Month: October 2022

Former President Michel Aoun Departs Baabda Palace Upon Expiration of Term 
On Sunday, October 30th, 2022, Michel Aoun departed Baabda Palace for the last time as President of Lebanon. Serving as head of state since 2016, his timely departure was triggered by the expiration of his six-year term, and is part of an emerging constitutional crisis due to the lack of a formed government and the lack of an elected president. [Reuters] 

Caretaker Prime Minister Ignores Presidential Decree, Asserts Cabinet’s Legitimacy to Take Over As the Interim Executive Power
According to Arab News, “[Caretaker Prime Minister] Najib Mikati said that the country’s constitution allows for his administration’s use of presidential powers, and that he does not seek conflict in the crisis gripping Lebanese politics. The comments followed a last-gasp attempt to dissolve Mikati’s caretaker government by Aoun, 89, shortly before his term ended on Sunday. However, both Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri effectively ignored the decree.” [Arab News] 

Lebanon Receives First Cholera Vaccines from France
According to Reuters, “Lebanon took delivery on Monday of its first vaccines to combat a worsening cholera outbreak – together with sharply worded criticism of the crisis-hit country’s crumbling public health infrastructure from donor nation France. By Sunday, cases of cholera – a disease typically spread through contaminated water, food or sewage – stood at 1,447, with 17 deaths, since the first were recorded in the country a month ago, the health ministry said.” [Reuters]

Cypriot Delegation to Lebanon Addresses Maritime Boundary
According to the Cypriot special envoy to Lebanon, Tasos Tzionis, “There is no problem between Lebanon and Cyprus that cannot be resolved easily,” alluding to the maritime boundary agreement separating the two ‘neighboring’ countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, which Lebanon and Cyprus signed in 2007 without the enforcement of Lebanon’s government or the ratification of Lebanon’s parliament. Tzionis was in Beirut last week as part of a Cypriot delegation. [Reuters]

Young writes, “President Michel Aoun has left office after a highly contentious six-year term. During that time, the president was often in conflict with leading members of the political class, most prominently Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. This allowed Aoun to portray himself as a lone figure fighting the corruption of the politicians. Such an image would have been more convincing had the former president not devoted so much of his energies to advancing the political fortunes of his son in law Gebran Bassil, whom he had hoped would succeed him . . . Aoun’s hope that Bassil would be president after him was also one of the major sources of tension with Najib Mikati, the prime minister-designate. Mikati was tasked with forming a government after parliamentary elections last May, but moved with little conviction on that front. He felt it was better to run out the clock on Aoun’s term at the head of a caretaker government, thereby avoiding the conditions Bassil was trying to impose on the new government. Bassil’s hope was that he could use his sway over such a government as leverage to get himself elected president, or bring in someone of his choice, thereby setting up his own election in six years’ time. Bassil’s advantage was that his father in law had to sign any decree establishing a new government. With Aoun now gone, the situation has changed.” 

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Houssari writes, “Lebanon’s outgoing head of state Michel Aoun on Sunday launched a blistering attack on his political opponents and the country’s judiciary as he bowed out of the presidential palace . . . Exiting one day before his mandate expired without a designated successor — deepening the country’s political crisis — he blasted the judiciary for failing to do its job and accused judges of taking bribes . . . In a letter to parliament, he called on it not to entrust the caretaker government with the powers of the president, since it had failed to elect a new president within the constitutional deadline . . . Escorting him to his home on Sunday, Aoun’s supporters raised olive branches, FPM banners, and Lebanese flags in addition to pictures of Aoun in his military uniform when he was army chief in the 1980s.”

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Lebanon to Receive Massive Shipment Of Iraqi Gas

According to the L’Orient Today, “Lebanon has just received some of the fuel required for Electricité du Liban to run its power plants. This shipment was originally scheduled to be delivered in August under an agreement inked in July 2021 with Iraq, which now represents the state power provider’s only source of fuel. A 30,000-ton gasoil shipment is expected to ensure around three hours of state power supply per day, caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayad told al-Mayadeen TV channel on Wednesday evening.” [L‘Orient Today]

Next Wave Of Syrian Repatriation Scheduled For Next Week

According to L’Orient, “Caretaker Minister of Social Affairs, Hector Al-Hajjar said Thursday morning that a ‘second batch’ of Syrian refugees will leave Lebanon next week, Thursday during a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail, the state-run National News Agency reported. Hajjar said that ‘the first batch of Syrian refugees that left Lebanon yesterday included about 750 people, and these numbers are encouraging.'” [L’orientToday]

US President Biden Commends Historic Maritime Deal Achievement 

According to Naharnet, “Lebanon and Israel formally concluded a ‘historic”‘ maritime border deal on Thursday in the presence of U.S. officials, U.S. President Joe Biden said.’Both parties took the final steps to bring the agreement into force and submitted the final paperwork to the United Nations in the presence of the United States,’ Biden said in a statement.” [Naharnet]

Hanin Ghaddar writes, “The maritime border demarcation agreement between Lebanon and Israel, mediated by the US under the auspices of the UN, reached its final official stage on Thursday, with both sides unilaterally signing the proposal without any contact between them at the headquarters of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon in Naqoura. Lebanon handed over a copy of the agreement to US mediator Amos Hochstein, signed and approved by President Michel Aoun. Another copy was handed over to the UN, represented by its Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka. French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo was also present in Naqoura.”

