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Month: November 2022

Lebanon Daily News Brief 11/14/2022

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November 14th, 2022

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ATFL WEBINAR WITH USAID ADMINISTRATOR POWER



The American Task Force on Lebanon invites you to a special debrief and moderated discussion with USAID Administrator Samantha Power on Wednesday, November 16th at 11 AM ET via Zoom. 

Administrator Power is currently on official travel to Lebanon, where she will focus on food security and higher education, among other priorities, and is looking forward to engaging with the Lebanese American community and friends of Lebanon in the US to share key findings from her visit.

Register Here


USAID Administrator Power in a LBCI Interview at the Port of Beirut. 

USAID Administrator Samantha Power Announces More Than $72 Million in Additional Humanitarian Assistance for Lebanon
“The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing more than $72 million in emergency food assistance to more than 650,000 vulnerable people in Lebanon, including refugees from Syria and other countries. This funding, through the United Nations World Food Program, will provide household food parcels – including rice, lentils, and chickpeas – for Lebanese families, and electronic food vouchers for Syrian refugees to use in local shops, which supports the Lebanese economy.”

Read Full Statement Here





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DAILY NEWS

Lebanon Launches Cholera Vaccination Campaign
According to Arab News, “The Ministry of Public Health of Lebanon launched a cholera vaccination campaign on Saturday aimed at reaching 70 percent of the target population over the next three weeks.” [Arab News]

L’Oréal and UNESCO Award Three Lebanese Female Researchers in ‘For Women in Science’ Initiative
According to The961, “Three Lebanese women researchers [Dr. Nancy Fayad, Rania Kassir, and Zeina Habli] were selected along with 2 others from Jordan and Syria, among more than 100 candidates in the Levant region, for the 9th edition of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science. The Levant Regional Young Talents Ceremony was held at the Ecole Supérieure des Affaires (ESA) in Beirut, reaffirming the commitment of both L’Oréal and UNESCO to promoting women in science and making their talent known to future generations. ‘For Women in Science’ is a global program that has awarded over 3,900 researchers and 122 Laureates from over 110 countries.” [The961]

Lebanese Judiciary Charges Judge Ghada Aoun with ‘Inciting Sectarian Strife’
According to Arab News, “Lebanon’s prosecutor general Judge Ghassan Oueidat charged Mount Lebanon Public Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun on Monday with ‘spreading false news, violating job duties, inciting sectarian strife, inciting conflict between the nation’s components, humiliation, slander and abuse of power’.” [Arab News]

Hezbollah Secretary General Calls for ‘Ally’ President 
According to AP News, “The leader of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group said Friday he wants the next Lebanese president to be a politician who won’t ‘betray’ the Iran-backed faction and assailed the United States for what he described as an undeclared ‘siege’ on his country.” [AP News] Hezbollah is a designated terrorist organization according to the US Government. 

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Innocent Victims Of Beirut’s Politics
Jean AbiNader

AbiNader writes, “Lebanon’s fragility is underscored by its gravely weakened education and health sectors; the miserable condition and cost of public transportation; its devalued economy; and the ongoing threats to its security and stability. Anyone who says that these are temporary conditions has not been in the streets of Lebanon lately. Consider the cholera-infested areas of the north, Lebanese dumpster diving in Beirut, or the littered streets and beaches. While there is some agreement that a consensus president is needed, the lack of agreement on implementing the IMF reform package is less reassuring . . . The hollowing out of state institutions and protections of civil and human rights will delay the reconstructing of a credible, professional public sector. The first needed remediation is a package of social support services that are inclusive, equitable, and transparent. As of now, the social contract between the state and its employees is frazzled, fraught with omissions, exclusions, and nepotism, and subject to the whims of political leaders ensuring their survival by pandering to their constituents.”

Read More Here

ATFL INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

ATFL Internship – Winter 2023

ATFL’s internship program will seek to provide young adults passionate about US-Lebanon relations with the opportunity to serve with the leading US organization promoting closer US-Lebanon relations. The internship will provide adults the opportunity to learn about the US government policy making as it relates to foreign policy. Interns will also be able to gain valuable professional experience working directly with an ATFL staff member.

Interns are expected to work at least 15 hours per week for a minimum of a three-month period. Interns should be based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area so that they can participate in ATFL’s hybrid, remote and in-person, schedule and take advantage of all of the opportunities that this region offers.

This internship is not paid; however, ATFL is prepared to confer academic credit to those who complete the program.

Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter to steven.howard@atfl.org by December 2nd, 2022. 

Learn More on ATFL's LinkedIn Page
Learn More on ATFL’s LinkedIn Page

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.

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This Week in Lebanon 11/11/2022

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November 11, 2022

Lebanon-Bound Fuel Trucks Destroyed in Air Strike Over Syria 
Taif Agreement is Best Solution to Lebanon Crisis, Saudi Arabia Stands by Us: Mikati
Lebanon’s Health Sector Worsens

Lebanon-Bound Fuel Trucks Destroyed in Air Strike Over Syria 
According to the Reuters, “At least two fuel trucks were destroyed in an air strike by an unidentified drone on the Syrian side of the border with Iraq late on Tuesday, Iraqi security and border officials told Reuters . . . Iran’s state-run Press TV channel confirmed the attack and accused the United States of carrying it out, saying ‘a convoy of 22 tankers carrying fuel to Lebanon crossing from Iraq to Syria was attacked by U.S. drones’ at the Syrian town of Albukamal.” [Reuters]

RESPONSE

This action underscores the need to quickly approve the Levantine Energy Deal, championed by the US, rather than some dubious offer from Iran. The Levantine deal will provide up to 8 hours of additional electricity for the citizens of Lebanon, and Lebanon’s Minister of Energy has stated that the deal is preferable to the transfer of fuel from Iran. But he and the Prime Minister must deliver to the World Bank an internationally acceptable electricity reform program that provides assurances to the World Bank concerning the sustainability of the project and begin the process of implementing an Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) to regulate the conduct of electricity power and reliability. The Lebanese government has taken nearly a year to deliver the necessary guarantees to the World Bank which will in turn provide the funding for the project. How much longer will the Lebanese people have to wait in darkness for their leaders to step up? 

-ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel 

Lebanon’s Civil Servants Are Leaving in Droves. They Won’t be Replaced Soon.
Richard Salame spoke with one civil servant who said, “In my office, we’ve reduced our schedule to one day per week”  because she and her colleagues feel transportation to the office is unaffordable. The source continued, “Even the employees who make it to the office don’t stay until the end of the shift because they have to pick up their kids from school—they can’t afford to pay for school transportation to take the kids home.” [L’Orient Today]

RESPONSE

While one can feel angst for the civil servants who are leaving Lebanon, it has a dual impact on the country: on the positive side, it reduces public expenditures on salaries, and on the negative side, it deprives the state of the very people they need to populate the agencies to ensure their operations. Of course, everyone has a story of ghost jobs and phantom employees who owe their jobs to their political overlords. But the fact remains that literally the best and brightest are leaving because they can find employment elsewhere, compromising Lebanon’s future prospects for a rapid rebirth once the politicians decide to act on behalf of the national interest.

-ATFL Vice President Jean AbiNader

Taif Agreement is Best Solution to Lebanon Crisis, Saudi Arabia Stands by Us: Mikati
Saudi Ambassador Walid bin Abdullah Bukhari and Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati both stressed the importance of the Taif Agreement to addressing Lebanon’s challenges in governance. Mikati expressed that this conference signifies Saudi Arabia’s continued engagement in Lebanon and the large number of participants, including political leaders such as Walid Jumblatt, Suleiman Franjieh, and many Free Patriotic Movement MPs, signify the wide support for the Taif Agreement. [Arab News]

RESPONSE

It’s a bit of a puzzle why some political parties are now speaking out against the Taif Accords. Since the agreement was only partially implemented and then weakened, how can you challenge something that has not been activated? A bicameral legislature, independent judiciary, non-sectarian lower house of parliament, and decentralization are some of the major reforms called for in the agreement. Who can argue against something that strengthens Lebanon’s sovereignty? Must be that clause about disarming militias. As a leading politician noted, it’s time to get on with electing a president and completing a government so that the country has a future for making reforms and getting on with re-building the state.

