The Daily Star - Lebanon's Arabic press digest - Sept. 13, 2011

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Tuesday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.
Al-Mustaqbal
Jumblatt rejects “fearful talk about rise of Salafists and fundamentalism”
Rai’s remarks produce additional aftershocks
Despite the clarifications and explanations, positions by Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai in Paris remained an issue of interest, producing aftershocks at home and abroad.
Although he expressed regret of being misunderstood, Rai’s statements [on Syria and Hezbollah’s weapons] reverberated in Christian circles: those in the March 8 coalition praising the patriarch’s statements, those in the March 14 alliance seeking clarification of his comments.
Guests who visited President Michel Sleiman said the head of state was “surprised and shocked” by Rai’s statements “because these statements have a negative impact on the internal Lebanese arena, where the Christian community is put in confrontation with Sunnis, and this issue also has consequences for the co-existence in Lebanon.”
Therefore, Sleiman will seek clarification from Rai on the sidelines of a meeting Thursday.
As-Safir
March 14 Christians to Hariri: We'll deal with Rai
Assad: Coordination foiled arms smuggling
STL funding enters stage of searching for “exits”
The electricity bill has arrived at Parliament and is now close to being approved by the legislature.
Meanwhile, the government was expected to address other issues, mainly administrative appointments. Ministerial sources said they expected several appointments to be announced following Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting at Baabda Palace, to be followed also by another batch of appointments in a number of public institutions and departments.
Politically, the government faces the issue of funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) as Lebanon’s payment deadline nears. In this regard, consultations are under way away from the spotlight with the aim of finding an appropriate exit that will protect the government from any political implications on the one hand, and protect Lebanon’s relations with the international community on the other, according to a centrist ministerial source.
Significantly, Hezbollah refrains from discussing the issue of STL’s funding in public on the basis of not wanting to anticipate things and therefore will determine its position at the moment the issue is being seriously discussed.
Bkirki [seat of tho Maronite Church] was also a center of attraction against the backdrop of Rai’s recent remarks on Hezbollah’s weapons, the unrest in Syria and his concerns for Christians in the Orient.
Noticeably, the wave of reactions by the March 14 coalition, particularly by the Future Movement, appeared to have lessened in the past several hours after their initial criticism of the patriarch backfired. It was not clear whether this was due to Rai’s commitment to his positions upon arrival in Beirut or whether from the sympathy his stances evoked, particularly among Christians.
This fact has prompted some prominent Christian leaders in the March 14 alliance to urge Future Movement leader Saad Hariri to ask his deputies and Future Movement officials to cease their campaign against Rai and have suggested that he leave the matter to them.
Meanwhile, Damascus has pointed to interference of some Lebanese sides in the uprising in Syria and attempts to smuggle weapons from Lebanon to Syria.
This message was made by Syrian President Bashar Assad during his meeting with Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn who expressed his appreciation “for the great efforts by the Lebanese Army in coordination with the Syrian Army to control the border between the two countries, which recently resulted in thwarting many attempts to smuggle arms shipments targeting the security and stability of the two countries.”

An-Nahar
Bkirki opens doors to discuss concerns and objections
Jumblatt’s criticism draws Hezbollah resentment
Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai’s return to Beirut and clarifications about comments he made during his visit to France did not put an end to the ongoing political reactions to his positions.
Bkirki opened the doors Monday afternoon to a number of politicians as part of a first round of consultations that are expected to widen in the coming days.
Sources told An-Nahar that Rai’s meetings with officials and politicians from both sides of the political divide are of importance in terms of addressing concerns about parts of his statements: those concerning the crisis in Syria and repercussion on Lebanon, or concerning his position on illegitimate weapons in Lebanon.
However, the harshest criticism of Rai’s remarks came from head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt, his words carrying important implications.
“Linking Lebanon’s fate to the liberation of Shebaa Farms and linking its future to regional conflicts is unacceptable,” Jumblatt said Monday.
Jumblatt also stressed that “linking arms to [Palestinian] naturalization will keep Lebanon indefinitely as part of regional conflicts.”
Al-Liwaa
Aoun in Bkirki supports Rai … Gemayel, Geagea tend to boycott [Christian] meeting
Political disagreements surrounding Mikati government … collapse of trust between Hezbollah and Jumblatt
Bourj al-Barajneh clash contained after leaving 14 [Hebzollah] party, Palestinians wounded
Political differences emerged once again and threatened the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati following revelations he made, particularly in terms of his government’s foreign policy, which carried signs that there would be no consensus at the internal level, according to Lebanese and Syrian parties.
This coincides with a collapse of trust between Hezbollah and MP Walid Jumblatt against the backdrop of what Hezbollah sources describe as “unstable” and an “in-between” stance on Jumblatt’s part or, as what Al-Manar said in its Monday evening broadcast, that Jumblatt seemed closer in his views to the Lebanese Forces and has joined the critics of Patrirach Beshara Rai.
Meanwhile, Kataeb Party leader former President Amin Gemayel and Lebanese Forces leaders Samir Geagea were reportedly considering boycotting a Christian meeting in Bkirki in objection to Rai’s comments in defense of Assad, or his fear of the potential rise of Muslim Brotherhood should Assad fall.
A visit by MP Michel Aoun to Bkirki Monday came to widen the divide over Rai’s positions.
Fourteen people were wounded in clashes Monday evening between Hezbollah and Lebanese Salafists in the Kurdish neighborhood on the outskirts of Bourj al-Barajneh Palestinian refugee camp.
Twelve of the wounded were taken to Rasoul al-Aazam hospital amid tight security.