Lebanon's Hariri Proposes Naming Independent Shiite at Finance Ministry

FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
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Lebanon's Hariri Proposes Naming Independent Shiite at Finance Ministry

FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri proposed on Tuesday a solution to the cabinet crisis, saying he would help PM-designate Mustapha Adib choose an independent Shiite minister at the Finance Ministry.

“I decided to help Prime Minister Adib find a way out, by naming a finance minister from the Shiite sect, who would be independent and whom he chooses, like all other ministers on the basis of competence, integrity and non-affiliation to ant party,” Hariri said in a statement issued by his office.

However, the head of al-Mustaqbal Movement said this doesn’t mean in any way recognition that the finance ministry is the exclusive right of the Shiite sect or any other sect.

“It should be clear that this is a one-time decision and does not constitute a norm upon which to form future governments,” the statement said.

Hariri asserted that his initiative came to stop the collapse of the government formation, which would entail the risk of political, socio-economic, and security chaos.

He said it has become clear that obstructing the formation of the government threatens to eliminate the opportunity to achieve the reforms demanded by all the Lebanese, a condition that opens the way for French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for an international conference to support Lebanon at the end of next month.

He said Adib was named PM by a large majority of deputies to form a small government composed of specialists known for their competence and integrity, none of them belonging to any political party, and with a task to achieve economic, financial and administrative reform to stop the collapse.

“It was the request of Amal Movement and Hezbollah to name the Shiite ministers and to limit the Ministry of Finance to a Shiite candidate based on the claim that this is a constitutional right that stems from the Taef Accord, while it is a heresy that does not exist neither in the Constitution nor in the Taef Accord,” Hariri said.

The former PM asserted that the survival of Lebanon, the livelihood and dignity of the Lebanese remain greater than the sectarian and political conflicts, and deserve to keep the opportunity to save Lebanon away from the differences no matter how big they are.

“With this step, the responsibility rests with the opponents to form the government. If they respond and facilitate, Lebanon and the Lebanese will gain, and if they continue to obstruct it, they will bear the responsibility of wasting Lebanon’s opportunity to stop the collapse,” he said.



Israeli Strikes Kill at Least 25 in Gaza and Huckabee Makes First Appearance as US Ambassador

A man looks through the rubble to inspect a destroyed building that was hit by Israeli bombardment in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 18, 2025. (AFP)
A man looks through the rubble to inspect a destroyed building that was hit by Israeli bombardment in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 18, 2025. (AFP)
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Israeli Strikes Kill at Least 25 in Gaza and Huckabee Makes First Appearance as US Ambassador

A man looks through the rubble to inspect a destroyed building that was hit by Israeli bombardment in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 18, 2025. (AFP)
A man looks through the rubble to inspect a destroyed building that was hit by Israeli bombardment in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 18, 2025. (AFP)

Israeli airstrikes across Gaza killed at least 25 people on Friday including children, hospital workers said, as the new US ambassador to Israel made his first public appearance in Jerusalem.

The dead included 15 people killed in three strikes on the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. Ten people were killed in Jabalia, including eight from the same home, according to the Indonesian Hospital, where the bodies were brought.

The strikes came a day after more than two dozen people died in Gaza as Israel continued attacks, pressuring Hamas to return the hostages and disarm.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee visited the Western Wall on Friday, the holiest Jewish prayer site in Jerusalem’s Old City. He inserted a prayer into the wall, which he said was handwritten by US President Donald Trump. "Those are his initials, D.T.,“ said Huckabee while showing the note to the media.

In his first act as ambassador, Huckabee said Trump told him to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Huckabee also said every effort was being made to bring home the remaining hostages held by Hamas. A one-time presidential hopeful, Huckabee has acknowledged his past support for Israel’s right to annex the West Bank and incorporate its Palestinian population into Israel but said it would not be his “prerogative” to carry out that policy.

During his first term, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital over Palestinian objections and moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv. Palestinians seek the eastern part of the city, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as their future capital.

Huckabee's arrival comes at a pivotal time in the 18-month war, as international mediators including the US are trying to get a broken ceasefire back on track.

Israel is demanding that Hamas release more hostages at the start of any new ceasefire and ultimately agree to disarm and leave the territory. Israel has said it plans to occupy large “security zones” inside Gaza.

Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ negotiating delegation, said Thursday the group had rejected Israel’s latest proposal along those lines. He reiterated Hamas’ stance that it will return hostages only in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting truce, as called for in the now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached in January.

Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

Friday’s airstrikes came a day after aid groups raised alarm over Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where it has barred entry of all food and other goods for more than six weeks. Thousands of children have become malnourished, and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, the United Nations said.

Israel’s Defense Minister says the blockade is one of the “central pressure tactics” against Hamas, which Israel accuses of siphoning off aid to maintain its rule. Aid workers deny there is significant diversion of aid, saying the UN closely monitors distribution. Rights groups have called it a “starvation tactic.”

The war began when Hamas-led gunmen attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Israel’s offensive has since killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.  

The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. The war has displaced around 90% of the population, with hundreds of thousands of people living in tent camps and bombed-out buildings.