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Month: August 2022

Lebanon Daily News Brief 08/31/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Reports of US Mediator’s Return to Lebanon Concerning Maritime Border Negotiations
Amos Hochstein, the Special Presidential Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment as well as the lead mediator in the ongoing, US-mediated negotiations between the Lebanese and Israeli governments regarding Lebanon’s Southern maritime border, may return to Beirut soon, according to local reports. [Naharnet]

Internet ‘Shutdowns’ After Telecom Worker Strike
Yesterday, the employees of the state-owned telecom company, Ogero, went on strike, demanding higher wages, resulting in internet shutdowns. [AP News]

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Announces Halt to Capital Control Law Discussions Pending Futher Reform Agreements
According to L’Orient Today, “Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab announced Tuesday that the Parliament has suspended discussions around the capital control law until the cabinet settles on a full-fledged reform plan.” [L’Orient Today]

LBCI Launches Support Campaign of Mayyas in Preparation for Semi-Finals of ‘America’s Got Talent’
Next week, the all-female, internationally renowned Lebanese dance group, Mayyas, will perform at the semi-finals of “America’s Got Talent”, and in preparation, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) channel launched an advertising campaign in support of the group. [Arab News]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

L’Orient Today
As The Presidential Election Period Begins, Focus Turns To The Future Cabinet
Yara Abi Akl
 

Abi Akl writes, “Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri says he expects a broad agreement on the future president, while current President Michel Aoun assures that he is working on the formation of a cabinet before his departure . . . Today, Aug. 31, the constitutionally mandated period begins to elect a successor for Michel Aoun, whose term in office will end in two months. But in reality, there is no reason to believe that this milestone will be achieved without a hitch. Indeed, it appears that the country risks plunging, for the first time in its history, into a total vacuum in the executive branch — particularly since Aoun, contrary to accusations by his detractors, said he is determined to leave Baabda on Oct. 31.”  

Read More 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.

 

 

 

Lebanon Daily News Brief 08/30/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Joint Parliamentary Committee Meeting Over Capital Control Law Amid Protests
According to L’Orient Today, “Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Parliament building and in front of several banks in Beirut on Tuesday morning to protest the proposed capital control law as a joint parliamentary committee meeting convened to discuss the measure.” [L’Orient Today]

Ministry of Tourism: Number of Visitors Doubles in First Half of 2022 
According to figures released by the Ministry of Tourism, the number of tourists visiting Lebanon over the first half of 2022 has doubled since the same period last year. A total of 570,738 travelers visited Lebanon between January and June of 2022. [L’Orient Today]

ISF Intervenes in Ongoing Migrant Smuggling Operation
The Internal Security Forces (ISF) identified four individuals involved in the preparations of another smuggling operation of migrants seeking to emigrate from Lebanon to Europe over the Mediterranean Sea. [The961]

Saudi Arabia Seeks Extradition of Man Threatening Embassy
The Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Walid al-Bukhari, in a statement said, “We call upon the competent Lebanese authorities to undertake the necessary legal procedures regarding the terrorist threats,” making reference to a Saudi national who threatened the Embassy in Beirut. [Reuters]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

L’Orient Today
Death Threats Against Saudi Embassy: Isolated Act Or Message To Riyadh?
Salah Hijazi
 

Hijazi writes, “Political scientist Karim Bitar believes that these threats against Saudi Arabia are in sharp contrast to the regional climate. ‘De-escalation prevails in the region. The reconciliation between Ankara and Damascus seems to have begun, the Vienna negotiations are progressing since Iran gave up some of its demands and, above all, dialogue is resuming between Tehran and Riyadh in Iraq,” he told L’Orient-Le Jour. “One might therefore ask whether these threats are not part of an attempt to sharpen tensions again.’ The threats against the Saudi embassy in Beirut come almost four months after Bukhari’s return to Lebanon. Riyadh recalled the ambassador in late October following a diplomatic crisis between Lebanon and several Gulf monarchies. On July 11, a Saudi dissident based in Lebanon was killed and two of his brothers were arrested on suspicion of murder, according to the Lebanese police. A security source told AFP at the time that it was the dissident Maneh al-Yami.”

