I started watching this story on Jon Stewart at 8 pm, and at that time, this was just a really hilarious comic piece about a high-ranking politician going totally AWOL. By the time Rachel Maddow rolled around, Mark Sanford was discovered at the Altanta airport, returning from a very poorly-planned, impromptu trip to see a woman in Argentina he is apparantly having an affair with. So by the time you read this - who knows? Maybe we’ll find out he has a whole other family down there, with four daughters and a poodle named Fifi (not terribly unlike a subplot in a Sidney Sheldon book I read many moons ago)

I’m going to jump on this bandwagon right now, before everyone with a Twitter account and their grandmother has weighed in - I feel bad for the guy.

I shouldn’t - he’s cheated on his wife, he left his kids on Father’s day to be with his girlfriend in Argentina, AND, most important of all - this is a Republican so dedicated to party politics that he would rather turn down federal stimulus money than assist his fellow South Carolinians in the the midst of the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression.

From the sounds of that, Mark Sanford should be the poster boy for arrogant jerk.

Except it’s pretty clear from his pitiable press conference that he’s not. Or at least not just an arrogant jerk. Look at the guy!

This is a dude who seems like he went to sleep reasonably happy one day, woke up in a completely different one, and has no clue how he got there.

What’s notable about the media reaction to all this isn’t so much how a guy with such a bright future ahead of him had an affair and “blew it all up” to quote one pundit, but that he was caught being…well… so emotional and flaky about it. How dare he appear human on television, admit to crying, when a sterile statement from his chief of staff would have sufficed? How are you supposed to mindlessly bleat stupid party lines after you’ve shown your human side?

And you know what else? He doesn’t actually sound that repentant! He’s sorry he hurt people, like his wife and sons and staffers, but the guy isn’t sorry he hopped a flight to BA to be with his darling after his wife kicked him out of the house.

Obviously, this is a guy who did not “have it all” to quote another pundit. And we’re not talking about a sleazy affair with an intern or who hired a hooker, or going to public bathrooms in search of a thrill. This was obviously an unstudied move - with no premeditation or planning - and the press conference delivery was heartfelt, if not polished. The “crime” is notable only for its humanity, its all-too-familiar ring of man’s inner struggle against society’s expectations gone wrong.

It reminds me of a recent case of a very popular Latino priest based in Miami - Padre Alberto (who also happens to be quite the looker) - who was caught… wait for it… cavorting with a woman on the beach. A woman, who it had been revealed, was his girlfriend of many years. Was teh Catholic church relieved that he’d been caught with a consenting adult rather than molesting a minor - the church’s usual MO? Of course not! The man had to choose between the little lady and the Catholic church and Padre Alberto is now an Episcopalian.

I wonder how much longer before we acknowledge how much hyprocricy hurts us all by enabling us into believing other people’s lies and therefore making us feel doubly guilty for our desires, controversial and upsetting though they may be? Isn’t honesty also an important Christian/Muslim value - and wouldn’t it include honesty to our own selves?

Let me just start off by saying that I’m about halfway through this book and I absolutely love it.

The premise is great - a sort of reverse Pride & Prejudice where a wealthy relative decrees in his will that the family fortune will go to the descendants of the femalepersuasion. And so it happens that the family fortune falls into the hands of the charming worrywart Penelope Cameron, who also just happens to love playing God and has an unhealthy fear of death. Her best friends, sister and heartthrob husband - also benefactors of her generosity - think they are humoring Penelope when she makes them all sign a pact, that should her untimely demise come about and Joey decide to remarry, then the future stepmother to Penelope’s two daughters must be approved by all three of Penelope’s best friends, and her sister Clover.

But of course, like a self-fulfilling prophesy, Penelope’s tragic demise does come about in the opening chapters of this wonderful novel, and the pact she made those closest to her sign becomes a document set in stone.

Besides the gripping premise, Sheila’s evocative and witty prose shines through every page of this book, and her characterization is multi-faceted and very original.

And now that I’m in lovely Puerto Rico with days of writing and soaking up the scenery stretching out before me, maybe I’ll finally have a chance to keep reading!

A few words with Sheila…

Q. Readers of this blog know I am very seriously into traveling - what’s your idea of the perfect travel destination and why? 

