English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese,
Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For December 24/2020
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
http://data.eliasbejjaninews.com/eliasnews19/english.december24.20.htm
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2006
Click Here to enter the LCCC Arabic/English news bulletins Achieves since 2006
Bible Quotations For today
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave
or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ
Jesus.
Letter to the Galatians 03/23-29/:”Before faith came, we
were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.
Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be
justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a
disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no
longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you
belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the
promise.”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on December 23-24/2020
Video-Text/Is Dr. Geagea Going To Sign A “Paper Of
Understanding” With Hezbollah?
Elias Bejjani/September 04/16
Ministry of Health: 2246 new coronavirus cases, 22 deaths
Lebanon to Task Alvarez and Marsal anew with Forensic Audit
President Aoun signs decree transferring credit to purchase Covid19 vaccines
from Pfizer
Hariri Meets Aoun, Says No New Government before Holidays
Hariri hopes for government after New Year: We want ministers who would tell us
‘no’ when we are wrong
Presidency Information Office denies what was broadcast by “Al Jadeed”: “MP
Bassil has no role in forming the government”
Center House Sources Slam 'Bats of the Palace'
Report: ‘Positive’ Atmospheres Emerge After Aoun-Hariri Meeting
Arslan Says 18-seat Cabinet ‘Marginalizes’ Druze Community
4 Suspects Arrested over Torching of Christmas Tree in North
Army Chief Meets Chief of Staff of the French Armies in Yarzé
Berri receives Central Bank Governor, extends holiday well wishes to the
Lebanese
There is precious little joy to be found in Lebanon this Christmas/Najia
Houssari/Arab News/December 24, 2020
Beirut port explosion: Nearly five months on, residents’ trauma has healed
little/Najia Houssari/Arab News/December 24, 2020
What photographer Joe Bejjani’s death says about the dark days to come for
Lebanon/Makram Rabah/Al Arabiya/December 23/2020
Titles For The
Latest
English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on
December 22-23/2020
Silent night for Bethlehem as coronavirus keeps pilgrims
away
No Merry Christmas Vacation for Enraged Trump
WHO: Almost 4.6 million new cases were reported to WHO last week
Global Virus Rules for Christmas: Tough, Mild or None at All
UK Discovers Another New Coronavirus Variant
EU Starts to Ease Bans over UK Virus Strain; WHO to Meet
Top US officials discuss options to protect Americans in Iraq from Iran attacks
Bahrain Urges End to Regional Disputes as Gulf Summit Looms
Israel Parliament Dissolves, Sparking Fourth Election in Two Years
U.S. imposes fresh sanctions on Syria in push for Assad to end war
Hey Iran: Israeli Sub Heads To Persian Gulf With Egypt OK
Titles For The Latest
The Latest LCCC English analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on
December 22-23/2020
Will Biden learn from Trump and keep making America secure again/Clifford D.
May/The Washington Times/December 23/2020
To fight anti-Semitism, the UN must first define it/David May and Haley
Weinischke/ Washington Examiner/December 23/2020
Iran Is Not Looking for a War With America/But Biden should make it clear that
the U.S. is willing to respond to anything the Iranians are planning./Eli
Lake/Bloomberg/December 23/2020
Drug Trafficking: The Dirtiest Little Secret/Chris Farrell/Gatestone
Institute/December 23/2020
It’s easy to criticize Abbas for Palestinian failures but the true blame lies
with the extremists/Ray Hanania/Arab News/December 23/2020
Why the Qatar blockade should remain in place/Mohamed Alodadi/Al Arabiya/December
23/2020
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on December 22-23/2020
Video-Text/Elias Bejjani/(2016 Archive)Is Dr. Geagea Going To Sign A “Paper Of
Understanding” With Hezbollah?
/هل يوقع د. جعجع ورقة تفاهم مع حزب الله
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/45344/elias-bejjaniis-dr-geagea-going-to-sign-a-paper-of-understanding-with-hezbollah%d9%87%d9%84-%d9%8a%d9%88%d9%82%d8%b9-%d8%af-%d8%ac%d8%b9%d8%ac%d8%b9-%d9%88%d8%b1%d9%82%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d9%81/
#Geagea_Fatal_Sin
Is Dr. Geagea Going To Sign A “Paper Of Understanding” With
Hezbollah?
Elias Bejjani/September 04/16
Really, I can’t understand what Dr. Samir Geagea,
the leader of the Lebanese Forces Party (LF) is doing and for what?
There is No logic, No comprehensible rational, or any kind of heroism at all in
the sudden shocking derailing from his deeply rooted resistance past to the
adaption of pro Hezbollah stances within a very short time.
The man and against all odds took a 180 degree deviation track, and is strongly
and openly supporting the Lebanese Iranian puppet and Trojan, MP. Micheal Aoun
for the Presidency post that has been vacant for more than two years because of
Hezbollah’s intimidation, Iran’s occupational -expansionism agenda, and
anti-constitutional stances.
Yesterday Dr. Samir Geagea loudly and fiercely called on the Lebanese members of
parliament to immediately elect MP. Micheal Aoun as a president, and bizarrely
alleged that this election will be a salvation means for Lebanon.
For heavens sake how could the pro-Iranian Aoun save Lebanon when he himself is
an Iranian hostage, puppet, and a mere anti-Lebanese robatic tool.
Aoun has been for the past 11 years against Lebanon’s independence, freedom,
sovereignty, democracy, common living, existence, history, identity and not
honouring all the Maronite historical national convictions?
Politically, Geagea is committing suicide and at the same solidifying the
Iranian occupation and hegemony for nothing in return at all, neither for
himself as a politician, not for our people, or for Lebanon’s independence and
sovereignty.
MP. Micheal Aoun in 11 years after signing the humiliating “Paper of
understanding” with Hezbollah has got nothing from this Iranian terrorist
military and denominational proxy in spite of all the cowardice succumbing that
he offered.