Read More 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.

 

 

Lebanon Daily News Brief 08/29/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Lebanese National Team Qualifies for Basketball World Cup
Today the Lebanese national basketball team, the Cedars, qualified for the Basketball World Cup after beating India 95-63. [Reuters]

Submersible Recovery Effort Concludes After Sunken Migrant Boat Found
AP News said, “A Lebanese submarine ended its mission after locating a boat carrying migrants that sank earlier this year in the Mediterranean Sea, but bigger equipment is needed to pull it out, [legislator Ashraf Rifi] said Monday.” According to the article, ten bodies were recovered from the sunken boat. [AP News]

Tracy Chamoun Announces Candidacy for Lebanese President 
A former Ambassador and granddaughter of the former president Camille, Tracy Chamoun announced her candidacy for president in the upcoming election. In her campaign announcement speech, she called for key reforms regarding Lebanon’s economic recovery and reestablishing international confidence in addition to criticizing Hezbollah. [AP News]

President Aoun Reiterates Intention to Form New Government Before His End of Term
According to statements issued by his press office, Lebanon’s President, Michel Aoun, clarified that efforts are ‘ongoing’ regarding the formation of a new government before the October 31st expiration of his presidential term. [L’Orient Today]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Financial Times
Lebanon’s Economic Crisis Is Pushing Families To The Brink
Raya Jalabi
 

Jalabi writes, “In the absence of formal capital control laws, banks decide who can access their funds, with most people limited to small monthly withdrawals. But media reports show that politically connected people have sent millions of dollars abroad. Meanwhile, the government has stalled on reform initiatives that could unlock international aid money, while endemic corruption and a lack of public infrastructure mean punishing bills for exhausted citizens. Despite these hardships, the capital is full of recently imported luxury cars and its beaches and restaurants are packed with expats home for the summer. But children are also sifting through dumpsters for scraps with their malnourished parents, while gaunt retirees, whose savings have been lost in the crisis, spend stifling summer days without power in their tiny, cramped apartments. In the absence of state efforts to alleviate the crisis, Hussein’s bank hold-up may not be the last.”

Read More Here

The 961 News
The Euro Drop Explained, Here Is Lebanon’s Part Of This Overseas Crisis
Miguel Hadchity
 

Hadchity writes, “The Lebanese people have been struggling to find a stable exchange rate for both the USD and the Lebanese Pound (Liras) since 2019. Accordingly, they had to find another universal stable currency to rely on, which is the Euro, to exchange their Liras in order to ensure that their money will not lose its value. And many Lebanese did so. Then, on Thursday, February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, leading the EURO value to start dropping, creating another panic situation among the Lebanese who had exchanged their Liras and USDs for Euros.”


Read More 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.

 

 

This Week In Lebanon: 08/27/2022

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August 27, 2022

Aoun, Mikati Hold Unfruitful Meeting Amid Disagreement Over Government Lineup
Why Lebanese Citizens Are Joining The Migrant Tide Out of the Middle East
UNICEF Publishes New Report on Deprived Childhoods in Lebanon
Lebanon Faces Judicial Paralysis as Judges Refuse to Work

Aoun, Mikati Hold Unfruitful Meeting Amid Disagreement Over Government Lineup
In a meeting to discuss cabinet formation, PM Mikati expressed his desire to preserve a cabinet of 24 ministers and replace the Ministers of the Displaced and the Interior while President Aoun advocated for an expansion of the cabinet to include six new ministers of state to account for a potential vacuum in the presidency. [Asharq Al-Awsat]

RESPONSE

PM-Designate Mikati again failed in his efforts to convince President Aoun and his FPM supporters that the formation of a government is vitally necessary in order to implement IMF-mandated reforms, increase electricity production, resolve the maritime border issue with Israel, and appoint reform-oriented leaders who put their country’s interests ahead of their own political ambitions. Meanwhile, electricity production has gone from about 4 hours a day down to zero due to the incompetence of those responsible and PM-Designate Mikati’s inability to put new ministers in place.

-ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel

Why Lebanese Citizens Are Joining The Migrant Tide Out of the Middle East
Nadia Al-Faour writes, “Even before the economic collapse in Lebanon, Syrian and Palestinian refugees living there were struggling to get by. Many chose to uproot themselves once again and set out in search of greater security overseas, often turning to people smugglers for help. Now, the situation looks so hopeless that a growing number of Lebanese citizens who lack the means to pay for safe and legal passage abroad are also risking the same dangerous, illegal sea crossings to Europe.” [Arab News]

RESPONSE

The exodus from Lebanon, which once mostly involved Syrian and Palestinian refugees looking for a better life, has now become a risk worth taking for the Lebanese themselves. A country with a 70% plus  poverty rate is struggling to feed even the neediest of the poor, let alone provide for other basic necessities. What other options do the most vulnerable have but to leave? It is not just the poor who are emigrating as Lebanon continues to destabilize. Approximately 40% of doctors have left the country and anyone with a foreign visa or dual residency, usually the educated, are going abroad. This is resulting in a loss of needed technical skills in the education and medical fields. Lebanese leadership has very few weeks to prove to the world that they are aware of the critical nature of the problem and enact emergency reform measures that will attract the attention and support of the international community. 

-ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel

UNICEF Publishes New Report on Deprived Childhoods in Lebanon
“A UNICEF report shows that much of the progress towards achieving children’s basic rights–including the right to health, education, protection, play and recreation–has been eroded by the economic crisis and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic…The report, based on a UNICEF study on child poverty and a child-focused rapid assessment (CFRA), shows that children are keenly aware of the effect the crisis is having on their lives and on the country. Many no longer dream of a better future in Lebanon and believe emigration is their only hope.” [UNICEF]

RESPONSE
For how much longer can Lebanon’s leaders ignore the needs of the children? From basic nutrition and education to subsistence for their families, youth are desperate for credible signs of a better tomorrow. Nothing will help Lebanon more than investing in its young people and building their hopes for a better future. Whichever political coalition takes lead, the basic issue is putting in place a social safety net that responds to the immediate and future needs of Lebanon’s families.

-ATFL Vice President Jean AbiNader

Lebanon Faces Judicial Paralysis as Judges Refuse to Work
Najia Houssari writes, “Judges in Lebanon continued their protest on Tuesday after a meeting to review their issues proved inconclusive. About 400 out of 550 judges suspended services last week after talks with political leaders failed to secure their minimum demands. The judges include the president of the Supreme Judicial Council of Lebanon, council members, judges from the cassation and appeal courts, public prosecution offices, tribunals, and judicial departments.” [Arab News]

RESPONSE

Striking judges are just the latest manifestation of the endemic mismanagement of Lebanon. Depriving any public officials of the compensation for their livelihood indicates that political leaders are satisfied with the continued weakening of public institutions. Whether it is school teachers, traffic police, nurses, or lawyers, there seems to be a reluctance to take responsibility for ensuring the lives of state employees and their families. Lebanon cannot function without a sufficient number of trained employees, administrators, and officials. Undermining the judiciary undermines the rule of law. 

-ATFL Vice President 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 08/26/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Environment Ministry to Oversee ‘Cooling’ Process for Remaining Port Grain Silos
Caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassin announced that a process had been started to ‘cool’ the northern section of the Beirut port grain silos as a first step towards treating the rubble and charred grains at the section that eventually succumbed to structural collapse following a series of fires throughout the summer – the southern section remains intact. The silos were originally damaged by the August 4th, 2020 explosion and have become visual reminders of the tragic blast ever since. [L’Orient Today]

Nationwide Blackout Narrowly Averted
Yesterday caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayyad announced that the minimum threshold for heavy fuel oil was met in order to operate the Zouk and Jiyyeh power plants, “while we await a new shipment from Iraq, which should arrive early to mid September.” [The National]