A. The beach.  Because the sound of the waves calms me.  Visitors to my  website should be able to find an article called THE COMFORT FOOD OF TRAVEL, which explains more. (I must concur… I love the beach so much, I moved to the Caymans!)

Q.      How do you go about choosing a setting for your novel? Does it, like New York in Sex and the City, almost play the part of another character in the book, or could the plot be transported to another setting and work?

 A. My setting had to be a southern beach town for EVERYONE SHE LOVED.  Old money in the New South…that sort of thing.  And for my first book, Diana Lively is Falling Down, the settings had to be Oxford, England and Arizona.

Q. What were some of your favorite books as a kid? 

A. A WRINKLE IN TIME, All Nancy Drews, all Hardy Boys, Lord of the Rings.

Q. Who’s your favorite literary (or movie) villain?

A. Gollum, from Lord of the Rings. Why?  He’s just so wormy and slight, and you keep thinking you can dismiss him because of that but he just keeps on radiating evil.

Q. What would you change about your life if you became the next Sophie Kinsella? 

A. I’d stop worrying about money. (Wouldn’t we all, sista’)

Q. Any tried and true tricks for beating procrastination? 

A. Set a schedule, even if it’s just one hour a day.  Then repeat to yourself, “Seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.”  As my good friend, Carolyn Scarborough, who writes on  http://www.backyardpearls.com/ suggests, keep a notebook nearby and every time you think of something you should hop up and do, write it down on a to-do list instead of feeling like you have to do it right that minute. (Does blogging count as writing?..;-) )

Q. Which ’craft’ book has inspired or helped you the most throughout your writing career? 

A. Bird by Bird, by Ann Lamott, The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron, Story, McPhee, The Art of Fiction, John Gardener. (Bird by Bird rocks.)

Q. My most embarrassing-in-retrospect heartthrob is Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block - who’s yours? 

A. It’s a tie between Michael Landon, on Bonanza or Davey of The Monkeys! (HA! I LOVE The Monkeys! Was Davey the little cute one? I think so….)

Thank you so much Sheila!

If you guys would like to get your hands on this original, charming new book, click here or check out the author’s gorgeous site (seriously… she’s got a mini-movie up there and everything!) at www.sheilacurran.com

I saw this Op-Ed piece in the NY Times this morning, from a prominent Jewish writer (and, presumably, Israeli supporter):

“The blatant cynicism of the present Israeli government should not blind us to the responsibility of its more respectable-looking predecessors. The settler population has grown consistently at a rate of 5 percent annually over the past two decades, three times the rate of increase of the Israeli population as a whole. Together with the Jewish population of East Jerusalem (itself illegally annexed to Israel), the settlers today number more than half a million people: just over 10 percent of the Jewish population of so-called Greater Israel. This is one reason why settlers count for so much in Israeli elections, where proportional representation gives undue political leverage to even the smallest constituency.”

He’s basically saying that just because hawkish, ultra-conservative, take-no-prisoners Benjamin Netanyahu is in power these days, doesn’t mean we ought to look kindly upon Israeli administrations past, who seemed at least to the world, to be committed to peace. They weren’t. As evidenced by the 5% annual growth he notes in the above quote.

What I’d like to know is, why do I have to keep pointing this inconvenient fact out to anyone who discovers my parents are Palestinian and decides they want to hash out the Middle East issue right then and there, and then proceed to look incredulously at me when I say something akin to the above?

People - it’s like debating the blueness of the sky. It’s blue, not tomato red. And Israeli settlements seem to grow and thrive, squeezing Palestinians of the West Bank onto ever-shrinking slivers of land, no matter who has been in power or what had been their stance on peace over the last 40 years.

Why can the NY Times say it, but I can’t without being looked upon as wacko?

I heart reviews. I really, really do. I don’t have a heart emoticon on my Wordpress platform but if I did, you’d be seeing some major heart action.

I also heart Puerto Rico. There are many reasons why I’m feeling very at home here, which I will get into one of these days on this blog, when I’m not under major deadline for a travel article I’m working on (yay!), but for now, suffice to say that Puerto Rico rocks, and not just because everyone is my height and wear their flats with pride.

