Lebanon central bank deputies’ threat to quit ‘unpatriotic,’ says minister

The Lebanon central bank leadership is appointed according to the sectarian power-sharing system that governs other top posts. (Reuters)
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Updated 07 July 2023
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Lebanon central bank deputies’ threat to quit ‘unpatriotic,’ says minister

  • Lebanon’s breakdown in governance and political tensions have hamstrung efforts to find a successor to Riad Salameh
  • Many Lebanese hold Salameh responsible for the financial collapse, alongside the ruling elite

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s caretaker Minister of Economy Amin Salam has criticized four deputy governors of the central bank over their threat to resign if a new governor is not appointed, calling it “an escape from responsibility and an unpatriotic act.”

Salam warned that any mass resignation would leave a dangerous vacuum in Lebanon’s highest monetary authority.

“In the event of a collective resignation of the deputies of the governor of the central bank, the government must find a solution, and everyone is obliged to adhere to it, regardless of their political opinions, as having a vacuum in the highest monetary authority in the country is prohibited,” he said.

Riad Salameh’s term as central bank governor, a position he has held since 1993, is set to end on July 31.

Salameh is facing corruption charges from the European judiciary, and an Interpol warrant has been issued for his arrest, although he denies all allegations against him.

He is also accused in Lebanon of engaging in financial engineering and colluding with the ruling authority to cover up their corruption.

The appointment of a replacement for Salameh remains uncertain amid a presidential vacuum that shows no signs of ending after nine months.

In the meantime, it is unclear whether the option of appointing Salameh’s deputy, Wassim Mansouri, to manage the bank is being considered, or if extending Salameh’s term for a limited period is being contemplated.

Several reformist MPs, including Najat Aoun, Paula Yacoubian, Yassin Yassin, Firas Hamdan and Melhem Khalaf, have preemptively opposed any attempt to extend Salameh’s term.

The four deputy governors of the central bank, representing the Shiite, Sunni, Druze and Armenian Catholic sects, are believed to be unwilling to make decisions that could adversely affect them in light of the country’s financial crisis.

They are also wary of being seen as substitutes for a governor who belongs to the Maronite sect.

Under the country’s sectarian political sharing arrangement, the position of central bank governor is the second most important after the presidency and leadership of the Lebanese army, both roles held by the Maronite sect.

Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri has objected to the appointment of Mansouri, the Shiite first deputy, as governor due to sectarian sensitivities.

Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has expressed concerns about potential fluctuations in the exchange rate following the end of Salameh’s term without a replacement being named.

Mikati said: “The constitution is clear in text and spirit, and we adhere to its provisions. We do not tailor our work according to the whims and desires of some.”

A source close to Mikati said that the caretaker PM considers the appointment of a new governor a “shared responsibility that everyone should bear, regardless of their alignments, in order to reach a solution.”

According to the code of money and credit, the central council of the central bank has various responsibilities, including determining the monetary and lending policy of the bank, setting the discount rate and interest rates on bank loans, discussing measures related to banks, establishing and regulating clearinghouses, dealing with issues related to issuing loans from the public sector, managing bank properties, resolving real estate reservations, objections, or mortgages, handling the relinquishment of privileges or rights, and overseeing arbitration projects and settlements related to the bank’s interests.

Former minister and lawyer Ziad Baroud suggested an alternative when the governor’s term ends to avoid a vacuum, saying that according to Article 25 of the code of money and credit, the first deputy governor can assume the governor’s duties until a new governor is appointed.

Baroud added that the main problem lies in the possibility of the four deputies resigning.

However, he ruled out any collective resignation, as this would lead to a vacuum in the central council and would do little to solve Lebanon’s difficult financial situation.

Former MP Nicolas Nahas highlighted the importance of ensuring the continuity of public institutions, particularly the governorship of the central bank, as the monetary policy is under its purview.

Nahas said the premier will hold talks with relevant parties in the next two weeks to facilitate political consensus on proposing a new governor to the government.

He said it was premature to suggest extending the term of the current governor, and stressed the need for a mechanism that instills confidence in banks and institutions.

Paul Morcos, dean of the law faculty at EM Strasbourg Business School and the head of the Justicia human rights institution, described the statement by the four deputies as a preemptive measure to avoid any potential responsibilities resulting from the prolonged presidential vacuum and caretaker government.

In response to the deputies’ threat to take “appropriate action,” Morcos said resignation is not an easy matter considering the exceptional monetary, banking and financial situation.

Meanwhile, Salameh’s first deputy, Mansouri, recently returned from Washington after spending nine days in undisclosed meetings.

