Day: May 21, 2023

A delegation from the municipality of the French city of Poitier, including Mayor Leonore Moncond Hui, and a number of members of its municipal council, visited the Byblos district at the invitation of Dr. Christian El Khoury. The delegation began its visit in the town of Hasrayel, where it was briefed on a method used in storing rainwater by collecting it from the tents of the protected crops. Then it moved to Bentael, where it visited the reserve and was briefed by the head of the reserve committee, Raymond El-Khoury, on its operation. Then, it headed to the town of Ehmej where it was welcomed by the head of the municipality, Nazih Abi Semaan, and toured the water-collecting ponds at the top of the town. Afterwards, the delegation moved to the town of Jaj, where they examined its perennial oaks and visited the Jaj Cedar Reserve accompanied by its committee members. The delegation expressed admiration for the reserve and promised, after returning to France, to “do everything possible to encourage the French to visit Jbeil, especially the Reserves of Bentael and Cedars of Jaj.” The delegation concluded its visit with a dinner held in its honor by Dr. Khoury at his residence, which was attended by Jbeil MP Simon Abi Ramia and Mayor Wissam Zaarour.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, denounced, in a statement this morning “the storming and vandalism of the Qatari embassy in Khartoum,” calling for respecting the immunity and inviolability of diplomatic relations in accordance with the rules of international law, and the maintenance of diplomatic relations. The ministry also stressed “the importance of the commitment of all Sudanese parties to the declaration of the recent Arab summit in Jeddah in terms of resolving political differences by peaceful means, especially giving priority to the language of dialogue, preserving the unity, sovereignty and stability of brotherly Sudan, and lifting the suffering of its people.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Dozens of hardcore Israeli settlers led by hard-right Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir broke this morning into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem under heavy police protection. This is the second time the hawkish Israeli minister enters the Islamic holy site since he became a cabinet minister. Following Ben-Gvir’s incursion into the holy site, more groups of Israeli Jewish settlers were allowed into the compound and stayed there for some time, where they performed rituals under police protection. Located in occupied Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site for Muslims. It was also Islam’s first Qibla, the direction towards which Muslims must turn to pray, before that was changed to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. Since 2003, the Israeli occupation authorities have been allowing settlers into the compound almost on a daily basis, with the exclusion of Friday, the Muslim day of rest and worship. The Islamic Waqf, in charge of the daily affairs of the holy site, has repeatedly described the settlers’ presence in Al-Aqsa Mosque as provocative, saying that Palestinian worshippers and guards at Al-Aqsa feel uncomfortable with the presence of Israeli police and settlers touring the Islamic holy site. Israel captured East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, during the Six-Day War in 1967 in a move never recognized by the international community.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Beshara Boutros Al-Rahi, asked in his sermon at the Divine Liturgy in Bkirki, where is the political practice in Lebanon in terms of its message and respect for human beings and their rights? Where is citizen development? Where is the provision of peace, justice and security stability? Where are you party officials and what is your loyalty to the citizen in the youth of the country? Al-Rahi said: “It is unfortunate that we do not have a single representative who strongly dares to object to the non-election of the President of the Republic.” On the other hand, Al-Rahi called on “Catholic schools to continue their mission and pursue their work in the service of youth.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The official spokesman for the presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said today, Thursday, that it is the Palestinian people who grant legitimacy in Jerusalem, not Israel or America. Abu Rudeineh added that Jerusalem, with its Islamic and Christian sanctities, is the eternal capital of the State of Palestine, and the Palestinian people are the bearers of legitimacy and historical right to it. He said that the so-called march of the flags is an Israeli provocation and escalation that is condemned and rejected, stressing that these actions do not give legitimacy to anyone, and only the Palestinian people are the owners of the land and the right. Abu Rudeineh held the occupation government fully responsible for this escalation and its repercussions, which will lead to an explosive situation. He added that all the resolutions of international legitimacy, the most important of which is Resolution 2334, declared in an uninterpreted manner that East Jerusalem is an integral part of the land of the State of Palestine occupied in 1967. He said that the US administration does not give legitimacy to anyone, and its silent stance towards the Israeli attacks encouraged the occupation authorities to persist in their attacks and violations against the Palestinian people. Abu Rudeineh praised the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their defense of their land and sanctities, despite all the occupation measures, adhering to their legitimate right to defend their eternal capital, Jerusalem. — Al-Quds

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon