English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For June 15/2023
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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15 آذار/2023

Bible Quotations For today
Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy
Saint John 16/20-24/:”Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labour, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 14-15/2023
Ibrahim Murad, President of the Lebanese Syriac Union Party: The Implementation of the UN Resolution, 1959 is the only solution
Lebanon's Hezbollah torpedoes presidential vote
Lebanese lawmakers fail latest attempt to elect president
US State Department expresses concern over MPs leaving chamber, hindering presidential election vote
UN Special Coordinator urges Lebanon's parliamentarians to ensure Presidential election
59 MPs vote for Azour, 51 for Franjieh amid row over 'missing' vote
Azour's supporters accuse Hezbollah of blocking democratic vote
MPs from both camps claim 'victory' after botched presidential vote
Berri calls for dialogue, says only consensus can end vacuum
Franjieh calls for 'constructive dialogue with everyone'
Azour urges moving electoral process forward for 'good of Lebanese people'
Bassil: Today's session proves no one can bypass Christian component in presidency
Geagea slams obstruction of 'entire' presidential election process
Samy Gemayel praises 'uprising' in Parliament for rejecting imposition and threat
6 'Oct. 17' MPs refuse to vote for 'sectarian parties' candidates
LBCI interviews shed light on parliamentary blocs' reactions following election session
Report: Macron, MBS to discuss Lebanon in Paris meeting
MP Tony Frangieh: No alternative to openness, unity in face of hate
Minister Sharafeddine broaches displaced Syrians’ dossier with Syrian Chargé d'Affaires
Grand Mufti broaches general affairs with UNIFIL Commander
USAID Provides More Than $17.4 Million in Additional Humanitarian Assistance for Vulnerable Lebanese People
Syrians conditions worsen, WFP faces 'unprecedented funding crisis'
A Text of a Letter sent to the USA to Department of State by three Member Of The Congress addressing the Lebanese Crisis
Amer Foundation Applauds Republican Study Committee's Call for Accountability in Lebanon
Why Hezbollah’s popularity in Lebanon is rapidly declining/Jerry Maher/Arab News/June 14, 2023
Hizbullah's Military Exercise Sparks Criticism In South Lebanon: It Is An Act Of Hijacking The State, Intimidating Hizbullah's Opponents In The Country/MEMRI/June 14, 2023

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 14-15/2023
Arab states make up 24% of Israel’s 2022 arms exports including drones
Israeli parliament vote deals setback to Netanyahu and judicial overhaul plan
Germany releases funds for Israel's Arrow-3 missiles in planned 4 billion euro deal
Washington says it's asking Israel about the death of detained Palestinian-American
Israel's Rafael says it is developing hypersonic missile interceptor
Israeli army blames mix-up for fatal shooting of Palestinian toddler
China’s Xi hosts Abbas, vows support for Palestinian state on 1967 borders
France's Macron to discuss Ukraine with Saudi Crown Prince this week
Turkey says military 'neutralised' 53 Kurdish militants in northern Syria
Putin admits Russia doesn't have enough drones, warplanes, and ammunition for the war in Ukraine, even though it's been rushing military production all year
Russia has lost so much money due to the Ukraine war that it's now trying to raise $4 billion by slapping a windfall tax on its oligarchs
Russian nuclear weapons 'more powerful than Hiroshima bomb' arrive in Belarus
Ukraine reports small advances in 'extremely fierce' fighting
No respite for Sudan civilians two months into brutal war

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 14-15/2023
Taqiyya: Iran Actually Boasts About Deceiving the West in Nuclear Talks/Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/June 14/2023
The 'Right' to Rape and Enslave Non-Muslim Women/Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute./June 14, 2023
Biden’s tough choices on agreeing a new deal with Iran/Osama Al-Shari/Arab News/June 14, 2023
Blinken’s visit an important step toward restoring US standing in the region/Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg/Arab News/June 14, 2023
Egypt leading the way on ensuring net-zero transition is just/Rania Al-Mashat and Erik Berglöf/Arab News/June 14, 2023
How the Muslim Brotherhood could use Sudan’s protracted crisis to plot a comeback/Robert Bociaga/Arab News/June 14, 2023
 

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 14-15/2023
Ibrahim Murad, President of the Lebanese Syriac Union Party: The Implementation of the UN Resolution, 1959 is the only solution
LCCC/June 14/2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/119105/119105/
Ibrahim Murad, President of the Lebanese Syriac Union Party, and Secretary-General of the “Christian Front,”, issued a press release today in which he said that “the continuation of the anomalous situation that we, the Lebanese people are living on daily basis, is caused by the presence of an armed military Militia that controls the central state, as well as all its institutions, while bullying, intimidating, challenging and boldly threatening the state and the Lebanese people. He added, “This Militia, and because of its weaponry surplus
capabilities keeps on threatening those Lebanese who struggle for the freedom of their homeland, and oppose its occupation, and at the same time falsely accusing them of treason and betrayal.
He stressed that, “the ongoing series of rigging the parliamentary quorum for electing a president of the republic, will continue until this militia and its axis can impose a president, who is a mere puppet, and willing to achieve its prime goal in controlling Lebanon. Meanwhile this militia is working day and night in a bid to confiscate the Christians’ presence in the state, and hinder their ability to survive”.
“Under this status quo of occupation, definitely, any elected president will not be able to rule, or achieve any positive results, while the armed militia remains in full control of all aspects of the state.
Murad urged the political parties, as well as the sovereign Lebanese leaders, activists and citizens “not to waste any more time, and work more seriously on calling the international community to implement Resolution 1559, because it is the only solution to liberate Lebanon from the sway of the Iranian military occupation, and only then the Lebanese can build a state on the basis of a fair political and national partnership, represented by the implementation of a federal system, that consolidates peace between the Lebanese components, and allows civilized and constitutional competition.
*Translated Freely by: Elias Bejjani

Lebanon's Hezbollah torpedoes presidential vote
Reuters/Wed, June 14, 2023
STORY: Lebanon slid deeper into crisis on Wednesday (June 14) when Hezbollah and its allies torpedoed their rivals' choice of president. The tussle over the presidency makes it harder for Lebanon to tackle the devastating financial meltdown that has festered for four years. It has also sharpened sectarian tensions, with one of Hezbollah's main Christian allies joining other Christian factions in support of the candidate - Jihad Azour, who is a senior IMF official. Azour, who is also a former finance minister, narrowly won the support of lawmakers. but Shi'ite Hezbollah and its ally the Amal Movement then withdrew, denying the two-thirds quorum. It was lawmakers' 12th attempt to elect a president since Hezbollah-allied Michel Aoun's term ended in October. The presidency is reserved for a Maronite Christian, and Hezbollah is backing its close ally Souleiman Frangieh. He strongly supports the group's right to possess weapons and is a friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Hezbollah has unleashed fierce rhetoric against Azour, describing him as a candidate of confrontation. Lebanon's Shi'ite Mufti has accused Azour, without naming him, of being backed by Israel and, quote, "a president with an American stamp." The power vacuum - with neither a head of state nor a fully empowered cabinet - is unprecedented even for Lebanon, a country that has known little stability since independence.

