Facts, News, Trends, Analysis
Hezbollah’s statements that they plan to take over the Lebanese government in the upcoming election, includes talk about how they will govern the country under a national unity government and work closely with Sunni-led coalitions as well. They think they will be able to grab the majority in the Legislature in the 2009 elections and [...]
Hezbollah has declared its confidence that it will be victorious in Lebanese elections next year. Currently, the militant group is a minority only by a slim margin, and Hezbollah senior officer Nawaf al Mussawi has asserted that victory in next year’s elections is well within sight. A major point of tension is the relationship between [...]
Thousands of Lebanese schoolchildren, carrying Palestinian and Lebanese flags, protested in Beirut on Tuesday against the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. The peaceful protest lasted for approximately 30 minutes outside UN House. The protest, consisting of singing anti-Israeli songs, was dispersed without force. Last month, Israel tightened its blockade on Palestinians in the Gaza [...]
German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced pilot plans to improve security along the Lebanese-Syrian border on Wednesday. The announcement was made following Lebanese President Michel Suleiman’s visit to Berlin this week. The objective of the plan is to improve economic prosperity for the Lebanese in the border region. Also during their meeting, Merkel and Suleiman discussed [...]
It has long been believed that stability and an era of unilateral peace in the Middle East must come from within the region. As Syria and Lebanon make the first step toward a more peaceful relationship, do you think that this marriage can in effect be successful? Has too much time passed and have ties [...]
Maronite bishops warned that growing divisions between Lebanese political groups would only lead to “chaos” in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Some political voices have made statements that the current political situation in Lebanon is not conducive to elections. The bishops came out criticizing these statements saying that it would create chaos and be more costly [...]
In marked contrast to the Lebanese government’s official position and recent overtures to Syria, Druze leader Walid Jumblat declared on Wednesday that “reconciliation with the Syrian regime is impossible.” Jumblat expressed deep skepticism regarding Syria’s talk of commitment to cooperation and support, arguing that Damascus is using political rhetoric in an attempt to regain control over Lebanon, the nation [...]
Lebanon’s efforts at nurturing political stability seem to be paying off, at least in terms of its tourism industry. According to a recent report, tourism in Lebanon hit a four-year high in 2008, with a total of 1.10 million visitors between January and October. The figure marks a significant jump from last year’s total of [...]
The United Nations body that was investigating the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri came upon some new evidence in the case. Hariri and 22 others were killed by a suicide bomber in Beirut in 2005. This assassination took Lebanon by surprise as Hariri was a well-known political figure in the nation. The [...]
A UN commission assigned to investigate the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has revealed new evidence relevant to the case. According to the latest report, the 11th on the subject, the commission “has acquired new information that may allow it to link additional individuals to the network that carried out the assassination.” [...]
