July 2021 - ATFL

This Week In Lebanon: 7/31/2021

Posted on July 31, 2021August 8, 2021 by admin2

July 31, 2021
Miqati to Prioritize IMF Talks Once Cabinet is Formed
Wildfires Continue to Burn in Northern Lebanon
Hundreds of Thousands of Children in Lebanon are Going Hungry

Miqati to Prioritize IMF Talks Once Cabinet is Formed
Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati’s first priority after forming a government will be to resume talks with the IMF in order to unlock up to $4 billion in soft loans. To access these funds the IMF demands that a credible cabinet is formed and that the previously discussed reforms are implemented. [The Daily Star]

RESPONSE

“In order to gain the early confidence of the Lebanese, Prime Minister-designate Miqati should prioritize actions that will have the biggest positive effect on the widest number of Lebanon’s citizens. This will entail working immediately with the IMF to stabilize the lira, supporting international humanitarian aid to the country’s poorest while initiating a plan to revamp subsidies, and taking immediate steps to provide reliable electricity. Such a plan would demonstrate concrete commitments to serve all the people of Lebanon.”

-ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel

Wildfires Continue to Burn in Northern Lebanon
A wildfire that started on Wednesday in northern Lebanon continued to burn for the third day in a row on Friday. Lebanon’s military and firefighters are working to contain the fire but they report there are some areas they can’t reach. [France 24] The fire has spread across Lebanon’s border with Syria and unofficial estimates say 500 acres of forests in the region have been destroyed so far. Firefighters and air force helicopters have been working to put out the fire and Syrian helicopters have since joined in the efforts. Lebanon’s government is calling for urgent assistance from Cyprus. [AP]

RESPONSE

“What a coincidence…it was the government’s inability to handle fires in the center of the country in 2019, from the Chouf to Beirut, that was a key factor leading up to the October 17 demonstrations that toppled the government (the other being a tax on WhatsApp calls). Now a new government is about to be presented and fires are ravaging the north, near Tripoli, the home of PM-designate Najib Mikati. Let’s hope he takes this as a sign that governing Lebanon will take more than promises this time around, and uses his skills to broker the deals needed to lessen Lebanon’s despair.”

-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader

Hundreds of Thousands of Children in Lebanon are Going Hungry
A Save the Children report found that hundreds of thousands of children are suffering from hunger since last year’s August 4 Beirut Port blast. Lebanon’s poorest families simply cannot afford basic goods. The report detailed that about 47% of Lebanon’s population cannot afford essentials like lentils, cooking oil, diapers, sanitary pads, and fuel. [Al Jazeera]

RESPONSE

“Save the Children, a worldwide humanitarian NGO, issued a dire assessment of the impact of the many crises affecting Lebanon on children in the country. It is a bleak vision for all residents with 90% of the Syrian refugee population unable to purchase basic goods, a condition shared with more than half of Lebanese families. Even the ramping up of humanitarian assistance from international organizations is only a temporary solution as living conditions continue to deteriorate. This is a crisis that is generations in the making and will take decades to resolve.”

-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.

Lebanon Daily News Brief 7/31/2021

Posted on July 31, 2021August 3, 2021 by admin2

DAILY NEWS

Wildfires in Lebanon Continue for the Third Day in a Row
The wildfire that started on Wednesday in northern Lebanon continues to burn for the third day in a row. Lebanon’s military and firefighters are working to contain the fire but they report there are some areas they can’t reach. [France 24] The fire has spread across Lebanon’s border with Syria and unofficial estimates say 500 acres of pine forests in the region have been destroyed so far. Firefighters and air force helicopters have been working to put out the fire and Syrian helicopters have since joined in the efforts. Lebanon’s government is calling for urgent assistance from Cyprus. [AP]

