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Lebanon’s Opposition Awaits ‘Humility’ from Shiite Duo on Presidential Election Approach

Opposition MPs’ Meeting in Maarab – Headquarters of the Lebanese Forces (LF) – Last Week to Discuss Presidential Election (LF)
Opposition MPs’ Meeting in Maarab – Headquarters of the Lebanese Forces (LF) – Last Week to Discuss Presidential Election (LF)
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Lebanon’s Opposition Awaits ‘Humility’ from Shiite Duo on Presidential Election Approach

Opposition MPs’ Meeting in Maarab – Headquarters of the Lebanese Forces (LF) – Last Week to Discuss Presidential Election (LF)
Opposition MPs’ Meeting in Maarab – Headquarters of the Lebanese Forces (LF) – Last Week to Discuss Presidential Election (LF)

Lebanese political factions are stepping up efforts to resolve the presidential crisis, with direct and indirect talks underway ahead of the January 9 election session. Despite these efforts, no final agreement has been reached on a candidate.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri remains firm on the January 9 date, expressing hope it will bring an end to the prolonged presidential deadlock.
Previous candidates appear to be out of the picture. Sleiman Franjieh, leader of the Marada Movement and a key ally of Hezbollah and Amal, has not officially withdrawn but seems sidelined.
Similarly, Jihad Azour, once backed by the opposition and Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil, is no longer in contention.
For now, Hezbollah and Amal have left the decision to Franjieh, who has yet to announce his withdrawal, keeping the situation in flux.
Berri has called for a consensus president, but sources from his “Development and Liberation” bloc say it’s too early to rule out Franjieh’s candidacy, as no alternative has been agreed upon.
They remain optimistic that talks will lead to a unified candidate before the January 9 election, stressing that there is still time to reach an agreement.
The sources also reject the idea that Hezbollah and Amal are politically defeated pointing out that their bloc still holds key veto powers in parliament. They stress that current discussions show their intention to find a consensus solution.
On the other hand, the opposition sees the Shiite bloc as losing regional influence and expects them to reassess their position.
Opposition sources say they set out their vision for the presidency before the October 8 developments, emphasizing that the presidency must help build a real state, not just be a symbolic position.
While the opposition is still assessing the Shiite bloc's willingness to negotiate, they expect them to approach the situation with more realism moving forward.
As talks continue, including new communication channels between Berri and the Lebanese Forces party, no agreement has yet been reached for the upcoming session.
However, opposition sources say they have a clear plan for different outcomes and are ready to move forward as discussions intensify.

 

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Arab World

Malaysia Calls for Rejection of Forced Palestinian Displacement Plan

The Malaysian Foreign Minister attending the recent OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Makkah (Asharq Al-Awsat).
The Malaysian Foreign Minister attending the recent OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Makkah (Asharq Al-Awsat).
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Malaysia Calls for Rejection of Forced Palestinian Displacement Plan

The Malaysian Foreign Minister attending the recent OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Makkah (Asharq Al-Awsat).
The Malaysian Foreign Minister attending the recent OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Makkah (Asharq Al-Awsat).

Kuala Lumpur has stressed the need for unified condemnation of a plan aimed at annexing Gaza and forcibly displacing the Palestinian people, urging nations with influence over Israel to push for a resolution to the crisis.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers’ meeting in Makkah on Friday, Malaysian Foreign Minister Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan called on major global powers and institutions to denounce the displacement plan.
Hasan expressed hope that the OIC, in coordination with UN agencies and other international bodies, could advance a comprehensive recovery and reconstruction plan for war-torn countries such as Lebanon and Syria. He also reaffirmed confidence in Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in driving collective action forward.
Malaysia, he added, will coordinate with like-minded nations to facilitate emergency relief efforts, capacity-building initiatives, and medium- to long-term reconstruction projects, particularly in Gaza and potentially beyond.
The minister further stated that his country remains committed to achieving a just, lasting, and sustainable peace for Palestine. He reiterated Malaysia’s strong support for early recovery, reconstruction, and development in Gaza, in line with Egypt’s proposal at the Extraordinary Arab Summit for Palestine held in Cairo on March 4, 2025.
He noted that Kuala Lumpur urges all OIC members to fully back this initiative, stressing that a permanent solution is essential to establishing an independent Palestinian state. This, he emphasized, should be based on a two-state solution in accordance with international law and UN resolutions, with East Jerusalem as its capital along the pre-1967 borders.
The foreign minister underscored that the establishment of a Palestinian state would bring much-needed peace and stability to the region, particularly in Lebanon and Syria. He also stressed the right of all displaced Palestinians, whether in Egypt, Jordan, or elsewhere, to return to their homeland.
Hasan condemned any call for the forced displacement of Palestinians or the annexation of Gaza, describing it as not only “unrealistic and impractical” but also as an act of “ethnic cleansing and a grave violation of international law.” Such measures, he argued, constitute a direct affront to justice and human rights.
“The proposal has faced near-universal rejection,” he said, “strongly opposed by countries worldwide and, above all, by Arab and Islamic communities. The urgency of this crisis is precisely why the Arab and Islamic world has come together to take decisive action.”
Malaysia, he added, has consistently condemned Israel’s war and its violations against Palestinians, as well as Tel Aviv’s persistent attempts to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. He reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to multilateralism, respect for international law, and the UN system.
Saudi-Malaysian Relations: Stronger Than Ever
On the state of bilateral ties between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, Hasan described the relationship as “stronger than ever,” citing regular high-level engagement between the two nations. He noted that he maintains close communication with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, with both countries recently intensifying cooperation in key sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, infrastructure, and science and technology.
To ensure effective collaboration, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia have established the Saudi-Malaysian Coordination Council (SMCC), co-led by the two foreign ministers. The council is responsible for planning, managing, and overseeing the implementation of strategic initiatives within a structured timeframe, ensuring tangible progress in areas of mutual interest.