Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Meets with President Aoun According to The 961, “President Michel Aoun met on Monday morning at Baabda Palace with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Lebanon Walid Bukhari . . . Ambassador Bukhari reiterated his government’s keenness on the unity of Lebanon, its people, and its ‘Arab depth’ based on the national charter principles of the Taif Agreement, which formed a base for Lebanon’s stability.” [The961]
Date Set for Maritime Accord Signing According to Arab News, “Lebanon and Israel will sign an agreement on demarcating their maritime border on Oct. 27, a source in the Lebanese presidency told Arab News on Sunday. ‘Arrangements have begun to be made in (the city of) Naqoura, where the UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon) headquarters are, to receive the delegations of the two countries to sign separately the agreement document and hand over a copy of it to the American side and a copy to the UN,’ the source said.” [Arab News]
Swiss Embassy Dinner Aimed at Bringing Together Political Parties is Postponed Indefinitely According to Naharnet, “The Swiss embassy in Lebanon on Monday announced the postponement of a dinner that was supposed to bring together Lebanon’s main political parties, after unconfirmed media reports about the event stirred political controversy in the country.” [Naharnet]
Lebanese Pound Hits 40,000 LL to 1 USD According to Naharnet, “The Lebanese pound’s market value hit [40,000 LL to 1 USD,] a record low against the dollar Monday, as the cash-strapped country plunges further into financial and political turmoil three years after its economy collapsed.” [Naharnet]
OPINION & ANALYSIS
Imagining A New Lebanon Jean AbiNader
AbiNader writes, “Now that the maritime deal is almost done, there seems to be an air of hope – if the three presidents can agree on a deal with Israel, there may be a future for a solid deal with the IMF, too. But if there is to be a “new” Lebanon, will reforms be enough to cultivate Lebanon’s rise from the ashes of the old, or will the seeds of democracy planted by our fore bearers fail to weed out the corruption and mismanagement? Put another way, should we wait until Lebanon self-destructs as a government before there’s a way forward? These are very tough questions, and ones which we struggle with every day at ATFL . . . There are screams for a national vision that restores social services, puts families first, and prioritizes economic stability and security. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), the most trusted institution in the country, is hobbled by politicians who benefit from illicit smuggling, economic deterioration, and impaired and lacking social services. But still, hopeful people yearn for a renaissance in Lebanon.”
Middle East Institute Amid Lebanon’s Perfect Storm of Crises, Water Demands Attention Megan Ferrando
Ferrando writes, “Lebanese crises have repeatedly made international news since October 2019, when the country witnessed the start of a popular revolution against a stagnant and corrupt political elite. The issues raised by the protesters subsequently proved even more critical than expected due to the 2020 Beirut port explosion, unprecedented levels of inflation, and the ongoing fuel and food emergencies. Much less discussed but no less critical is the issue of water. The problem has been slumbering for years but has recently come to light along with other failings of the Lebanese government.”
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.