New US House Resolution Introduced to Support Lebanon
On Wednesday US Representatives Darin LaHood (IL-18) and Darrell Issa (CA-50) introduced H. Res. 569, “Expressing continued solidarity with the Lebanese people after the devastating explosions at the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, and the continued efforts to form a secure, independent, and democratic Lebanon.” [Congress.gov] The resolution emphasizes the need for humanitarian assistance for the Lebanese people, supports the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and US goals to combat government corruption and pressure Lebanon’s government to make structural reforms upon the formation of a new cabinet. [LaHood]

Aoun Says He Will Give a Statement on Blast Investigation If Needed
Today President Michel Aoun told state prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat that he is ready to give a statement about the August 4 Beirut Port explosion if it’s needed. He said that “no one is above the law” and that justice can only be achieved through Lebanon’s specialized judicial branches. [Reuters] Yesterday Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said parliament was ready to lift the immunity given to officials surrounding the blast investigation. He did not give a timeline on when immunity would be lifted or how. [Asharq Al-Awsat]

Commander Gen. Aoun Addresses the Lebanese Army
Today as Lebanon nears the 76th anniversary of Army Day, Commander General Joseph Aoun encouraged the Lebanese Armed Forces and said do not allow anyone to “question your faith in your country and your institution.” He warned of upcoming challenges and to be ready to face them with “wisdom, patience, and deliberation.” [Naharnet]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

National Review
Economic Crisis Devastated Lebanon. Decentralized Finance Could Be the Answer
Hugo Dante

Dante writes: “As the birth of the lollar has shown, economic and institutional collapse has forced the people of Lebanon to fend for themselves, seeking out any solutions available to help overcome their harsh reality…The need for new solutions has even contributed to a “Bitcoin boom” in Lebanon, with Coindesk claiming that the Lebanese people could be moving as much as $1–$5 million in Bitcoin a month. However, accurate estimates are difficult to find. Bitcoin transactions can be slow and expensive, significantly limiting its adoption. But the underlying blockchain technology makes possible various innovations in Decentralized Finance (DeFi) that could help people in Lebanon and around the world access traditional finance and provide viable alternatives in the face of severe corruption and dire economic crisis…The crisis in Lebanon is a bleak reminder of the cost of corruption and institutional failure. As technology evolves, though, more and more alternatives will become available, helping individuals to overcome these challenges and preserve the value of their assets.”

Read more here

Beirut Port Blast: Why a Domestic Investigation Won’t Bring Justice
Cassia King

King writes: “When assessing the domestic investigation’s validity, the question to ask is not really if Bitar is a fair judge, but whether or not he is able to conduct a fair investigation within the constraints of the judicial system and pressure from Lebanon’s political elite. In the short-term, Lebanon needs an international investigation to take over the Beirut Port blast case…Victims [of the blast] and families of victims deserve justice and the culprits of these crimes that cost Lebanese lives and billions of dollars need to be held accountable. If an international investigation is refused, then immunities given to Lebanese authorities must be lifted to give Bitar a chance at conducting a full domestic investigation, though, as noted, political interference will likely infect the process. In the long-term, Lebanon’s judiciary needs systemic reform to ensure its independence. Taking Lebanon’s judiciary out of the hands of Lebanon’s executive branch is a necessary step to diminish the impact of sectarian power plays that have corrupted and diminished its credibility.”

Read more here

ATFL STATEMENT

ATFL Statement on H. Res. 569 Observing the August 4 Beirut Port Explosions

The American Task Force on Lebanon commends the US-Lebanon Friendship Caucus and its chairs, Representatives Darin LaHood of Illinois, Charlie Crist of Florida, Darrell Issa of California and Debbie Dingell of Michigan and their fellow members for introducing on Wednesday, July 28, H.Res. 569, “Expressing continued solidarity with the Lebanese people after the devastating explosions at the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, and the continued efforts to form a stable, independent, and democratic Lebanon.”

