Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is expected to resign Tuesday, an official source tells the Reuters news agency.
Cars, left, are stuck in a traffic jam as anti-government protesters block a highway that links the capital Beirut to northern Lebanon by cars, tents, stones, and bricks during a protest against the Lebanese government in the town of Jal el-Dib north of Beirut, Lebanon, October 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
The resignation would come as Lebanon has been rocked over the last 11 days by massive protests against Hariri’s government, which includes a coalition with the Hezbollah terror group.
Tension has mounted in recent days between security forces and protesters, who have blocked roads and brought the country to a standstill to press their demands for a complete overhaul of the political system.
Lebanon’s reviled political elite has defended a belated package of economic reforms and appeared willing to reshuffle the government, but protesters who have stayed on the streets since October 17 want more.
A Lebanese protester lifts a picture of Prime Minister Saad Hariri in a wig during a rally in downtown Beirut on the third day of demonstrations against tax increases and official corruption, on October 19, 2019. The writing “sashay away” refers to a catchphrase from a drag queen TV show meaning “leave”. (IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP)
In 2017, Hariri announced his resignation in a bizarre television appearance from Saudi Arabia, blaming Iranian influence in his country. He later returned home and rescinded the move.
— with AFP
Your next read: ToI Editors' Picks
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Join The Times of Israel Community today, and you'll receive a physical book of your choice, carefully curated by our editors.
Choose between two must-reads: When We See You Again by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, a searing portrait of a mother’s grief and strength following unthinkable tragedy;
Or Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe by Matti Friedman, the gripping and surprising tale of a forgotten moment during World War II.
As a Community member, you’ll enjoy our outstanding DocuNation series of Israeli documentary films, an ad-free experience of our site and podcasts, commenting privileges, and more.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
