BEIRUT: MP Walid Jumblatt has held talks over the weekend with Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah on the presidential election, the Israeli war on Gaza and the turmoil in Syria and Iraq. It was the first meeting between the two leaders in more than two years following tension over the conflict in Damascus. Meanwhile,… اقرأ المزيد
BEIRUT: Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah vowed Friday all means of support for Hamas and other Palestinian factions whom he declared victorious after 18 days of devastating Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardment targeting the Gaza Strip. Nasrallah made a rare public appearance to address his supporters at a rally marking “Jerusalem Day and… اقرأ المزيد
Those watching the terrible situation in Gaza today are focusing on whether or not the parties can agree to a humanitarian cease-fire that would also trigger negotiations on more profound issues of disagreement, to try and resolve the underlying conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. This conflict has some common elements with the chaotic situations in… اقرأ المزيد
Hasan Lakkis BEIRUT: In a marathon session, the Cabinet unanimously approved Thursday the thorny Lebanese University decree, appointing deans to the institution’s council and making contract-based professors full-timers, after years of disputes and struggles over the issue. The Cabinet also allocated funds to pay salaries to public sector employees. “The Cabinet agreed to appoint deans… اقرأ المزيد
Given recent German indignation about the National Security Agency, it has been easy to overlook the fact that for decades the German government has cooperated extensively with the NSA on surveillance activities. But after a high-level meeting in Berlin this week, this long-standing but veiled cooperation may have a firmer legal and political base.The two… اقرأ المزيد
The war in Gaza continues while the outcome remains uncertain. But from the Israeli perspective, the conflict must appear increasingly worrisome, despite the successes of the Iron Dome system. The reason is that few conflicts have better illustrated the void and contradictions at the heart of Israel’s approach to the Palestinians.The contradictions first. The Israelis… اقرأ المزيد