-ATFL Vice President Jean AbiNader

 

Lebanon Daily News Brief 11/11/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Lebanese Parliament Fails to Elect President Once Again
According to the National, “Lebanon’s parliament failed to elect a president on Thursday when it convened for a fifth electoral session to elect a new head of state. It was the first session since the end of previous president Michel Aoun’s term.” [The National]

PM Mikati: IMF Deal Still Reachable without President or Fully Formed Government
According to Reuters, “Lebanon could still finalise a deal with the International Monetary Fund for a $3 billion bailout despite having no president and no fully-empowered government, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Thursday.” [Reuters]

Stray Bullet Strikes MEA Plane on Approach into Beirut Airport
According to AP News, “A stray bullet hit a Middle East Airlines jet while landing in Beirut on Thursday, causing some material damage. No one among the passengers or crew was hurt, the head of the Lebanese airline company said.” [AP News]

USAID Announces $50 million Supporting Matriculation to AUB, LAU, NDU
According to Naharnet, “Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power announced Thursday that USAID will provide $50 million for Lebanese and refugee students to attend the American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanese American University (LAU), and Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU).” [Naharnet]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Innocent Victims Of Beirut’s Politics
Jean AbiNaderAbiNader writes, “Lebanon’s fragility is underscored by its gravely weakened education and health sectors; the miserable condition and cost of public transportation; its devalued economy; and the ongoing threats to its security and stability. Anyone who says that these are temporary conditions has not been in the streets of Lebanon lately. Consider the cholera-infested areas of the north, Lebanese dumpster diving in Beirut, or the littered streets and beaches. While there is some agreement that a consensus president is needed, the lack of agreement on implementing the IMF reform package is less reassuring . . . The hollowing out of state institutions and protections of civil and human rights will delay the reconstructing of a credible, professional public sector. The first needed remediation is a package of social support services that are inclusive, equitable, and transparent. As of now, the social contract between the state and its employees is frazzled, fraught with omissions, exclusions, and nepotism, and subject to the whims of political leaders ensuring their survival by pandering to their constituents.”Read More Here

Brookings
Hezbollah’s Dilemmas
Daniel L. BymanByman writes, “The Lebanese Hezbollah is no longer the same organization that in 2006 battled the Israeli army to a standstill: the group today is more global, but has a weaker domestic position than in the past. For the last decade, Hezbollah has focused its formidable energies on helping its longtime ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, win the country’s civil war. As that conflict winds down with Assad secure in power, Hezbollah is pulled in many competing directions. Lebanon itself is in crisis, with Hezbollah’s own legitimacy declining. Iran is pushing Hezbollah to be even more expansive, continuing to help fight Israel and to bolster militant groups in Iraq, Yemen, and other countries. Hezbollah retains its enmity towards Israel and remains a dangerous threat, but the group appears careful to avoid activities that might escalate into all-out war. The United States can put more financial pressure on Hezbollah and otherwise attempt to weaken the group, but the group’s fate will ultimately depend on Lebanese and regional dynamics, with the group exercising considerable influence in Lebanon and the region, though not necessarily seeking greater conflict with Israel or the United States. Until the Lebanese themselves put their own house in order by reducing corruption, engaging in economic reform, and improving transparency, there will be limits on how much the United States can, or should, engage with Lebanon.”Read More Here

L’Orient Today
Why is the Mediterranean Basin Warming Twice as Quickly as the Global Average?
Lyanna AlameddineAlameddine writes, “Snowfall in the middle of the desert, sandstorms, extreme heat, prolonged drought, uncontrolled rainfall: severe weather is increasingly affecting the Middle East. As the COP27 climate conference continues in Sharm el-Sheikh, we shed light on climate issues facing the region.”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.

 

 

Innocent Victims of Beirut’s Politics

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Lebanon’s fragility is underscored by its gravely weakened education and health sectors; the miserable condition and cost of public transportation; its devalued economy; and the ongoing threats to its security and stability. Anyone who says that these are temporary conditions has not been in the streets of Lebanon lately. Consider the cholera-infested areas of the north, Lebanese dumpster diving in Beirut, or the littered streets and beaches. While there is some agreement that a consensus president is needed, the lack of agreement on implementing the IMF reform package is less reassuring.

As I wrote last week, “It’s clear that international assistance from donors such as the EU and the US are the only remedies for keeping health-care facilities operating. The costs of most procedures, scarce and insufficient medicines, and the migration of health professionals spell doom to Lebanon medical infrastructure. Even though 80% of facilities are private, the challenges to both the private and public sectors in health services are enormous. For a patient to complain that being in a hospital is like a death sentence due to inadequate facilities, personnel, and medications exposes the depths of despair of Lebanon’s once stellar health sector.”

Unfortunately, the education sector is similarly troubled. With teachers emigrating and the remaining paid infrequently – many of whom left without the means to meet their transportation costs and switched to contract employees in order to avoid social security, medical insurance, and other benefits – the sector has been severely degraded. This is true across the 325,000 public sector employees (2021), including among the security forces.

