form, media reports said on Tuesday. The Speaker said Diab must “spare no effort to convince all political components to participate in the government, it is up to them if they choose not to,” visitors quoted Berri as saying. Al-Mustaqbal Movement, the Lebanese Forces and the Progressive Socialist Party do not want a role in the cabinet. “There is no problem” if the government is one-sided,” said Berri “many countries around the world form such governments,” he stated. Diab, an engineering professor designated Thursday to form a desperately-needed government, plans to form a cabinet of “independent experts within four to six weeks.”He is set to hold a series of talks with officials including the LF and al-Mustaqbal. According to Berri’s visitors, the Speaker believes “there is no problem with forming a government of specialists and partisans.”Diab held talks Saturday with parliamentary blocs on the formation of a government but met several challenges as key groups insisted that the cabinet must include established parties not just independent experts. The complicated process of forming a government comes as Lebanon faces its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.
Berri in Christmas message hopes Lebanese get inspired by values of love, salvation
NNA/December 24/2019
Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, on Tuesday congratulated the Lebanese people in general, and Christians in particular on the glorious birth of Jesus Christ. “We hope that the Lebanese get inspired by the birth of the Savior, and develop values of unity, love, and salvation to help rescue the nation from its crises towards the shore of safety and stability.”On the other hand, Speaker Berri received a response cable from the President of the Republic of Ireland, Michael Higgins, in which he hoped that “the parliamentarians of both countries will be able to form a common friendship group to enhance parliamentary relations.”President Higgins also wished that “Lebanon and its wonderful people would enjoy prosperity, stability and peace.
Rahi: Rulers Brought Lebanon to Collapse and Citizens to Poverty
Naharnet/December 24/2019
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi said in his Christmas message on Tuesday that officials have brought Lebanon to economic and financial collapse and the Lebanese to poverty. “Our tragedies come from the fact that our rulers refuse to transfer power, they would rather allocate it, spend lavishly and accumulate debts. They brought the state to economic and financial collapse and left more than a third of the Lebanese people in poverty,” Rahi lashed out. He said the Lebanese people were expecting a Christmas present from politicians in which they agree on forming “a government of experts to put the country on route to economic salvation.”“The people have expressed their suffering in a positive revolution that has not subsided for 70 days. We hope it will always be positive cooperating with the army and security forces,” Rahi said. The Patriarch “blessed” the “revolution” noting that “our people will not accept bad governance prevailing since the 90s with the spread of corruption, squandering (of public funds), aggravation of deficits, rise in public debt poverty and unemployment.”He urged officials to form a government to end the suffering of Lebanese.
Rahi receives Christmas well-wishes
NNA/December 24/2019
Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi, on Tuesday received phone calls from several personalities who have expressed their best wishes for the holidays. The prelate notably received calls from House Speaker, Nabih Berri, Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdellatif Deriane, and Lebanese Forces party leader, Samir Geagea. Moreover, Rahi discussed with his interlocutors the situation in Lebanon, pushing for responsible cooperation amongst all sides to confront the deteriorating situation in the country.
Syrian ports closed for maritime navigation due to prevailing weather conditions
NNA/December 24/2019
The General Directorate for Ports on Tuesday announced that all ports in Lattakia and Tartous were closed for maritime navigation due to the prevailing weather conditions. Head of Ports General Directorate Gen. Ammar Makhlouf told SANA’s reporter that the ports of Lattakia and Tartous, the oil downstream of Banias Refinery and the small ports were closed due to high speed of the winds which has reached 40 km /h and is expected to reach up to 90km/h in the upcoming hours. Makhlouf indicated that all the required measures have been taken and all cadres are put in a state of alert to minimize any losses that may result from the weather conditions.–SANA News Agency
Lebanon banks ‘trapping’ state salaries: minister
Arab News/AFP/December 24/2019
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s caretaker finance minister accused the country’s banks on Tuesday of “trapping” civil servants’ salaries with withdrawal limits that have fueled public anger in the crisis-stricken country.
“What is happening in some Lebanese banks is unacceptable,” Ali Hassan Khalil wrote on Twitter. “They are trapping the salaries of (state) employees that are transferred by the finance ministry every month.” Rocked by two months of anti-government protests and a political deadlock, Lebanon is also facing its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. A liquidity crunch has pushed Lebanese banks to impose capital controls on dollar accounts, capping withdrawals at around $1,000 a month. Some have imposed even tighter restrictions. Some have also capped weekly withdrawals of the Lebanese pound at one million — the equivalent of $660 at official rates — even as the currency has plunged by nearly a third against the dollar on the black market in recent weeks. The tightening controls have prompted public uproar, with many accusing banks of robbing them of their savings.
On Tuesday, Khalil said it was a “sacred right” of civil servants to be paid in full and on time. “It is not permissible for this right to be violated,” he said, vowing legal action to ensure public servants can access their salaries in full.
At banks in the northern city of Tripoli, tensions soared Tuesday as clients struggled to withdraw their salaries, said an AFP correspondent there. A fight broke out in a branch near the city’s main protest camp after the bank refused to let a customer withdraw dollars.