In the same context, Aoun’s past in reality and practicality is totally ashamed
of his present as well as from his future.. and definitely Geagea’s harvest from
his pro Iranian coup against himself , against his strong patriotic image, and
against his past will not be any different no matter what.
The question is, where Lebanon is heading to after Geagea’s surrender?
Personally, I feel so sad and extremely disappointed, because Dr. Samir Geagea
who is well known to be a man of faith, hope and principles is totally
replicating the Syrian-Iranian deadly Micheal Aoun’s deviation that took place
in year 2006 in the aftermath of the “Paper Of Understanding” that he signed
with Hezbollah.
In conclusion, Sadly, all what Dr. Geagea needs to become another Aoun is
signing a “Paper Of understanding” with Hezbollah, and quite Frankly I will not
be surprised if this happens, although I pray that such a deadly sin shall not
occur.
Ministry of Health: 2246 new coronavirus cases, 22 deaths
NNA/December 23/2020
The Ministry of Public Health announced 2246 new coronavirus infection cases,
which raises the cumulative number to 163225 confirmed cases.
22 deaths have been recorded over the past 24 hours.
Lebanon to Task Alvarez and Marsal anew with
Forensic Audit
Agence France Presse/December 23/2020
Lebanon announced plans to resume contacts with Alvarez and Marsal consultancy
firm to conduct forensic audit into the state’s accounts, after a bill passed in
Parliament approving the lifting of banking secrecy. “Based on the Parliament
bill and government decision, it was decided to communicate with Alvarez and
Marsal company to follow up on forensic audit of the Central Bank’s accounts,
ministries, independent interests, funds and public institutions,” said
caretaker Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni. His remarks came after meeting President
Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace for talks on the matter. On Monday, Lebanon's
parliament approved a bill that suspends banking secrecy laws for one year to
allow for a forensic audit of the central bank, a key demand of international
donors. The vote came in accordance with a November decision by parliament to
clear hurdles obstructing a forensic audit of the central bank and public
institutions. The International Monetary Fund and France are among creditors
demanding the audit as part of urgent reforms to unlock financial support, as
the country faces a grinding economic crisis. But the central bank has claimed
that provisions including Lebanon's Banking Secrecy Law prevent it from
releasing some of the necessary information. New York-based Alvarez and Marsal,
a consultancy firm formerly tasked with the audit, scrapped its agreement with
the government in November because the central bank had failed to hand over
required data. The move sparked widespread criticism of Lebanon's authorities.
The country, which defaulted on its debt this year, is experiencing its worst
economic crisis in decades and is still reeling from a devastating explosion at
Beirut's port that gutted entire neighborhoods of the capital on August 4. The
dire economic straits and the explosion have both been widely blamed on
government corruption and incompetence.
President Aoun signs decree transferring credit to purchase Covid19 vaccines
from Pfizer
NNA/December 23/2020
President Michel Aoun signed a decree transferring credit for the purchase of
vaccines against Corona pandemic, from Pfizer company. Public health Minister,
Dr. Hamad Hassan, will proceed with necessary measures to sign the contract
between the Lebanese state and the producing company.-Presidency Press Office
Hariri Meets Aoun, Says No New Government before
Holidays
Naharnet/December 23/2020
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri announced Wednesday that “clear
complications” are still delaying the formation of the new government. “I was
hoping to have a government before the holidays but there are still clear
complications,” Hariri told reporters after holding talks with President Michel
Aoun in Baabda -- their second meeting in two days. “I will not stop before I
form a government and confidence must be rebuilt,” Hariri added, warning that
“there is no time left” and that “the country is collapsing rapidly.” Addressing
Lebanese citizens, Hariri said: “Let no one tell you that we can’t halt the
collapse, but we need a government of specialists to stop this collapse.”“I will
keep insisting on a government of specialists and the president also wants a
government of specialists,” he added.ة Urging “modesty” and “sacrifices for
Lebanon,” the PM-designate called on officials to “think of citizens and those
affected by the (Beirut port) blast.”“We are capable of halting the collapse,
but we must show modesty and think of the country’s interest and the government
must be formed after New Year,” Hariri added. A statement issued by the
Presidency meanwhile said that "no final agreement was reached during the
meeting." "It has been decided to continue the consultations in future
meetings," the statement added. Sources informed on the meeting meanwhile told
al-Jadeed TV that "the government must be balanced so that it manages to
shoulder the responsibilities requested from it in the coming period."
"No agreement was reached over the obstacle of the interior and justice
portfolios," the sources added, noting that "the line-up was discussed in light
of the points raised yesterday, especially as to having capable, productive and
effective ministers."