Lebanese lawmakers fail latest attempt to elect president
Najia Houssari/Arab News/June 14, 2023
BEIRUT: Lebanese lawmakers on Wednesday failed in the latest attempt to elect a president and break a seven-month power vacuum that has roiled the Mediterranean country. The results of the vote count in the 12th session of parliament showed that the opposition candidate, former minister Jihad Azour, received 59 votes. In contrast, the candidate of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, former Premier Suleiman Frangieh, received 51.
A political observer said that the Wednesday session “served to determine the balance of power, end the chances of candidates, and open other doors for consensus on new names in another election session.”
The opposition had anticipated that Azour would receive more than 60 votes compared to Frangieh’s expected 44. Winning in the first round of elections requires 86 votes, while in the second round, the requirement falls to 65.
For the first time in 12 sessions, all 128 MPs attended the voting session. The votes of the undecided, independents and those unconvinced by the two candidates were scattered, totaling 18 votes, including one vote for army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun, six votes for former minister Ziad Baroud, eight votes for New Lebanon, and one vote for Jihad Arab, a Lebanese contractor, which was invalidated. One blank vote was cast, and another was lost but later counted in favor of Baroud.
The election session ended with Shiite MPs leaving the assembly hall, which deprived the session of the necessary quorum, and thus no second round was held. Speaker Nabih Berri did not set a date for a new session.
Neither Azour, 57, nor Frangieh, 58, attended the session. However, the candidates tweeted immediately after the session ended. Azour thanked all the MPs who put their trust in him. “I hope the new scene will be an incentive for convergence on an option to pull Lebanon out of the crisis, by respecting the expression of the majority of MPs,” he said. Frangieh expressed his gratitude to the MPs “who elected me and placed their trust in me. We also respect the opinion of the MPs who did not elect me, and this is an incentive for constructive dialogue with everyone.”
Hezbollah and Amal Movement MPs left the election session with smiles, despite Frangieh receiving fewer votes than the opposition candidate.
MP Ali Hassan Khalil from the Amal Movement said: “We have witnessed the victory of our project, while others struggle with their choices. We are convinced of our candidate choice.”
Hezbollah MP Hussein Al-Hajj Hassan said: “We still support our candidate, despite others attempting to rally behind a single candidate despite their political differences. This is the result. We call for dialogue and unity.”
Lebanese Forces MP Shawki Dakash said the most significant aspect of the session was that “77 MPs said no to Hezbollah. However, some colleagues missed the opportunity to elect a president and restore authority to initiate the country’s revival.”
MP Ashraf Rifi said after the session that there is “significant progress toward choosing a state rather than a fiefdom.” Following the session, Kataeb head MP Sami Gemayel highlighted “threats and pressures exerted on some MPs on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, forcing them to refrain from voting for Azour.”The political observer said that five MPs from the Free Patriotic Movement appeared to have deviated from their leadership by avoiding voting for Azour. It was also revealed that Armenian MPs voted for Frangieh. The election session took place amid external pressure on Lebanon to elect a president as soon as possible. Spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry, Anne-Claire Legendre, urged Lebanese MPs to “take the session seriously and not miss another opportunity.”
The political observer said: “Such an outcome pushes Lebanon into a new phase of political stagnation at a time when it is most in need of a rapid rescue operation for its collapsed economy, institutional paralysis, the continuation of vacancies in important institutions such as the Central Bank governorship, army leadership, and diplomatic missions abroad, in addition to the paralysis at the government level, which has been a caretaker government for over a year.”
Independent MP Michel Daher highlighted the need to choose a consensus president capable of forming a rescue government and reaching out to Arab nations for assistance, warning that “otherwise, the collapse continues.”
Joanna Wronecka, UN special coordinator for Lebanon, said: “Lebanon’s leaders and MPs need to take urgent steps to ensure the election of a president, for the sake of their country and people. A prolonged vacuum undermines democratic practices in Lebanon and further delays the reforms and necessary solutions that have long been awaited to restore the country to the path of recovery.”

US State Department expresses concern over MPs leaving chamber, hindering presidential election vote
LBCI/June 14/2023
The US State Department has expressed deep concern over the actions of Lebanese parliament members who left the chamber, effectively obstructing the vote on the election of a president. This move has further exacerbated the political uncertainty and instability in the country.The US State Department emphasized that Lebanon's leaders and elites must prioritize the interests of the Lebanese people above their own ambitions and personal interests. The United States firmly believes that it is crucial for Lebanon's political figures to prioritize the welfare of the nation and its citizens. The US State Department highlighted the urgent need for Lebanese leaders to address and resolve the ongoing political paralysis within the country.

UN Special Coordinator urges Lebanon's parliamentarians to ensure Presidential election
LBCI/June 14/2023
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, urged the Lebanese leaders and parliamentarians to take urgent steps to ensure the election of a President in the interest of Lebanon and its people. She said on Twitter, "The prolonged vacuum undermines Lebanon's democratic practices and further delays the long overdue reforms and solutions needed to steer the country back to a path of recovery."

59 MPs vote for Azour, 51 for Franjieh amid row over 'missing' vote
Agence France Presse/June 14/2023
Lawmakers in crisis-hit Lebanon on Wednesday failed for the 12th time to elect a new president, as bitter divisions between Hezbollah and its opponents marred the vote.
Candidates Jihad Azour and Suleiman Franjieh both failed to get across the line, with Azour garnering 59 votes and Frangieh 51 in the 128-seat parliament. Six MPs voted for former minister Ziad Baroud, one MP voted for Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun and 8 for "New Lebanon" amid controversy over a "missing" vote. All lawmakers showed up for the election, but many left the chamber after placing their ballots in the box and quorum was lost before a second round of voting -- where the winner only requires 65 ballots -- was able to go ahead.
Berri adjourned the voting session despite demands by the MPs to repeat the vote or the counting, as the counted ballots were 127 while 128 MPs voted. MPs of Amal and Hezbollah and MP Jihad al-Samad had already walked out of the session. "One missing vote would not make a difference," Berri said, and ended the session due to lack of quorum. Change MP Melhem Khalaf had asked Speaker Berri at the beginning of the session not to leave parliament before a president is elected in open-ended sessions. "I am not listening to you," Berri responded. Lebanon has been without a head of state for more than seven months, and the last bid to elect a president was held on January 19.
As the 11 before it, Wednesday's attempt was "only a way for political forces to gauge their respective electoral weight" and see how many votes they can get, analyst Karim Bitar said. Lebanon is facing a double power vacuum, with the country governed by a caretaker cabinet with limited powers for more than a year. The international community has urged politicians to elect a consensus presidential candidate who can help the country enact reforms required to unlock billions of dollars in loans from abroad. Franjieh, a former lawmaker and minister who is a friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, hails from a storied family dynasty, like many of Lebanon's prominent political figures. On Sunday, he promised to be "the president of all Lebanese" despite his polarizing alliances. Azour was finance minister from 2005 to 2008 and has stepped aside from his role as the director of the Middle East and Central Asia department at the International Monetary Fund in view of the presidential contest. Azour's supporters had said their candidate can get more than 65 votes. On Wednesday he garnered 59. "The FPM and the opposition have nothing in common except the agreement on eliminating Franjieh," Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah said, as he accused Azour's supporters of not being convinced of him themselves. Many who voted for Azour, including Change MPs and the Lebanese Forces, had said he is not their ideal candidate but would still vote for him to end the vacuum.
- 'Prolonged vacuum' -
The winner needs two-thirds majority, or 86 votes from the 128 members of parliament -- but Hezbollah and its allies have posted spoilt ballots to disrupt previous votes. Quorum has been lost before a second round of voting -- where the winner only requires 65 ballots -- has been able to go ahead. Hezbollah and its allies adopted a similar tactic in the last presidential vote, a move that left Lebanon without a president for more than two years, until Michel Aoun's 2016 win. Pro-Hezbollah daily Al-Akhbar's front page on Wednesday featured just one word: vacuum.
If Azour got more than 60 votes it would have been a huge "reversal of fortune for Hezbollah", said Bitar, and would represent massive cross-sectarian "opposition to Hezbollah hegemony on the Lebanese political landscape". "However, at this stage, the most likely scenario is a prolonged vacuum," Bitar added. Azour on Monday said he wanted to "contribute to a solution" not a crisis, as he announced his bid for the post. He said he was "not defying anyone", after Hezbollah described him as the "defiance and confrontation candidate". Mohammad Raad, the head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, has accused Azour's supporters of not wanting him to be elected but "using him" to block Franjieh's path to the presidency. Bitar said the stalemate at Wednesday's ballot could pave the way for protracted negotiations "that would ultimately reach a third-man solution". The United States and France on Tuesday renewed calls for Lebanese lawmakers to cooperate and elect a new president. French foreign ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre urged MPs to "take this date seriously" and "not to waste another opportunity".
Shiite Duo calls for dialogue -
"Enough passing the buck... for prolonging the vacuum," Berri said in a statement after the session. "Only consensus and dialogue" will speed up the election of a president, he added, without immediately scheduling a new ballot. Sami Gemayel, head of the Christian Kataeb party, called Wednesday's support for Azour an "uprising" against "diktats and threats", in reference to accusations Hezbollah is seeking to impose its preferred candidate. The Shiite movement has described Azour as the "defiance and confrontation candidate". Before and after the session, Hezbollah MPs called for dialogue and consensus. "No one can impose a president, the only solution is consensus," Fadlallah said. He added that "the country cannot be led by confrontation"."Dialogue is essential for electing a president," he told AFP, calling for "understanding". Hezbollah lawmaker Hussein Haj Hassan claimed Azour and those around him had no political program and called for a "real national dialogue away from the auctioneering and intimidation."

