A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For March 17-18/2020 Addressing All That is happing In the Iranian Occupied & Oppressed Lebanon
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
March 18/2020
LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 17-18/2020
Judge in Lebanon Appeals Order to Release Amer Fakhoury
Lebanon military court orders Lebanese-American be released
Judge of Urgent Matters in Nabatieh orders 2-month travel ban against Fakhoury
Judge Khoury asks military tribunal to quash verdict ruling Amer Fakhoury’s release
Amal Movement rejects Amer Fakhoury’s release decision
Hasan: 120 Coronavirus Cases in Lebanon, Only 3 Not Traced
Report Says Fakhoury to Leave Lebanon despite Travel Ban on Him
Jumblat: Fakhoury’s Release a ‘Dose of Poison’ for Presidency
Cabinet Sets Up Virus Fund, Diab Says Measures Result is Good
Wazni, ABL Agree on Opening Some Branches of Banks
Diab, Lazarini Discuss Help for Lebanon to Confront Coronavirus
Berri tackles general situation with Italian ambassador
Rahi meets Kubis
Diab chairs ministerial committee meeting on household solid waste
Abdel Samad quoting Diab after Cabinet session: Coronavirus tops our priorities
Shreim salutes every Lebanese who self-isolated, contributed to limiting virus spread
Finance Ministry creates donation accounts for the combat of coronavirus
Minister of Tourism: Closure of institutions and restaurants extended
Riots rock overcrowded Lebanon prisons over coronavirus fears/Al Jazeera/March17/2020
Coronavirus leads to drop in air pollution/Ryme Alhussayni/Annahar/March 17/2020
Hezbollah fears IMF conditions could reignite Lebanon’s uprising/David DaoudAl Arabiya/March 17/2020
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 17-18/2020
Judge in Lebanon Appeals Order to Release Amer Fakhoury
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 17 March, 2020
A Lebanese military judge Tuesday appealed a verdict by the military tribunal that ordered the release of Amer Fakhoury held since September on charges of working for the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army militia two decades ago, state-run National News Agency said. Judge Ghassan Khoury asked the Military Court of Appeals to strike down an earlier ruling in favor of Fakhoury and issue an arrest warrant against him. He asked that Fakhoury be put on trial again on charges of kidnapping, torturing and detaining Lebanese citizens as well as “killing and attempting to kill others,” according to NNA. On Monday, Fakhoury was ordered released because more than 10 years had passed since he allegedly tortured prisoners at a jail run by the so-called South Lebanon Army. Some local media reported that Fakhoury was released but there was no official confirmation. Later on Tuesday, a judge of urgent matters in the southern town of Nabatiyeh issued a ruling preventing Fakhoury from leaving Lebanon for two months. Judge Ahmad Mezher’s decision came after a request filed by former inmates. Fakhoury, 57, is a former SLA member who became a US citizen last year, and is now a restaurant owner in Dover, New Hampshire. His case has been closely followed in his home state of New Hampshire, where US Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and other officials have called for imposing sanctions on Lebanon to pressure Beirut to release him. Tuesday’s appeal came after an outcry in Lebanon over the verdict that ordered him released, including harsh criticism from by the Hezbollah party that said the verdict to release Fakhoury came after “American pressures and threats.” Riots also broke out in one of the country’s main prisons by detainees who demanded to be freed following the verdict against Fakhoury. Fakhoury has not been attending questioning sessions in Lebanon over the past few months after being hospitalized with stage 4 lymphoma cancer. Fakhoury has been jailed since Sept. 12 after returning to Lebanon on vacation to visit family. Lebanon’s intelligence service said he confessed during questioning to being a warden at Khiam Prison, which was run by the SLA during Israel’s 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon. Human rights groups have described the prison as a center for torture. Fakhoury’s family and lawyer, however, say he had no direct contact with inmates and was never involved in any interrogation or torture.
Lebanon and Israel have been officially at war since Israel´s creation in 1948. Lebanon bans its citizens from traveling to Israel or having contact with Israelis. Fakhoury’s lawyer and family say he fled Lebanon in 2001 through Israel and eventually to the United States because of death threats he and many other SLA members received for collaborating with Israel. In February, Fakhoury was charged by a military judge with the murder and torture of inmates at Khiam Prison. Hundreds of former Lebanese members of the SLA militia had fled to Israel, fearing reprisals if they remained in Lebanon. Others stayed and faced trial, receiving lenient sentences.