Hariri hopes for government after New Year: We want
ministers who would tell us ‘no’ when we are wrong
NNA/December 23/2020
After meeting with President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace this afternoon, Prime
Minister-designate Saad Hariri said: “We were hoping to have a government
earlier. There still are clear complications, but I tell you one thing: Don’t
let anyone tell you that we are unable to stop the collapse. Most importantly,
this collapse needs a government to stop it. It needs a government of
specialists in order to implement the reform that we want, his Excellency the
President, all the Lebanese and I. Thus, I call on everyone to realize that I
will not spare any effort until a government of specialists is formed and this
is what the President also wants. The disagreement is over other issues and may
be due to the trust that may have been lost during the past year, and which we
must rebuild between the parties. But everyone should know that the politicians
don't have time anymore, and the politicians also need to know that the country
is collapsing very quickly. Accelerating the formation of a government is
fundamental, provided that it is a government of specialists and experts who
know what they are doing, without being politicized.”He added: “The minister
whom I will name does not need to be someone I have known for a long time. This
person who will be named to that ministry must really be a specialist, and his
focus should be on reform and not on what Saad Hariri wants. And if Saad Hariri
tells him one day ‘do this and do not do that’, then he should tell him that
this method is wrong and we are required to carry out the reforms in this way
and not in a twisted way. We want people who would tell us ‘no’ when we are
wrong. We want people from whom we can actually benefit in the interest of the
country.”He continued: “Today I tell the Lebanese: We may be late in forming the
government, and this matter unfortunately puts pressure on the country. But I
know that the President is keen on forming this government, and I also have the
same concern. We will continue to work and communicate with each other until
this government is formed. But let no one tell the Lebanese that this collapse
cannot be stopped. We will work hard to stop the collapse the moment this
government is formed. We will take difficult and fast decisions because this is
the only way for us to work with our allies abroad and with the international
community to bring Lebanon back to where it should be.”Hariri said: “I call on
all political parties, wherever they are and regardless of their viewpoint, to
focus on one thing. We are in the winter season and the people whose homes were
destroyed do not have shelters. We have to form a government as soon as
possible, and the Lebanese must feel that there is a safety net to protect them
in the country. This cannot be achieved without forming a government. I wish
everyone happy feasts and holidays, and I call on all political parties to think
about the people during these holidays. To think about the citizens in Baalbek,
Keserwan, Akkar, Minnieh, Dinniyeh, the South, to think about the deprived
people and the need to have a government. To think about the army, and the fact
that the salary of the soldiers and officers reached a very low level. To think
about the internal security forces, the administration, all the people who are
in need and who have no jobs.”
He concluded: “The greatness of Lebanon lies in the Lebanese. We can stop this
collapse but we must be humble and think about the interest of the country,
without making the interest of one party prevail over others. We have to think
in the interest of a nation that deserves sacrifices from all of us. I am not
here to challenge any political party. It is a moment of reflection that we
should all take because after the New Year there should be a new government. The
Lebanese citizen does not want to keep seeing Saad Hariri going to the
Presidential palace and coming out without a government.”
Presidency Information Office denies what was
broadcast by “Al Jadeed”: “MP Bassil has no role in forming the government”
NNA/December 23/2020
The Presidency Information Office denied what "Al Jadeed" reported this evening
about the alleged role of the head of the "Free Patriotic Movement", MP Gebran
Bassil, in "obstructing" the formation of the upcoming government. The
Information Office indicates that the Presidency of the Republic had previously
confirmed repeatedly that there is no third party in the process of discussing
government formation which occurs between the President of the Republic General
Michel Aoun and the Premier-designate Saad Hariri. On the other hand, MP Bassil
affirmed that he will not participate in the discussion of forming the
government, however “Al Jadeed” insists on involving the name of MP Bassil in
the governmental issue in a clear and repeated attempt to spread lies aimed at
offending the constitutional process of forming the government, as well as other
targets that are no longer hidden. The Information Office of the Lebanese
Presidency confirms that the fabricated news which was published this evening in
the introduction of “Al Jadeed" news bulletin, falls within the framework of the
misinformation policy adopted by this station, which no longer fools
anyone.—Presidency Press Office
Center House Sources Slam 'Bats of the Palace'
Naharnet/December 23/2020
Information “leaked from the Baabda Palace” prior to PM-designate Saad Hariri’s
visit on Tuesday created a “negative atmosphere” prior to the meeting with
President Michel Aoun, Center House sources said. “The positive atmosphere that
PM-designate Hariri spoke of followed a direct request from President Aoun, who
urged him to make a statement about the presence of positivities that needed
completion,” al-Jadeed TV quoted the sources as saying on Wednesday, following a
second meeting between Aoun and Hariri. “But the bats of the palace moved at
night to disrupt the atmosphere and prepare for a new round of complication, as
has been the case since the designation” of Hariri, the sources added. The
sources accordingly cautioned the Lebanese public opinion of “attempts to
distort facts that are being launched by some associates, advisers and
specialists in political and constitutional obstruction.”“Hariri has not and
will not back down from the stance that he announced prior and after designation
on the need for the formation of a government of specialists that conducts
reforms in all sectors and halts the economic and social collapse,” the sources
added. “Any attempt to impose a government to which partisan orientations sneak
will not succeed, no matter how much they try,” the sources stressed.
Report: ‘Positive’ Atmospheres Emerge After Aoun-Hariri
Meeting
Naharnet/December 23/2020
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and President Michel Aoun held their 13th
meeting on the government formation, after which the PM reflected “positive”
atmospheres, vowing to form a government before Christmas, the Saudi Asharq el-Awsat
reported on Wednesday. Hariri said he will meet Aoun again today. Although
sources close to the Presidency assured to the daily that the atmospheres
between the two men were indeed positive, they ruled out the possibility that a
government could be formed Wednesday. “A lengthy discussion about all the
details took place, and the President asked the PM-designate to rethink the
previous (government) list and how the sects were represented in a fair way, so
that he would return afterwards to discuss it,” they told the daily on condition
of anonymity. Aoun-Hariri meeting came after “mediation” efforts exerted by
Maronite Patriarch Beshara el-Rahi and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas
Ibrahim. Aoun and his son-in-law, head of the Free Patriotic Movement Jebran
Bassil had reportedly demanded ministerial seats in the new government that
gives them powers to veto government decisions. Hariri rejected that demand, and
so did the Patriarch. A basic hurdle was also their demand to retain the
ministerial portfolios of justice, interior and defense.
Arslan Says 18-seat Cabinet ‘Marginalizes’ Druze Community
Naharnet/December 23/2020
Head of the Lebanese Democratic Party on Wednesday expressed dismay at the
chances that a new government could be formed of 18 ministerial seats instead of
20, which would grant the Druze community one seat instead of two. “We heard
yesterday there is a progress in the formation (of a government) which has
become a necessary need for the Lebanese in these exceptional circumstances the
country is passing through,” said Arslan in a tweet. Adding, but “that must not
be at the expense of the Druze and their marginalization. We hold the presidents
responsible for the prejudice that will afflict us as a sect in the government
of 18 ministers,” he said. Arslan said he did voice preferences that a
government of 16 or 20 cabinet seats grants the Druze “proper” representation.
