issue number 147 |October 2014 nformation International’s Opinion Poll Ersal Clashes and Hariri’s Return to Lebanon Official Exams: Between Pass Statements and Official Certificates
the monthly interviews Nabil Mrad
www.monthlymagazine.com • Published by Information International sal Head of the Municipality of Benouati
Car Bombings in 2013-2014
18 cars | 143 victims and 1,140 kilograms of explosives
Lebanon 5,000LL | Saudi Arabia 15SR | UAE 15DHR | Jordan 2JD| Syria 75SYP | Iraq 3,500IQD | Kuwait 1.5KD | Qatar 15QR | Bahrain 2BD | Oman 2OR | Yemen 15YRI | Egypt 10EP | Europe 5Euros October INDEX 2014
4 Car Bombings in 2013-2014
8 running for Parliamentary Elections in 2009, 2013 and 2014
12 official Exams: Between Pass Statements and Official Certificates
14 developing the Economy of Tripoli: Between the Fair and the Economic Zone
16 directorate for Palestinian Refugee Affairs P: 24 P: 16 18 information International’s Opinion Poll ersal Clashes and Hariri’s Return to Lebanon
23 Japanese Parliament 24 najib Abou Haidar- Sect-less ID Card 26 the Annual Pelvic Examination: dr. Hanna Saadah
27 Back to School – Healthy Eating Tips: maya nahoul P: 14 28 interview: Nabil Mrad Head of the Municipality of Benouati
29 Jeunesse Contre Drogue
31 popular culture 32 debunking myth#86: The Autistic Genius 33 must-read books: Gibran Khalil Gibran-People and Places Bear Witness henry Zogheib 46 this Month in History- Arab World Burial of Gamal Abdul Nasser- October 1970 34 must-read children’s book: The Story of Hadi organ Donation 47 on the Beliefs and Plots of Al-Qaeda (7) Al-Qaeda and Jihad in the Path of Islam 35 lebanon Families: The Bahlawans 49 Real Estate Prices - August 2014 36 discover Lebanon: Al-Muhtaqara Will it be renamed Al-Muftakhara? 50 Did you know that?: Diabetes Worldwide 37 Discover the world: Monaco 50 Rafic Hariri International Airport 38 august 2014 Highlights Traffic - July 2014 44 this Month in History- Lebanon 51 lebanon’s stats 39 Years of Lebanese Dialogue |editorial
“Long Live Caliph Ibrahim!”
Ahmad did not know that Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai, who lived and pursued education in Baghdad, was all-powerful. He thought that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was a hot and dry sandstorm that would soon give way to a rainy season before the land tilts towards the sun of the spring, flowering in full bloom like Ishtar and toasting the ever-youthful nature of Adonis, so that Ahmad would revel in the pure rapture of Al-Akhtal’s poetry which flourished under Muawiyah’s era and Ziryab’s music in Al-Andalus. Ahmad did not know that Caliph Ibrahim had a power so great that he was able to seize an area at least three times larger than today’s Lebanon. He did not know that Caliph Ibrahim had set his mind to unifying Iraq, Syria and Lebanon in defiance of the Sykes-PicotAgreement. Ahmad was mad at the Baathists of Syria and Iraq and blamed them for all the calamities that had befallen people. He even questioned the very existence of the Caliph Ibrahim, for he had never seen concrete evidence of him. However, all his wrath and doubts subsided when he read that those who attended the NATO Summit in Wales decided to fight ISIS. Indeed, all 28 NATO countries have waged war against Caliph Ibrahim. Recalling the defeats of 1967 and 1973, the defeat of Iraq against Iran, the execution of Saddam Hussein and the havoc unfolding in Gaza, the memories suddenly stirred the emotions of Ahmad. He swelled with unusual pride at the thought that the Samarra-born Caliph is threatening the ‘free world’. He grew even more proud when he heard John Kerry say “It may take a year, it may take two years, may take three years, but we are determined it has to happen. The effort to destroy and degrade [ISIS] will take time and persistence”. Fearing that the Sunni states might comply with the call of Barack Obama to ‘fight the Islamic State because that’s not what Islam is about’, Ahmad decided to hurry to the rescue of his Sunni from both their fellow Sunni and the Shia’a. He stopped drinking alcohol, dedicated himself to prayers and pledged allegiance to Caliph Ibrahim. “Long live Caliph Ibrahim”, he shouted at the top of his lungs as he waved the black flag. 4 | Leader
Car Bombings in 2013-2014 18 cars, 143 victims and 1,140 kilograms of explosives
From July 2013, the wave of car bombings returned to Lebanon, disturbing the tranquility and putting the country in the grip of fear. This criminal and violent phenomenon, which first appeared during the Lebanese Civil War, returned in 2005 with the assassination of Rafic Hariri and a number of other high-ranking figures, only to dwindle again in the following years. However, the violence associated with car bombs reemerged in October 2012 when Brigadier General Wissam Al-Hassan was the target of this kind of wicked operation. However, after this incident car bombings began to decline gradually. In July 2013, the wave of car bombings staged a strong comeback and showed stark differences from all previous operations, as detailed below.
Most of the car bombings were performed by extremist Islamic suicide bombers Most of the operations targeted areas with a distinctive sectarian nature (Shia’a) and political allegiance (Hezbollah and Amal Movement). Most of the operations targeted innocent civilians, except for one that was aimed at a political figure Some of the operations targeted the Lebanese Army and the Security Forces
Between July 2013 and July 2014, 18 car bombings ripped through Lebanon killing 143 people and injuring 1279. The weight of the explosives used in the operations was estimated at 1,140 kilograms as illustrated in Table 1.
Car bomb attacks recorded in Lebanon between July 2013 and July 2014 Table 1 Estimated Method of Date of Place of Vehicle used weight of detonating the Dead Injured Target explosion explosion in explosion explosives (kg) explosives Beer Abed- 9-7-2013 Southern Suburb 35 Kia Timer 0 58 Civilians of Beirut Ruwais- 15-8-2013 Soutehrn Suburb 60 BMW Timer 27 120 Civilians of Beirut Abu Ali Civilians and worshippers (the twin 23-8-2013 Roundabout- 100 BMW Timer bombings rocked two mosques in Tripoli 47 500 Tripoli, Al-Taqwa Mosque and Al- 23-8-2013 Mina- Tripoli 175 Ford Timer Salam Mosque) The attack targeted the Iranian Embassy but the suicide bombers, Moueen Abou Dahr from Saida Suicide 19-11-2013 Beer Hassan 50 ENVOY 24 150 and Mohammad al-Mohammad bombers from Bisariyeh failed to enter the embassy. Abdullah Azzam Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack. 6 including Honda CRV Starco- former stolen since Activated by Former Finance Minister 27-12-2013 Downtown, 50 Minister 70 2012 from remote control Mohammad Chatah Beirut Mohammad Rmaileh Chatah
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Car bomb attacks recorded in Lebanon between July 2013 and July 2014 Table 1 Estimated Method of Date of Place of Vehicle used weight of detonating the Dead Injured Target explosion explosion in explosion explosives (kg) explosives Qoutayba Al-Arid Street, 1993 Satem, a Haret Hreik- Grand Civilians- ISIS claimed 2-1-2014 20 suicide 5 70 Southern Suburb Cherokee responsibility for the attack. bomber from of Beirut Jeep Akkar 2010 Kia 16-1-2014 Suicide Civilians- An-Nusra Front claimed Hermel Square 35 stolen from 2 35 (Thursday) bomber responsibility for the attack. Antelias Al-Arid Street, 3 rockets Kia stolen Haret Hreik- Suicide Civilians- An-Nusra Front claimed 21-1-2014 weighing 15 from 4 36 Southern Suburb bomber responsibility for the attack. kilograms Kfarsghab of Beirut
Grand Suicide Civilians- An-Nusra Front claimed 1-2-2014 Hermel 30 5 24 Cherokee bomber responsibility for the attack.
A suicide bomber with Civilians- An-Nusra Front claimed Near Richani’s a suicide Suicide responsibility for the attack, 3-2-2014 gas station- 5 0 2 vest blows bomber reporting that it had aimed at a Choueifat himself up Hezbollah checkpoint. inside a van Beer Hassan Suicide 19-2-2014 near a Lebanese 75 Mercedes 6 60 Civilians bomber Army barrack
Suicide 19-2-2014 Beer Hassan 90 BMW X5 5 68 Iranian Cultural Chancellery bomber
3 including Hermel at a Jeep Suicide an officer 22-2-2014 Lebanese Army 125 17 Lebanese Army Cherokee bomber and a checkpoint soldier Civilians- An-Nusra Front claimed responsibility for the attack, Jeep Grand Suicide 16-3-2014 Nabi Othman 120 4 11 reporting that the bombing came in Cherokee bomber response to Hezbollah’s operations in Yabrud. Lebanese Army- The Ahrar As- Wadi Ata- Ersal Suicide 29-3-2014 100 Kia 3 soldiers 4 soldiers Sunna Brigade of Baalbeck claimed outskirts bomber responsibility for the attack. Internal Security Forces checkpoint. The Ahrar As-Sunna Brigade of Baalbeck claimed 64 1 (an ISF responsibility for the attack and Nissan Suicide including 20-6-2014 Dahr El-Baydar 30 Warrant it was rumored that the operation Murano bomber 7 security Officer) was allegedly aimed at the Director members General of General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim.
1 (a General Civilians. The Ahrar As-Sunna Tayyouneh- Mercedes Suicide 23-6-2014 25 Security 20 Brigade of Baalbeck claimed Chiyyah 300 bomber Inspector) responsibility for the attack Source: Car bombings as reported in Lebanese newspapers.
issue 147 | October 2014 6 | Leader
Criminals Slay and the Lebanese Pay Since the attempt on MP Marwan Hamadeh’s life in early October 2004 and the assassination of Rafic Hariri on February 14, 2005, Lebanon has once again become a stage for security tensions and unrest. With car bombs targeting both political figures and civilians and against the backdrop of armed clashes among groups belonging to or backed by deeply polarized political parties, fatalities, injuries and severe damages have been sustained to both public and private property. Instead of coercing fighters or those backing them to compensate for the damage they have caused, especially in those cases where both the perpetrators and instigators have been identified, the Lebanese state has failed to bring them to accountability. Thus the Lebanese ended up bearing themselves the cost of damage caused by sectarian violence through the transfers channeled from the Treasury to the Higher Relief Committee.
The compensatory amounts paid from 2004 to date stand at LBP 174 billion as illustrated in Table 2. Given the quasi sectarian balance observed in the attacks- some of them targeting Sunni areas (Tripoli and Saida) and others aimed at Shia’a strongholds (Southern Suburbs and Beqa’a), the Higher Relief Committee used to release the funds unrestrainedly and without objections
While Tripoli was awarded LBP 94 billion, thus accounting for 54% of the total amount paid by the Higher Relief Committee, the compensations distributed to the Southern Suburb stood at roughly LBP 20 billion.
Compensatory amounts paid by the Higher Relief Committee from 2004 to date Table 2 Date of issuance of advance Amount (LBP billion) Purpose payment to the HRC Compensating those affected by the bombings that targeted a number of 7/10/2005 10 areas since 1/10/2004
Paying compensation for the damage caused by the Ashrafieh explosions 15/2/2006 10 and riots
Ensuring the funds necessary to address the havoc caused by the Nahr 24/11/2007 10 El-Bared conflict.
Ensuring the funds necessary to cover the damage caused during the 29/9/2008 10 latest threats to security in Tripoli.
Covering the rest of the compensatory amounts due by the HRC to those 4/4/2009 15.3 affected by the latest threats to security in Tripoli.
Paying compensations for the damage suffered by buildings in the new 26/6/2009 5 part of the Nahr El-Bared camp.
24/12/2010 658.5 (LBP million) Compensating those affected by the Burj Abi Haidar clash
Compensating for the damage sustained during events on June 17, 2011 in Tripoli as well as the damage suffered as a result of the explosion which 6/2/2012 5.7 ripped the industrial city of Zahle on June 19, 2010 and the one which targeted the Syrian Orthodox church of Our Lady on May 27, 2011. Paying a compensatory amount worth LBP 54.5 million for the damage suffered in the explosion in Semqaniyeh of April 27, 2012 and another 23/8/2012 502 (LBP million) worth LBP 447.5 million for the damage suffered in Tariq al-Jdide on the night of May 20/21 in 2012.
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Compensatory amounts paid by the Higher Relief Committee from 2004 to date Table 2 Date of issuance of advance Amount (LBP billion) Purpose payment to the HRC Compensating the victims of recent events in Tripoli and restoring the 18/1/2013 3 buildings that were demolished partially or fully.
Compensating for the damage suffered by the explosion that targeted 18/1/2013 328(LBP million) three restaurants in Tyre.
Providing compensation to the victims of the artillery fire targeting border 18/1/2013 904 (LBP million) towns until October 19, 2012.
Paying the remaining amounts due to all those affected by the security 14/6/2013 20.6 incidents in Tripoli of 2012. Paying accommodation allowances to those who vacated their houses in 31/7/2013 654(LBP million) Abra, Saida and Taameer during clashes in Abra between the Lebanese Army and Ahmad Al-Assir’s armed supporters. Compensating all those who were affected by the clashes of the Taameer 19/8/2013 11.1 area in Saida.
19/8/2013 2.282 Compensating for the damage suffered in the explosion of Beer El-Abed.
Completing the payment of compensations for the damage sustained in 28/8/2013 24 the security events in Tripoli in 2012. Providing for the various needs of those Lebanese citizens who might 10/10/2013 2 have to leave their homes due to potential security crises or natural disasters. Paying allowances for accommodation to those who vacated their houses 10/10/2013 366.3 (LBP million) because of the Rweis explosion on August 15, 2013.
Paying the compensations earmarked for the Rweis explosion of August 15, 2013 and worth LBP 6.05 billion and those earmarked for the twin 15/11/2013 23.4 explosions of As-Salam and Al-Taqwa mosques that raged through Tripoli on August 29, 2012, worth LBP 16.9 billion. Paying for the damage caused in Shiyyah and Mafraq Al-Qa’a- Baalbeck, 30/1/2014 402 (LBP million) Hermel
Compensating for the damage sustained in Beer Hassan’s twin explosions 30/1/2014 4.01 in Jnah. Compensating for the damage sustained by certain areas after 1) 3/7/2014 13 explosions, 2) the Cité Sportive clashes and 3) the floods that affected Mennieh and its vicinity Compensating for the damage caused by the Starco and the Iranian and 10/7/2014 758 (LBP million) the Iranian Chancellery explosions.
Total 173.964
Source: Decrees approving advance payments to the Higher Relief Committee- Official Gazette
NB: other amounts paid in compensation for damage from other explosions such as the bombing that targeted Brigadier General in Ashrafieh in October 2012 are not included in the above table.
issue 147 | October 2014 8 | Public Sector
Running for Parliamentary Elections in 2009, 2013 and 2014 Decline in the number of candidates and increase in that of uncontested winners
The deadline for submitting candidacies for the parliamentary elections scheduled for Sunday, November 16, 2014 expired at midnight on Tuesday, September 16, 2014. The final number of candidates was 514 compared to 705 in 2013, when the deadline for candidacies was on May 27/28, before a law stipulating the postponement of parliamentary elections was issued. It is highly likely, perhaps almost inevitable, that the elections will be postponed yet again and discussions are currently being held over the period of extension of Parliament’s term. Will the term be extended until June 2015 or June 2017?
Number of Candidates The number of candidates running in the 2009 Michel Moussa for the Greek Catholic seat in parliamentary elections stood at 702 of whom 139 Zahrani. withdrew their candidacies. The number rose to 705 in Mohammad Raad for one of the three Shia’a seats in 2013. This year, however, has seen the lowest number of Nabatieh. candidacies at only 514, a decline that may be attributed Abdul Latif Zein for one of the three Shia’a seats in to the fact that many prospective candidates have grown Nabatieh. confident that the elections will not be held and thus Yassine Jaber for one of the three Shia’a seats in have not bothered to submit their names. Nabatieh. Ali Bazzi for one of the three Shia’a seats in Bint Subsequently, the number of candidates contesting each Jbeil. seat is as follows: Ayoub Hmeid for one of the three Shia’a seats in 4.6 candidates per seat in 2009 Bint Jbeil. 5.5 candidates per seat in 2013 Hassan Fadlallah for one of the three Shia’a seats in 4 candidates per seat in 2014 Bint Jbeil. Neemeh Tohmeh for the Greek Catholic seat in Uncontested victory Chouf. In 2009, three Armenian Orthodox candidates won unopposed. They were: Agob Baqradonian in the Matn This means that eight out of the 27 seats allotted for the district and Arthur Nazarian and Sebouh Kalpakian in Shia’a would be returned unopposed. The same is true the Beirut 2 district. for two of the eight Greek Catholic seats.
In 2013, Michel Moussa was the only candidate he won No elections would be held in the three districts of by acclamation the Greek Catholic seat in the Zahrani Zahrani, Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil as candidates would district. win by acclamation.
Should the current elections take place, ten candidates Most attractive districts would be returned unopposed. They are: Mennieh-Dennieh was the district most attractive to Nabih Berri for one of the two Shia’a seats in candidates in 2009, drawing 11.7 candidates per seat. In Zahrani. 2013 and 2014, Zahle ranked highest among the most Ali Ousseiran for one of the two Shia’a seats in attractive districts with 10.4 and eight candidates vying Zahrani. for each seat respectively as illustrated in Table 1.
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Number of candidates per seat in 2009, 2013 and 2014 Table 1 # of candidates # of candidates # of candidates # of candidates # of candidates # of candidates Electoral district # of seats - 2009 - 2013 - 2014 per seat- 2009 per seat- 2013 per seat- 2014 Beirut 1 5 20 29 23 4 5.8 4.6 Beirut 2 4 8 20 15 2 5 3.7 Beirut 3 10 41 41 31 4.1 4.1 3.1 Total Beirut 19 69 90 69 3.6 4.7 3.6 Metn 8 26 51 39 3.2 6.3 4.8 Kessrouan 5 27 36 26 5.4 7.2 5.2 Jbeil 3 25 23 14 8.4 7.7 4.7 Aley 5 14 21 18 2.8 4.2 3.6 Chouf 8 21 41 27 2.6 5.1 3.3 Baabda 6 36 35 27 6 5.8 4.5 Total Mount 35 149 207 151 4.2 5.9 4.3 Lebanon Saida 2 6 6 6 3 3 3 Zahrani 3 10 5 3 (Uncontested) 3.4 1.7 1 Jezzine 3 22 23 16 7.4 7.7 5.4 Tyre 4 8 8 6 2 2 1.5 Nabatiyeh 3 14 7 3 (Uncontested) 4.7 2.4 1 Bint Jbeil 3 9 4 3 (Uncontested) 3 1.4 1 Marjeyoun & 5 16 17 12 3.2 3.4 2.4 Hasbaya Total South 23 85 70 49 3.7 3 2.1 and Nabatiyeh Zahle 7 61 73 56 8.7 10.4 8 Baalbeck-Hermel 10 41 48 27 4.1 4.8 2.7 West Beqa’a- 6 25 32 27 4.2 5.4 4.5 Rashaya Total Beqa’a 23 127 153 110 5.5 6.6 4.7 Tripoli 8 40 41 29 5 5.1 3.6 Mennieh-Dennieh 3 35 28 22 11.7 9.4 7.4 Batroun 2 9 8 6 4.5 4 3 Koura 3 15 21 16 5 7 5.4 Zgharta 3 10 14 10 3.4 4.7 3.4 Bsharri 2 8 7 6 4 3.5 3 Akkar 7 40 66 46 5.7 9.4 6.5 Total North 28 157 185 135 5.6 6.6 4.8
Total Lebanon 128 587 705 514 4.6 5.5 4
issue 147 | October 2014 10 | Public Sector
Most attractive seats In 2009, the number of candidates contesting the Greek Catholic seat in the Jezzine district was ten, followed by the Armenian Orthodox seat of Zahle with eight contesting candidates.