Back to the review - this is what the lovely Eli Shulenburg of Need More Shelves had to say:

“I’m not sure I’ve read a book that was this much fun in a long time. Things are heading toward summer in my neck of the woods (I say heading, because we’ve had a pretty gray and gloomy week, but I still have hope), and Cutting Loose just FELT like a summer book. It’s set mainly in sunny Miami, and has a light, breezy tone that would make it perfect “sitting in the sun with a tropical drink in your hand” fare.

Dajani’s three main characters take turns narrating the novel, and each voice is distinct and developed. I felt an immediate empathy with both Ranya and Zahra - each was facing issues I could completely relate to, and it made me feel a connection to the characters right away. Rio took a little bit longer to click with me, but I came to appreciate her strength and drive, and by the end of the novel was rooting for her as well.

When I say the novel is fun and light, I don’t want to imply that it is lacking in depth or emotion. All three women have serious obstacles to face - from money and job situations to difficult family and personal relationship issues, each has to face up to their past and decide which path to take, and how to grasp happiness for themselves. It was this honest journey for each of her characters that kept me turning pages, eager to find out what happened next.

I completely enjoyed this novel. It would make a perfect beach or vacation read! It does contain adult language and situations, so if that bothers you, you might want to steer clear of this one. However, if you are looking for a novel that goes deeper than the usual chick-lit fare, but still retains the fun and romance, I would definitely recommend you pick up this book.”

Eli has alos devised one of the most original (and interesting) interview formats I’ve ever come across - based on an idea from the Fahrenheit 451where people “become” books in order to preserve the important ideas they hold, Eli asks you which book you would become, if books were suddenly in danger of being extinct. Eli hosts this interview every Friday (called “451 Fridays) on her blog, and past contributors’ choices are always fascinating and thought provoking.

You can read my interview here.

Happy Friday!

I think the secret to blogging is pouring out what happens to be on your mind (and in your heart) right there in the moment, and not worrying too much about editing your thoughts to suit your audience, or according to what you think your audience wants to hear from you (that’s what novels are for!).

There are basics of course - run Spellcheck, and read over at least once so you don’t annoy your readers with spelling mistakes (something I have been known to do on this blog. Sorry, guys) but let your mind roam, and spill. In its essence, that’s what writing is about. In the kind of writing that lingers and lasts, you might notice that the plot was just someplace to hang the writer’s inner thoughts, her worldview, her convictions, what stirs her soul and what drives her nuts.

You wouldn’t think that the random thoughts inside people’s heads would be interesting to others, but of course, through the explosion of blogging (who ARE these people writing random crazy and being read - by thousands! - must the established literary crowd be thinking), we now know that ramblings, as long as they are sincere and reasonably engaging, are fun to read. Maybe because they help us connect and feel less alone. Less like freaks on a planet where conformity is the de facto world religion.

Rebellious Arab Girl does this brilliantly - and has a really big following. Check her out. (that’s her poster at the top of this post)

So here’s what I’ve been thinking about today, as  sit here in this San Juan Starbucks, blogging when I should really be working on an article. Relationships (the romantic variety) and guys who drive you nuts.

There seem to be differing opinions on this. I’ve noticed this when it comes to reaction to my books, especially the first one, Fashionably Late, which recounts a heady fling with a seriously hot Cuban. Younger readers love the Cuban heartthrob, older readers are glad Ali, the main character, doesn’t take him too seriously. That doesn’t surprise me at all - older readers probably have a few crash-and-burn style relationships under their belt, and probably wanted to tell Ali, “there, there, dear, it’s just the hormones talking”. 

And if all you’ve ever been exposed are North American Male mating habits, then I can see where you’re coming from. Many of those types of males are disinclined to have big, loud, gesticulating fights about minor things. I have had a very serious relationship with one such male, and was always amazed at how he hardly ever instigated a fight. Never jealous, never loud, never bothered over my more minor flaws (of course, we had fights over chores, but not, say, that what I was wearing to go out was too revealing). But just because we didn’t have our big, throw-the-dishes-against-the-wall fights, did not mean I didn’t want to kill him much of the time.

I later entered another very serious relationship, and by contrast, became very acquainted with the throw-dishes-against-the-wall fighting. I also spend much of my time wanting to kill this boyfriend.

But here’s the funny thing - once the fighting lets up, there isn’t any trace of it left in my soul. Nothing, Whereas in my previous relationship, the fighting was far less frequent, but left a lingering malaise that poisoned everything else I did.