ATFL is pleased by the bipartisan support for the Resolution and will continue to work diligently with Democratic and Republican members to build additional support for it. As ATFL President Ambassador Ed Gabriel remarked, “This resolution sends a very strong message to the Lebanese people that their survival and that of Lebanon are in the interests of the United States. As importantly, it sends a clear message to Lebanon’s government that members of Congress are concerned with its inability to conduct a transparent and credible investigation of the explosions and ‘calls on the Government of Lebanon to conduct a credible, impartial, and transparent investigation into the cause of, and responsibility for, the August 4 explosions, and include impartial international experts as part of the investigation team.’”

Read the full statement

SPECIAL EVENT

ATFL will hold a virtual webinar on Thursday, August 5 from 11:30am to 1:00pm ET to mark the one-year anniversary of the August 4 Beirut Port explosions. The presentations will focus on four themes:

The threat of the rapidly declining socio-economic conditions on Lebanese society including the brain drain and social services;

Assessing the role of the international community in bringing pressure to bear on economic and political reforms;

The status of US-Lebanon relations and challenges to building relations with a potential new government;

And lessons from post-conflict stabilization strategies in developing survival options for Lebanon as a sovereign state.
US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea and President of the Lebanese American University are among our guest speakers. Others to be determined include EU and UN officials and other Lebanon experts and advocates.

REGISTER HERE

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.

Beirut Port Blast: Why a Domestic Investigation Won’t Bring Justice

Posted on July 30, 2021 by admin

It’s been almost one year since 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in the Port of Beirut caught fire and caused one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. The blast cost the lives of 217 people, injured more than 6,000, and forcibly displaced over 300,000.

The chemicals were stored haphazardly in the capital’s port for six years and Lebanon officials knew about it. This government malfeasance cost up to $4.6 billion in damages with estimates of losses in financial flows as high as $3.5 billion according to the World Bank. It destroyed the port’s wheat silos, surrounding businesses, residential neighborhoods, and damaged major hospitals and structures in the area. One year later, the culprits have yet to be identified and held accountable. Why?

An inherently flawed domestic investigation

Even a cursory review of Lebanon’s judicial system reveals a vulnerable structure susceptible to political interference. Take for example the State Council Bureau, which is meant to act as a safeguard for judicial independence. Its seven judges are essentially handpicked by the executive branch. And though Bureau members are not supposed to be selected by sectarian affiliation, legal advocates report selections are often based on quota-sharing deals among sectarian leaders. Further, Bureau members are all judges, whereas international standards dictate a diverse membership that should include legislators, lawyers, and academics.

But this reflects just one of the long-term systemic issues that needs reform to adequately administer justice in Lebanon. For the port blast investigation, the government assigned the case to the Judicial Council, which is an exceptional court, and legal advocates in Lebanon have identified systemic flaws within this process as well. First, there is no appeals process through this court, so any decisions made by the investigating judge cannot be appealed. Further, and following the theme of Lebanon’s judiciary appointments discussed above, the Judicial Council does not maintain judiciary independence from the executive branch. Its five members are appointed by the government following the recommendations of the Minister of Justice with approval by the Supreme Judicial Council (whose eight out of ten members are also appointed by the executive branch).

Beyond these systemic flaws, Judge Fadi Sawan and now Judge Tarek Bitar have faced a host of challenges in their efforts to lead the blast investigation. Judge Sawan, who was originally assigned to lead the investigation last year, was removed from the case after two former ministers that Sawan had previously charged filed a complaint alleging the judge could not maintain neutrality. The Court of Cassation dismissed him and concurred that Sawan could not be impartial because his own home was damaged in the blast.

