Dbeibeh, Mechichi Discuss Economic Cooperation, Libya's Reconstruction

The Libyan Prime Minister during the meeting with his Tunisian counterpart in Tripoli on Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Libyan government’s media office)
The Libyan Prime Minister during the meeting with his Tunisian counterpart in Tripoli on Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Libyan government’s media office)
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Dbeibeh, Mechichi Discuss Economic Cooperation, Libya's Reconstruction

The Libyan Prime Minister during the meeting with his Tunisian counterpart in Tripoli on Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Libyan government’s media office)
The Libyan Prime Minister during the meeting with his Tunisian counterpart in Tripoli on Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Libyan government’s media office)

Tunisia’s Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi arrived in Tripoli on Saturday on an official two-day business visit.

Head of Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid Dbeibeh received Mechichi and his accompanying delegation, which included several government ministers and around 100 business leaders who are expected to take part in a joint economic forum in Tripoli.

Officials from both countries are scheduled to discuss means of bolstering bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, investment, and commercial fields, in addition to Libya's reconstruction, the Libyan News Agency reported.

Tunisia pins high hopes on stability in Libya to revive its economy, sources said.

Mechichi pointed out that the Libyan market “is a promising strategic market for Tunisia,” especially after the progress in Libya’s political situation.

“Tunis will play a major role in Libya’s reconstruction and in keeping pace with its economic and developmental boom, in light of important factors and a common will that would help serve both countries’ economies,” Tunisian media quoted Mechichi as saying.

According to an official Tunisian statement, the visit aims to strengthen and push forward available means of cooperation at more than one level.

Mechichi will attend the launch of the Libyan-Tunisian Forum and Exhibition, in which more than 150 Tunisian economic institutions will take part, in an attempt to bolster bilateral partnership in the field of reconstruction.

Informed Tunisian sources said both sides are expected to assess the primary stages for the Tunisian-Libyan Supreme Committee.

The visit’s program also includes launching the Tunisian-Libyan air route, as well as inaugurating the Tunisian-Libyan exhibition in Tripoli.

Almost 1,000 Tunisian investors and businessmen are expected to participate in this exhibition, which presents several vital areas, such as construction, industrial products, trade, services, and the banking sector.



Netanyahu: Israel to Continue Ceasefire Discussions for Lebanon

People check the destruction following an overnight Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Shebaa near along the border between the two countries, on September 27, 2024. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)
People check the destruction following an overnight Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Shebaa near along the border between the two countries, on September 27, 2024. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)
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Netanyahu: Israel to Continue Ceasefire Discussions for Lebanon

People check the destruction following an overnight Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Shebaa near along the border between the two countries, on September 27, 2024. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)
People check the destruction following an overnight Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Shebaa near along the border between the two countries, on September 27, 2024. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)

Israel will continue to discuss ceasefire proposals for Lebanon in the days ahead, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday.

Israel's foreign minister on Thursday rejected global calls for a ceasefire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah and pressed ahead with airstrikes that have killed hundreds in Lebanon and heightened fears of a regional war.

An Israeli strike on Friday killed nine members of a family, including four children, in the Lebanese border town of Shebaa, mayor Mohammad Saab told Reuters.

Israeli attacks have killed an estimated 700 people to date, including at least 150 women and children.

Hezbollah said it had fired rockets into Israel on Friday at Kiryat Ata near the city of Haifa some 30 km from the border, and the city of Tiberias, declaring the attacks a response to Israel strikes on villages, cities and civilians.

Though Israeli air defenses have shot down many of Hezbollah's rockets, limiting the damage they've done, the group's attacks have shut down normal life across much of northern Israel as more areas fall into its crosshairs.

The Israeli military said it had intercepted four unmanned aircraft that crossed from Lebanese territory into the maritime space off the coast of Rosh Hanikra at the Lebanese border.

The United States and France proposed an immediate 21-day truce on Wednesday, and said negotiations continued, including on the sidelines of a United Nations meeting in New York.

Netanyahu said on Friday that Israeli teams had meetings to discuss the US ceasefire proposals on Thursday and would continue discussions in the days ahead, adding that he appreciated the US efforts.

"Our teams met (Sept. 26) to discuss the US initiative and how we can advance the shared goal of returning people safely to their homes. We will continue those discussions in the coming days," he said in a statement.
On Thursday, after Netanyahu left for New York where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly, his office issued a statement saying the prime minister had ordered Israeli troops to continue fighting “with full force” in Lebanon.

His statement made no reference to the comments of Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who on Thursday rejected ceasefire proposals, or other Israeli politicians who have echoed that position, saying only that there had been "a lot of misreporting around the US-led ceasefire initiative.”

Israeli military vehicles were seen transporting tanks and armored vehicles toward the country’s northern border with Lebanon, and commanders have issued a call-up of reservists.