Ambassadors of Quintet to Meet Lebanese Officials to Discuss Proposal to End Presidential Impasse

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed al-Bukhari meets with Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch All the East Youssef Al-Absi on Friday. (NNA)
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed al-Bukhari meets with Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch All the East Youssef Al-Absi on Friday. (NNA)
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Ambassadors of Quintet to Meet Lebanese Officials to Discuss Proposal to End Presidential Impasse

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed al-Bukhari meets with Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch All the East Youssef Al-Absi on Friday. (NNA)
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed al-Bukhari meets with Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch All the East Youssef Al-Absi on Friday. (NNA)

The ambassadors of the Quintet on Lebanon are continuing their efforts to reach a breakthrough in the presidential impasse in the country.

The envoys met at Saudi Ambassador to Beirut Waleed al-Bukhari's residence on Thursday and are expected to hold talks with several Lebanese officials next week to discuss their proposal on ending the deadlock.

The quintet is formed of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, France and the United States.

The envoys are scheduled to meet with Speaker Nabih Berri next week. Sources from his parliamentary bloc said he was open to cooperating with the Quintet.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that he was awaiting what they have prepared over the presidency.

The envoys will not name candidates, but “standards and the outline for the election of the next president, who enjoys the support of the people.”

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Aoun ended in October 2022. Bickering between political blocs has thwarted an agreement on his successor.

On Friday, Bukhari met with Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch All the East Youssef Al-Absi for talks on national and regional affairs.

Bukhari described the visit as a protocol one, adding that he briefed Absi on the Quintet’s latest efforts to help end the presidential impasse.

For his part, Absi hailed the bilateral relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia and their peoples. He also praised the Kingdom’s efforts in Lebanon on all levels, reported the National News Agency.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Alaa Moussa said the Quintet wants to facilitate issues in Lebanon and “help as much as it can”.

“The election of a president is not just a goal, but a step that would be followed up with others,” he said during a dinner banquet thrown in his honor by MP Neemat Frem.

He stressed that Egypt has a “clear and sustainable commitment towards the Lebanese people.”

“We have a joint interest for both Lebanon and Egypt to be strong. This ensures the success of both countries,” he added.

The meetings held by the Quintet ambassadors are a precursor to the arrival of French presidential envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian, who will also discuss the presidential vacuum with political powers.

As it stands, Hezbollah and its allies are still committed to the election of Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh as president. The opposition still supports the run of former minister Jihad Azour. It is hoping that the Quintet would eventually pave the way for an agreement on a third candidate.



Trump Victory Fuels Fears of Netanyahu’s Increased Freedom in Lebanon

Smoke rises from Beirut’s southern suburbs following Israeli attacks. (AFP)
Smoke rises from Beirut’s southern suburbs following Israeli attacks. (AFP)
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Trump Victory Fuels Fears of Netanyahu’s Increased Freedom in Lebanon

Smoke rises from Beirut’s southern suburbs following Israeli attacks. (AFP)
Smoke rises from Beirut’s southern suburbs following Israeli attacks. (AFP)

Lebanese are watching closely after Donald Trump’s election as US president, hoping his policies might bring solutions to regional crises and possibly halt wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Observers caution, however, that change won’t be immediate or at Israel’s expense; instead, they expect Israel could have more military leeway before peace efforts begin.

Trump didn’t outline his plans to end conflicts during his victory speech, only briefly mentioning the issue.

Fares Soeid, a former Lebanese MP, called Trump’s win a potential global turning point, particularly in conflict zones like Ukraine and the Middle East. Soeid believes Trump’s support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s far-right may intensify.

Soeid told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump’s election could hasten military actions on the Lebanese-Israeli border, allowing Netanyahu more freedom to secure military objectives and strengthen Israel’s negotiating position.

He suggested key UN resolutions intended to control arms in Lebanon may lose focus, with the goal shifting to place all weapons under state control.

There is concern in Lebanon over any change to Resolution 1701, which maintains the ceasefire with Israel.

Soeid clarified that Trump might not scrap these resolutions outright but could push for tighter arms restrictions, ensuring only Lebanon’s government holds power over weapons.

He believes the US may aim to create a cohesive Lebanese leadership to enforce these measures, essentially enabling Netanyahu more flexibility in regional matters.

The US election drew intense interest in Lebanon, with citizens and officials closely tracking the campaigns and vote results, hoping for a positive shift.

Lebanese politician Khaldoun Sharif noted that Trump reached out to Lebanese Americans during his campaign, promising to bring peace to Lebanon quickly.

He sees Trump’s advisor, Lebanese-born Massad Boulos, as potentially instrumental in highlighting Lebanon’s needs to the new administration.

Sharif criticized the outgoing Democratic administration’s handling of conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, saying it failed to curb Netanyahu’s plans despite multiple ceasefire proposals.

As Trump prepares to take office on January 20, Sharif emphasized that Lebanon is eager for a complete ceasefire, adherence to Resolution 1701, a consensus-backed president, and a transparent, reform-oriented government to rebuild trust with Arab nations and the international community.

Sharif voiced disappointment that past US administrations have often overlooked Lebanon’s significance.

Now, amid a severe conflict, he hopes Trump will act swiftly to end the violence, support reconstruction, and restore Lebanon’s standing on the regional stage.