And since his appointment following Sawan’s removal, Judge Tarek Bitar has faced his own barriers. When earlier this month Bitar requested permission to investigate MPs and high-level security officials, Interior Minister Mohammad Fahmi denied the request. Lebanon’s parliament is currently stalled on a decision on whether to lift the immunities given to officials. And recently, a parliamentary motion was initiated that would open a parallel investigation to Judge Bitar’s. It called for Lebanese officials to be tried by the Supreme Council instead of through the Judicial Council which would mean facing the eight out of ten politically appointed judges mentioned previously. Over 50 MPs initially signed the motion, but pressure from legal activists and the media resulted in dozens of MPs withdrawing their support, leaving only 24 signees. Sixty-one signatures are needed for it to pass.

So when assessing the domestic investigation’s validity, the question to ask is not really if Bitar is a fair judge, but whether or not he is able to conduct a fair investigation within the constraints of the judicial system and pressure from Lebanon’s political elite.

Are there other options?

In the short-term, Lebanon needs an international investigation to take over the Beirut Port blast case. Lebanese citizens, local civil society groups, and international NGOs alike have been calling for this. A coalition of over 50 Lebanese and international organizations wrote to the UN Human Rights Council requesting an independent investigative mission that would “identify human rights violations arising from the Lebanese state’s failure to protect the right to life.”

Victims and families of victims deserve justice and accountability. The culprits of these crimes that cost Lebanese lives and billions of dollars need to be held accountable. If an international investigation is refused, then immunities given to Lebanese authorities must be lifted to give Bitar a chance at conducting a full domestic investigation, though, as noted, political interference will likely infect the process.

In the long-term, Lebanon’s judiciary needs systemic reform to ensure its independence. Some of these changes are already written into law but have not been implemented. Taking Lebanon’s judiciary out of the hands of Lebanon’s executive branch is a necessary step to diminish the impact of sectarian power plays that have corrupted and diminished its credibility.

Cassia King is a master’s student at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies with a concentration in Conflict Management. She is ATFL’s media coordinator and summer research associate.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon.

Lebanon Daily News Brief 7/29/2021

Posted on July 29, 2021July 30, 2021 by admin2

DAILY NEWS

Government Formation Talks Center on Interior Portfolio
Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati and President Michel Aoun met in Baabda today to discus Miqati’s new cabinet line-up that he submitted yesterday. [Naharnet] Reports say that the main obstacle to the formation of a government is a debate over who will get the interior portfolio. They add that Aoun has repeatedly demanded that portfolio and currently Miqati has allocated it to a Sunni official. [Naharnet]

Wildfire in Northern Lebanon Continues to Burn
The wildfire that started yesterday in northern Lebanon continued to burn today and has spread across Lebanon’s border with Syria. An estimated 500 acres of forests in the region have been destroyed so far. Firefighters and air force helicopters have been working to put out the fire and Syrian helicopters have since joined in the efforts. Lebanon’s government is calling for urgent assistance from Cyprus. [AP]

Miqati’s Priority After Government Formation is IMF Funds
Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati’s first priority after forming a government will be to resume talks with the IMF in order to unlock up to $4 billion in soft loans. To access these funds the IMF demands that a credible cabinet is formed and that the previously discussed reforms are implemented. [The Daily Star]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

National Review
Economic Crisis Devastated Lebanon. Decentralized Finance Could Be the Answer
Hugo Dante

Read more here

SPECIAL EVENT

ATFL will hold a virtual webinar on Thursday, August 5 from 11:30am to 1:00pm ET to mark the one-year anniversary of the August 4 Beirut Port explosions. The presentations will focus on four themes:

The threat of the rapidly declining socio-economic conditions on Lebanese society including the brain drain and social services;
assessing the role of the international community in bringing pressure to bear on economic and political reforms;
the status of US-Lebanon relations and challenges to building relations with a potential new government;
and lessons from post-conflict stabilization strategies in developing survival options for Lebanon as a sovereign state.

US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea and President of the Lebanese American University are among our guest speakers. Others to be determined include EU and UN officials and other Lebanon experts and advocates.

