DAILY SCOPE: Illegal Internet Network Might be ’Israeli’ Espionage
Local Editor
NEWSPAPER HEADLINES:
AS-SAFIR:
"Internet Mafia": Violation of State and Security of Citizens
Yemen: Will Test of "Intentions" Stop the Aggression?
AN-NAHAR:
Syrian Talks Start on March 14, Washington Resumes Training Opposition
AL-AKHBAR:
Who Stands Behind the Suspected Internet Network?!
AL-BINAA:
Russia, Iran Exchange Roles in Opening Backdoors for Saudi Arabia, Turkey
AL-JOMHOURIA:
Washington To Riyadh: Do No Leave Ground For "Hizbullah"
AL-LIWAA:
Biden in Tel Aviv to Appease Netanyahu
AD-DIYAR:
Gulf Escalation Expands on Media, Sports Level...Egyptian Attempts to Assuagement
On Wednesday the 3rd of September 2016, Lebanese newspapers issued in Beirut discussed several topics of which most notably was the revelation of the "mafias" breaching Lebanon's internet services through the blatant use of stations and antennas that are not subject to the supervision of the state.
This issue propelled the parliamentary media committee headed by MP Hassan Fadlullah to hold a press conference, since this network can possibly be an "Israeli" espionage network breaching the privacy of the Lebanese people.
Also, newspapers discussed the waste crisis, which has become the chronic disease hitting Lebanon hard. The dailies as well anticipated what will happen at the Arab Ministerial league meeting in Cairo.
AL-BINAA: Internet Network Might be "Israeli" Espionage through Cyprus
An internet network scandal surfaced on Tuesday in Lebanon, after companies set up massive equipment in rural areas to take Internet services from outside Lebanon and then provide citizens with the service in an illegal way.
Al-Binaa newspaper quoted MP Hassan Fadlullah as saying that the case is very dangerous, and that it has a security dimension, warning that the Barouk network maybe violated.
Stressing that the dossier has been put in the right hands for scrutiny and follow up, Fadlullah added "There is a huge Israeli spying on Lebanon through what was known as the Barouk network," noting that these illegal service providers might be violated by the "Israeli" enemy.
Military sources told al-Binaa newspaper these networks might be provided by Cyprus. It gives the Lebanese people access to internet services through what is known as "microwave" networks that can disseminate internet access to the Lebanese people. By that, the sources added "every Lebanese connected on the network is open to tapping or espionage, and that is applicable to all smart objects and communication apparatuses.
The source also stressed that the danger of espionage can be imminent, especially because Cyprus has direct connection and relations with "Israel".
AS-SAFIR: Lebanese Consensus Rejects Labelling Hizbullah as Terrorist
Before the ink has even dried on the document in which the Gulf Cooperation Countries decided to label the resistance party Hizbullah as a "terrorist" group, Lebanon stands before a new choice on Thursday, where the Ministerial Arab League meeting is to take place in Cairo, in which Lebanon will be represented by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil.
Despite the fact that a clear agenda has been put for the meeting, yet, according to As-Safir newspaper, any of the participants can tackle the Lebanese file, which from a political angle can be solely a discussion of the stances on labelling Hizbullah as "terrorist", which can make the meeting sensitive.
"Foreign Ministry" sources told the newspaper that the strategy adopted by FM Bassil is based on a policy of "stretching" the diplomatic Lebanese rope and making it as flexible as possible to serve Lebanon's interests.
According to the paper, the interests of Lebanon are not something negotiable and cannot be out at risk, and that is where Bassil's stances come from.
The sources at the foreign ministry further told the paper that there is consensus in Lebanon, where all sides reject the labelling of Hizbullah as a "terrorist" organization, which is something that does not tolerate discussion at all. Therefore, the foreign ministry assured that it cannot approve of any suggestions putting Hizbullah in that context, an idea with which the Lebanese government and politics are in harmony.
Saudi Arabia and fellow Gulf States continue to take punitive measures against Lebanon-including travel bans and the suspension of Riyadh's military aid to the army. Riyadh has publicly expressed its furor over what it termed "regrettable and unjustified" positions taken by Lebanon's Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil against Saudi Arabia in two recent diplomatic summits. But Bassil, along with other Lebanese officials assured the rejection to any labelling to Hizbullah, the legitimate partner in Lebanon's cabinet as a "terrorist" group.
AL-JOMHOURIA: Cabinet Will Not Convene Unless Rivals Resolve Waste Crisis
The waste management plan seems to keep the cabinet session from being convened, as Lebanon's Prime Minister Tammam Salam remained unwavering in his decision not to call for a session on Wednesday unless he was informed the rival parties have come to a final deal among them.
Sources of the Prime Ministry told al-Jomhouria that Salam would neither invite the government to convene nor will he chair the ministerial committee tasked to resolve the waste crisis, unless he receives a final confirmation on the location of the sanitary landfills that will be held to end the crisis.
According to the paper, Salam warned that the government would collapse if the waste management crisis was not resolved soon.
The crisis will be discussed on Wednesday by the rival political leaders in a session of national dialogue headed by the Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri.
The waste management crisis erupted on July 17 following the closure of the Naameh landfill south of Beirut, which had been receiving trash from the capital and Mount Lebanon since 1997. The landfill was meant to operate for only a few years until a comprehensive solution was devised. But the government has so far failed to resolve the issue.
Source: al-Ahed news