All this rambling to say,

1. Either I have finally grown up some, and learned not to hold grudges, or,
2. If you’re going to fight with someone and want to kill him much of the time, it might not be such a bad idea to choose someone with whom you have an intense chemical reaction. Sure, there’s more to a relationship than that (as is, you may throw stuff at the wall but never, under any circumstance whatsoever, at your partner), but really, you may be surprised at how passion - even passionate fighting - breathes freshness and lightheartedness into your life, and saps away predictability. And predictability, though a good friend to stability, is also an enemy to romance.

And that’s my random brain fart of the day.

Final announcement: Thank you to everyone who commented and e-mailed me privately and Facebooked me about last week’s contest - if you still want to get entered into the draw for the Amazon certificates it’s not too late - I kept this open until the end of June because I’m far too busy at the moment to manage a contest - take advantage of my pathetic lack of time management skills

I’ve finally done it.

I’ve put together A NEWSLETTER.

And only four years into my publishing career… Well, at least I’m doing it in style - I’m GIVING AWAY 11 AMAZON GIFT CERTIFICATES!

All you have to do is:

1) Sign up for the newsletter (just comment below with your e-mail)
2) Sign up a few of your book-loving friends who you think would get a kick out of funny, light women’s fiction with a little bit of travel, social, and cultural commentary thrown in.

Here’s the prize breakdown…

5 gift certficates worth $5
3 gift certificates worth $10
2 gift certificates worth $15
1 gift certificate worth $25

Sending me the e-mail addys of…

3 buddies will get you entered in the $5 Amazon GC draw
5 buddies will get you entered in the $10 Amazon GC draw
10 buddies will get you entered in the $15 Amazon GC draw
15 buddies will get you entered in the $25 Amazon GC draw

Deadline to enter the draw is Tuesday June 30th so get cracking!

And did you also happen to have read the book and want to give me an Amazon review ? Just let me know through the contact link on my blog, or by commenting below and I’ll send a signed book plate to the first 10 people to do so.

Is this a form of bribery? Perhaps. But I live in the Cayman Islands and your mere-mortal rules do not apply to me. Bwahahahaha.

And WHAT can you get out of the newsletter that you can’t out of the blog, you ask?

… the newsletter contains an EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEAK at the first chapter of my THIRD NOVEL, not in stores until Summer 2010. And a few short stories to tie you over until then : )

Good luck, and happy reading!

Weather forecast here in the Cayman Islands… rainy enough to qualify as the kind of climate that makes people in most countries not want to get out of bed.

But, oddly enough, a spot of thunder and rain has the adverse effect here in the Caribbean (within reason, bien sure). You see, when you are assailed with unrelenting, bright, happy sunshine everyday of your life, it does, on occasion, make you want to throw something at the gorgeous sun and yell: “don’t you ever get depressed, you asshole? Do you not fat days? PMS? The I-can’t-possibly-go-to-work-today blues???”

It’s hard to stay in and do nothing (and feel validated about it) when it’s all lovely and sunshine-y outside and your conscious nags you about those poor, sun-starved souls in places like Britain, and northern Canada, so you begrudgingly turn off the TV and force yourself to go out and enjoy the lovely day. Again. So today, it is blissfully stormy and I shall neither play tennis, do yoga on the rooftop of the Beach Suites hotel at sunset, nor go enjoy an outdoor lunch. I will stay in and rent a movie, guilt-free.

And now, here are links to the latest reviews for Cutting Loose unleashed upon the cyber world…

From Jenny loves to read

“I just started this book over weekend and like it so far. It’s a quick, fun read… and it’s giving me a little background on what it’s like to be a young Palestinian, Saudi Arabian, or South American, woman. Cultures I don’t read much about.” (read the whole review here)

And over at Book, Line, and Sinker…

“Told from multiple points of view, Cutting Loose weaves the lives of three women into an entertaining novel with solid characters and plenty of conflict. Offering more than just the standard ‘chick-lit’ fare, Nadine Dajani draws on her own her own exotic life experiences to create characters who struggle to reconcile their culture with life in sultry, hedonistic Miami…”

Read the whole review on Amazon, or on Natalie’s gorgeous book blog here.