Azour's supporters accuse Hezbollah of blocking democratic vote
Associated Press/June 14/2023
On Wednesday, supporters of former finance minister Jihad Azour accused Hezbollah and its allies of blocking the democratic process. Hezbollah and Amal MPs had withdrawn following the first round of electoral voting on Wednesday, breaking the quorum, after Azour failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to win in the first round. Azour had the backing of the country's largest Christian political parties, the Free Patriotic Movement, which has been allied with Hezbollah since 2006, and the Lebanese Forces party. Azour was also backed by the majority of Druze legislators and some Sunni Muslims. The new president's most pressing task will be to get this nation of 6 million people, including more than 1 million Syrian refugees, out of an unprecedented economic crisis that began in October 2019. The meltdown is rooted in decades of corruption and mismanagement by the country's political class that has ruled Lebanon since the 1975-90 civil war ended. Clinching a bailout deal with the IMF — Azour's current employer — is seen as key to Lebanon's recovery. Azour took a leave of absence from his post as regional director for the organization upon announcing his candidacy. "This group does not believe in democracy," said Fadi Karam, lawmaker from Lebanese Forces. Independent lawmaker Waddah Sadek said that "nobody can nominate a candidate and say it's either them or nobody else."Hezbollah has often criticized opposing candidates as divisive and "confrontational," though Azour has said that he would work to bring together rival political groups and end the economic crisis. "Who better than Jihad Azour to seal the deal with the IMF that can help guarantee us international investment," Sadek said. Hezbollah lawmaker Hussein Haj Hassan claimed Azour and those around him had no political program and called for a "real national dialogue away from the auctioneering and intimidation." Earlier this week, Franjieh said he was not imposing himself but sought "a national consensus or majority." Not all lawmakers opposed to Hezbollah support Azour's candidacy and some see him as representing sectarian parties. Ibrahim Mneimneh said the one thing that many legislators who like him ran on anti-establishment platforms agree on was their opposition to Franjieh. Michel Douaihy, another independent lawmaker, said Azour had not been the first choice of most independents, but that his candidacy "is the art of compromise at its best." No date has been set for a thirteenth attempt to elect a president.

MPs from both camps claim 'victory' after botched presidential vote
Naharnet/June 14/2023
MPs from the rival electoral camps on Wednesday claimed “victory” in a presidential election session that failed to produce a new president. “The camp that is trying to impose its candidate garnered 51 votes, which means that there is a clear majority against the imposition process … Our rejection of imposition means that we have won,” MP Michel Mouawad of the pro-Jihad Azour camp said after the session. MP Ali Hassan Khalil of Speaker Nabih Berri’s Development and Liberation bloc meanwhile said the session carried “a victory for the democratic battle and for an alliance that carries a clear political project.”“The victory today was a victory for the project in the face of an intersection whose elements have said that it is temporary and would end with the end of the session,” Khalil added. Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel for his part noted that the rival camp’s MPs “blocked quorum and ran away from the session,” noting that “this proves who won the battle.”“We did not want the battle but rather consensus, and that’s why we proposed a consensual person. The other camp was supposed to meet us halfway but it is continuing with its imposition approach and we will continue confronting them,” Gemayel added. Azour received 59 votes in the first round of voting in Wednesday’s session as Suleiman Franjieh garnered 51 votes. Speaker Nabih Berri later adjourned the session amid a loss of quorum and controversy over a “lost” vote. Eighty-six votes are needed by any candidate to win from the first round while 65 are needed in the second round. Lebanon has been without a head of state for more than seven months, and the previous attempt to elect a president was held on January 19.

Berri calls for dialogue, says only consensus can end vacuum
Agence France Presse/June 14/2023
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri urged Wednesday for dialogue after MPs failed for the 12th time to elect a president. Berri called on parties to stop trading blame and to stop "spinning in a vicious circle.""Enough passing the buck for prolonging the vacuum," Berri said."Denial will not lead anywhere, only consensus and dialogue will speed up the election of a president," he added, without immediately scheduling a new ballot. Hezbollah MPs and their candidate Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh also called on Wednesday for dialogue. "Dialogue is essential for electing a president," Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah told AFP. "The country cannot be led by confrontation".Hezbollah lawmaker Hussein Haj Hassan claimed Azour and those around him had no political program and called for a "real national dialogue away from the auctioneering and intimidation."Crisis-hit Lebanon has already been without a head of state for more than seven months, and the previous attempt to elect a president was held on January 19.

Franjieh calls for 'constructive dialogue with everyone'
Naharnet/June 14/2023
Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh on Wednesday thanked the 51 MPs who voted for him in the 12th presidential election session that was held earlier in the day without producing a winner. “We also respect the opinion of the lawmakers who did not vote for me and this should push for constructive dialogue with everyone,” Franjieh added, in a tweet. Franjieh’s main electoral rival Jihad Azour received 59 votes in the first round of voting in Wednesday’s session. Speaker Nabih Berri later adjourned the session amid a loss of quorum and controversy over a “lost” vote. Eighty-six votes are needed by any candidate to win from the first round while 65 are needed in the second round. MPs from both camps claimed “victory” after the session. Lebanon has been without a head of state for more than seven months, and the previous attempt to elect a president was held on January 19.

Azour urges moving electoral process forward for 'good of Lebanese people'
Naharnet/June 14/2023
Ex-minister and incumbent IMF official Jihad Azour on Wednesday thanked the Lebanese lawmakers who voted for him in the 12th presidential election session, which did not produce a new president. "I hope that this development will be an incentive to converge on the need of getting Lebanon out of the crisis and move the process forward for the good of the Lebanese people," Azour said in an English-language statement. Azour received 59 votes in the first round of voting in Wednesday’s session as Suleiman Franjieh garnered 51 votes. Speaker Nabih Berri later adjourned the session amid a loss of quorum and controversy over a “lost” vote. Eighty-six votes are needed by any candidate to win from the first round while 65 are needed in the second round. MPs from both camps claimed “victory” after the session. Lebanon has been without a head of state for more than seven months, and the previous attempt to elect a president was held on January 19.

Bassil: Today's session proves no one can bypass Christian component in presidency
LBCI/June 14/2023
Leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil, commented on Today's session in a tweet, saying: "Today's session, as we said yesterday, has proven that no one can bypass the Christian component in the presidency of the republic and that no one can impose a president on another. The movement is committed and follows its own convictions only...""Every stubbornness will be met with another stubbornness. There is no solution except through consensus on the program and on the president, without exclusion or sharing. No president can succeed without an agreed-upon program," he added. "Drop the preconditions, as this is not a dialogue, and abandon theories of imposition and defiance, as this is not Lebanon. Let us focus on the priorities of the presidency and the names that align with the sovereign, reformist, and salvation program," Bassil stressed.

Geagea slams obstruction of 'entire' presidential election process
Naharnet/June 14/2023
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Wednesday described the walkout of the pro-Suleiman Franjieh lawmakers from the 12 presidential election session as “a real and actual obstruction of the entire presidential election process.”“Had the second round (of voting) been held today, we would have had a president now,” Geagea tweeted. Jihad Azour -- the candidate of the LF, the Free Patriotic Movement and most opposition forces -- received 59 votes in the first round of voting in Wednesday’s session as Suleiman Franjieh garnered 51 votes. Speaker Nabih Berri later adjourned the session amid a loss of quorum and controversy over a “lost” vote. Eighty-six votes are needed by any candidate to win from the first round while 65 are needed in the second round. MPs from both camps claimed “victory” after the session.
Lebanon has been without a head of state for more than seven months, and the previous attempt to elect a president was held on January 19.

Samy Gemayel praises 'uprising' in Parliament for rejecting imposition and threat
LBCI/June 14/2023
The head of the Lebanese Kataeb Party, MP Samy Gemayel, considered that what happened in the 12th session to elect a president was a real "uprising" by the Lebanese MPs from all affiliations who gathered to reject the process of imposition and threat and attempts to suggest that the presidential decision is in "one place" in Lebanon. Gemayel praised from the Parliament the real "uprising" that took place, which brought together a large number of deputies who committed to voting, and praised some of the Change MPs who decided to show unity against the logic of imposition.
He said that on Tuesday, a group of blocs and deputies were under pressure and threats, which led to the retreat of some, and despite that, the number of votes came according to their estimates. He added that they were for months subject to defamation campaigns, adding, "We are accused of treachery and that any president other than Sleiman Frangieh lives in Tel Aviv." He added: "If there are those who consider the victory that occurred in today's session a failure, what is their stance towards the actions of others who disrupted the quorum and left the session? Today is the greatest evidence of who is the winner in the battle, and we say that we never wanted to engage in a battle […] And the other team was supposed to meet us halfway, but they continued with the logic of imposition, and we continue to confront them.

