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More Than 400 Roman-Era Columns Lie Abandoned on Beirut’s Waterfront

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Strollers along Beirut’s waterfront in the rapidly developing Biel area have been noticing an odd feature of the local landscape: hundreds of apparently ancient columns and capitals, piled piecemeal and left at the mercy of the elements. Lebanon’s General Directorate of Antiquities (GDA) confirmed to local French-language newspaper L’Orient Le Jour that they date from Beirut’s Roman era. There are between 400 and 500 of them, and the GDA is not sure what to do with them. “As these stones have not been numbered and inventoried, it’s naturally impossible to know which specific sites or structures they belonged to,” a GDA spokesperson told L’Orient Le Jour, “unless the scientific data gathered by specialists in the 1990s was archived.”

The columns are among the vast wealth of ancient Roman, Phoenician, Persian, Greek, Byzantine, and Ottoman objects found during archaeological digs in Beirut between 1993 and 1997. The columns were originally stockpiled in a storage facility belonging to Solidere — the company created in 1994 to rebuild central Beirut after the end of Lebanon’s bloody, 15-year-long Civil War — under the direction of archaeologist Hans Curvers. Solidere had originally planned to distribute them in green spaces throughout the city, including its largest public park, Horsh Beirut, which partially reopened in 2015 after being closed for 20 years. However, with major infrastructure work underway in the Biel district, the warehouse had to be dismantled and the columns were moved to the nearest available space: vacant real estate near a waterfront promenade. The GDA spokesperson assured L’Orient Du Jour that the columns are safe and, because they are made of limestone and basalt, do not risk degradation from being left unattended near the waterfront.

Romans invaded Beirut (then known as Berytus) in 64 BCE, and it remained one of the most important cities in the eastern Roman Empire until a series of devastating earthquakes in the middle of the 6th century CE. Its Roman infrastructure and institutions included a grand gate, a forum, a renowned law school, and a hippodrome. The latter was controversially dismantled to make way for a luxury real estate development.

Will Lebanon's president keep parliament from 're-electing' itself?

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by Josephine Deeb - Al Monitor

To some legislators' consternation but to no one's real surprise, Lebanon's parliamentary elections have been delayed yet again for at least three months. On April 12, the day before parliament was scheduled to meet, President Michel Aoun invoked Article 59 of the Lebanese Constitution, which allows him to postpone a parliamentary session for one month. He may do so once during the legislative term. Speaker Nabih Berri had called for the session to discuss extending parliament’s term, as members failed to agree on a new electoral law before a constitutional deadline expired. Aoun wants a new law implemented before elections are held for parliament, whose term ends June 21. He doesn't want the legislature to extend its own term without elections, which he considers illegal, but he also doesn't want a legislative vacuum. However, the constitution requires that voters be given 90 days to prepare for an election, so — because of repeated delays — one now can't be scheduled before August at the earliest. In a televised speech, Aoun addressed the Lebanese people, saying, “I have warned repeatedly against the extension since it is unconstitutional and will definitely not be the path toward the recovery of the government and its authorities and institutions on a sound constitutional basis.”

Minutes after Aoun announced his decision, Berri set another session for May 15. In the meantime, Lebanese political forces continue their quest to agree on an electoral law by then. Simon Abi Ramia, a member of parliament's Change and Reform bloc, told Al-Monitor that despite differences between the parties, political forces seek to agree on a new electoral law and his political bloc will strive to prevent a parliamentary extension by all means. Aoun wants to replace the contested 1960 Electoral Law, which is based on a majoritarian (winner-take-all) district electoral system with limited exceptions. That law allows Muslim leaders to select Christian parliament members in some constituencies. Aoun, a Maronite Christian, along with Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, are insisting on a "total proportionality" system, while others want either a hybrid law or the majoritarian system.

On the eve of April 13, the date set for the session to discuss the extension, the specter of civil war came back to haunt the Lebanese amid a sharp division of political forces and a serious threat by Christian political forces to take to the streets to prevent the session. They threatened to block the roads to prevent legislators from even reaching parliament.