Lebanon military court orders Lebanese-American be released
Bassam Mroue/AP/March 17/2020
BEIRUT (AP) — A military tribunal in Beirut on Monday ordered the release of a Lebanese-American held in the country for nearly six months on charges of working for an Israeli-backed militia two decades ago, Lebanon’s state-run news agency said. Amer Fakhoury was ordered released because more than 10 years had passed since he allegedly tortured prisoners at a jail run by the so-called South Lebanon Army, the National News Agency said. Fakhoury, 57, is is a former SLA member who became a U.S. citizen last year, and is now a restaurant owner in Dover, New Hampshire. His case has been closely followed in his home state of New Hampshire, where U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and other officials have called for imposing sanctions on Lebanon to pressure Beirut to release him. Fakhoury has not been attending questioning sessions in Lebanon over the past few months, after being hospitalized with stage 4 lymphoma. It was not immediately clear if he will be set free, as he’s facing another case filed by former prisoners who say they were tortured by him. Over the weekend, the Fakhoury family placed a sign on their restaurant’s door saying they anticipate reopening by early or mid-April, Seacoastonline.com reported. “We are excited to serve you again!” the sign read. The statement was attributed to Fakhoury and his wife, Micheline. Fakhoury has been jailed since Sept. 12 after returning to Lebanon on vacation to visit family. Lebanon’s intelligence service said he confessed during questioning to being a warden at Khiam Prison, which was run by the SLA during Israel’s 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon. Human rights groups have described the prison as a center for torture. Fakhoury’s family and lawyer, however, say he had no direct contact with inmates and was never involved in any interrogation or torture.
Lebanon and Israel have been officially at war since Israel’s creation in 1948. Lebanon bans it citizens from traveling to Israel or having contact with Israelis. His lawyer and family say he fled Lebanon in 2001 through Israel and eventually to the United States because of death threats he and many other SLA members received after Israel ended its occupation of Lebanon in 2000. In February, Fakhoury was charged by a military investigative judge with the murder and torture of inmates at Khiam Prison. Hundreds of former Lebanese members of the SLA militia had fled to Israel, fearing reprisals if they remained in Lebanon. Others stayed and faced trial, receiving lenient sentences.
*Associated Press writer Kathy McCormack contributed from Concord, N.H.
Judge of Urgent Matters in Nabatieh orders 2-month travel ban against Fakhoury
NNA/March 17/2020
Judge of Urgent Matters in Nabatiyeh, Ahmed Mezher, issued a judicial decision today, which forbids Israeli collaborator Amer Al-Fakhoury from traveling outside the Lebanese territory by air, sea, or land for a period of two months.
Judge Khoury asks military tribunal to quash verdict ruling Amer Fakhoury’s release
NNA/March 17/2020
State commissioner to the military tribunal, Judge Ghassan Khoury, has asked the cassation court to quash the verdict ruling the release of Amer Fakhoury, former head of the Israeli enemy-linked prison of Khiam, National News Agency correspondent reported on Tuesday.
Judge Khoury also requested an arrest warrant against Fakhoury, in addition to his retrial for charges of torture, kidnapping and killing of scores of Lebanese citizens in Khiam jail.
Amal Movement rejects Amer Fakhoury’s release decision
NNA/March 17/2020
Amal Movement sternly rejected the military tribunal’s verdict to release collaborator Amer Fakhoury, vowing to stand in the face of the decision. “The release of Fakhoury is a decision we reject, and we shall face it — just like the entire Lebanese people — as it does not resemble Lebanon,” Amal said in a statement.
Hasan: 120 Coronavirus Cases in Lebanon, Only 3 Not Traced
Naharnet/March 17/2020
Health Minister Hamad Hasan announced Monday evening that Lebanon’s coronavirus infections tally now stands at 120, noting that only three cases have not been traced to a source. In an interview on LBCI TV, the minister added that eighty percent of the 120 infected people “do not have symptoms.”“The virus has spread in a limited manner in some Lebanese regions and this reflects people’s awareness,” Hasan said. Noting that it is still early to take a decision on ending the academic year, the minister said the country is “facing a tough test” but “will succeed in managing the coronavirus crisis.”Lebanon went into lockdown Monday after the government announced a two-week state of “general mobilization” over the crisis and ordered the closure of public and private institutions as well as the country’s airport and land and sea ports of entry. Out of the 120 infected people, only three have so far died.