In 2013, the Sunni seat of Zahle attracted the largest number of candidates at 17. The second most sought after seat was the Shia’a seat in the same district which attracted 16 candidates.
This year’s registrations revealed that the Sunni seat of the Zahle district was also the most tempting, attracting ten candidates. The three Sunni seats of Akkar drew 27 contesting candidates.
Sects with the Most Candidates In 2009, the Alawites and the Sunni were the sects with the largest number of running candidates (5.9 Sunni candidates per seat) followed by the Greek Catholics. In 2013 though, the Greek Catholics ranked first with 7.4 candidates per seat. This year, the Armenian Catholics and the Sunni registered the highest number of candidates per sect with five candidates per seat. The Shia’s on the other hand recorded the lowest participation with 2.5 candidates per seat as illustrated in Table 2.
Number of candidates per seat by sect Table 2
Sect # of candidates per seat- 2009 # of candidates per seat- 2013 # of candidates per seat- 2014
Maronites 4.4 6 4.3
Greek Orthodox 4.2 4 4.7
Greek Catholics 5.1 7.4 4.1
Armenian Orthodox 3 6.4 4.4
Armenian Catholics 5 4 5
Christian minorities 3 6 4
Evangelicals 3 3 3
Sunni 5.9 6.5 4.9
Shia’a 4.2 3.6 2.5
Druze 2.7 5.1 3.2
Alawite 6 5 3
All in all, the following may be inferred: The number of candidates in 2014 is the lowest when compared to the number of candidates in 2009 and 2013. Ten candidates are likely to win unopposed, most of whom are Shia’a running in districts with overwhelming Shia’a majorities. The Sunni seat of Zahle attracted the largest number of contesting candidates in 2014, just as in 2013. By sect, the Sunni and the Armenian Catholics have the largest number of candidates per seat this year. The most attractive electoral district for candidates this year is Zahle. These conclusions show dynamism among the Sunni and demonstrate the significance of the Zahle district.
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Scandalous numbers According to a study conducted by Information International, the Lebanese have paid out of their own pocket a sum worth roughly LBP 400 billion (USD 266 million) for an inoperative Parliament. The amount paid during the legislature’s regular and extended term covered the salaries and remunerations of MPs, the salaries of Parliament’s staff, cleaning expenses, electricity and phone bills and the costs of maintenance and restoration at an average of USD 139,000 per day.
During five years and three months, Parliament convened for just 16 legislative sessions during which 218 laws were approved, meaning that the cost of each law stood at USD 1,200,000.
Parliament’s productivity during the past few years broke down as follows: 2009 (starting June 20): zero 2010: 57 laws in four legislative sessions 2011: 69 laws in five legislative sessions 2012: 42 laws in three legislative sessions 2013: 2 laws in two legislative sessions 2014 (until September 17): 48 laws in two legislative sessions
New candidates on the electoral stage as MPs and former MPs refrain from standing Minister of Education and Higher Education Elias Bou Saab in the elections who will run for one of the Greek Orthodox seats in Metn. The candidacies submitted for the upcoming elections Former Minister of Labor Charbel Nahhas who will run lacked some of the usual names of both current and for the Greek Catholic seat in Metn previous MPs and were marked by the presence of first- Former Minister of Culture Salim Wardeh who will run time candidates. for one of the two Greek Catholic seats in Zahle. Former Minister of Labor Salim Jraissati who will run Foremost among the MPs who refrained from for one of the two Greek Catholic seats in Zahle. standing in the elections: Former Minister of Tourism Fadi Abboud who will run MP Suleiman Frangieh who had usually run for for one of the Maronite seats in Metn. Maronite seats in the district of Zgharta was instead Former Minister of Culture Gaby Layyoun who will replaced by his son Tony. run for one of the Greek Orthodox seats in Zahle. Former MP Ossama Saad who used to run for one of Former Minister of Tourism Ali Hussein Abdullah who the two Sunni seats in the Saida city district. will run for the Shia’a seat in Western Beqa’a, Rashaya. MP Elie Kairouz who used to run for one the two Former Minister Wiam Wahhab who will run for one of Maronite seats in Bsharri. the two Druze seats in Shouf. Current minister and MP Arthur Nazarian who used to run Journalist May Chidiac who will run for one of the for one of the two Armenian Orthodox seats in Beirut 2. Maronite seats in Kessrouan. MP Joseph Maalouf who used to run for one of the two Greek Orthodox seats in Zahle. Stark paradoxes Deputy Sepaker of Parliament Farid Makari who used The candidacy of former MP Abdul Rahim Mrad and to run for one of the Greek Orthodox seats in Koura. his son Hassan for one of two Sunni seats in Western MP Moueen Merehbi who used to run for one of the Beqa’a, Rashaya. Sunni seats in Akkar. The candidacy of former MP Emile Lahoud and his Former MP Nasser Nasrallah who used to run for the cousin Nassri Lahoud for one of Maronite seats in Metn. Shia’a seat in Western Beqa’a, Rashaya. The candidacy of former MP Samir Azar and his son Ibrahim for one of two Maronite seats in Jezzine. Foremost among the new candidates: The candidacy of former MP Ghanem al-Bon and his Former Finance Minister Rayya El-Hassan who will wife for one of the Maronite seats in Kessrouan. run for one of the Sunni seats in Tripoli. The candidacy of former minister Faisal Karami and Minister of Justice Ashraf Rifi who will run for one of his cousin Walid Maan Karami for one of the Sunni the Sunni seats in Tripoli. seats in Tripoli.
issue 147 | October 2014 12 | Public Sector
Official Exams Between Pass Statements and Official Certificates Success of 9000 Baccalaureate students
The official Brevet and Baccalaureate exams have become just another controversy piling atop the many problems causing concern among the Lebanese. Turbulence in security was not to blame this time, for the controversy was the result of frequent strikes staged by teachers to push towards the approval of the salary scale. Seeking exit from the impasse, authorities decided to grant pass certificates, instead of the usual official certificates, to all official exam applicants.
Start of impasse Since early 2014, the Union Coordination Committee, Responding to questions from journalists, Bou Saab which consists of civil servants and of teachers from said “I have ruled out the possibility of granting pass both public and private sectors, has escalated demands statements at the moment because this is a bitter-tasting for the approval of the new public sector’s salary scale. medication that the Cabinet is unlikely to use unless all Several strikes had been staged in schools, ministries other options have been exhausted.” and state offices and departments for this purpose and the UCC had threatened to boycott both the proctoring Hence, the exams were put off from Saturday, June 7, and the marking of official exams if their demands until Thursday, June 12. They were then delayed another were not met. The Minister of Education and Higher 24 hours, until finally teachers resigned themselves to Education scheduled the official Brevet examinations participating in the exams, stressing that the agreement to start Saturday, June 7, 2014 then the Baccalaureate involves proctoring only and that they shall not bend examinations in its four branches ending on June 25. to pressures from the Education Minister to grade the exams as well. Holding exams after delay As the date of examinations became closer, teachers Delayed marking refused to moderate their position and to partake in Following the end of the exams and the lapse of several proctoring. Since the Minister of Education was equally weeks without achieving a solution, efforts were uncompromising in deferring the date of exams, the renewed to overcome the deadlock and issue the results. search for solutions became a priority. During a press The UCC maintained an intransigent position on exam conference held at the Ministry of Education and grading and the Education Minister seemed to support Higher Education on June 2, 2014, Education Minister its position. However, as time started to run out fifty days Elias Bou Saab brought forth the three options available after the end of the exams and as the scholarly year, in following his meeting with the UCC. The options were: the universities abroad in particular, was approaching, Holding the exams as scheduled if agreement over Education Minister Elias Bou Saab kicked off a series the salary scale was reached, which seemed highly of meetings with the various party education offices unlikely in light of the circumstances; to discuss an exit that would facilitate the initiation Postponing the exams for five days hoping that of grading if the approval of the salary scale was not Parliament would approve the salary scale in the possible, but to no avail. With the negotiations hitting meantime; snags, Bou Saab brandished the possibility of either If no agreement was reached over holding the backtracking on his position on pass certificates or exams on the adjourned dates, the Ministry would, counting on school grades rather than on the officially out of respect and consideration for the interest of graded exam results to allow students’ admission to the students and their families, conduct the exams, universities, and once the official exams had been namely the Baccalaureate exams, in an unprecedented graded, those students who passed the official exams manner because universities are expected to open would continue to pursue higher education and those their doors in August. who failed would be sent back to school. Minister Bou
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Saab kept postponing the latter decision for weeks until The controversy then revolves only around the 9000 he finally discarded it altogether and opted for granting Baccalaureate students only. But even those may pass certificates to all applicants should the UCC choose a college major in line with their preferences insist on boycotting grading. Although Bou Saab had and the kind of career they want to pursue and therefore obtained authorization from the Cabinet to proceed with perform better than they did in high school. pass certificates, he decided to wait a little longer and to give the UCC a last-ditch chance to accept to grade the Below are the results of the Brevet and Baccalaureate official exams, especially that it had become known to official exams, in both regular and exceptional rounds, everyone that there were no signs of any parliamentary between 2009 and 2013: session to approve the scale in the near future, which might put the entire scholarly year at stake. Impasse and 2013 negotiations lingered until Saturday, August 16, 2014 63,400 students sat for the official Brevet when Education Minister Elias Bou Saab announced examinations, of whom 44,692 or 70.5% passed and in a press conference his issuance of pass certificates 18,708 failed. to all holders of documentation proving their entry to 42,234 students sat for the official Baccalaureate official examinations. Bou Saab held UCC accountable examinations in its four branches, of whom 33,010 for aborting the negotiations and reaching this stage, or 78% passed and 9,224 failed. stressing that his decision was final and irrevocable. 2012 Pass statements: what do they mean? 60,200 students sat for the official Brevet The decision of Education Minister Elias Bou Saab may examinations, of whom 40,095 or 66.8% passed and be considered a precedent during Lebanon’s peacetime 20,105 failed. since 1989. However, prior to that, during the years of 40,270 students sat for the official Baccalaureate war, students did receive similar certificates due to the examinations in its four branches, of whom 30,351 impossibility of holding the official exams under the or 75.4% passed and 9,919 failed. then precarious circumstances. This decision implies the success of all the candidates who applied to sit for 2011 the exams, an option that would not have been possible 60,921 students sat for the official Brevet if the examinations were graded and students were examinations, of whom 45,201 or 74.2% passed and evaluated on their merits. 15,720 failed. 41,997 students sat for the official Baccalaureate However, although grading would have resulted in the examinations in its four branches, of whom 32,211 failure of some students, the repetition rates would not or 76.7% passed and 9,786 failed. have been high. According to the results of the official exams held in previous years, the repetition rates 2010 vacillated between 20% and 25% maximum. Thus, 59,890 students sat for the official Brevet granting the pass certificates would allow in practice examinations, of whom 41,813 or 69.8% passed and the success of roughly 9000 Baccalaureate students 18,077 failed. and their transition to higher education and of roughly 44,086 students sat for the official Baccalaureate 20,000 Brevet students and their entry to secondary examinations in its four branches, of whom 32,000 schools. or 72.6% passed and 12,086 failed.
Hence, contrary to the misconceptions held by many, the 2009 pass certificates are not a major catastrophe because the 60,177 students sat for the official Brevet majority of students who under normal circumstances examinations, of whom 40,729 or 67.7% passed and would not have passed are currently in middle school 19,448 failed. and their lack of merits which was forgiven this time 43,693 students sat for the official Baccalaureate will be tested again when they reach the secondary examinations in its four branches, of whom 31,529 stage and sit for official examinations anew to qualify or 72.2% passed and 12,164 failed. for higher education.
issue 147 | October 2014 14 | Public Sector
Developing the Economy of Tripoli Between the Fair and the Economic Zone
Tripoli is the second most populous city in Lebanon after Beirut. Successive governments have drawn up many plans for projects with a view to develop the northern city and improve its economic prospects, especially since some Tripoli citizens (Rashid Karami, Omar Karami, Najib Mikati) served at some point as prime ministers.
Rashid Karami International Fair
Among these projects was the 1960 Permanent However, the fair was no put fully into operation and International Fair, Tripoli, renamed in 1991 the the completed works included only a few structures Rashid Karami International Fair. Since the project and a hotel while the basic facades and buildings was never brought to full fruition and only a small part remained unfinished. An all-out war broke out later of the Fair complex was completed, the government in Lebanon, delaying completion and throwing the proposed a few years ago the establishment of a project into oblivion. The fair has since become Special Economic Zone in the city, hoping to provide a small entity merely running the hotel and other it with the much-needed economic boost. It remains minor futile activities that fail to realize the economic to be seen whether the project will materialize or development sought after in Tripoli. whether Tripoli will continue to suffer from a lack of effective development. Tripoli’s Economic Zone Approval of the law International Fair The government approved in June 2005 a draft law The aim of the Tripoli International Fair was to on the establishment of a Special Economic Zone in ‘acquaint people with the resources and products of Tripoli but it was not until September 5, 2008 that the Lebanon and other Arab and foreign countries and draft law was passed pursuant to Law no. 18 dated to introduce traders and industrialists to the progress September 5, 2008. unfolding in the various production fields, as well as to present a real image of Lebanon’s economy in Objective and exemptions the sectors of commerce, industry, agriculture and The purpose of the Tripoli Special Economic Zone is services and to serve the said sectors.’ It also aims to to carry out investment projects pertaining to trade, ‘highlight the characteristics of Lebanon and to pave industry, services and stockpiling as well as to other way for direct communication among Lebanese, Arab investment activities, excluding tourist services. The and foreign producers, importers and exporters.”
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investment project executed within this zone shall be Revenues exempt from customs duties, including the minimum The Tripoli Economic Zone generates its revenues rates of duty, as well as from domestic consumption from: taxes, Value Added Tax, import and export duties The allocations earmarked in the Public Budget; and income tax on the business profits generated The funds brought in from its activities; within the economic zone provided that the capital The funds generated from the management of and of the business in question is at least USD 300,000 investment in the zone; and that the Lebanese account for at least 50% of its Donations and miscellaneous revenues. manpower. The salaries and wages of employees shall not be subject to income taxation and buildings shall Structure and Staff be spared the licensing fees and both built property The Tripoli Economic Zone personnel is distributed taxes and land taxes. across four directorates including fifteen departments:
Management of the Tripoli Economic Zone Directorate of Administrative Affairs The management of the Tripoli Economic Zone is Administrative Affairs Department assigned to a special body operating under the Prime Legal Affairs Department Minister and known as the General Assembly of the Human Resources Department Tripoli Economic Zone. The body has a legal character IT Department and enjoys financial and administrative autonomy. Communication and PR Department It is subject neither to the provisions regulating the work of public institutions nor to oversight from the Directorate of Studies, Planning and Technical Affairs Central Inspection or the Civil Service Board and is Studies, Strategic Planning and Follow-up only exposed to the Audit Court’s posterior control. Department Infrastructure Department The assembly’s board of directors consists of a Licensing Department chairman and six members from both public and private sectors, all of whom are appointed by a decree Directorate of Environmental Affairs and Quality for a renewable five-year term of office. Health Affairs Department Environmental Affairs Department The assembly works towards developing the economic Quality Department zone, attracting both Arab and foreign investment and encouraging international trade transactions by: The Tripoli Economic Zone is assigned 80 personnel Devising plans and programs pertaining to the distributed as follows: projects and drafting administrative regulations; Grade 1: 4 posts Grade 2: 15 Delegating legal or ordinary people- Arabs or Grade 3: 30 foreigners- to invest in and operate the zone for no Grade 4: 10 longer than thirty years; Grade 5: 7 Grade 6: 7 Establishing licensing conditions for prospective Grade 7: 7 investment projects and approving the licenses; Although the law stipulating the establishment of the Monitoring the premises, equipment and materials Economic Zone and the implementation decrees were uninterruptedly; issued more than five years ago, the economic zone is “still inexistent” and a critical question remains: Putting forth the master plan concerned with the Will the zone encounter the same fate as the Fair and buildings and infrastructure of the economic zone will Tripoli continue to live off unrealized promises after approval from the Higher Council for Urban of development and economic prosperity? Planning.
issue 147 | October 2014 16 | Public Sector
Directorate for Palestinian Refugee Affairs A small entity for hundreds of thousands of refugees
Despite the influx of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees into Lebanon since the onset of their displacement in 1948, the Lebanese state has neglected the issue in all its economic, social, humanitarian and administrative aspects, doing nothing beyond the establishment of a small directorate within the Ministry of the Interior to address the affairs of the refugee population. At a later stage, the directorate was abolished and became part of a general directorate tailored to attend to both the refugee and political and electoral affairs.
Beginning Upon the start of the displacement of Palestinians into Contacting Relief International to provide Lebanon in 1948, the Lebanese government issued Palestinian refugees with shelter and education Decree no. 11657, stipulating the establishment and to ensure their livelihood and care for their of regional committees operating under a central health and social affairs; committee in each Mohafaza to attend to the affairs Granting Palestinians licenses to change their of the newcomers from Palestine to Lebanon, domicile from one camp to another; particularly to count their numbers, provide them Considering marriage applications filed by shelter, ensure their livelihoods and take care of their Palestinian refugees; health conditions. Later in 1958, the committees Approving the release of frozen funds; were abolished and the Ministry of the Interior was Considering the applications requesting the mandated to look after the affairs of Palestinian correction of statistical errors contained in their refugees in Lebanon. Major General Noureddine databases and cards; Rifai who established the first military government in Monitoring the conditions of refugees and their 1976 was appointed to undertake the job. social and health affairs; Monitoring the political movements of refugees Establishment of the directorate (parties, associations and organizations); Against the exacerbating burdens of the Palestinian Monitoring the offences and acts infringing on presence and the proliferation of refugee camps, and security; in order to regulate and control their presence, the Monitoring the suspicious members among Lebanese government decided, after more than ten refugees; years since the controversy had began, to establish Registering personal status documents; a directorate named Directorate for Palestinian Receiving and considering passport applications Refugee Affairs under the Ministry of the Interior. The before referring them to the General Security. directorate, which came about pursuant to Legislative Decree no. 42 dated March 31, 1954, was assigned Staff the following main functions: In 1959, the staff established for the Directorate Considering the applications of displaced for Palestinian Refugee Affairs consisted of 26 Palestinian families; employees as follows: Locating refugee camps and renting or acquiring Head of Directorate: 1 the plots of land necessary for the setting up of the Monitors: 13 said camps; Assistant monitors: 7
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Janitor: 1 Servant: 1 Gendarmerie delegates: 3
The staff was amended in 1961 to include 36 employees and some of the existing posts were cancelled.
