Father: Better that my son died in Arsal battle than as jihadis’ captive

BAALBEK: The family of Lance Cpl. Ali Qassem Ali said that finding out their son had actually been killed during the Army’s battle against jihadis nearly four months ago brought some small relief after thinking he had been held captive by the militants.

"Today and after we have verified that my son Ali was martyred and despite our deep pain, we are relieved to know that Ali died for the sake of his comrades in battle,” Qassem Ali told The Daily Star Saturday.

"I will not accept my son's body in exchange for the release of some prisoners the militants want the government to free ... I can only hope that authorities could repatriate my son's body and other martyrs.”

The family received dozens of people who came to offer their condolences in the eastern town of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley. The families of Abbas Medlej and Mohammad Hamieh, who were executed by militants in September, also offered their condolences to the Ali family.

A General Security official contacted the family Friday to inform them that Ali had been killed during the first days of the clashes in August when militants from ISIS and the Nusra Front attempted to overrun the border town of Arsal.

The father said the official told him that the militants had taken his son’s body when they retreated to the outskirts of Arsal after the five-day clashes with the Army.

Ali was killed when militants attempted to kidnap him and other soldiers.

The militants are currently holding 26 policemen and soldiers and have demanded the release of Islamist detainees from Roumieh Prison in exchange for the captives.

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Beirut Bar Association: We want a president for Baabda

BEIRUT: The head of the Beirut Bar Association slammed the continued paralysis in the presidential seat Saturday, demanding politicians rise to the occasion and elect a new head of state, during a mass rally outside Baabda Palace to mark the 71 anniversary of Independence Day.

“Our main concern is not to fill the vacant seat but to maintain the functioning of a democratic republic and a balance of power,” George Jreij said, surrounded by dozens of lawyers who marched to Baabda Palace amid tight security measures.

"We have the right to speak out and we have the right to a respected republic, to have a capable state.”

"Doing the right thing [by canceling the celebrations] does not fill a vacuum. ... We want actions based on national responsibility. We want a president for this palace.”

Baabda Palace has been vacant since May 25 when former President Michel Sleiman departed the presidential seat, ending his six-year term without a replacement as politicians remain unable to elect a consensus candidate for the post.

Along with several scout associations, lawyers marched toward Baabda Palace, carrying Lebanese flags and wearing court dress.

Jreij, reading the Bar Association’s statement, said the group rejected constitutional violations and accused politicians of waiting for foreign powers to resolve the stalled election.

"We will not allow the paralysis to extend to all of the republic. The Bar Association rejects these constitutional violations and we refuse to see Lebanon waiting at the front doors of countries waiting for the password to elect a president,” he said.

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Weekly Address: Immigration Accountability Executive Action

President Barack Obama tapes the Weekly Address at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas, Nev., Nov. 21, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

In this week’s address, the President laid out the steps he took this past week to fix our broken immigration system. Enacted within his legal authority, the President’s plan focuses on cracking down on illegal immigration at the border; deporting felons, not families; and accountability through criminal background checks and taxes. These are commonsense steps, but only Congress can finish the job.

As the President acts, he’ll continue to work with Congress on a comprehensive, bipartisan bill -- like the one passed by the Senate more than a year ago -- that can replace these actions and fix the whole system.

Transcript | mp4 | mp3

Learn more about the President's action on immigration here.