Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in an interview to the Washington Post on Wednesday that Prime Minister Saad Hariri is in a “better position today” in Lebanon relative to Hizbullah.

He said that he was “unjustly” criticized for pressuring Hariri to resign in November. Adding that the PM is “now in a better position in Lebanon."

Saudi royal envoy Nizar al-Aloula on Tuesday described Speaker Nabih Berri as a "national leader who is a source of hope and optimism in Lebanon," following talks in Ain el-Tineh.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Tuesday tweeted in solidarity with Jerusalem and the Christian presence, lashing out at Israel's recent taxation measures on churches and places of worship.

Senior Saudi official Nizar al-Alula continued his meetings for the second day in a row with Lebanese officials and met on Tuesday with former prime ministers Najib Miqati and Tammam Salam and Fouad Saniora.

The ex-Premiers have received the Saudi diplomat at their residences in the presence of Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Walid al-Yaacoub and former Saudi Embassy Charge d'Affaires Walid Bukhari.

Saudi Envoy Nizar al-Alula had “positive meetings” on Monday with President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Saad Hariri heralding for the “the re-shaping of the Lebanese-Saudi ties,” al-Akhbar daily reported on Tuesday.

Sources at the Presidential Palace and the Grand Serail, said the atmospheres were positive after two consecutive meetings held by the Saudi envoy with Aoun followed by a meeting with Hariri. Al-Aloula has also visited the tomb of Hariri's slain father, ex-PM Rafik Hariri, added the daily.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri said he has accepted an invitation Monday to visit Saudi Arabia, returning for the first time to the kingdom where he announced a shock resignation that he later rescinded.

Lebanese Forces MP Fadi Karam on Monday said the current week will be decisive at the level of electoral negotiations among political parties in preparation for the upcoming elections in May, the National News Agency reported.

“The LF is holding consultations with the Free Patriotic Movement and al-Mustaqbal Movement to assess electoral coalition chances,” the lawmaker told VDL (93.3) radio.

President Michel Aoun met on Monday at Baabda Palace with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, affirming Lebanon's readiness to “defend itself” against Israel's violations, the National News Agency reported.

“Lebanon is keen on maintaining stability and calm in South Lebanon, but it is also ready to defend itself shall Israel carry out an assault,” Aoun told Lacroix.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq on Monday said "Lebanon's major problem" lies in the existence of illegal "weapons” and their effect on the country's state decisions, pointing out that a motion will be raised after the parliamentary elections to put these arms under the state's authority, Asharq al-Awsat daily reported on Monday.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri received a phone call at noon Sunday from British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, the premier's office said.

Talks tackled "the bilateral relations and the regional developments as well as the ongoing preparations for the Rome conference for supporting the army and security forces and the CEDRE conference in Paris for backing investment in Lebanon," Hariri's office said.