6 'Oct. 17' MPs refuse to vote for 'sectarian parties' candidates
Naharnet/June 14/2023
MPs Elias Jradeh, Halima Qaaqour and Cynthia Zarazir of the Change bloc and MPs Osama Saad, Abdul Rahman al-Bizri and Charbel Masaad of the Sidon-Jezzine bloc announced prior to Wednesday’s presidential election session that they would not vote for the candidates of the “sectarian parties.”In a statement, the lawmakers said they would only vote for a candidate who supports the independence of the judiciary and backs holding corrupts accountable and resuming the probe into the Beirut port blast. They also called for a president who would work for restructuring banks, recovering deposits, creating a social safety net and managing “serious dialogue aimed at devising a defense strategy.”“Because the June 14 session with the acknowledgement of the various political forces is not aimed at electing a president, but rather to reinforce the negotiation cards of the sectarian parties, we the undersigned stress that we will not be dragged by these sectarian parties … and will only elect the president who shares our political vision,” the MPs added.

LBCI interviews shed light on parliamentary blocs' reactions following election session
LBCI/June 14/2023
Amidst the aftermath of the presidential election session, exclusive interviews with various parliamentary blocs conducted by LBCI revealed divergent perspectives and reactions. The statements reflected the ongoing tensions and political complexities surrounding the process of electing Lebanon's president.
Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces, expressed his view that the 12th election session was unconventional, questioning why the elections were halted after the first round. Geagea emphasized that if the second round had taken place, Lebanon would have had a president by now, initiating a potential path towards rescuing the country. Ali Hasan Khalil from the Amal Movement highlighted the rejection of Jihad Azour by a whole faction, dismissing attempts to impose their candidate as a form of "imposition." He stressed the importance of dialogue without preconditions and rejected the notion of canceling their candidate. Tony Frangieh, Marada Movement MP and son of candidate Sleiman Frangieh described the session's outcome as positive, and emphasizing Lebanon's need for a consensus-based approach.
Frangieh acknowledged the pressure exerted on Change MPs and noted that approximately 20 Christian MPs were outside the intersection that supported Azour.
Samy Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb Party, called on the opposing faction to present a consensus candidate before engaging in any dialogue regarding the presidential file. Gemayel criticized the perception of Azour being forcefully imposed, highlighting the contradiction with democratic processes. He emphasized the need for a consensus-based dialogue to break the cycle. Michel Moawad, member of the Tajadod Bloc, acknowledged the achievement of supporting Azour and expressed the hope of surpassing the 59 votes. Ibrahim Mneimneh, despite initial hesitation, voted for Azour, acknowledging that they voted for a candidate they do not endorse. Ahmad al-Kheir from the National Moderation Bloc affirmed the validity of their decision and the importance of selecting a candidate in the next session, stating that the bloc's position remains unified. Wael Abou Faour, representing the Democratic Gathering Bloc, emphasized the incomplete nature of the current scene and urged all parties to take responsibility for addressing the ongoing crisis.

Report: Macron, MBS to discuss Lebanon in Paris meeting
Naharnet/June 14/2023
Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will discuss with President Emmanuel Macron on Friday the Lebanese file, local media reports said Wednesday. The meeting takes place after Lebanese MPs failed again Wednesday to elect a president amid a chaotic session that ended with a missing vote and a lack of quorum for the second round. "The French were awaiting the results of Wednesday's session to resume their talks with the Lebanese parties," al-Akhbar newspaper reported. It added that Paris has not changed its stance regarding the presidential consensus and that its efforts will intensify this week.

MP Tony Frangieh: No alternative to openness, unity in face of hate
NNA/June 14, 2023
MP Tony Frangieh on Wednesday said via Twitter, “There is no alternative to openness and unity in the face of hate, exclusion, and division. Today’s presidential election outcome confirms the victory of this approach. Let's build on what unites us.”

Minister Sharafeddine broaches displaced Syrians’ dossier with Syrian Chargé d'Affaires
NNA/June 14, 2023
Caretaker Minister of the Displaced, Issam Sharafeddine, on Wednesday received in his office at the ministry, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Lebanon, Ali Dagman. Discussions reportedly touched on the displaced Syrians’ dossier and on Minister Sharafeddine’s upcoming visit to Damascus at the end of this week.

Grand Mufti broaches general affairs with UNIFIL Commander
NNA/June 14, 2023
Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Abdel Latif Darian, on Wednesday welcomed at Dar al-Fatwa UNIFIL Commander, General Aroldo Lazaro, with whom he discussed general affairs. Lazaro gifted a shield to the Grand Mufti as a token of love and appreciation.

USAID Provides More Than $17.4 Million in Additional Humanitarian Assistance for Vulnerable Lebanese People
NNA/June 14, 2023
To help vulnerable Lebanese continue to put food on the table and access medical care, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing more than $17.4 million in additional humanitarian assistance to the people of Lebanon via the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and two non-governmental organizations (NGOs). As staple food and fuel prices rise and livelihoods erode, Lebanon’s deepening economic crisis continues to generate humanitarian needs by decreasing vulnerable populations’ purchasing power, and restricting access to healthcare. With more than $11.1 million in additional USAID humanitarian assistance, WFP will provide 300,000 vulnerable Lebanese people with monthly household food parcels for approximately two months, helping improve food security for some 75,000 households. The WFP food parcels, which are purchased locally in Lebanon to support the local economy, provide about 65 percent of daily caloric needs and contain grains such as rice and bulgur; pulses such as lentils, beans, and chickpeas; pasta; canned fish; oil; and other staples. WFP’s food parcel program complements national social safety net programs led by the Government of Lebanon and targets vulnerable Lebanese people who are not reached by the safety nets. Additionally, through nearly $6.3 million in USAID humanitarian assistance, Relief International (RI) and International Medical Corps (IMC) will continue supporting at least 11 primary healthcare clinics across Lebanon, as well as home care. With USAID funding, RI- and IMC-supported clinics treated more than 96,000 patients, approximately 72 percent of whom were Lebanese, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022.

Syrians conditions worsen, WFP faces 'unprecedented funding crisis'
Associated Press/June 14/2023
Six months after she got the call informing her that her U.N. assistance would be cut, Najwa al-Jassem is struggling to feed her four children and pay rent for their tent in a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley.
She once received food rations and cash that covered most of their modest monthly expenses. The family now only gets the equivalent of $20 a month, which just covers the rent for their cramped tent. Her husband gets only sporadic day labor and "my kids are too young for me to send them to work the fields," she told The Associated Press in the camp near the town of Bar Elias. "We're eating one meal a day."
Aid agencies will struggle to draw the world's attention back to the plight of Syrians like al-Jassem on Wednesday at an annual donor conference hosted by the European Union in Brussels for humanitarian aid to respond to the Syrian crisis.
Funding from the two-day conference will also go toward providing aid to Syrians within the war-torn country and to some 5.7 million Syrian refugees living in neighboring countries, particularly Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.
This year, organizers aim to raise some $11.2 billion, though humanitarian officials acknowledged that pledges will likely fall short.
On Tuesday, a day before the conference, the World Food Program announced that it was faced with an "unprecedented funding crisis" and would cut aid to 2.5 million out of the 5.5 million people in Syria who had been receiving food assistance.
The conference comes as Syria's protracted uprising-turned-civil-conflict has entered its 13th year, and after a deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked large swaths of Syria in February, further compounding its misery. The World Bank estimated over $5 billion in damage s, as the quake destroyed homes and hospitals and further crippled Syria's poor power and water infrastructure. It also comes at a politically precarious time for refugees living in neighboring countries. Syrian President Bashar Assad recently received a major political lifeline with the return of Damascus to the Arab League, and Syria's neighbors have, in return, called for a mass repatriation of refugees.
Anti-refugee rhetoric has surged in neighboring Lebanon and Turkey, both dealing with economic and political crises. In Lebanon, where officials have put the blame for the country's economic crisis onto the country's estimated 1.5 million refugees, authorities have imposed curfews on refugees and restricted their ability to rent homes. Rights groups have said the Lebanese military has deported hundreds of Syrian refugees in recent months. In Turkey, where Syrians were once welcomed with compassion, repatriation of the roughly 3.7 million refugees became a top theme in last month's presidential and parliamentary elections, which ended in a new term for incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan's government for years defended its open-door policy, but has in recent years been building housing developments in areas of northwestern Syria controlled by Ankara-backed Syrian opposition groups, with the stated aim of encouraging refugee returns. Ankara and Damascus have also been holding talks in Moscow to improve strained relations. The government has also carried out sporadic forcible deportations, while Erdogan's challengers took a harder line, vowing to deport refugees en masse.
While some Syrian refugees have voluntarily returned from Turkey and Lebanon, most say the situation is too volatile. At the camp in Lebanon, Fteim Al-Janoud struggled to hold back her tears as she talked about how she and her husband can only afford to send one of her six children to school. But the refugee from Syria's northern Aleppo province said the situation there is even worse, both in terms of security and material concerns. "If the conditions were good and if our homes were fixed so we could live peacefully and comfortably, we wouldn't have a problem going back to Syria, even with Assad still there," she said. Despite the deteriorating situation for Syrians, aid has dwindled in recent years, as donors rushed to support over 5 million Ukrainian refugees and over 7 million internally displaced in the conflict-hit European country. The war in Ukraine, a global bread basket, also sparked a food inflation surge on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic that rocked the global economy for years.
"We see needs are increasing, and we also see that that donor funding is gradually going down," said Ivo Freijsen, the U.N. refugee agency's representative to Lebanon, where some 90% of refugees live in extreme poverty and are dependent on aid.
"From a humanitarian point of view, it means that more people will be suffering," he said. "We need to be seeking to see funding levels stay at the same level and actually increase."
At last year's conference in Brussels, donors pledged $6.7 billion, falling billions short of the U.N.'s $10.5 billion appeal, split almost evenly to assist Syrians inside the war-torn country and refugees. The funding shortage forced hospitals in opposition-held northwestern Syria to cut back services, while the U.N. World Food Program cut the size of its monthly rations for the more than 1 million people it serves in that area.
"We know that Ukraine has taken a big toll," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon Imran Riza. "We know that Sudan has now become also quite a priority. It's a difficult time and it's a time that's also following COVID and everything else that happened that hit economies so hard across the globe."Given those difficulties, he said international donors need to "move towards much more sustainable interventions" rather than remaining in crisis mode.
At the camp in the Bekaa Valley, Al-Jassem says she's struggling to cope with mounting debts she and her husband have to cover unpaid rent and medical expenses.
But she's more worried about the well-being of her children, who have lived their entire lives in a refugee camp in worsening conditions.
"The kids sometimes go to school without having breakfast," she explained. "Their teacher would sometimes call me and ask why they didn't bring a sandwich with them, and I would say it's because I have nothing in the pantry."

