Lebanon’s president calls for end to government paralysis


Soraya Ebrahimi
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Lebanese president Michel Aoun on Monday called for an end to an 11-week deadlock that has prevented the government from convening, further undermining state institutions in the country amid an economic meltdown.

Mr Aoun implicitly blamed his powerful ally Hezbollah for preventing the government from convening but did not name the militant group and political party.

In a televised speech, he also listed other obstructions that have derailed necessary legislation and reforms, criticising his long-time rival, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, also without naming him.

The government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati has not been able to meet since October 12 after Hezbollah and allies demanded the removal of the lead judge investigating the huge explosion at the Beirut port last year, in which at least 216 people died.

Hezbollah accuses Judge Tarek Bitar of bias and its allies refused to attend Cabinet meetings until the government found a way to remove him.

Mr Aoun said he has been unfairly criticised and his authority undermined while he cannot force the Cabinet to convene.

“Paralysing state institutions has become a standard and the result is the destruction of the state,” he said.

“In what law, logic or constitution is the Cabinet obstructed and asked to make a decision that is not part of its authority?”

Mr Aoun said the government must meet as soon as possible to address outstanding problems.

Mr Mikati took office in September after another deadlock over the balance of power in government amid the crisis.

The political class has also been divided over reform plans, negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and regional relations.

Mr Aoun, Hezbollah’s favourite candidate, was elected president in 2016, filling a post that had been vacant for more than two years.

His alliance with Hezbollah was sealed in 2006 after his return from 15 years in exile after the end of Lebanon’s civil war.

Since taking office, the alliance has been tested as Mr Aoun had to tackle an unprecedented economic crisis and deal with Lebanon’s often divisive sectarian-based politics.

On Monday he expressed frustration at the powerful ally and questioned the purpose of creating tension with Gulf nations.

Saudi Arabia, followed by other Gulf nations, boycotted Lebanon in October after critical comments by a George Kordahi, then information minister, who is allied with Hezbollah.

Mr Kordahi refused to resign for weeks.

But Mr Aoun, a former army general, stopped short of calling out Hezbollah publicly, indicating the alliance was holding. He is in the last year of his six-year term.

Lebanon is in the throes of an economic crisis described as one of the worst in the world in the last 150 years.

International financial institutions call it a deliberate depression blaming the political elite of mismanaging the country’s resources.

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Other must-tries

Tomato and walnut salad

A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.

Badrijani nigvzit

A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.

Pkhali

This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.

Buy farm-fresh food

The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.

In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others. 

In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food. 

In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra. 

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BOSH!'s pantry essentials

Nutritional yeast

This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.

Seeds

"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."

Umami flavours

"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".

Onions and garlic

"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."

Your grain of choice

Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

Updated: December 27, 2021, 11:26 PM`