The hollowing out of state institutions and protections of civil and human rights will delay the reconstructing of a credible, professional public sector. The first needed remediation is a package of social support services that are inclusive, equitable, and transparent. As of now, the social contract between the state and its employees is frazzled, fraught with omissions, exclusions, and nepotism, and subject to the whims of political leaders ensuring their survival by pandering to their constituents.

According to a recent report from The Policy Initiative, “Elites used state resources and private capital to establish clientelist social protection networks. The country’s sectarian political parties [after Taif] became the main providers of benefits, creating multiple, competing, social contracts and political arrangements.”

So, not only do politicians need political will to rebuild the state,   state institutions require a backbone of qualified, well-compensated public servants that are committed to the country by carrying out their work efficiently and transparently. It is the substitution of these sectarian networks that has undone the country and poses the greatest threat to its recovery.

But the issue is much deeper than the decline of the social cohesion of the country. According to the 2021 World Bank Governance Indicators as reported by Byblos Bank, Lebanon is ranked at 9% in Political Stability, while Qatar is tops at 83%. Lebanon scores ahead of Palestine, Sudan, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria. The reality speaks for itself. Lebanon has diminished its once highly regarded civil society to the status of pariah or broken state.

So build, back, better Lebanon without the carnage of the past 30+ years since Taif. And give your children, women, and youth a reason to invest in their futures inside the country.

 

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 11/09/2022

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DAILY NEWS

LAF Trains Against Bank Heists
According to Al-Monitor, “The Lebanese army held a training exercise Tuesday that was seemingly in response to the string of bank heists in the country. The army training simulated a ‘security incident’ at a bank. The purpose was to ‘detain the perpetrators.’ US and British trainers assisted with the exercise, the army said in a tweet.” [Al-Monitor]

USAID Administrator Power Announces $72 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Lebanon
According to Reuters, “The United States pledged $72 million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon on Wednesday aimed at helping to feed hundreds of thousands of Lebanese struggling to put food on the table, the director of USAID Samantha Power said during a visit to Lebanon. Power said the aid would allow 660,000 new beneficiaries to be added to the list of people receiving support from the United States Agency for International Development.” [Reuters]

Lebanon-Bound Fuel Trucks Destroyed in Air Strike Over Syria 
According to the Reuters, “At least two fuel trucks were destroyed in an air strike by an unidentified drone on the Syrian side of the border with Iraq late on Tuesday, Iraqi security and border officials told Reuters . . . ran’s state-run Press TV channel confirmed the attack and accused the United States of carrying it out, saying ‘a convoy of 22 tankers carrying fuel to Lebanon crossing from Iraq to Syria was attacked by U.S. drones’ at the Syrian town of Albukamal.” [Reuters]

Vaccination Campaign Against Cholera Launched in Lebanon
According to Al-Monitor, “Lebanon began its campaign to roll out cholera vaccinations last weekend in the country’s northern governorate of Akkar, the epicenter of the outbreak . . . Four-thousand prison inmates and officials have already been vaccinated from a stock of over 13,000 vaccinations donated by France last week. Another 600,000 doses from UNHCR and the World Health Organization are expected to arrive in Lebanon on Wednesday, to be distributed to Lebanese and Syrians in areas with the highest infection rates.” [Al-Monitor]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

L’Orient Today
Is Life in Lebanon Still Cheaper Than Before the Crisis for Those Who Have ‘Fresh Dollars’?
Philippe Hage Boutros and Fouad GemayelHage Boutros and Gemayel write, “Earlier this year, a survey published by the German organization the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung suggested that only 13.6 percent of Lebanese have access to fresh dollars, half of them through their salaries, paid either partially or fully in foreign currency. This portion of the population is considered privileged given that its purchasing power is preserved or has even increased since the onset of the financial crisis in Lebanon in 2019. This was particularly true in 2020 when consumer prices were slow to keep pace with the depreciation of the Lebanese lira. The picture, however, is more nuanced today. Dollar earners are still privileged, but their purchasing power is increasingly inching toward where it was pre-crisis. Two years ago, they could afford some luxuries they could not have before. Today, however, they find themselves once again conscious of the prices of some goods. In order to offer a clearer image of the current situation, L’Orient-Le Jouranalyzed the figures published by the Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) considering the lira-dollar exchange rate on the parallel market to obtain a price trend in real value. At first glance, it appears that in September 2020, the purchasing power of a dollar earner in Lebanon on a stable monthly income had increased 2.2 times compared to September 2019. In September 2022, this same income was worth only 1.6 times what it was three years ago. On closer inspection, the conclusions are more nuanced.”