A Text of a Letter sent to the USA to Department of State by three Member Of The Congress addressing the Lebanese Crisis
Congress Of The United States/House Of Representatives
The Honorable Antony Blinken Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Blinken:
June 12, 2023
As Co-Chairs of the U.S.-Lebanon Friendship Caucus, we write to you regarding Lebanon’s upcoming presidential election. We remain concerned that Lebanon’s constitutional processes have stalled, resulting in multiple failed parliamentary electoral sessions and a continued presidential vacancy.
Lebanon has been without a president since October 2022. Since then, the Lebanese Parliament has sought to elect a president eleven times. On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, Parliament will attempt to elect a president once again. It is time for those who seek to undermine the parliamentary process, block open election procedures, and continue to prevent multiple rounds of ballots to either resolve the impasse and allow the country to move forward, or be held accountable. It is concerning that in the past, the Parliament’s balloting was not allowed to go to a second round, once again preventing the selection of a candidate and further prolonging the political, economic, and humanitarian crises in Lebanon.
The inability to select a president is playing out against the backdrop of what the World Bank has estimated is one of the worst economic collapses since the 1850s.1 Since 2019, Lebanon’s economy has disintegrated, leaving over three-quarters of the population in poverty. On June 8, 2023, the International Monetary Fund warned that Lebanon must take immediate action on economic reforms to prevent “irreversible damage” to the economy.2 The duly elected Lebanese Parliament cannot move forward with legislation to implement much needed economic reforms until a president is elected.
1 World Bank, Lebanon Sinking (to the Top 3), Lebanon Economic Monitor Spring 2021, World Bank Washington, DC.
2 Andrea Shalal, IMF says Lebanon needs urgent economic reforms to stop deepening crisis, Reuters, June 8, 2023
page1image9102912
The United States has a strong interest in a stable, independent Lebanon. Unfortunately, the presidential vacancy stands in the way of such cooperation. If Parliamentary leaders and other political elites are unable to follow through on Lebanon’s own constitution, preserve a quorum, and allow the multiple rounds of balloting necessary for the selection of a president, the United States and our partners and allies in the region, must consider more serious measures.
We believe that the Administration should emphatically restate the importance of selecting a president who will represent the needs of the Lebanese people and move forward with necessary economic reforms before it is too late. We request your urgent attention to this matter.
Sincerely
Darrel Issa/Member Of The Congress
Darrin Lahood/Member Of The Congress
Debbie Dingell/Member Of The Congress

مؤسسة عامر فاخوري ترحب بدعوة لجنة الدراسة في الحزب الجمهوري ببند المساءلة بما يخص لبنان
Amer Fakhoury Foundation Applauds Republican Study Committee’s Call for Accountability in Lebanon
June 14, 2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/119130/119130/
The foundation celebrates the recognition of Amer Fakhoury’s case and the push for accountability in Lebanon’s government and military aid.
Washington, DC.- The Amer Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting human rights and accountability, commends the Republican Study Committee (RSC) for its recent release of a budget proposal that addresses the unlawful detention and torture of a U.S. citizen in Lebanon. The RSC acknowledged Amer Fakhoury, who faced illegal detention and torture in Lebanon before his death shortly after being released from prison.
The RSC budget proposal emphasizes the need to counter Iran’s influence in the region by preventing U.S. aid from supporting regimes that act as Iranian proxies in the Middle East, such as the current Lebanese government. The proposal notes that the terrorist group Hezbollah has taken control of Lebanon’s government, establishing a monopoly on force and enabling the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to participate in the detention and torture of U.S. citizens.
To address this issue, the RSC budget recommends discontinuing aid to the LAF and imposing sanctions on current and former Lebanese security officials involved in the detention and torture of U.S. citizens. This would include high-ranking officials like Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, the former head of the Lebanese General Security Directorate.
Earlier in 2023, the U.S. Administration initiated a program to provide direct salary payments to the LAF and Internal Security Forces (ISF), totaling $72 million. These funds ultimately serve as a slush fund in a country where Hezbollah’s economic presence is widespread.
The Amer Foundation has been advocating for recognition of Amer Fakhoury’s plight, and the RSC budget proposal represents a significant step toward holding those responsible for his unlawful detention and torture accountable. The foundation will continue to push for justice and increased transparency in the distribution of U.S. aid to Lebanon and other countries in the region.
“We are encouraged by the Republican Study Committee’s commitment to accountability and justice in Lebanon. This is the first of many steps towards ensuring that no other American citizen suffers the same fate as Amer Fakhoury,” said Macy Fakhoury a representative of the Amer Foundation.
For more information about the Amer Foundation and its ongoing work to promote human rights and accountability, visit www.amerfoundation.org or contact team@fakhouryfoundation.org
**About the Amer Foundation**
The Amer Foundation is a non-profit organization established in memory of Amer Fakhoury, a U.S. citizen who faced illegal detention and torture in Lebanon. The foundation is committed to promoting human rights, accountability, and justice for those who suffer similar injustices. Through advocacy efforts and public awareness campaigns, the Amer Foundation seeks to create a world where every individual’s rights are protected and respected.
Link for the RSC full Report/PDF
https://hern.house.gov/uploadedfiles/202306141135_fy24_rsc_budget_print_final_c.pdf
 