Lebanon Opportunities: Getting data to life

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by Rubina Abu Zeinab-Chahine| The Daily Star

Many years ago Lebanese journalism had always maintained a “reputation for excellence” and accordingly had a luster as a center of journalism. Historically, Lebanon was the first country in the region to have newspaper publishing, where the first was published in 1858. In the first half of the 20th century, hundreds of newspapers were published across the country, giving Lebanon its unique role in bridging East and West and making the history of the Lebanese press surrounded by analysts all over the Middle East. Press Martyrs’ Day is an occasion that has been commemorated on May 6 in public and private spheres throughout the country for many decades to honor journalists and activists killed in the name of free speech.

This occasion has always been a great opportunity to salute the Lebanese press and to praise the country’s media. It is a catalyst of hope to foster freedom and democracy and an eternal remembrance of journalists who sacrificed their lives for the country to survive and for the Lebanese people to live in peace. How did the Lebanese press assist the state in highlighting challenges and opportunities? Journalism in Lebanon has always been at the forefront of promoting social and political change. Twenty years ago Lebanon Opportunities, a leading business magazine, had “dreams abound of a modern country, fair to its citizens, hospitable to its returning or visiting expatriates and to tourists, enabling business to thrive and protecting the weak strata of its people” and committed itself to the “side of doers” as stated in the special anniversary issue of Lebanon Opportunities.

For 20 years, Lebanon Opportunities published every month, a magazine about “what is working, how it is done, where the opportunities are and how to face obstacles,” as presented by its publisher and editor-in-chief, Ramzi el-Hafez. Few words say everything about the hard work that has been delivering optimism and investing in hope throughout the last two decades. The 20th anniversary issue takes us in a “journey” of fulfilling a national promise of progress and development, backed up by statistics, analyzed and visualized data, generating a story of social change with strong impact on engaging audiences and promoting civic activism. It compares in a real and figurative sense the situation at the time the magazine started in 1997 with today’s situation, highlighting major national achievements in addition to emphasizing measures of success and failure.

Lebanon's Hezbollah urges new electoral law to be agreed "the soonest

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BEIRUT, May 2 (Xinhua) Editor: Mu Xuequan -- Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah called Tuesday the political parties in Lebanon to agree on an election law reform the soonest. He warned that the country is "on the brink of the abyss" regarding the electoral law issue. But he stressed that his party is not seeking to "impose" the proportional representation electoral system on the country. There has been "an attempt to accuse Hezbollah that it is seeking to prevent Christians from electing their MPs with their own votes" recently, he said in a televised speech. "It has also been said that Hezbollah wants to impose full proportional representation on the Lebanese through its weapons and military might," he said. Nasrallah said that his party wants the fairest and most just representation and their stance is not partisan or sectarian. "It is not possible to impose an electoral law on Christians or on Druze should they reject a certain law," Nasrallah stressed. Parliamentary elections were scheduled to take place between May 21 and June 21, but deadlock over the new electoral law would lead to a delay of the polls. The Parliament has extended its mandate twice, in 2013 and 2014, over security fears. In April, Lebanese President Michel Aoun suspended parliament for a month to block plans to extend the assembly's term without election for the third time, aiming to push politicians to agree election law reforms. For years, the parties in Lebanon have been unable to agree on a new electoral law. Some politicians say the law divides the population into constituencies that do not fairly represent their supporters.

Lebanese diaspora an asset to the country: President Aoun

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Madagascar Minister of Foreign Affairs Béatrice Atallah meets with President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace. Tuesday, May 2, 2017. (The Daily Star/Dalati & Nohra, HO)

The Daily Star BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun Tuesday said that the Lebanese diaspora is a “great source of political, economic, and cultural assets.” Aoun made these remarks during a meeting at Baabda Palace with Madagascar Minister of Foreign Affairs Beatrice Atallah, who herself is of Lebanese origin.

