Two Lebanese Christians politicians have said in forthright terms that their community took the brunt of the destruction after the Beirut port explosion last week, raising sectarian stakes amid the upheaval engulfing the country.
Although Lebanon has been deeply divided since the establishment of the Second Republic in 1990, politicians rarely used naked references to their religion, after violence engulfed most the country’s 18 officially recognised sects in the civil war.
But the two politicians, Samir Geagea and Nadim Gemayel, directly referred in the last few days to Christian East Beirut as having taken most of the damage from the explosion at the port.
The explosion of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate on Tuesday killed 158 people and wounded 6,000. It occurred amid disintegration of the Hezbollah-aligned government and the collapse of the country.
Mr Geagea, head of the Lebanese Forces Movement and one of Hezbollah’s fiercest critics, on Saturday termed the port disaster as the “Achrafieh explosion”, after a Christian district where damage was among the heaviest.
Nadim Gemayel, one of at least six members of parliament who resigned in protest at the government’s failures, said “the explosion caused the biggest pain among the Christians.”
“The pain we are feeling is Christian first, Beiruti second and finally Lebanese,” he said on television.
Although Mr Gemayel expected the whole of Lebanon to show solidarity with the victims, he emphasised that the Christian districts were hardest hit.
Pro-Hezbollah politicians have been subdued, amid cabinet resignations that could bring down the most pro-Hezbollah administration since the end of the civil war.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that he “looks positively” at a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron last week. In Beirut for a day, Mr. Macron floated a vague political initiative for Lebanon to qualify for long-term aid.
The pro-Hezbollah Al Mayadeen Television criticised Mr Macron for meeting people in the Christian district of Gemayzeh, which is adjacent to the explosion site.
Al Mayadeen indicated that Mr Macron should have gone to Shiite districts, although the Shiite areas sustained far less damage.
Youssef Bazzi, a veteran Lebanese political commentator told The National that politicians trying to capitalise on sectarian sentiment after the explosion are unlikely to gain much.
Mr Bazzi pointed to Mr Geagea receiving a hostile reception when he visited Achrafieh after the explosion to show his solidarity with his coreligionists.
“No Christian politician can show his face on the streets, whether he is pro- or anti-government, because they are seen as having contributed to the nadir Lebanon has reached,” he said.
Mr Bazzi said Hezbollah has no interest in escalation, because French proposals are unlikely to significantly challenge its dominance over the state, and its status as the only officially-sanctioned armed group in Lebanon.
“Hezbollah is lying low,” Mr Bazzi said. “Playing the sectarian card would bring it little advantage now.”
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The five pillars of Islam
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
|
1.
|
United States
|
|
2.
|
China
|
|
3.
|
UAE
|
|
4.
|
Japan
|
|
5
|
Norway
|
|
6.
|
Canada
|
|
7.
|
Singapore
|
|
8.
|
Australia
|
|
9.
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
10.
|
South Korea
|
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
More on animal trafficking
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
Related
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECVT%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E119bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E145Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh%2C89%2C900%20(%2424%2C230)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