Why Hezbollah’s popularity in Lebanon is rapidly declining
Jerry Maher/Arab News/June 14, 2023
It is no secret that Hezbollah and its followers are restless about all that is happening in Lebanon on the economic, financial and social levels as a result of the suffocating crisis the country is going through. Hezbollah’s immediate suffering is one of the consequences of the war in Syria and its involvement there, which has led to the martyrdom of a large number of young people.
However, amid signs of the end of the war in Syria and Damascus’ return to the Arab fold via the Arab League, it has become clear to the families of the fighters that the blood of their sons was spilled in vain, with no gains resulting from the party’s participation in the conflict in Syria on the basis of the “strategic aims of the resistance.”
Therefore, resentment among the many Shiites who make up the party’s base increases on a daily basis, amid the stifling economic crisis and unstable living conditions the country is facing.
After all, they live with other Lebanese people and they share the same suffering. It appeared clearly and publicly with the launch of the popular movement of the Oct. 17 Revolution in 2019, when areas in Southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley witnessed popular movements under the slogan “All means all.” They accused the political class, including Hezbollah, of bringing the country to a state of economic deterioration and financial crisis — the worst since the civil war ended.
Anger and resentment against the party’s policies are now being expressed publicly, no longer behind walls or in restricted meetings. As a result of the insane increase in the price of essential consumer goods and fuel, as well as the decline in purchasing power as a result of the Lebanese pound’s deteriorating value against the US dollar, people can no longer tolerate staying silent and have started to publicly express their views. In the end, a hungry man is an angry man, and all barriers fall before starvation.
The impact of Hezbollah’s policies was evident in last year’s parliamentary elections, as turnout declined significantly in some of its strongholds. It is worth noting that the party and its allies directly employed tactics of intimidation and fear toward voters. Such practices were intense and widespread.
Moreover, Hezbollah limited its payment of salaries in US dollars to fighters only due to the shrinking of its revenues from Iran as a result of sanctions. It also changed the salaries of employees within its institutions into Lebanese lira, which increased the resentment and anger.
As a result, it is attempting to make up for its financial shortcomings by providing direct assistance to its most committed supporters, particularly by granting them Al-Sajjad cards, which can be used to buy products from its institutions at discounted rates. The same applies to the launch of special cards to allow Hezbollah followers to buy medicines from a group of pharmacies it is affiliated with. These medicines are usually Iranian and are not subject to the conditions or control of the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The same is true of the foodstuffs imported from Iran.
The children and wives of Hezbollah leaders show off by carrying luxury bags made by the likes of Gucci and Chanel.
The same also applies to the party’s attempt to expand its financial institutions, which are now operating in parallel to the legitimate banks in order to try to replace them in the future. These institutions, specifically Al-Qard Al-Hassan, which now has 31 branches, are distributed over a number of different regions after their work was confined to specific branches in order to absorb people’s resentment. This institution has become part of the speculative black market in Lebanon by investing “fresh dollars” into its affiliated ATMs and carrying out normal banking operations as if it were a commercial bank, in violation of all banking and financial laws in Lebanon.
It is also remarkable that aid in the form of food baskets, mostly given by international organizations like USAID, benefit only families affiliated with Hezbollah, even though the party publicly declares its enmity to the US and other Western countries.
However, it is evident that a number of its officials and their families lead normal lives and are unaffected by the crisis because they are fortunate enough to receive direct donations from the party. That increases the anger of the families that do not benefit from the same and who have to make do with crumbs.
The children and wives of Hezbollah leaders enjoy a life of luxury, travel and vacations, showing off by carrying luxury bags made by the likes of Gucci and Chanel and watches from international brands such as Rolex. Meanwhile, the people who make up the popular support of Hezbollah are not given their daily sustenance or anything that helps them face the daily challenges of living in Lebanon.
Despite the fact that the country is undergoing social and economic deterioration, we clearly see the family members of Hezbollah officials living a fancy lifestyle, as explicitly revealed by the weddings of the children of these officials, which are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. This undoubtedly increases the popular resentment against them.
Some experts say Hezbollah is now losing its grip on Lebanon, given the anger spreading even in its traditional strongholds, with many in the country dissatisfied with Hezbollah and the other longtime power holders.
The decline of Hezbollah’s popularity and its political alliances cannot be traced to a single incident. Rather, it is the result of an ongoing accumulation of missteps and miscalculations the party has made over several years, not to mention its negative influence, which has hampered Lebanon’s democratic processes, impeded social cohesion and hindered its path toward prosperity.
• Jerry Maher, chairman and CEO at Sawt Beirut International and media adviser to Bahaa Hariri, is a Swedish political writer and analyst specializing in the Middle East and Iran.
Twitter: @jerrymahers