From General Directorate to Directorate In 2000, with the approval of Law no. 247 and Decree no. 4083, which were concerned with the organization of the Ministry of the Interior, the directorate was cancelled and replaced with the Directorate for Political Affairs and Refugees, which was assigned the functions pertaining to elections. The General Directorate was converted into a Directorate, which implied that the state did not deal with the refugee issue as an independent subject with serious impacts and repercussions but made it an ordinary theme, which might pave way for the naturalization of refugees in the future.
The newly-introduced Directorate included 60 posts distributed as illustrated in Table 1.
Newly-introduced Directorate Table 1
Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Total
Refugee Affairs Directorate 1 - 9 2 12
Registry of births and deaths headed by a First - 1 15 1 17 Lieutenant or any officer of a higher rank. 30 (including 22 Delegates and Security Controllers Division + 1 - 31 controllers)
Total 1 2 54 3 60
Source: Decree of Organization of the Ministry of the Interior and Municipalities
issue 147 | October 2014 18| poll
Information International’s Opinion Poll: Ersal Clashes and Hariri’s Return to Lebanon
Lebanon witnessed in August 2014 two major events that broke the monotony of the prevailing situation in the country: first, the armed clashes between the Lebanese Army and the terrorists that swept across the town of Ersal in a pre-planned scheme to attack neighboring Lebanese areas as reported by the Army and second, the surprise return of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri from Saudi Arabia after an absence of three years.
In order to gauge the opinions of the Lebanese on these two events and their implications and also on the issue of the Syrian refugees, Information International conducted on the 12th and 13th of August 2014 an opinion poll which included a sample of 500 respondents (see sample description).
1- Responsibility for the clashes in Ersal: Lebanese government, militants and residents of Ersal There was no unanimity among the Lebanese over the party most responsible for what happened in Ersal. A small majority of respondents, 21%, held the Lebanese government accountable for the clashes, while the residents of Ersal and the Syrian armed groups were each blamed by 14% of the people polled. 9% viewed that Hezbollah should bear the responsibility for the clashes while the political class and the Future Movement received a fairly close share of responsibility at 8% and 7% respectively. 17% of the sample threw the blame on miscellaneous parties, each of them obtaining less than 5%. The remaining 10% were uncertain, answering ‘I don’t know’. Graph 1: Accountability for the clashes in Ersal
Who is most reponsible for Ersal’s clashes? (%)
Graph 1
Others (less than 5% each) 17
Future Movement 7
Political class 8
Hezbollah 9
I don’t know/ No answer 10
Residents of Ersal 14 Base: 500
Syrian aemed groups 14
Lebanese government 21
0 5 10 15 20 25
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By sect, the majority of Christian, Druze and Alawite respondents held the government accountable while a majority of Sunni, 23%, blamed Hezbollah and a majority of Shia’a, 29%, blamed it on the Syrian armed groups as illustrated in Table 1.
Accountability for the clashes in Ersal by sect Table 1 Greek Armenians/ Who is most responsible Maronite % Catholics % Christian Sunni % Shia’a % Druze % Alawite % Total for the clashes in Ersal? Orthodox % minorities % Lebanese government 22 41 15 9 20 15 32 33 21 Syrian armed groups 4 8 0 9 13 29 7 0 14 Residents of Ersal 17 13 23 4 6 13 39 33 14 I don’t know/ No answer 14 5 19 26 10 7 0 0 10 Hezbollah 8 0 8 4 23 1 4 0 9 Political class 7 10 4 13 7 10 7 0 8 Future Movement 10 0 0 9 2 15 4 0 7 Others (less than 5% each) 18 23 31 26 19 10 7 34 17 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
2- Return of the captives between force and negotiation Clashes between the Lebanese Army and the militants in Ersal resulted in the capture of a number of soldiers and Internal Security Forces members who were held hostage during the attack on Ersal’s gendarmerie division. Negotiations have been under way to release the captives on the initiative of the Committee of Muslim Scholars. However, 72% of respondents reported their opposition to the negotiations calling on the Lebanese Army to resort to the use of force against militants. 26% of the sample begged to differ, viewing that the release of captives can only happen through negotiations. The remaining 2% gave ‘I don’t know’ as an answer.
By sect, a majority of 84% among Maronite respondents, 74% among Shia’a and 75% among Druze support the use of force by the Lebanese Army against militants to release the captives. Conversely, the percentage of those supporting negotiations stands at 38% among Sunni, Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic respondents as illustrated in Table 2.
Position on the return of captives by sect Table 2
Greek Armenians/ Regarding the return of captives, Maronite % Catholics % Christian Sunni % Shia’a % Druze % Alawite % Total which option do you support? Orthodox % minorities % Lebanese Army’s use of force against militants 84 62 58 74 60 78 75 67 72 Negotiations between the Lebanese government and the militants 14 38 38 13 38 21 25 33 26 I don’t know/ No answer 2 0 4 13 2 1 0 0 2
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
3- Negotiations between Lebanese and Syrian governments A vast majority of respondents, 79%, voiced support for negotiations between the Lebanese government and its Syrian counterpart in order to secure the borders and face up to the threats. 19% of the sample challenged the negotiations and 2% had no opinion (Graph 3).
By sect, the highest percentage of support for negotiations was among the Shia’a at 93%, the Druze at 96% and the Greek Orthodox at 85%. The percentage dropped to 69% among Sunni respondents and 71% among Maronites.
issue 147 | October 2014 20| poll
Regarding the return of captives, which Do you support negotiations between the option do you support? (%) Lebanese and the Syrian governments to face up to border threats? (%)
Graph 2 Graph 3 80 80 79 72 70 70
60 60
50 50 Base: 500 Base: 500 40 40
30 26 30
20 20 19
10 10 2 2 0 0 Lebanese Negotiations I don’t Yes No I don’t Army’s use of between the know/ No know/ No force against Lebanese answer answer militants government and the militants
What, in your opinion, is the best solution for the Syrian refugee crisis? (%)
80 Graph 4 70 65
60
50
40 Base: 500 30 20 20 14 10 1 0 Sending all Considering each Setting up I don’t know/ of them back case separately, camps for No answer to Syria keeping those who them inside fled for security Lebanon reasons and dismissing the rest
issue 147 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. poll |21
4- Syrian Refugee Influx As the war broke out in Syria in March 2011, massive numbers of Syrian refugees started to flee to Lebanon, amidst a display of compassion from the majority of Lebanese. In the months and years that followed, however, the influx grew at alarming rates resulting in a clear shift in the Lebanese position. Compassion soon gave way to resentment and the new arrivals became a heavy burden on the host country. A majority of 65% urged the repatriation of all refugees back to Syria. 20% reported that each case must be considered separately saying that only those who fled the war should be hosted in Lebanon and the rest should return to Syria. The option of sheltering all refugees in camps set up on Lebanese territories was supported by 14% of the sample while the remaining 1% said that they did not know.
The position on Syrian refugees also varies according to sectarian affiliations. While half of the Muslims polled urge the repatriation of Syrian refugees back to Syria, this percentage increases even more among Christian respondents as illustrated in Table 3.
Best solution for the Syrian refugee crisis Table 3
What, in your opinion, is the best Maronite Greek Catholics Armenians/ Sunni Shia’a Druze Alawite solution for the Syrian refugee % Orthodox % Christian % % % % Total crisis? % minorities % Sending all of them back to Syria 85 64 88 70 62 51 50 33 65 Considering each case separately, keeping those who fled for security 8 31 8 9 15 33 36 33 20 reasons and dismissing the rest. Setting up camps for them inside Lebanon. 6 5 4 21 21 16 14 33 14 I don’t know/ No answer 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
5- Return of Saad Hariri After spending more than three years abroad because of security concerns, former PM Saad Hariri returned unexpectedly to Lebanon bringing with him a Saudi donation worth USD 1 billion for the armament of the Lebanese Army and the Security Forces. While his surprise return meant absolutely nothing to 46% of the respondents, it was a great source of optimism for another 44%. Less optimism was reported by 9% of the sample and 1% answered ‘I don’t know’.
By sect, Sunni were the most optimistic about Hariri’s return at 63%. Among Druze respondents, 57% reported indifference towards the return, a percentage that rose slightly to 59% among the Greek Orthodox, only to decrease to 55% and 51% among the Maronites and the Shia’a respectively as illustrated in Table 4.
Position on Hariri’s return to Lebanon Table 4
Maronite Greek Catholics Armenians/ Sunni Shia’a Druze Alawite How do you feel after the return of Orthodox Christian Total Saad Hariri to Lebanon? % % % minorities % % % % % Less optimistic 11 5 23 0 4 10 14 33 9
More optimistic 34 36 35 52 63 39 29 33 44
Nothing has changed for me 55 59 42 48 30 51 57 33 46
I don’t know/ No answer 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
issue 147 | October 2014 22| poll
According to these stances, 38% of the respondents do not expect Hariri’s return to make any difference while 26% believe it would accelerate the presidential elections and another 28% report that it would minimize Islamist extremism and bring in stability. In contrast, 6% feared that his visit might ignite new sectarian tensions and 2% gave ‘I don’t know’ as an answer.
An interpretation of this opinion poll’s findings leads us to infer the following: Although a small majority of respondents, 21%, blamed events in Erzal on the Lebanese government due to lack of definitive decisions, the residents and the militants were each held accountable by 14% of the sample and neither Hezbollah nor the Amal Movement were spared the accountability, with the former being bashed by 9% of those polled and the latter by 7%.
While a majority of 72% of the respondents refused negotiations with militants to release the captured soldiers, 79% supported negotiations between the Lebanese and Syrian governments to secure the borders, which was deemed contradictory by many, although it may be because of full awareness of the role of Syria along the borderline.
The vast majority of the Lebanese deplored the influx of Syrian refugees and called for their repatriation to Syria. However, the position carried sectarian contradictions as Christians went too far in their rejection of the new arrivals while Muslims were divided equally between supporters and those who opposed.
Slightly below half of the respondents greeted Hariri’s return with optimism while an equal percentage were indifferent. It is noteworthy that 39% of Shia’a respondents reported increased optimism towards the return of Hariri.
Sample The opinion poll was conducted by phone over the 12th and 13th of August 2014 and covered a sample of 500 respondents selected from Information International’s database. The sample was developed according to the representational profile of each sectarian community. Gender and age groups were also taken into consideration.
How do you feel after the return of Saad Hariri to Lebanon? (%)
50 46 44 Graph 5
40
30
Base: 500
20
10 9
1 0 Less optimistic More optimistic Nothing has I don’t know/ changed for me No answer
issue 147 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. Electoral laws | 23
Japanese Parliament Shugiin
Having been able to shed the burdens of World War II and emerge from the ashes of defeat to become one of the world’s most significant industrial powers, Japan has been widely admired for its unique economic experience. However, since its political experience and electoral mechanisms do not receive equal media attention, this article is dedicated to Japan’s electoral processes and its Parliament. Japanese Parliament Elections of December 2012 Japan has a bicameral legislature consisting of: The results of the parliamentary elections held in Japan The House of Councilors (or Senate): it is made up on December 16, 2012 broke down as illustrated in of 242 members elected directly for six years, with Table 1. The Liberal Democratic Party and the Justice one half the membership renewed through elections Party gained a majority of 325 seats and were able to every three years. form the government. Opposing parties received 150 seats. The House of Representatives: it is made up of 480 members who serve for a four-year term (most recent Table 1 elections for this chamber took place in December No. of seats in No. of seats Total 2012). proportional- Party in single-seat number of representation districts seats Electoral system districts The Japanese electoral law combines proportional and Liberal Democratic 237 57 294 plurality voting systems. 300 Members of Parliament are Party elected from 300 plurality-rule single seat districts while Justice Party 9 22 31 the remaining 180 seats are allocated proportionally in Democratic Party districts having between six to thirty seats each. 27 30 57 of Japan Japan Restoration 14 40 54 Each Japanese voter is thus required to cast two ballots: Party one for the candidate in his single-member district, and the candidate who gets the most votes in that district is Your Party 4 14 18 Tomorrow Party elected, and one for the political party that is running 2 7 9 in his proportional representation district. The seats are of Japan Japanese given to those parties on the basis of their share of the - 8 8 vote. Communist Party Social Democratic 1 1 2 Party Voting Age Any Japanese citizen aged 20 or older has the right to People’s New Party 1 0 1 vote in the elections. New Party Daichi - 1 1
Candidacy age Happiness Party - - - To run as candidate, one must be at least 25 years of age. Independents 5 - 5 Number of voters In 2012, the number of eligible Japanese voters stood at Total 300 180 480 roughly 100.5 million voters, of whom 59.3% or 59.6 Source: 2012 Elections’ Results- Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/ million exercised their right to vote. WORLD/election.watch/asiapcf/japan.html
issue 147 | October 2014 24| PROMINENT FORGOTTEN FIGURES
Najib Abou Haidar Sect-less ID card
Recognized as one of those eminent patriots who worked towards breaking sectarianism during the bleakest sectarian conflicts, Najib Abou Haidar was among the first in Lebanon to strike off his sect from his ID card in 1976.
Birth Najib Abou Haidar was born to a Greek Orthodox family in Hammana in the Qada’a of Baabda on January 30, 1923. His father, Ibrahim Abou Haidar, graduated from AUB’s Medical School in 1904 before his enrollment in the British Army in Sudan. In 1921, he returned to his hometown Hammana where he practiced medicine.
Education Najib Bou Haidar obtained his primary education at Hammana’s School after which he moved to Beirut’s International College for intermediate and secondary learning. Afterwards, he enrolled in AUB’s Medical School and graduated in 1948 before joining Harvard University where he specialized in endocrinology.
Professional and political life He returned to Lebanon in 1955 and practiced medicine at the American University Hospital, while at the same time attending to public affairs and politics. From 1963 to 1998, he served as Head of the Municipality of Hammana and left significant marks on the preservation of both the patrimonial and Najib Abou Haidar environmental aspects of the town.
In 1967, he established with a group of friends the backgrounds to keep the channels of communication Friends of Jerusalem Association, which aimed at open in times of war and sectarian atrocities. Later in educating people on the cause of Jerusalem and the 1977, he founded and chaired the Arab Association realities of Israel’s occupation of the city. In 1971, for Medical Science and was appointed Head of he succeeded Ghassan Tweini as Minister of National the National Committee for Education, Science and Education and Fine Arts and remained in office until Culture at UNESCO. During his office as Minister the resignation of the government on May 27, 1972. of National Education, he addressed the situation of During the 1975 Civil War, he contributed to the public education earnestly, championing the rights of establishment of the United Front of Ras Beirut, which teachers yet challenging their recurrent recourse to brought together Lebanese of different sectarian strikes to impose their demands on the government.
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Stances and milestones Numerous stances and milestones marked the life of entrenching sectarian system saying ‘all that has Najib Abou Haidar, some of which are highlighted happened in Lebanon since independence is due to the below. rights awarded to sectarian groups in contradiction to the articles of the Constitution. If we had gone back In September 1976, as the Civil War raged through to the Constitution and applied it in full, we would the country, Najib Haidar was delegated by the then have fared much better today.’ He added that the Premier and Information Minister Rashid Karami to catastrophe does not reside in sectarianism itself but manage Radio Liban and the National News Agency. rather in the fact that within each sect, there is a group Having already seized Radio Liban, the delegate of of people that manipulates the sect and exercises the Lebanese Arab Army Rabih Khatib prohibited monopoly on the state institutions, fearing that those Najib Abou Haidar from assuming office unless he engaged in sectarianism today might become the abided by his terms. Abou Haidar refused to bend and leaders of secularism when and if secularism were to refrained from taking up his responsibilities. be enforced tomorrow.
As his stances were not to the liking of militants, they Lebanon has fallen in the grip of ruling classes that used intimidating measures to silence him. In May wanted to take on the responsibility to govern and 1976, on his way back from a meeting with President make the state their state and the people their people. Elias Sarkis, Najib Abou Haidar was abducted in In order to remain in power yet evade responsibilities, Hazmieh and driven to Broumana where kidnappers they had to reap the rewards of governance but throw stole his car then released him. the responsibilities at others. A blatant example is that of the military institution. At times we bring down the He presided during the war over the One Lebanon army commander and at others we amend the Army’s Gathering, which hoped to unite the divided Lebanese. Law while the military continues to break down He was Secretary-General for the Educational and to cause us great losses. Not once have I ever Association for Sciences and Technologies. heard the Minister of Defense defending the military institution since 1976. When asked about his accomplishments as Minister of National Education and Fine Arts, he said that he If Lebanon becomes a single electoral district, those was proud of the people who were appointed during exercising sectarianism may cluster into one bloc and his term of office as well as of the role charted for the enter the elections in a single list, thus returning to Educational Center for Research and Development. A power. few years later, he reported that he was disappointed in the output of the educational center and that the Reform starts when each and everyone starts to reform center’s fate was at stake due to its manipulation themselves, particularly those educated citizens by the active political and educational forces in the who did not stand their ground against bargains and country. He added that he felt bitter for what was compromises. The sin does not reside in politicians happening in the educational institutions urging and texts but rather in the people. the state to reactivate the center to assume the role intended from its formation in terms of planning for Marriage and death education, not only in Lebanon but also in the rest of Najib Abou Haidar married Nancy Noulan and the Arab world. had three children with her. He died on October 5, 2001. Like many Lebanese intellectuals, Najib Abou Haidar took a bold stand against sectarianism and Lebanon’s
issue 147 | October 2014 26| Health
|Dr. Hanna Saadah| The Annual Pelvic Examination
A.C. Grayling says in his book, The Mystery of Things, that “Science is a minority sport. It requires skills that are neither within everyone’s reach nor to everyone’s taste. It requires a facility in mathematics, and an imaginative ability to see the world in unexpected and often counter-intuitive ways. It also requires endless patience, and the lack of dogmatism. Science is open, skeptical, and eager to submit its tentative claims to test.”