Report Says Fakhoury to Leave Lebanon despite Travel Ban on Him
Associated Press/Naharnet/March 17/2020
A Lebanese military judge Tuesday appealed a verdict by the military tribunal that ordered the release of a Lebanese-American held since September on charges of working for the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army militia two decades ago, state-run National News Agency said.
Judge Ghassan Khoury asked the Military Court of Appeals to strike down an earlier ruling in favor of Amer Fakhoury and issue an arrest warrant against him. He asked that Fakhoury be put on trial again on charges of kidnapping, torturing and detaining Lebanese citizens as well as “killing and attempting to kill others,” according to NNA. On Monday, Fakhoury was ordered released because more than 10 years had passed since he allegedly tortured prisoners at a jail run by the SLA. Some local media reported that Fakhoury was released but there was no official confirmation.
Later on Tuesday, a judge of urgent matters in the southern town of Nabatiyeh issued a ruling preventing Fakhoury from leaving Lebanon for two months. Judge Ahmed Mezher’s decision came after a request filed by former inmates. LBCI TV meanwhile reported that a private jet will arrive in Beirut from Athens before midnight to transfer Fakhoury. Fakhoury, 57, is a former SLA member who became a U.S. citizen last year, and is now a restaurant owner in Dover, New Hampshire. His case has been closely followed in his home state of New Hampshire, where U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and other officials have called for imposing sanctions on Lebanon to pressure Beirut to release him. Tuesday’s appeal came after an outcry in Lebanon over the verdict that ordered him released, including harsh criticism from Hizbullah, which said the verdict to release Fakhoury came after “American pressures and threats.” “This is a sad day for Lebanon and justice,” Hizbullah said in a statement adding that the reputation of Lebanon’s judiciary was at stake. Riots also broke out in the country’s main prison in Roumieh by detainees who demanded to be freed following the verdict against Fakhoury.
Fakhoury has not been attending questioning sessions in Lebanon over the past few months after being hospitalized with stage 4 lymphoma cancer. Over the weekend, the Fakhoury family placed a sign on their restaurant’s door saying they anticipate reopening by early or mid-April, Seacoastonline.com reported. Fakhoury has been jailed since Sept. 12 after returning to Lebanon on vacation to visit family. Lebanon’s intelligence services said he confessed during questioning to being a warden at Khiam Prison, which was run by the SLA during Israel’s 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon.
Human rights groups have described the prison as a center for torture. Fakhoury’s family and lawyer, however, say he had no direct contact with inmates and was never involved in any interrogation or torture.
Lebanon and Israel have been officially at war since Israel’s creation in 1948. Lebanon bans its citizens from traveling to Israel or having contact with Israelis. Fakhoury’s lawyer and family say he fled Lebanon in 2001 through Israel and eventually to the United States because of death threats he and many other SLA members received after Israel ended its occupation of Lebanon in 2000. In February, Fakhoury was charged by a military judge with the murder and torture of inmates at Khiam Prison. Hundreds of former Lebanese members of the SLA militia had fled to Israel, fearing reprisals if they remained in Lebanon. Others stayed and faced trial, receiving lenient sentences.
Jumblat: Fakhoury’s Release a ‘Dose of Poison’ for Presidency
Naharnet/March 17/2020
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Tuesday criticized the Military Court’s decision to release Lebanese-American national Amer Fakhoury, describing it as a “dose of poison for the Presidency.” “Amid the peak of the health and economic crises, the dual loyalty devil’s advocate at the center of decision-making finds an edict to release the collaborator Amer Fakhoury,” Jumblat tweeted. “What is the use of all the judicial appointments and the talk about the judiciary’s independence, with my appreciation for the head of the Higher Judicial Council and the judges who tried the collaborator. It is a dose of poison for the Presidency,” Jumblat added. A military judge on Tuesday appealed the verdict that ordered the release of Fakhoury, who had been held since September on charges of working for the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army militia two decades ago, state-run National News Agency said.
