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Qatari Minister Holds Meetings in Lebanon amid International Action to Help Address Crisis

The head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday. (Franjieh’s Twitter account)
The head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday. (Franjieh’s Twitter account)
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Qatari Minister Holds Meetings in Lebanon amid International Action to Help Address Crisis

The head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday. (Franjieh’s Twitter account)
The head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday. (Franjieh’s Twitter account)

International action to help Lebanon overcome its crisis have recently come to the fore, especially the quintet meeting that recently brought together representatives of the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar in Paris.

In parallel, Qatar’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, continued to hold meetings with Lebanese officials within the framework of an exploratory tour that started on Monday.

The Qatari diplomat stressed the need to maintain support for the Lebanese military institution to enable it to carry out its tasks in preserving Lebanon’s security.

A statement issued by the Lebanese Army Command said that Al-Khulaifi met with the Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, with whom he discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the region.

As part of his meetings on Tuesday, the Qatari minister met with the head of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, in Maarab, the day after his talks, on Monday evening, with the head of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), Walid Jumblatt.

Also on Tuesday, the head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, met with Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of the Qatari Ambassador to Lebanon, Ibrahim Al-Sahlawi, MP Tony Franjieh, and former Minister Roni Araiji. Discussions touched on the general situation and the latest developments in Lebanon and the region.

In a related context, former Minister Nehme Tohme highlighted in a statement the “Arab and international role aimed at rescuing Lebanon from its crises and setbacks, and pushing the concerned political forces to elect a president for the republic to end the presidential vacuum.”

Pointing to the role of Saudi Arabia, Tohme said: “Here is the Kingdom today, maintaining its role to help our country, not to mention the economic support it provided, which had a positive impact in fortifying the Lebanese economy for many years, accompanied by its embrace of the largest Lebanese community that enjoys all appreciation and respect…”

“Saudi Arabia remains the main axis in this movement that is taking place today, whether in the quintet meeting or through its role and presence at the regional and international levels, thanks to the wisdom of the Saudi leadership and the clear vision of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman,” he added.

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Blinken Lays Out Post-war Gaza Plan to Be Handed to Trump Team

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)
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Blinken Lays Out Post-war Gaza Plan to Be Handed to Trump Team

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday laid out plans for the post-war management of Gaza, saying the outgoing Biden administration would hand over the roadmap to President-elect Donald Trump's team to pick up if a ceasefire deal is reached.

Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington in his final days as the US top diplomat, Blinken said Washington envisioned a reformed Palestinian Authority leading Gaza and inviting international partners to help establish and run an interim administration for the enclave.

A security force would be formed from forces from partner nations and vetted Palestinian personnel, Blinken said during his speech, which was repeatedly interrupted by protesters who accused him of supporting genocide by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza, which Israel denies.

He was speaking as negotiators met in Qatar hoping to finalize a plan to end the war in Gaza after 15 months of conflict that has upended the Middle East.

"For many months, we've been working intensely with our partners to develop a detailed post-conflict plan that would allow Israel to fully withdraw from Gaza, prevent Hamas from filling back in, and provide for Gaza's governance, security and reconstruction," Blinken said.

Trump and his incoming team have not said whether they would implement the plan.

Blinken said a post-conflict plan and a "credible political horizon for Palestinians" was needed to ensure that Hamas does not re-emerge.

The United States had repeatedly warned Israel that Hamas could not be defeated by a military campaign alone, he said. "We assess that Hamas has recruited almost as many new fighters as it has lost. That is a recipe for an enduring insurgency and perpetual war."

PROTESTERS

Blinken's remarks were interrupted three times by protesters, who echoed accusations that the Biden administration was complicit in crimes committed by Israel in the war.

Blinken has denied Israel's actions amount to genocide and says he has pushed Israel to do more to protect civilians and to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Israel launched its assault after Hamas-led fighters stormed across its borders on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's aerial and ground campaign has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, drawing accusations of genocide in a World Court case brought by South Africa and of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the allegations.

The assault has displaced nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population and drawn the concern of the world’s main hunger monitor.

"You will forever be known as bloody Blinken, secretary of genocide," one protester shouted before being led out of the event.

Blinken remained calm, telling one heckler: "I respect your views. Please allow me to share mine," before resuming his remarks.

Blinken said US officials had debated "vigorously" the Biden administration's response to the war, a reference to a slew of resignations by officials in his State Department who have criticized the policy to continue providing arms and diplomatic cover to Israel.

Others felt Washington had held Israel back from inflicting greater damage on Iran and its proxies, he said.

"It is crucial to ask questions like these, which will be studied for years to come," he said. "I wish I could stand here today and tell you with certainty that we got every decision right. I cannot."