Close Lebanon Vote Goes to March 14th BlocWith Lebanon's parliamentary elections wrapped up, the Western-backed coalition of parties that consist of secular Sunnis and Christian rightist groups won 71 seats. They defeated the March 8th bloc lead by Hizbollah and the Christian leader General Michel Aoun, which won 57.
The election generated a significant turnout of 55 percent.
It was a surprise to pollsters and observers, who predicted the reverse. Others credited the campaigning of Saad Hariri, a leader of the March 14th alliance, for delivering swing votes. Many complained the Lebanese outside of the country were getting free flights to return to vote. There have been some allegations of irregularities at polls, including complaints by Aoun.
The opposition conceded defeat, however. "We’ve lost the election," one source told Reuters. "We accept the result as the will of the people."
Robert Fisk wrote of the results:
There will be no Islamic Republic of Lebanon. Nor will there be a pro-Western Lebanese republic. There will, after yesterday's vote – for the Hizbollah-Christian coalition and for the secular Sunni-Christian alliance – be a government of "national salvation" in Beirut, run by an ex-army general-president with ever-increasing powers.President Obama offered congratulations to the Lebanese people for their election, but did not comment on the outcome.
This came just weeks after Vice- President Joseph Biden visited Lebanon to offer support for the sitting government. He raised concerns after he stated, "We will evaluate the shape of our assistance programs based on the composition of the new government and the policies it advocates." The administration denied seeking to influence the outcome.
Israel’s Premier Promises Major Peace Plan (NY Times)
Under mounting American pressure to define his intentions regarding peace efforts, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said Sunday that he would make a major policy speech next week mapping out the government’s “principles for achieving peace and security.”
The announcement came against the background of rising tensions with the Obama administration, which has demanded that Israel freeze all settlement construction in the West Bank. The Netanyahu government insists that construction within existing settlements should continue.
HEADLINES
Former President Carter plans Gaza visit this week (The Associated Press)
Netanyahu plans major policy speech next week (The Associated Press)
Mitchell to visit Middle East, may go to Syria (Reuters)
Palestinian negotiator: US to announce Mideast peace plan in few months (Xinhua)
Palestinians, Israel battle amid Egyptian mediation to rescue inter-dialogue (Xinhua)
Call to Arab states on Israel links (Financial Times)
Israel lifts more checkpoints after Obama speech (Washington Post)
Israel proposes joint US-Israeli team monitor settlements (Ynet)
No official Bush-era deal with Israel on settlements: Clinton (AFP)
Palestinians 'humiliated', cancel meeting with Israelis (Ynetnews)
As US presses Israel, EU may join fray (Reuters)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Abbas hinges resuming peace talks on Israel (Hindu)
Video: Hamas fighters clash with security forces (Al-Jazeera)
Israel Keeps Senior Hamas Member in Jail (The Media Line)
Haniyeh: Contacts underway to continue national dialogue (Ma'an News Agency)
The Divisions Among Israelis and Palestinians (New York Times)
European Union helps Palestinian Authority maintain basic services ... (ReliefWeb)
PCHR Is Concerned Over Arrest Campaigns against Fatah Activists in Gaza and against Hamas Activists in the West Bank (PCHR)
Report: IDF places facility on private Palestinian land (Ynetnews)
Palestinian PM Fayyad to Oslo for donors meeting (AFP)
Israel
Arabs charged with 2005 killing of Jewish gunman (Reuters)
4 Palestinians with explosives-laden horses killed (The Associated Press)
Israel seizes Catholic Church assets (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Israel to pay victims of Hebron settler violence (AFP)
Settlements row with US may cloud Israeli economy (Reuters)
The Neighbors
FACTBOX: Risks to stability in Lebanon (Reuters)
Israel watches Lebanese election with grave concern (Xinhua)
Foreign Ministry: Lebanese gov't must prevent violence against Israel (Ynetnews)
Q&A: Lebanon's defence strategy (Al-Jazeera)
Saudi: Aid to Israel should be conditional (United Press International)
US Foreign Policy
Axelrod: Israelis, Palestinians must rise (United Press International)
In Mideast and Europe, Obama debuts 'global populism' (Christian Science Monitor)
Clinton Says Strike to Follow If Iran Attacks Israel (Bloomberg)
US seeks immediate Mid-East talks (BBC News)
International Relations/Law
Saudi urges Obama to impose Mideast solution-paper (Reuters India)
Contributing Nations for Palestine meet in Oslo (Norway Post)
IAEA ineffective, charges Israel's Foreign Ministry (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Iran cleric says US must change its Israel policy (Reuters India)
Time has come for Israel to change: Ban Ki-moon (Jakarta Post)
Arts and Activism
BDS Campaign Breakthrough: Veolia poised to abandon Jerusalem Light Rail (BDS Movement)
Israel will remain defiant despite int'l pressures: Activist (Jakarta Post)
Misc.
Among Israel's US Backers, Anxiety and Some Support (New York Times)
Some militants respond positively to Obama speech (The Associated Press)
Commentary
A dynamite Baroud rose to Lebanon's election-day challenge (Daily Star)
Roy: The Peril of Forgetting Gaza (The Harvard Crimson)
S Abdallah Schleifer: Tears and hard truths in Cairo (Al-Jazeera)
Musleh: An End to Willful Blindness (Ma'an)
Svensson: 'Comrades, Your Enemy is Yourselves' (Ma'an)
Omar al-Issawi: Lebanon's Palestinian refugees (Al-Jazeera)
Benjamin: Obama Should Visit Gaza (Electronic Intifada)
Zunes: Telling the Lebanese How to Vote (Huffington Post)
Newman: Boycotting Universities is Not the Same as Anti-Semitism (Jerusalem Post)
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