Speaker Nabih Berri said he expects Lebanon to witness a “tourist boom” if the newly formed government focused on addressing the problematic issues of electricity, waste management and corruption, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Sunday hit back swiftly at remarks voiced by Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat, with whom ties have been strained in recent days.

“The remarks seeking to attack the Premiership’s role, prestige and performance… are a mere attempt at fishing in troubled waters,” Hariri said in a statement released by his press office.

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Sunday hit out at Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil, warning him against “playing with fire,” as he lashed out over several other issues.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Hizbullah is “in control of the Lebanese government,” three days after a new cabinet was formed in Beirut after nine months of deadlock.

“This means that Iran is controlling the Lebanese government,” Netanyahu stated in a meeting with a delegation comprised of foreign envoys to the U.N.

The United Arab Emirates is “a state of united religions and a state of united cultures,” Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi said Sunday on his first day of a visit to the UAE.

“As humans, we cannot live in hatred and I believe that this conference represents a call for ending all wars and conflicts,” al-Rahi told the Global Conference of Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi.

Lebanon’s newly formed government will hold its first meeting on Saturday at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, it will be chaired by President Michel Aoun and in the presence of Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday welcomed the announcement of the formation of a new government of Lebanon and congratulated Prime Minister Saad Hariri and “Lebanon’s political leadership.”

“The Secretary-General looks forward to working closely with the new Government to continue to address urgent political, security, humanitarian and economic challenges, including in the follow-up to the international conferences of support to Lebanon held last year,” a spokesperson for the U.N. chief said.

The United States said Friday that it “welcomes” Lebanon's announcement of the formation of a cabinet as it urged the new government to ensure the resources and services of Hizbullah-held ministries “do not provide support” to the Iran-backed party.

Congratulating President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Saad Hariri on “this historic occasion,” the U.S. State Department commended Lebanese leaders for “working collectively to overcome the political obstacles that prolonged this process.”

MP Faisal Karami of the Consultative Gathering on Friday hit out anew at Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil over the latter's announcement that his bloc has “more than 11” ministers in the new government.

“I honestly don't know how Minister Bassil does his counting,” Karami said in response to a reporter's question.

Special Tribunal for Lebanon Registrar Daryl Mundis has met with Prime Minister Saad Hariri on a working visit to Beirut this week, the STL said on Friday.

He also met with the Prosecutor General Samir Hammoud and members of the diplomatic community.