All in the family: Lebanese politicians seeking to inherit their parents’ seats

Lebanese parliament building at the Place d'Étoile. (Courtesy: Heretiq via Wikimedia Commons)
Updated 12 March 2018
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All in the family: Lebanese politicians seeking to inherit their parents’ seats

BEIRUT: When Lebanon holds its Parliamentary election soon, almost one-fourth of the 128 seats are expected to be passed on from an older relative to another member of the family. Nineteen candidates are attempting to inherit the seats of their parents.
They are:
1. Nezar Mohsen Dalloul (Shiite) for Zahle district in Central Bekaa
2. Ziad Nazem Al-Qadery (Sunni) for Western Bekaa and Rashaya
3. Ali Sabri Bek Hmadeh (Shiite) for Baalbeck – Hermel
4. Amin Edmond Rizk (Greek Catholic) for Jezzine in South Lebanon
5. Abdulrahman Nazih Al-Bizri (Sunni) for Saida district in South Lebanon
6. Ahmed Mouhammed Kamel Al-Assaad (Shiite) for Nabatiyeh district
7. Riad Saeed Al-Assaad (Shiite) for Zahrani district in South Lebanon
8. Fadi Issam Abou Jamra (Greek Orthodox) for Marjayoun and Hasbayya district
9. Walid Wajeeh Al-Baarini (Sunni) for Akkar district in North Lebanon
10. Mohammed Tareq Talal Al-Maraabi (Sunni) for Akkar district
11.Sami Ahmad Shawki Fatfat (Sunni) for Al-Danniyeh district in North Lebanon
12.Michel René Mouawwad (Maronite) for Zgharta district
13.Tony Suleiman Frangieh for Zgharta
14.Michelle Gebran Tueni (Greek Orthodox) for Beirut
15.Nadim Bachir Gemayel (Maronite) for Beirut
16.Omar Najah Wakim (Greek Orthodox) for Beirut
17.Zaher Walid Eido (Sunni) for Baabda district in Mount Lebanon
18.Taymour Walid Jumblatt (Druze) For the Shouf district in Mount Lebanon
19.Camille Michel Dory Chamoun (Maronite) for Al-Shouf district in Mount Lebanon.


Israel PM holds coalition meeting after objecting to Gaza panel

Updated 18 January 2026
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Israel PM holds coalition meeting after objecting to Gaza panel

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting of his ruling coalition partners on Sunday after objecting to the composition of a Gaza advisory panel

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting of his ruling coalition partners on Sunday after objecting to the composition of a Gaza advisory panel formed by the White House, according to an official and media reports.
The White House announced this week the setting up of a “Gaza Executive Board,” which would operate under a broader “Board of Peace” to be chaired by US President Donald Trump as part of his 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza.
The executive board, described as having an advisory role, includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, alongside other regional and international officials.
Late on Saturday, Netanyahu’s office objected to the composition of the executive board.
“The announcement regarding the composition of the Gaza Executive Board, which is subordinate to the Board of Peace, was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy,” the office of Netanyahu said.
“The Prime Minister has instructed the Foreign Affairs Minister to contact the US Secretary of State on this matter.”
It did not explain the reason for its objection, but Israel has previously objected strongly to any Turkish role in post-war Gaza, with relations between the two countries deteriorating sharply since the war began in October 2023.
In addition to naming Turkiye’s foreign minister to the executive board, Trump has also invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to join the overarching Board of Peace.
Media reports said that leaders of the country’s ruling coalition were scheduled to meet on Sunday to examine the composition of the executive board.
“There is a meeting scheduled of the coalition at 10:00 am (0800 GMT),” the spokesman of Netanyahu’s Likud Party told AFP, declining to provide further details.
Alongside Likud, the coalition includes the Religious Zionist Party led by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) led by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The White House said Trump’s plan would include three bodies: the Board of Peace, chaired by Trump; a Palestinian committee of technocrats tasked with governing Gaza; and the Gaza Executive Board, which would play an advisory role.
The Palestinian technocratic committee held its first meeting in Cairo on Saturday.
The diplomatic developments came as the United States said this week that the Gaza truce plan had entered a second phase, shifting from implementing a ceasefire to the disarmament of Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the Israeli offensive in Gaza.