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 11/08/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Egypt to Send 17 Tons’ Worth of Cholera Vaccines
According to the National, “Egypt will send 17 tonnes of medicine and vaccines to help tackle Lebanon’s deadly cholera outbreak. The aid will arrive by military plane in Beirut on Wednesday morning, the Egyptian embassy in Lebanon said. The mission said Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati requested help with the outbreak — its first in three decades — from Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi at the recent Arab League summit in Algeria.” [The National]

USAID Administrator Power in Lebanon for Three-Day Visit
According to Al Arabiya English with reporting from Joseph Haboush, “USAID director Samantha Power arrived in Beirut on Tuesday for a three-day visit aimed at providing support to the Lebanese people, more than half of whom are in need of some form of food aid.” [Al Arabiya English]

Interior Minister Affirms National Security Amid Presidential Vacuum
According to the Arab News, “Following a meeting with the Central Internal Security Council, caretaker minister Bassam Mawlawi said security is something all Lebanese require and ‘it is the duty of security bodies to maintain it using all available means’.” [Arab News]

PM Mikati States Lebanon’s Vulnerability to Climate Change at COP27
According to L’Orient Today, “Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Tuesday that Lebanon is vulnerable to climate change effects that could trigger a crash in Lebanon’s gross domestic product, exacerbating its current crises. Speaking at COP27, the UN conference being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the premier pledged Lebanon’s commitment to prioritizing adaptation measures, the state-run National News Agency reported.” [L’Orient Today]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Arab News
Lebanese Forum Delegates Unite on Implementing All Terms of Taif Agreement
Najia HoussariHoussari writes, “The terms of a 1989 deal negotiated in Saudi Arabia to end Lebanon’s civil war and return political normalcy to the country must be implemented in full, a former minister has claimed. Rashid Derbas’ comments echoed those of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri who said on Monday that the Taif Agreement acted as a constitution providing equality among the Lebanese people.
Their remarks followed a recent forum, organized by the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Al-Bukhari and held at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut, commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the accord. Speakers at the gathering unanimously pointed out the need to apply provisions of the agreement still to be enacted and they reiterated their objections to amending them.”

Read More Here

The Policy Initiative
Disaster Governance and Aid Effectiveness: the Case of Lebanon’s 3RF
Sophie Bloemeke and Mona HarbBloemeke and Harb write, “Two years after the Beirut Port blast destroyed one-third of Lebanon’s capital and killed more than 220 people, two of the main champions and designers of the aid architecture that now governs the recovery process left their positions in Lebanon to lead reform programs abroad. They leave behind a structure known to a few as the “3RF” – the Reform, Recovery, and Reconstruction Framework – albeit one that is largely invisible to the majority of Lebanon’s population. The 3RF is a platform established by the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank in 2020 as an institutional response to the Beirut Port explosion, which aims to provide “a framework of key actions to support the recovery and reconstruction of Beirut,” relying on “inclusive institutional arrangements” that bring together the government, international partners, the private sector, and civil society organizations (CSOs). Based on a mixed-methods study using primary data from 24 interviews, participant observation, and desk research, we conducted a study on how the 3RF has performed to date. We examined the 3RF’s effectiveness in terms of initiating reforms, institutional strengthening, and adaptability to the political context, focusing on the inclusion of CSOs, particularly at the Consultative Group level (which grouped selected CSOs) and at the sector coordination level (through working groups). The study makes two arguments. First, although it includes adaptive and effective institutional arrangements that may enable reforms, the 3RF is furthering civil society fragmentation. Second, international organizations’ incoherence and competition is consolidating the political status quo. In this article, we examine and describe three interconnected sets of structural constraints that limit the performance of the 3RF: (1) donors’ competing agendas and the platform’s institutional incoherence, (2) political stalemate and the Lebanese Government’s lack of political will, and (3) the insufficient involvement of CSOs in decision-making processes. Before expounding on these constraints, we offer an overview of the 3RF.”