4 Suspects Arrested over Torching of Christmas Tree
in North
Naharnet/December 23/2020
Four people were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of torching a Christmas tree in
northern Lebanon, the National News Agency said. "Army intelligence agents
arrested four people suspected of having torched a Christmas tree yesterday
morning in the town of Seer al-Dinniyeh," NNA added. The intelligence agents
carried out several raids in the town, the agency said, adding that the four
suspects are being interrogated.
Army Chief Meets Chief of Staff of the French Armies in Yarzé
Naharnet/December 23/2020
Lebanese Army chief, General Joseph Aoun, welcomed at his Yarze office on
Wednesday, the Chief of Staff of the French Armies General François Lecointre
leading a delegation, the National News Agency reported. The meeting was held in
the presence of French Ambassador to Lebanon, Anne Grillo, said NNA. The agency
said that talks featured high on the bilateral cooperation ties between the
Lebanese and French armies. Media reports said Lecointre’s visit came to
compensate for the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, which he canceled
after retracting coronavirus. His agenda will not include any activity towards
political officials, but is limited to his meeting with the Army chief at a
direct request from Macron to convey a special message from the French
President, said al-Markazia Central News Agency. According to unnamed sources,
the message conveys the French state's insistence on considering the Lebanese
army under its current leadership, a safety valve for Lebanon, with emphasis on
France's permanent and continuous support.France aims to make clear that its
main reliance is on the Lebanese Army and its role in this difficult time in
Lebanon's history, the added.
Berri receives Central Bank Governor, extends
holiday well wishes to the Lebanese
NNA/December 23/2020
Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, on Wednesday welcomed Lebanese Central Bank
Governor, Riad Salameh, with whom he discussed the financial situation and
stressed the need for the implementation of laws approved in Parliament,
especially those involving forensic and financial audit, the fight against
corruption, and squandering public funds. On another level, the House Speaker
extended his heartfelt holiday wishes to the Lebanese, hoping that this occasion
will witness the new birth of Lebanon, "the homeland, the message, and the
human."Berri later met with Caretaker Energy Minister, Raymond Ghajar, who
briefed him on the details and results of his Iraq visit.
There is precious little joy to be found in Lebanon
this Christmas
Najia Houssari/Arab News/December 24, 2020
The coronavirus is the least of the problems for many people trying to survive
amid a devastating economic crisis with no end in sight
As families struggle to afford the basics after the currency crash, ‘luxuries’
such as gifts for children and a festive meal are out of their reach
BEIRUT: Christmas arrives in Lebanon this year accompanied by several crises.
The streets and markets have been packed with last-minute Christmas shoppers in
recent days but this is not a sign of an improving economy or a sense of joy
among the people. Instead it reflected a desperate search for the cheapest
possible shopping options.
Salaries in Lebanon lost about 80 percent of their value this year against the
dollar. They can no longer cover even the costs of basic necessities, the prices
of which have skyrocketed, so how can they possibly pay for festive “luxuries”
such as gifts for children and a hearty Christmas dinner?
“100,000 Lebanese pounds ($66) is not enough to buy laundry detergent,
toothpaste and shampoo,” said Souad, a resident of Forn El-Chebbak in the
southern suburbs of Beirut. “So, how can a person whose salary was LBP800,000
pay for the remaining basic necessities of life, along with food and drink?
“I am trying to convince my children to be satisfied with just one gift this
year. We have to make do with what we have — and we do not think that next year
will be any better.”
Toys and gifts for children that cost about LBP20,000 before the currency’s
collapse now cost LBP120,000 or more. Meanwhile the prices of imported toys from
well-known foreign brands have increased from LBP45,000 to LBP250,000.
The costs of gifts for adults are even more prohibitive — a good-quality pair of
shoes that used to sell for up to LBP300,000 now costs more than LBP1 million.
“There is a weekly decline affecting our business, which has reached almost 90
percent,” said Ghassan, who owns a jewelry store. “A person who used to be able
to buy a necklace for $200, or LBP300,000, a year ago now has to pay LBP1.6
million, which is three times the country’s minimum wage.”
While the threat to health from the coronavirus crisis should not be
trivialized, the pandemic might to some extent prove to be a financial blessing
in disguise in Lebanon, as families will be able to reduce the cost of Christmas
meals by avoiding large family gatherings.
Expensive meats, extravagant deserts and imported cheeses will be absent from
most festive tables this year. A charcuterie plate containing 200 grams of three
types of cheese and a selection of processed meats now costs LBP350,000,
compared with LBP60,000 last year.
Turkey, a Christmas-dinner tradition in Lebanon, used to cost an average of
about LBP150,000 in a restaurant. Now the price of a cooked turkey delivered to
your home is at least LBP750,000 — and could be as high as LBP1.3 million
depending on the side dishes ordered with it.
As for sweet treats for dessert, the price of a kilogram of high-quality
chocolate now exceeds LBP120,00, while a luxury Christmas cake can cost as much
as LBP1 million.
“This year’s Christmas celebrations are different as there are no foreign meals
on the tables or imported gifts,” said Beirut resident Joelle Daniel. “We are
buying local products and focusing on educational children gifts manufactured by
Lebanese designers.
“Everyone is suffering economically and we have to make do with what we have.
This year was a bad one and we do not think that 2021 will be any better. My
family and I have started to prepare our immigration papers because the
economic, social and political situation (in Lebanon) is very dire.
“The revolution did not achieve any of our ambitions and then the blast at
Beirut’s port happened, which revealed the extent to which our state is
corrupt.”