An anti-government street movement has rocked the small Mediterranean country since October 17. Bowing to popular pressure, the government resigned two weeks into demonstrations. Since then, a potential default on Lebanon’s huge public debt has heightened the economic and political crisis.
The faltering economy has pushed many companies into bankruptcy, while others have laid off staff and slashed salaries. A recession of more than 0.2 percent is expected for this year, the World Bank says. In its first step toward forming an urgently-needed government, President Michel Aoun last week designated engineering professor Hassan Diab as the country’s next prime minister, replacing Saad Hariri who quit in late October in the face of mass protests. Diab, a self-styled technocrat, has vowed to form a cabinet of independent experts within six weeks.
No Christmas miracle in Lebanon as economic crisis deepens
Timour Azhari/AL JAZEERA NEWS/December 24/2019
Many Lebanese are relying on the generosity of others this Christmas amid worsening economic and political crises.
Beirut, Lebanon – Atta Issaoui cannot afford Christmas gifts for his children this year, let alone buy a tree.
“We want to take part in this celebration, but the situation in the country, the poverty and lack of work has made it difficult,” the 55-year-old father of two said.
Issaoui stood in line to receive presents donated by demonstrators at a protest encampment in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square, the centre of an uprising against the ruling elite that began in mid-October.
“I thank God there are some who empathise with us, it really does raise our spirits,” he told Al Jazeera.
On Monday night, a Christmas dinner was served to about 1,000 people in Martyrs’ Square, with volunteers cooking under a Christmas tree adorned with symbols of the uprising.
Small initiatives like these have offered some hope to those struggling amid Lebanon’s worst economic and financial crisis since the country’s 15-year civil war. The currency has depreciated by 30 percent since September over its pegged rate to the dollar.
But for many in the country, this Christmas remains a bitter one. In the past few months, scores of businesses have shut their doors, while many others have laid off workers, reduced their operations or paid only half salaries.
A dollar shortage has led banks to introduce informal capital controls on both dollars and local currency, leaving many unable to withdraw their meagre earnings and shaking confidence in the country’s banking system, long seen as a pillar of stability.
Dual crises
The country’s economic collapse has been exacerbated by the country’s continuing political crisis. Lebanon has been without a government since October 29, when former Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned amid mass protests.
President Michel Aoun last week tasked former education minister Hassan Diab with forming a government, but Diab faces an uphill battle to reconcile the varying demands of parliamentary blocs and convince protesters, many of whom have already voiced opposition to the politician.
Meanwhile, the crisis has filtered down to those who struggled before the latest crisis hit.
Mohammad, 45, who works as a doorman, said his salary of 650,000 Lebanese Lira ($430 at the official rate of 1500 Lebanese lira to the dollar) had been slashed to just 350,000 Lebanese Lira ($230).
The father of four received a few bags of sweets, colouring pens and a drawing book from volunteers, which he said would be the only presents he could offer this year.
“I’ve never been worse off. My kids haven’t eaten meat for three weeks, there is no Christmas cheer, there is nothing to be happy for,” said Mohammad, who wished to only go by his first name. “I don’t even have the money to get a bus to my home,” he added, walking off towards Beirut’s Hamra district.
The ‘Mad Max’ scenario
It is unlikely the situation will improve any time soon, according to Dan Azzi, an expert on Lebanon’s finances and former chairman and CEO of Standard Chartered Bank.
“Politicians need to stop messing around, else they preside over the biggest collapse in the history of Lebanon,” Azzi told Al Jazeera.
He said that the best-case scenario depended on immediate, decisive measures being implemented as soon as possible. This includes formal, transparent policies to manage the flow of capital in and out of the country, and targeted tariffs, including on luxury cars.
He also advocates for so-called financial haircuts or the confiscation of a certain percentage of the highest depositor accounts. He said that some $90bn in Lebanon’s banks was held by just 6,000 depositors
Much of that money is the result of high interest rates Lebanese banks put in place to attract dollars.
“It’s fake money,” Azzi said. “It’s unearned interest that has been subsidised by the Lebanese public. So you need to go in and give them a big haircut and then you can move on to focusing on creating a real economy,” he said. If state policies remain unchanged, Azzi said Lebanon was heading towards the “Mad-Max scenario”, a reference to the dystopian film of the same name, set after the collapse of civilised human life.
“If we keep procrastinating and wasting time, or get a government that doesn’t have the know-how or the intestinal fortitude to execute the right decision, then we go to a Mad Max-type scenario,” Azzi said.
There have already been signs of brewing chaos at banks in Lebanon, with a number of depositors refusing to leave until they are given their cash. In one video, a man says he would “burn the bank” if he was not given his money. Back in Martyrs’ Square, many clung to any hope they could find in the generosity of others. Clasping four books bound in cheerful Christmas wrapping, Ahmad, 53, said that he hoped 2020 would be “a year of revenge,” against corrupt politicians.
“Everything is getting worse, but we have hope in the revolution, that these corrupt ones are soon heading to their execution,” Ahmad, who wished to only go by his first name, added. “We still have our dreams.”
