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Lebanon Patriarch Urges End to Meddling in Judiciary Over Blast Probe Deadlock

A view shows the grain silo that was damaged in a massive explosion at Beirut port, Lebanon October 23, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A view shows the grain silo that was damaged in a massive explosion at Beirut port, Lebanon October 23, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
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Lebanon Patriarch Urges End to Meddling in Judiciary Over Blast Probe Deadlock

A view shows the grain silo that was damaged in a massive explosion at Beirut port, Lebanon October 23, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A view shows the grain silo that was damaged in a massive explosion at Beirut port, Lebanon October 23, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Lebanon's Maronite Patriarch said on Sunday the government should put an end to any meddling in the judiciary after the probe into last year's devastating Beirut port blast was halted by the latest of a series of complaints against the lead investigator.

The investigation was frozen on Monday when former Interior Minister Nohad al-Mashnouk, wanted for questioning as a suspect, filed a case questioning Judge Tarek Bitar's impartiality.

The move followed a smear campaign by Lebanon's political class against Bitar and a warning by senior Hezbollah official Wafik Safa that he would be removed.

Patriarch Beshara al-Rai said in his Sunday sermon that political pressure on Bitar weakened the authority of the judiciary and could put international aid for Lebanon at risk.

"We cannot insist on the investigation in the port crime and not support the investigating judge and the judiciary," al-Rai said.

"It's true that the government should not interfere in the judiciary but it is it's duty to intervene to stop any meddling in the affairs of the judiciary," he added.

The Aug. 4 2020 Beirut port blast, caused by a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely for years, killed over 200 people but more than a year on no one has been held accountable.

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Lebanon Parliament Speaker Accuses Israel of 'Flagrant Violation' of Truce

Border fence between Lebanon and Israel (AFP)
Border fence between Lebanon and Israel (AFP)
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Lebanon Parliament Speaker Accuses Israel of 'Flagrant Violation' of Truce

Border fence between Lebanon and Israel (AFP)
Border fence between Lebanon and Israel (AFP)

Lebanon's parliament speaker accused Israel of violating a ceasefire, after authorities said two were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday, the sixth day of the truce.

"The aggressive actions carried out by Israeli occupation forces... represent a flagrant violation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement," Nabih Berri, who helped mediate the ceasefire on behalf of ally Hezbollah, said in a statement.

Also, France's foreign minister Monday told his Israeli counterpart that all sides should respect a ceasefire started last week between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the French foreign ministry said.

Jean-Noel Barrot stressed to Israeli minister Gideon Saar in a phone call "the need for all sides to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon", the ministry said, after several Israeli strikes hit Lebanon since the ceasefire started Wednesday.

At least two people were killed on Monday in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, Lebanese authorities said, as a ceasefire ending more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah appeared increasingly fragile.

The truce, which came into effect early on Nov. 27, stipulates that Israel will not carry out offensive military operations against civilian, military or other state targets in Lebanon, while Lebanon will prevent any armed groups, including Hezbollah, from carrying out operations against Israel.

Lebanon and Israel have already traded accusations of breaches, and on Monday Lebanon said the violations had turned deadly.

One person was killed in an Israeli air attack on the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun, about 10 km (six miles) from the border with Israel, Lebanon's health ministry said.

Lebanon's state security said an Israeli drone strike had killed a member of its force while he was on duty in Nabatieh, 12 km from the border. State security called it a "flagrant violation" of the truce.

The Lebanese army said an Israeli drone hit an army bulldozer in northeast Lebanon near the border with Syria, wounding one soldier.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters about the incidents in Marjayoun and Nabatieh. It issued a statement saying it had attacked military vehicles operating near Hezbollah military infrastructure in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley and military vehicles near the border with Syria.

The Israeli military acknowledged that a Lebanese soldier was wounded in one of its attacks and said the incident was under review.