Lebanese Private Schools Lose Students to Public Schools
According to the National, “At least 20 per cent of private school pupils in Lebanon are likely to move to the struggling public education sector during this school year. Private schools and universities are becoming increasingly unaffordable with fees paid for in dollars, but the expected move will take place as the public education sector itself is near collapse, raising questions over whether public schools will be able to handle the additional strain.” [The National]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Sada, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Lebanese Forces Party Confronts Post-Election Challenges
Adnan Nasser
 

Nasser writes, “An assessment of the current political scene in Lebanon reveals a divided parliament made up of new faces motivated by the common goal of rescuing the country but lacking a cohesive plan of action to achieve it. Among these newly elected parties is the Lebanese Forces (LF), a right-wing Christian party that has its roots in the civil war era. In the post-election period, the party is now aiming to rebrand itself as a national movement capable of reaching out to all Lebanese, not only its traditional sect.”

Read More 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.

Lebanon Daily News Brief 08/25/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Finance Committee Passes 2022 Budget
The Chairman of the Lebanese Parliament’s Finance and Budget Committee, MP Ibrahim Kanaan (FPM/Metn), announced today that the committee passed the 2022 budget and sent it to the full Parliament, after the Cabinet approved it in February and submitted it to the committee. [L’Orient Today]

President Aoun Addresses Potential Political Crisis Surrounding Presidency
After a meeting with the Lebanese President Michel Aoun, the head of the Maronite League Khalil Karam said, “Contrary to what is being rumored, President Aoun will commit to the constitution’s stipulations regarding the date of the end of his term, but at the same time he does not believe that (a government) that lacks the full standards as well as parliament’s confidence can fill vacuum at the level of the head of the state . . . Accordingly, Mr. President believes that the formation of a new government should remain among the priorities, and he will continue to work for achieving that while relying on the constitution and seeking to preserve national partnership and balance among authorities.” [Naharnet]

Underwater Recovery Effort Finds Capsized Boat 
After a boat bound for Italy, carrying dozens of Lebanese, Palestinians, and Syrians, sank last April, a recovery effort involving a submarine crew was launched this week. The crew found the boat several miles off the coast of Tripoli at a depth of 459 meters. [L’Orient Today]

UNICEF Publishes New Report on Deprived Childhoods in Lebanon
“A UNICEF report shows that much of the progress towards achieving children’s basic rights – including the right to health, education, protection, play and recreation – has been eroded by the economic crisis and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic . . . The report, based on a UNICEF study on child poverty and a child-focused rapid assessment (CFRA), shows that children are keenly aware of the effect the crisis is having on their lives and on the country. Many no longer dream of a better future in Lebanon and believe emigration is their only hope.” 

Read the Full Report Here

Deputy PM Urges Approval of Capital Controls Law
According to Naharnet, a political source close to the cabinet formation issue in Lebanon said, “If the government is not formed this week, it will be totally impossible to form it after that, because the country will enter next week in the 60-day constitutional deadline for the election of a new president, and the country will remain governed by a caretaker cabinet,” as the ongoing negotiations between President Michel Aoun and PM-designate Najib Mikati have reportedly not advanced. [Naharnet]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Arab News
Lebanon Yet To Form Government As Countdown To Presidential Election Begins
Najia Houssari
 

Houssari writes, “A meeting between Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati on Wednesday ended without any indication that a new government might soon be formed. Aoun’s term ends on Oct. 1 and the constitutional deadline for electing his replacement begins on Sept. 1. But with a successor yet to be determined concerns are rising about the possibility of a presidential vacuum. Talks on forming a government have been suspended for several weeks because of tensions between Mikati and the head of the Free Patriotic Movement party Gibran Bassil over the selection of ministers and their political affiliations, and the FPM’s demand for a “blocking third” in government.” 

Read More 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.

