Iraq summons Lebanon's envoy over Lebanese president's remark
BAGHDAD: Iraq has summoned Lebanon's envoy over remarks by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun concerning Iraq's popular mobilization forces (PMF), Iraq's state news agency said on Wednesday citing a statement from the foreign ministry.
Aoun said during an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed published on Wednesday that Lebanon would not emulate Iraq's PMF — a state security force made up of several armed factions, including some that have enjoyed the backing of Iran — when it came to enforcing the state's monopoly on weapons.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
11 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanon Takes Decisive Stand on Neutrality, Urges Hezbollah to Comply
In the wake of Israeli airstrikes on Iran, Lebanese officials have taken a unified and firm stance to distance the country from regional escalation. The leadership moved swiftly to contain any fallout, stressing that Lebanon must not be drawn into a new conflict. Iran-backed Hezbollah, while condemning the Israeli strikes and accusing Tel Aviv of crossing 'red lines,' issued a statement notably free of any threats or promises of retaliation. This restraint marks a shift from the group's more assertive stances in past regional confrontations. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday cut short his visit to the Vatican and returned to Beirut. In a statement, he condemned the Israeli strikes on Iran, calling them a direct threat to regional stability and international efforts to preserve peace in the Middle East. He urged the international community to act swiftly to prevent Israel from achieving its 'clear and dangerous' objectives. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed the president's concerns, describing the Israeli action as a 'blatant violation of international law and Iran's sovereignty.' Speaking after a high-level security meeting with key ministers and the army commander, Salam stressed the importance of maintaining internal stability amid rising regional tensions. According to sources speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Lebanese government conveyed a 'firm and final' message to Hezbollah through the army leadership: Lebanon must not be dragged into a broader conflict. The state condemned the Israeli strikes but rejected any response that would endanger national stability. Government sources indicated that Hezbollah appears to be adhering to this directive, at least for now. A source close to Hezbollah confirmed that the group would not initiate any action against Israel in response to the Iran strikes, framing the situation as an international issue in which Lebanon should not interfere. 'If Lebanon is attacked, the state is responsible,' the source said. Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri also condemned the Israeli assault, warning of its potential to destabilize the region and urging the international community to take a firm stand 'before it's too late.'
Leaders
a day ago
- Leaders
Muslim Nations Should Build Palestinian State on Their Lands: US Envoy to Israel
The US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has said that 'Muslim countries' should build a Palestinian state on their territory, according to BBC. 'Muslim countries have 644 times the amount of land that are controlled by Israel. So maybe, if there is such a desire for the Palestinian state, there would be someone who would say, we'd like to host it,' Huckabee said in a videotaped interview with the BBC. During the interview, he harshly criticized US allies, including the UK and Australia, for imposing sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers over 'repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities' in the occupied West Bank. On June 1, Huckabee attacked France's call for recognizing the Palestinian state, stating that if it adopted such an outcome, it could 'carve out a piece of the French Riviera' and create one, according to Al-Arabiya. The ambassador described the initiative at the UN as 'incredibly inappropriate when Israel is in the midst of a war.' The Israeli statement came after Macron's call for European countries to toughen up their stance on Israel if the humanitarian situation in Gaza did not improve. 'If France is really so determined to see a Palestinian state, I've got a suggestion for them — carve out a piece of the French Riviera and create a Palestinian state. They are welcome to do that, but they are not welcome to impose that kind of pressure on a sovereign nation,' Huckabee said. In May, Israel also accused French President Emmanuel Macron of undertaking a 'crusade against the Jewish state.' Related Topics: Western Allies Impose Sanctions on Israeli Ministers Over West Bank Violence Israel Plans to Build Jewish Israeli State in West Bank Macron Accuses Israel of Committing 'Shameful and Disgraceful' Actions in Gaza Short link : Post Views: 2
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Is Lebanon Irreformable?
