Najib Miqati in Saudi Arabia

He announced his government yesterday and then immediately went to Saudi Arabia to perform the smaller pilgrimage (`umrah).  When he first became prime minister in 2005, Saudi Arabia gave him a $20 million (the sum that it gives to every new prime minister of Lebanon, while the sum is $5 million for the president--I know this as information and not speculation or rumor).  So Miqati told the Saudis that he would not need the money but asks for one favor: that when he goes to Saudi Arabia to perform pilgrimage, that the King receives him.  The Saudis said yes.  So we shall see, although the last time he went he was not received by the King.