In this spirit, the traditional, annual pelvic examination was examination has been shown to be futile by studies, which taken to the test to see if its benefits outweigh its harms. The essentially tell us that in spite of modern scientific advances, traditional pelvic examination is performed in four parts. we still do not have a reliable screening test for ovarian The first part is to inspect the external genitalia for ulcers, cancer. Even screening with pelvic ultrasound, which is erosions, cancers, warts, and signs of inflammation or much more sensitive than the bimanual examination, has menopause. The second part is the speculum examination, failed to reduce ovarian cancer deaths. which exposes the cervix for inspection and for obtaining the Pap smear. The third part is the bimanual examination Is the pelvic examination necessary before providing where the operator palpates the ovaries, uterus, tubes, hormone contraception? The answer is again no, colon, bladder, etc. The fourth part is the examination especially that having a prerequisite pelvic examination of vaginal secretions under the microscope and obtaining my scare some women away from seeking hormonal birth samples to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, most control methods, which exposes them to the risks inherent of which can now be done through self-collected swabs. in unwanted pregnancies. For symptomatic women, the pelvic examination is Since women younger than 21, older than 65, or those mandatory and has a high diagnostic yield. But how about who have no cervix, do not need Pap smears if they are at asymptomatic women? Does it make sense to look for low risk of cervical cancer, do these women need annual, disease in women who feel well and are not at risk for screening pelvic examinations if they are asymptomatic cancers or sexually transmitted diseases? Do these women and have no special needs? The answer is again no. need an annual, complete pelvic examination, in spite of its Overweight women view the screening pelvic examination inconvenience, unpleasantness, cost, and potential harms? with more embarrassment and dread, which causes them The potential harms are obvious and include anxiety, to delay or avoid health care altogether. Such a notion embarrassment, discomfort, pain, false positive results, would not present a barrier to health care if overweight over diagnosis, over treatment, false reassurance, and women knew that a screening pelvic examination is not a procedural injuries. Such harms, which occur in at least a necessary part of their primary health care visit. third of all women, are also a common reason for avoiding In conclusion, evaluation of the benefits and harms female health checkups, and that avoidance, itself, can also of screening pelvic examinations in non-pregnant, lead to harmful consequences. asymptomatic women who are not at increased risk of The benefits, on the other hand, are not as obvious. One sexually transmitted diseases or gynecologic cancers clear benefit is the Pap smear, which was discussed in the shows that the harms outweigh the benefits. In spite of March issue under Cervical Cancer Screening. However, that, many physicians still believe that the screening for most asymptomatic, monogamous, low risk women, pelvic examination is a necessary component of the annual the Pap smear is currently recommended only every three health care visit. It will take time to change such deeply years if done alone, and every five years if combined with entrenched attitudes, unless women become proactive and, the Human Papilloma Virus check. Do these asymptomatic armed with this new knowledge, verbalize their personal women, who are not at risk of sexually transmitted disease preferences to their physicians. or gynecologic cancers and who have no special needs, Voltaire is known to have said: “I love the man who seeks do they still need annual pelvic examinations during the truth but hate the man who claims to have found it.” In 3-5 year intervals between Pap smears? Based on a recent this context, we need to keep an open mind, submit to American College of Physicians study by Bloomfield new evidence even if it goes against our beliefs, and be et.al.* the answer seems to be no. willing to change our attitudes, again and again, each time Moreover, doing a bimanual examination, even when the evidence changes. Clinging to our dogmas or claiming obtaining a Pap smear, has also been deemed unnecessary to have found the absolute truth is a slippery slope whose and harmful. The harm comes from the discomfort and harms far outweigh its benefits. pain caused by the bimanual examination, and from findings that may provoke further studies and surgeries. * Annals of Internal Medicine, Volume 161, Number 1, Page 46-53, The idea of screening for ovarian cancer by doing bimanual July 2014.
issue 147 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. www.hannasaadah.com - www.information-international.com - [email protected] Health |27
|Maya Nahoul| Back to School – Healthy Eating Tips Nutritional Consultant
When the busy school year begins and with the sound of school bells just around the corner, it is important to refocus your efforts to ensure your child’s health is top priority. Providing healthy meals and encouraging physical activity are essential for your child’s growth and development, as this will help your child build healthy habits for the rest of his or her life.
Healthy eating should include a variety of fruits, Decorate plates and make them appealing vegetables, whole grains, foods high in complex Get out cookie cutters for sandwiches. Surprise carbohydrates, low in fat, free of cholesterol, low-fat kids with different shapes over the week. dairy products, lean meat, poultry, and fish. If there is a special occasion, prepare food according Providing the right food, especially focusing on to the occasion (colors, shapes..) breakfast, allows your child to stay sharp, concentrated and get higher grades in school. Isn’t this what all Always have a salad with your food parents wish for?! Snack time: Follow these tips to stay on the right track: It is ok to let your child indulge in one sweet snack per day (it can be at school or at home), just make Don’t skip breakfast: sure he takes only this snack and not more to avoid Studies show that those who eat breakfast tend to have weight gain and other long term health problems. higher school attendance and score higher on tests, concentrate better, solve problems more easily and Keep healthy snacks on hand and avoid having have better muscle coordination. chips, soda, and sugary treats in your home.
Sugary breakfast cereals, juices, white-flour pancakes Get Moving: and syrup will leave your child hungry and tired half Regular physical activity is vital to strengthen way through the morning. If you want to give your muscle and bones, and to promote a healthy body child cornflakes, choose the plain ones and add some weight. cinnamon and fresh fruits over them. Serve them with milk to give your child the calcium and protein needed Kids are encouraged to be active for 60 minutes per and avoid giving juices as they contain lots of sugar day. Involving the family is a great way to spend without the same benefits as fresh fruits. time together.
- Breakfast ideas: whole wheat toasts (to give Remember that moderation is the key, everyone can them all the minerals and fibers needed to prevent indulge but the main thing is to stay within limits. It hunger), topped with labne, turkey, eggs or cheese takes awhile to form good food habits but consistency (white cheese preferable as it contains less fat than is what matters. Prepare healthy, tasty foods regularly yellow cheeses), with a source of healthy fats, and your family will start to crave and eat healthier loaded with mono-unsaturated fatty acids, such as foods on their own. Be the model to your child, eat avocado, olive oil or simple olives. Add one fruit of healthy, be choice and you have the perfect breakfast. Have a great school year, one that’s full of healthy, Make lunch fun: nutritious meals! Let your kids help you prepare lunch; the more they are involved, the more they will be interested in tasting the food, especially vegetables and legumes.
[email protected] issue 147 | October 2014 28| Interview
The Monthly interviews Nabil Mrad The establishment of a water storage tank of 400 cubic meters, Head of the Municipality of Benouati a project funded by the Council for South Lebanon. “We replace the state’s water authority The renovation of the town’s 30-year-old sewer network, which could no longer accommodate the overflow of Benouati’s and operate from the town’s dispensary” growing population. Funds from the Young Women’s Christian Association helped bring this project to fruition. Benouati is one of the small scenic towns in the Jezzine area, best known for its beautiful location and its residents’ The municipality attended to the town’s water needs. Prior friendly relations with those of neighboring villages to 1983, Benouati was fed by Nabee El-Tasse spring, but despite their different sectarian backgrounds. Foremost because of the war the water supply was interrupted. The municipality stepped in to address the water problem by among the Benouati-born prominent figures who have drilling an artesian well and installing pumps, thus replacing enriched Lebanon’s administration and judiciary as well the state’s Water Authority. The annual cost of water provision as its military sector is the state prosecutor, Judge Samir to the inhabitants was LBP 150,000 with one cubic meter Hammoud. Like many other Lebanese towns, Benouati provided per day. The success of the initiative motivated us suffers from problems with its economy, environment to dig more wells but a dispute erupted with the Monastery of and public services. In the following interview, the Head Our Lady of Mashmoushi over the prospective well, bringing of the Municipality of Benouati, Nabil Mrad, discusses the plan to halt. these problems and the profile of the town and the projects What are the future plans you have in store for the town? carried out by the municipality. Our plans are geared towards the execution of different projects such as: Constructing a public hall for social occasions such as weddings and funerals. When were you elected the Head of the Municipality of Benouati? Constructing a public park on plots of land belonging to the I was elected the Head of the Municipality of Benouati in May town. 2010 after I had retired from the Municipality of Beirut in 2008, Promoting the role of the town’s dispensary and providing all where I had worked for 41 years. necessary personnel, materials and equipment because in its current state the dispensary seems more like a dysfunctional Can you give us a brief description of the town of Benouati? structure failing to attend to the health and medical needs of Benouati is situated in the Qada’a of Jezzine at an altitude of 850 residents. meters above the sea level. It lies 70 kilometers from Beirut. Its Building new municipal premises because the municipality registered population is estimated at 1000, all of whom are Sunni. is currently operating from the ground floor of the dispensary However, the town’s permanent residents do not exceed 400. built by the Council for South Lebanon in 1996. Benouati has 150 houses and several families such as Hammoud, Launching a forestation campaign aimed at planting the town’s Ismail, Mrad, Yassine, Darwish, Al-Rabih, Hassan and Mahmoud. communal area of 150,000 square meters.
When was the municipality of Benouati established? Can you summarize the problems facing your town? The municipality was established in 1963. It consists of nine The official school in Benouati had to shut down thirty years members and is considered to be an active local authority, which ago because of a drastic decline in student numbers. Currently, manages to keep projects running despite its modest resources. students have no other option than to enroll in the schools of The Municipality of Benouati has also become a member of the the neighboring towns of Mashmoushi or Jezzine and to finance Union of Jezzine municipalities. by themselves the ensuing cost of transportation. We also suffer from a lack of financial resources. The annual local taxes What are the most notable projects carried out by the collected do not exceed LBP 24 million in addition to LBP 10 municipality? million generated from the pine trees from the town’s communal The municipality has completed many projects, some of which lands. This scarcity of funds prevents us from hiring the much- were at its own expense and others were financed either by the needed administrative staff. The municipality has only one state or by local or foreign entities. Foremost among these projects policeman, not to mention that we are engaged in disputes with were: Saida’s Endowment Department. The paving of internal roads, extending in total across 11,835 square meters. Apart from its potential environmental hazards, the construction of The construction of retaining walls that are 410 meters long the Bessri dam is also likely to take over roughly 200,000 square and range between 2 meters and 4.5 meters in height. meters of our town without us benefiting from the project.
issue 147 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. Culture, religion & Art | 29
Jeunesse Contre Drogue
Overview/Profile The first step towards establishing Jeunesse Contre Drogue was taken by Mr. Ellie Lahoud who is currently the president of the organization. Starting off as a group of boys from Adonis, the organization was founded on February 4, 1994 under the name Shabeebit Adonis. As it expanded and evolved, the name was later changed to Jeunesse Contre Drogue or JCD. Since his university days as a student of law and political science, Mr. whether or not the patients have both the motivation Lahoud had always been an activist involved in several and the willingness to enter the program. The programs organizations and volunteering activities. Now, he is vary in length depending on how responsive the primarily dedicated to his work with JCD. patients are.
At first, JCD started off with only five people who Community Outreach worked within the rehabilitation center of Haret A lot of the time, patients hear of the organization Sakher. Thus, the organization’s management and through their friends who have received treatment. the rehabilitation center were operated from the same Sometimes, they find out about JCD online through premises. Eventually, the organization expanded to the website or other media outlets. Some patients are include over forty people. At this point it moved to a referred to JCD from other organizations or are directed separate venue where until today it operates from. JCD there by their parents to receive treatment. still offers its addiction rehabilitation services from the rehabilitation center in Haret Sakher and two other The Rehabilitation Team locations. JCD’s team is made up of educators, psychotherapists, social workers, and teachers. Educators are constantly Centers with patients. There are also psychotherapists who Two of JCD’s centers offer in-patient services while provide both group and individual therapy. Sports the third is an outpatient facility. Nine to twenty-two activities, spiritual meetings, drama, music and drawing addicts are currently hosted at the Haret Sakher center, therapy, hand crafts, reading, movies interpretations, where they receive a one-month rest period between English and computer classes are all part of activities their hospital detoxification and the rehabilitation delivered as part of the rehabilitation program, in program. At the end of their preparatory period, they addition to recreational and entertainment activities. move to the center of Saint Theresa of Jesus the Child in Jourt El-Tormous where they undergo rehabilitation, Most of JCD’s staff are paid employees in addition to before returning to Haret Sakher to receive their last volunteers who play an essential role in the treatment phase of treatment: the reintegration phase. After their programs. treatment, patients receive periodical follow-ups at JCD’s outpatient center in Chiyyah. Demographic Background of Beneficiaries It is worth mentioning that before they begin the formal JCD is tailored specifically for male addicts. A treatment program, patients need to attend several few girls approach the organization for counseling meetings and receive counseling at the Counseling and services. However, the centers are currently made to Admissions Office. This is an important phase since it accommodate males only as there is a much higher lays the foundation for treatment and helps estimate demand for male rehabilitation services. Thus, they
issue 147 | October 2014 30 | Culture, religion & Art
dedicate their funds and efforts towards that demand. solely because they had previously been addicts. In the “If we find that there is a growing demand for female face of such discrimination, the follow-up program rehabilitations services, we may consider expanding helps remind patients that they are able to achieve to treat girls as well,” says Nadine Najjar, Head of success and lead a normal life in society. Communication & Media department at JCD. JCD has launched several campaigns to raise awareness Right now, most of the beneficiaries are eighteen about drug addiction. As a part of this campaign, the years old. However, in the past year JCD treated organization trains activists to spread its message and approximately four patients who were younger than educate people about drug addiction in different areas of eighteen years. Addicts usually seek rehabilitation Lebanon. In turn, these people can conduct workshops services, around six years after beginning to use drugs. and spread awareness in their area. Sometimes, training So, if a patient is eighteen years old, he has most likely is offered in schools or universities and even among the started using drugs at the age of twelve. Sometimes Lebanese Scouts. there are patients who are older than thirty or even fifty. However, JCD’s programs are not optimized for that Trends in Drug Addiction and Obstacles age group and such patients are not admitted unless towards Raising Awareness they can potentially benefit from the offered services. In terms of statistics, since its establishment, JCD has observed a decrease in the incidence of drug Patients come from diverse socio-economic addiction. However, within the last four years, there backgrounds. The organization sees patients from those has been a staggering increase in the numbers of have attended some of the best universities in Lebanon those taking drugs and an unfortunate decrease in to those who may not have even completed the Brevet the age of onset. “Although several schools allow program or are illiterate. JCD also accommodates us to conduct awareness workshops and sessions, an patients from the richest families to those who live in annual one-hour long session is not enough to raise extreme poverty. Drug addiction can affect anyone, awareness about drug addiction. We need to do more regardless of economic and social status, or level of than that. Awareness is about instilling strong coping education. During their treatment, patients are isolated skills within the youth,” notes Nadine Najjar. from society and from their friends. Therefore, they develop very close ties with each other and care for Another issue is that, on a national level, there is no each other. Patients rarely discuss political affiliations solid strategy put in place to combat drug addiction. or religious divisions; instead, they live amongst each Although all organizations work with the government, other as brothers. a lack of a common purposeful plan makes it difficult to fight this vice and raise awareness on a national level. Post-Treatment Obstacles Furthermore, it is hard to know exactly how many and “It is said addiction cannot be “cured” fully. The how well prevention programs have been executed. likelihood of relapse is high and this is why we seek to dissociate our patients from dangerous situations or Financing tempting circumstances that remind them of previous The JCD telemarketing department brings in around drug use”, says Nadine Najjar, Head of Communication 20,000 friends and donors who donate to the organization & Media department at JCD. regularly to cover salaries and overheads. Some donors pay fixed amounts; others have the flexibility to give Patients are provided with relevant tools to cope with more or less than the fixed amount depending on their such situations during the post-treatment follow-up financial capabilities. JCD receives large sums from program. Unfortunately, stigma around drug addiction some personal donors. In addition, it has a contract with still exists in our society. At times, recovering addicts the Ministry of Social Affairs, which provides nominal, have lost their jobs despite having excelled at those jobs yet symbolic, financial support to the organization.
issue 147 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. popular culture Culture, religion & Art | 31
Trip to the US
At 3:00 pm, we headed to the train station in Malderd’s car. I wanted to go and buy a ticket but the generous man said ‘The ticket is here in my pocket’ and handed it to me. ‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘How much is it ?’ ‘It has already been paid for. I do not pay for train tickets,’ he replied. The train arrived at a huge and ghastly station in New York. I was dizzy and felt somewhat scared. Swarms of people moved in quick motion. I had seen nothing of the like in Beirut or Ras El-Matn. What to do? Two bags! I advise every traveler not to carry more than a handbag. I stood perplexed. I sighted a man reading a newspaper and sensed kindness emanating from his face. I advanced towards him and said ‘Would you please help me and show me the way out?”. “With pleasure,” he replied as he stood up politely. “I am a foreigner and I don’t know where to go,” I explained. ‘If you are a student, you have no other option but to go to the Young Men’s Christian Association. The Association takes care of foreign students. You can sleep there for only one dollar per night. They will take care of you,’ he said, then glanced at his watch and added ‘I have 15 minutes to spare. I can help you out.’ He insisted on carrying one of my bags and we got out of the chaos at the station. ‘It is not far from here,’ he explained as he showed me the way. I thanked him and walked towards the hotel feeling totally worn out. In the US, like in all other civilized countries, there are ‘good men’. A young man bade me welcome at the entrance and showed me my room. I thanked god. The next morning, I inquired from the girl at the information desk how to get to Chicago. “Would you rather take the train or go by car? The train is faster and more comfortable. Traveling by coach is cheaper though and it would be a fun trip for a foreigner like you. You would see America.” “By coach,” I said. “It’s easy then. The coach passes by the hotel at nine in the morning and you can buy a ticket here. It costs 20 dollars.” I paid for the ticket, had my breakfast and waited for the coach. The coach dropped us at the station in Chicago by early nightfall. The station was no different from the one in New York. What to do? Where to go? Where is the college? I approached an old man and said “A helpless foreigner seeking help!”. Having listened to my story, he said “The coach drove you past the college premises, you smart one. You are now twelve miles away from your destination. You need to go back.”
issue 147 | October 2014 32 | Culture, religion & Art debunking myth #86
The Autistic Genius
Myth In popular media, autistic patients are often portrayed with exceptional talents and special skills. While this is true in a small percentage of cases, it is important to shed light on this impression of autistic people, as the majority does not have photographic memory or extraordinary mathematical skills.
Fact Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects a person’s learning abilities and social interactions. And because it is a spectrum disorder – i. e. it affects people to different extents and in different ways – the symptoms that people have are always varied. Not one characteristic can be true of all autistic people. The spectrum condition means that some people’s lives might be slightly affected by it, while those of others may be impaired and in need of constant assistance.
The same applies to learning abilities. Yes, a small number can be geniuses. They can have exceptional skills in a certain field, such as mathematics or music, for example. There is no reliable knowledge on the percentage of autistic people who are actually geniuses, but it is estimated by several sources to be as little as 1% or 5%. On the other hand, a good deal of autistic people experience learning disabilities. Most children have difficulty acquiring knowledge and skills, and many have trouble keeping up at school. Children with autism also generally have challenges with language and communication and some can show low levels of intelligence. Other children may have better learning abilities, but have trouble applying the knowledge they have attained in everyday life and/or in social situations.