Many of those who already left Lebanon in search of a better life abroad have
returned to the country to spend Christmas with their families. In the past few
days more than 7,000 people have come back to Beirut for the holidays, and more
than 8,000 have arrived since the start of the month. But the visitors are
unlikely to bring much seasonal good cheer for struggling businesses.
“The economic activity that has accompanied the holidays has had a limited
effect,” said Ghassan Abou Jaoude, who owns a clothes shop near the Palace of
Justice in Beirut. “When the holidays are over, every merchant will have to
compare his losses and profits and will find that staying at home is less costly
than accumulating more debts.
“This is because people simply no longer have money, while all of our political
leaders have abandoned their people, prefer to obey the wishes of foreign powers
and refuse to make any concessions in the face of such fateful national issues.”
Beirut port explosion: Nearly five months on, residents’ trauma has healed
little
Najia Houssari/Arab News/December 24, 2020
BEIRUT: Christmas carols can be heard in the Beirut neighborhoods of Mar Mikhael
and Gemmayzeh, stricken by the explosion of the city’s port almost five months
ago, as restaurant and coffee shop owners and civil society organizations
attempt to give some Christmas cheer to thousands of deserted residents.
People gather daily to light candles for the victims of the explosion. Their
houses are still destroyed, missing walls, windows and doors. Nylon curtains
have replaced the shattered glass and do little to keep out the cold air and
rain.
Roy Bassil lost his father in the explosion while he was at home in Mar Mikhael,
opposite the port. His mother was heavily injured. “Our lives were turned
upside-down,” he said. “I pulled my father’s body from under the rubble after
two walls fell on him. My mother, my aunt and I all moved to Jounieh, where we
are renting an apartment until we can restore our house. Civil society
organizations are helping us, but the money allocated to our house was quickly
drained due to heavy damage. Even the furniture was completely destroyed, and I
do not know how I will be able to continue the restoration. I am an accountant,
and my work has stopped due to the economic crisis the country is going
through.”
Bassil is like many others in the country who are still suffering from shock and
deep frustration. “We feel as though we have been abandoned to our fate, no
state to protect us. We will not forgive anyone for what they have done to us.
How could we forgive? On Christmas Eve, we will pray in the church. This is our
first holiday like this. We have never had such a bitter experience, not even at
the peak of the Civil War.”
Bassil lives in East Beirut, which forms 30 percent of the capital and has a
Christian majority. According to personal status registers, 72 percent of
residents in the capital are Muslims, while 28 percent are Christians. The
number of Christians in West Beirut declined during the Lebanese Civil War as
the majority either emigrated from Lebanon or moved to other regions, rendering
their presence in West Beirut symbolic. According to a member of the Beirut
Municipality Council, Khalil Choucair, “Christians are heavily represented in
commercial businesses, restaurants, pubs and hotels. Christians in Beirut were
the backbone of the protests last year. They joined civil rather than party
frames. The explosion of the Port of Beirut was a severe blow to them, and the
emigration of Christian youth is an expression of their state of despair.”
Guy Donikian stands in front of his bookstore to observe Mar Mikhael Street. He
inherited the bookstore, where he sells stationery and office supplies, from his
father. A printing press is located behind the shop. Both were founded in 1924.
“Everything was destroyed,” Donikian said. “I repaired it all, and I just want
to move on with my life.
“After the explosion, I could not sleep for a month and a half. Everything comes
back to me whenever I close my eyes. The holidays in this region this year are
sad. People’s houses are destroyed, and their hearts are broken. We need time to
heal from the trauma.”
The damage from the explosion of the port, however, is only one problem facing
the country.
“The economic situation and the new pandemic have only magnified our misery,”
Donikian said. “Had I been 25 years old, I would have emigrated like all the
youth are doing. After the age of 50, however, it is hard for me to rebuild
myself in the diaspora.”
The dire economic crisis in Lebanon has made a fragile situation worse.
“The price of gift-wrapping paper has become LBP 12,000 ($8). Who can buy it at
that price? It used to sell for only LBP 3,000. I have not sold anything yet,
even with the holidays approaching. This means that people are not buying gifts.
The atmosphere is sad, and there is no money in people’s pockets. The biggest
trip someone can take is to the supermarket to buy food. Everything else has
become a luxury.”
A number of restaurants and pub owners in Mar Mikhael and Gemmayzeh reopened
after being restored. The pubs are crowded with old and new customers, which
adds some joy to the area that was once a nightlife hotspot, bustling with jazz
music fans.
Charbel, who works at the Bohemian Bar, said: “There are good vibes and good
potential in the street. The pub customers have changed, though. Young people
have traveled in search of jobs. What they earn has lost 80 percent of its value
due to the depreciation of the Lebanese lira. Only those who are well off come
to our pub.”
Jacqueline insisted on staying in her home, despite the destruction around her.
“There was huge damage to our house, but we restored it all and we live in it
with dignity now. Our losses are many, but we have faith in God, which makes us
stand strong. After the explosion, this region, which was supposed to be for the
wealthy, has ended up hosting families in need.”When asked whether she forgives
those responsible for the tragedy, she said: “My religion tells me to forgive,
but when I see the gravity of the disaster, I say that I will not forgive. God
forgives. On Christmas Eve, I will go to church to pray. We will not be
gathering as a family because of the pandemic, and I did not buy gifts. I
usually help Iraqi families who have sought refuge in Lebanon, but this year I
only bought candies for children because the situation is abnormal.
“Who can console the families of the victims? People are depressed, and
pharmacies say that their most-wanted medicines are for depression and panic
attacks. The youth have either emigrated or are thinking of emigration. The
corrupt are still in power and do not want reform.”
