Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani at the Government Palace, in Beirut, Lebanon, July 2, 2026. (Credit: Mohamed Azakir/ Reuters)
BEIRUT— The Cabinet met Thursday afternoon at the Grand Serail in Beirut to discuss, at the top of its agenda, an agreement establishing a joint Lebanese-Syrian commission. Signed earlier in the day by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad Shaibani, the agreement aims to "strengthen bilateral relations" and ensure "non-interference in internal affairs," according to the text reviewed by L'Orient-Le Jour.
The planned cooperation under this agreement covers political, diplomatic, financial, economic, commercial and investment matters as well as legal and security matters, transportation, energy and infrastructure, education, culture and scientific research. Health, social affairs, telecoms and digital transition are also included.
According to local media reports, ministers from the Amal-Hezbollah Shiite alliance may seek to discuss the framework agreement signed in Washington last Friday between Lebanon and Israel, even though this issue is not on the Cabinet's agenda.
The agreement, which has drawn sharp criticism from the Shiite alliance, notably provides for the army to extend its control to south Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure, in exchange for a gradual Israeli withdrawal.
Technical track exams
Among the items on the agenda are year-end exams for technical education. The government is set to consider a request from the Ministry of Education to postpone — rather than cancel — these exams, including those for undergraduate-level students. The ministry also requested nursing students exams not be canceled, including those enrolled in the technical baccalaureate in the same field.
Last Thursday, the Cabinet canceled the Lebanese baccalaureate exams which had initially been scheduled on June 29, July 27 and Sept. 7, 2026, amid uncertainty surrounding the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in south Lebanon.
For several weeks, the issue has been the subject of heated debate. Some parties argues the exams should be canceled because the war had left students insufficiently prepared and because security conditions made it difficult to access examination centers. Education Minister Rima Karameh, however, continued to oppose canceling exams.