Apart from the small percentage of people who do exhibit exceptional skills, some autistic people may develop a strong interest in a certain subject which can therefore lead him/her to acquire much knowledge about it. In this sense, it is easy for people to misinterpret the capacities of someone with autism.
As with many mental or psychological disorders, misconceptions about autism prevail. It is imperative to raise awareness of the true symptoms of these disorders as misconceptions will only have a discouraging effect on the lives of those experiencing them. False impressions can ostracize patients and discourage them from acknowledging the importance of opening up about their condition and finding assistance.
issue 147 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. must-read books Culture, religion & Art | 33
Gibran Khalil Gibran People and Places Bear Witness Henry Zogheib
The volumes, studies and dissertations that delved into the life and literary works of Gibran Khalil Gibran seeking to decipher the code of this unusual man and to solve the enigmas that surrounded him are too many to count. Yet, however abundant, these works remain insufficient to probe and unravel all the mysteries that shrouded his path and the poet, artist and writer continues to be seen as a hard nut to crack.
In the context of his relentless pursuit to explore Khalil Gibran, the human, and in a bid to satisfy part of the tremendous curiosity about his personality, airs and manners, thoughts and beliefs, ties and friendships, poet and writer Henry Zogheib compiled the gist of a quest he had started towards Khalil Gibran in 1985, into a book entitled Gibran Khalil Gibran- People and Places whom Khalil Gibran bemoaned nostalgia for Lebanon Bear Witness. Throughout the book, he unveils all the a month before his death, to Elizabeth Davis, the great- testimonies he was able to obtain from people and niece of Mary Haskell--Gibran’s confidante and editor friends who knew Khalil Gibran and lived through his who deserves the greatest credit for supporting him both era as well as the threads he had picked up as he dwelled morally and financially, Zogheib lent an attentive ear to in the same places that Khalil Gibran used to frequent. every tale and detail conjured up in their reminiscence. “A silent emotion would wash into my being each time I walked down those streets. On the sidewalks, I would Having heard the testimonies of people, Zogheib moved picture the footsteps of a genius from Lebanon trodding to seek testimonies from places and set out to chase the seven decades ago towards universal recognition then space that Khalil Gibran occupied. He followed Khalil immortality.” Gibran’s footprints and wandered about the cities, locales and corners where he once dwelled, probing Published in June 2012 by Dergham Printing and into natural and urban environments in the hope of Publishing, the second edition of the book teems with picking up new clues that would help him unravel new vivid images of people and places associated with realities about the man who never ceased to amaze him. Khalil Gibran and stops at major nodes in his literary, His quest lead him to pursue Khalil Gibran in New intellectual and social life. Blending his delicate poetic York, Washington, Philadelphia, Maryland then back in touch into a dexterous narrative style, Zogheib recounts Bsharri and Marjheen. his encounters with people who knew Khalil Gibran on a personal level, including intellectuals, poets and The third and final chapter touches on Gibran’s artists, introducing us to untold stories and memories controversial relationships with women. Zogheib’s book and unraveling new aspects of the poet’s life. From is not only an eloquent quest towards Gibran, backed Andrew Zogheib who translated Khalil Gibran’s with testimonies , images and letters, but also serves as books into English, to Monseigneur Mansour Estfan a reference tool offering new insights about a Lebanese who described him as both an extremely polite and an intellectual who reached the remotest corners of the earth extremely modest man, to Boutros Harb, the cousin to yet remained proud of and faithful to his Lebanon.
issue 147 | October 2014 34 | Culture, religion & Art must-read children’s book
The Story of Hadi Organ Donation
Hadi suffers from an acute renal failure and there is little hope of his recovery if nobody donates one of their kidneys to him. His father has high blood pressure and his mother suffers from diabetes, which means that they are unfit to donate one of their kidneys and save his life. Will his brother Sami be the donor or his sister Hanan? Or will it be someone else?
The Story of Hadi was first issued in 2012 by Asala Publishers. The book is another addition to a series concerned with shedding light on varied topics and themes- social, medical, environmental and human- that children encounter in their daily lives, at home, in school or in their neighborhoods, with a view to educate them on effective means to tackle such issues and interact with their environment and with others.
Dr. Sanaa ali Haraki chose ‘organ donation’ to be the theme of her new story, hoping to implant the noble principles of love, giving and compassion, into young minds through the usage of simply-put and short passages accompanied with vibrant and colorful illustrations to keep readers engaged until the very end.
“..when you visit Sami, a now renal physician, in his clinic, you realize that he is among the most zealous activists in raising awareness about posthumous organ donation. And when you drop by the clinic of Hadi who also grew up into a successful ophthalmologist, you find a question still hanging in his head: ‘who has given me their kidney? Sami or Hanan?’. A question he will never get an answer because his siblings chose to name the donor “LOVE”. Love, only love can give life.
issue 147 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. Lebanon Families Culture, religion & Art | 35
The Bahlawans
‘Bahlawan’ is the Arabic equivalent of a person skilled at jesting and juggling who tries to astound his audience by performing graceful movements and extraordinary acts. The description, which is usually given to jugglers who pull off clever Tripoli tricks with objects and money, is also the name Zgharta Balamand Roads A‘arjes of a Lebanese family. The Bahlawans might have Ehden assumed this name because their ancestor was a Becharre The Cedars Batroun Hadet Hasroun Ras Baalbeck juggler in the ancient past. Deir el Ahmar Maqne Jbail Qasr el-Banat
Hadath Iaat Ghazir The Bahlawans are a Muslim Beirutian family, which Baalbeck originated from the Arabian Peninsula. Some family Jounieh members had engaged in the conquests of Azerbaijan Niha BEIRUT Zahle during the Ottoman rule before Mostafa Bahlawan, Baabda Shtaura Aley Dahr el-Baidar Bhamdoun one of the family’s forefathers, decided to move to Anjar the Ottoman Empire’s capital, Istanbul, under Sultan Deir el-Qamar Meshref Beiteddine Abdul Aziz. He later befriended the Sultan’s brother, Moukhtara Qaraoun Lake Yanta Abdul Hamid Al-Thani, who assigned him to murder Saida Jezzine the Sultan in 1867 and granted him the title ‘Pasha’ Libbaya Aiha in return. Nabatiye Hasbaya Marjayoun Under the French mandate, members of the Beaufort Castle Bahlawan family migrated from Beirut, Damascus, Sour Homs, Aleppo, Saida, Haifa and Akka. Although some family members were erroneously registered as ‘Balhawans’ instead of ‘Bahlawans’, both names are attributed to the same family and have the same origins.
There are 840 Bahlawan (Al-Bahlawan, Balhawan Al-Bahlawan: this family consists of 160 members and Al-Balhawan) members in Lebanon. They belong distributed in: to the Sunni community and are distributed across the Msaytbeh (Beirut): 140 following regions: Al-Sabil (Saida): 20
Bahlawan: this family consists of some 400 members Balhawan: this family consists of 180 members distributed in: distributed in: Mina (Triopoli): 55 Mazraa (Beirut): 90 Bashoura (Beirut): 60 Msaytbeh (Beirut): 20 Mazraa (Beirut): 90 Dar El-Mreissi: 50 Tebbaneh (Tripoli): 25 Bashoura: 20 Heddadine (Tripoli): 35 Haret Hreik (Baabda): 50 Al-Balhawan: this family consists of 100 people all Msaytbeh (Beirut): 25 present in Msaytbeh, Beirut. Al-Sabil (Saida): 60
issue 147 | October 2014 36 | Culture, religion & Art Discover Lebanon
Al-Muhtaqara
Tripoli
Will it be renamed Al-Muftakhara? Zgharta Balamand Roads A‘arjes Ehden
Becharre The Cedars Batroun Hadet Hasroun Ras Baalbeck Located in the Qada’a of Shouf, Al-Muhtaqara Deir el Ahmar Maqne Jbail Qasr el-Banat (Arabic for ‘contemptible’) is just another Hadath Iaat Ghazir Baalbeck Lebanese village with an inappropriate-sounding Jounieh Niha
name that contradicts the kindness and generosity BEIRUT Zahle Baabda Shtaura Aley Dahr el-Baidar of its inhabitants. Inspired by those people who Bhamdoun Anjar managed to get rid of the embarrassing names of Deir el-Qamar Meshref Beiteddine Moukhtara Yanta their villages, some of Al-Muhtaqara’s inhabitants Al-Muhtaqara Qaraoun Lake ﺍﶈﺘﻘﺮﺓ Saida Jezzine are seeking to change the name of their village to Libbaya Aiha
‘Al-Muftakhara’. Nabatiye Hasbaya Marjayoun
Beaufort Castle Etymology Sour The definite origin of the name is not known for sure but there are two speculative possibilities: The name could have originated from the word ‘Al-Haqir’, which is often used in Christian Fares (Maronite): 30 voters teachings to refer to someone obedient to God, Thalj (Greek Catholic): 42 especially since the area is situated between Deir Shawish (Greek Catholic): 15 El-Mkhalles (Monastery of the Holy Savior) and Madoor (Greek Catholic): 28 the Monastery of Savior Sisters. Qostantine (Greek Catholic): 15 The village might have been given this name because Radi (Maronite): 12 it was a small neglected area regarded with contempt. Jabbour (Greek Catholic): 15 Assaad (Greek Catholic): 35 Location Semaan (Greek Catholic): 45 Al-Muhtaqara is located in the Shouf Qada’a, near Bou Ali (Greek Catholic) : 8 Deir El-Mkhalles, at an altitude of 450 meters above the sea level. It is 50 kilometers from Beirut and may Local Authority be reached by taking one of the following two routes: The town has one Mukhtar who manages the affairs Beirut → Saida→ Alaman→ Joun→ Deir Al- of both the village and the monastery. Moukhalles→ Al-Muhtaqara or Saida→ Jezzine→ Anan→ Bessri→ Al-Muhtaqara Economic Life Economic activities are negligible and residents Population and houses ensure their livelihoods by working either at Deir El- The registered population in the village is estimated Mkhalles or at the Monastery of Savior Sisters; some at 400, of whom only 30 are permanent residents. of them are engaged in agricultural or service labor Al-Muhtaqara has 40 dwellings, most of which are and others are teachers. The village does not host small houses built on monastic land given by Deir El- any public or private schools and students attend the Mkhalles to those inhabitants who used to serve the schools at the monasteries. monastery. The village has two small stores. Problems Voters Residents are faced with the problem of having no In 2009, there were 323 registered voters in the other ownership except of the property they live in village; 73 from Deir El-Mkhalles and the remaining as Deir El-Mkhalles owns the majority of land in the 250 from the following families: village.
issue 147 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. Discover the world Culture, religion & Art | 37
Monaco Micro-state teeming with toursit attractions
The principality of Monaco is the second-smallest independent state in the world, after the Vatican City. Monaco is famous for being a resort area for some of the world’s richest people. It is also the most densely populated country in the world, attracting as many as 1.5 million visitors a year; it is renowned for its beaches, pleasant climate and its prominent Monte Carlo casino.
Location and area Monaco is located on the French Riviera in Western Europe. It is bordered by France on three sides and Mediterranean Sea on the fourth. Monaco has an area of 2.02 km2, the highest point in the country is a narrow pathway named Chemin des Révoires on the slopes of Mont Agel, which is 163 metres above sea level. The length of the coastline is 4.1 km whereas the length of the land border - 4.4 km. Over the past 20 years, the territory of the country has increased by almost 40 hectares by draining marine areas.
Population Monaco has an estimated population of 37,830 citizens poverty rate and the highest number of millionaires (2013). and billionaires per capita in the world. Research and development in biotechnology and marine environment Religion also contributes to Monaco’s economy. Monaco has About 90% of the population adheres to Roman adopted euro (€) as official currency since January 1, Catholicism, which is the official state religion. 2002. The country has an unemployment rate of 2% Freedom of worship is guaranteed by the constitution. with over 48,000 workers who commute from France and Italy each day. Language The official language of Monaco is French, but residents Political system and elections also speak Monégasque, Italian and English. Monaco is a constitutional monarchy in which the sovereign prince plays the leading government role. Economy The principality’s political and institutional regime is The main sources of Monaco’s economy are tourism, governed by the Constitution established in 1911, where real estate, financial services, light manufacturing and the prince relinquished absolute rule and expanded the shipping and trade. In addition, Monaco has a large powers of the legislative body.The Prince as head of banking center holding over €100 billion worth of funds; state still retains most of the country’s governing power; it has no income tax and has low taxes for its businesses. however the principality’s judicial and legislative bodies For this reason various foreign companies have started may operate independent of his control. The National production facilities in Monaco. Other industries include Council is the parliament of Monaco whose members construction and production of consumer products on are elected by the Monegasque people every 5 years. The a small scale, there is no commercial agriculture in Prince appoints the government consisting of a minister the country. The state retains monopolies in numerous of state and five counselors, responsible for finance and sectors, including tobacco, telecommunications and the economy, internal and external affairs, health and social postal services. The country also has the world’s lowest affairs and environment and city planning.
issue 147 | October 2014 38| Media August 2014 Highlights Clashes in Ersal, return of Hariri, election of Mufti, students’ pass certificates
The month of August was an eventful month marked by a number of political and security developments starting with the clashes between the Lebanese Army and the militants of the Islamic State and An-Nusra Front in Ersal, the return of Saad Hariri after a three-year absence with a Saudi one-billion-dollar donation for the armament of Lebanon’s military, the agreement over the election of Sheikh Daryan as new Grand Mufti and concluding with the pass certificates given to Brevet and Baccalaureate candidates amid the Union Coordination Committee’s insistence to boycott grading exams. Below is the digest of daily news:
August 1 Lebanese Army Commander Jean Tension flares up in Tripoli and the emphasizing the Army’s readiness to face Qahwaji addresses the graduating Military army comes under fire as a result of the up to the Hezbollah’s Secretary General Academy officers on national Army Day clashes. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and the need to assuring that the Lebanese Army is the PM Tamam Salam calls on the Islamic address the Syrian refugee crisis so that guarantee for Lebanese security and that Council to convene at Dar El-Fatwa on their places of stay do not become pockets Lebanon has nothing to fear as long as its Sunday, August 10, 2014 at 10 am to of terrorist activity. army is united. elect a new Grand Mufti. Egypt’s Consul The security meeting held at the Grand Minister of Justice Ashraf Rifi and MP in Lebanon Sharif Bahrawi is highly Serail on Ersal urges exceptional Cabinet Yassin Jaber representing Speaker Nabih credited for resolving the long-standing session to discuss the situation and the Berri give speeches at the ceremony held Islamic council row. Minister of Defense stresses unity against by World House of Lebanon on national Saudi King Abdullah receives former the terrorist threat in Ersal. Army Day. Prime Minister Saad Hariri in his Jeddah Former Minister and MP Michel Following his meeting with the Union Palace along with a number of emirs and Sassine dies at the age of 87. Coordination Committee, Minister of religious figures who congratulate him on During his tour of Choueifat and Finance Ali Hassan Khalil reports that the Eid al-Fitr. Deir Qoubil, MP Walid Jumblat brands salary scale approval has become a matter Hezbollah lays its member Mostafa the Islamic State as a ‘plague’ urging of choice and the UCC assures that it has Hussein Al-Muqaddam to rest in Zebdine. cooperation between the moderate returned to scratch. Al-Muqaddam who was accused of Sunnis represented by Saad Hariri and Maronite Patriarch al-Rai receives opening fire on a Lebanese Army the Amal Movement and Hezbollah. former PM Fouad Seniora accompanied helicopter causing the death of Captain Jumblat challenges the recurrent mantra with a Future Movement delegation Samer Hanna in 2008 died while fighting that Hezbollah’s intervention in Syria has and Bishop Awdi announces that there in Syria. brought terrorism upon Lebanon. are attempts to prevent the presidential The delegation tasked with handling MP Abdul Latif Kabbara assures elections from happening, stressing the Air Algerie plane crash case returns to during the Islamic National Gathering’s objection to the events unfolding in Iraq Lebanon and Director General Haitham press conference in Tripoli that what is and Syria. Jomaa reveals that the identification of happening in Ersal is a conspiracy woven The Lebanese Army arrests a woman victims will take time. by Iran, Hezbollah and Syria on the Sunni. wearing a belt of explosives in the Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sayyed Hezbollah vows to support the Airouniyi town of Akkar. The woman’s Hassan Nasrallah receives MP Suleiman Lebanese Army against terrorist threats husband had been arrested on terrorist Frangieh and his son Tony. and the Future Movement, Saad Hariri, charges. Fouad Seniora and Amine Gemayel take The Military Public Prosecution releases August 3 similar supporting stances. Sheikh Hussein Atwi arrested for launching Armed confrontations continue in Committee of Muslim Scholars rockets towards Israel two weeks ago. Ersal and the Army manages to recover negotiates a truce in Ersal in order to solve some of its posts. The Lebanese Army’s the crisis and the Lebanese Army insists August 2 death toll rises to 10 including Colonel on the withdrawal of all militants from Following the Lebanese Army’s Noreddine Al-Jamal, brother of the Future the town and the release of the abductees arrest of the An-Nusra Front leader, Movement’s Brigadier General Mahmoud before talking about any compromise. Syrian national Imad Ahmad Joum’a in Al-Jamal. 25 people were injured and 13 the outskirts of Ersal, Islamists attack others missing. August 4 the brigade of gendarmeries in Ersal and Lebanese Army Commander Jean Clashes in Ersal show no signs of detain the sixteen men at the residence of Qahwaji announces during a press stopping, leaving 14 soldiers dead, 86 Sheikh Mostafa Al-Houjairy and footage conference that clashes in Erzal were wounded, 22 captured and 16 missing shows the detainees announcing their pre-planned, adding that Jomaa confessed amid heavy displacement of residents defection from the Lebanese Army and that he had been arranging attacks on from the town. Hezbollah. An-Nusra Front also abducts military centers. Qahwaji urges political Committee of Muslim Scholars comes a number of Lebanese Army soldiers and religious authorities to watch out under fire during its mediation attempt triggering clashes in Ersal. for the scheme woven for Lebanon, in Ersal. The incident results in some of
issue 147 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. August 2014 Highlights Media |39 its members being wounded including The Future Parliamentary Bloc issues again accountable for the violence in Sheikh Salem Rafei and the Committee’s a statement reiterating support of the Ersal. statement deplores the bombing of the Army in ensuring the security of Lebanon, Minister of Education and Higher town and calls for a safe exit for residents. noting that the clashes in Ersal are the end Education announces in a press PM Tamam Salam announces at the product of Hezbollah’s involvement in conference that he has backtracked on end of the Cabinet meeting that there will Syria. his previous decision not to grant all be no room for dialogue, negotiations PM Tamam Salam holds discussions candidates who took official exams or political solutions with takfiris and on Ersal with the Minister of the Interior pass certificates and suspends the that the Lebanese Army will have all the and Municipalities, the Minister of Justice implementation of his decision by 48 support it needs in its war against them. and the Committee of Muslim Scholars. hours to wait for the teachers’ response. Saudi Ambassador Ali Awad Assiri Former President of the Republic The Union Coordination Committee kicks off a series of farewell visits to Michel Suleiman receives a Saudi letter rejects the minister’s decision and brands Lebanese officials including former in support of the Lebanese Army and it as detrimental to both education and President Michel Suleiman, Speaker visits Lebanese Army Commander students. Nabih Berri and PM Tamam Salam. Jean Qahwaji to discuss the latest Former President of the Republic Future TV calls for a media gathering developments. Michel Suleiman hosts meeting for PM that underlines full support of the Army Head of the Municipality of Ersal, Tamam Salam, former PM Fouad Seniora, and commitment not to broadcast any Ali Al-Houjeiry, announces that Ersal MP Walid Jumblat and Patriarch al-Rai at statements that jeopardize its standing. supports the Army and the state, noting his residence. An-Nusra Front broadcast a video that the town has offered 8 martyrs in The Constitutional Council accepts featuring two Lebanese soldiers allegedly defense of the gendarmerie. appeal against three articles of the Rent defecting from the Lebanese Army. Following its meeting at Beit Al- Act, thereby rendering it ineffective. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Wasat, the March 14 Forces launches an US Embassy in Beirut denies alleged Emigrants Gibran Bassil holds talks with urgent plan to shield Lebanon from evils, involvement in the creation and support Iranian president Hassan Rouhani during renewing calls on Hezbollah to pull out of ISIS. his visit in Tehran to attend the meeting of Syria and rally around the Army and In their monthly statement, Maronite of the Palestine Committee of the Non- urging the election of a President of the Bishops call on neighboring countries to Aligned Movement. Republic and the expansion of Resolution assist the Army and urge speedy elections The Union Coordination Committee 1701 to cover Syrian-Lebanese borders. of a President of the Republic. postpones its strike scheduled for Minister of the Interior and the Wednesday due to security reasons and Municipalities Nouhad Mashnouq signs August 7 refuses to moderate its position regarding the decree calling on electoral bodies to Relative calm returns to Ersal after marking of exams, stressing its objection participate in parliamentary elections and the Islamist militants withdrew from the to the Minister of Education’s decision to Speaker Nabih Berri renews opposition to town and redeployed themselves along grant pass certificates. the extension of Parliament’s term. the border with Syria. A Red Cross Explosives blown up in Tripoli leave convoy enters the town and evacuates August 5 one dead and ten injured. Conflicting 42 wounded people and negotiations Cease fire to take effect in Ersal news circulate on whether the Lebanese continue to release the members of the starting at 7:00 pm and militants release Army was the intended target of the attack Army and security forces kidnapped by three ISF abductees. or Sheikh Malek Jdeideh, Head of the the Islamists. Former PM Saad Hariri announces a Committee of Muslim Scholars. An-Nusra Front issues a statement Saudi donation worth one billion dollars The truce continues in Ersal amid announcing its withdrawal from Ersal and to assist Lebanon in fighting terrorism ceasefire extension until 7:00 pm and the warning of any offence against the Sunni. and promote the role of the Army and the Committee of Muslim Scholars’ persistent The Cabinet convenes in the presence Internal Security Forces. efforts yield the release of three soldiers. of senior security officers and approves an MP Walid Jumblat receives Iranian Labwi residents block the roads to increase in the number of security forces Ambassador to Lebanon, the former prevent Qatari aid from reaching Ersal, recruits by 12,000, including 5000 in the Minister Wiam Wahhab. claiming that the supplies are designated Lebanese Army. It also tasks Minister of General Michel Aoun expresses, after for the militants, not the residents. In Education and Higher Education Elias the Change and Reform Bloc weekly response, counter roadblocks are staged Bou Saab to follow up on the official meeting, opposition to any kind of in Saadiyat, Saadnayel and Majdal Anjar. exam grading and make the right decision negotiations with or tolerance to terrorists, MP Walid Jumblat visits General regarding pass certificates and takes note stressing that, if anything, negotiations Michel Aoun in Rabieh and a joint of the decree inviting electoral bodies to should be held between Lebanon and statement reveals that the meeting participate in the elections scheduled for Syria to fight terrorism. He adds that addressed the Lebanese Army’s November 16, 2014. the calls to expand Resolution 1701 are confrontation with terrorists and the As part of his farewell tour, Saudi delusional. presidential vacuum. Ambassador Ali Awad Assiri visits Minister of the Interior and the Former PM Saad Hariri holds a press General Michel Aoun and MP Wali Municipalities Nouhad Mashnouq assures conference in Jeddah to discuss the Saudi Jumblat who holds a banquet in his honor. Al-Akhbar that the government refuses one-billion-dollar donation, stressing that Oriental bishops hold a meeting in cooperation between the Lebanese and he is assigned the implementation of the Diman and call on Islamic leaders to issue Syrian armies. donation and holding Hezbollah once fatwas banning attacks against Christians.