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 11/07/2022

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November 7, 2022

Russia to Donate Wheat, Fuel to Lebanon
President Aoun’s Farewell Address
Lebanon’s Health Sector Worsens

Russia to Donate Wheat, Fuel to Lebanon
According to Naharnet, “Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially authorized a wheat and fuel grant to crisis-hit Lebanon, media reports said. The grant consists of 25,000 tons of wheat and ten tons of fuel oil. Caretaker Public Works and Transport Minister Ali Hamieh was informed of the approval overnight and the delivery date will be revealed within the next two days, the reports added.” [Naharnet]

RESPONSE

Considering the more than $700M in aid given by the US last year, it is good to see Russia step up during this time of need for the Lebanese people with wheat and fuel support. This offer is made while the US is making another important effort in support of the Lebanese people by facilitating a project to bring Egyptian gas through Jordan and Syria, and electricity from Jordan that will provide another 8 hours of electricity to the people of Lebanon. Issuing a sustainable tariff for electricity meets one of the two requirements necessary to starting World Bank funding for these projects.  The other is a requirement to begin the process of forming an independent electricity agency to regulate electricity price and reliability standards. Once the Lebanese government fulfills this requirement and the US Treasury Department signs off, power can flow, and hopefully within the coming weeks.

-ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel 

Outgoing President Aoun Attacks Head of Higher Judicial Council in Politicized Speech
According to L’Orient Today, “[In his farewell speech as the outgoing President of the Lebanese Republic, Former] President Michel Aoun focused a large part of his speech on Sunday on the head of the Higher Judicial Council Souheil Abboud, on whom he unleashed a direct attack.” [L’Orient Today]

RESPONSE

Former President Michel Aoun did not speak to rally the Lebanese around the need to elect a President and move the country forward towards recovery, nor did he speak sincerely about the need to shore up Lebanon’s failing institutions. No, rather than appear statesman-like, he resorted to the old trope of blaming others for the gridlock that now appears to be the outcome of the stalemate between him and the caretaker Prime Minister. Lebanon’s politicians have neither the vision nor the stamina to move ahead with the business of governing and rebuilding their country.

-ATFL Vice President Jean AbiNader

Lebanon’s Health Sector Debilitated Amid Worsening Economic Crisis
According to Al Monitor, “Lebanon’s health-care sector is fighting for survival amid an economic collapse, with the lives of patients at risk as critical care facilities have been falling apart and for the majority of the population affording essential medicine has become a luxury.” [Al-Monitor]

RESPONSE

It’s clear that international assistance from donors such as the EU and the US are the only remedies for keeping health-care facilities operating. The costs of most procedures, scarce and insufficient medicines, and the migration of health professionals spells doom for Lebanon’s medical infrastructure. Even though 80% of facilities are private, the challenges to both the private and public sectors in health services are enormous. For a patient to complain that being in a hospital is like a death sentence due to inadequate facilities, personnel, and medications exposes the depths of despair of Lebanon’s once stellar health sector.

-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 11/14/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Caretaker Prime Minister Meets with IMF, Regional Leaders
According to Naharnet, “Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati held meetings Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh with International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif.” [Naharnet]

Mass Return of Refugees from Lebanon to Syria
According to AP News, “Scores of Syrian refugees headed home Saturday from eastern Lebanon in the second convoy in less than two weeks as Beirut attempts to organize a mass refugee return to the war-torn country. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said the ‘voluntary return’ Saturday included 330 Syrians who left from the eastern Bekaa Valley to Syria’s western Qalamoun region.” [AP News]

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Hosts Forum on Taif Agreement
According to the National, “Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Lebanon Walid bin Abdullah Bukhari organised a forum at the Unesco Palace in Beirut on the 33rd anniversary of the conclusion of the Taif Agreement, which ended 15 years of civil war in Lebanon, under Arab and international sponsorship . . . ‘We desperately need to embody the formula of co-existence that was addressed by the Taif Agreement, especially with regard to the preservation of Lebanon’s identity and Arab belonging,’ Mr Bukhari said. The forum on Saturday was attended by 1,000 political, business and academic figures.” [The National]

‘Surprise’ Candidate May Emerge in Upcoming Presidential Election Session
According to Naharnet, “As several Free Patriotic Movement lawmakers announced that their parliamentary bloc will not cast blank votes in Thursday’s presidential election session, an independent MP told ad-Diyar newspaper that a ‘surprise’ candidate will be voted for in the session. Sources close to Hezbollah meanwhile told Asharq al-Awsat daily that they rule out any breakthrough in the presidential file before the end of the year, seeing as ‘things are linked to domestic and foreign circumstances’.” [Naharnet]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

