Local Media Reports Hochstein to Return on September 7 According to local media reports, via Naharnet, Amos Hochstein – the Senior Energy Security Advisor and principal mediator in the ongoing, US-mediated negotiations between the Lebanese and Israeli governments concerning Lebanon’s southern maritime border – will return to Beirut no sooner than September 7. [Naharnet]
Lebanese Lira Crashes Below 35,000 LL to USD Today, the Lebanese Lira reached a new low in its value against the dollar on the black market, reaching 35,000 LL to 1 USD. [Naharnet]
In Aftermath of Capsized Boat Search Mission, Families File Lawsuit Against the Military According to AP News, “Survivors and families of the victims of a sunken migrant boat off the coast of Lebanon on Thursday said they have filed a lawsuit accusing the military of detaining two missing survivors . . . Survivors say the Lebanese navy rammed their vessel, while the military claims the migrants’ boat collided with one of their ships while trying to get away. The captain of a submarine mission last week said they found the remains of at least 10 migrants and the wreckage of the sunken boat with dents and damages.” [AP News]
OPINION & ANALYSIS
L’Orient Today Presidential Election: Nabih Berri’s Red Lines Yara Abi Akl
Abi Akl writes, “Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri chose to emerge from a long political silence on Aug. 31, the eve of the start of the presidential election period, to choose the successor of current President Michel Aoun, whose term expires on Oct. 31 . . . Being well aware that an agreement on the next president has not yet materialized, Berri has shown himself to favor any meeting that could lead to an understanding. In his speech, Berri also made sure to draw the profile of the president for whom his party would vote, listing characteristics that do not match FPM leader Bassil . . . As he waits for the dust to settle on the presidential election, Berri appears to have government formation in his sights.”
Lebanese Center for Policy Studies The Critical State Of Youth In Lebanon: Past Breaking Point And Organizing For Change Fadi Nicholas Nassar
Nassar writes, “Three years into Lebanon’s debilitating and still unresolved crisis, the country’s future lifeline—its youth—are being pushed past breaking point. On the one hand, the magnitude of the crisis has shaken the popularity and public legitimacy of traditional parties, presenting new openings for alternative or independent candidates to compete over electoral slots. On the other, the weight of the pressure brought on by the protracted crisis is fueling despair and undermining confidence in the political process. Where do youth stand amidst such an uncertain and volatile context? To answer that question, this report sheds light on the political objectives and concerns of youth voters, aged 21 to 29, and unpacks the strategies, tools, and challenges facing youth campaigners in the syndicate and university elections in the build-up to the 2022 parliamentary elections. In doing so, this paper seeks to identify the major priorities and concerns of Lebanese youth and assess the campaigning, organizational, and leadership capacities of youth movements in elections since 2019.”
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.
