Source: Kataeb.org
Security & Justice
Lebanon’s Border Villages Face Renewed Devastation Amid Israeli Withdrawal
The Israeli army withdrew from the southern Lebanese village of Bani Hayyan on Friday morning, two days after entering the area in the Marjayoun district. According to local reports, Israeli forces demolished multiple homes as they retreated.
Friday, December 20, 2024
Interview Set to Shed Light on Mossad’s Decade-Long Covert Operation Against Hezbollah
In a highly anticipated episode of CBS’s 60 Minutes, recently retired Mossad agents provide unprecedented insights into a decade-long covert operation targeting Hezbollah. The agents, whose identities remain concealed with masks and altered voices, share with journalist Lesley Stahl the intricate details of their mission to sabotage Hezbollah’s communications network.
Friday, December 20, 2024
Opinion
Lebanon After the Assads
The United States has important equities in Lebanon, including a desire for a generally friendly government’s economic and political stability; security cooperation; long-standing relations with the large Christian community in Lebanon and Lebanese diaspora in the United States; and ultimately peace between Israel and Lebanon within a broader regional settlement. Achieving these objectives will require navigating a tumultuous period in the country’s history following a war between Hezbollah and Israel that has devastated a large part of the country, exacerbating Lebanon’s already challenging economic conditions. But perhaps the most important dynamic will be how a likely Sunni-dominated state of uncertain composition in Syria will differ in its intentions toward Lebanon from the previous Alawite-led minoritarian Assad regime.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Europe’s Syrian Dilemma
The news of the sudden and unexpected demise of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has met a mixed response in Europe. The jubilation that a murderous dictator and close ally of Russia and Iran has fallen is not just good for the Syrian people but serves as a morale booster for Eastern Europeans wondering whether Russia can be defeated
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo Unveils New Private Jet Worth $73 Million
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the richest global athletes, has unveiled his upgraded private jet reportedly worth $73 million. With its top-notch design, exceptional speed and range of 7500 nautical miles, the Gulfstream G650 is among the fastest jets in the world.
Monday, December 16, 2024
Guardiola Accepts Man City May Need to Sign More Players to Cope with Schedule
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes he will need a bigger squad to handle soccer’s ever-expanding fixture schedule.
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Thursday 25 January 2024 14:09:00
Debating Lebanon's 2024 Budget: MPs Urge Reforms, Criticize Taxation, and Call for National Dialogue
On Thursday, the Lebanese Parliament held its third session to discuss the 2024 budget.
During the session, MP Halime El Kaakour affirmed that taxes are necessary for the state, adding: "We must not 'neglect' them and the budget should impose progressive taxes."
Expressing that "there are numerous flaws affecting the 2024 budget project," she stated that Lebanon urgently needs a budget that promotes economic growth.
In turn, MP Alain Aoun reported that the government is not effectively combating tax evasion and is putting pressure on those committed to payment.
"The 2024 budget follows a 'scissors and paper' logic without a deficit," he said.
MP Cynthia Zarazir said that the budget does not include any financial reforms to protect the society, nor does it build a productive economy. Instead, it legitimizes "the dismantling of the state, responds to brokerage logic, and affirms that this system is incapable of implementing reforms."
MP Razi EL Hage said: "We need a budget that promotes economic recovery and growth, not exclusively tied to public accounting but rather focused on 'unleashing' the economic wheel."
MP Osama Saad, meanwhile, commented: "It is time for a national consensus on Lebanon's defense policy, and the election of the president is our role as representatives of the country."
He added that the Lebanese people deserve an independent president free from international and regional axes.
MP Osama Saad, meanwhile, commented: "It is time for a national consensus on Lebanon's defense policy, and the election of the president is our role as representatives of the country."
He added that the Lebanese people deserve an independent president free from international and regional axes.
Saad, from the Parliament, revealed that: "We are discussing the budget amid serious social repercussions, and reports indicate that 84 percent of the Lebanese people cannot meet their basic needs. The budget has not addressed the problems of these individuals; instead, it has further complicated the situation."
MP Bilal Abdallah noted from the Parliament that the private sector in Lebanon "considers its earnings as an economy that escapes direct taxes. It is time to put an end to this, and I advocate raising taxes on medications manufactured in Lebanon."
He urged the increase of the value of contributions to the National Social Security Fund and addressed the constant "attacks" on the poor in the public sector who still receive the minimum wage.
MP Selim Sayegh said: "We deal with this budget, prioritizing the people's interests as it reflects a flawed accounting reality and lacks a thoughtful financial perspective."
Sayegh asked: "How will the Central Bank of Lebanon determine a unified exchange rate, and under which exchange rate system will this be established in a 'dollarized' system?"
He urged the increase of the value of contributions to the National Social Security Fund and addressed the constant "attacks" on the poor in the public sector who still receive the minimum wage.
MP Selim Sayegh said: "We deal with this budget, prioritizing the people's interests as it reflects a flawed accounting reality and lacks a thoughtful financial perspective."
Sayegh asked: "How will the Central Bank of Lebanon determine a unified exchange rate, and under which exchange rate system will this be established in a 'dollarized' system?"
Meanwhile, MP Fayssal Karame said that constitutionally, "this session was supposed to be for the election of a president, but everything in the country has become 'exceptional,' and despite that, we still hear voices rejecting dialogue."
He appealed to parliamentary blocs to place political differences in their proper context, suggesting that the parliament speaker is the one to call for dialogue to elect a president.
He added: "Any budget approved without 'balancing accounts' is unconstitutional."
He appealed to parliamentary blocs to place political differences in their proper context, suggesting that the parliament speaker is the one to call for dialogue to elect a president.
He added: "Any budget approved without 'balancing accounts' is unconstitutional."
Speaking in Parliament, MP Mark Daou suggested that this budget still follows the "same logic;" therefore, it is necessary to reduce indirect taxes that affect the general population.
Additionally, he said that the government has not allocated sufficient financial amounts for municipalities within the budget.
Additionally, he said that the government has not allocated sufficient financial amounts for municipalities within the budget.
