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Lebanese envoys in the Gulf were summoned yesterday amid a diplomatic scandal spurred by comments from Lebanon’s caretaker foreign minister that blamed the countries for the spread of the Islamic State. Soon after Charbel Wehbi levied the accusation late on Monday during an interview with the TV station Alhurra, President Michel Aoun, outgoing Prime Minister Hassan Diab and Premier-designate Saad Hariri issued rebukes of Wehbi, apparently concerned about his comments’ potential ramifications for Lebanon’s relationship with key allies amid the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. Nevertheless, Lebanese envoys in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait were summoned to officially denounce Wehbi’s position. The outgoing minister has since issued an apology, saying he did not intend “to offend any of the brotherly Arab countries or peoples” and vowing to improve relations.

Michel Aoun and Saad Hariri traded barbs anew yesterday after the president sent Parliament a letter criticizing the premier-designate’s failure to form a cabinet. In the letter, the president states, “It has become evident that the premier-designate is unable to form a government” that meets citizens’ demands. Stressing the negative political, social and economic consequences of delaying cabinet formation further, Aoun asked that the matter be discussed at a general assembly of Parliament. Hariri responded to Aoun’s missive on Twitter, writing that the president’s message is aimed at drawing attention away from the ongoing diplomatic scandal caused by the caretaker foreign minister. In the 209 days since Hariri was appointed to form a new government, Aoun and Hariri have repeatedly exchanged blame over responsibility for deadlocked negotiations, even as foreign governments sanction individuals causing the delay.

The anticipated closure of the Zouk power station yesterday was averted after funding was reportedly secured to supply the plant with fuel. The head of Parliament’s energy committee, Nazih Najem, who previously warned of the station’s closure, told L’Orient Today that funding had been secured through the state utility, Électricité du Liban, and the Finance Ministry. However, he did not detail the funding mechanism. Earlier this month, the Constitutional Council indefinitely suspended the implementation of a law that would grant EDL a $200 million advance to enable fuel purchases. Sustaining operations in Zouk became more crucial recently after two Turkish power barges that provided Lebanon with about a quarter of its power stopped operating on Friday amid outstanding payments and an escalating legal dispute between Lebanon and the barges’ mother company.

Five people were wounded yesterday while protesting Israeli airstrikes in Gaza along the Lebanon–Israel border. The NNA said the individuals were injured when Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters and smoke bombs to disperse demonstrators after some “climbed a concrete border fence, raised Hezbollah flags and banners and threw stones.” Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters gathered in Riad al-Solh Square to denounce Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza and the ongoing threat of displacement of Palestinian residents in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, L’Orient-Le Jour reported. Solidarity protests with Palestine are set to continue in Beirut today. A Hezbollah unit and the Ghobeiry Municipality are co-sponsoring a protest in front of a cemetery in Sabra at 10:30 a.m. under the banner “All efforts for Palestine.” Another protest, organized by the General Labor Union, will take place in Corniche al-Nahr.