Old enmity tips Lebanon into new crisis

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By Annahar - BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri’s Amal Movement indirectly demanded on Monday a public apology from Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil after the Free Patriotic Movement leader called the speaker a “thug” in a video leaked Sunday night. “We are not among those demanding an apology from Minister Gebran Bassil but if he wishes to apologize, he should do so before the Lebanese and the world,” said Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, Berri’s top political aide. 

Gunfire was heard as Berri supporters gathered in a protest near offices of FPM in Jdeideh, a Christian neighbourhood east of Beirut, drawing soldiers to the area to prevent further trouble, security sources said.

By Tom Perry, Laila Bassam - reuters 

BEIRUT (Reuters) - An old enmity between the Lebanese president and the speaker of parliament is fuelling a political row that threatens to paralyze government and inflame sectarian tension before elections in May. The dispute between President Michel Aoun, a Christian, and the Shi‘ite speaker, Nabih Berri, reflects personal hostility dating to the 1975-90 civil war. It also touches on the balance of power between their sects in a system that shares government participation among religious groups. The tension reached boiling point on Monday as footage of Aoun’s son-in-law, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, calling Berri “a thug” circulated on social media. Berri’s camp reacted with fury, saying Bassil had crossed “red lines”. Supporters of Berri from the Amal movement he has led for decades protested by setting tyres ablaze in Beirut. Gunfire was heard as Berri supporters gathered near offices of Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) in a Christian area east of Beirut. Soldiers deployed to contain tensions, security sources said. The sides traded accusations over the incident. Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri urged calm.

The crisis has spiraled since December, when Aoun signed a decree promoting dozens of army officers without the signature of Shi‘ite Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, a member of Amal and one of his closest aides. Berri has accused Aoun of exceeding his powers at the expense of other sects. The row has shattered the rare moment of national unity that saved Lebanon from strife during the crisis over Hariri’s resignation in November. The tensions have also shaken Aoun’s ties with Iran-backed Hezbollah, whose links to Berri and Amal run much deeper than its political alliance with the FPM, which was founded by Aoun and is now led by Bassil. Bassil expressed regret for his remarks in an interview with the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper, but that did little to resolve the dispute.

Berri and Aoun, both in their 80s, were civil war enemies. The conflict ended in 1990 when the Syrian army forced Aoun, then head of one of two rival governments, from the presidential palace and into exile. Berri emerged from the war as one of the most powerful figures in Lebanon. Aoun only returned to Lebanon in 2005 when the era of Syrian military presence was ended with the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri, which triggered pressure on Damascus to withdraw troops from Lebanon. Helped by his alliance with Hezbollah, Aoun finally realized his long-held ambition of becoming president in 2016 in a deal that made Hariri prime minister. Berri and Amal MPs were among the few not to support Aoun’s candidacy. But and Berri cooperated to help resolve the crisis caused by Hariri’s unexpected resignation in November. And Hariri, Lebanon’s top Sunni, said he was now working on an initiative to end the Aoun-Berri standoff. “The country is not in need of escalation or crisis,” he said.

Hezbollah rejected what it described as an insult to Berri. “This language takes the country toward dangers it could do without,” Hezbollah said in a statement. The FPM accused Amal members of attacking the FPM office east of Beirut, saying they had thrown rocks, burned tyres and opened fire, forcing guards “to defend themselves”. Amal denied this. Hariri hopes to secure international support for Lebanon’s security forces at a Rome conference in February, and billions of dollars of investment in its struggling economy at a Paris conference in late March or early April. But the Aoun-Berri standoff could rumble on until the parliamentary elections, Lebanon’s first since 2009, analysts say.

Women in MENA happier in the workplace despite enduring gender inequality

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By Samar Kadi - BEIRUT - middle-east-online.com

BEIRUT - Working women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region say they are more satisfied with employment conditions as employers become better engaged and committed to workplace equality, a survey by Middle East job site Bayt.com and global online market research company YouGov indicated. However, gender inequality remains a major concern in the region, which has the lowest female economic participation in the world (27% of females in the region participate in the workforce, compared to a global average of 56%). The International Labour Organisation (ILO) underlined that even though women’s education in the Arab world has increased dramatically, this has not led to higher levels of employment. While this is partly due to women being primary caregivers in their families, it is more a result of policies that have not provided women with opportunities and incentives to enter the labour market. Laws, regulations and economic and fiscal policies pose obstacles to realising Arab women’s full economic rights, the ILO said. While educated women in the Arab world are seeking more employment opportunities, they have their reservations about working conditions, which in many contexts fail to include a safe environment and protection from harassment.