And finally, from Book Fan Mary…

“I found the book entertaining and would recommend including it in your summer reading. Yes, it wraps up neatly - but I wouldn’t want it any other way!”

Both Jenny and Natalie are giving away copies of Cutting Loose, so what are you waiting for?? Go enter!

And if you’re an avid reader and bargain chaser (and really, who isn’t these days?) then check out this blog which does the dirty work of tracking down book giveaways for you.

Happy Monday, and thank you to Jenny, Natalie, and Mary!

It’s been a while since we’ve had any fellow authors here, so it’s with glee that I present to you our latest GCC tour.

There’s a whole lot of imagination that went into this one… accidentally finding yourself at the bottom of the sea? In the company of a hot merman?? Going off in search of lost treasure and ending up on a desert island with said hot merman? I don’t know about you, but “The Little Mermaid” was my hands-down favorite movie as a kid (both the original, heartbreaking Hans Christian Anderson tale, and the much more upbeat - of course - Disney version). And judging by where Judi takes her characters, Erica and Reel (Bermuda… Puerto Rico…) this promises to be one rollicking mer-tale.

A conversation with the author…

Q. Readers of this blog know I am very seriously into traveling - what’s your idea of the perfect travel destination and why?

A. I have two. One is backpacking through Europe. I did that through Spain and I loved it. I love staying in non-touristy places because you get the flavor of the country and the people. My other ideal travel destination is a tropical beach. Anywhere. Sun, sand, a stack of books, and beautiful weather and calm seas. Just don’t expect me to go in the water. (I LOVE SPAIN!!! AM DYING TO MOVE THERE!!! And tropical beaches?… hmm, Judi and I may very well be sistas’ from other mistas’)

Q. Which scene (or scenes) in your novel did you love writing? Why?

A. I loved writing when Erica wakes up under the sea and thinks she’s died and gone to Hell. I imagined what I’d be thinking/feeling if that happened to me and poured a lot of myself into that scene.

Q. How do you go about choosing a setting for your novel? Does it, like New York in Sex and the City, almost play the part of another character in the book, or could the plot be transported to another setting and work?

A. I picked Ocean City as the kick-off point for this story because we go down the shore every year as a family and stay in Ocean City, and have done this when I was growing up. OCNJ holds a special place in my heart and memory. But to then take it to Bermuda and Puerto Rico, well, the plot dictated certain elements and those locations fit the parameters.

Q. Actor/celeb you fantasize the most about while writing your male characters?

A. I don’t. I say that Reel resembles Matthew McConaughey and his character in Failure to Launch, but my characters are all their own individuals. I don’t make them someone who exists, but I might base them on characteristics, but I write fiction. I want the reader to see the characters as they experience them.

Q. Where do you write?

A. In my office or at Borders, especially for the initial “splurge” writing where I get the story out. I need to turn off the internet and just immerse myself in the story.

Q. What would you change about your life if you became the next Sophie Kinsella?

A. Two words: cleaning service. (Amen, sister)

Q. Any tried and true tricks for beating procrastination?

A. Yep. Get Thee To Borders. Or B&N. Or Starbucks. Or the library. Any place where you can turn off the internet and don’t get distracted.

Q. Which ‘craft’ book has inspired or helped you the most throughout your writing career?

A. I’ve actually found joining a critique group the most helpful. I joined Charlotte Dillon’s online group and that was the turning point. I met some very talented writers and some of us have divided off and set up our own years ago and we’re still together, and almost all published, today.

Q. My most embarrassing-in-retrospect heartthrob is Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block - who’s yours?

A. Parker Stevenson from the Hardy Boys? Although I don’t think he’s embarrassing - the man has aged well. Fabio is still a heart throb and I do get teased for that, but I don’t care. He’s a nice guy and knows how to treat his fans. A real gentleman. Feel free to check out the photos on my blog www.JudiFennell.wordpress.com from the Romantic Times Convention in 2008.

There you have it. Judi is also raffling off a trio of romantic beach getaways over at www.judifennell.com so go ahead and pop over there!

And so does Nadine. Thank you for voting on the Kindle question guys! Results shall be discussed this week. On to more pressing issues.

I was going to write a nice, happy, optimistic piece celebrating baby steps in the right direction, along the lines of what Thomas Freidman wrote in the NYTimes today.