REGISTER HERE

Lebanon Daily News Brief 7/28/2021

Posted on July 29, 2021 by admin2

DAILY NEWS

PM-Designate Miqati Submits Cabinet Line-Up
Today Prime Minister-designate held talks with President Michel Aoun and submitted his cabinet line-up to form a new government. [Naharnet] One sources said that the line-up includes a list of 24 ministers that would form a “techno-political” government including 18 technocrats and six political ministers. [Naharnet]

Wildfire Breaks Out in Northern Lebanon
A wildfire broke out in northern Lebanon today and took the life of a 15-year old when it reached nearby residencies in the Akkar province. The fire spread over four miles in the mountainous region while firefighters and the military worked to put it out. [AP]

Forensic Audit of the Central Bank to Begin Soon
Reports say that Alvarez & Marsal will begin an extensive forensic audit of all of Banque Du Liban’s accounts in the next few days. The audit is required to receive financial assistance from the international community, notably from the IMF. The consultancy has reportedly received all the required documents and data that the central bank had previously withheld. [The 961]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
A Mikati Government Will Not Save Lebanon
Hanin Ghaddar

Ghaddar writes: “On July 26, ten days after the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, former premier Najib Mikati was chosen to form a new government in Lebanon. Claiming he enjoys international support from the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, and other countries, Mikati pledged that he will name a cabinet as soon as possible. Yet despite being nominated by President Michel Aoun and winning votes from 72 of parliament’s 128 members, he represents the same fundamental problem that plagued previous attempts to form a legitimate, effective government—namely, the political class persists in proposing options that represent their own elite interests rather than pursuing the serious institutional reforms the country and the people so desperately need…If Mikati is able to form a government, its mission will likely be to sidestep serious reforms, oversee the election of its hand-picked replacement, and otherwise preserve the status quo. This entails managing Lebanon’s slow-motion collapse, not reversing it. After all, Mikati is no outsider—a billionaire from Tripoli, he has always been part of the corrupt order, repeatedly using his political influence to grow his businesses and assets.”

Read more here

Lebanon Daily News Brief 7/27/2021

Posted on July 27, 2021 by admin2

DAILY NEWS

Prime Minister-designate Miqati Begins Efforts to Form New Government
Today Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati said that he would hold continuous meetings with President Michel Aoun until a new government is formed. [Naharnet] Sources say that the two have not yet gone into details regarding the cabinet line-up. [Naharnet] Miqait’s team members said that he is considering using the potential $900 million from the IMF for the building of two power plants in Deir Amar and al-Zahrani to help Lebanon’s electricity problem. [France 24]

The British Museum Will Restore Artifacts Damaged by Beirut Blast
The British Museum said it will help restore ancient glass artifacts from Lebanon that were damaged in the August 4 Beirut Port blast. The artifacts were stored in a display case at the American University of Beirut’s Archaeological Museum when the explosion shattered them into hundreds of pieces, mixed in with broken window glass. Out of 74 glass vessels, only 15 can be salvaged and only eight are deemed safe to travel to London. [Al Arabiya]

New Online Platform for the National Social Security Fund
Lebanon’s National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is creating a new website for the country’s social security services. The new platform is meant to create a more efficient process and allow Lebanese to take care of their inquiries online instead of needing to personally visit NSSF centers. The project is funded with help from the European Union. [The 961]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Drowning in Corruption, Lebanon’s Water Supply Dribbles to a Halt
Jean AbiNader

AbiNader writes, “The availability of water for 1.7 million residents dropped in 2020 by 80% from 43.6 to 9 gallons of potable water a day. This has resulted in an increase of 35% in the price of private sector bulk water supplies, while the cost of bottled water has doubled. And where does the blame lay? There are no dollars to buy chlorine or spare parts for the municipal water systems – suppliers insist on being paid in real money, not Lebanese lira. Hard to blame them. Then there are the intermittent power supplies and blackouts interrupting the treatment, pumping, and distribution of water. That’s the government’s responsibility since it controls contracting and maintenance of the public water supply. And, about 40% of the safe water supply is wasted through faulty, corroded pipes and water being illegally diverted. Bad luck maybe, but more likely negligence on the part of the municipal and regional water authorities for ignoring or avoiding these issues for the past 20 years…Will 40 of Lebanon’s million/billionaires each please transfer $1 million to UNICEF, which is not a Lebanese entity, to enable UNICEF to carry out its commitment ‘to support, particularly as the global pandemic evolves, to ensure that the most basic right to clean water is met for children and families at this critical time for Lebanon?'”