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The Amal Movement governing Minister of Energy and Water Arthur Prime Minister’s guards attack a bodies under the leadership of Speaker Nazarian announces that the deadline to number of journalists during the process Nabih Berri call after their meeting submit bids for the first licensing round of electing the Grand Mufti. for organizing the presence of Syrian for offshore gas exploration has been Speaker Nabih Berri receives former refugees in Lebanon. It also urges speedy postponed until February 14, 2015. PM Saad Hariri at his residence in Ain election of a President of the Republic Teeneh and Hariri leaves without giving and proceeds to express surprise at the August 9 a statement. delay of France’s military assistance to The Lebanese Army reinforces its MP Walid Jumblat voices from Aley the Lebanese Army. deployment in Ersal. his rejection to any call for self-security. In his statement, MP Abdul Latif PM Tamam Salam announces that Families of kidnapped soldiers protest Kabbara emphasizes that he has not Saudi Arabia has tasked Saad Hariri to in Beqa’a demanding the release of their assaulted the Army and that he abides by make decisions about the use of the Saudi sons. the state and its institutions. grant offered to support the Army. Former MP Ahmad Habboush dies Electricité du Liban contract workers August 11 two weeks after sustaining an injury. burn tires outside the company’s In his interview with As-Safir, headquarters in protest of the number of Lebanese Army Commander Jean August 8 workers chosen to become full-timers. Qahwaji reveals that the terrorists’ plan Former PM Saad Hariri returns from The company is planning to employ just was to progress across Beqa’a towards Saudi Arabia to Beirut after a three-year 891 out of over 2000 contract workers. Akkar and the coastline in order to absence and visits the grave of his father. Following his visit to Speaker Nabih establish an emirate. He later moves to the Grand Serail to Berri, Minister of the Interior and the In an interview with As-Safir, Speaker meet PM Tamam Salam, announcing that Municipalities Nouhad Mashnouq Nabih Berri reiterates his rejection to he has returned to implement the Saudi announces that the current security the Parliament’s term extension, voicing one-billion-dollar donation assigned for situation does not allow for the holding of concerns about a vacuum in both the armament of the Lebanese Army parliamentary elections at this stage. Parliament and the Cabinet. and security forces. Hariri resumes his Minister of the Interior and the activities by attending a security meeting August 10 Municipalities Nouhad Mashnouq tells at the Grand Serail and afterwards Gaining 74 votes during the election An-Nahar that the Syrian regime is meeting the US and Saudi ambassadors session chaired by PM Tamam Salam, not allowing the repatriation of Syrian at Beit Al-Wasat. Speaking to the Sheikh Abdel-Latif Deryan was refugees from Lebanon. gathering of March 14 Forces, Hariri unanimously elected by the Higher The Union Coordination Committee says ‘if Hezbollah makes mistakes, that Islamic Council as the new Grand Mufti stands firm in its boycott of grading does not mean we should respond with of the Lebanese Republic. His rival, official exams and Minister Bou Saab sets similar ones.’ Residents of Beirut and Sheikh Ahmad Darwish Al-Kurdi who Friday noon as the last chance for striking other regions stage celebrations and cheer was nominated by the Islamic Jama’a teachers to stop their action. Otherwise, Hariri’s return. obtained 9 votes and there were 8 blank pass certificates will be issued to all Saad Hariri receives phone calls from ballots and 2 were declared void. Sheikh students. Speaker Nabih Berri and other political Deryan who is expected to assume office PM Saad Hariri receives a Democratic figures who congratulate him on his on September 15 urges moderation and Gathering delegation headed by MP safe return to Lebanon. Lebanese Forces alienation from extremism and assures that Walid Jumblat who renews his support leader Samir Geagea says that ‘with he will work towards preventing any rift for Henry Helou as presidential candidate the return of Hariri, the real bond of the between the Mufti and the Higher Islamic and warns from slipping into a situation March 14 Forces will become complete. Council and mitigating Sunni-Shia’a similar to that in Iraq. His return will promote moderation.” divisions. During the vote, the Muslim PM Saad Haariri receives a delegation Saudi King calls PM Tamam Salam Scholars Committee held a protest facing of Ersal’s residents headed by Mayor to reiterate the kingdom’s support of the Dar al-Fatwa building, to reject the Ali Al-Houjeiry and donates USD 150 Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability. ongoing elections and condemn political million for the construction of schools Minister of Education and Higher interference in the matters of the religious and hospitals in Ersal. Education Elias Bou Saab holds a press institution. Sheikh Deryan pays a visit Electricité du Liban contract workers conference announcing the readiness to his predecessor Sheikh Mohamamd protest at the company’s decision to of his ministry to grant pass certificates Rashid Qabbani. grant only 900 workers out of 2000 full- starting next week should teachers fail to Former PM Saad Hariri holds a time status by closing the doors of the start grading by Tuesday. banquet in honor of the new Grand Mufti company. Army Commander Jean Qahwaji in the presence of Mufti Qabbani and a A Higher Relief Committee delegation believes that the members of the Army number of ambassadors and politicians headed by Major General Mohammad and security forces abducted by Islamist including US and Egypt’s ambassadors to Khair surveys Ersal to gauge the damage militants are no longer in Ersal and Lebanon and former PMs Fouad Seniora it sustained and to initiate compensation sources report that the kidnappers demand and Najib Mikati. Hariri addresses the payments. the release of the Islamist inmates held attendees saying ‘we won’t allow a in Roumieh Prison in exchange for the bunch of extremists to drag Muslims into hostages. confrontations with their partners in the country.”
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August 12 After meeting MP Bahiya Hariri and Branch arrests a 19-year-old Lebanese The Spokesman for the Special Tribunal Minister Elias Bou Saab in Parliament, in Baalbeck on charges of operating the for Lebanon, Martin Youssef, announces the Union Coordination Committee Baalbeck-based Ahrar al-Sunna Brigade’s his resignation from his post and Marianne and the Association of State Employees Twitter account. El-Hajj will be the acting spokeswoman stage a protest at Riyadh Solh Square to until the court appoints a replacement. demand salary scale approval and insist August 15 Parliament adjourns its tenth session on boycotting the marking of official During a televised speech broadcast scheduled to elect a new President of the exams. on Al-Manar TV, Hezbollah’s Secretary- Republic until September 2 due to lack of New Grand Mufti Abdul Latif General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah calls quorum. Deryan receives a Democratic Gathering for unified action to confront ISIS, noting MP Nicolas Fattoush puts forward delegation headed by MP Walid Jumblat. that the Lebanese Army, the resistance a draft law proposing the extension of Minister of Foreign Affairs and and the people protect Lebanon, not Parliament’s term of office for two years Emigrants Gibran Bassil meets King Resolution 1701. Nasrallah proceeds to and seven months. Abdullah during his visit to Jordan say that UNIFIL can’t even protect itself Former PM Fouad Seniora reports and highlights the need for security and that the future of Erzal is linked to its that the extension of Parliament’s term is cooperation among neighboring countries neighboring towns and not beyond the inescapable. to confront extremism. King Abdullah borders. Minister of Education and Higher emphasizes support for Lebanon’s safety Investigations into Hussein Shaman Education Elias Bou Saab suspends and unity. Al-Hussein, operator of the Baalbeck- issuance of pass certificates after based Ahrar al-Sunna Brigade’s Twitter skirmishes break out between striking August 14 account, conclude that Al-Hussein is teachers and those who crossed the picket The Cabinet accepts the grant offered not affiliated with any organization and line to mark exams. by Saudi Arabia to fortify Lebanon’s was working on his own. Al-Hussein’s Electricité du Liban contract workers Army and reassigns Minister of Education father points out that the family is close block roads and once again close the and Higher Education Elias Bou Saab to to Hezbollah and the ISF Information entrance to the company’s premises; issue pass certificates. The session also bureau posts the Lebanese flag on the EDL’s administration warns of the serious allocates LBP 30 billion to the Public Twitter account and shares a tweet saying implications of contract workers’ actions Housing Institute and urges the media not that the account’s operator was arrested. over power supply. to distort the image of Lebanon. The March 14 Forces report that the PM Tamam Salam holds a banquet in Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sayyed exposure of the Ahrar al-Sunna Brigade’s honor of the outgoing Saudi ambassador Hassan Nasrallah asserts to Al-Akhbar Twitter account has thwarted one of the Ali Awad Assiri who urges unity, dialogue that by fighting in Al-Qousayr and Al- schemes aimed at falsifying facts and and reconciliation among all Lebanese. Qalamoun, Hezbollah has prevented ISIS threatening internal order and stability. Former PM Saad Hariri meets an from reaching Beirut and the coast. New Grand Mufti Abdul Latif Deryan Economic Committees delegation and Saudi Arabia decides to delay the performs Friday prayers at Mohammad emphasizes the need to hold presidential departure of Saudi ambassador Ali Awad Al-Amin’s Mosque, then recites Al- elections first without ruling out the Assiri from Lebanon who had already Fatiha upon Rafik Hariri’s grave in the likelihood of extending the Parliament’s made farewell visits to Lebanese officials. presence of former PM Fouad Seniora. term. Media outlets deny the reported During a sermon marking the Future Movement MPs visit Ersal. meeting between former PM Saad Hariri Dormition of the Virgin Mary, Maronite Lebanese Army Commander Jean and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rai Qahwaji addresses the families of the Emigrants Gibran Bassil in Jeddah. salutes the Lebanese Army martyrs and soldiers captured by militants, saying Electricté du Liban contract workers calls on MPs to take them as role models that the Army has changed the course of renew their protest in front of the in sacrifice for the sake of the country and history by striking ISIS and stressing that company building and EDL’s Director its constitutional institutions. Lebanese the attempts to instigate strife have not General holds a press conference at Army Commander Jean Qahwaji stopped. EDL’s power plant in Zouq saying that participates in the mass. Speaker Nabih Berri renews during the law prohibits him from granting every Wednesday’s parliamentary gathering worker permanent status and reporting August 16 his objection to prolonging the term of that the company premises are currently PM Tamam Salam receives delegation Parliament because the chamber is not unprotected. of the families of kidnapped soldiers legislating. Speaker Nabih Berri receives and policemen and emphasizes the Lebanese Army Commander Jean Lebanese Army Commander Jean government’s concern about the case. Qahwaji makes an inspection tour in Ersal Qahwaji who asserts to a delegation of Minister of Education and Higher and Labwi to examine the Army units and the family of martyred officer Dany Harb Education Elias Bou Saab slams the Union asserts in his speech that the great acts of that the Army’s dignity shall never be Coordination Committee during a press bravery performed by the Lebanese army compromised. conference and issues pass statements to have protected Lebanon and prevented its US Ambassador David Hale reports all the students who took official exams descent in the control of terrorists. after meeting PM Tamam Salam that the that would allow their entry into colleges. Former PM Saad Hariri heads for US will supply the Lebanese Army with The identification cards students used to Jeddah to follow-up the matter of the weapons and ammunition. enter exam rooms and take the exams Saudi grant with Saudi officials. Internal Security Forces’ Information will be used as an affidavit as proof
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of completion and additional official Barzani stressing that ISIS poses a threat Minister of Public Health Wael certificates will be issued at a later stage. to everyone. Bou Faour opines that the call for Syrian troops urge the residents of the parliamentary elections will not reach its eastern border village of Tufail to evacuate August 19 intended objective. it before Sunday morning because the The Cabinet convenes at the Grand town is a zone of military operations but Serail in the absence of Minister of August 21 Hezbollah denies the claims, branding the Interior and Municipalities Nouad Change and Reform Bloc MPs propose them as fabricated. Mashnouq and approves a decree a draft law stipulating a constitutional Minister of the Interior and calling on electoral committees to begin amendment whereby the President of the Municipalities Nouhad Mashnouq visits preparing for the parliamentary elections Republic is elected by the people. Muslim Scholars’ Committee member, despite the expiry of the constitutional The Union Coordination Committee Sheikh Salem Rafei at his residence in deadline two days earlier. Separately, the stages a protest to deplore the issuance Tripoli to check on his health condition Cabinet defers discussion over garbage of pass certificates and to demand the after the injury he sustained during the dossier and over licenses to establish new approval of the salary scale. clashes in Ersal. universities until future sessions. The The Cabinet approves for the departing In a talk with Sky News Arabia, MP session approves the establishment of 13 Syrian refugees the exemption from fines Walid Jumblat holds onto Henry Helo new branches and faculties to existing incurred by not paying residency fees in as the PSP’s presidential candidate, universities and issues a license allowing order to facilitate their return to Syria. The reiterating calls for a consensual president the establishment of an anti-violence and session also decides to devise a plan for and noting that he has not heard about the human rights faculty headed by Ogarit solid waste management. candidacy of Lebanese Army Commander Younan. In an interview with LBC, Minister of Jean Qahwaji. ISIL commander Abou Abdullah Justice, General Ashraf Rifi, likens ISIS Al-Iraqi who was in charge of training to Hezbollah. August 17 suicide bombers and rigging vehicles Abou Taimour Dandashi, a militia An-Nusra Front releases two of the with explosives has been reportedly killed leader detained for involvement in clashes ISF members it kidnapped in Ersal during in Syria’s Qalamoun region. in Tripoli, is released from Roumieh prison. the clashes and the Muslim Scholars’ Parliamentary Education Committee Minister of Public Health Wael Bou Committee promises further releases if approves the validation of official exams Faour busts a medical supervisor accused the Lebanese Army vows not to carry out candidacy cards and recommends the of signing fake bills allowing Al-Assi crackdowns and assault Syrian refugees initiation of entrance exams to the Hospital in Hermel to exploit public in Ersal. Lebanese University. insurance funds. General Michel Aoun admitted The Union Coordination Committee PM Tamam Salam receives a delegation into Serhal Hospital after breaking his schedules a general strike for Thursday of the Muslim Scholars’ Committee and shoulder. and considers the possibility of appealing the delegation’s spokesperson Sheikh against the Minister’s decision to issue Adnan Imama announces that the August 18 pass certificates to all official exam Committee will suspend its mediation Accompanied with his son Taimour, applicants. over captives so as to give chance for MP Walid Jumblat visits MP Suleiman Tareq Shandab, attorney of terrorist other mediation efforts. Frangieh in Bnachei in the presence of suspect Ahmad Jomaa, submits pleas An-Nussra Front features nine the latter’s son, Tony, and states that the before the Military Court, noting that the soldiers and policemen on video pleading visit is part of his meetings with different terrorist acts attributed to his defendant Hezbollah to withdraw from Syria. Lebanese leaderships, pointing out that he occurred after he was arrested. Lebanese Army Commander announces has a historical relation with the Frangieh to An-Nahar that he refuses to let any family. August 20 single drop of blood be shed in pursuit of The Syndicate of Private School Following Wednesday’s meetings the presidential seat. Teachers backs down on its decision to presided over by Speaker Nabih Berri, Lebanese Forces MP Fadi Karam boycott exam grading and the Ministry MPs quote him as saying that he will no describes ISIS and Michel Aoun’s bloc as of Education and Higher Education states longer accept to remain inactive about the being two sides of the same coin. that the pass certificates have entered into current situation. Former President of the Republic effect and that the law relating to them MP Walid Jumblat supports a technical Amine Gemayel visits Patriarch al-Rai shall be issued later. extension of Parliament’s term for no and states that the proposition to let the Minister of Telecommunications, more than a year. people choose the president is not new Boutros Harb, announces an initiative to Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara and he was the first to put it forward but solve the presidential crisis suggesting a Boutros al-Rai arrives with Levant the circumstances are no longer suitable quorum of at least 50% deputies plus one Patriarchs’ delegation in Erbil on board of now. deputy after the first round. a private plane to inspect the conditions Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Christian refugees. Al-Rai states that he August 23 Emigrants Gibran Bassil heads for Iraq hasn’t called for dialogue with ISIS adding During a speech marking the and holds meetings with Iraq’s new PM that the takfiri mindset must be countered anniversary of the twin explosions that Haidar al-Ibadi, Interim Minister of and that the minorities protected by the hit Al-Taqwa and Al-Salam mosques in Foreign Affairs Hussein Shahristani and international community. Tripoli, Minister of Justice Ashraf Rifi President of Iraqi Kurdistan, Massoud assures that Tripoli wants justice.