Judge Ghassan Khoury asked the Military Court of Appeals to strike down an earlier ruling in favor of Fakhoury and issue an arrest warrant against him. He asked that Fakhoury be put on trial again on charges of kidnapping, torturing and detaining Lebanese citizens as well as “killing and attempting to kill others,” according to NNA. On Monday, Fakhoury was ordered released because more than 10 years had passed since he allegedly tortured prisoners at a jail run by the SLA. Some local media reported that Fakhoury was released but there was no official confirmation. A judge imposed a travel ban on him on Tuesday. Fakhoury, 57, is a former SLA member who became a U.S. citizen last year, and is now a restaurant owner in Dover, New Hampshire. His case has been closely followed in his home state of New Hampshire, where U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and other officials have called for imposing sanctions on Lebanon to pressure Beirut to release him. Tuesday’s appeal came after an outcry in Lebanon over the verdict that ordered him released, including harsh criticism from Hizbullah, which said the verdict to release Fakhoury came after “American pressures and threats.”
Fakhoury has not been attending questioning sessions in Lebanon over the past few months after being hospitalized with stage 4 lymphoma cancer. Fakhoury has been jailed since Sept. 12 after returning to Lebanon on vacation to visit family. Lebanon’s intelligence services said he confessed during questioning to being a warden at Khiam Prison, which was run by the SLA during Israel’s 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon.
Cabinet Sets Up Virus Fund, Diab Says Measures Result is Good
Naharnet/March 17/2020
The Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to set up a special fund for donations aimed at confronting coronavirus, as Prime Minister Hassan Diab said the outcome of the preventative measures has been good. “Crises cells will be created by municipalities and municipal unions to cater to people’s needs and the Economy Ministry will monitor prices for any hikes and will take the necessary measures,” Information Minister Manal Abdul Samad announced after a Cabinet session. “PM Hassan Diab stressed that the government is performing its duties as to protecting the Lebanese and is working to limit the spread of coronavirus,” Abdul Samad added. “He emphasized that the outcome of the measures has been good and that the general mobilization decision has been met with relief and response,” the minister went on to say. The Cabinet also approved an urgent bill aimed at pardoning convicts who finished their jail terms but are still in prison for failure to pay penalties. The government was expected to discuss monetary and economic matters during its session, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday. Ministerial sources told the daily that ministers would address the issue of Eurobonds after Lebanon’s decision to default on their payment.
“Lebanon is negotiating with creditors and the feedback is turning positive,” said the sources, adding “it will have a positive impact on the government’s approach to restructure its debt.” Earlier in March, Lebanon suspended payment of $1.2 billion in loans, marking the crisis-hit country’s first-ever default on its sovereign debt amid ongoing popular unrest. The default marked a new chapter in Lebanon’s economic crisis and could have severe repercussions on country, risking legal action by lenders that could further aggravate and push Lebanon’s economy toward financial collapse.
Wazni, ABL Agree on Opening Some Branches of Banks
Naharnet/March 17/2020
Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni and the Association of Banks on Tuesday agreed to keep some branches of banks open throughout Lebanon’s lockdown over the coronavirus crisis, following a series of statements and counter-statements. A statement issued by the Finance Ministry said the branches would open as of Wednesday and that an agreement was reached on “organizing work shifts and carrying out the necessary measures to facilitate banking services in order to cater to the needs of the people during these difficult and critical circumstances.”“Each bank will announce a list of the branches involved with the decision, in addition to the continuation of the Call Center services and securing cash via ATMs,” the statement said.“ABL has stressed its commitment to the Cabinet decision on general mobilization in addition to preserving the health of clients and employees,” it added. Banks will also abide by the decision on preventing crowding while providing essential banking services, the statement said.
Diab, Lazarini Discuss Help for Lebanon to Confront Coronavirus
Naharnet/March 17/2020
Prime Minister Hassan Diab held talks at the Grand Serail on Tuesday with United Nations Resident Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in Lebanon Philip Lazarini. Talks between the two men focused on the work of the UN organizations in Lebanon and the existing coordination with various state institutions, in addition to the possibility of providing assistance to Lebanon to confront the coronavirus.