Read more here

The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies
Lebanon’s National Vaccination Plan: Public and Private Perspectives

Following LCPS’ recent Government Monitor focusing on Lebanon’s COVID-19 response and the national vaccination plan, LCPS researcher Ali Taha interviews Dr. Abdul Rahman Bizri and Dr. Georges Ghanem to investigate different aspects of the vaccination campaign from two perspectives: the public and private sectors.

Read the interviews here

Lebanese Daily News Brief 7/26/2021

Posted on July 26, 2021 by admin2

DAILY NEWS

Former Prime Minister Mikati Named Prime Minister-Designate
Today former Prime Minister Najib Miqati was named Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate after securing 72 votes in parliamentary consultations. Miqati stressed that he would follow the French initiative in the formation of a new government. He said that if he “didn’t have specific foreign reassurances” he would not have moved forward. [Naharnet]

Lebanon Asks for UNIFIL Mandate to Be Extended
Today during talks with the UN Undersecretary-General for Peace Operations, President Michel Aoun asked for the UNIFIL mandate to be extended. He asked that no modifications be made to UNIFIL’s number or its missions in southern Lebanon. [The Daily Star]

MPs Withdraw Support for Beirut Port Special Council Motion
After last week’s parliamentary motion to try officials surrounding the Beirut Port blast through a special judicial council, dozens of MPs have removed their names. The petition was signed by over 50 MPs initially but pressure from activists and the media has led led to MPs to back out. Only 23 names are left in support of the motion. The motion would have opened a parallel investigation to Judge Tarek Bitar’s and legal activists say it would keep certain officials from being held accountable. [The 961]

Tripoli Man Self-Immolates Amid Dire Conditions
A man in Tripoli set himself on fire in desperation to protest the deteriorating living conditions in Lebanon. The Islamic Medical Association rescued the man and took him to Al-Salam Hospital. Food prices have increased 50 percent from ten days ago and Lebanese are struggling to put food on the table. [The 961] Today caretaker Economy Minister Raoul Nehme asked importers to lower their commodity prices. [Naharnet]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Drowning in Corruption, Lebanon’s Water Supply Dribbles to a Halt
Jean AbiNader

Read more here

Middle East Institute
Mitigating the darkest hour: Lebanon’s struggle for power
Jessica Obeid

Obeid writes, “Lebanon is steadily plunging into total darkness. Decades of political bickering, weak governance, and vested interests have taken their toll on the power sector and are developing into economic and humanitarian crises. A long-term strategy focused on improving the sector’s governance is needed. In the short term, however, immediate actions such as distributed renewable energy and out-of-the-box financing mechanisms should be taken to avoid the darkest hour.”

Read more here

Drowning in Corruption, Lebanon’s Water Supply Dribbles to a Halt

Posted on July 25, 2021July 25, 2021 by admin

“Generator Nabatiye pumping station” by Julien Harneis is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

According to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), “More than four million people, including one million refugees, are at immediate risk of losing access to safe water in Lebanon. With the rapidly escalating economic crisis, shortages of funding, fuel, and supplies such as chlorine and spare parts … most water pumping will gradually cease across the country in the next four to six weeks.”

No, you did read that right. Lebanon, which was once a key water resource country in the Fertile Crescent, is projected to run out of potable water in the coming hot, humid summer months. Is it due to climate change? NO. Like every current crisis in Lebanon, it’s man-made.