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Israel responds to a rocket launched August 27 The Lebanese Army arrests Syrians from the border town of Al-Dhaira by PM Tamam Salam visits Speaker during their attempt to infiltrate into firing to the area. Nabih Berri reiterating the need to address Lebanon from Ain Ata. One Syrian was the dossier of the kidnapped Lebanese killed during exchange of fire. August 24 soldiers responsibly. During his Mount Lebanon tour, MP Following their meeting in Bkerki, the August 29 Walid Jumblat passes by Kaifoun and Levant Bishops call for the issuance of a Families of the kidnapped soldiers and meets its residents and officials from fatwa that prohibits attacks on Christians security personnel block the road to Halba Hezbollah. Jumblat brands Minister and for the dissociation of presidential calling for the release of the captives. Ashraf Rifi’s likening of Hezbollah to elections from regional conflicts. Minister of Interior and Municipalities ISIS as political heresy and criticizes The Special Tribunal for Lebanon Nouhad Mashnouq announces that his those who compared the Free Patriotic hears the testimony of Conrad Shlatter, a visit to General Michel was to discuss the Movement to ISIS as well. He also Swiss chemist and explosives expert who clashes in Ersal, stressing that Ersal is a attends the Baisour festival along with assisted the investigation into the Hariri time bomb. Druze MP Talal Arslan. assassination attack. The US delivers a shipment of A new video footage shows seven Minister of Telecommunications weapons to bolster the Lebanese Army soldiers captured by ISIS. Boutros Harb calls Army Commander and pledges to send more in the future. MP Nadim Gemayel urges the Jean Qahwaji to inform him that the SMS The captives held by ISIS appear in a election of a president who is not campaign launched by Lebanon’s two new video appealing to the government to emboldened by foreign powers during mobile operators to support the Army has meet the demands of the group by freeing the ceremony held in Bekfaya on the collected USD 237,000. the Islamists in Roumieh prison or the 23rd anniversary of the election of The Lebanese Army seizes a car captives will be beheaded within three Bashir Gemayel. loaded with RPG grenades in Hermel and days. arrests the driver Ahmad Mohammad Al- New Grand Mufti Abdul Latif Deryan August 25 Houjeiry and another passenger named visits PM Tamam Salam and thanks him New Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Ashraf Ezzedine. for his efforts in ending the crisis of Dar Deryan receives a number of well-wishers The Cabinet convenes at the Grand el-Fatwa. including US ambassador to Lebanon Serail and approves the decree granting Minister of Social Affairs Rashid David Hale. pass certificates to all official exam Derbas says that closing the borders Patriarch al-Rai renews calls for candidates. The discussion also covers between Lebanon and Syria for security electing a new President of the Republic the issue of the kidnapped soldiers and reason is not unlikely. before heading to the Vatican. security personnel. Terrorist suspect Ahmad Jomaa “Preparations are under way to August 30 confesses that the objective of the battle in establish the Baabda Declaration Front,” An-Nusra Front releases five Sunni Ersal was to establish an Islamic emirate says former President of the Republic troops and hands them over to Sheikh in North Lebanon. Michel Suleiman to Al-Liwaa. Mustafa Houjeiry who announces that The Special Tribunal for Lebanon Minister of the Interior and the burning of ISIS flag in Ashrafieh has resumes its hearing sessions after the end Municipalities Nouhad Mashnouq issues a delayed the release of Christian captives. of the summer recess. memo detailing the documents needed for An-Nusra Front adds that Shia’a captives those planning to run in the parliamentary will be killed if Hezbollah continues August 26 elections scheduled for October 16, 2014. fighting in AL-Qalamoun. Speaker Nabih Berri pleads with the Nominations are to be accepted starting New Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdullah ambassadors of the Big Five powers for August 28, 2014. Deryan receives Sayyid Ali Fadlallah. an airlift to provide the Lebanese Army Clashes erupt between the Lebanese Senior security officials attend a with military assistance. Army and militants in the outskirts of security meeting at the Grand Serail in the The Future Parliamentary Bloc Ersal after the latter ambushed an army presence of Judge Sakr Sakr to discuss the cautions after its weekly meeting against patrol. situation in Ersal and the detention of the involving the Lebanese Army on behalf The Lebanese Army arrests Khaled soldiers and security personnel by ISIS. of Hezbollah. Saadeddine, brother of the defected The Change and Reform Bloc soldier Atef Saadeddine, in the Akkar August 31 announces that it is awaiting rational town of Kherbet Daoud. On the 36th anniversary of the responses to its proposition to elect a Photos and a video are posted online disappearance of Imam Moussa Sadr, president directly by the people instead of purportedly showing an ISIS militant Speaker Nabih Berri announces that worthless attacks. beheading a blindfolded man who countering terrorism is a collective ISIS makes a statement threatening to is identified as Sergeant Ahmad al-Sayed responsibility and that the election of a kill the first soldier in 24 hours. (from Fanideq). President of the Republic is a glimmer of Israel responds to a rocket launched Military Investigative Judge Imad hope and should take precedence. from the Al-Jarmaq town by shelling the Zein issues arrest warrants against Imad Lebanese television channels air area. and Ahmad Jomaa in the presence of their united news segment on Imam Moussa lawyer Tarek Shandab. Sadr.
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This Month in History- lebanon 39 Years of Lebanese Dialogue From the National Dialogue Committee to the Baabda Dialogue Committee
Since the eruption of the Civil War in 1975, Lebanese officials and the foreign actors supporting or sponsoring them have deemed the constitutional institutions, from the presidency of the republic to the government to Parliament, incapable of playing an effective role in orchestrating dialogue among dissenting parties. Therefore, they resorted to establishing dialogue committees that were accepted by some and rejected by others depending on personal agendas that were far from both national and constitutional considerations. The most recent round of such meetings was the dialogue table convened at Baabda Palace under the patronage of the former President of the Republic Michel Suleiman which resulted in the issuance of the Baabda Declaration, which aroused and continues to arouse much controversy. Prior to that, a dialogue, chaired by Speaker Nabih Berri, was held in Parliament. This one came many years after the dialogue negotiated in Taif, Saudi Arabia, leading to what has become known as the Taif Agreement, and which ended the Civil War. Conferences in Geneva and Lausanne, the Tripartite Agreement in Damascus and the National Salvation Committee, which preceded the Taif accord, were also created to foster dialogue. As for Lebanon’s first national dialogue committee, it was formed on September 24, 1975 against the backdrop of escalating fighting and initiated its work in October 1975. Today, 39 years after the creation of the first dialogue committee, we outline the reasons and circumstances, which led up to its creation and governed its activity, with a brief overview of the dialogue committees that have operated in Lebanon since then.
Circumstances surrounding the creation of The Internal Security Forces shall resume their the National Dialogue Committee responsibilities immediately in all regions (as PM As battles intensified and expanded across Lebanon, Rashid Karami and most of the Islamic leaderships crippling the government and the institutions, belligerent were against the deployment of the Army, on the parties engaged in negotiation rounds under the mediation grounds that it was biased towards Christian militias). of the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Halim Khaddam. The mediation lasted eight days and included This mechanism was later completed and enshrined during meetings with President Suleiman Frangieh at the a meeting held with President Suleiman Frangieh at the presidential palace in the presence of several ministers presidential palace, where it was agreed to form a national and with Grand Mufti Hassan Khaled at his residence committee for dialogue. in Aramoun where PM Rashid Karami, Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive Tasks and Members of the National Dialogue committee Yasser Arafat, Head of the PLO Military Committee Department Zouhair Mohsen, Head of the Department of The government believed that the National Dialogue Information Yasser Abed Rabbo, Chief of the Revolution’s Committee represented national unity and was tasked with Security Apparatus Abou Hassan Salameh and Iyad Abdul “fulfilling the hopes of the Lebanese through an action Latif joined with Khaddam and the Grand Mufti. From plan comprising all the tenets and principles under which Aramoun, Khddam, Arafat, Karami, Mohsen and Salameh we will all cooperate for the welfare of this people and the headed to the Grand Serail and convened with the then sovereignty of this nation.” The committee consisted of 20 Interior Minister Camille Chamoun and Finance Minister members representing all the Lebanese sects and parties. Adel Osseiran. At the end of the meeting, PM Rashid The members were: Karami made the following statement: Kamel Al-Assaad (Speaker of the House) “In order to consolidate security, establish stability and Rashid Karami (Prime Minister) return to normal life, it was agreed that: Camille Chamoun Starting 05:00 pm, all militants shall withdraw from Abdullah Al-Yafi Beirut and its suburbs and the zone shall be completely Saeb Salam demilitarized by removing all checkpoints, military Majid Erslan posts and arsenals. Philip Taqla All acts of violence shall cease immediately in all Ghassan Toueiny regions. Kamal Jumblat All parties shall free their captives in all regions. Raymond Eddé
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Pierre Gemayel MP Adel Ousseiran (former Speaker) René Mouawwad Nabih Berri (Amal Movement leader) Rida Wahid Walid Jumblat (Progressive Socialist Party leader) Khachik Babakian Abbas Khalaf The dialogue was sponsored by the Syrian Minister of Elias Saba Foreign Affairs, Abdul Halim Khaddam, and the Saudi Najib Qaranouh Minister of State Mohammad Ibrahim and this second Assem Qanso conference was not totally fruitless, for it ended it up Edmond Rabbat issuing several decisions including the formation of a Hassan Awadah national unity government under Rashid Karami. Yet, the Civil War continued in different forms and under different Stances on the committee circumstances. The positions of the Lebanese on the National Dialogue Committee were divided between advocates and Dialogue under occupation opponents. The national and progressive parties chaired In June 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon bringing about a by Kamal Jumblat exhibited a positive response and stated new state of affairs, which President Elias Sarkis chose to that they would participate in the work of the committee confront by establishing the National Salvation Committee despite their reservations. The Phalanges also expressed on June 14, 1982. Alongside Sarkis, the committee tacit approval. Conversely, the method used in the consisted of PM Shafiq Wazzan, Minister Fouad Boutros, formation of the committee was opposed by MPs Hussein MP Nassri Maalouf, Amal Movement leader, Nabih Berri, Al-Husseini and Elias Skaff and the Baath Party. Despite PSP leader Walid Jumblat and Lebanese Forces leader the great hopes pinned on the committee’s efforts in ending Samir Geagea. Unsurprisingly, the roundtable discussions the war and laying the foundations of political reform for failed to yield any major breakthroughs, except that of the Lebanese regime, the outcome fell short of people’s possibly defusing the climate imposed by the Israeli aspirations. After nine meetings, the Cabinet took charge of occupation on Lebanon. the political reform issue in its session held on November 16, 1975, ending indirectly the work of the committee. Berri’s dialogue table ‘Is the crisis solved? Is everything over?’ were among the Against the deterioration of the political and security typical questions raised by local newspapers, namely An- situation following the assassination of former PM Rafic Nahar. But those were misplaced questions because the Hariri and as a group of politicians boycotted the then crisis had grown beyond the problem-solving capabilities President of the Republic Emile Lahoud, Lebanon plunged of a committee or a local body, taking on thorny regional into an impasse. In order to break the stalemate and solve the and international dimensions. Thus, the committee failed disputes, Speaker Nabih Berri called for a national dialogue its mission and the war continued, entailing the birth of roundtable. After nine sessions which took place between another dialogue table in October. March 2 and November 24, 2006, dialogue concluded once again without any actual outcomes apart from the agreement Geneva and Lausanne Dialogue Conferences over the disarmament of Palestinian camps. Despite the persistence and exacerbation of the war, the dialogue did not stop. Ten years after the establishment Baabda’s dialogue table of the dialogue committee, it was agreed among Soon after his election as President of the Republic in May contending parties to convene a dialogue conference 2008, Michel Suleiman resumed national dialogue between in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 31, 1983. The rival parties. Under his sponsorship, dialogue sessions conference concluded on November 4, 1983, but to no kicked off in Baabda on September 18, 2008 and touched avail. Discussions were resumed to hold another dialogue on the same issues discussed previously, particularly the session, which eventually materialized in Lausanne, defense strategy and the weapons of Hezbollah. Switzerland, taking place between the 12th and the 20th of March 1984. The number of attendees increased from 19 to 20 after Tamam Salam formed his governments. Those were: Below are the names of the attendees who participated in Nabih Berri, Saad Hariri, Amine Gemayel, Michel the conferences, in the absence of the Head of the Lebanese Aoun, Walid Jumblat, Suleiman Frangieh, Talal Erslan, National Bloc, MP Raymond Eddé who chose to boycott Agob Bakradonian, Najib Mikati, Fouad Seniora, Farid the meetings. Makari, Michel El-Murr, Michel Feraoun, Samir Geagea, President of the Republic Amine Gemayel Jean Ogassapian, Mohammad Raad, Asaad Hardan, MP Pierre Gemayel, Phalanges Party leader Mohammad Safadi, Fayez Haj Shahine. MP Camille Chamoun (former President of the Republic) After 19 sessions, the last held in May 2014, dialogue Former President of the Republic Suleiman Frangieh concluded after the expiry of Suleiman’s presidential term. MP Saeb Salam (former PM) Many political forces had boycotted the sessions including MP Rashid Karami (former PM) Hezbollah and the Lebanese Forces.
issue 147 | October 2014 46|Arab World Focus
This Month in History - Arab world Burial of Gamal Abdul Nasser- October 1970
The first of October 1970 marked the burial of the Egyptian President Jamal Abdul Nasser in a solemn funeral procession attended by at least five million mourners. Official mourning was declared in the country for forty days and all businesses, schools and public sector departments were closed for three consecutive days.
Gamal Abul Nasser was born on January 15, 1918 in riots that swept across Cairo the next day leaving 76 people Cairo. After graduating from high school, he decided to dead. In response, the Movement of the Free Officers apply to the Military Academy, but his lack of influential was actively involved in abolishing the constitutional connections on the one hand and his police record of monarchy and establishing a democratic republic. To this anti-British protests in 1935 on the other resulted in the end, Free Officers planned to overthrow the monarchy dismissal of his application. Shortly after he was denied and chose Muhammad Naguib to be the nominal leader entry, the intent shifted towards increasing the number of of the July Revolution in 1952. The Free Officers seized young Egyptian Army offices, regardless of their social all government premises, radio stations and police stations or economic class. The Military Academy accepted a and took control of the Army Command headquarters in new batch of applicants in 1937, including Gamal Abdul Cairo. After a series of internal and external failures and Nasser who had submitted a second application. Upon having flipped back and forth between the Axis powers and graduation, he joined the infantry before he was posted the Allies during the Second World War, King Farouq was to Sudan and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1940, coerced to step down and leave the country. The monarchy then to that of Captain in 1942. was thus abolished and Egypt was declared an independent republic headed by Muhammad Naguib, who also served Not only did the year 1945 see the end of the Second as Prime Minister. Gamal Abdul Nasser was Deputy Prime World War but also the emergence of the Movement of Minister and Minister of the Interior in the new government Free Officers. At the time, Abdul Nasser’s focus was to but surrendered the latter post to Zakariya Muhieddine. bring about an entity encompassing all those officers who had enough courage to bring in change. Following the Amid deepening disputes with the members of the 1947 resolution on the partition of Palestine, this small Revolutionary Command Council, Muhammad Naguib group of volunteer fighters decided that it was high time resigned from his post in February 1954. Gamal Abdul they defended the rights of Arabs against this blatant Nasser took over Naguib’s post and became both Head violation of human dignity and international justice. of the Council and Prime Minister before the 1954 Unfazed by the quantitative superiority of the Israeli Muslim Brotherhood-led attempt on his life while he was forces, they extended help to the Palestinian resistance, delivering a speech at El-Manshiya Square in Alexandria. until the 1948 Arab-Israeli War ended with the 1949 Investigations into the assassination attempt revealed armistice sponsored by the UN. that Muhammad Naguib was in touch with the Muslim Brotherhood and was planning to support them should After his return from Palestine, Abdul Nasser was appointed they succeed in overthrowing the regime. Consequently, instructor at the Army Staff College. The Free Officers the Revolutionary Command Council dismissed Naguib resumed their activism and formed an executive committee from all his posts and the presidential seat fell vacant headed by Abdul Nasser who was elevated to the rank of until a popular referendum held according to the new Colonel in 1951. They participated secretly in the guerilla Constitution on June 24, 1956 resulted in the election of attacks launched against the British in the Suez Canal zone and Gamal Abdul Nasser as President of the Republic. published and distributed leaflets urging the reorganization of the army, armament and training and calling on the rulers to On September 28, 1970, the 52-year old Gamal Abdul stop squandering the resources of the nation and to raise the Nasser suffered a heart attack upon his return from the standard of living of the poor, all of which happened before Cairo Summit to end the Black September conflict between the eruption of the dreadful events in 1952. the Jordanian authorities and the Palestinian organizations. After eighteen years in power, Abdul Nasser, who Clashes between the British forces and the policemen in exemplified anti-imperialist Arab unity, bid farewell to four the city of Ismailia resulted in the shooting dead of 40 million Egyptians on the first of October 1970, and handed Egyptian policemen and sparked a series of wide-scale power to his deputy Mohammad Anwar Sadat.
issue 147 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. Arab World Focus|47
On the Beliefs and Plots of Al-Qaeda (7) Al-Qaeda and Jihad in the Path of Islam
Disclaimer: the views expressed in the article below are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of The Monthly.
