From Tripoli in the north, where the streets have turned into sites of mourning, to the southern border, where rockets and projectiles have threatened both sides in the Tyre area, along with various security incidents ranging from armed clashes in one of the capital's neighborhoods to an incident involving Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad being verbally confronted by individuals claiming to belong to the February 17, 2019 movement, the scene is rolling out with unrest. This comes amid financial crises, the rising exchange rate of the dollar, increased prices, and heightened attempts to flee the country via air or sea. Notably, there was a tragedy involving a boat sinking while carrying no less than sixty Tripoli citizens attempting to escape the "hell of the era," leading them to become victims of what has been termed the "boat of death," all during a period of national mourning. The flags were lowered at official premises, while Tripoli buried its victims from its impoverished neighborhoods, accompanied by crocodile tears shed by the ruling political class, which aspires to remain in power for the next four years. This significant and painful incident is set to be discussed in an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers.
Sources informed "Al-Liwaa" that the invitation for security leaders or any relevant parties to the extraordinary cabinet meeting at Baabda Palace remains a possibility, particularly since the session is dedicated to discussing the tragic incident of the boat sinking in Tripoli and the resulting casualties. It has been reported that most of the related incident reports will be presented at the session, and a stance from the council is anticipated regarding what occurred.
Simultaneously, the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Bukhari, revealed the signing of the Saudi-French fund agreement today. His remarks came after an Iftar banquet he hosted in honor of religious leaders from various sects in Lebanon and the wider region, where attendees observed a minute of silence for the souls of the boat's victims. Ambassador Bukhari pointed to the Saudi-French fund agreement, which aims to support the Lebanese people and includes 35 projects in Lebanon related to healthcare, education, and energy. He noted that the Kingdom has always been a voice of justice, revered by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, towards humanitarian and ethical values, emphasizing that the banquet reflects the Kingdom’s role in promoting a culture of peace.
The Iftar was attended by the Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Deryan, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, Metropolitan Elias Audi of Beirut for the Orthodox, and Sheikh Samy Abu al-Muna from the Druze community, among others.
In light of the Easter holiday, Lebanon was preoccupied during the Eastern Easter holiday with the tragedy of a boat sinking that carried Lebanese and Palestinian migrants illegally from Tripoli. The conflicting reports regarding the number of those on board ranged from forty to eighty-four, including children and women, with a number drowned and around forty rescued.
This tragedy sparked widespread condemnation of the greed of human traffickers exploiting the despair of citizens without any promise of a hopeful future for them or their children, and charging substantial amounts for smuggling them into the unknown in Europe without any guarantees. The army detained several suspects involved in the smuggling operation but later released some of them. It was also notable that there was immediate political exploitation of the incident, with accusations directed at the army commander and certain political figures even before emotions calmed and rationality prevailed.
The incident caused security tensions in Tripoli following the transfer of the victims' bodies on Sunday evening, leading to heavy and sporadic gunfire in the city and attacks on army patrols and checkpoints after claims by several survivors that a Navy patrol vessel collided with the migrant boat, causing it to take on water and sink with its occupants. However, calm returned throughout the day after extensive army measures.
The army command denied the incident, with Navy Commander Colonel Haitham Dhnawi explaining in a press conference the circumstances of the tragedy: the boat was manufactured in 1974, was small, measuring ten meters long and three meters wide, with a permissible capacity of only ten individuals and no safety equipment on board. He added, "A Navy patrol attempted to urge the sinking boat to return due to the unsafe situation; had we not stopped the boat, it would have sunk outside Lebanese territorial waters." He continued, "The captain of the boat attempted to flee and collided with a Lebanese Navy vessel, and our forces did not use weapons." He explained in detail with images what transpired, stating that "the boat sank due to overloading at high speed and had our forces not been nearby, the number of victims would have been higher." Furthermore, he stated, "Our forces performed their duty, which was to rescue the majority of the boat's passengers.”
The naval and air forces of the army continued their search for the missing individuals from the day before and throughout the day, with several bodies found floating in the waters between Tripoli and Chekka. Some of the victims were buried on the same day amidst intense sorrow, with a state of official mourning declared by Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
The Council of Ministers is set to hold an extraordinary session at 11:30 AM today at the presidential palace to "discuss the cause of the boat sinking and its implications, as well as the security situation in various Lebanese regions," according to the official invitation to the ministers.
Regarding the handling of the consequences of the boat sinking disaster, "Al-Liwaa" learned that some Tripoli MPs will contact Prime Minister Mikati and the High Relief Committee to discuss the possibility of providing some financial aid to the grieving families or those suffering from poverty and deprivation.
On the political front, the Lebanese government and public are awaiting practical outcomes from the Gulf's re-engagement with Lebanon after overcoming previous causes of severance, which are expected to occur through humanitarian, military, and security assistance. There is also significant reliance on Prime Minister Najib Mikati's visit to Saudi Arabia as a gateway to visits to other Gulf countries, particularly after Gulf ambassadors broke the barrier to visit presidents and ministers, even with protocol visits paving the way for further openness and cooperation.
