DAILY SCOPE: Assassination of Palestinian Official in Sidon Serves Internal and Foreign Agendas
Local Editor
NEWSPAPER HEADLINES:
AS-SAFIR:
Bloody Message to "Fateh" in Sidon.. Army Warns the "Factions"
Salman and Erdogan: The Profound Coalition
AN-NAHAR:
Cold War Ongoing since 1990, Persists in Striking Institutions
Aleppo Decisive Battles between Government and al-Nusra-
Talks in Geneva and Elections in Syria
AL-AKHBAR:
13 April; Memory of the Victims of War and Peace
Maritime Cable Drama
AL-BINAA:
Istanbul Summit: Saudi Arabia and Iran Face to Face
Lebanese newspapers on Wednesday made room for recalling the civil war which took place 41 years ago and led to the current confessional structure of the country, assuring that the long-term repercussions of the war are ongoing even though people no longer carry rifles and guns on the streets.
The assassination of a senior member of the Palestinian Fateh organization in Lebanon's Sidon was also a station at which the papers stopped, which according to papers has grave implications.
The newspapers also touched on other domestic and regional matters, including the expected meeting between the Maronite patriarch Beshara al-Rai and the Ambassadors of the Gulf Cooperation Council, postponing the thorny files that were supposed to be discussed in the coming cabinet session, and the latest developments related to the Syrian war.
AS-SAFIR: Assassination of Zaydan has Grave Implications, Threatens Lebanon
Lebanese security sources told as-Safir newspaper that the assassination of the Palestinian high-profile figure in the Fateh Palestinian movement has grave implications, stressing that the operation stirs major fears on the Lebanese security level.
An explosion in the southern Lebanon city of Sidon on Tuesday killed Palestinian Fateh movement official identified as Fathi Zydan, who is responsible for the Mieh Mieh Palestinian camp in Sidon.
Sources said that Zaydan was targeted in the explosion that rocked the area, specifically near the Hay al-American roundabout near the southern port city of Sidon.
According to the paper, the sources warned that the ongoing war between the Fateh organization and the Salafist extremist groups might leave the borders of Palestinian camps and start to happen inside Lebanon.
Moreover, the newspaper quoted security sources as saying that "it had warned political Palestinian leaderships during the past 72 hours that the security status inside the Palestinian camps is alarming," and urged them to take the required measures to prevent the camps from turning into a place where all sorts of security breaches can be carried out.
AL-BINAA: Some Parties Work for Favor of Foreign, Internal Agendas
Also commenting on the assassination of Zaydan, the Palestinian official and head of the Palestinian security in Lebanon Sobhi Abu Arab told al-Binaa newspaper on Wednesday that "targeting Zaydan aims at creating tension and problems in the Palestinian camps to displace the Palestinian people and disregard their right of return."
"Some sides and parties are working for the favor of internal and external agendas that aim at sabotaging security inside the [Palestinian] camps; Zaydan was one of the people who would always try to fix problems and resolve issues inside the camps, and his assassination serves these agendas," the official told al-Binaa newspaper.
Ain al-Hilweh witnessed skirmishes between rival Palestinian and extremist factions over the past few weeks, and has been repeatedly rocked by gun violence and grenade attacks. It is home to a number of extremist militant groups such as Fatah al-Islam and Jund al-Sham, both considered extremist and terrorist groups in Lebanon.
AL-JOMHOURIA: Maronite Patriarch to Discuss Status of Lebanese Expats with GCC Diplomats
In an important move, the Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai will invite the ambassadors of the Gulf Cooperation Council to Bkirki for a meeting on Thursday, in which the two sides will discuss the status of Lebanese expatriates in the Gulf States, reported al-Jomhouria newspaper on Wednesday.
The Lebanese daily quoted sources as saying that al-Rai's invitation comes as part of the routine meetings that he holds with the representatives of regional and international powers.
"The meeting is considered as very important because it comes after the tensions in Lebanese-Gulf relations, especially after Saudi Arabia's escalation and labelling Hizbullah a terrorist organization," said sources.
On another note, the Cardinal is expected to discuss with the ambassadors the Lebanese presidential deadlock especially that the top Christian post remains empty since Lebanese President Michel Suleiman left office in May 2014.
Anxiety and apprehension are worrying many of the 400,000 Lebanese workers living in the Gulf after last month's announcement by the Gulf Cooperation Council - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar of deporting anyone with alleged links or acquaintances with Hizbullah members or supporters.
Following the announcement, sources said that up to 90 Lebanese nationals working in Saudi Arabia will be sacked and deported as part of the Gulf states' punitive campaign against Lebanon, over what Riyadh sees as the country's "increasing pro-Hizbullah, anti-Saudi posture."
Relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia have been plunged into crisis since Riyadh halted $4 billion in aid to the Lebanese army.
Source: al-Ahed news
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