 

Lebanon Daily News Brief 08/24/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Ministry of Interior Launches Investigation of Threats Against Saudi Embassy in Lebanon
Lebanon’s caretaker Minister of the Interior and Municipalities, Bassam Mawlawi, requested that the ISF investigate threats against the Saudi Embassy in Lebanon which were published on the Twitter account of a Saudi national residing in Beirut’s Southern suburbs – apparently wanted by Saudi authorities for ‘terrorist crimes’.  [Reuters]

Senior Energy Security Advisor Reported to Return to Lebanon with Final Proposal on Maritime Border
It has been reported that the State Department’s Senior Advisor for Energy Security and principal envoy concerning the ongoing, US-mediated negotiations between the Lebanese and Israeli governments over the delineation of Lebanon’s Southern border, Amos Hochstein, will deliver the final proposal to both government during a trip that could take place ‘as soon as the end of August’. [The National] 

Facebook Parent Company Launches Pilot Program in Lebanon
According to Arab News, “Facebook parent company Meta has launched My Digital World, a pilot program for adults in Lebanon that aims to create a safer online experience and reduce the risk of bad behavior in the real world. It has been developed with local partner the Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training.” [Arab News]

Deputy PM Urges Approval of Capital Controls Law
According to Naharnet, a political source close to the cabinet formation issue in Lebanon said, “If the government is not formed this week, it will be totally impossible to form it after that, because the country will enter next week in the 60-day constitutional deadline for the election of a new president, and the country will remain governed by a caretaker cabinet,” as the ongoing negotiations between President Michel Aoun and PM-designate Najib Mikati have reportedly not advanced. [Naharnet]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

White House Chronicle
The Sad Fall of Lebanon, A Country That Produces Huge Talents
Llewellyn King
 

King writes, “Among the children of the world’s many diasporas, few have made as large a mark as the Lebanese. Their native country has fewer than 6 million people, including a million or more refugees . . . In a paper for the task force, Gabriel stated, ‘On this day (Aug. 4, 2020) two years ago, over 500 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse at the Port of Beirut exploded, causing more than 220 deaths, 7,000 injuries, 300,000 displaced individuals, and at least $1.5 billion in property damage. Since then, there has not only been a lack of closure for the families of the victims but the very corruption and negligence that caused such carnage and suffering has yet to be addressed by those in power’.”

Read More Here

The Cradle
How The US Controls Lebanon’s Energy Supply
Yeghia Tashjian
 

Tashjian writes, “imagine the catastrophic state of Lebanon’s energy sector after two years of fuel shortages, limited foreign currency with which to purchase new, urgent supplies, and US-sanctions on Syria impeding Lebanon’s only land route for imports. After decades of stalled reforms, Lebanon is running out of time and money . . . It is in Lebanon’s interest to ensure that one party, the US, does not continue to hold all the cards related to its vital fuel needs. A recent offer from Iran to supply the country with monthly free fuel was tacitly accepted by Lebanon’s prime minister and energy minister, but needs work. Other states have offered to build power generation plants to enhance the nation’s infrastructure and efficiency. But with Lebanon so deeply affected by Washington’s whims – and punishments – it isn’t at all certain that the country can steer itself to these more independent options.” 

Read More 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.

 

 

Lebanon Daily News Brief 08/23/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Caretaker PM Seeks to Preserve Remaining Section of Grain Silos As Memorial
Following continued structural collapses of the grain silos at the port of Beirut that was the epicenter of the August 4th, 2020 explosion – now considered to be the largest non-nuclear explosion in global history – caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati formally asked caretaker Minister of Public Works & Transport Ali Hamieh to designate the remaining southerly block of the silos as a memorial. [Naharnet]

Lebanese Navy to Attempt Recovery of Wreckage from April Sinking
The Lebanese Navy this week is attempting to recover the wreckage and bodies lost at sea last April when a vessel carrying approximately 80 people sank off the Lebanese coast – approximately three miles away from the northern city of Tripoli. The vessel was part of a smuggling attempt to transport the Lebanese, Palestinian, and Syrian passengers to Italy. [AP News]

Reports of Turkish Gas Drilling Proposal in Lebanon’s Prospective Gas Blocks
According to Naharnet, “Lebanon, which is yet to reach a sea border demarcation deal with Israel, has received a Turkish proposal for investment and drilling in the southern oil and gas blocks near Israel’s border, a Lebanese official source said.” [Naharnet]