Kris Kashoush is a young Lebanese man living in Mar Mikhael. He said that the
explosion of the port generated in him “unlimited anger.”“People should have
gone to politicians’ houses and killed them the same way people were killed in
their own houses due to their negligence. I have decided to leave. Those who
killed my ambition, destroyed my dreams, stole my country and wanted to
exterminate my people are the same ones who made me put the flag of my country
in my suitcase and carry it with me to the diaspora.
“I am one of the people who participated in the protests, but I have lost all
hope in Lebanon and the Lebanese. We should never forget what happened on Aug.
4. It is true that people want to move on with their lives, but we should never
accept what happened.”
Some of the churches that were destroyed in Beirut have been restored, while the
reconstruction of others is still underway. Father Boulos Abdel Sater, the
curial bishop of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch in Beirut, said
in his Sunday sermon before Christmas: “We, the people of Beirut, will stay in
the city, even if the work of reconstruction and restoration never end. Our
decision is clear: No one can evict us from our homes, and we will not sell them
either.”
What photographer Joe Bejjani’s death says about the dark
days to come for Lebanon
Makram Rabah/Al Arabiya/December 23/2020
When Lebanese photographer Joe Bejjani got ready to drop his children off at
school, the last thing he expected was to be ambushed by two masked assailants
who would gun him down as he got into his vehicle.
The gruesome slaying of Bejjani rocked Lebanon and forewarned of very darks days
to come. The hit on Bejjani is the third homicide in the last six months that
resembled a hit job. A former anti-smuggling customs authority, Mounir Abu
Rjeily, stationed at the Beirut port, which exploded in August, was found dead
earlier this month. In June, a high-ranking bank executive was found dead in the
parking lot of his home.
Bejjani, a 37-year-old freelance photographer and former Alfa telecom employee,
one of Lebanon’s mobile operators, had no real enemies and his hobby of
photographing military vehicles and parades led him to take on freelance jobs
with the Lebanese army and several publications which cover military issues.
The hit on Bejjani was recorded by surveillance cameras from his apartment
building and clearly showed a professional squad executing a planned hit. The
team kept their backs to the camera, but they wore no gloves and seemed unafraid
to leave their fingerprints on the crime scene, but they spent 15 second’s
searching Bejjani’s car to retrieve his cell phone before disappearing into an
adjacent secluded road where they were met with their getaway vehicle.
Despite being a card carrying member of the Lebanese Forces party, Bejjani
lacked the seniority or the profile for his murder to be a political message.
His former job at Alfa telecom was largely based on logistics, and he had no
access to any security data which could have exposed him to any real danger.
Bejjani, sources have said, was one of the first people to arrive at the port
following the deadly explosion and he was hired by the Lebanese Army and the
international committee investigating the port blast to take forensic pictures,
which according to the general public put his live in danger.
Beyond the recent targeted killings, Colonel Joseph Skaff, former Chief of the
drug control division at the Lebanese Customs who died suspiciously in 2017,
called for the removal of the 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate which arrived at
the Port of Beirut in 2013 that would cause the explosion this year.
The deaths of Bejjani, Rjeily, and Skaff all converge on Hezbollah’s alleged
connection to the Beirut port explosion.
Bejjani’s assassination confirms that a professional outfit was involved, one
which has no trouble operating in a purely Christian area such as the victim’s
village of Kehaleh, revealing their unlimited resources. More importantly, this
revealed that they are out of reach of the Lebanese security apparatuses, if not
part of it. Moreover, Bejjani’s slaying drew parallel images to the many
assassinations starting in 2005, with the murder of former Prime Minister Rafiq
Hariri and dozens of anti-Syrian and anti-Iranian politicians, murders which are
yet to be uncovered.
Interestingly, a few weeks back, the High Council of Defense warned of potential
assassination attempts against a number of politicians, though it stopped short
of naming potential targets. The vague warning created a gale of confusion and
criticism, with Lebanese pointing to the state’s inability to protect its
people.It is no coincidence that the ruling establishment that issued such a
disclaimer ultimately failed to protect life, liberty and property – the three
essential items that regulate any type of social contract between Lebanese
citizens and the state. Such a disclaimer feels more like an implicit admittance
of failure, rather than an effort to protect.
Although Bejjani was killed by a silencer, the three bullets that ended this
young man’s life were loud enough to remind Lebanese what is really at stake in
today’s Lebanon, and that no one is safe, no matter where they go and what they
do. In a tragic twist of fate, Bejjani was preparing to emigrate to Canada with
his family, and the blood-stained immigration papers found in his car serve as
another cruel reminder that for those who try to challenge the political elite,
escaping Lebanon – and the darkness that is surely coming – is a futile
endeavor.
* Makram Rabah is a lecturer at the American University of Beirut, Department of
History. His book Conflict on Mount Lebanon: The Druze, the Maronites and
Collective Memory (Edinburgh University Press) covers collective identities and
the Lebanese Civil War.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on December 22-23/2020
Silent night for Bethlehem as coronavirus keeps pilgrims
away
HAZEM BALOUSHA//Arab News/December 23/2020
his month Bethlehem lit the Christmas tree to mark the start of the Christmas
holidays
GAZA CITY: Palestinian authorities will continue following the “usual protocol”
in their Christmas celebrations, despite the increasing number of people
infected with coronavirus in the Palestinian territories.
