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MPs discuss Hezbollah arms, Israeli violations, and US intervention in plenary session

Lawmakers convened Wednesday for the second day in Parliament to debate the government's policies. During the session, MPs mainly discussed Hezbollah's arms and Israeli violations and renewed confidence in the Lebanese government.

The no-confidence vote was proposed by Free Patriotic chief Jebran Bassil. Sixty-nine MPs gave a vote of confidence to the government, nine FPM MPs voted against it, and four MPs abstained.

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US reportedly urges timetable and official Hezbollah declaration on arms

The U.S. response to the latest Lebanese paper requested some clarifications as to “timetables and the executive mechanisms” for resolving the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, media reports said.

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Parliament renews confidence in Salam's goverment

The Lebanese government survived Wednesday a vote of confidence proposed by Free Patriotic chief Jebran Bassil during a plenary session in Parliament.

Sixty-nine MPs gave a vote of confidence to the government, nine FPM MPs voted against it, and four MPs abstained.

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Barrack says ban of dealings with Al-Qard al-Hasan a 'valued' step

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack has described the Lebanese Central Bank’s decision to bar banks and brokerages from dealing with the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Qard Al-Hasan financial institution as a “step in the right direct by the Lebanese government.”

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Salam vows to continue working to extend state authority north and south of Litani

As lawmakers convened Wednesday for the second day in Parliament to debate the government's policies, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam vowed that the government will continue working on extending the state’s authority north and south of the Litani river.

"I have listened to the MPs' views and interventions, and I will take all criticisms seriously. We are determined to continue our work despite the difficulties and obstacles," Salam said, adding that the government is committed to pressure Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territories and stop its aggressions.

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Hezbollah calls Israel east Lebanon strike a 'major escalation'

Hezbollah condemned an Israeli air strike that killed 12 people in the Bekaa Valley on Tuesday, as a "major escalation".

In a statement, the group said Israel's attack "constitutes a major escalation in the context of the ongoing aggression against Lebanon and its people". It called on Lebanese authorities to "take serious, immediate, and decisive action" to uphold a November ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

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Report: Lebanon demands two-stage Israeli withdrawal

Lebanon is waiting for a commitment from Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon over two phases, a Lebanese source concerned with the negotiations with U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said.

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Central Bank bars financial institutions from dealing with Hezbollah's Al-Qard Al-Hasan

The Central Bank of Lebanon has said that licensed financial institutions are "barred from any dealings with unlicensed financial institutions, such as the Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association," the financial arm of Hezbollah.

In a circular, the Central Bank said banks, financial institutions and other institutions licensed by the Central Bank, as well as financial intermediaries and collective investment schemes, are barred from engaging in any transactions -- financial, commercial, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, fully or partially -- with “unlicensed exchange institutions, money transfer companies, associations and entities.”

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MPs meet in plenary session focused on Hezbollah disarmament

Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan criticized Tuesday the government's lack of progress in restoring the state's authority and disarming Hezbollah as lawmakers convened in a plenary session focused on Hezbollah's disarmament.

"We don't want the government of hope to become a government of missed opportunities," Adwan said.

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Lebanon reportedly receives US response to its paper amid positive atmosphere

A presidential committee tasked with responding to Tom Barrack’s paper convened Tuesday at the Baabda Palace to discuss the U.S. response to the Lebanese paper, which was received by Beirut on Monday, TV networks reported.

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