Sources close to Mikati indicated that he traveled to Saudi Arabia on Friday, specifically to Mecca, to perform Umrah, as has been his tradition every year during Ramadan. He returned to Beirut on Sunday evening to follow up on the situation in Tripoli following the tragedy of the migrant boat sinking and the subsequent security tensions.
However, the sources clarified that Mikati did not meet any Saudi officials during this "religious-spiritual" visit and is expected to conduct an official visit to Saudi Arabia after Eid al-Fitr, at which time official appointments will be arranged for him.
Gulf diplomatic sources revealed that days ago, a Gulf meeting was held among diplomats via Zoom to discuss the Lebanese file and how to initiate the distribution of aid and announce humanitarian projects. These sources highlighted the significant importance of what was achieved at this meeting, showing a notable advance is being made, with reports expected to be submitted to the Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, making the Lebanese file an agenda item for their meeting or for Gulf foreign ministers to decide upon sending aid to Lebanon.
They added, “This time, a clear program for coordination among Gulf countries regarding any launched project was established.” They also noted, “There are six key sectors that will be targeted in the Gulf-Western aid program: the first is humanitarian assistance for urgent food distribution, the second is ensuring food security, the third is providing support for the healthcare sector, the fourth is assisting the educational sector, the fifth is agricultural support, and sixthly, aiding Lebanon's military and security forces.”
After Mikati's return, attention will be focused today on two main issues: monitoring the status of the missing from the boat tragedy, whose number is yet to be determined, and the joint parliamentary committees session set for today, Tuesday, to continue discussing the government project regarding temporary measures on transfers and withdrawals, known as capital control. Parliamentary sources expect that disagreements over this matter will persist, leading to its postponement until after the parliamentary elections in mid-May, which means negotiations with the International Monetary Fund will halt until the project and the economic recovery plan, which many political forces and the Banks Association deemed "catastrophic," are resolved.
However, the head of the Administration and Justice Committee, MP George Adwan, confirmed the postponement of the joint committee session during a televised interview on Sunday, stating, "The joint committee meeting on Tuesday will not take place due to widespread public outrage, and if it does take place, we will demand that the government and its President attend to discuss the matter, thus the session will be 'dead' in substance and form."
He added: “The paper sent to the committees does not constitute a plan. What is needed is a comprehensive plan to determine the distribution of losses without absolving debts, and the guarantee of deposits should not differentiate between small and large depositors.”
Adwan emphasized, “It is imperative that the government and its President present themselves before the Parliament to explain their views, as matters of such importance cannot be addressed merely by sending a paper aimed at covering the legislation intended to be passed.”
The Beirut Traders Association, in a statement released yesterday, remarked, “After acknowledging that the responsibility for the financial collapse, as accepted by all, lies with the state, the Central Bank, and the banks respectively, the shock intensified when the government overturned this established hierarchy entirely, exonerating the state and the Central Bank from their grave financial responsibilities nearly entirely while shifting a $60 billion bill to depositors and banks, thus transforming, in a stroke of a pen, the state's obligations and accumulated debt into severe losses incurred by society and the economy.”
They called for “the establishment of a sovereign fund whose assets would be invested, without being sold, for this purpose.” They stated: “This is the essence of the rescue approach we seek, contrary to the liquidation proposals the government is trying to impose on the Lebanese forcibly. This roadmap is the only way to restore trust in Lebanon and prevent a fatal blow to depositors, the banking system, the national economy, and Lebanon's regional standing.”
While President Mikati insists on passing capital control via parliament, as it is fundamental for moving forward with the economic recovery plan and reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, legislative winds do not seem to favor the Council of Ministers' desires. Although the parliamentary committees are set to hold a session today to continue reviewing the law after last week's session was cancelled, it is not unlikely that Tuesday's meeting could face a similar fate unless Speaker Nabih Berri successfully negotiates with parliamentary forces to pass it. Former MP Walid Jumblatt has called for the dismissal of Minister Walid Fayyad amid the protests from free professions unions regarding the passage of the capital control law.
Political sources indicate that most parliamentary blocs fear the political repercussions of supporting the capital control law on the results of the parliamentary elections, which currently prompts them to delay approval and maintain publicly dissenting positions until after the elections, after which a responsible stance can be adopted without fear of anticipated repercussions.
The sources predict that the project will face objections and rejection in today’s parliamentary committees session, similar to the previous session, meaning that the decision on the project will be postponed until after the parliamentary elections, which would have negative repercussions for the promises and commitments made by officials to the International Monetary Fund, as well as potential delays in negotiations for a final agreement with it, hindering progress toward addressing the severe financial and economic crisis currently facing Lebanon, prolonging the crisis's impact on the difficult living conditions of the Lebanese people.