But the celebrations will not happen in their normal form - in the presence of
pilgrims from around the world and Palestinian Christians. Instead they will be
limited to a small number of officials and clerics. Anton Salman is the mayor of
Bethlehem, where the largest Christmas celebrations are held. He said this
year would be different because the city would not witness the regular
festivities, despite the decision to go ahead with the religious rituals. “We
cannot cancel all celebrations, but the usual protocol will continue to be
followed, but the public's attendance will be limited while following safety and
prevention measures,” Salman told Arab News. Normally there are many
celebrations, starting with the lighting of Christmas trees and continuing until
religious rites are held in the Church of the Nativity on Christmas Eve in
addition to other activities, the most important of which is the holding of
carols in Manger Square by international and local groups. These performances
are canceled this year. Earlier this month Bethlehem lit the Christmas tree to
mark the start of the Christmas holidays, with the participation of Palestinian
Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh via video call. The tree was lit without public
participation or revelers in the square, in compliance with the health measures
being followed to tackle COVID-19. Attendance was limited to social media and
the presence of a few people and members of the municipality. “Together we
defeated international plans to annex our land and legalize settlements, and we
will defeat settlement and occupation, and we presented a message about
political steadfastness in the face of the colonial occupation pandemic, and the
seizure of our money, and a message on national steadfastness in the face of the
disease pandemic,” Shtayyeh said during the ceremony. “The Palestinian has lived
the pain of the past, with courage and defiance, living the present, and hoping
for a better future surrounded by patience and resistance toward the state,
toward a free and full Palestine united with its people.”This Christmas,
Bethlehem is empty of the foreign tourists who used to flock to it and other
Palestinian cities throughout the year.
“Last year this square marked Christmas with a solemn celebration, with a
distinguished presence, and with official, popular and international
participation and today, as we celebrate Christmas, we seek it with hope and
optimism,” Salman added. “So we resorted to modern technology and the virtual
world to celebrate the lighting of the Christmas tree, hoping that hope and
optimism would continue to flutter around Palestine and the world.”The mayor
said there was a commitment to safety standards in order to protect everyone and
that the city had chosen a slogan that differed from previous years.
“We wish the light of life for everyone on our level as Palestinians, and the
world, to get rid of the pandemic.” Other Palestinian cities, Ramallah and
Jerusalem, witnessed the lighting of Christmas trees during December in the
presence of a limited number of church officials and clerics. The Palestinian
territories have recorded more than 120,000 cases of coronavirus since March,
with the first cases being recorded in Bethlehem, while the number of infections
has recently increased in West Bank cities. The Palestinian government imposed
strict measures during the past two weeks in West Bank cities to limit the
spread of coronavirus, including the comprehensive closure of some cities, the
separation of governorates, and the partial closure of official institutions.
No Merry Christmas Vacation for Enraged Trump
Agence France Presse/December 23/2020
An enraged Donald Trump helicopters off from the White House lawn Wednesday for
one of the last times in his presidency, leaving Americans chaos as a Christmas
present. The Republican is bound with his wife Melania for a vacation in his
lavish Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. From Marine One, the first couple will get
a magnificent view of the White House, decorated in chocolate box fashion with
Christmas wreaths and red ribbons at every window. But with the clock ticking to
Joe Biden's January 20 inauguration, there won't be too many more occasions to
enjoy the experience. And Trump, consumed by election conspiracy theories,
abandoned by allies, and determined to take opponents down with him, is not
exactly in a merry mood. Crises engulf the man supporters call "disrupter in
chief" ("chaos president" to his critics.)
Most of them are of his own making:
- Trying to overturn the result of the election.
- Unexpectedly refusing to sign a massive economic relief bill for Americans
struggling from coronavirus fallout, insisting at the last moment that it be
rewritten.
- Choosing to say nothing, other than to play it down, about what senior
officials and members of Congress describe as a devastating Russian cyberattack.
- Threatening to veto the bill funding the US military.
- Declaring war on top members of his own party because they dared to concede
that Biden won.
- Diminished figure -
Yet for all his bluster, the larger than life showman who for four years held
the media, his party and the entire country in thrall now cuts a diminished
figure.
Normally, the departure on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House has
been a favorite stage for Trump to act out his flamboyant press
conference/performance art routine. Boasting, ad-libbing, entertaining and
insulting, Trump used to love nothing more than "chopper talk" with journalists
jostling to hear the world's biggest media star against the roar of an idling
military helicopter. But since losing the November 3 election and embarking on a
desperate mission to reverse the result, Trump has almost vanished from public
engagements. His last extended Q&A with journalists was a bad tempered
Thanksgiving encounter on November 26.
The once epic Marine One departures have been whittled down to the perfunctory
exercise of a man catching a ride to the airport. With Covid-19 restrictions,
only around a dozen journalists can attend the sessions anyway, meaning that
even if Trump decides to stop and talk, the old, manic energy is gone.
Officially scheduled White House meetings -- exceedingly rare since the election
-- are held off camera, unlike before, when Trump routinely invited in
reporters. Even Tuesday night's bombshell threat to nix the Covid relief package
was made in a pre-recorded video posted on Twitter, all out of sight of the
White House press corps.
Unhinged from 'reality?
Many explanations are being thrown around for Trump's extraordinary
post-election behavior. Ardent supporters say Trump is simply exercising the
legal right to pursue his claim -- however far-fetched -- that "IT WAS A RIGGED
ELECTION!!!" as he tweeted Tuesday. Ardent critics, citing talk by a Trump ally
of bringing in the military to rerun the election, say he is a wannabe dictator.
A less dramatic appraisal is that Trump is just following his salesman's
instincts. Determined to keep his brand alive post-January, Trump is cynically
doing what he does best: hogging the limelight, outraging the establishment and
delighting his passionate base. But this week an intriguing fourth option was
suggested by influential, Trump-supporting televangelist Pat Robertson:
That Trump inhabits "an alternate reality" in which he genuinely believes
everything he says. "He really does," Robertson explained Monday on the
Christian Broadcasting Network. "People say, 'Well he lies about this, that and
the other.' But he isn't lying," Robertson said. "To him, that's the truth."
WHO: Almost 4.6 million new cases were reported to WHO last
week
NNA/December 23/2020
Globally, almost 4.6 million new cases were reported to WHO last week, another
new high record since the beginning of the pandemic, with a record 78 000 new
deaths reported last week. Total cases reported to WHO have surpassed 75 million
and there have been over 1.6 million deaths.
