عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Hariri Demands Lifting Immunity of All Officials Involved in Port Blast Probe

A general view shows the damage at the site of the blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon August 5, 2020. Reuters/ Mohammed Azakir
A general view shows the damage at the site of the blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon August 5, 2020. Reuters/ Mohammed Azakir
TT
TT

Hariri Demands Lifting Immunity of All Officials Involved in Port Blast Probe

A general view shows the damage at the site of the blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon August 5, 2020. Reuters/ Mohammed Azakir
A general view shows the damage at the site of the blast in Beirut’s port area, Lebanon August 5, 2020. Reuters/ Mohammed Azakir

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri has not ruled out “negligence” on behalf of President Michel Aoun on last year’s Beirut Port explosion, announcing that Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc has submitted a proposal to suspend all legal clauses that provide immunity to the President of the Republic, heads of government and deputies, ministers, and lawyers to pave way for their prosecution in the case.

Around 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in Beirut's port caused a blast that devastated the city on August 4, 2020. The explosion also killed more than 200 people and caused millions of dollars' worth of damage.

“It is the right of the Lebanese to know who brought the nitrate and who is behind this disaster,” Hariri said in a press conference in Beirut on Tuesday, denying allegations that his Mustaqbal Movement was against lifting immunity.

“Our proposal is to take an extraordinary decision to suspend all constitutional and legal clauses that grant immunity or special treatment to take to trial the president of the republic, the prime minister, ministers, representatives, judges, officials and even lawyers,” the former premier added.

Hariri continued: “Talks that our parliamentary bloc […] signed a petition not to prosecute the accused is the peak of slander and lies, and today we refute all these fabrications and demand equality before the judiciary.”

Earlier this month, Investigative judge Tarek Bitar had requested to lift the immunity of MPs and former ministers Nohad Machnouk, Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zeaiter, as well as former Minister Youssef Fenianos, to allow their questioning in the explosion.

Following a meeting with Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati on Tuesday, Machnouk suggested “amending the constitution to lif immunities in the case of the Beirut port explosion and in all cases referred to the Judicial Council.”

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
TT
TT

Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

At least two people were killed and four rescued from the rubble of a multistory apartment building that collapsed Sunday in the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon, state media reported.

Rescue teams were continuing to dig through the rubble. It was not immediately clear how many people were in the building when it fell.

The bodies pulled out were of a child and a woman, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Dozens of people crowded around the site of the crater left by the collapsed building, with some shooting in the air.

The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure. Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli due to poor building standards, according to The AP news.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced that those injured in the collapse would receive treatment at the state’s expense.

The national syndicate for property owners in a statement called the collapse the result of “blatant negligence and shortcomings of the Lebanese state toward the safety of citizens and their housing security,” and said it is “not an isolated incident.”

The syndicate called for the government to launch a comprehensive national survey of buildings at risk of collapse.

Arab World

Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
TT
TT

Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)

Israel's security cabinet approved a series of steps on Sunday that would make it easier for settlers in the occupied West Bank to buy land while granting Israeli authorities more enforcement powers over Palestinians, Israeli media reported.

The West Bank is among the territories that the Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Much of it is under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

Citing statements by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israeli news sites Ynet and Haaretz said the measures included scrapping decades-old regulations that prevent Jewish private citizens buying land in the West Bank, The AP news reported.

They were also reported to include allowing Israeli authorities to administer some religious sites, and expand supervision and enforcement in areas under PA administration in matters of environmental hazards, water offences and damage to archaeological sites.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the new measures were dangerous, illegal and tantamount to de-facto annexation.

The Israeli ministers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The new measures come three days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet in Washington with US President Donald Trump.

Trump has ruled out Israeli annexation of the West Bank but his administration has not sought to curb Israel's accelerated settlement building, which the Palestinians say denies them a potential state by eating away at its territory.

Netanyahu, who is facing an election later this year, deems the establishment of any Palestinian state a security threat.

His ruling coalition includes many pro-settler members who want Israel to annex the West Bank, land captured in the 1967 Middle East war to which Israel cites biblical and historical ties.

The United Nations' highest court said in a non-binding advisory opinion in 2024 that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there is illegal and should be ended as soon as possible. Israel disputes this view.

Arab World

Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
TT
TT

Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit strongly condemned the attack by the Rapid Support Forces on humanitarian aid convoys and relief workers in North Kordofan State, Sudan.

In a statement reported by SPA, secretary-general's spokesperson Jamal Rushdi quoted Aboul Gheit as saying the attack constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law, which prohibits the deliberate targeting of civilians and depriving them of their means of survival.

Aboul Gheit stressed the need to hold those responsible accountable, end impunity, and ensure the full protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, and relief facilities in Sudan.