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Hanin Ghaddar writes, “After years of stalling and hedging, a major economic collapse in Lebanon, multiple unstable governments in Israel, and threats of violence, the United States has successfully brokered a maritime border agreement between Beirut and Jerusalem. War has been averted, and everyone is happy. At least for now.”

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Historic Maritime Deal Solidifies Official Borders With Israel  

According to the US Department of State, “The United States congratulates the Governments of Israel and Lebanon for finalizing their agreement, facilitated by the United States, to establish a permanent maritime boundary.  This historic achievement will advance security, stability, and prosperity for the region, and it demonstrates the transformative power of American diplomacy.” [US Department of State]

US Mediator Claims Maritime Deal Will Hold During Transition In Elected Leadership

According to Reuters, “Amos Hochstein, the U.S. envoy who negotiated a maritime deal between Lebanon and Israel, said on Thursday he expects the agreement to hold even amid changes in leadership in both countries.” [Reuters]

Lebanese Governors Mandated To Maintain Clean Water Supply Amidst Cholera Outbreak

According to L’Orient Today, ” Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi on Thursday asked governors “of all districts” to “fully monitor” the implementation of water treatment and “tighten their supervision on all sources of water,” he announced in a statement. His request comes amid Lebanon’s ongoing cholera outbreak, which started Oct. 5.” [L’Orient Today]

Potential Changes To Lebanon’s Energy Consortium 

According to L’Orient Today, “Lebanon and Israel signed a US-mediated maritime border agreement today that allows Lebanon to start gas exploration in its exclusive economic zone and there are hints that Qatar Energy could soon join the TotalEnergies-led consortium licensed to explore Lebanon’s offshore gas fields.” [L’Orient Today]

US Maritime Coordinator Travels To Lebanon

According to the US Department of Defense, “Special Presidential Coordinator Amos Hochstein will travel to Lebanon today to finalize the historic agreement to establish a permanent maritime boundary between Lebanon and Israel.  In Beirut, Hochstein will meet with President Michel Aoun, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Najib Mikati to extend his gratitude to each for the consultative and open spirit demonstrated throughout the negotiations, the foundations of which were created under Speaker Berri’s leadership by the 2020 Framework.” [US Department of Defense]

Lebanon Approves Natural Gas Extractor TotalEnergies Share In Profits

According to Reuters, “Lebanon’s caretaker cabinet on Wednesday approved a decision to waive TotalEnergies’ (TTEF.PA) 40% stake in a consortium to explore the country’s maritime Bloc 9.” [Reuters]

Lebanon Begins Returning Syrian Refugees As Of Today

According to the Associated Press, only 750 of the planned 2,400 plus refugees departed from Northern Lebanon to Syria. Current efforts to return refugees voluntarily began in 2018, but temporally ceased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While many human rights organizations have criticize the decision, Lebanon’s Director of the General Directorate of General Security Abas Ibrahim states “‘The return of Syrians to their land is a national obligation for us.'” [Associated Press]

Israeli Operations Begin Extracting Gas From Karish field

According to the Naharnet, “The announcement comes a day before Lebanon and Israel are expected to sign their maritime deal, following lengthy negotiations mediated by Washington. Energy assets were fiercely contested in the talks, with Israel ultimately securing full rights over Karish as part of the accord. Production at the other two gas wells at the site is due to begin within the next four weeks, Energean said.” [Naharnet]

New UN Report Reveals Lebanon’s Palestinian Refugees Worsening Conditions

According to L’Orient Today, “The UN warned Wednesday that the number of impoverished Palestinians living in Lebanon has risen substantially, fueling a “dramatic humanitarian crisis” as the country’s economy collapses further. For the past three years, Lebanon has been in the throes of one of the worst economic crises in recent world history, according to the World Bank, dealing an especially heavy blow to vulnerable communities, including refugees.” [L’Orient Today]

Tourism Boom Despite Iraq And Lebanon’s Worsening Conditions

According to the BBC, power outages and inflation have not deterred Iraqi citizens from vacationing in Lebanon. One tourist says “‘Even in Iraq we don’t have electricity. And the people are tired, they need to relax and unwind.'” [BBC]

Lebanese Government Unable To Reimburse Every Depositor Who Lost Money During The Financial Crisis 

According to Reuters, “Lebanon’s deputy prime minister Saade Chami said Monday that the government’s plan to revive an economy crushed by a three-year financial crisis would not be able to pay back all depositors in full.” [Reuters]

