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Netherlands, Canada Advise against Unnecessary Travel to Lebanon

Canada issued a travel advisory to Lebanon.
Canada issued a travel advisory to Lebanon.
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Netherlands, Canada Advise against Unnecessary Travel to Lebanon

Canada issued a travel advisory to Lebanon.
Canada issued a travel advisory to Lebanon.

The Dutch government on Friday warned its citizens against any unnecessary travel to Lebanon due to armed conflict in the region.

The Netherlands had earlier this week warned against travel to the south of Lebanon, near the volatile border with northern Israel, and now said it also advised against travel to the rest of Lebanon unless strictly necessary.

Earlier, Canada issued a travel advisory on Friday calling on Canadian citizens to refrain from traveling to Lebanon unless it was for "essential" reasons.  

On its official X account, the Canadian government said: “Avoid non-essential travel to Lebanon due to an unpredictable security situation”.  

It also urged its citizens who are already in Lebanon, to make sure to carry their travel papers and identity cards at all times in the event that the armed conflict intensifies.

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Constitutional Path for Aoun’s Presidential Election in Lebanon

Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun (Reuters)
Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun (Reuters)
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Constitutional Path for Aoun’s Presidential Election in Lebanon

Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun (Reuters)
Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun (Reuters)

Gen. Joseph Aoun currently leads the race for Lebanon's presidency, but some warn his election could be unconstitutional because he holds a “Class A” position, requiring his resignation two years before running.
However, his supporters point to the 2008 election of Gen. Michel Suleiman, who was also army commander at the time, as a precedent. They argue the reasons given for Suleiman’s election should apply to Aoun as well.
At the time, Speaker Nabih Berri argued that the support of over 86 lawmakers for Suleiman made his election constitutional, as any constitutional amendment requires 86 votes.
MP Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, continues to argue that Aoun’s election is unconstitutional under the current process.
He recently stated that constitutional amendments require a president, a functioning parliament, and a fully empowered government. The process also needs two steps: a two-thirds majority in the first vote and a three-quarters majority in the second.
Bassil’s argument is based on Articles 76 and 77 of the constitution, which say amendments can only be proposed by the president or parliament, but only during a regular session — which ended in December.
Dr. Paul Morcos, head of the “JUSTICIA” legal foundation in Beirut, told Asharq Al-Awsat that in 2008, parliament used Article 74 of the constitution to bypass the amendment to Article 49.
He explained that Gen. Suleiman’s election was considered an exception to the rule requiring military officials to resign six months before running for president, due to the presidential vacancy after President Emile Lahoud’s term ended in 2007.
Morcos added that the same reasoning could apply to Gen. Aoun’s potential election as president.