its arms and its regional alliances and ambitions .

The ruling majority views Lebanon as the borders and defending Lebanon therefore is its primary concern . But Hezbollah , because of its alliance with Syria, Iran ,Hamas in Gaza and Moqtada al Sadr in Iraq views its role as regional. In other words the ruling majority considers the liberation of Shebaa farms spells the end of occupation and therefore the end of resistance , while on the other hand Hezbollah sees its role as a resistance movement beyond the borders of Lebanon.

Al-Hayat newspaper said Monday that the majority March 14 coalition wants to find out exactly what Hezbollah meant by declaring that it would continue with the resistance until Palestine is liberated and whether this is a sign that the party would maintain its weapons even after the liberation of Shebaa Farms.

"We are responsible, like all Arabs and Muslims, to completely liberate Palestine, from the river to the sea," Hezbollah's second in command Sheikh Naim Qassem told a Hezbollah rally against the Gaza siege in southern Beirut last Friday.

"Palestine is the central cause and we are committed to liberating it," Qassem said, adding that "we would not give up the cause of Palestine. We are with you to liberate all the land."

Al-Hayat said that in that case, Qassem's statement suggests that the defense strategy be upgraded from defense to offense.

Monday

23:10 Communications Minister Gibran Bassil said $700,000 was raised from the sale of distinguished Cell numbers during the Alfa auction. The highest price paid was $90,000 for number 70333333, the second was $65,000 for number 7030000 and the third was $37,000 for number 70300300. The funds raised will be used to improve the network. All these numbers were purchased by Kamel Amhaz who bought 10 distinguished numbers

20:55 Minister Elias Murr told Future TV : What are the guarantees that the Hezbollah arms will not become a burden for the resistance as a result of the current indirect negotiations between Israel and Syria and the peaceful efforts of France and the US? Murr thanked Russia for the 10 Mg planes and said " if the army had these planes during the Nahr el bared battle it won't have suffered so many casualties. In reference to Iran's offer to help the army he said : If the parties that are arming Hezbollah really want a Lebanese state then shouldn’t they be offering the army similar weapons at least ? Murr said neither the army can absorb Hezbollah nor Hezbollah can absorb the army .

19:20 Three Syrian diplomats headed by Shawqi Shammat, deputy head of mission reported Monday to duty at the Syrian Embassy located at the Syrian-Lebanese Commercial Bank in the Hamra district of Beirut ( pictured right) , a government source said. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem said earlier the Syrian Embassy in Beirut would be inaugurated after Christmas. Syria has not informed Lebanon officially the name of its ambassador to Beirut and Lebanon plans to inform Syria officially within couple of days the name of its ambassador to Damascus

19:15 Unidentified Assailants opened fire at a Lebanese Army soldier ( Ala'a Abu Khodr ) , wounding him at the entrance to Beirut's Palestinian Refugee camp of Sabra.

18:58 Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri receives Defense Minister Elias Murr in Ain al-Tineh.

17:00 MP Michel Aoun urged the government to stop allowing foreigners to buy properties in Lebanon.. In reference to the defense strategy he said " In the presence of state institutions, there would be no role for the resistance… But when the state is incapable of defending the nation, then small groups would emerge to perform this task. If we assume that the Israelis withdraw and the Palestinian issue is resolved, we should not stay without a strategy that protects us ( in reference to Hezbollah). Aoun attacked the Intelligence community and accused it of committing crimes

15:40 Two members of Hezbollah assaulted a Business professor at the Lebanese University campus in Hadath. The Lebanese University administration is demanding that the 2 assailants be turned over to the Lebanese security forces

15:30 The Lebanese University announced that the Xmas - New Year Holiday will be from Dec 24, 2008 till Jan. 3, 2009

15:10 Geagea: Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad found important elements in the defense strategy that I presented and will be commenting on them during the next session

15:00 Participants in national dialogue call for reducing political and media-exacerbated tensions, domestically and toward friendly countries, to serve civil peace and Lebanon’s interests.

14 :55 MP Boutros Harb said after the end of the dialogue talk session: My vision for defense strategy is on the agenda of the next session
14:40 MP Michel al-Murr says participants in national dialogue did not discuss foreign military aid to Lebanon but only the defense strategy.

14:36 Participants in the national dialogue talks agreed to form a military committee to study all the proposed defense strategies.

14:26 Third session of national roundtable dialogue was adjourned to January 22

13:30 The Lebanese army announced that Syrian security forces arrested on Sunday Alwan Jaafar, who is suspected of shooting dead a Lebanese soldier at a checkpoint in Hermel last July.