Deputy PM Urges Approval of Capital Controls Law
In a statement issued yesterday by the caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami, the time to pass capital controls legislation is now, as the law is critical to maintaining foreign currency reserves and banking sector liquidity, preventing further exchange rate deterioration, and reducing the balance of payments deficit. [L’Orient Today]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Arab News
Lebanon Faces Judicial Paralysis As Judges Refuse To Work
Najia Houssari
 

Houssari writes, “Judges in Lebanon continued their protest on Tuesday after a meeting to review their issues proved inconclusive. About 400 out of 550 judges suspended services last week after talks with political leaders failed to secure their minimum demands. The judges include the president of the Supreme Judicial Council of Lebanon, council members, judges from the cassation and appeal courts, public prosecution offices, tribunals, and judicial departments. Judges held a closed general assembly on Tuesday in Beirut’s Justice Palace to discuss the results of the talks. Judges of different ranks and positions are striking, except those from the Audit Bureau and the State Shura Council . . . Judges are calling for a radical solution to their salary increase demand. The salary of a judge is now worth $221 as per the black market exchange rate. It used to be $5,000 before Lebanon’s economic crisis hit three years ago. Justice palaces now lack all work components. Judges complain about the lack of electricity and water, non-functioning elevators, and the absence of basic stationery, such as pens, paper, and ink.”

Read More Here

The National
Is Lebanon Being Sold Out For A Nuclear Deal With Iran?
Raghida Dergham
 

Dergham writes, “The West shares Moscow’s view that their collective priority should be to prevent cross-border military activities by Iran or Hezbollah against Israel. Given such a consensus, a prospective deal with Iran could include conceding to Tehran its primacy in Lebanon, in exchange for its assurance that peace on the latter’s border with Israel will be maintained. However, such an agreement would be short-sighted. For allowing Tehran to turn Lebanon into a military base for itself would – from the West’s point of view – benefit the Iran-Russia-China strategic troika, not to mention undermining the sovereignty of an independent state and risking civil war. Furthermore, it’s hard to imagine there won’t be a military clash in the future anyway. And so, it is incumbent upon western ambassadors in Beirut to explain to their respective governments the consequences of such an agreement. Lebanon should press its ambassadors to the concerned countries into diplomatic action. The Lebanese people need to organise and mobilise, and ensure that they are not seen as silently surrendering to such a fait accompli. They should object to a nuclear deal that contains such sweeteners for the Iranian regime.”

Read More 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.

 

 

 

Lebanon Daily News Brief 08/22/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Canadian Minister Visits Lebanon, Comments on Repatriation of Syrians
The Canadian Minister for International Development, Harjit Sajjan, visited Lebanon as part of a tour of the region. Addressing recent remarks and proposals from the Lebanese government concerning the issue of Syrian repatriation, Minister Sajjan said yesterday, “It is very, very important to make sure that there is an absolute safe environment where they can return to . . . Clearly, right now, based on our assessments Syria is not a safe place for people to return.” [AP News]

Lebanon Expected to Reach Second Highest Inflation Rate in FY 2022 
Based on data provided by Fitch Solutions, Lebanon’s inflation is expected to average around 178% for FY 2022, which would be an increase from last year’s average of 155%. This would position Lebanon as the country with the second highest inflation rate in the world, just behind Sudan. [The National]

Parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee Gives Government One Week to Provide Budget Information
According to L’Orient Today, “Parliament’s Finance and Budget Committee MP Ibrahim Kanaan (FPM/Metn) on Thursday said regarding the 2022 budget that his committee gave ‘the government and the finance minister [Yousef Khalil] a week deadline to give us the numbers of [fiscal] incomes and expenses’ to decide what to do accordingly.” [L’Orient Today]

Minister of Public Health Comments on Cancer Medications Delivered to AUBMC
In a radio interview, caretaker Minister of Public Health, Dr. Firas Abiad, said that, “the main problem when it comes to financing cancer drugs and kidney dialysis procedures lies in funding [and that] work is underway to boost funding and to ensure that there is no [drug] misuse, waste or corruption.” He made note of the role that US NGO’s in particular played in the recent $1.4 million donation of cancer medications to AUBMC. [L’Orient Today]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Taking On The Beast – Combatting Corruption In Lebanon
Jean AbiNader
 

AbiNader writes, “Without an accountable and transparent judiciary, free from political pressures, and under the jurisdiction of a single, civil authority, citizens have no recourse to ensure protection for their civil and human rights. In tandem with this are police and magistrates who protect these rights as a core duty. Just as important are prison systems and public defenders who have clearly defined roles and guidelines that enhance, not undermine, justice.”

