Latest news with #Nidaaal-Watan
Nahar Net
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Salam says only opponents are those who refuse to abide by ministerial statement
by Naharnet Newsdesk 4 hours Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Thursday that his only opponents are those who refuse to abide by the ministerial statement which vowed a state monopoly on arms. Although Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad said Wednesday after a Hezbollah delegation's meeting with Salam that his party is keen on permanent understanding and accord with Salam and all components in the country, Salam seemed to refer to Hezbollah by those refusing to abide by the ministerial statement. Salam's comments came during a chat with journalists at the Grand Serail. "I am committed to good relations based on mutual respect with all political components in the country, and I have no opponent except those who refuse to abide by the ministerial statement," Salam told local Nidaa al-Watan newspaper, accusing Hezbollah, according to the daily, of a "populist" campaign against him that will not succeed in dissuading his government from implementing its reform program. Nawaf said he had visited Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh to urge him to call for an extraordinary session to accelerate the pace of reforms. In a speech Wednesday, Salam said there will be no stability in Lebanon without a complete Israeli withdrawal and without the reconstruction of what was destroyed by the Israeli aggression but added that Hezbollah must disarm. "There can be no security or safety without the state's monopoly on arms and without the state's full control of war and peace decisions," Salam said, adding that "these are non-negotiables". "We may have been very late but there will be no drawing back from now on."
Nahar Net
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Ex-Mustaqbal official clenches Beirut municipal seat from rival, broad coalition
Al-Mustaqbal Movement's former Beirut coordinator Mahmoud al-Jamal, a retired brigadier general, has managed to clench a seat on Beirut's new municipal council, preventing a list comprising most political parties from winning all 24 seats. Al-Jamal's win came at the expense of Elie Andrea, a Greek Orthodox member of the rival list who was backed by Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut Elias Audi. Andrea was the subject of 'dismay, especially among Greek Orthodox voters, which led to the redaction of his name by voters due to his bad performance as a member of the outgoing municipal council,' the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Tuesday. Andrea had also faced a social media campaign against him prior to the elections against the backdrop of his dispute with outgoing municipal chief Jamal Itani, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported. This is the first time in decades that sees Muslims outnumbering Christians in the municipal council. The country's rival political parties had formed an electoral alliance in Beirut under the excuse of preserving Christian-Muslim parity. Political rivals such as Hezbollah and the Lebanese Forces came together to form the list, which also comprised the Amal Movement, the Kataeb Party, the Free Patriotic Movement, al-Ahbash, the Tashnag Party, the Hunchak Party, the Progressive Socialist Party and MP Fouad Makhzoumi. Al-Jamal's list was backed by MP Nabil Bader and the Jamaa Islamiya and apparently received votes from Mustaqbal supporters. Four other lists were also formed in the capital, including one by the Beirut Madinati civil society group, which won one third of the capital's votes in the 2016 polls. Voter turnout reached only 21% in Beirut, which has historically witnessed similar low turnout levels.
Nahar Net
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Report: No reconstruction funds before reforms and Hezbollah disarmament
by Naharnet Newsdesk 16 May 2025, 16:05 Lebanese officials have sensed reluctance from major powers, particularly Arab countries, to provide reconstruction funds, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Friday. 'Arab and donor countries have informed Lebanon that they will not to engage in the reconstruction project until the vision for Lebanon and the region becomes clear. According to their definition, reconstruction is linked to the state's ability to undertake necessary reforms, fully disarm Hezbollah and prevent it from rebuilding its military and financial capabilities,' the daily said. 'These countries do not want to engage in such a project while the situation has not yet reached a peaceful path,' the newspaper added. All the Arab and European promises are 'awaiting serious action by the Lebanese state and signals from Washington,' the daily said.
Nahar Net
06-05-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
Gulf countries to reportedly lift travel ban on Lebanon
by Naharnet Newsdesk 06 May 2025, 14:20 After the UAE allowed its citizens to travel to Lebanon, the fellow countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council are inclined to follow suit in the near future, Lebanon's Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Tuesday. 'Intensive meetings are being held with political and security officials, most notably the meeting that PM Nawaf Salam will hold today with the GCC ambassadors to explain the measures that the Lebanese state has taken at the airport, its vicinity and along the road leading to it with the aim of reassuring these countries before they take the ban lifting decisions,' the daily quoted a 'highly informed source' as saying. 'Subsequent meetings will be held between a number of ambassadors and senior security officials to discuss the taken measures and remove any legal and security obstacles,' the source added. Emirati citizens will be able to visit Lebanon as of May 7 after a ban imposed during a diplomatic row in 2021 was lifted, the official WAM news agency has reported. The Emirati announcement came after President Joseph Aoun met with his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, after which it was announced that the ban would be lifted. In 2021, the United Arab Emirates imposed the travel ban and withdrew diplomats from Beirut in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, after a Lebanese minister criticized the Riyadh-led military intervention in Yemen. Lebanese citizens were not banned from traveling to the UAE, although some experienced difficulties obtaining visas. Ties between Beirut and Abu Dhabi had soured in the past decade over Hezbollah's influence on Lebanon. But with the group weakened by its recent war with Israel, the UAE is the latest Gulf country to renew its interest in Lebanon. In March, Saudi Arabia said it would review "obstacles" to resuming Lebanese imports and ending a ban on its citizens visiting Lebanon.
Ya Libnan
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
President Aoun held talks with US officials over situation in south Lebanon
File: US envoy Morgan Ortagus and Lebanon President Joseph Aoun Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held several phone talks with US officials Americans over the past hours, following the most dangerous cross-border violence with Israel since the November ceasefire that ended the war, according to Lebanese media reports Aoun's efforts resulted in keeping the capital Beirut and the Lebanese regions outside the scope of (Israel's) strikes,' Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Sunday. The Israelis however told the Americans that they will 'keep targeting any Hezbollah activity in any region while sparing civilians and state institutions,' Nidaa al-Watan said. Israel's major escalation against Lebanon on Saturday, which killed seven people and wounded 31 others, came after it intercepted three rockets fired from Lebanon at the northern Israeli settlement of Metula near Lebanon's border. According to UN resolution 1701 Hezbollah should move north of the Litani River but all the recent violence is taking place south of the river. The resolution also states that only the Lebanese army is entitled to bear weapons which implies that Hezbollah should hand over its arms to the Lebanese army but so far it continues to stress that it will remain a resistance movement. According to analysts Hezbollah's main goal is to increase Iran's influence in the region at Lebanon's expense. The Shiite community suffered the most from the 2006 and 2023 wars between Hezbollah and Israel.
