March 14 Christian ministers are insisting that the paragraph that deals with the resistance in the ministerial policy statement should include a statement that restricts the authority of declaration of war and peace to the state while the Hezbollah-led Shiite ministers are completely opposed to the idea .
In 2006 Hezbollah was criticized for initiating the war with Israel without consulting with the government. This is the reason behind March 14 Christian ministers’ action.
This is all related to the conflicting 2 states that exist in Lebanon ... The state of Lebanon vs the Hezbollah state
The dispute between Baroud and Rifi is an administrative matter that is being politicized . Rifi who is considered pro- March 14 has fired a pro -March 8 police officer , Antoine Chakkour, for disobeying orders without consulting with his boss , minister Baroud. This dispute is creating a 3 way split of the country …the opposition is supporting Chakkour, March 14 is supporting Rifi and the centrists are supporting Baroud.
All these disputes are taking place on the eve of the independence day. Sunday , November 22 Lebanon celebrates its 66th anniversary of its Independence .
Saturday
8:00 pm President Michel Suleiman addressed the nation on Saturday night, the eve of Lebanese Independence Day: “in order to preserve a fair representation, it is necessary to eliminate political sectarianism.”
6:30 pm Four Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia died from swine flu, the Health Ministry said . They are a Moroccan woman, a Sudanese man an Indian man and a 17-year-old girl from Nigeria
6:30pm Arslan: We are in dire need of being united during these critical times
6:27pm Jumblatt: We stick to the previous Ministerial Policy Statement and there is no justification for changing it
6:24pm Expanded Jumblatt - Arsalan family gathering in Mukhtara , Shouf in the presence of a number of several ministers and MPs
5:12pm Gemayel addressing his slain son to his son Pierre: You were always open-minded and a believer in the culture of dialogue. We want the government to be a real unity government headed by your brother Saad Hariri and we want it to lead Lebanon toward safety.
The party which you served till the last breath will remain the conscience of Lebanon and it is keen on all the martyrdoms.
5:07pm The Third Commemoration Mass of Pierre Gemayel has ended and Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel has started his speech.
4:47pm Minister Safadi: Lebanon has entered a new phase of reconciliation and the government will be a government for all Lebanon
4:23pm The Egyptian Supreme Criminal Court has decided to postpone the trial of 26 Hezbollah cell members to January 26 because one of the accused was not present
4:18pm Bishop Beshara al-Rahi in his sermon at the mass commemorating Pierre Gemayel: Pierre was the rock of love on which nations are built upon.
3:50 pm A gas explosion killed 42 miners in a Chinese mine on Saturday and 66 remain trapped hundreds of metres (yards) underground after the latest accident to hit the world's deadliest mining industry
3:40pm PM Saad Hariri has arrived to Mar Antonios Church to attend the Third Commemoration Mass of Pierre Gemayel.
3:15pm Political leaders have started to arrive to Mar Antonios Church in Jdeideh to participate in the mass commemorating the assassinated late Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel.
2:00pm President Michel Suleiman received cables on the occasion of independence day from Pope Benedict XVI and other world leaders.
1:55pm The Lebanese army command said the military opened anti-aircraft fire on an Israeli drone flying over Bint Jbeil on Saturday morning.
1:40 pm MP Mohammad Qabbani issued a statement on the occasion of Independence Day, calling for Parliament to form a national body to eliminate political sectarianism. He also urged Speaker Nabih Berri to pursue the implementation of the Taif Accord.
1:20pm Jumblatt called Baroud and stressed on the importance of respecting ranks inside Lebanese state institutions.
1:14pm MP Hani Qobaisi: Lebanon can only live through partnership and unity.
12:42pm MP Ammar Houry told al-Jadeed: We are in the stage of reshaping constitutional institutions.
11:42 MP Alain Aoun told Radio Free Lebanon: There is Lebanese consensus to take the issue of resistance arms to the dialogue table.
11:30 Minister Hussein Mneimneh: Dialogue is the foundation to resolve all differences. Reconciliations are one of the national unity government’s priorities.
11:28 MP Ahmad Fatfat said that politicizing the conflict between Ziad Baroud and ISF
Director General Ashraf Rifi over discharging Police Brigadier Antoine Chakkour for disobeying orders is unbeneficial
10:30 MP Elie Marouni told Future News: If the issue of Hezbollah’s arms will be discussed on the national dialogue table, then it should not be mentioned in the policy statement.
10:00 Minister Michel Pharaon told LBC: Discussions on the arms issue are focusing on the right of the state to decide on war and peace. The ministerial statement will see light in the next few days and will be similar to its predecessor.
9:59 Al-Sayegh: The policy statement should have a reference to a strong state.
8:00am President Michel Suleiman will address the Lebanese on the eve of independence day through direct dialogue with representatives of the press syndicate and journalists accredited to Baabda palace.
Friday
11:59 pm Mohamed ElBaradei, the departing chief of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency, said Iran's continued refusal to accept tighter scrutiny of its nuclear activities would likely force the international community to impose new sanctions.
10:30 pm As hope fades for an Iran nuclear deal before the end of the year, UN Security Council%
