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U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein will arrive Sunday in Lebanon with a framework for an agreement, an Israeli media report said.
Hochstein's awaited response will be a compromise between Israel and Lebanon's demands, the report said.
Full StoryThree indictments have been unsealed in federal court, detailing charges against three men, two formerly of Northeast Ohio, who are believed to be currently residing in Lebanon, the U.S. department of justice said in a statement.
George Nakhle Ajaltouni, 47, formerly of North Olmsted and Jean Youssef Issa, 48, of Batroun were charged "for their roles in a scheme to smuggle and illegally ship firearms from Cleveland to Lebanon."
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Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Tuesday urged Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to avoid a war with Israel, as he called for electing a new president who has a “clear program.”
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Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday said that “the framework agreement which they are trying to disavow does not talk about lines, but rather about demarcation and indirect negotiations in Naqoura” with the Israelis.
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President Michel Aoun on Tuesday voiced concern that a new government might not be formed in the few remaining weeks of his tenure as he noted that there is still “hope” to see that happening.
Full StoryCaretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayyad on Tuesday said his ministry welcomes “any grant from any friendly country in the world,” hours after Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said he is willing to secure free fuel from Iran for Lebanon’s power plants.
“In this regard, we have prepared the specifications of the fuel needed for power plants,” Fayyad said.
Full StoryMP Ziad Hawat of the Lebanese Forces-led Strong Republic bloc on Tuesday decried that Speaker Nabih Berri prevented lawmakers from raising the case of Archbishop Moussa al-Hajj during a legislative session.
“The normal and right place to voice opinion… is parliament and what has been happening since years in this regard is blocking parliament’s supervisory role over the ongoing violations,” Hawat said.
Full StoryMP Cynthia Zarazir of the ‘change’ bloc on Tuesday decried the “disrespect” and “bullying” she has faced ever since entering parliament’s building for the first time.
“Ever since I entered parliament, I have not been shown any respect that suggests that those whom I will be present with for four years are firstly humans and secondly respectable people,” Zarazir said on her official Twitter and Facebook accounts, shortly after she faced several bullying and name-calling instances in parliament.
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Slurs flew as parliament witnessed several heated exchanges between MPs during Tuesday’s legislative session.
Full StoryPresident Michel Aoun on Tuesday told U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka that Lebanon is committed to Resolution 1701, while Israel is constantly violating the Lebanese sovereignty by land, sea and air.
Aoun stressed the importance of the collaboration between the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese Army, as he affirmed his willingness to carry out reforms and resume the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
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