تقرير من موقع ميمري يتناول مناروة حزب الله الأخيرة في الجنوب وما اثارته من انتقادات واستنكارت مفادها أن الحزب يختطف البلد ويرهب ويخون معارضيه
Hizbullah's Military Exercise Sparks Criticism In South Lebanon: It Is An Act Of Hijacking The State, Intimidating Hizbullah's Opponents In The Country
MEMRI/June 14, 2023
Lebanon | Special Dispatch No. 10665
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/119121/119121/
In May 2023, Hizbullah held two military exercises to mark the 23rd anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon. The first, called "We Will Cross" (referring to the Israeli border), was held on May 21 near the town of 'Armata in the Jezzine district, and involved some 200 fighters, most of them from Hizbullah's elite Radwan Force.[1] Described by Hizbullah as "the first of its kind," the exercise, conducted with live ammunition, simulated the seizing of Israeli military vehicles, a breaching of the border and a raid into Israeli territory, and the takeover of an Israeli military base and an Israeli settlement. It was an impressive show of force, in terms of both the number of troops involved and the number of scenarios simulated, although similar simulations have featured in previous Hizbullah exercises documented in the organization's videos.[2] Furthermore, the exercise did not present significant new capabilities or weapons, such as the accurate missiles Hizbullah frequently boasts that it possesses.
According to media reports, the exercise was observed by 500-600 journalists, at the invitation of Hizbullah's public relations department. In fact, the organization bussed the journalists to the area and hosted them there.[3] It was also attended by representatives of Iran-backed militias, such as the Houthi Ansar Allah movement from Yemen and officials from the information department of the Iraqi Al-Nujaba movement. This was apparently meant as a show of "uniting the fronts" of the resistance axis, a goal Hizbullah has been promoting since 2021.[4]
Several days later, Hizbullah's branch in the Jabel 'Amil area in South Lebanon invited the public to observe another exercise, called Al-Fath Al-Mubin ("The Clear Conquest"),[5] simulating "the great and final liberation of Palestine," starting with "the breaching of the [border] fence." But, unlike in the case of the first exercise, no footage or photos of this event have been released to date.
These Hizbullah exercises attracted considerable attention in Lebanon and the world, due to their timing, shortly after the latest round of fighting between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Gaza, and their location, close to the border with Israel. The May 21 exercise was apparently intended to have an impact on public opinion in Israel, Lebanon and the Arab and global arenas, and to present Hizbullah's military forces as an alternative to the Lebanese Armed Forces. The fact that Hizbullah deliberately invited hundreds of journalists from Lebanon and abroad – not all of them Hizbullah supporters – to observe it reflects the organization's sense of confidence, or at least its desire to appear confident; moreover, it shows that Hizbullah is able to hold such an event in Lebanon without any fear of the authorities' intervention.
It appears that the exercise indeed embarrassed the Lebanese government by exposing its lack of control on the ground. It is presumably no coincidence that, shortly after it was held, Lebanon's interim prime minister, Najib Mikati, held a series of meetings with the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, the UNIFIL commander and the U.S. ambassador in Beirut. The exercise also rekindled the debate in Lebanon about Hizbullah's weapons, and sparked dismay and concern among the organization's opponents, who regarded it as a threatening message directed not only at Israel but at the Lebanese public, as part of Hizbullah's efforts to promote its presidential candidate. The organization's opponents stressed that this publicly-held exercise shows, more than anything else, that Hizbullah behaves like the real and only authority in Lebanon, and expressed concern about returning to the days of the Lebanese civil war of the 1970s and 1980s, which almost destroyed the country. They also noted that Hizbullah was sabotaging Lebanon's foreign relations, both with the Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia, and with the international community.
This report reviews the military exercise held by Hizbullah in South Lebanon on May 21, 2023, and the reactions to it in the country:
Hizbullah's May 21 Military Exercise
As stated, the military exercise, held near the town of 'Armata in the Jezzine region, 20 km from the Israeli border, involved 200 fighters who simulated seizing IDF military vehicles, raiding Israeli territory and attacking an Israeli army base and an Israeli settlement, using live ammunition, drones and explosives.[6]
Hizbullah attached considerable importance to this exercise, which was accompanied by an extensive public relations campaign. Ahead of the event the organization's media outlets, and social media accounts of its supporters, circulated advertisements announcing it.[7] Hizbullah's public relations chief, Muhammad 'Afif, clarified before the exercise that its goal was to convey a message to the public in Lebanon and Israel: that Hizbullah is ready to confront any Israeli aggression and to take part in the defense of Palestine whenever necessary.[8]
After the exercise, Hizbullah and pro-Hizbullah media published extensive footage of it and statements and reports about it. Hizbullah Deputy Secretary-General Na'im Qassem described it as "the first exercise of its kind" held by the organization in Lebanon, and said that it had conveyed Hizbullah's determination and readiness to achieve victories and deter Israel.[9] The pro-Hizbullah Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar devoted a special section to the exercise. Describing it as a "rare" event that took place "a few kilometers" from the Israeli border,[10] it added that the exercise had "announced a new resistance strategy, involving advanced technology of the type used by the most modern armies, and very organized and determined troops that can realize any concept and translate it into a tactical operation." The daily also mentioned the extensive media presence at the event. It noted that, for the first time since 2005, Hizbullah had allowed "many diverse" media outlets "from Western and Asian countries" to observe its military activity, and had undertaken an extensive logistical operation in order to bring the journalists to the area and allow them to document "almost anything they wished." [11]
The hype ahead of the exercise was apparently more successful than Hizbullah had anticipated, creating far-reaching expectations among its supporters and opponents alike – so much so that the organization was forced to temper expectations several days before the event. Muhammad 'Afif noted that "several brothers in the media, with good intentions, had created excessive expectations," and that the drill would involve "military activity limited in time and place… only a sample of the real capabilities of the resistance."[12] After the exercise Na'im Qassem stressed, in a similar vein, that it had "presented just a part and a sample of our capabilities. The accurate missiles and other weapons were not shown."[13]
The Lebanese Authorities Were Helpless To Prevent The Public Exercise
The Lebanese authorities, including Interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati, were apparently helpless to prevent this public show of force by Hizbullah. Asked about this during a meeting with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka, held the day after the exercise, Mikati said that his government "opposes anything that undermines the state's sovereignty" but that resolving "the specific problem of Hizbullah's weapons… requires a broad national consensus. At the moment," he added, "the government is stressing the need to maintain security stability throughout Lebanon and refrain from any action that undermines it."[14] One day later Mikati met with UNIFIL Commander Gen. Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz and with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea. Although these meetings presumably addressed the issue of the exercise, the only details disclosed were that Mikati had stressed to Lázaro that cooperation between the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL was the main guarantee of stability along the border with Israel.[15]
Lebanese Politicians: Hizbullah Has Once Again Proved That It is Above The State; It Must Be Disarmed
As mentioned, the widely-covered exercise confirmed the concerns of Hizbullah's opponents regarding its weapons and rekindled the debate about this issue. The organization's opponents argued that, in addition to conveying a clear message to Israel, the drill was also meant to threaten the Lebanese public, especially in the context of the upcoming presidential election. They noted that this blatant show of force was disturbingly reminiscent of the civil war period in Lebanon, when armed Palestinian organizations did in the country as they pleased. Hizbullah, they added, is also harming Lebanon's relations with the Arabs, in particular with Saudi Arabia, and with the entire international community.
Hizbullah's opponents noted that the exercise was held just a few days after the Arab summit in Saudi Arabia, whose closing statement had condemned the phenomenon of armed militias. In addition, they said, it was apparently meant to signal that Hizbullah and Lebanon were not part of the understandings being formulated between Iran and Saudi Arabia.[16] They reiterated their demand to disarm Hizbullah, and some even called to take up arms against this organization, in light of the state's inaction.
Criticism of the exercise was heard even before it took place. MP Nadim Gemayel, of the Christian Kataeb party, warned that the exercise "is not directed at Israel, but is an attempt to frighten and intimidate every Lebanese who believes in Lebanon. It is directed against the Lebanese state and its sovereignty. Iran, by means of its militias, is determined to turn Lebanon into an arena of [military] exercises, missiles and false wars." Gemayel called on the Lebanese army "to take the necessary measures to prevent such displays."[17]
Following the exercise the condemnations were harsher and more intense. A notable response that summarized the criticism against the event was issued by 31 Lebanese MPs from parties opposing Hizbullah. They wrote that this show of force by Hizbullah was meant "to clarify to the Lebanese, the Arabs, and the world that its sovereignty exceeds that of the Lebanese state and that the state [in fact] lacks sovereignty over its territory. [It was meant to signal] that no decision can be made in Lebanon against Hizbullah's wishes or the wishes of the regional axis to which it belongs [i.e., the resistance axis led by Iran], and that the lives of the Lebanese, their present and their future, are hostage to Hizbullah's plan… The election of a new president and the re-forming of the executive branch are also hostage to [Hizbullah's] weapons, which are always there to impose this power equation on the rest of the Lebanese [and to torpedo] any attempt to create a political counterweight to Hizbullah and its allies in Lebanon…" The MPs added that the exercise also "harms Lebanon’s relations with the international and the Arab community, and informs the Arabs that the sixth clause of the [closing] statement [of the recent Arab League summit] in Jeddah, which firmly opposes the presence of armed militias operating beyond the [purview of] state institutions, does not concern [Hizbullah], because [this organization] considers itself a state…”
The MPs explained that “the aberrant status of Hizbullah has no place in Lebanon's political life and is an abomination in the eyes of most Lebanese." Hinting at Hizbullah, whose name means "the party of God", they added that, "however high the status of a particular political party may be, this does not entitle it to drag Lebanon into struggles that serve only its own regional plan or to impose its political, military, security and economic agendas on the Lebanese state…”
The MPs concluded with a call to implement the Taif Agreement[18] and the Lebanese constitution, which is based on it, both of which call for disbanding all militias and confining weapons to the state and its legitimate security apparatuses. The parliamentarians also urged to implement UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701,[19] to end Hizbullah's military and security involvement outside the country, as well as its interference in the internal affairs of other Arab countries, in order to restore Lebanon's historic relations with the Arab world and the international community. In addition, they called for dismantling “the parallel economy that Hizbullah has created by smuggling [contraband] through the official and unofficial [border] crossings,” and stressed that Hizbullah and its allies in and out of Lebanon must “understand once and for all that the Lebanese people will not surrender to the logic of weapons and force, no matter what the cost…”[20]
Some of the signatories to the MPs' statement condemning the Hizbullah exercise (image: Al-Nahhar, Lebanon, May 26, 2023)
In an interview with the Lebanese daily Al-Nahhar, Samir Geagea, head of the Christian Lebanese Forces party, called it inconceivable that "a group within Lebanon should usurp the decisions of the Lebanese state and the choice of the rest of the Lebanese, and take them against their will in a direction they oppose.” He urged the Lebanese people to realize that this "totally unacceptable" exercise will impact them, their future, their existence, their lives and the [country] they live in."[21]
