Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Monday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.

As-Safir: Israeli intimidation in Lebanon over gas [dispute]

Imminent decision on "maritime border"

This week will witness a political and parliamentary momentum that would crystallize which direction some critical issues should go, such as the oil and national dialogue. This week’s diary includes a speech on Monday by President Michel Sleiman on the occasion of Army Day and discussions of demarcation of Lebanon’s maritime borders during a meeting of the Committee of Energy and Public Works today in the presence of the concerned parties today, a day ahead of a Cabinet meeting during which border delineation will be discussed. Also on this week’s agenda Parliament will hold meetings Wednesday and Thursday where issues are to be negotiated.

While an Israeli center for studies hinted at war against Lebanon over gas, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati seem to have agreed to accelerate pace toward adopting a border demarcation law by merging government’s bill with a draft proposal put forward by MP Mohammad Qabbani.

Sleiman, whose Monday speech is expected to address two main points – maintaining stability at the social, security, economic and political levels and hastening preparations for an electoral law based on proportional representation to ensure the widest possible representation in the next Parliament – will reportedly move to the summer headquarters at Beiteddine on Wednesday. He is expected to hold a Ramadan Iftar on Aug. 11 at Baabda Palace where he will deliver a comprehensive speech.

An-Nahar: Sleiman emphasizes dialogue and proportional representation [system]

Hariri first to denounce "massacre" in Syria

Even as preliminary reactions to the serious developments in Syria on the eve of the first day of Ramadan was confined to some pillars of the March 14 coalition amid silence by Lebanese officials and the other political forces [March 8], the bloody Sunday cast a shadow on the domestic scene, amid growing concerns that Syrian unrest could have implications for Lebanon.

Prominent opposition sources told An-Nahar that the silence broken by key players in the March 14 forces, primarily former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, over the Syrian unrest is a reflection of the reality of the shock triggered by developments around the world and, hence, it is no longer permissible that Lebanon remains silent, knowing that March 14 itself was the pioneer of the “Arab Spring” movement.

The sources said the silence from the other forces, though not surprising, is not unjustifiable for local, Arab and world public opinion.

Al-Liwaa: Sleiman sees no alternative to dialogue … controversial parliamentary agenda

Hariri criticizes Arab, global silence … arrives in Jeddah tonight

Today is the beginning of Ramadan which also falls on Army Day amid serious implications of the unrest in Syria which has taken its toll on Lebanese political leaders, already preoccupied with day-to-day issues concerning water, electricity, wages and rising prices of food commodities and vegetables, as well as food safety, and the deadlock over national dialogue, in addition to a French threat to withdraw its troops serving within UNIFIL if they were targeted once again.

If President Michel Sleiman believes the priority now is to reunite Lebanese and to stop the repercussions of the split after March 14 quit the current government, then an option hinted at by March 14 to take to the street signals a hot Ramadan, particularly with the emergence of a serious Lebanese divide over the unrest in Syria which had been expressed by Hariri, who for the first time described as “massacre” what happened Sunday in the city of Hama. Hariri also denounced Arab and international silence over what is happening, stating that Lebanon cannot remain silent under any circumstances.

Meanwhile, Hariri arrived in Jeddah overnight from France.

Al-Akhbar: Majority embarks on work

After a government standstill last month, both Cabinet and Parliament will embark on their work this week with a vast number of draft laws to be adopted, including amnesty for some crimes as well as tackling the oil issue and maritime borders.

The parliamentary meetings, scheduled for Aug. 3 and 4, are expected to close the doors on the maritime border issue. Parliament is also likely to adopt a law on a “framework for border demarcation."

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Gibran Bassil denied in remarks made to Al-Akhbar media reports that Syrian President Bashar Assad asked him during their last meeting to give priority to Russian companies in oil exploration off the coast of Lebanon.

Bassil also denied that he had discussed with Assad the issue of retired Brig. Gen. Fayez Karam, who is held on charges of spying for Israel.

Members of the Future parliamentary bloc also denied that Future Movement MPs were going to boycott legislative sessions.

The head of the Democratic Gathering, MP Marwan Hamadeh, reiterated Hariri's sadness to see weapons “meant in principle to fight Israel, [used] to burn and sweep brave Syrian cities."