The Cabinet meeting on Wednesday Dec. 4, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'OLJ)
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved all 50 items on its agenda, including a request from the South Lebanon Council to release 700 billion Lebanese pounds (equivalent to $7.9 million at the current exchange rate) to assist the population in South Lebanon, both those displaced and those who remained, as well as to provide medical follow-up for individuals injured in Israeli bombardments.
The South Lebanon Council also requested an exemption from customs duties and taxes for a shipment of over 5,700 blankets that arrived from Turkey through the Port of Tripoli.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved a request from the Ministry of Telecommunications to provide free 20-gigabyte data bundles through mobile operators Alfa and Touch, designated exclusively for Microsoft Teams usage to support remote learning in public schools and at the Lebanese University.
The session began around 3 p.m., as scheduled, amidst a cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel, ongoing teacher protests, and demonstrations by families of the Aug. 4, 2020, explosion victims. The victims’ families protested the reinstatement of Hani Hajj Chehadeh, a former Higher Customs Council member arrested as part of the investigation into the port tragedy. This issue, initially included among the 48 agenda items and six additional points distributed during the session, was later dropped, according to local media.
"More than 60" Israeli cease-fire violations
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced during the meeting that the Cabinet would convene again on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Benoît Barakat barracks in Sour to discuss the planned deployment of the Lebanese Army in South Lebanon, as outlined in the cease-fire agreement effective since Nov. 27.
"A week has passed since the cease-fire, yet we are still witnessing Israeli violations, which now exceed 60," Mikati said, adding that he had communicated with officials in Washington and Paris, who are working to address the issue, according to the National News Agency (NNA).
Mikati also praised the growing stability of the cease-fire over the past two days, expressing hope for its permanence despite concerns about violations. He highlighted ongoing support for displaced residents returning home and lauded the solidarity of those who hosted them. He also voiced optimism regarding Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s announcement of a Jan. 9 parliamentary session to elect a president.
After the meeting, caretaker Information Minister Ziad Makari held a press conference, confirming that the army commander would present a plan to strengthen military presence in the South during Saturday’s session.
On the presidential election
Regarding the presidential election, Makari noted that Berri had scheduled a new parliamentary session for Jan. 9, 2025. He emphasized that parliamentary blocs have time to negotiate a consensus candidate but, in the absence of agreement, must attend the session and vote. "If the quorum is met, we will be able to elect a president," Makari stated.
Internet access and economic recovery
Caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam announced on X that he had proposed activating Starlink in Lebanon to improve internet access in the South and Bekaa regions. He explained that this move aims to facilitate communication among businesses, industries, and global markets, thereby boosting the economy. He described the measure as having "a positive impact on the country’s economic activity."
Last month, caretaker Telecommunications Minister Johnny Corm told L’Orient-Le Jour that discussions were underway with two European companies for deploying an alternative satellite system, rather than relying solely on SpaceX’s Starlink service.
Major decisions approved:
- Aid to southern Lebanon: A request by the South Lebanon Council for LL700 billion ($7.9 million) to support displaced persons, residents and medical follow-up for those injured by Israeli bombardments. The council also sought customs and tax exemptions for over 5,700 blankets donated from Turkey and delivered via Tripoli port.
- Telecommunications: The Ministry of Telecommunications requested approval to grant 20 GB of free data through mobile operators Alfa and Touch for use on Microsoft Teams for public education institutions, including Lebanese University.
- Defense agreement: Caretaker Defense Minister Maurice Slim proposed an agreement with the U.N. to provide fuel and food to the Lebanese Army and requested authorization to negotiate on behalf of the Lebanese state.
- Internal security: The Ministry of Interior requested approval and funding to recruit over 1,000 new members, including specialized officers, for the Internal Security Forces and General Security. It also sought an extension of the "full communication freedom" granted to security forces until Jan. 1, 2025.
- Cultural restitution: A request by the caretaker Minister of Culture, Mohammad Mortada, for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to demand the return of a historical artifact from Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
- Teacher bonuses: A request from the caretaker Minister of Education, Abbas Halabi, for funds to pay teacher productivity bonuses.
- Diesel supply: A request by the Ministry of Telecommunications to secure its diesel quota under Lebanon's ongoing barter agreement with Iraq.
- Monetary reforms: Discussion of a draft decree to reform the monetary and credit code, reportedly prepared by a committee mandated by Mikati.
- World Bank loan: A proposal for caretaker Finance Minister Youssef Khalil to negotiate a $243 million loan from the World Bank for water sector infrastructure in Greater Beirut.
- Exchange rate controls: Examination of a mechanism proposed by Khalil to implement Law 240 of July 16, 2019, aimed at monitoring beneficiaries of Central Bank subsidy mechanisms since the 2019 crisis.
- Taxation relief: Publication of laws, including one allowing businesses to avoid paying taxes on capital gains resulting from the change in the official exchange rate (from LL1,507.5 to LL89,500 per dollar) when re-evaluating assets in Lebanese pounds.
- Military promotions: Issuance of decrees to promote personnel in the military and security forces.
- Debt arrears: A report by Vice Prime Minister Saade Chami on arrears owed to public works contractors.
- Treasury advances: Review of all Treasury advances approved between Jan. 1 and Nov. 29, per Article 205 of the public accounting code.
- Contract extensions: Extension of fixed-term contracts for public administration and institution employees until the end of 2025.
