government formation has become strictly internal”
It has become increasingly clear that Hezbollah, which acts as a “state within a state” does not want see a strong government in Lebanon . Whatever government will be formed will therefore be weak just like the current caretaker government which couldn’t even vote on a budget for 2009.
Aoun is trying to get the following ministries in the new government which are all intended to be used by Hezbollah for enhancing its “state within a state” power
Communications : Hezbollah owns and operates an illegal communications network and has been under pressure by the former ministry of communication to shut it down , but in controlling the ministry Hezbollah will have a complete control over the communications in Lebanon
Interior : Hezbollah has been prohibited under UN 1701 of operating in the south of Lebanon , but in controlling the ministry of interior Hezbollah will have complete control over security in Lebanon and will therefore be able to operate anywhere in the country . The department of internal security reports to the ministry of interior
Justice : Hezbollah has been accused of being behind the murder of former PM Rafik Hariri. The respected German Der Spiegel magazine published a detailed report last May in which it revealed the details of Hezbollah involvement . The ministry of justice is the main link between Lebanon and The Special Tribunal for Lebanon , which is charged with trying the killers of Hariri. It is obvious there why Hezbollah wants this ministry
Hezbollah arms continue to be the single and most important obstructive element in getting anything done in Lebanon . Hezbollah has claimed in the past that its arms are for resistance purposes only aimed at defending Lebanon against Israel. But Hezbollah used these same arms against its fellow countrymen last May 2008 when it occupied the Sunni part of Beirut and tried but was unsuccessful in occupying the Druze strongholds of Mount Lebanon
Tuesday
8:05pm LBC: A meeting between Hariri and Aoun will be held in the coming hours.
8:00pm Israeli army held the Lebanese government responsible for the launching of the rocket.
7:33pm PM-designate Saad Hariri met with U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams at Center House. The two men discussed the current developments in Lebanon.
7:20pm A rocket was launched from a valley between the villages of Houla and Mays al-Jabal in South Lebanon towards Israel No casualties were reported but Israel has retaliated by shelling the launching point with 4 shells .
6:25pm Amal MP Ali Bazzi: We have ideas that were presented in the last few hours to the PM-designate and we are waiting for answers.
5:40pm Caretaker PM Fouad Siniora met with Saudi Ambassador Ali Awad al-Essiri at the Grand Serail where they discussed the Lebanese and Arab situations as well as bilateral ties.
4:10pm Hezbollah condemned, in a statement, the "Zionist aggressions against al-Aqsa mosque"and considered that the continuous support from the consecutive U.S. administrations to Israel holds the U.S. accountable of a major responsibility.
3:25pm MP Suleiman Franjieh after meeting President Suleiman: Opposition supports Aoun in his governmental demands and stressed “the government cannot be formed at the expense of F P M leader MP Michel Aoun.”
3:22pm Al Mustaqbal Parliamentary bloc after its weekly meeting headed by Caretaker PM Siniora: We hope that all parties help and work on the facilitation of the cabinet formation process.
3:15 pm : New TV: 2 suspected swine flu case found in a school in Saida
2:20 pm : French ambassador : we hope the government in Lebanon will be formed quickly , because the country needs to face the regional challenges and the internal social and economic problems
2:20pm Judge Saqr Saqr charged 13 people, including 9 General Security Department personnel, for taking bribes to facilitate the illegal entry of foreigners to Lebanon across the border.
2:00pm Reuters: Israeli authorities demolished two Palestinian homes near Arab East Jerusalem on Tuesday, ignoring international concern about the practice.
1:30pm President Michel Suleiman is meeting with Marada movement leader Suleiman Franjieh at Baabda palace.
1:03pm Gebran Bassil : Our eyes will remain focused on the ministry of communication . There will be no government regardless of the delay if the rights of FPM are not respected
1:02 pm Caretaker PM Fouad Siniora presides over Future bloc meeting in Qoreitem
12:30 pm A confrontation between Israeli settlers and Palestinians broke out Tuesday morning near Karayout, a village adjacent to Nablus.