The sources noted that most parliamentary blocs are not prepared to take risks and approve the project now, as this would surely result in many depositors refraining from supporting the candidacy of MPs who agree to the project, which they aim to avoid at this time.
... And Rockets in the South
Furthermore, the country's problems extend beyond the Tripoli tragedy and the economic-living crisis, as the situation in the south became tense early Sunday-Monday, following a rocket launch from the Tyre area towards occupied Palestine, which landed in an open area, causing no casualties or damage. In response, the Israeli forces shelled areas like Ras al-Naqoura, Qleela, and Tyre and their surroundings.
A statement from the Army's Guidance Directorate indicated: “On 25/4/2022, between 1:45 AM and 4:00 AM, areas in Tyre and the surrounding regions, including al-Hamoul Valley, ‘Alma al-Shab, and the outskirts of Zibqin town, were shelled by Israeli artillery fire, with no reports of injuries or damage. Approximately 50 artillery shells targeted the area. Additionally, around 40 illumination flares were launched by the enemy over towns like Tyre, Naqoura, Chihine, and Bdayas. Prior to this, a rocket was allegedly launched from Lebanon according to the enemy's claims. An army unit discovered two Grad-type rockets with a caliber of 122 mm set on aluminum launchers in the vicinity of Qleela, which were deactivated by specialized units. The situation is being monitored in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).”
UNIFIL announced that its commander, Major General Aroldo Latharo, contacted authorities on both sides of the Blue Line urging them to exercise restraint. Nonetheless, the Israeli army responded by firing dozens of shells at Lebanon.
Major General Latharo called on all parties to avoid further escalation, expressing concern over the disproportionate response. After the bombardment concluded, UNIFIL opened an investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident. Peacekeepers are working with the Lebanese Armed Forces to enhance security throughout the UNIFIL operational area and reduce the risk of further provocative actions.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz stated that necessary force would be used to respond to rocket attacks from Lebanon. Military spokesman Ran Kochav announced: "No group has claimed responsibility for launching the rocket from Lebanon so far, but estimates suggest that it was Palestinian factions in Lebanon due to recent events at Al-Aqsa Mosque or the tension in Gaza and the West Bank, with a possibility that it could be a Hamas branch in Lebanon."
No Schools in Tripoli Today
Meanwhile, schools in Tripoli have closed their doors today amid the unstable situation in the city, following the anger and resentment from residents over the sinking of the boat in Lebanese territorial waters off the coast of Tripoli.
Security tensions also spread across various Tripoli areas, where army units executed an extensive security deployment around military centers and barracks in the Qobbeh area after clashes broke out between several youths who pelted army patrols with stones, after which army personnel managed to restore order, especially after movements involved roadblocks and gunfire.
Meanwhile, a number of protesters assaulted the army's checkpoint around the military hospital in Tripoli, while significant tension developed in the Rifa area and near the government hospital in Tripoli, where protesters blocked roads with burning tires and hurled stones at army personnel.
A Second Night of Anger
On Sunday night, a number of protesters rallied at Nour Square in Tripoli, blocking some roads with rubbish containers and shouting slogans denouncing the city's MPs and ministers, asserting that they are the cause of poverty and deprivation in Tripoli. Subsequently, the protesters proceeded to remove the posters of candidates affixed to billboards and the walls of buildings overlooking the square.
Navy Commander
Additionally, the Commander of the Navy in the army, Colonel Haitham Dhnawi, explained in a press conference held the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Tripoli boat, indicating that the boat, which sank, was manufactured in 1974, was small, measuring ten meters long and three meters wide, and had a permissible load of only ten individuals and lacked any safety measures.
He confirmed that a patrol tried to urge the sinking boat to return due to the unsafe situation; had we not stopped the boat, it would have sunk outside Lebanese territorial waters, noting that "the boat’s captain attempted to flee and collided with a Lebanese Navy ship and that our crews did not use weapons."
He clarified that “the boat sank due to overloading at a high speed, and had our personnel not been nearby, the number of victims would have been higher," emphasizing that "our personnel fulfilled their duty and rescued the majority of the boat's passengers."
In a related security matter, the head of the Kesrouan-Ftouh Municipal Union and the Mayor of Jounieh, Joan Habish, visited the Jounieh Serail with a group of citizens to address a dispute between local police forces and elements of the Internal Security Forces in Jounieh, which developed into scuffles and the detention of some local police officers.
After the meeting, Habish expressed regret that local police officers were being led to interrogation like criminals while they are the ones ensuring citizens' safety, pointing out that the investigation concluded with the police officers awaiting instructions from the public prosecution.
It is worth noting that a scuffle occurred front of the Jounieh Serail between supporters of former Minister Nada Boustani on one side and supporters of Said and Boun on the other.
56 Cases
On the health front, the Ministry of Health reported today 56 new cases of the Coronavirus, along with 3 fatalities, bringing the cumulative total to 1,096,462 confirmed laboratory cases since February 21, 2020.