 


Netanyahu appoints adviser with Trump ties to lead ceasefire talks

Updated 8 sec ago
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Netanyahu appoints adviser with Trump ties to lead ceasefire talks

  • The US-born Ron Dermer is a Cabinet minister who’s widely seen as Netanyahu’s closest adviser.
  • Dermer currently serves as Israel’s strategic affairs minister
An Israeli official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close confidant to lead negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire with Hamas.
The US-born Ron Dermer is a Cabinet minister who’s widely seen as Netanyahu’s closest adviser. He previously served as Israel’s ambassador to the US and is a former Republican activist with strong ties to the Trump White House.
Israel and Hamas have yet to negotiate a second and more difficult phase of the ceasefire, and the first ends in early March. Palestinians and Arab countries have universally rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal to remove the Palestinian population from Gaza and take over the territory.
Since the war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, more than 50,000 people have died in Gaza and Lebanon and nearly 70 percent of the buildings in Gaza have been devastated, according to health ministries in Gaza and Lebanon. Around 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the Oct. 7 attack.
Here’s the latest:
Netanyahu appoints close adviser with Trump ties to lead ceasefire negotiations
An Israeli official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close confidant to lead negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire with Hamas.
The official says that Cabinet Minister Ron Dermer will head the Israeli team. Previous talks have been led by the heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet security agencies.
Talks have not yet started on the second stage, which is meant to include an end to the war, return of all hostages and Israeli pullout from Gaza.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the appointment has not been officially announced.
The US-born Dermer is widely seen as Netanyahu’s closest adviser. He previously served as Israel’s ambassador to the US and is a former Republican activist with strong ties to the Trump White House.
Dermer currently serves as Israel’s strategic affairs minister, where he has been a key player in relations with the US as well as Gulf Arab countries.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians flee West Bank refugee camps

Updated 19 February 2025
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Tens of thousands of Palestinians flee West Bank refugee camps

  • The camps, built for descendants of Palestinian refugees who fled or were driven from their homes in the 1948 war around the creation of the state of Israel, have long been major centers for armed militant groups

JERUSALEM: Tens of thousands of Palestinians living in refugee camps in the occupied West Bank have left their homes as a weeks-long Israeli offensive has demolished houses and torn up vital infrastructure in the heavily built up townships, Palestinian authorities said.
Israeli forces began their operation in the refugee camp in the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Jan. 21, deploying hundreds of troops and bulldozers that demolished houses and dug up roads, driving almost all of the camp’s residents out.
“We don’t know what’s going on in the camp but there is continuous demolition and roads being dug up,” said Mohammed Al-Sabbagh, head of the Jenin camp services committee.

An Israeli army excavator demolishes a residential building in the Tulkarem camp for Palestinian refugees during an ongoing Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank on February 18, 2025. (AFP)

The operation, which Israel says is aimed at thwarting Iranian-backed militant groups in the West Bank, has since been extended to other camps, notably the Tulkarm refugee camp and the nearby Nur Shams camp, both of which have also been devastated. The camps, built for descendants of Palestinian refugees who fled or were driven from their homes in the 1948 war around the creation of the state of Israel, have long been major centers for armed militant groups. They have been raided repeatedly by the Israeli military but the current operation, which began as a ceasefire was agreed in Gaza, has been on an unusually large scale. According to figures from the Palestinian Authority, around 17,000 people have now left Jenin refugee camp, leaving the site almost completely deserted, while in Nur Shams 6,000 people, or about two thirds of the total, have left, with another 10,000 leaving from Tulkarm camp.
“The ones who are left are trapped,” said Nihad Al-Shawish, head of the Nur Shams camp services committee. “The Civil Defense, the Red Crescent and the Palestinian security forces brought them some food yesterday but the army is still bulldozing and destroying the camp.” The Israeli raids have demolished dozens of houses and torn up large stretches of roadway as well as cutting off water and power, but the military has denied forcing residents to leave their homes.
“People obviously have the possibility to move or go where they want, if they will. But if they don’t, they’re allowed to stay,” Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani told reporters.
The operation began as Israel moved to banish the main UN Palestinian relief organization UNRWA from its headquarters in East Jerusalem and cut it off from any contact with Israeli officials.
The ban, which took effect at the end of January, has hit UNRWA’s work in the West Bank and Gaza, where it provides aid for millions of Palestinians in the refugee camps.
Israel has accused UNRWA of cooperating with Hamas and said some UNRWA workers even took part in the Hamas-led attack on communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 that set off the 15-month war in Gaza.