In a normal country, political life is structured around a constitution that outlines its system of governance. Recent developments, however, have shown that Lebanon has not yet reached this stage. Disappointment has prevailed once again after the inauguration of President Joseph Aoun raised citizens' expectations. The optimism heightened with Nawaf Salam's appointment as the head of the first government of Aoun's term, as his previous role as a judge at the International Court of Justice raised hopes for reform. It was only natural for the country to be swept up in optimism, especially given Aoun's inauguration speech and cabinet's ministerial statement, which echoed citizens' deep-seated aspirations for reform and transparency. However, the contrast between the rhetoric and policy decisions being made is stark, particularly at the highest levels. Key political appointments in this country that had been deliberately looted and impoverished- and are now in a foundational phase- have left the public disillusioned. The ruling class has not taken a single step toward dismantling the sectarian-quota-based spoil-sharing system. As a result, the country's political trajectory has not changed, failing to break with the disastrous practices of the past. Under the Aoun–Salam duo, deviations from the paths set by the Constitution continue, with many of the decisions and appointments blatantly violating constitutional principles. When Michel Aoun was president, constitutional loopholes were a constant theme of the public discourse. Disputes over each branch's authority revolved around the notion that the country's top offices are sectarian in nature, with the state and its constitutional institutions reduced to fiefdoms. It is worth noting, that the constitution, which reserves the oath of office for the president, does not stipulate the president represents the Maronite community, nor does it say that the speaker represents the Shiite community or the prime minister represents the Sunni community. The idea of a "troika" gained traction under the Syrian occupation. It was used to undermine the constitutional authority of the president as a neutral arbiter on the one hand; on the other, it allowed the hegemon to tighten its grip on the country's decisions and resources. Several parties have defended the supposed need to maintain sectarian balance at the top. However, precedents show that their real objective is not to uphold the balance created by the constitution but to ensure that individual sectarian leaders maintain their privileges and tighten their grip on politics under the pretext of representing their respective communities. The outcome of this approach is obvious: it has been profoundly negative, preventing the establishment of a state built on institutions and the rule of law. Today, there is no shortage of figures eager to promote this approach through manipulative rhetoric. With regard to the president, their argument is built on that 'strong mandate' that he enjoys given his broad international and regional backing, as well as his near-unanimous domestic support for him to fill the longstanding vacuum born of the political system's dysfunction. Some have argued that the president is entitled to implement his own interpretation of how to expand his role, irrespective of constitutional boundaries. Let us pause here and look over the 1991 constitutional amendments introduced after the Taif Agreement. The executive authority that had been given to the president was transferred to the Council of Ministers as a collective body. However, the coup against the Taif Accord and the Republic prevented the implementation of the constitution and enabled the former Syrian regime to seize control of the executive branch. To paper over this breach, large shares of power were granted to leaders (under the pretext that they represented their sects) who owed their power to militias or wealth. Their power would broaden and narrow depending on the interests of foreign powers, pushing Lebanon into a transitional phase that came to be known as the 'confederation of sects.' After 1991, Lebanon nominal adopted a classic parliamentary political system. In reality, however, actual power was seized by sectarian factions. The state was undermined and oversight was ignored as a result. The subjugation of the judiciary ultimately dragged the country into the abyss. Many hoped that the new president would break with this dismal era. The inaugural speech and ministerial statement drew a lot of attention, with some linking the moment to the Shihabist era of reform. Those in power failed, however, to meet the expectations of the people. The president's calls for citizens to report cases of corruption and misconduct directly to the presidency has raised questions: Where about the government? Concerns heightened when the president unilaterally took on the task of resolving Hezbollah's weapons. Many Lebanese were also alarmed by the appointment of former minister Ali Hamieh (who represented Hezbollah in the previous government) as a presidential advisor for reconstruction. It was surprising to see Hamieh named to a 'presidential committee tasked with drafting a comprehensive plan for the reviving regions devastated by the war.' He had represented a party held responsible for the very catastrophe that befell Lebanon! Lebanon is not inherently resistant to reform, change, or transparency. However, Lebanon needs strong reformist elites with strong popular support that can seize this historic opportunity to lift its people out of poverty and alleviate their fears. It needs elites who can break with the logic of sectarian quota-sharing and reject evasive tactics, to finally reach safe harbor.