A statement from the Saydat Al-Jabal Association[22] noted that this “unprecedented show of force” by Hizbullah had been held less than a month after the Iranian foreign minister visited South Lebanon, and that Hizbullah had used this display to "draw a connection between its weapons and the issue of the presidency, so that any new president [elected] will be forced to recognize these weapons and permit Hizbullah to use them, despite [the absence of] any consensus [about this issue] in Lebanon.”[23]
Kataeb Party: The Absence Of An Official Response To the Exercise Confirms That Hizbullah Has Taken Over Lebanon; We Will Call On Our Supporters To Openly Carry Weapons As Well
There were also those who criticized the heads of the Lebanese state for allowing Hizbullah to do as it pleases in the country. Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel, for example, claimed that the absence of any official response to Hizbullah's exercises "means that the country is totally under Hizbullah's control,” and that this, in turn, means that “the presidential campaign is extremely important.” He called on Hizbullah's opponents to agree on a presidential candidate, so as to prevent the election of a president who will license and support more displays of this sort by Hizbullah.[24]
Kataeb Party MP Nadim Gemayel stated that the authorities' failure to respond to this event grants de facto permission to any Lebanese citizen to carry arms, and went so far as to urge the citizens to do so. He said: “[The exercise] is a provocation to all Lebanese… These sights take us back to 1975 and to the sights of the armed Palestinian organizations [in Lebanon]. We oppose this and will not accept it. The fact that there was no official response to this essentially gives anyone in Lebanon permission to carry arms in order to defend himself… Therefore, I urge our supporters to bear arms openly and not to stop at the checkpoints, because we are all equal and therefore the state and the army do not interest us, [just as they do not interest Hizbullah].”[25]
Articles In The Anti-Hizbullah Press: This Organization Has Cancelled The Lebanese State; Where Is UNIFIL?!
Similar concerns were raised in the Lebanese newspapers known to oppose Hizbullah. For instance, journalist Nawal Nasser, who was among those who observed the exercise, shared her impressions in an article on the Nida Al-Watan website, and complained about the helplessness of the Lebanese state. She wrote: “…This is the first time in its history that this party [i.e., Hizbullah] has held an event of this magnitude… The military exercise [itself] lasted only one hour, but the events that preceded and followed it lasted 10 hours… during which we forgot the state of Lebanon, the state's obligations, and our rights, and became [citizens of] a 'non-state' belonging to Hizbullah…
“[This event took place after] twenty-five days of preparation, and more than 500 journalists from Lebanon and the world registered to participate in the press coverage. On Sunday, [May 21], 11 buses waited for the invitees and then took off from the central bus station… on Hajj Qassem Soleimani Street [named after the slain commander of Iran's Qods Force]. All these details make us feel, against our will, that we have moved from Lebanon to another place that is nothing like Lebanon…”
The bus ride to the site of the exercise, writes Nasser, was accompanied by Hizbullah songs and slogans. Along the roads hung pictures of Hizbullah officials and of Qassem Soleimani, flags of Hizbullah, “and among them also a few flags of Lebanon, as though Hizbullah wanted to convey that ‘all of Lebanon is with us’… Military uniforms were everywhere… Dear Allah," she exclaims, "Hizbullah is allowed to do what the [rest of] the people of this country are forbidden to do. We look into the eyes of the [local] people… Their loyalty is to Hizbullah. They receive their instructions from Hizbullah… Most of them are Lebanese, but they have become involved in great struggles that are larger than the homeland…”
After the military display, Nasser adds, the guests were taken to the village of Rihan for lunch with “the jihadi fighters.” The region was full of Hizbullah military camps, and Hizbullah gunmen were everywhere on the roads. They were even the ones directing traffic. “Is this allowed?", she wonders. "Where is UNIFIL? Where is the state and those responsible for it?..." She concludes by saying that, with this exercise, "Hizbullah has confirmed that it is no long a statelet but is [simply] the state…”[26]
An article in the Al-Nahhar daily likewise claimed that the exercise was an outright act of defiance against the Lebanese state: “…The southern region seems to have been abandoned to be taken over by Hizbullah and by its arsenals of heavy weapons… The exercise wasn’t limited or symbolic. The heavy weapons, the missiles, and the drones that were on display were sufficient for Hizbullah to convey the messages it wanted [to convey] to Israel, to Lebanon itself, to the Arabs and to the region.” The daily noted that, although the exercise was ostensibly held on the occasion of “Liberation Day” [i.e., the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon in 2000], marked on May 25, it was actually nothing more than an act of defiance against the sovereignty of the state, “whose leaders refrained from [reacting] or were afraid to react to it." Moreover, it was held just after the Arab League summit in Jeddah, whose closing statement included a clause opposing the phenomenon of militias within states. The exercise, said the daily, thus appears to be a direct and swift response to this position of the summit and a signal that there will be no change in the status quo following the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran.[27]
Some compared this show of force by Hizbullah in South Lebanon to its show of force in Beirut in May 2008,[28] and to the civil war in Lebanon in the 1970s and 1980s. Journalist 'Ali Hamada wrote, “Hizbullah didn’t have to flex its muscles on Sunday in the south in order to remind Israel of its missile capabilities, which are no secret. The [military] display, which went over the head of the slumbering state of Lebanon… was intended to remind the Lebanese people of [Hizbullah's] raids on Beirut and in the Druze mountains on May 7 and 11, [2008], and of the Black Shirts[29] who deployed in the streets of Beirut in a bid to topple the government of Sa'd Al-Hariri… This act is a reminder for the Lebanese, intended to convey that all the developments in the region – the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the openness toward the Assad regime… – make no difference as far as Lebanon is concerned. In other words, to convey that Hizbullah will maintain its role as the de facto authority in Lebanon by means of its illegal weapons and by instilling terror, regardless of any regional agreement… Hizbullah [wishes to convey that] it is part of Lebanon's sovereignty, since it is a Lebanese faction, and that the decision regarding its weapons is an internal and not an external one.” Hamada added that this exercise "constitutes another step on the road to [Hizbullah] swallowing up this country, with the help of [Lebanese] forces that collaborate with it or surrender to it…”[30]
Journalist Diana Moukalled compared Hizbullah to ISIS, tweeting, “Hizbullah's military display in the south – the use of drones, the display of weapons, and the way its operatives were dressed – was a performance that reminded me of the [military] displays held years ago by ISIS. The similarity is obvious, down to the clothing and the style of the display and the photography. ISIS was a murderous terrorist organization that turned killing and death into a spectacular visual display, and Hizbullah is likewise trying to use this type of spectacle, despite the disgraceful reality that prevails in Lebanon under its rule.”[31]
Diana Moukalled's tweet
[1] Hizbullah's elite Radwan Force, named after the organization's military chief 'Imad Mughniyeh, aka Hajj Radwan, who was killed in 2008, comprises some 10,000 troops and spearheaded the organization's action against the rebels in in Syria. This force took part in the military parade held by Hizbullah in the Syrian village of Al-Qusayr in November 2016. About this parade, see MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 1295, The Significance, Ramifications, And Messages Of Hizbullah's Show Of Military Force In Al-Qusayr, Syria, January 3, 2017; MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 6677, Hizbullah Military Parade In Syrian Town Of Al-Qusayr: Tanks, Cannon, And Machine Guns, November 14, 2016.
[2] See MEMRI TV Clip No. 10133, Video Footage Of Hizbullah's Elite Unit Radwan Force Training, Simulating Invasion Of Northern Israel, , February 16, 2023; MEMRI TV Clip No. 10027, In Nighttime Exercise, Hizbullah Fighters Simulate Breaching the Security Fence Along Israel-Lebanon Border, Ambushing Israeli Forces, January 1, 2023.
[3] See e.g., Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), May 22, 2023.
[4] In May 2021, several days after the end of a round of fighting between Israel and the Palestinian factions in Gaza, Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah called on the resistance factions on all the fronts to establish a principle whereby any Israeli aggression against Jerusalem or Al-Aqsa will spark a regional confrontation with it. Several factions, especially Shi'ite militias in Iraq and Yemen, proclaimed themselves ready to heed this call, but it appears that Hizbullah has not yet managed to implement it in full. See MEMRI JTTM reports: Hizbullah Brigades: Responding To Nasrallah's Call For A New Equation That A Threat To Jerusalem Equals Regional War, June 17, 2021; Al-Nujaba Spokesman: Golan Liberation Brigade Is Ready For Action; Any Violation In Jerusalem Will Lead To Attacks On Israeli, U.S. Interests In Region, June 16, 2021.
[5] The name is an allusion to Quran 48:1: " Indeed, We have given you, [O Muhammad], a clear conquest."
[6] See MEMRI TV Clip No. 10303, Hizbullah Military Drill In Southern Lebanon Simulates Attack On Israeli Military Base, Seizing Israeli Military Vehicles; Fighters Use ATVs, Motorcycles, Drones, Explosives, May 21, 2023.
[7] See e.g., MEMRI TV Clip No. 10298, Lebanese Hizbullah Video Promotes Upcoming 'Public Military Drill' Simulating Raid On Israeli Military Base, Will Be Covered By Local And International Media, May 17, 2023.
[8] Al-Jumhouriya (Lebanon), May 19, 2023.
[9] Almanar.com.lb, May 22, 2023.
[10] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), May 22, 2023.
[11] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), May 22, 2023.
[12] Alahednews.com, May 19, 2023.
[13] Elnashra.com, May 23, 2023.
[14] Al-Nahhar (Lebanon), May 22, 2023.
[15] Al-Nahhar (Lebanon), May 23, 2023.
[16] On these understandings, see MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 10522, In Saudi Press, Cautious Optimism Follows Saudi-Iranian Renewal Of Relations, March 13, 2023.
[17] Twitter.com/nadimgemayel, May 19, 2023.
[18] The Taif Agreement, signed in 1989 at the conclusion of the Lebanese civil war, distributed political, civil, and military authority in the country along sectarian lines.
[19] UN Security Council Resolution 1559, passed on September 2, 2004, called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon, for disarming all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias in the country, and for imposing the sovereignty of the state throughout Lebanon. UNSC Resolution 1701, passed on August 12, 2006, called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hizbullah in the 2006 Lebanon war, which broke out following Hizbullah's kidnapping of three IDF soldiers on the Israeli border. It also called for reenforcing UNIFIL and expanding its powers, and banned the armed presence of Hizbullah south of the Litani river.
[20] Al-Nahhar (Lebanon), May 26, 2023.
[21] Al-Nahhar (Lebanon), May 27, 2023.
[22] A Christian cultural organization established in 2006 by the Maronite Church which promotes Christian-Muslim coexistence.
[23] Saydeteljabal.org, May 22, 2023.
[24] Elnashra.com, May 23, 2023.
[25] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), May 21, 2023.
[26] Nidaalwatan.com, May 23, 2023.
[27] Al-Nahhar (Lebanon), May 22, 2023.
[28] On May 6, 2008, the government of Lebanon, headed by Fouad Siniora, decided to outlaw Hizbullah's private telecommunications network, on the grounds that it violated the sovereignty of the state, and to prosecute those responsible for establishing it. The government also decided to fire the head of security at Beirut international airport, who was affiliated with Hizbullah. In response, armed members of Hizbullah took control of Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, in order to force the government to revoke its decisions, which it did. See MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 437 - The Lebanon Crisis (2): Hizbullah's Victory and its Regional Implications – March 31, 2009
[29] The Black Shirts is a name for Hizbullah activists who wear black shirts when attending Hizbullah displays of force. On January 19, 2011, for example, hundreds of black-clad Hizbullah activists marched in Beirut and in other Lebanese cities following the release of some of the findings of the UN investigation into the assassination of Lebanese prime minister Rafik Al-Hariri, which implicated Hizbullah.
[30] Al-Nahhar (Lebanon), May 23, 2023.
[31] Twitter.com/dianamoukalled, May 21, 2023.
https://www.memri.org/reports/hizbullahs-military-exercise-sparks-criticism-south-lebanon-it-act-hijacking-state