12:15 MP Mustafa Alloush told LBC: Iran has no desire to make things easier for the region.
12;10 pm The Islamic State of Iraq, a Sunni extremist group that includes al Qaeda in Iraq, has claimed responsibility for twin bombings Sunday that targeted key government buildings and killed nearly 160 Iraqi
12:05pm Gemayel: The ministerial crisis that we are struggling with is not because of a portfolio or the name of a Minister but the truth is that there are those that did not learn from the past and want to falsify history and identity
12:03pm MP Chamoun said at the parliament square : we want a government before anything else
11:35 FPM MP Kanaan: Linking cabinet formation with election of parliamentary commissions is unconstitutional
11:06 Quorum not reached to hold parliamentary commissions election session
11:05 Hariri: Following the crisis that we went through, no one had expected Lebanon to show good economic indicators. At a time when biggest banks collapsed, deposits increased by $ 16 billion dollars at the Lebanese banking sector.
11:00 Hariri: Saudi Arabia has always stood on the side of all the Lebanese after every internal slide.
10:59 Hariri at the Saudi-Lebanese Forum: Lebanon will never forget the role of Saudi Arabia in reaching the Taef Agreement. We are committed to all the clauses of the Doha accord.
10:40 Speaker Berri postpones parliamentary commissions election session to November 5
10:24 MP Houri told LBC : We will not attend Tuesday’s parliamentary commissions election session
10:22am The Saudi-Lebanese Forum kicked off under the patronage of PM-designate Saad Hariri at the Phoenicia hotel.
9:50 Al Hayat: An Egyptian source has described PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt as an "acrobat" who keeps changing stances . “Jumblatt is presenting his credentials again in order to be an ally (of Syria) and its exclusive agent in Lebanon," the source said and added. Jumblatt changed his stances and "resorted to fabricating lies" when Egypt did not respond quickly to his demand to visit Cairo. The Egyptians were responding to Jumblatt’s statement on Sunday that that Lebanon's geopolitical situation leaves it before two choices; the sea or Syria which he described as "the path to the Arab World." He also criticized Egyptian peace agreement with Israel
8:48 : Information received by Jumblatt revealed that Aoun , based on an agreement with Hezbollah decided to ask for the ministry of public works and wanted all the opposition leaders to contact Jumblatt to convince him to give up this ministry
8:30 Justice minister najjar told VOL: I don't think the Lebanese forces is insisting on having the ministry of justice , but in any case most probably this ministry will remain with the majority
8:26 Al Liwaa The 2 Khalils visited Damascus recently . Amal MP Ali Hassan Khalil and Hezbollah’s Hajj Hussein Khalil
07:42 Hariri circles: PM -designate has a plan in mind for the development of the Ministry of Communications and this could create about 60 ,000 jobs
07:29 majority sources: Franjieh is making important and unprecedented efforts on the Hariri - Aoun line
07:23 "al Akhbar ": Jumblatt told Hariri officially that he won’t give up the Ministry of Works to satisfy Aoun
07:08 majority and the opposition sources : there is a unique opportunity for the birth of the government before the end of the week
06:55 As Safir : Egypt has accepted the 10-15-5 formula for government formation
06:45 Aoun visitors: No one can influence me neither at home nor abroad
06:29 Jumblatt: The obstruction against the government formation has become strictly internal
06:24 "as Safir ": Hariri changed his mind about offering the ministry of justice to Aoun and is now talking again about the ministry communication
Monday
8:40pm Future News: Ghobeiry's mishap is a result of machinegun clashes between Amal and Hezbollah supporters.
8:35pm LBC: 2 persons were wounded in Ghobeiry's shooting and the army is working on containing the incident.
8: 20pm an 86 year old man died from swine flue at a hospital in mount Lebanon
8:20pm OTV: Berri may propose an initiative on Tuesday after the parliamentary committees session. It includes a practical formula for a comprehensive rotation of portfolios in a way that doesn't exclude anyone.