Despite the challenges, the Bayt.com and YouGov “Working Women in the Middle East and North Africa” survey indicated that an increasing percentage of working female respondents said women and men are treated equally in the workplace across a variety of areas, including working hours (68%), training and development (68%) and receiving advice and support (60%). “By comparing the findings of this year’s Bayt.com ‘Working Women in the Middle East and North Africa’ survey with last year, we can note several areas of improvement that may suggest the region’s progress on workplace gender equality,” said Ramy Labaky, Bayt.com director in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. “For instance,” Labaky noted, “56% of respondents said female [and] male treatment in the workplace regarding recruitment and selection is equal, up from 44% in 2016.” “A similar trend was noted for several other factors such as career progress, with 51% in 2017 versus 38% in 2016, advice and support, 60% in 2017 versus 50% in 2016, training and development, 68% in 2017 versus 58% in 2016 and benefits, 55% in 2017 versus 44% in 2016,” Labaky said. There are many areas in which women say improvement needs to be made. When it comes to salary, 46% of women asked said they perceive that they are on a par with their male counterparts. “A similar trend but with lesser skew is observed for promotions and career progression, where 29% perceive they have a lower chance of being promoted than their male counterparts,” the report noted. The survey said Lebanon ranked highest in the Middle East in terms of women’s integration in the workplace. It showed that 88% of respondents in Lebanon reported having a mix of men and women in the same workplace, the highest in the region. A large majority (82%) said they were comfortable working in a mixed-gender environment, with two-thirds (66%) claiming to be extremely comfortable; 15% were neutral and 2% said they were uncomfortable.

The top three challenges cited by working MENA women in the survey were “less opportunity for job promotions — 44%, stressful work environment — 37% and insufficient training & coaching — 30%.” Working women in MENA cited top five reasons for seeking employment as seeking financial independence (59%), being able to support and financially contribute to their households (50%), broadening their perspectives on life (46%), making use of their education (42%) and securing a future for their family and children (40%). “It is a given that women play a vital role in the workplace today and we are glad to see that in the MENA region, organisations are doing much more to accommodate women and promote workplace equality,” Rania Nseir, director of business development at Bayt.com, said in a statement. Data for the “Working Women in the Middle East and North Africa” survey were collected online from 4,053 female respondents in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia and the UAE from October 26 to November 26. Samar Kadi is the Arab Weekly society and travel section editor.

Berri’s 'Reproach' of Hariri Threatens Chances of Electoral Alliance

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by aawsat.com - Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri has not succeeded in maintaining neutrality in the escalating dispute between President Michel Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, which broke out on the background of the 1994 Seniority Decree, which Berri insists is unconstitutional because it does not hold the signature of the finance minister. Unlike Hezbollah, which has kept silence over the matter - refusing to take a public stance in the conflict between its allies - Hariri was forced to line up with Aoun after signing the decree, which strained his relations with Berri. According to well-informed sources close to Berri, “the Speaker is still blaming the Prime Minister, who had previously promised him not to sign the decree, but later approved Aoun’s request to sign it.”

The sources added, in a statement to Asharq Al-Awsat: “Originally, if Hariri had kept his promise, the crisis between Berri and Aoun would not have reached the current stalemate,” noting that the ongoing crisis would negatively affect the relation between the premier and Berri. Member of Berri’s Development and Liberation Bloc Ali Khreiss told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Amal and its president are seeking good and solid relations with all parties without exception, in the interest of Lebanon and the Lebanese people. But when it comes to substantial matters, such as the issue of the decree or seeking amendments to the electoral law a few months before the election, the situation cannot be tolerated.” Future Movement Member and Former MP Mustafa Allouch said: “Hariri has stressed from the beginning his keenness on the success of the new era, and is weaving the best relations with the President; there is no doubt that the Lebanese structure makes any political official face many obstacles, if he tried to be neutral.” Tension between Berri and Hariri will likely impact their electoral alliances, paving the way for a complete separation, especially that Amal has explicitly declared its participation in the parliamentary elections, aligned with Hezbollah, while the Future Movement has announced an alliance with the Free Patriotic Movement and its refusal to cooperate with Hezbollah.

