DAILY SCOPE: Future Party Gambling on Lebanon’s Stability

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

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AN-NAHAR:

Cabinet Wobbling Not Toppled...Today-Hariri: Clear Stance or WE Will Have another Say

AL-AKHBAR:

March 14 Escalations: Decision for Major Confrontation or Postponing Municipal Elections? Future Party Threatens to Paralyze Government

AL-BINAA:

Kerry, Lavrov Acknowledge Assad Conditions of Ceasefire...Oil Prices Discussed in Salman-Putin Meeting

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AL-JOMHOURIA:

Lebanon's Riches between Internal Comedy and "Israeli" Greed

AL-LIWAA:

"ISIS" Hits Seyeda Zeinab Area [in Damascus] and Aleppo: 142 Dead

On the backdrop of talks about ceasefire in Syria, and in light of the repercussions of cancelling the Saudi military gift to Lebanon and the rhetorical escalation of March 14 camp, the Lebanese council of ministers will meet this morning in an exceptional session, and in absence of the Future party minister of Justice Ashraf Rifi who declared his resignation on Sunday.

Lebanese newspapers on Monday reflected different anticipations to whether the government will remain to function or whether it will be dissolved soon. Such anticipations depend on the attitude of MP Saad Hariri, who demonstrated a clear escalation and war of words on Sunday.

AL-JOMHOURIA: Lebanese Fragile Status-Quo Cannot Tolerate "Chatter"

Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri told al-Jomhouria newspaper that the cabinet session to be held today, Monday is vital to underline Lebanon's foreign policy, which is based on the dissociation policy from the Syrian crisis as well as supporting Arab consensus on joint issues. He said that after the Lebanese government has declared a unified stance, a delegation should head to Saudi Arabia to put back the Lebanese-Saudi relations into place.

The official, and in response to a question on the Saudi aid suspension, told the newspaper that he is surprised at what he termed as "the chatter".

He warned that the Lebanese fragile status-quo cannot tolerate such political talk and might lead to strife at the end of the day.

Berri also stressed that Iran, which represents a major regional power has assured numerous times its keenness on having good relations with Riyadh, even when the Saudi embassy was attacked in Tehran, Iran's official stance was a clear condemnation to the act in which many were arrested.

"It is very normal that we adhere to bridges of cooperation and communication with Arab countries," Berri said adding "Is Lebanon stronger than Iran so that each politician acts according to his own interest?"

AS-SAFIR: Rifi Resignation to Appease Riyadh or Blow in Face of Hariri

Lebanese Justice Minsiter Ashraf Rifi, one of the staunch defenders and allies of Future Party head Saad Hariri declared his resignation from the government on Sunday, without prior consultation or notice.

According to As-Safir newspaper, Rifi by this "not very surprising" action caused serious confusion among the lines of the Future party. Sources interpreted Rifi's resignation as one of two: either that Rifi wanted to "sell" Saudi Arabia a pre-emptive stance that goes along with its suspension of the Lebanese Army aid, where he might have gotten green light from some Saudi leaderships after discussing the matter with them, or that the resignation is actually a blow in the face of Saad Hariri, due to the differences between Rifi and Hariri which has created a major rift between the two men.

The paper added that the deterioration of relations between Hariri and Rifi was clear, and was interpreted when Rifi refused to receive Saad Hariri in Tripoli even though Hariri had informed the former that he was going to pay a visit to Tripoli.

Lebanese Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi resigned from government on Sunday in light of "the national crisis caused by the de facto powers."

AL-AKHBAR: Questions on Future Party Rhetorical Escalation

Questions have risen on the adventure led by the Future party; particularly on whether such an attitude was part of a gamble on the fragile stability in Lebanon, al-Akhbar newspaper said on Monday.

The newspaper drew question marks around the party's latest stances and positions, noting that such rhetorical escalation might be only to appease the Saudi regime or bring benefit to the party in some "small files" such as the upcoming municipal elections.

Political parties in the country said that Saudi Arabia wants to continue its escalation in Syria and its surrounding areas, which includes bringing tension to the Lebanese arena. Such escalation might reach gambling on Lebanon's stability in order to pressure the resistance movement Hizbullah and distract it from carrying out its vital role in Syria. Al-Akhbar said that Saudi Arabia might have sent Saad Hariri back to Lebanon for this very goal.

Yet, the majority of political powers in Lebanon agree that Riyadh cannot pressure Lebanon into a political confrontation that would impact its security, because that would not be in the interest of its allies in Lebanon as well, but it rather wants to pressure Hizbullah to pave the way for the March 14 camp and the Future party to reach political gains in the country.

Al-Akhbar summed up the Saudi attitude and its attempt to cause tension in Lebanon: All Lebanese political powers should remain silent on the crimes committed by the Saudi regime in the region, such as its war on Yemen, otherwise, the "social security" of the Lebanese people who live in the Gulf countries will be in jeopardy.

Source: al-Ahed News