The Policy Initiative
Distorted Social Contract: The Dangerous Trajectory of Social Protection Systems in Lebanon
Sami ZoughaibZoughaib writes, “As Lebanon’s financial and economic crises deepen, the severe shortcomings in the country’s formal social protection system have left the population increasingly abandoned and vulnerable. Capitalizing on this grim reality, the political elites have doubled down on their regime of social privileges, aiding the select at the disadvantage of the rest. They activated informal patronage networks for their loyalists and privileged select civil servants, particularly the military. The large majority of the country that is disenfranchised, those without political significance, are left to suffer. Left behind, more and more people have sought to flee Lebanon through people-smuggling sea routes, a tragic option that has left hundreds dead so far. The failure of authorities to respond seriously to the social disaster cannot be justified with the excuses of financial constraints or technical ineptitude. The central bank generously spent from its reserves an amount equivalent to the current size of the economy (~$20 billion) on regressive subsidies, quixotic attempts to prop up the exchange rate, and transfers of capital abroad. The National Social Protection Strategy, a document that details how the country can move beyond the current system of social privileges and onto one of social protection rights, was further delayed by the Mikati government.”

Read More Here

AP News
Eastern Mediterranean: A Natural Gas Hub Worth Exploring – Analysis
Dr Md. Muddassir QuamarDr. Quamar writes, “The international energy market has witnessed serious upheavals since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Europe, which significantly depended on Russia for its energy security, has been struggling to find alternative sources. The sanctions on Russia’s oil industry by the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) has led to serious churn in the global energy supplies, already seething with shortages due to sanctions on Iran and Venezuela, the civil war in Libya, and the debilitating impact of Covid-19 on demands. This has led to rise in global energy prices, making the post-pandemic economic recovery even more daunting, including in the US and European countries. The OPEC+ decision on production cuts taken on 5 October 2022, therefore, provoked sharp reaction from President Joe Biden who blamed Saudi Arabia, warning it of “consequences” for siding with Russia. The Kingdom, on the other hand, responded by underlining its longstanding commitments to stability of the global energy market and denied political manoeuvring. While the geopolitical tensions over the global energy production and supplies are unlikely to reduce anytime soon, the existing situation has underlined the need for finding alternative sources of energy. The quest for alternatives has also been accelerated by the growing international concern over global warming and environmental degradation. The focus is on finding alternatives both in terms of clean and renewable sources and newer producers and suppliers.”

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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.

 

 

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Lebanon Daily News Brief 11/04/2022

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DAILY NEWS

US Treasury Issues Sanctions on Parties Affiliated with IRGC, Hezbollah 
According to Naharnet, “The U.S. has imposed sanctions on a group of individuals, firms and vessels connected to an oil smuggling outfit said to benefit Hezbollah and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. More than a dozen companies, six individuals and 11 vessels flagged from around the world — from Djibouti to Panama — are included in the sanctions package, for allegedly participating in a scheme that included blending and exporting sanctioned Iranian oil.” [Naharnet]

LAF Dismantles Narcotics, Munitions Manufacturing Facility in Baalbek Farm
According to L’Orient Today, “A small workshop manufacturing various drugs was discovered in a farm located in the village of Hoch Barda, in Baalbeck, the Lebanese Army announced Friday in a statement.” [L’Orient Today]

Recent Flooding Incidents in Lebanon Sparks Controversy for Ramco, Ministry of Public Works
According to L’Orient Today, “On Wednesday night, the Civil Defense said that following heavy rains during the day it had rescued two citizens who were stuck in their cars on the Ghazir coastal road and the Jounieh highway, respectively . . . Ramco, the company contracted to collect solid waste in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, on Thursday responded to caretaker Public Works Minister Ali Hamieh’s criticisms after a second spate of street flooding in these areas in two weeks, saying the problem of roads flooding ‘did not start today’.” [L’Orient Today]

Brawl Erupts at MTV Studio on Popular Program, Sar El Waet
According to Arab News, “Security guards fired warning shots in a desperate attempt to stop a brawl that erupted during filming of the popular Lebanese talkshow ‘Sar Al-Waqt’ — Arabic for ‘It’s About Time.’ A video circulating online shows members of the Free Patriotic Movement political party fighting with the channel’s security staff inside the MTV studio, prompting host Marcel Ghanem to cut the live feed and call for a break. The brawl was finally halted after Lebanese troops stepped in to calm the situation.” [Arab News]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

L’Orient Today
What Room for Maneuver Does the Mikati Government Have?
Salah HijaziHijazi writes, “There is no new president, and the government is a caretaker cabinet. After former President Michel Aoun’s term of office expired Oct. 31, and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati failed to put together a new cabinet, the country is for the first time facing a double vacuum at the executive level. The vacuum is likely to persist, with no sign of Parliament being able to reach a consensus on a new head of state, the 14th president of the republic since independence. The situation is all the more worrying for a country grappling with an economic and financial crisis, which demands the implementation of an action plan as soon as possible. Amid the chaos, one question is now on everyone’s lips: what room for maneuver does the caretaker cabinet have to govern the country?”

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AP News
Conflict, Crisis Fuel Cholera Surge Across Mideast Hot Spots
Kareem ChehayebChehayeb writes, “Cholera has swept across Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq as the countries struggle with devastated infrastructure, turmoil and housing large populations of people who have been displaced by conflict. Lebanon last month reported the first cholera case in nearly 30 years. The bacterial infection has surged globally across dozens of countries this year, with outbreaks in Haiti and across the Horn of Africa as well as the Mideast. The outbreaks of hundreds of thousands of cases driven by conflict, poverty, and climate change are a major setback for global efforts to eradicate the disease.” 

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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.

 

Lebanon Daily News Brief 11/03/2022

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DAILY NEWS

Parliament Decides Mikati Government May Proceed with Caretaker Duties
Based on a statement issued by the Lebanese Speaker of Parliament, the parliament decided that the incumbent cabinet led by Prime Minister Najib Mikati – which entered into caretaker status following last May’s parliamentary elections – may proceed with its caretaker duties, after former President Michel Aoun reached the expiration of his term without an elected successor. Several MPs clarified that while Mikati’s caretaker cabinet can continue to manage current affairs, it may not meet except in exceptional situations. [L’Orient Today]

New Official Rate Mired in Uncertainty as Aoun Departed Presidency without Approving the ’22 Budget
According to AP News, “Spokespeople from the Finance Ministry and central bank told the AP that they did not modify their decrees that put forth the new currency peg [altering the official rate from 1,500 LL to 15,000 LL against the USD], but they cannot go into effect unless the budget does as well. Another advisor added that [Former President Michel] Aoun did not see the budget law as meeting The International Monetary Fund’s expectations, but didn’t want Lebanon to be without a budget. Speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak the press, they added that the delay would allow budget to pass but without the president’s endorsement.” [AP News]

Berri Sets Date for Next Presidential Election Session in Parliament
According to Naharnet, “Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called for an election session on Thursday, November 10. He said he hoped these sessions won’t turn into a ‘theatrical show’.” [Naharnet]

LAF Commander in Chief Addresses Presidential Vacuum
In a speech delivered today by the Commander in Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Joseph Aoun, he warned that, “the country’s entry into a period of presidential vacancy, along with the ongoing political tensions, could lead to attempts to exploit the situation in order to undermine security . . . We will not allow the exploitation of the situation and the transformation of our nation into an open field for any security incident or suspicious actions . . . We have never accepted any breach of security in the past and we will never accept it in the future.” [L’Orient Today]

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Arab News
Lebanon Needs A True Election To Find Its Next President
Lynn ZovighianZovighian writes, “While the Lebanese Constitution defines governance mechanisms for state institutions, most state entities are personality-centered fiefdoms rather than institutional. For example, there is a historical national habit to fixate on the prime minister and not the government; the speaker of the house and not the parliament; and the president and not the presidency. The constitution also assumes that a person who holds a seat of power is governing based on an institutional mandate because that is what legitimate and competent rule ought to imply . . . Michel Aoun became president in 2016 at the 46th session of parliament after 45 attempts to vote in a new head of state had failed. It took more than two and a half years. As has become a national habit, a candidate won because a deal was struck. For a deal to go through, the interests of key powerbrokers must be empowered with measurable benefits. The loss of time helps build negotiating power. Emile Lahoud was a deal. Michel Suleiman was a deal. Aoun was a deal . . . In other words, Lebanon has never experienced presidential elections. And the governance is so broken that the people do not even ask for it. The expectation is just not there. Because why pontificate when nothing will change? This old Lebanese adage also has a habitual track record. However, just because it might — perhaps — not be feasible to have a well-governed, transparent and professional election of the next president in Lebanon today, that does not mean we should not be asking for a better practice.”

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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.