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Arab Parliament Holds Conference to Promote Solidarity, Discard Differences

A general view of the Arab League delegates meeting. December 5, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
A general view of the Arab League delegates meeting. December 5, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
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Arab Parliament Holds Conference to Promote Solidarity, Discard Differences

A general view of the Arab League delegates meeting. December 5, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
A general view of the Arab League delegates meeting. December 5, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

The Arab Parliament will hold on Saturday a conference in which senior leaders will participate at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.

The conference will be held as a recognition of the accuracy and seriousness of the current situation and challenges faced by the Arab nation, Speaker of the Parliament Dr. Meshal bin Fahmy al-Salami said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said all this necessitates unifying Arab ranks, discarding differences and boosting solidarity to achieve desired security, stability, development and renaissance in the Arab region.

Salami pointed out that the participating leaders in the conference aim at developing an Arab document along with the Parliament as they have deep knowledge and great experience in the field of joint Arab action.

He added that the document is to be submitted to the Council of the Arab League at the summit level at its next meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Tunisia in March.

The conference will be attended by a number of current and former senior officials as well as a number of senior Arab media figures and intellectuals.

Among the participants are former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel and Prince Turki Al Faisal, chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Research along with six former premiers, who are Abdulaziz Belkhadem of Algeria, Dr. Iyad Allawi of Iraq, Dr. Mahmoud Jibril of Libya, Dr Hani al-Mulqi of Jordan, Habib al-Seid of Tunisia and Dr. Ahmed bin Dagher of Yemen.

Moreover, Abdulhakim bin Chamash, chairman of the Council of Moroccan of Councilors, Mohammed Ibrahim al-Mutawa, Bahrain’s minister of cabinet affairs, Amr Moussa, former Arab League secretary-general, Professor Ibrahim Ghandour, former Sudanese foreign minister and Dr. Saeb Erekat, secretary of the executive committee and head of the negotiation department in the PLO, Dr. Ibtisam al-Ketbi, president of the Emirates policy center and Dr. Ayed al-Manna, Kuwaiti political researcher, will also attend the conference and participate in its activities.

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Arab World

Lebanon Begins Clearing Beirut, Airport Road of Political Banners

Removal of a photo of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah (Beirut Municipality) 
Removal of a photo of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah (Beirut Municipality) 
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Lebanon Begins Clearing Beirut, Airport Road of Political Banners

Removal of a photo of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah (Beirut Municipality) 
Removal of a photo of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah (Beirut Municipality) 

Lebanese authorities have launched a sweeping campaign to remove political party flags, posters, and slogans from Beirut’s streets and the main road to Rafic Hariri International Airport, in a move aimed at restoring the capital’s image and promoting tourism.

The cleanup, which began early Wednesday, was ordered by Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar and Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud, with municipal crews and Internal Security Forces overseeing its execution. The initiative is part of a broader government plan to improve public spaces and reflect state authority, especially in areas highly visible to visitors.

“This is about presenting a unified, civil image of Lebanon,” al-Hajjar told Asharq Al-Awsat, emphasizing that the effort aligns with the government’s commitment to assert state sovereignty and support economic recovery.

“The President pledged to restore the state’s authority, and that includes enhancing the appearance and functionality of our cities,” he added.

Starting from central Beirut and stretching along the airport highway, the operation targets all political symbols — including those of powerful groups like Hezbollah and the Amal Movement — as well as commercial billboards installed on public property.

Abboud confirmed that all major parties were informed of the decision and responded cooperatively. “There’s consensus that the capital and airport road should reflect the Lebanese state — not individual factions,” he said, adding that the airport zone must be safe and firmly under state control.

The campaign is also part of preparations for the upcoming summer tourism season, with expectations of increased arrivals from Arab countries, expatriates, and international visitors. Authorities have prioritized street lighting and infrastructure upgrades as part of the broader revitalization.

“In just a few months, we’ve gone from pleading for diesel to keep the airport running, to relighting the entire route from the city center to the terminal,” said Abboud. “We want Beirut to look like a city of joy and openness.”

Party-related imagery placed on public property along Beirut’s roads has long caused tension, often dividing neighborhoods along political lines. Security officials say the removal effort has proceeded smoothly and without resistance, marking a rare show of unity in a politically fractured country.

“The state respects everyone’s right to political activity,” a security source said. “But that no longer includes turning public space into partisan territory.”