The Gaza war has remained front and center, coinciding with the supportive front in the south, in light of Hezbollah's response, through its Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, to the threats of Israeli war council head Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu and his military and security officials are experiencing hours of chaos and doubt regarding the effectiveness of their destructive war against Gaza and southern Lebanon. This uncertainty was exacerbated when the International Court of Justice dealt a significant blow by ordering him and his army to cease attacks on Rafah and, by extension, halt the war against the Palestinians in Gaza. Nasrallah reminded Netanyahu of the surprises in Gaza on October 7 and Lebanon on October 8, alongside the participation of Yemen, Iraq, and Iran in the ongoing support. He affirmed that "the enemy should expect many surprises from us; we are studying all scenarios, and neither your deception nor the pressures from your global masters will be effective, and this resistance will continue."
In daily political developments, the presidential matter also stayed in the spotlight with the anticipated return of the French presidential envoy and ongoing preparations for the conference concerning "the future of Syria" regarding refugees in Brussels next week. The Cabinet is accompanying this event by emphasizing the return of displaced individuals in its session next Tuesday.
#### The Return of Le Drian
On the presidential front, Lebanese citizens are again anticipating what the French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian may bring with him to Beirut. He is expected to arrive on Tuesday, the 28th of this month, amid information suggesting a proposal to hold a Lebanese-Lebanese dialogue in France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, who is conducting a series of communications with capitals of the quintet committee for this purpose. Le Drian's meetings will include Presidents Nabih Berri and Najib Mikati, as well as other leaders, with arrangements for meeting schedules underway.
Informed political circles told "The Tribune" that the French envoy's visit represents a new French attempt to shift the presidential file from stagnation to ongoing movement. They noted that the consultations the French official is conducting are varied, and he will not delve into previous data he has been briefed on. However, he might hold ideas stemming from the foundational concept of dialogue. It remains unclear if he will tell the political forces he meets that they have an opportunity to achieve the elections, as inviting them to a dialogue hosted by his country is merely an idea, and it is not known if it will take shape or be implemented.
The same sources clarified that this invitation awaits confirmation from Le Drian himself, who carries a French encouragement to expedite the resolution of the vacancy, although it is not known whether he is setting a timeline for that purpose. A leader in the "Shiite duo," led by President Nabih Berri, emphasizes the importance of dialogue, considering that "overcoming the role of the council and its president is a red line, and there is no compromise on the council's and its president's powers," calling on other parties to accept dialogue unconditionally.
He observed that there is active diplomatic movement aimed at gathering Lebanese factions around a single dialogue table within Lebanon to elect a president of the republic, coinciding with the day after the war on Gaza and Lebanon ceases. He revealed for the first time that the quintet's initiative is very serious, and meetings will occur inside and outside Lebanon in the coming two weeks to reach a comprehensive agreement regarding dialogue and the presidential file. He pointed out that the opportunity is now available and very serious for electing a president. A failure by Lebanese forces to engage in dialogue means that we could remain without a president for a very long time.
On the occasion of the Resistance and Liberation Day, President Nabih Berri renewed his gratitude for the efforts of the quintet committee aimed at "helping Lebanon achieve its presidential entitlement, a valued effort that remains futile if we do not all take the initiative as political forces and parliamentary blocs to meet it halfway by adhering to the logic of dialogue or consensus or consultation as the only language among us, without the exclusion or marginalization of any party or institution, especially the Parliament, and always under the constitutional framework. Let us hasten to seize the current moment tomorrow before the day after, to save Lebanon and honor the great sacrifices of the martyrs to ensure it remains a unified homeland for all its children."
