DAILY SCOPE: Gas Exploration Tool for Political Naturalization, Illegal Internet Scandal Investigations Not Serious

Local Editor

LEBANESE DAILIES:

AS-SAFIR:

Russian-US Plan: Demarcating Borders of Challenge in Syria?

Cabinet Carries Out Its Financial Duty: Illusionary Budget!

AN-NAHAR:

Fear in Eastern Aleppo as Syrian Army Encircles It

AL-AKHBAR:

US Wants Lebanese-‘Israeli' Cooperation in Exporting Oil... Washington: Gas for Naturalization

Golan Warplane Exposes ‘Israeli' Readiness for War

AL-BINAA:

US-Russian Understanding Draws Scenario for Coming Months, Contains Turkish Change on the Regional Level

AL-JOMHOURIA:

Lebanon's Oil Burning Politically

AD-DIYAR:

Hariri Has Regrets... He Will Not Abandon Politics

Lebanese newspapers on Tuesday discussed different regional and domestic topics, including the latest events in the Turkish arena. On the domestic level, the newspapers touched on the illegal internet scandal and its "not so serious" investigations after almost five months of investigations.

The newspapers also followed up on the presidential void in the country and the possibility of electing a president from outside the four Christian main poles in Lebanon, which seems to be the only solution.

AL-BINAA: To Find President from Outside Christian Four Poles

Sources close to the Maronite Patriarchy in Bkerki told al-Binaa newspaper on Tuesday that the "discussions that took place between MP Walid Jumblatt and the Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai focused on the presidential file and the possibility of finding a president from outside the four Christian poles in Lebanon."

The sources quoted the conferees as saying that "If a president is not elected by August, the country will head to chaos and collapse on all levels."

Moreover, sources assured that Jumblatt did not nominate head of the Free Patriotic Party Gen. Michel Aoun for presidency, assuring that the patriarchy wants a president as soon as possible regardless of his name.

The sources further explained that any agreement between Aoun and Head of the Future Party Saad Hariri over the presidency will see light in August and if it does not succeed then, it will not happen anytime in the future. Also, the sources explained that electing a president from outside the four Christian poles should not be a threat or source of worry to any side in the country.
The presidential vacuum entered its third year in May 2016, and is likely to drag on for probably another year.

On another note, al-Binaa Lebanese daily said that the telecoms committee will convene today to listen to the results of the latest investigations on the illegal internet network file. This comes after the security apparatuses and judicial body carried out investigations during the past couple of weeks.

Sources quoted House Speaker Nabih Berri as saying that he had asked head of the telecoms committee MP Hassan Fadlallah and the members if the committee to follow up on the case and make sure they do not subjugate to political pressure or attempts of wrapping up the case.

AL-AKHBAR: US Using Gas as Tool for Political Naturalization

Al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday said that ‘Israel' has been acting in a hastily manner in terms of benefiting from the gas riches found in the east of the Mediterranean.

According to the paper, the goal of investing the riches is not only economic, but also includes an attempt of political naturalization with neighboring countries with Lebanon topping the list. The paper assures that the American side wants a deal that guarantees a Lebanese-‘Israeli' cooperation to export gas and decrease the cost entailed on ‘Israel' in terms of the exploring and exporting of gas. The newspaper stressed that the gas is a tool of naturalization in the hands of America.

The daily went on to say "In the year 2000, the resistance kicked ‘Israel' out from the Fatima gate in South Lebanon and closed the door before the allegedly invincible army. 16 years later, the US wants ‘Israel' to peek again from the maritime borders and create cooperation between Lebanon and the ‘Israeli' regime in terms of exporting gas, hence impose naturalization and make it a norm."

AS-SAFIR: Judiciary not Serious Enough in Internet Scandal Investigations

Back to the illegal internet file, As-Safir newspaper said that the parliamentary joint committee convenes a meeting today after a long break relatively, to discuss the results of investigations carried out on the scandal. The newspaper said nevertheless, no real progress has been made after 5 months to the surfacing of the scandal.

Sources from the joint committee told As-Safir newspaper that the Judiciary lacks seriousness in its performance, and that it could have been more decisive and firm in dealing with the suspects or in revealing the true identity of masterminds involved in the case to which a blind eye is being set.

Also, As-Safir came to know that the state attorney filed a lawsuit against "Studio Vision" company, demanding redemption of 60 million dollars for the exploitation of international calls during the period between 2013 and 2016.

The Lebanese government has been investigating illegal internet companies for the past couple of months but sources say that the case is not being taken seriously. The scandal includes illegal large communication devices and towers installed in several areas across Lebanon and a 40GB per second bandwidth bought from Turkey and Cyprus and equivalent to 1/3 of the bandwidth set by the Telecom ministry.

The illegal internet case shook Lebanon in March raising questions on how the equipment made it to Lebanon and questioned possible ‘Israeli' espionage.

Source: al-Ahed News