Discussing the upcoming Lebanese Diaspora Energy Conference, which will take place from May 4-6 in Lebanon, the president said that the conference aims to “highlight the real image of Lebanon as a land of convergence and dialogue, as well as a model for the world of today and tomorrow.” He added that this especially applies for those of Lebanese origin abroad who “hold high positions.” Atallah is one of several international political and business leaders of Lebanese origin that will attend and take part at the conference Madagascar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs told Aoun that her country's President Hery Rajaonarimampianina hopes to continue to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Lebanon is the first line of defense for America's interests in the Middle East

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Lebanon is the first line of defense for America's interests in the Middle East

By Edward Gabriel, opinion contributor - modified slightly - The article represents opinion of the author-

Lebanon is a country of 4.5 million people hosting 1.5 million Syrian refugees—the equivalent, percentage-wise, of all of Canada and half of Mexico flowing into the U.S. in about four years. In meetings I had last week in Beirut, the country’s Minister of Refugees told me that Lebanon is the “sandbag” against a rising flood that keeps this problem from overflowing to Europe and the West. And after speaking with President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, and other top government officials, I fear that Lebanon may not be able to cope much longer.

The Lebanese have borne direct and indirect costs of nearly $20 billion as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis, in a country with an annual GDP of $48 billion. Half the refugee children are not in school (which are plagued by overcrowding), power shortages produce less than half the needed electricity, only one-third of households have access to clean water, and the environmental damage from lack of sewage treatment is a disaster. Meanwhile, the country needs to protect its borders from al Qaeda and ISIS, a daily threat to the country and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).

Fortunately, America has shown its trust in and support of the LAF, supplying more than 90 percent of its equipment, logistical support, and training. In return, the LAF have refused to accept military hardware from Russia and Iran, preferring its privileged relationship with the U.S. In our discussions with the new Commander of the LAF, General Joseph Aoun, who is visiting the U.S. this week, it was strikingly apparent that the U.S. has a real partner and collaborator in the wider fight against terrorism in the region.

Lebanese vent frustrations over strained economy

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by Gulfnews - Joseph A. Kechichian, Senior Writer

Beirut: Thousands of protesters marked Labour Day on Monday as labour union leaders vented their anger against authorities who struggle to deliver on promises of pay rises. The demonstration coincided with the recent anger over the government’s decision to delay the long-awaited salary rises for teachers, civil servants and the military. On Sunday, the National Federation of Workers’ and Employees’ Trade Unions (FENASOL) and the Domestic Workers’ Union in Lebanon (DWUL) held a pre-protest to express anger over the delays and also organised Monday’s rally near its headquarters at the Cola Roundabout, led by Castro Abdullah, the organisation’s chairman. Abdullah declared that, “May 1st [2017] comes carrying with it more tragedies and crises that make joy and hope for a decent life something very far-fetched for the working class”.

The Lebanese Communist Party added its voice to the Monday rally, while tenants upset with the government’s latest proposals to increase fixed rents, rallied in Beirut’s Ashrafieh neighbourhood. Ahead of the demonstrations, Prime Minister Sa‘ad Hariri marked Labour Day with an assurance that the Lebanese government was ready to tackle all challenges and already began implementing a series of measures to reduce competition for the Lebanese labour market. Hariri clarified that authorities were working to alleviate the suffering faced by workers, and said various measures to reduce “competition for the Lebanese labour force, actuating the economic cycle and encouraging investments to increase employment opportunities” were already being implemented.

The premier reiterated his pledge to present the proposed wage scale to the parliament as soon as possible while pointing out the realities of the market being flooded by cheap Syrian manpower — one of the many repercussions of the six-year Syrian civil war next door. Hariri reiterated that the influx of Syrian workers deprived Lebanese of jobs — many who are in serious economic need. He pointed out that the refugees were also placing a huge strain on public services.