Libya's HoR, HCS to Address Legal Basis for Elections in Upcoming Meeting

The Special Adviser to the UN Sec-Gen for Libya, Stephanie Williams, met Saudi Ambassador to Libya Abdulaziz bin Ali al-Sager (SASG Twitter Account)
The Special Adviser to the UN Sec-Gen for Libya, Stephanie Williams, met Saudi Ambassador to Libya Abdulaziz bin Ali al-Sager (SASG Twitter Account)
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Libya's HoR, HCS to Address Legal Basis for Elections in Upcoming Meeting

The Special Adviser to the UN Sec-Gen for Libya, Stephanie Williams, met Saudi Ambassador to Libya Abdulaziz bin Ali al-Sager (SASG Twitter Account)
The Special Adviser to the UN Sec-Gen for Libya, Stephanie Williams, met Saudi Ambassador to Libya Abdulaziz bin Ali al-Sager (SASG Twitter Account)

The UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Libya (SASG), Stephanie Williams, announced an initiative to form a joint committee from the House of Representatives (HoR) and High Council of State (HCS) to agree on a firm constitutional basis for national elections.

In an online exchange via Clubhouse, Williams expected to receive the list of the HoR's representatives for the joint committee, "we remain in active communication with the Speaker's office."

The Special Adviser asserted the UN's commitment to confidence-building measures between the HCS and HoR, noting that the time frame for the elections is determined by the Libyans, depending on the constitutional basis and voter registration.

She also pointed out the controversy over the draft constitution that the joint committee will resolve.

Williams said, "civilian flights from Tripoli to Benghazi have been suspended for more than two weeks! I reiterate that freedom of movement around the country is a basic human right that must be respected."

She joined Libyans in calling on the relevant state authorities to resume civilian flights without further delay.

The UN official hinted that it was possible to impose sanctions on those obstructing the political process in Libya, noting that including supporters of the former regime is an essential shift in the Libyan political process.

Williams met Saudi Ambassador to Libya Abdulaziz bin Ali al-Sager in Tunisia and discussed ensuring coordination and unification of all international efforts on Libya.

Sager expressed full support for the UN-proposed joint committee between the High Council of State and House of Representatives to rebuild consensus on a firm constitutional and legal basis to enable the holding of elections.

Meanwhile, the new government headed by Fathi Bashagha, pledged to integrate "revolutionaries" into the Libyan Army and unify its ranks.

The Minister of Defense, Hamid Houma, affirmed the government's support to the (5 + 5) committee, inviting all actors to participate in the national reconciliation project.

The Libyan National Army, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in the east, welcomed the statement.

Official spokesman, Major General Ahmed al-Mismari, said the integration of the revolutionaries in the army is "a message of reassurance."

He continued: "The process of integration into the armed forces comes within the framework of a comprehensive plan to address the militia issue.”



Türkiye Begins Black Box Analysis of Jet Crash That Killed Libyan Military Chief and 7 Others

Libyan national flags fly at half-mast in Tripoli on December 24, 2025, after the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides died in a plane crash in Türkiye. (AFP)
Libyan national flags fly at half-mast in Tripoli on December 24, 2025, after the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides died in a plane crash in Türkiye. (AFP)
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Türkiye Begins Black Box Analysis of Jet Crash That Killed Libyan Military Chief and 7 Others

Libyan national flags fly at half-mast in Tripoli on December 24, 2025, after the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides died in a plane crash in Türkiye. (AFP)
Libyan national flags fly at half-mast in Tripoli on December 24, 2025, after the head of Libya's armed forces and his four aides died in a plane crash in Türkiye. (AFP)

The technical analysis of the recovered black boxes from a jet crash that killed eight people, including western Libya’s military chief, began as the investigation proceeded in cooperation with Libyan authorities, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said Thursday.

The private jet with Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, four other military officials and three crew members crashed on Tuesday after taking off from Türkiye’s capital, Ankara, killing everyone on board. Libyan officials said the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane.

The high-level Libyan delegation was on its way back to Tripoli after holding defense talks in Ankara aimed at boosting military cooperation between the two countries.

The wreckage was scattered across an area covering 3 square kilometers (more than a square mile), complicating recovery efforts, according to the Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

A 22-person delegation, including five family members, arrived from Libya early on Wednesday to assist in the investigation.


Lebanese President: We are Determined to Hold Parliamentary Elections on Time

President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)
President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)
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Lebanese President: We are Determined to Hold Parliamentary Elections on Time

President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)
President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated on Thursday that the country’s parliamentary elections are a constitutional obligation that must be carried out on time.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency quoted Aoun as saying that he, alongside Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, is determined to hold the elections on schedule.

Aoun also emphasized that diplomatic efforts have continued unabated to keep the specter of war at bay, noting that "things are heading in a positive direction".

The agency also cited Berri reaffirming that the elections will take place as planned, with "no delays, no extensions".

The Lebanese parliamentary elections are scheduled for May next year.


Israel Calls Countries Condemning New West Bank Settlements ‘Morally Wrong’

Newly constructed buildings are pictured in the Israeli settlement of Givat Zeev near the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on October 24, 2025. (AFP)
Newly constructed buildings are pictured in the Israeli settlement of Givat Zeev near the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on October 24, 2025. (AFP)
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Israel Calls Countries Condemning New West Bank Settlements ‘Morally Wrong’

Newly constructed buildings are pictured in the Israeli settlement of Givat Zeev near the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on October 24, 2025. (AFP)
Newly constructed buildings are pictured in the Israeli settlement of Givat Zeev near the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on October 24, 2025. (AFP)

Israel reacted furiously on Thursday to a condemnation by 14 countries including France and Britain of its approval of new settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling the criticism discriminatory against Jews.

"Foreign governments will not restrict the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel, and any such call is morally wrong and discriminatory against Jews," Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said.

"The cabinet decision to establish 11 new settlements and to formalize eight additional settlements is intended, among other things, to help address the security threats Israel is facing."

On Sunday, Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that authorities had greenlit the settlements, saying the move was aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Fourteen countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Canada, then issued a statement urging Israel to reverse its decision, "as well as the expansion of settlements".

Such unilateral actions, they said, "violate international law", and risk undermining a fragile ceasefire in Gaza in force since October 10.

They also reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution... where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace and security".

Israel has occupied the West Bank following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

Excluding east Jerusalem, which was occupied and annexed by Israel in 1967, more than 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank, along with about three million Palestinian residents.

Earlier this month, the United Nations said the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, all of which are illegal under international law, had reached its highest level since at least 2017.