According to various reports, Syrian President Bachar al-Assad rejected Russia's offer to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Bachar al-Assad and Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Anime showdown...coming soon to your local cinema in 2023.

#Bahrain | Ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Bahrain, demonstrators take to the streets to protest normalization, chanting "Death to Israel," "Death to America."

Former senior officials in the so-called Israeli Civil Administration say they expect that Religious Zionist Party leader, Bezalel Smotrich, to annex the occupied West Bank, Haaretz reported yesterday.

"There was no someone else..."

Sarcastically, Israeli PM-designate Benjamin Netanyahu denies the very existence of the Palestinian people in the land of historic Palestine.

Via: MintPress News

Hezbullah and FPM's relation reached a new unprecedented low, as the latter viewed Hezbullah's participation in the caretaker government as a stab in the back of the Christian representation in Lebanon.

⋯ As each government decree needs a presidential signature, and since there is no president in Lebanon, there is a debate on the legality of the gov and its power

Constitutionally it assumes presidential powers too, but Christians view this as a threat to their representation

⋯ In this light, the head of FPM movement, Gebran Basil issued a rare statement, attacking Hezbullah, their #1 ally in Lebanon who helped them elect Michel Aoun for presidency in 2016.

Basil said they were backstabbed by Hezbullah, and will no longer cooperate by voting blank.

⋯ Hezbullah and allies previously agreed to vote with blank papers in the presidential elections, until they decide who to vote for.

His speech was followed by an aggressive social media campaign by FPM supporters against Hezbullah.

⋯ However in reality, this sudden shift is allegedly because Hezbullah officially informed Gebran Basil they will move on with electing Suleiman Franjieh.

⋯ In response, Hezbullah issued a public statement of clarification and rebuttal.

For long, Hezbullah refused to solve problems with allies publicly and reiterated that disagreement between friends are done behind closs doors.

However FPM likely refused to answer the phone.

⋯ Media relations in Hezbullah issued a statement commenting on Minister Bassil's press conference:

“Lebanon is in dire need of communication, dialogue and internal discussion to get out of the difficult crises it is suffering.

“Our concern for friendship and friends remains the bar on how we deal with any reaction from friends.

“Hezbullah did not make a promise to anyone that the caretaker government would not meet until all its components agreed to meet, so Bassil should not consider the meeting that took place a breach on any promise." (1/2)

⋯ “Everyone in Lebanon knows Hezbullah's way of approaching issues when it disagrees with friends and allies. It is keen to discuss matters with them through private meetings and direct communication.

“The truthful [we] did not break a promise, and Minister Bassil may be confused, so he made a mistake when he accused the truthful of what they did not commit.

“The haste of some within the FPM to accuse us of treachery reneging, and backstabbing, especially among friends, is unwise and inappropriate behaviour. We did not promise anyone anything.” (2/2)

🔴 Israeli airforce activity is reported over Beirut at medium to high altitude.

The Lebanese parliament fails to elect a president for the 9th time.

Blank papers: 39
Michel Moawad: 39

The drop in blank papers is due to FPM's dispute with Hezbullah. Some members likely voted “Michel” or “Moawad” as a stance of defiance, although such votes were not valid. The votes for “Badri Daher” are also from FPM members. Daher is the former customs chief who was detained following the Beirut Port explosion. One MP voted for “Moawad Badri Daher”.

Overnight, the Israeli occupation army murdered three Palestinian youth in Jenin, West Bank.

They were identified as:

- Tariq Al-Damej
- Sedqi Zakarneh
- Atta Shalabi

Lebanese currency continues to rapidly deteriorate, as the USD exchange rate rose sharply to a historic high of 42,400 LBP.