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Netanyahu: Does Hizbullah Promote Human Rights?

Israel's prime minister has said Iran wants to take advantage of the chaos in Egypt to create "another Gaza" there and warned that Islamic parties have already taken over power by democratic means in Iran, Lebanon and Gaza.

Speaking before the Israeli parliament on Wednesday, Benjamin Netanyahu said he expects any new government in Egypt to honor its three-decade-long peace agreement with Israel.

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Williams after Meeting Gemayel: We Hope New Government Would Respect International Commitments

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams stressed on Wednesday the importance of dialogue in ending any dispute, commending Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati’s efforts to form a new government.

He made his statements after holding talks with Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel on the latest political developments in Lebanon and the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.

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Geagea Says March 14 to Take Unified Stance on Miqati Govt

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Wednesday lauded Speaker Nabih Berri's remarks made earlier in the day from the Baabda Palace about the participation of all political parties in the new cabinet without prior conditions on the shares of each side.

Geagea said Berri "has always been courteous," but wondered whether the house speaker was the one who has the last word among his allies in the March 8 camp.

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March 14: Iran Should Take Care of its Internal Affairs Instead of Ruining Arab States

The March 14 General Secretariat renewed on Wednesday its commitment to the values proposed by the March 14 forces to Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati, repeating its support to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

It said after its weekly meeting: “The STL is a central part of the Lebanese state’s commitment to protect its citizens and leaders of free thought from political assassination.”

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Berri Favors Participation of All Sides in Cabinet Without Setting Prior Conditions on Shares

Speaker Nabih Berri said Wednesday that he favored the participation of all parties in the cabinet without setting prior conditions on the shares of each side.

Following talks with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace, Berri said that “all former opposition parties support the premier-designate.”

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Maronite Bishops Relieved at Lebanon Calm, Express Regret at Regional Bloodshed

The Council of Maronite Bishops on Wednesday expressed gratitude that the situation in Lebanon is fine despite complications and wished Premier-designate Najib Miqati success in forming the cabinet.

“We thank God that the situation in Lebanon is fine and we wish the PM-designate success in his mission to confront the current situation,” the bishops said in a statement read by Monsignor Youssef Toq.

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Miqati to Inform Suleiman About Suggestions on Shape of Cabinet Amid Attack on Portfolios

Premier-designate Najib Miqati is expected to inform President Michel Suleiman about suggestions on the shape of the cabinet at a time when parties of the March 8 camp are competing over names and portfolios.

Baabda sources told al-Mustaqbal daily that Miqati would visit the presidential palace on Thursday. They said Suleiman is keen on seeing consensus between March 8 and 14 forces on the shape of the government.

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Harb Hits Back at Aoun: He is Acting as Though he is Lebanon's President

Caretaker Labor Minister Butros Harb criticized Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, saying "he is acting as though he is the president of the republic and the prime minister."

Harb said statements made by Aoun on Tuesday "indicated that he wants no one else but him in the Government."

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Jumblat: Miqati Government Won't and Cannot Terminate STL

Druze leader Walid Jumblat assured March 14 forces that Najib Miqati's would-be government will not and cannot stop the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

"Miqati's government is not willing to terminate the international tribunal because no one, except for the Security Council, can terminate it," Jumblat said in remarks published Wednesday by Al-Akhbar newspaper.

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Report: Miqati Seeking Grace Period from International Community

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati is reportedly seeking a grace period from the international community before issuing political verdicts on his cabinet.

Sources following up the consultations that Miqati is carrying out with March 14 officials told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in remarks published Wednesday that the international community doesn’t object to giving Miqati “a grace period that would be a test on the extent of his willingness to avoid a clash” with the west.

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