Berri tackles general situation with Italian ambassador
NNA/March 17/2020
House Speaker, Nabih Berri, met this Tuesday at his Ain Tineh residence with the new Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Nicoletta Bombardier, with whom he discussed the general situation and the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Rahi meets Kubis
NNA/March 17/2020
Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Rahi met Tuesday in Bkerki with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jan Kubis, with whom he discussed the current general situation on the local and regional scenes, especially amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kubis highlighted the necessity of mobilization at all levels to control the spread of the disease, stressing on the role of the government, the political sides and the international community. Rahi had earlier held talks with Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Nicoletta Bombardiere.
Diab chairs ministerial committee meeting on household solid waste
NNA/March 17/2020
Prime Minister Hassan Diab chaired the meeting of the inter-ministerial committee in charge of the household solid waste dossier. Ministers of Interior Mohammad Fahmi, Environment Damianos Kattar, Public Works and Transportation Michel Najjar, and Industry Imad Hoballah attended the meeting. —Grand Serail Press Office
Abdel Samad quoting Diab after Cabinet session: Coronavirus tops our priorities
NNA/March 17/2020
Prime Minister Hassan Diab highlighted that the recent coronavirus development tops our priorities, adding that the Government is carrying out its duties to protect the Lebanese without negligence, and working to limit the spread of this virus; and the results are so far positive.
He then mentioned that the feedback has also been positive towards the general mobilization decision made on Sunday, and stressed on the importance of following-up around the clock any development in this framework. Talks also touched on the Corona Committee’s work, its means to link it to the National Operation Room for Disaster Management at the Grand Serail, and the need to monitor the affairs of all Lebanese abroad and communicate with their respective families. A special fund for donations from Lebanese and non-Lebanese has been created in order to face the coronavirus, and the Government calls every person, whether in Lebanon or abroad, to contribute to this fund during these difficult times. The Minister of Public Health will also submit on Thursday a list of all public and private hospitals that are equipped to receive the diagnosed cases, as well as quarantine places, and the State will take in charge the patients who are not covered, and reiterates the importance that insurance companies bear their responsibilities in covering their clients. The Ministry of Health will equally establish a 24-hour shift schedule for doctors, dentists and pharmacies in each region. It has also been agreed upon to create crisis cells in all municipalities and municipal unions to secure the priorities in people’s needs. In order to prevent some traders from taking advantage of this crisis, the Ministry of Economy will monitor price increases, take strict measures in this framework, and work on reducing the prices of sterilizers and disinfectants.
The Cabinet reminded that Lebanese will be affected by the current situation, especially the poor families, who work on a daily basis to secure their livelihood, as the country is going through an exceptional situation. Means to help those people have been examined.
An urgent draft law to exempt prisoners who have served their sentences in terms of the fine imposed on them has been agreed, as well as a draft law to postpone the legal, contractual, and judicial deadlines, from October 18 2019 until June 30 2020. In education, the Cabinet discussed distance learning, with the cooperation of the Ministries of Education, Telecommunications, and Information, through national TV (Tele Liban) and private television stations, in addition to adding Lebanese educational institutions websites on the white list for users of both mobile network companies and the Ministry of Telecommunications network. Finally, the Cabinet discussed the financial situation and the urgent draft law to organize and set exceptional and temporary controls on bank operations and services. — Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Shreim salutes every Lebanese who self-isolated, contributed to limiting virus spread
NNA/March 17/2020
Minister of the Displaced, Ghada Shreim, tweeted: “Not all things are negative. There are many positive matters that we need to shed light on. The picture is clear: coronavirus infection rate in Lebanon is steady! Greetings to every Lebanese who stayed at home, and thus contributed to limiting the spread of the virus. Let us keep adhering to the procedures, and God willing we will soon rise victorious.”
Finance Ministry creates donation accounts for the combat of coronavirus
NNA/March 17/2020
The Ministry of Finance has created donation accounts for the combat Coronavirus, in Lebanese pounds and in foreign currencies.
Minister of Tourism: Closure of institutions and restaurants extended
NNA/March 17/2020
The media office of Minister of Tourism, Ramzi Msharrafieh, announced in a statement that, in the wake of the recent decisions taken by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on Sunday, March 15, 2020 at Baabda Palace, it has been decided to extend the closure of institutions and restaurants until Sunday, March 29, 2020 inclusive. The decision highlighted the necessity of allowing delivery service, provided that it respects food safety procedures. Municipalities and unions were instructed not to take discretionary decisions, in contravention of the decisions issued by the competent authorities.
