Latest news with #AshrafDabbour
LBCI
11-08-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Inside the struggle to disarm Palestinian camps in Lebanon: Leadership shake-up and divided loyalties
Inside the struggle to disarm Palestinian camps in Lebanon: Leadership shake-up and divided loyalties Report by Yazbek Wehbe, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian The Palestinian weapons handover process, initially scheduled to begin in mid-June from the Beirut camps, was delayed due to disagreements among Palestinian factions and within the Fatah movement itself. The Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, determined to proceed, replaced its ambassador to Beirut, Ashraf Dabbour, who had called for organizing weapons rather than handing them over. Mohammad al-Assaad, the Palestinian Ambassador to Mauritania, was appointed as his successor and is expected to arrive in Beirut within a week to assume his duties. A delegation from the Palestinian national security committees will visit ahead of al-Assaad's arrival to coordinate with the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee overseeing the file, as well as with the relevant Lebanese military and security authorities. Yasser Abbas, son of the Palestinian Authority president, is personally overseeing the file on behalf of his father. In July, the Palestinian Authority held an organizational workshop in Lebanon, which included reshuffling leadership positions within the Palestine Liberation Organization and Fatah's first and second ranks in Lebanon, particularly among critics of the authority's decision. However, implementation will be difficult given the multiple loyalties of Palestinian factions in Lebanon, including those opposing or hostile to the Palestine Liberation Organization, such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. According to information obtained by LBCI, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam remains in contact with President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Authority officials committed to implementing the decision. However, the plan appears to start with Palestinian camps south of the Litani River — Rashidieh, El-Buss, and Borj el-Chmali — instead of the Beirut camps, with the intention of gradually collecting weapons from the nine remaining camps. Despite the Palestinian Authority's eagerness, implementation on the ground is not easy. Decisions regarding the camps are not unified, and opponents outnumber supporters. Consequently, the Lebanese government faces the challenge of pressuring Palestinian factions to comply with the weapons handover decision, as extending state control over its territory requires strong will and determination.
LBCI
06-07-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Palestinian leadership scales back Beirut ambassador's role, eyes further changes — the details
Report by Edmond Sassine, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian A growing rift between the Palestinian Embassy in Beirut and the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah has come into public view. The authority of Palestine's ambassador to Lebanon, Ashraf Dabbour, has been scaled back, significantly reducing his responsibilities. By decree from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who also chairs the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Dabbour's role as deputy supervisor of Palestinian affairs in Lebanon has been revoked. His responsibilities are now limited strictly to his diplomatic duties as ambassador, with no further involvement in Palestinian affairs in Lebanon — including those related to factions, committees, security, public services, or humanitarian issues. Under Abbas' new directives, the popular committees in the Palestinian camps are now politically, administratively, legally, and financially linked to the PLO's Department of Refugee Affairs, which has been designated the central authority. The department is expected to begin restructuring the committees and organizing elections. These committees will handle service, social, and humanitarian matters, while political factions will remain confined to their broader representative role within the national framework. A senior PLO official in Lebanon confirmed that the changes followed a visit this week by a central Palestinian delegation to review the situation. According to the official, the delegation uncovered financial and administrative irregularities within the embassy. Dabbour was reportedly among those who opposed the handover of Palestinian weapons to the Lebanese state. However, the official suggested Dabbour's position may have been a preemptive move, anticipating Ramallah's growing dissatisfaction with his performance and the eventual curtailing of his role — or possibly his replacement, though no official decision has been announced. Ambassador Dabbour confirmed to LBCI that he is abiding by the decision, relieving him of his duties. He noted that a delegation from the financial and diplomatic oversight bodies visited and reviewed all matters but said he did not know whether the decision was based on the committee's recommendations or other factors. Dabbour defended his stance on the weapons issue, saying his opposition was based on the need to establish appropriate mechanisms and avoid implementing such a move hastily or without adequate planning. He also stressed the importance of consultation with other Palestinian factions and of avoiding any confrontation between Palestinians in Lebanon and the Lebanese state or surrounding communities, which could jeopardize the security of both the camps and the country. Palestinian sources noted that more significant decisions may be issued regarding the Palestinian situation in the coming period.
National News
11-04-2025
- Politics
- National News
Saturday, April 12, 2025
NNA – Time Topic 9:30 am Interactive mock trial organized by Adyan Foundation in partnership with Université La Sagesse and supported by Danmission, at La Sagesse University, Furn El Chebbak. 11:00 am Tech workshop on digital education and cybersecurity hosted by the Palestinian Embassy in Lebanon and Tech Trendy Educational Initiative, under the patronage of Ambassador Ashraf Dabbour, at the embassy's Yasser Arafat Hall. 11:00 am Commemoration ceremony on the 50th anniversary of the Lebanese Civil War, Ghazal Foundation for Conflict Resolution and Peace honors the National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared, at Saint Joseph University – Innovation and Sports Campus, Museum Area, Francois Bassil Hall. 12:00 pm Development dialogue, a seminar titled 'All for Development,' hosted by the Marada Movement at Pierre Frechakh Hall, Zgharta Municipal Theater. 2:30 pm Inauguration of Barouk municipal palace under the patronage of MP Teymour Joumblatt. 4:00 pm Kataeb Party commemoration marking 50 years since the launch of the Lebanese Resistance, at Chiyah – Ain El Remmaneh Municipal Stadium.