Yukie Mokuo, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, commented, “The water sector is being squeezed to destruction by the current economic crisis in Lebanon, unable to function due to the dollarized maintenance costs, water loss caused by non-revenue water, the parallel collapse of the power grid, and the threat of rising fuel costs.”

What that means is that, like everything else in Lebanon, safe water will shortly be beyond the means of 71% of the country’s residents.

How did this become an economic crisis? The availability of water for 1.7 million residents dropped in 2020 by 80% from 43.6 to 9 gallons of potable water a day. This has resulted in an increase of 35% in the price of private sector bulk water supplies, while the cost of bottled water has doubled.

And where does the blame lay? There are no dollars to buy chlorine or spare parts for the municipal water systems – suppliers insist on being paid in real money, not Lebanese lira. Hard to blame them.

Then there are the intermittent power supplies and blackouts interrupting the treatment, pumping, and distribution of water. That’s the government’s responsibility since it controls contracting and maintenance of the public water supply.

And, about 40% of the safe water supply is wasted through faulty, corroded pipes and water being illegally diverted. Bad luck maybe, but more likely negligence on the part of the municipal and regional water authorities for ignoring or avoiding these issues for the past 20 years. These jobs are the patrimony of political parties, and accountability is not enforced lest the dons lose the votes of the employees and their families.

The report points out that “UNICEF needs US $40 million a year to keep the water flowing to over four million people across the country – by securing the minimum levels of fuel, chlorine, spare parts, and maintenance required to keep critical systems operational – and safeguarding access and operation of the public water systems.”

So, there we have it. Will 40 of Lebanon’s million/billionaires each please transfer $1 million to UNICEF, which is not a Lebanese entity, to enable UNICEF to carry out its commitment “to support, particularly as the global pandemic evolves, to ensure that the most basic right to clean water is met for children and families at this critical time for Lebanon?”

We will thank you and toast you with safe Lebanese water the next time we see you.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon.

This Week In Lebanon: 7/24/2021

Posted on July 24, 2021 by admin2

July 24, 2021
President Biden Extends Executive Order 13441
US Treasury Delegation Conducts Three-Day Visit in Beirut
Lebanese MPs Sign Motion for Officials to Be Tried Through the Supreme Council
Fire Exchanged Along Lebanon’s Southern Border and Israel

President Biden Extends Executive Order 13441
In a letter to Congress this week, President Joe Biden said he will continue a declaration of national emergency with respect to Lebanon in accordance with Executive Order 13441. He added that Iran’s arms transfers to Hezbollah continue to undermine the country’s sovereignty and contribute to regional instability. This is the fourteenth year that a national emergency for Lebanon will be extended. [Al Arabiya]

RESPONSE

“Even with these extensions that declare a state of national emergency in Lebanon, the plight of the Lebanese people continues to spiral out of control. Where will it all end and when will the political leadership in Lebanon face the fact that they only have themselves to blame for one of the worst economic crises since the mid-1800’s? Although America has too much at stake to see Lebanon fail and will do its share to help Lebanon, the commitment to a permanent solution has to come from the Lebanese.”

-ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel

US Treasury Delegation Conducts Three-Day Visit in Beirut
This week a US delegation from the Department of Treasury’s Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes offices conducted a three-day visit to Beirut to meet with financial sector interlocutors and civil society groups. The delegation focused discussions on corruption, illicit finance, and counterterrorism issues. [Al Arabiya]

RESPONSE

“The Biden administration is underscoring two important policies by the visit by Treasury Department officials. The US will continue to apply sanctions on officials who are corrupt, harbor terrorism, or do not respect the human rights of Lebanese citizens. And, given the pending sanctions being prepared by the Europeans and their recent meetings with the US regarding Lebanon, the Biden administration is following through on a stated policy of coordinating with its allies which have common interests in countries like Lebanon.”

-ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel

Lebanese MPs Sign Motion for Officials to Be Tried Through the Supreme Council
Some Lebanese MPs are supporting a motion that would allow officials surrounding the August 4 Beirut blast to be investigated and tried through a special judicial body, the Supreme Council. These officials include four ex-ministers that Judge Tarek Bitar has previously called in for questioning. If the motion passes and these ex-ministers are called into the Supreme Council, Bitar will be unable to charge them. Legal activists and blast victim family members have criticized this move as an attempt to obstruct accountability. [Al Jazeera] Legal Agenda, a Beirut-based NGO revealed that more than 50 MPs signed on to the motion. [The 961] Former US Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs writes of Lebanon’s justice problems in this Foreign Policy article.

RESPONSE

“The judicial system is under attack again in Lebanon. As former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Schenker noted in his commentary on the Special Tribunal, and buttressed by the articles on challenges to the Beirut Port explosions investigation instigated by members of Parliament, Lebanon’s leaders are shameless in undermining judiciary independence, even though it’s called for in the constitution and the Taif Agreement. Lebanon can never be free without institutions that support the rule of law, for all Lebanese, not just those who are able to avoid their accountability under the law.”

-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader

Fire Exchanged Along Lebanon’s Southern Border and Israel
In response to two rockets that were fired from southern Lebanon earlier this week, Israel fired 12 artillery shells at the Wadi Hammoul area. There were no casualties or injuries reported on either side. [Al Jazeera] Israel Defense Force Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi threatened covert and overt response to future attacks from Lebanon. [Newsweek]

RESPONSE

“The recent Israeli air strikes and rocket fire in response to rocket attacks originating in Syria and Lebanon are leading once again to battle cries between Syria and Israel. No one is asking the Lebanese if they mind being the conflict area wherein Hezbollah, Syria, Israel, and terrorist groups generate unwanted tensions and pressures undermining Lebanese sovereignty. The latest round of exchanges and accusations strengthens the need to renew the UNIFIL mandate to monitor and report on disturbances that erode the safety of civilians in the area. The continued calling out of those who are putting Lebanon in danger is a useful tool in challenging those who disregard Lebanon’s independence.”

-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader

Lebanon Daily News Brief 7/23/2021

Posted on July 23, 2021 by admin2

DAILY NEWS

Lebanon to Stop Fuel Deliveries
Reports say that Lebanon’s Ministry of Energy and Water will stop delivering diesel amid the fuel crisis because its supplies have run dry except for limited emergency quantities. [Middle East Monitor] Iraq is expected to deliver one million tons of fuel to Lebanon to resume power plant operations after an agreement is signed this weekend. [The Daily Star]

UN Lebanon Envoy Speaks With UN Security Council
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka met with the UN Security Council yesterday to discuss the implementation of Resolution 1701 with the aim of enhancing Lebanon’s security and sovereignty. Wronecka reiterated the need for a “fully empowered government” in Lebanon that can work toward reforms and she praised the efforts of the Lebanese Armed Forces to maintain the country’s stability. [Arab News]

Former PM Najib Mikati Favored to Form a Government
Sources say that former Prime Minister Najib Mikati is the “most favorite candidate” to be named the new prime minister-designate. Parliamentary consultations will take place on Monday to officially name the next prime minister-designate who will attempt to form a cabinet after former Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s resignation. [Daily Star]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

SDRs: For The People Or For The Government
Jean AbiNader

AbiNader writes, “While it is attractive to use the SDRs to alleviate the humanitarian needs of the Lebanese, it does not excuse the caretaker government or parliament from taking responsibility for economic reforms. This appears to be a calculated move by politicians to gain traction in the upcoming elections by rewarding their constituents with cash cards purchased at the cost of the country’s longer term economic stability and financial integrity. They are literally holding the cards at this point and the Lebanese people will only really win by changing the game in the spring elections.”

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