The European Union has announced an additional 40 million Euros contribution to the education sector in Lebanon to ensure that vulnerable children continue receiving quality education.

"This new support, which will be implemented by UNICEF, will help the most marginalized boys and girls aged 3-18 years in accessing education, by reducing enrollment barriers.," the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon said in a statement.

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab said Wednesday after meeting Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, that Berri will be focused on electing a new president after the holidays.

"I think that electing a president is a priority to Speaker Berri," Bou Saab said.

Holding a final Cabinet session this year hinges on the possibility of reaching an agreement to name a new chief of staff and two military council members, governmental sources told al-Liwaa newspaper.

As France's Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna urged restraint along the Lebanon-Israel border in meetings with senior officials in Beirut Monday, Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that Israel before Lebanon must be urged to respect U.N. Resolution 1701 as it daily violates the Lebanese sovereignty by land, air and sea.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported Wednesday that Berri, a key ally of Hezbollah, has blamed Colonna for showing support for Israel and visiting an Israeli military base. "This is reprehensible," Berri reportedly said.

A Qatari drive regarding Lebanon’s presidential file will strongly emerge in the beginning of the year, a media report said on Wednesday.

Hezbollah targeted Wednesday the Israeli Metulla post as Israel shelled the outskirts of Kfarkela and al-Naqoura.

Israeli warplanes also struck the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab, Kfarshouba, Kfarhamam and Halta.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has told his visitors that the latest legislative session and its extension of the army chief’s term have proven that “without consensus nothing can be achieved.”

“It is possible to apply the latest parliamentary scene to the presidential vote if there is a real consensus will among the parliamentary blocs,” Berri added.

Cabinet convened Tuesday and issued 14 laws previously passed in Parliament, including extending the army chief's term for a year.

On Friday, Parliament approved delaying for one year the retirement of senior officers at the head of the military and security services, including army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun who was set to retire in January.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has noted that the extension of Army chief Joseph Aoun’s term has “removed the masks and showed the true faces” of the political forces that backed it.

Hezbollah targeted Tuesday the Metulla Israeli settlement with a guided missile as Israeli shells hit the outskirts of Rmeish, al-Khiam, Kfarkila, Mays al-Jabal, Blida and Houla.

Israeli warplanes carried out three airstrikes on the outskirts of Maroun al-Ras and drones heavily overflew Baalbek and the neighboring villages.