 


Tens of thousands of Palestinians flee West Bank refugee camps

Updated 18 February 2025
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Tens of thousands of Palestinians flee West Bank refugee camps

  • The camps, built for descendants of Palestinian refugees who fled or were driven from their homes in the 1948 war around the creation of the state of Israel, have long been major centers for armed militant groups

JERUSALEM: Tens of thousands of Palestinians living in refugee camps in the occupied West Bank have left their homes as a weeks-long Israeli offensive has demolished houses and torn up vital infrastructure in the heavily built up townships, Palestinian authorities said.
Israeli forces began their operation in the refugee camp in the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Jan. 21, deploying hundreds of troops and bulldozers that demolished houses and dug up roads, driving almost all of the camp’s residents out.
“We don’t know what’s going on in the camp but there is continuous demolition and roads being dug up,” said Mohammed Al-Sabbagh, head of the Jenin camp services committee.

An Israeli army excavator demolishes a residential building in the Tulkarem camp for Palestinian refugees during an ongoing Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank on February 18, 2025. (AFP)

The operation, which Israel says is aimed at thwarting Iranian-backed militant groups in the West Bank, has since been extended to other camps, notably the Tulkarm refugee camp and the nearby Nur Shams camp, both of which have also been devastated. The camps, built for descendants of Palestinian refugees who fled or were driven from their homes in the 1948 war around the creation of the state of Israel, have long been major centers for armed militant groups. They have been raided repeatedly by the Israeli military but the current operation, which began as a ceasefire was agreed in Gaza, has been on an unusually large scale. According to figures from the Palestinian Authority, around 17,000 people have now left Jenin refugee camp, leaving the site almost completely deserted, while in Nur Shams 6,000 people, or about two thirds of the total, have left, with another 10,000 leaving from Tulkarm camp.
“The ones who are left are trapped,” said Nihad Al-Shawish, head of the Nur Shams camp services committee. “The Civil Defense, the Red Crescent and the Palestinian security forces brought them some food yesterday but the army is still bulldozing and destroying the camp.” The Israeli raids have demolished dozens of houses and torn up large stretches of roadway as well as cutting off water and power, but the military has denied forcing residents to leave their homes.
“People obviously have the possibility to move or go where they want, if they will. But if they don’t, they’re allowed to stay,” Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani told reporters.
The operation began as Israel moved to banish the main UN Palestinian relief organization UNRWA from its headquarters in East Jerusalem and cut it off from any contact with Israeli officials.
The ban, which took effect at the end of January, has hit UNRWA’s work in the West Bank and Gaza, where it provides aid for millions of Palestinians in the refugee camps.
Israel has accused UNRWA of cooperating with Hamas and said some UNRWA workers even took part in the Hamas-led attack on communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 that set off the 15-month war in Gaza.

 


More than one million Syrians return to their homes: UN

People walk past shops in Homs on February 10, 2025. (AFP)
Updated 19 February 2025
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More than one million Syrians return to their homes: UN

  • “Since the fall of the regime in Syria we estimate that 280,000 Syrian refugees and more than 800,000 people displaced inside the country have returned to their homes,” Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees

GENEVA: More than one million people have returned to their homes in Syria after the overthrow of Bashar Assad, including 280,000 refugees who came back from abroad, the UN said on Tuesday.
Assad was toppled in December in a rebel offensive, putting an end to his family’s decades-long grip on power in the Middle Eastern country and bookmarking a civil war that broke out in 2011, with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.
Syria’s war has killed more than half a million people and displaced millions from their homes.
The Islamist-led rebels whose offensive ousted Assad have sought to assure the international community that they have broken with their past and will respect the rights of minorities.
“Since the fall of the regime in Syria we estimate that 280,000 Syrian refugees and more than 800,000 people displaced inside the country have returned to their homes,” Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, wrote on the X social media platform.
“Early recovery efforts must be bolder and faster, though, otherwise people will leave again: this is now urgent!” he said.
At a meeting in Paris in mid-February, some 20 countries, including Arab nations, Turkiye, Britain, France, Germany, Canada and Japan agreed at the close of a conference in Paris to “work together to ensure the success of the transition in a process led by Syria.”
The meeting’s final statement also pledged support for Syria’s new authorities in the fight against “all forms of terrorism and extremism.”
 

 


Israeli military says it struck weapons belonging to former Syrian administration in southern Syria

Updated 19 February 2025
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Israeli military says it struck weapons belonging to former Syrian administration in southern Syria

CAIRO: The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it struck weapons which it said belonged to the former Syrian administration in southern Syria.