World Bank Says It Is Ready To Award Lebanon $300-500 Million in Relief Funds

According to Arab Naharnet, “Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati held talks Tuesday at the Grand Serail with a World Bank delegation comprising the bank’s Vice President for Middle East and North Africa Ferid Belhaj and Jean-Christophe Carret, the bank’s Country Director for the Middle East Department (Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria). Speaking after the meeting, Belhaj said the meeting was constructive and positive and that the World Bank is ready to offer Lebanon funding worth 300 to 500 million dollars for social aid and projects related to sustainable food and agriculture.” [Naharnet]

Investigations Into Beirut Port Explosion Are Halted By Political Quagmire 
According to the L’Orient Today, “Any who hoped Judge Tarek Bitar would be able to resume his investigation of the Aug. 4, 2020, Beirut port blast were again disappointed.” Lawsuits against the government, along with several court seat vacancies have deter further actions from being taken. [L’Orient Today]

Delegation Meeting With Syria Over Maritime Demarcation Cancelled 
According to the National, talks with Damascus over the Lebanese-Syrian sea border have been canceled with the expectation that they will resume at a later date.  [The National]

Israeli Prime Minster Confirms Maritime Deal Signing Scheduled For This Thursday
After putting down several legal challenges, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, along with U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein verified that the deal will be officially signed on Thursday by representatives from each country. [Naharnet]

Fourth Attempt At Presidential Election Fails
According to Arab News, “Lebanon’s parliament failed on Monday to elect a president for the fourth time, with just a week left until outgoing President Michel Aoun’s term ends and warnings of a constitutional crisis growing louder. With parliament more fractured than ever after May’s elections, political blocs have been unable to reach consensus on a candidate to succeed Aoun.“ [Arab News]

Next Talks Of Maritime Demarcation Begin With Syria
According to the Al Arabiya, “A delegation headed by Lebanon’s deputy speaker of parliament, Elias Bou Saab, is due to visit Syria on Wednesday to discuss delineating their maritime border.” [Al Arabiya]

Amnesty International And UNHCR Disapprove Of Returning Syrian Refugees
According to L’Orient Today, “The first Syrian refugees in Lebanon to return home under a new repatriation scheme will leave Wednesday, but few in worn-down camps in the central Bekaa Valley said they would sign up. Rights groups fear the program may not be as voluntary as it purports to be, at a time when concerns are growing about a policy of coercion they say is already in force in Turkey, where 3.6 million Syrians who have fled their country are registered.” [L’Orient Today]

UNRWA Urgently Calls for $13 Million in Assistance 
Commissioner Genera of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini in a statement called for $13 million in financial support for Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon. He said, “Palestine refugees, living in overcrowded camps… are at the end of their rope.” [Arab News]

Cholera Outbreak Afflicts Syrian Refugees In Camps
According to the Reuters, “Syrian refugees in displacement camps are falling victim to a cholera outbreak in Lebanon, already suffering from an economic meltdown that has slashed access to clean water and strained hospitals.” [Reuters]

Minister of Finance Says Burden Of Financial Recovery Should Not Fall Solely On The Government
According to the Reuters, “Lebanon’s finance minister Youssef Khalil said on Friday that the burden of repaying depositors whose funds have been frozen by the economic crisis should not fall solely on the government.” [Reuters]

New Government Formation Unlikely According To Reports 
According to Naharnet, “No progress has been made regarding the formation of a new government, local media reports said, despite the intensified efforts of Hezbollah and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim. Al-Akhbar newspaper reported Friday that the efforts have almost hit a dead end and that President Michel Aoun and the FPM are planning to take different steps to prevent the caretaker government from taking the powers of the President, once Aoun’s term ends.” [Naharnet]

Nearly One Week Before End of Presidential Term, Parliament Fails to Elect New Head of State
According to Reuters, “Lebanon’s parliament failed to elect a president for the third time on Thursday, bringing the country closer to institutional deadlock amid a deep financial crisis.” [Reuters]

Captagon Smuggling Attempt Thwarted at Port of Beirut
According to the National, “Lebanon’s security forces have seized a large quantity of Captagon at the Port of Beirut that was destined for Sudan, officials said on Thursday. More than 165 kilograms of the amphetamine-type stimulant — the equivalent of around one million tablets — were found inside a shipment containing a road roller ready for export to Sudan, Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said on Twitter.” [The National]

Mayyas to Perform in Dubai Tomorrow
According to the National, “America’s Got Talent winners Mayyas are set to perform in Dubai this week at Palm Jumeirah’s The Pointe. This will be the first time they will put on a show regionally outside of Beirut. They will take to the stage as part of Recognizing Emerging Local Musicians (Relm), an initiative by The Pointe in partnership with TikTok and Anghami, which aims to support emerging musicians in the region to take their careers to the next level.” [The National]

Hezbollah Announces Its Readiness to Assist in Forced Returns of Refugees
According to Naharnet, “The Hezbollah official in charge of the Syrian refugee file, ex-MP Nawwar al-Saheli, visited General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim on Thursday and told him that Hezbollah is willing to help in the file, adding that his party’s capabilities can be put at General Security’s disposal in this regard.” [Naharnet] Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist group by the United States.