DAILY SCOPE: Lebanon celebrates 2000 Liberation Anniversary Berri’s Initiative in the Limelight

Local Editor

LEBANESE DAILIES:

AS-SAFIR:

2016: Liberation: Deterring "Israel"...Chasing Takfiris

A Battle towards Raqqa with American Cover

AL-AKHBAR:

May 2000: Withdrawal was Not an "Israeli" Decision

Banks to Hizbullah: We Abide by Salameh's Decision

Heating Battle in Aleppo and Ghouta, Iraqi Advances in Falluja, Saudi Escalation in Yemen

Nasrallah Draws Resistance's Rules of Engagement

AD-DIYAR:

American Green Light to Berri's Initiative

AL-LIWAA:

Isolating Falluja in Preparation for Entering it, International Concern over Civilians

Suleimani in Fallujah to Oversee Battles

Lebanese newspapers on Wednesday discussed several domestic and regional issues, with focus on the commemoration of the 2000 liberation of South Lebanon when "Israel" withdrew after long years of occupation.

The newspapers stressed that today the resistance is only fulfilling the duty of protecting Lebanon as it confronts the Takfiri and extremist forces in Syria in light of a weak state that is incapable of performing its duties.

AS-SAFIR: Resistance Confrontation in Eastern Lebanon Continuation to 2000 Liberation

When Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah appears to deliver a speech today from Lebanon's Nabi Sheeth town in the Beqaa to commemorate the anniversary of the 2000 liberation of Lebanon from "Israeli" occupation, he will be addressing the people of that area, who just like the people of South Lebanon, sacrificed for the sake of the resistance.

As-Safir newspaper said on Wednesday that "the people of the Beqaa are also facing a danger at their eastern borders which is not less serious than that of "Israel" today."

Visualizing the scene, As-Safir wrote "It is as if that photograph of the resistance fighter who had carried the Hizbullah flag in "Saf al-Hawa" 16 years ago in Bint Jubeil is complemented by the picture of the resistance fighter who carried the flag of the resistance in the strategic Moussa mount in the heights of Qalamoun across the Northern Beqaa as the resistance forces confronted the terrorist organizations [especially Daesh and al-Nusra] last year."

The newspaper explained that in light of the absence of a state that is capable of protecting and liberating its land, Hizbullah was obliged to take the responsibility of confronting the Takfiri extremists, just like it confronted the "Israeli" occupation and forced it to withdraw from its land back in 2000. [Despite being busy with confronting terrorism] Hizbullah did not neglect its duty in protecting the Southern borders of Lebanon; it rather increased its readiness and capabilities in the area which guarantees a strong defense system in face of the constant "Israeli" threats."

"The resistance fighters at the Eastern borders of Lebanon are completing the task of the fighters at the end of South in Naqoura and Kafarshouba who are busy protecting Lebanon, without neglecting Beirut's Southern Suburbs [Dahiyeh] where they have been preventing any Takfiri attacks, and this takes place in complete cooperation and coordination with the Lebanese Army and the state's institutions," As-Safir went on to say.

On a related note, As-Safir said that the deterrence system enforced by the resistance in Lebanon makes the spot of South Lebanon the most secure and safe place in the entire Middle East, adding that "the UNIFIL and Resolution 1701 are of importance as well in these terms."

AL-AKHBAR: "Israel's" Withdrawal in 2000 was Not a Matter of Choice

Al-Akhbar newspaper said on Wednesday that back on 25 May 2000; "Israel" had no choice but to withdraw from South Lebanon without any conditions. The "bleeding" "Israel" suffered at the time was more than it could handle; its impact was stronger than all the choices it had resorted to in Lebanon including the killing of civilians, their abduction, the massacres and displacement it inflicted upon them, the large-scale military operations particularly the 1993 and 1996 operations which altogether turned the table over and allowed the resistance to set its own rules of engagement into action."

The newspaper noted that "The "Israeli" withdrawal was not a choice; it was the result of the action of the armed resistance and the blood and sacrifices of its martyrs and fighters without which Lebanon would not have had ambitions to see this day of liberation."

AL-LIWAA: Berri's Initiative on Presidential Elections Should be Taken Seriously

Acting US Ambassador to Lebanon Richard Jones Tuesday called for Lebanese leaders to seriously consider Speaker Nabih Berri's recent proposal calling for early legislative elections.

Sources told Al-Liwaa newspaper on Wednesday that the new initiative presented by House Speaker Berri on the parliamentary elections "will start off by either setting a new electoral law or sticking to the 1960 electoral law, which will be followed by an instant election of a President after the MPs pledge to provide quorum in the first session designed to elect a president."

Berri's proposal, which was announced last week, calls for parliamentary elections to be conducted earlier than June 2017, where they are currently scheduled to be held. If rival factions were unable to agree to a new voting law, parliamentary elections will be held based on the old and contested 1960 system.

Last month, Berri stressed that he would not call for a parliamentary session before joint parliamentary committees finish their discussions over a new electoral law to replace the 1960 voting system, which calls for electoral districts to be based on the constituents.

Source: al-Ahed News