Saudi billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal freed after paying settlement

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by bbc - One of the world's richest men, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, has been released two months after being detained in Saudi Arabia's anti-corruption purge. He was freed after a financial settlement was approved by the state prosecutor, an official said. Prince Alwaleed was held in November by a new anti-corruption body headed by the Saudi crown prince. More than 200 princes, politicians, and wealthy businessmen were detained in the crackdown. Since then, they have been held in the Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh, which is due to reopen on 14 February. Prince Alwaleed is the most high-profile detainee to have been released so far. Speaking to Reuters news agency before his release he said that no charges had been laid against him and expressed support for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The multi-billionaire has a vast array of business interests across the world, including holdings in Twitter and Apple.

A Canada-based businessman tells the BBC about how Saudi Arabia's anti-corruption drive is being conducted. In November, Forbes estimated his net worth at about $17bn (£13bn), making him the 45th richest man in the world. Officials say he will remain as head of his company, Kingdom Holding. Other high-profile figures that have been set free include Waleed al-Ibrahim, the head of MBC television network, and Khalid al-Tuwaijiri, a former chief of the royal court. They have paid substantial financial settlements, reports say - though the amounts have not been made public. Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was released at the end of November, paid more than $1bn (£750m). Media reports suggest that Mr al-Ibrahim's deal may have included his controlling share in MBC - the largest media company in the Middle East. The Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh is holding about 200 members of the Saudi elite The anti-corruption drive was instigated by Prince Mohammed bin Salman - who has been accused of using the investigation to remove opponents and consolidate his power. In the aftermath of the purge, Saudi Arabia's attorney general said at least $100bn (£76bn) had been misused through systemic corruption and embezzlement going back decades. The detentions - and the expensive settlements - are being characterised by the state as an attempt to recover those funds. Many more of those detained remain in the Ritz Carlton under guard, until it reopens for Valentine's Day in mid-February. Those who do not reach settlements before then are expected to be sent to prison to await trial.

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Hunting law falls prey to old habits in Lebanon

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BRITAL, Lebanon (AP) - To bird lovers, the scenes are upsetting. Dozens of dead buzzards lie on a carpet of feathers on a rocky hill in northern Lebanon. Hunters pose with their catch - scores of calandra larks, known for their melodious birdsong, arranged neatly on the hoods of their Land Rovers. Great white pelicans, protected both in Europe and Lebanon, soar overhead, then with a crack of rifle fire, tumble down into the shrubs below. Posted on Lebanese social media in recent months, the images point to the enormity of the task facing authorities as they try to clamp down on hunting practices more at home in the “Wild West” than a country run by law. Lebanon lies along key migratory routes for millions of European birds, including protected and endangered species, that winter in the Gulf and Africa. But even with a new law in place banning the hunting of protected species, conservationists say overhunting in Lebanon is undermining their efforts. “Everybody hunts and they’re not going to be able to put limits on it,” said Wissam Arif, a hunter from Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley. “Sure, there should be licences, but no one does anything about it.”

A 2015 study by the conservation society Birdlife International estimated that 2.6 million birds are shot down in Lebanon each year. Per capita, that’s second most in the eastern Mediterranean region, after Cyprus. “European birders have invested a lot of time, tax money, and other resources to protect the last remaining breeding pairs, and this is all for nothing if the birds don’t fly back,” said Axel Hirschfeld, of the Germany-based Committee Against Bird Slaughter. Conservationists credit Lebanese Environment Minister Tarek Khatib for bringing into force a 2004 hunting law that, they say, is as strict as any in Europe. Last September, Khatib opened the country’s first official hunting season in at least two decades, with the requirement that hunters take tests to get their licenses. The ministry awarded more than 18,000 hunting licenses. But a month later, hunters from the town of Brital in the Bekaa Valley set up electronic bird callers and spinning lures to coax the birds down - a technique prohibited under the law. None of the hunters in the valley could show a license to an Associated Press crew visiting the area, and nearly all declined to be identified by name because of the new hunting regulations. A 53-year-old local said he would shoot down between 100 and 150 skylarks and chaffinches on a good day, but high winds and an intermittent drizzle meant he would catch just a fraction that morning. The legal limit is 50 per hunt. In Lebanon, these small birds are typically prepared in a frying pan with a marinade of pomegranate molasses, wrapped in warm pita bread and eaten whole - the tiny bones giving the delicacy a pleasant crunch. “That’s a hawk,” said a police deputy, pointing over the crop-less fields. The bird swayed as a rifle shot rang out, but stayed in the sky. “They shouldn’t be shooting that.” The deputy, who was also hunting that day, said he was assigned to prison duty and that it wasn’t his job to enforce hunting regulations. Nearly every man hunting that morning had some sort of connection to the security forces - including a police investigator who said he would not report his friends. But as this hunting season draws to an end next week, Khatib said he was positive about the law’s impact. “They are beginning to follow the law ... we’ve created a cultural change among the Lebanese,” he told the AP. For many Lebanese, hunting is a tradition passed down from father to son and an autumn ritual for men to pass weekend nights with friends before hunting at dawn. Smaller birds are usually cooked and eaten but the larger ones, including migratory birds, are shot just for sport. “They bring in all types of birds,” said Rabih Danaf, a taxidermist in the town of Bhamdoun, 23 km east of Beirut. “The hunters make a mockery of the law.” Danaf’s Facebook page displays stuffed harriers, pelicans, storks, falcons and colourful hoopoes - including at least two ringed in Europe for scientific study, according to Hirschfeld, the German conservationist, who said he checked the tags in an international database. There is no law against taxidermy, said Roger Saad, an activist with the Lebanese Bird Conservation Coalition.

Saad, who manages a hardware store in an industrial district in eastern Beirut, keeps a handwritten list of the hunting violations he has seen on social media and those that have been reported to him through the Coalition’s network. An amateur sleuth, he has reported more than 70 cases to the Environment Ministry, including data on alleged violators. He said he was pleased to hear some have been fined, while others have gotten away with just a warning. The Environment Ministry says it has forwarded some 40 cases to prosecutors for legal action, and it encourages the public to report violations directly to the police. Khatib said he is waiting for Parliament to allocate funds for a ranger force that would enforce hunting laws. In a country plagued by rolling power cuts and a trash-strewn coastline, many Lebanese shrug off concerns about overhunting. “People think: ‘It’s not connected to me, so it’s not my problem,’” said Saad. But birds hunt pests, which in turn helps farming - the fifth largest employing sector in this tiny country. “It’s a cycle,” he said.

With elections slated for May, a new government could mean changes at the Environment Ministry, disrupting conservation efforts. “We have birds passing through here that do not pass through anywhere else in the world, and instead of looking at them, we shoot them,” said Saad. “Someone needs to speak for them.”


Lebanese Women Show Enthusiasm to Run for Parliamentary Elections

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by aawsat.com -  Four months before the scheduled date of Lebanon’s parliamentary elections, the country is witnessing an unprecedented movement aimed at increasing the number of female representation in Parliament, which has been very shy since 1953, when women were granted the right to vote and to run for the elections. Despite the fact that most of the Lebanese political parties have intended to drop the “women quota” from the new electoral law, whether because some considered it to be contrary to the principle of equality or have clearly expressed their rejection of women reaching parliament, the number of women wishing to run for the elections rose significantly this year, especially since the new proportional law, according to electoral experts, increases the chances of women to win parliamentary seats. Women’s councils and organizations have worked hard to push for the inclusion of a “women's quota” in the new electoral law voted last summer.

However, lack of an agreement to pass this quota as the result of some of undeclared “vetoes”, mainly by Hezbollah, have led to the failure of all efforts in this regard. During a recent conference in Beirut entitled “Enhancing the Role of Political Parties in Promoting Women’s Representation in the 2018 Parliamentary Elections”, Rima Fakhri, a member of the Political Council of Hezbollah, explicitly declared that her party had reservations over a woman’s participation in the elections because “it will be at the expense of her family.” State Minister for Women’s Affairs Jean Hogassapian said that the adoption of the current law (preferential vote) “has made the parties look for names capable of collecting the largest number of electoral votes, in order to guarantee the victory of the list as a whole.” He noted, however, that the current law presented a better opportunity for women wishing to run outside the party framework, since it was based on the proportional system. After announcing her resignation on Wednesday as host of “Inter-views” on Lebanese broadcast channel Future TV, journalist Paula Yacoubian revealed that she would run for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Beirut’s first electoral district, on the “civil society list.” In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Yaacoubian said: “We are working on a large electoral project and we are waiting to inform people about it before talking about any chances of winning or losing.” Mirna al-Boustani was the first woman to break the wall of the Lebanese parliament under the term of late President Fouad Shehab in 1963. Since that date, women have remained outside the parliament until the 1992 elections, but their presence was very shy in all successive parliaments and governments.