Read More Here

Reuters
Public Sector Paralysed As Lebanon Lurches Towards ‘Failed State’
Timour Azhari and Maya Gebeily
 

Azhari and Gebeily write, “The public sector paralysis is spreading further – this week judges launched their own protest, while soldiers moonlight to feed themselves and government offices run out of power and basic office supplies. State infrastructure, already strained by years of unchecked spending, corruption and a preference for quick fixes over sustainable solutions, has reached breaking point. ‘We are in a state of collapse,’ said Lamia Moubayed of the Lebanese Institute of Finance Basil Fuleihan, a research center at the Ministry of Finance. In parliament, there is no fuel to run a generator for the elevator – so security guards run messages up and down the stairs between workers.”

Read More 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.

 

Lebanon Daily News Brief 08/19/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Canadian Minister Visits Lebanon, Comments on Repatriation of Syrians
The Canadian Minister for International Development, Harjit Sajjan, visited Lebanon as part of a tour of the region. Addressing recent remarks and proposals from the Lebanese government concerning the issue of Syrian repatriation, Minister Sajjan said yesterday, “It is very, very important to make sure that there is an absolute safe environment where they can return to . . . Clearly, right now, based on our assessments Syria is not a safe place for people to return.” [AP News]

Lebanon Expected to Reach Second Highest Inflation Rate in FY 2022 
Based on data provided by Fitch Solutions, Lebanon’s inflation is expected to average around 178% for FY 2022, which would be an increase from last year’s average of 155%. This would position Lebanon as the country with the second highest inflation rate in the world, just behind Sudan. [The National]

Parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee Gives Government One Week to Provide Budget Information
According to L’Orient Today, “Parliament’s Finance and Budget Committee MP Ibrahim Kanaan (FPM/Metn) on Thursday said regarding the 2022 budget that his committee gave ‘the government and the finance minister [Yousef Khalil] a week deadline to give us the numbers of [fiscal] incomes and expenses’ to decide what to do accordingly.” [L’Orient Today]

Minister of Public Health Comments on Cancer Medications Delivered to AUBMC
In a radio interview, caretaker Minister of Public Health, Dr. Firas Abiad, said that, “the main problem when it comes to financing cancer drugs and kidney dialysis procedures lies in funding [and that] work is underway to boost funding and to ensure that there is no [drug] misuse, waste or corruption.” He made note of the role that US NGO’s in particular played in the recent $1.4 million donation of cancer medications to AUBMC. [L’Orient Today]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Taking On The Beast – Combatting Corruption In Lebanon
Jean AbiNader
 

AbiNader writes, “Without an accountable and transparent judiciary, free from political pressures, and under the jurisdiction of a single, civil authority, citizens have no recourse to ensure protection for their civil and human rights. In tandem with this are police and magistrates who protect these rights as a core duty. Just as important are prison systems and public defenders who have clearly defined roles and guidelines that enhance, not undermine, justice.”

Read More Here

Reuters
Public Sector Paralysed As Lebanon Lurches Towards ‘Failed State’
Timour Azhari and Maya Gebeily
 

Azhari and Gebeily write, “The public sector paralysis is spreading further – this week judges launched their own protest, while soldiers moonlight to feed themselves and government offices run out of power and basic office supplies. State infrastructure, already strained by years of unchecked spending, corruption and a preference for quick fixes over sustainable solutions, has reached breaking point. ‘We are in a state of collapse,’ said Lamia Moubayed of the Lebanese Institute of Finance Basil Fuleihan, a research center at the Ministry of Finance. In parliament, there is no fuel to run a generator for the elevator – so security guards run messages up and down the stairs between workers.”

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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.