13:05 Iraqi Vice President Tareq Hashemi arrived in Beirut on a two-day visit to discuss with Lebanese officials the situation in Iraq and the region.

12:00 The office of the prime minister denied reports about the formation of a new security unit to monitor the Lebanese-Syrian border.

11:36 Mitri says media proposals not related to politics. He said that the proposal included principles that journalists could be committed to everywhere in the world. He also said that the draft did not give the information minister the right to become a supervisor of the media.

11:24 Future Movement MP Ammar Houri told OTV the presidential powers themselves have not changed but the method of dealing with matters has. ( he was comparing president Suleiman to former president Lahoud)

11:19 Change and Reform bloc MP Nematallah Abi Nasr told OTV : Lebanese Armed Forces had the primary authority to defend Lebanon and any resistance activity should be in cooperation with the army.

11:15 Third round of national dialogue session kicks off at Baabda Palace.

10:45 National dialogue participants begin arriving at Baabda Palace.

10:30 The Lebanese army arrested two people Sunday night for opening fire in Tripoli’s Abi Samra district.

10:20 President Michel Suleiman met with Speaker Nabih Berri in Baabda before the national dialogue session kicks off.

08:26 Future Movement MP Michel Pharaoun said :Only the state should make decisions about war and peace.

07:43 Fares Soueid : everyone knew that the roundtable dialogue was aimed at reducing tensions among different Lebanese political parties more than proposing solutions on the defense strategy. He expects that Lebanon will see more tension in the next six months due to the situation in the region

Sunday

22:40 Baroud : My decision in naming the members of the election committee that will supervise the elections was based on merit and qualifications and not on sectarian allocations. He said the ministry will provide the committee with all the logistical and technical help needed to ensure its success. He added " the committee wants to succeed in its mission and the ministry will stand at equal distance from all parties "

22:30 Pakradoni, an opposition supporter predicts that the opposition will win the upcoming elections with a very small margin. He also predicts that the true battle will be in Christian strongholds. He told an Nahar that the upcoming elections will be considered a petro-dollar battle ( in reference reported Iranian financial support for Hezbollah-led opposition and Saudi Arabian support for March 14 alliance ) ...he said if money will be used in the elections then the elections will turn into a problem instead of a solution

21:55 Minister Lahoud : US commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty , independence and Freedom is firm regardless whether it is a Republican or Democratic administration. The commitment is deeply rooted and the US will be sending more and more supplies soon to help the Lebanese army

21:45 Minister Baroud: The government will continue to do its duties and the issue of the constitutional council is not over yet . We are depending on the wisdom of the president to find a solution

20:09 Kanaan : Our problem is now relates to the substance of the constitutional council and not the individual members

20:03 Minister Bassil told New TV: We will be removing the political color that they tried to add to the constitutional council. We are in agreement with the president that the appointments should be based on merit and qualifications

20:01 salloukh : I am in complete agreement with the president and the cabinet over the name of the Lebanese ambassador to Syria . We will be informing the Syrians within the next couple of days and we should expect their response within 40 days

19:33 Hashem Safi Eddine: What happened in Blida is a dangerous development . It is an attack against Lebanon and Lebanese sovereignty. Electoral fraud has begun with the new election law

19:00 Finance Minister Mohammad Shatah will sign 2 agreements tomorrow for $130 million with the Arab Monetary Fund , which will be represented by Dr Jassim al Mannai

17:50 : VOL : Inter-Christian reconciliation during Christmas as MP Michel Aoun and Suleiman Franjieh are to visit Bkirki with President Michel Suleiman.

17:40 : Reconciliation meeting held between Progressive Socialist Party( which is led by MP Walid Jumblatt) and Unification Movement ( which is led by former minister Wiam Wahhab ) in the village of Kfarheem with Druze clergy attending. PSP was represented by Dr. Nasser Zaidan and Unification by Suleiman el Sayegh

17:35 The Syrian cabinet approved agreement reached between the Lebanese Interior minister and his Syrian counterpart

17:15 : Defense Minister Elias el-Murr returned to Beirut via Geneve from Moscow where was on an official visit to discuss arms for the Lebanese army

14:50 March 14 alliance withdraws from the elections of the committee of secondary education teachers

14:35 French president sarkozy expected to visit Lebanon within the next few days to congratulate the president on the establishment of diplomatic relations with Syria and will be calling on Syria to start direct negotiations with Israel

14:10 Demonstration at the Nakkar gate near Shebaa farms in solidarity with Gazans against the blockade by Israel

12:20 Minister of tourism Elie Marouni left for Cairo to participate in a a conference of Arab Tourism ministers

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