Al-Qaeda has paid meticulous attention in its ideologies and doctrines to Jihad, deeming it one of the most merciful laws towards servants despite all the death, the killing of men and the havoc it involves.
The adversaries of this act of worship (jihad) in all of its infidels and the obdurate would only give birth to offspring details, which God ordained, range between fanatics, the in whom they would inculcate unbelief and opposition. wicked and the ignorant, even if ignorance is the common As one generation influences the next, the result would be denominator among them all. Fanatics are the zealots and generations blemishing the earth and spreading unbelief the foolish among the indigenous infidels among Jews and and corruption among mankind. Not only that, they would Christians and others who accused Islam, in all its principles, even try to stir a fitna among the few believers, either by of cruelty and mercilessness and whose stupidity is a source pressuring them directly or by the fitna of exalting unbelief of complaint even among their own people. As for the wicked, and its people in the eyes of the feeble few among believers. they belong to the same class as the previous one and are those Eternal hellfire in the afterlife is the destiny awaiting them who say that Islam is a religion of mercy and peace yet view all- the unbelievers and those who stir fitna and desert from jihad as fanatical and radical with no connection whatsoever the believing few. The laws of the prophets have no other to Islam. As for those who combine fanaticism, wickedness, option to fend off this hardship than to appeal to God to bring ignorance and stupidity, or show some of that, they are our down his severest punishment on unbelievers, even if there fellow men who follow the Sunna of those who went before were millions of them. Thus, God sends down a grievous us. Among them are those who fully apostatize such as the punishment that is commensurate with his might and wrath nationalist, democratic and Baathist parties. Among them are on those who have violated his sanctity and fought his allies; those who stray from the right path such as peaceful Islamic It is a punishment that shall serve the justice which is missing movements. The difference though is that despite their denial from earth. of offensive jihad as part of the sharia of Islam, the apostate parties do acknowledge and call for defensive jihad, even Jihad for the sake of God is a greater mercy to humanity if to varying degrees. On the other hand, peaceful Islamic than the awful torment of God being sent down directly movements express theoretical recognition of both offensive upon them. God decreed for this nation to torture those who and defensive jihad but establish for such a jihad conditions deserve torture at the hands of believers. Sometimes God which have never been met since the advent of the revelation. pours down his punishment when believers hesitate or fail Moreover, what they say is incompatible with the mercy that to practice jihad or He pours it down partially as an aid to is meant to thwart corruption jihadis when they become vulnerable, this being one of the laws of missionary activities. He, exalted is He, said “Fight Our point of focus here is to demonstrate how all of these them; Allah will punish them by your hands and will disgrace kinds of unbelievers, apostates, and errant men have adopted them and give you victory over them and satisfy the breasts methods that brought misery to humanity and that alienated of a believing people. And remove the fury in the believers’ it from the mercy bestowed by God and how the method of hearts. And Allah turns in forgiveness to whom He wills; and jihad, which Satan has depicted in the minds of men as being Allah is Knowing and Wise.” filled with killing and blood, is in fact the most merciful of all and the most keen on avoiding bloodshed. And He, exalted is He, said: Say, “Do you await for us except one of the two best things while we await for you that Allah First, we must all know that the creator of this immense and will afflict you with punishment from Himself or at our wondrous world can only carry attributes of perfection and hands? So wait; indeed we, along with you, are waiting,” have perfection in His attributes. It is out of his abounding God said. mercy towards his servants that God has imposed the benefits of religious obligations on them through the tongue God wielded the sword to stop the unbelievers in their tracks, of their Prophet. By testing all the prophets who preceded, prevent their advance and guide those who are willing to the wisdom of God in legislating became known to all. repent among them. But from the wrath which had previously Despite the mercy of God in sending prophets to mankind, descended (the flood of Noah), none were spared except the the majority of people followed Satan and opposed the believers. prophets. Before sending down the law of jihad, God wanted to show mankind what would happen without jihad to make Among the swords of Muslims that descended upon those them realize the absolute wisdom of the almighty lawgiver. who justly deserved them as an act of mercy towards The result was terrible: foolish and stubborn opposition from humanity: most of the people and the followers of Satan until things became difficult for the prophets when they saw that the A sword raised against the polytheists among the Arabs until situation was deteriorating day after day and realized that the they were converted to Islam. He, exalted is He, said “And
issue 147 | October 2014 48|Arab World Focus
when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists among the major reasons that lead God to pour his wrath wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them upon the nation, either by pitting subjects against each other and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they or by emboldening the enemies of God against us or by should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] other means such as sending killers, natural disasters such as on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” earthquakes and the like. A sword raised against Jews, Christians and polytheists It is strange that these peaceful Islamic movements scorn among the non-Arabs until they convert to Islam or are putting their hands in the hands of monotheists and jihadists. enslaved or subjugated. They are those who revile God by They even point to their war and extermination as proof that attributing a child to Him or joining partners to Him. He, they are the cause of death for the nation- as they alleged- exalted is He, said “Fight those who do not believe in Allah while they have no problem putting their hands in the hands or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what of those sects, factions, political parties and Christians who Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do committed the most heinous and abominable massacres. not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while Humanity is moving from unbelief to deeper unbelief. He they are humbled. The Jews say, “Ezra is the son of Allah “; who has observed the conditions of the West in the past and the Christians say, “The Messiah is the son of Allah .” few decades may clearly notice the levels of unbelief and That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the depravity, which one generation after the other have been saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May Allah dragged to; they even believe that they are progressing destroy them; how are they deluded?” while their unbelief is becoming more deeply rooted day after day. As for our nation, it is also moving from erroneous Out of mercy towards those who came after them, the sword conduct to worse erroneous conduct through unbelief and fell upon them so that those whom God has destined to depravity. People are obsessed with engaging in usury and guidance among them would return. following secular laws. All this will result in punishment in both this life and the next. One of the punishments of this A sword fell upon the abstainers among those who were life is empowering someone to cost mankind many more associated with the qibla. If their fitna became widespread, casualties in Jihad and in the path of elevating the religion they would inflict humanity with torment. Let us take usury of God. All of this has been ordained by God to His servants. as an example. As Shaykh Al-Islam said, it is the last of This is the reason He decreed fighting so that He may deter forbidden things and a sin committed with the accord of two the harm of unbelievers and torment whomsoever he wishes parties. He, exalted is He, said: “O you who have believed, or forgive whomsoever by his abounding mercy from among do not devour usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah those He knows deserve guidance. Therefore, the solution that you may prosper and fear the fire prepared for the and the cure for all that is for the missionaries to fight in the unbelievers.” fullest sense of the word, for in that, is an absolute mercy for servants so that people would be dragged to Paradise Thus the sword fell upon the countrymen of the Muslims in chains on the Day of Resurrection, as is in the hadith. If as mercy to them had they committed the grave sin. Among there is a legitimate feebleness, then feebleness should be the other swords in connection to the previous sword is the lifted. One might say, where is the da’wah and where is the sword raised against every apostate, ruler or subject, who commanding of virtue and its phases? I say, the da’wah has a knows this religion then deserts it, instigating fitna among role that those who abstain from battles are yet to understand. believers and spreading corruption and oppression on earth. Forbidding vice and commanding virtue has also a role that they still do not understand. All the slaughters committed throughout human history combined are no match for what the Christians and the An example of collaboration between Islamic movements Jews have inflicted on themselves and on Muslims in the and the enemies of Muslims: twentieth century alone. Even the people most notorious for their brutality, such as the Tartars, did not cause as When jihad flared up in Egypt in the early 1990s, the Brethren much bloodshed as the Christians and the Jews did. They met Shenuda, head of the Orthodox sect, the largest Christian squandered their own funds and those of the Muslims – sect in Egypt, who had distributed to Christians recorded which in fact belong to God, on promoting blasphemy tapes in which he explicitly cursed the Messenger. It was also and debauchery while millions of people died of famine at proven that in the 1970s he used to stack weapons and direct alarming rates that would be beyond belief if they were to be conspiracies, such as what happened in Al-Zawiya Al-Hamra recorded in a single book. and what followed. Even before his direct encounter with the Brethren, he slandered our religion, ridiculing some of the As for the nationalists, Baathists and Democrats, the decline sharia laws which deny non-believers allegiance. in faith and the loss of life that they have wreaked on the nation were tragic to the extent that one’s hair would stand He also believed that it was impossible to apply sharia in Egypt on end. Saddam, Assad, Moubarak, Fahd and the Yemeni on account of his rejection of that law so that Christians would Socialist Party have claimed more lives than all those lost in not become second-class citizen. The Brethren joined with this the jihadist wars of this century. The only difference is that criminal in order to condemn terrorism and when they came in the former killed people for the sake of the devil whereas to see him, he responded: “Is he who does that someone who jihadists killed for the sake of justice and the religion of God. drank from the Nile of Egypt and was raised upon its soil?!” They said ‘no, he is not a son of this nation’ and so on. The The abandonment of jihad on the part of the peaceful Islamic Brethren forgot that God is the creator of this Nile and of all the movements and their call on the nation to follow suit are riches that they attribute to this soil and this nation.
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Real Estate Prices in August 2014 Towards
The real estate market saw significant Some apartments sold in August 2014 Table 2 momentum in the second half of August Region Area (m2) Price (USD) USD/m2 2014 when compared both to the first half and to Beirut the preceding month. Market players believed that Ashrafieh (Spinneys) 150 367,500 2,450 this recovery was a natural result, following the slowdown recorded in summer, which, in the past, Ashrafieh (Al-Nassira) 160 400,000 2,500 used to be the most active season. There does not Mar Elias 140 420,000 3,000 seem to be, however, promising signs for the future Ras Nabee (Mohammad Hout) 175 420,000 2,400 months amidst the continuing tensions in Syria, the Clemenceau 170 646,000 3,800 presidential vacuum and the security turbulence. Baabda Prices maintained stable levels with slight increases Ain Roummaneh 150 300,000 2,000 varying between 1% and 5% depending on the Loueizy 160 256,000 1,600 area. Hazmieh (Mar Taqla) 190 380,000 2,000 Hadath 110 154,000 1,400 Tables 1 and 2 illustrate the prices of some estates and apartments sold in August 2014. Yarzi 500 1,500,000 3,000 Mraijeh 140 140,000 1,000 Furn Chebbak 160 320,000 2,000 Prices of some estates sold in August 2014 Table 1 Jomhour 125 225,000 1,800 Region Area (m2) Price (USD) USD/m2 Matn Beirut Monteverde 200 300,000 1,500 Ashrafieh (Geitawi) 305 1,830,000 6,000 Mansourieh 250 337,500 1,350 Bourj Hammoud 150 330,000 2,200 Hamra 300 3,000,000 10,000 Broummana 200 460,000 2,300 Baabda Awkar 140 140,000 1,000 Furn Chebbak 820 2,788,000 3,400 Antelias 145 233,600 1,600 Jal El-Dib 150 240,000 1,600 Hazmieh (Mar Taqla) 1,000 2,500,000 2,500 Aley Matn Khaldeh (Haroun Rashid) 150 210,000 1,400 Fanar 920 1,840,000 2,000 Bshamoun (Madares) 180 180,000 1,000
Monteverde 2,500 1,300,000 520 Choueifat 130 143,000 1,100 Bshamoun (Yahoudiyeh) 170 170,000 1,000 Zaarour 1,050 157,500 150 Doha Aramoun 150 150,000 1,000 Aley Kessrouan Doha Hoss 1,250 1,000,000 800 Ghazir 180 216,000 1,200 Ballouneh 200 270,000 1,350 Aley 810 137,700 170 Shaileh 140 210,000 1,500 Kessrouan Sarba 170 187,000 1,100 Adma 1,070 1,337,500 1,250 Source: Compiled by Information International- August 2014
Faraya 600 210,000 350 38,949 sale transactions reportedly worth USD 5.1 Ballouneh 980 637,000 650 billion have been recorded from the beginning of Source: Compiled by Information International- August 2014 the year until the end of July compared to 38,127 transactions during the same period last year.
issue 147 | October 2014 50| Did you know that?
Diabetes Worldwide
Diabetes, as defined by the International Diabetes Just 30 minutes of exercise per day can reduce Federation, is “a chronic disease that occurs when the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 40% the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the Saudi Arabia has the highest prevalence of diabetes insulin it produces.” This leads to increased levels in the Middle East and North Africa with 23.87% of of blood glucose, which, eventually can bring its residents affected by the disease. about failure of various organs and tissues. 1 in 10 people in the Middle East and North Africa Around 382 million people in the world are living have diabetes. with diabetes. An estimated 592 million people will be living with diabetes in the year 2035. In the next 10 years, that rate of deaths due to diabetes is projected to increase by 10%. By the year 2030 it is 46% of diabetes cases are undiagnosed expected to become the 7th leading cause of death. In the Middle East and North Africa region, diabetes Diabetes significantly increases one’s risk for accounted for 50% of the deaths in people under developing cardiovascular disease (CVD): CVD the age of 60 in the year 2013, while, in North accounts for 50-80% of deaths in people with diabetes. America, it accounted for 38% of the deaths. The statistics above were retrieved from: 80% of type 2 diabetes is preventable by changing http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/diabetes/facts/en/ diet, increasing physical activity and improving the IDF Diabetes Atlas Sixth Edition, International Diabetes Federation 2013 living environment. https://www.idf.org/sites/default/files/DA6_Regional_factsheets_0.pdf
Beirut International Airport Beirut International Airport Rafic Hariri International Airport Traffic- July 2014
642,371 is the number of Rafic Hariri International Airport Traffic in July 2014 compared to June 2014 Table 1 passengers handled by Rafic and July 2013 Hariri International Airport in July % of change % of change 2014, which is a record number Traffic June 2014 July 2014 July 2013 June/July 2014 July 2013/2014 compared to the traffic registered in June 2014 (610,170 passengers) Arriving airplanes 2,770 3,081 2,913 + 11.2 + 5.7 and July 2013 (581,311 passengers). Compared to the Departing airplanes 2,785 3,075 2,917 + 10.4 + 5.4 number of travellers in June 2014 Total no. of airplanes 5,555 6,156 5,830 + 10.8 + 5.6 and July 2013, the passenger traffic in July this year increased by 5.3% Arriving passengers 324,945 376,277 305,077 + 15.8 + 23.3 and 10.5% respectively. Departing passengers 283,383 265,266 275,022 - 6.4 - 3.5 From the beginning of the year until July 2014, a total of 3,563,671 Transit passengers 1,842 828 1,212 - 55 - 31.7 passengers used the airport, Total no. of passengers 610,170 642,371 581,311 + 5.3 + 10.5 compared to 3,555,772 during the same period last year, i.e. up by 7899 Imported goods (per ton) 5,205.6 4,862.1 4,733 - 6.6 + 2.7 passengers or 0.2%. The traffic hit its peak on Friday, July 25 when the Exported goods (per ton) 3,394.8 3,380.6 4,333.3 - 0.4 - 22 airport handled 27,228 passengers- 16,943 of those were arrivals whilst Total amount of goods 8,600.4 8,242.7 9,066.3 - 4.1 - 9.1 the number departing was 10,285. Source: Information International based on the Civil Aviation Directorate General. Stats & Numbers |51
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LBP 72 million are the fees that Publications by Publications by Kutub (in Arabic): were paid for the services of the Information International (in Arabic): administrative decentralization 1- May Ziadeh, Evolution of a Free Female Thinker 1- Salaries and Remunerations in the Public Sector committee members, except 2- Mission in Hijaz - Lion Roche the committee’s chairman, 2- Public Seaside Properties Ziah Baroud. The committee, 3- Aleppo Cuisine 3- Lebanon’s Parliamentary History 1920-2000 which consisted of 10 members 4- From An-Nabk to Florida selected according to sectarian 4- Taxes and Fees 5- Institution of Aesthetic Discourse -Saad el-Kassab and political quotas, was formed 5- Lebanon in Figures 1992-2002 in 2012 and completed its work in 6- Al A’mal Al She’rya Al-Kamila -Kamal Keir beik 2014 after 47 meetings. 6- Lebanon in Figures 2003-2004 7- Majhoulat Gibran 7- Lebanon in Figures 2005-2006 22 is the number of the Grade 8- Lebanon in Figures 2007-2008 8- Shweir and Its Hills, A phtographic record 3 employees who passed the examination held by the Civil 9- Lebanon’s MPs and Lebanese Parliamentary 9- The Wars of Lajat 1837-1838 Service Board to fill the vacancies Elections 1960 - 2009 10- New Funerary Phoenician Stelae, Private Collection at the Central Administration of 10- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, Statistics. Only two of the hired candidate and confession-North District employees are Christian while the 11- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, rest are Muslim. candidate and confession-Beirut District
12- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, 760 is the number of employees candidate and confession-Mount Lebanon District who entered the banking sector in 2013, raising the total workforce 13- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, candidate and confession-Beqa’a District in the sector to 23,136. 14- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, candidate and confession-South and Nabatiyeh District LBP 13 billion is the advance granted by the government to 15- Municipal Elections 2010 the Higher Relief Committee to compensate for the damage caused by the explosions in Beqa’a and the Cité Sportive Publications by INMA (in Arabic): clashes. 1- “I am Responsible, All of Us are Responsible” 2- “Our Environment is Our Home” LBP 4.2 million is the monthly remuneration paid to five 3- “My Society is My Responsibility” employees (four from the Ministry 4- “My Society is My Responsibility” Workbook To Subscribe: of Finance and one from the 5- “I am a Student, I am a Citizen: Ways Towards Al-Borj Building, 4th Floor, Martyrs Square Ministry of Tourism) making State Building” Beirut Central District Telephone: 961-1-983008/9 961-3-262376 up the committee tasked with 6- “I am a Student, I am a Citizen: Ways Towards Fax: 961-1-980630 supervising Casino du Liban’s State Building” Workbook [email protected] investment agreement with the 7- “Lebanon Wars, why?” www.monthlymagazine.com www.information-international.com state. 8- Discrimination in Lebanon © Information International SAL All rights reserved License No. 180/2003
Syria and the French Mandate- 1920-1923
Only a few people are fully acquainted with the intellectual, literary and political works of Dr. Khalil Saadeh, father of Antoun Saadeh (founder of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party). Out of their awareness to the cultural and historical significance of Dr. Saadeh’s remnants, Badr el-Hage and Salim Mujaes have embarked on collecting the scattered articles and works of Saadeh in several volumes, with a view to honor the intellectual legacy of this man and revive the values and principles he espoused. The second volume entitled Syria and the French Mandate- 1920-1923 is published by the Saadeh Cultural Foundation and it contains a series of the political articles written by Saadeh in Al-Jarida. In these articles, Khalil Saadeh launched a campaign against French occupiers, employing his pen and thoughts at the service of liberty and independence.
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