Honest, I was.

Because I still remember being seven, sitting cross-legged in front of the TV (the kind with a manual spin dial for changing channels) on the threadbare Persian carpet in our living room in Beirut, watching Amine Gemayel, the handsome then-Lebanese-President/militiaman/murderer and not appreciating the look of disgust that crossed my aunts’ faces as they passed the television screen (they may have spat, memories are fuzzy). Did they not appreciate his hotness? The patriotic backdrop of a red-and-white Lebanese flag flapping behind him, set to our snazzy national anthem?

Why the hate, my little 7-year-old heart cried out. Can’t we just try and be optimistic for once?

Apparently not, because:

A) Arabs are inherently melancholy and nostalgic (and not the “good” nostalgic, either). This is why most Arab literature that gets translated into English only gets read by the same people who swear by the New York Times Literary Review, meaning you’ll never catch a dude on the subway with his/her nose buried in a fun/sexy/thrilling/romantic/funny novel by an Arab writer. This is something I really hope will change.

B) Arabs have a good century’s worth of broken promises under their collective belts, beginning with a promise of self-sufficiency and auto-governance by Brits and Frenchies at the end of WWI which turned into - quite literally - the fuck-up of the century. The tattered trail of broken promises is limping right into 2009 with yet another American president trying to make nice with Arabs. That kind of baggage can turn a ray of sunshine grouchy.

I say “Arabs” and not “Muslims” because most Muslims are not Arabs. Arabs account for only about 8% of the world’s one-and-a-half-billion Muslim souls. Indonesia is actually the country with the highest concentration of Muslims in the world and is - believe or not - a functioning, non-radical-Islamist democracy! Can you believe that? No? I don’t blame you. Though on a related note, how much must it suck to be one of the one-and-a-half billion NON-ARAB Muslims, and constantly see your religion depicted by a few hundred million dudes in white robes and checkered headscarves? Or being an Arab-Christian, like Zahra, in mu novel Cutting Loose (and many, many of my dear friends?)

Back to Obama… so what’s there to complain about now, you ask. And rightly so - we’re finally rid of Bush, surely there must be a silver lining somewhere.

Well, simply put, as nicely as Barak Obama speaks about this political theater that is the Middle-East peace process, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s still political theater.

Bigger honchos than Barak have made promises to cut through the bullshit and said that they really mean it this time, and yet the only thing that’s changed since 1993 (date of the Oslo Peace Accords - it was a BIG deal at the time), is that I’m now sporting a few gray hairs on my head.

And with the gray hairs I suppose I should have sprouted some wisdom. But no, I read Thomas Friedman’s NYTimes piece this morning and allowed myself to feel as hopeful and optimistic as an American.

Then I read this Op Ed piece (also in the NTTimes) by an Egyptian journalist, and the picture he paints, in true Arab fashion, is pessimistic, grounded, and gray.

Reality is not usually a fun place to be. I don’t blame Americans for their aversion to it. It plain sucks, to tell you the truth.

And while you’re reading Hossam’s Op-ed piece, I’d like you to do a little compare-and-contrast exercise in your head, between Cuba and Egypt…

…both countries run by dictators-for-life with little to no respect for human rights? Check!
…critical-of-the-regime bloggers are getting fined and/or imprisoned left and right? Check!
…ruling elite hogs most of nation’s resources? Check, with one caveat: Fidel spreads the wealth around a little bit better, ensuring education, housing, and health care for all. Over in the land of the Nile, illiteracy is rampant, millions are homeless or live in shanty towns, electricity is not widespread, and health care? What’s health care?

…both countries getting ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN AID FROM THE US? Ch..uh… no, not quite. Egypt gets military aid (which of course, it can’t use against the only country likely to attack it, Israel), and Cuba gets a big fat embargo.

So why did Obama choose to visit Egypt (and they uber-dictatorial Saudi Arabia, which perfectly embodies Borat’s views on where women figure in society)?

Good question, but Thomas Friedman sure isn’t asking it.

Score one for delusion, and ziltch for a happy, sunny blog post about Obama’s Mideast visits.

Tomorrow: notes on the book club meeting! Thank you for voting! More Cristiano pics! GCC blog tour! No depressing political posts! Yay!

Ex-Lebanese President Ameen Gemayel