In a press briefing, WHO Director-General said the following:
"At the regional level, we have been seeing an overall trend of cases and deaths
decreasing in the last few weeks, with 15 out of 22 countries reporting
decreasing cases, and 13 countries reporting decreasing deaths.
We continue to work closely with all countries in the Region to monitor the
situation and provide specific guidance and recommendations to enhance response
interventions. The coming weeks are critical, as we mark a time when people
traditionally gather to celebrate the holiday season and temperatures drop even
further in winter.As part of its updated guidance on mask use in the context of
COVID-19, WHO advises the use of masks as part of a comprehensive package of
prevention and control measures to limit the spread of the virus. Especially in
indoor settings, masks should be worn if air ventilation is poor, or where
physical distancing is not possible. I urge people in the Region to avoid
non-essential travel and large gatherings in order to limit the spread of the
virus and prevent COVID-19 surges. While we know that this will require
sacrifices and compromises, the holiday season should not provide an excuse to
relax the social measures aimed to decrease spread of the virus. We are all
closely following the good news that recently came at the end of this difficult
year. COVID-19 vaccines are finally within reach, with several breakthroughs on
the horizon. Three safe and efficacious vaccines have been developed in record
time and vaccination roll-out has already commenced, including in our region.
WHO is working with partners to ensure the equitable availability of the
vaccine, including to low-middle income countries and low income countries.
The coming period in our Region will be challenging for us all, and making sure
that we reduce fear, stigma and hesitancy will be key. We count on you, the
media, as key partners, to play a critical role in ensuring that your coverage
about COVID-19 vaccines is informed and based on the facts. This is not the time
to be sensationalist or look for the headlines. Last week, South African and UK
health officials informed WHO and the public about different variants of the
virus that causes COVID-19 circulating in their countries. As of 22 December,
the UK variant has been detected in small numbers in Australia, Denmark, Italy,
Iceland and the Netherlands. While both variants have one common change, the
virus variants reported from South Africa and the UK are different and sequence
analysis revealed that they originated separately.
The UK has reported that this new variant transmits more easily but there is no
indication so far that it is more likely to cause severe disease, or have an
impact on vaccines. Studies are underway to determine if the increased spread is
associated with the virus variant itself or changes in people's behaviour over
the past several months, or a combination of both. Viruses change as they
circulate, and these changes can lead to changes in characteristics of the
virus. Yet while the viruses change, the way we can protect ourselves remain the
same, and these measures must be followed diligently, now more than ever, to
help slow and eventually stop the virus spread. Variants identified in UK and
South Africa highlight the importance of sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 and sharing of
sequence data internationally. A number of countries in our Region have the
capacity to conduct sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 viruses, and I advise these
countries to increase sequencing where possible and to share their data
internationally. In countries with no sequencing capacity, WHO will facilitate
the transfer of positive specimens to international WHO COVID-19 collaborating
centers for advanced testing.
The more we know about this virus, the more chance we have to better control it.
We need to suppress transmission of all SARS-CoV-2 viruses as quickly as we can,
before they have more opportunity to change and spread.
As we prepare to celebrate over the coming weeks, we should take every
precaution to keep ourselves and others safe, especially those of us living in
areas with high COVID-19 transmission.
We need to follow through on our commitments as individuals, as communities and
as governments in the coming months: to continue to build public health
surveillance, to work with communities, to maintain public health and social
measures, to continue to take those actions to be able to protect ourselves and
our loved ones and save lives. We can keep the transmission down by knowing and
lowering our risk. This is the best gift we can all give each other: the gift of
health, life, and hope for a safer, better future."
Global Virus Rules for Christmas: Tough, Mild or None at
All
Associated Press/December 23/2020
In Peru, you can't drive your car on Christmas. In Lebanon, you can go to a
nightclub, but you can't dance. In South Africa, roadblocks instead of beach
parties will mark this year's festive season. How many people can you share a
Christmas meal with? France recommends no more than six, in Chile it's 15, and
in Brazil it's as many as you want. Meanwhile, Italy's mind-boggling,
color-coded holiday virus rules change almost every day for the next two weeks.
Countries around the world are trying to find the right formulas to keep their
people safe for Christmas, especially as new virus variants prompt renewed
travel bans and fuel resurgent infections, hospitalizations and deaths at the
end of an already devastating year. Here's a look at some of the restrictions
around the world for the holiday season:
BRITAIN
It was meant to be a time when families across the U.K. could enjoy something
like a normal Christmas despite the pandemic. Authorities planned to relax
restrictions, allowing up to three households to mix in the days around Dec. 25.
The emergence of a new, more contagious variant of the coronavirus changed that.
The four nations of the U.K. – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland –
are all in various states of shutdown and have ditched their Christmas plans. No
indoor mixing of households is allowed in London and southeast England. Instead
of Christmas joy, a sense of dread and isolation is looming. Dozens of countries
have limited flights from Britain, and daily new infections are running at
record highs. Hospitals across the U.K., which has Europe's second-highest
virus-related death toll at over 68,000, are heading towards capacity at a time
of year when other illnesses abound.
BRAZIL
In Brazil, Christmas 2020 will look much like normal – even though the country
has been among the world's hardest-hit by the pandemic and new COVID-19
infections are now on track to match the peak of the first surge. Many beaches
and restaurants in Rio de Janeiro were packed last weekend, despite a city
measure forbidding drivers to park along the shore. No national restrictions
have been imposed ahead of Christmas, though the governor of São Paulo ordered
that only essential services such as public transport, supermarkets and
pharmacies remain open around Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador have also called off their Dec. 31
firework displays.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is targeting beaches and booze as it imposes new restrictions for
the Christmas season amid resurgent infections. Alcohol can only be sold Monday
through Thursday, and a nighttime curfew is in place. Beaches — major tourist
attractions this time of year — will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
and New Year's Day. The government is urging people to avoid crowded Christmas
celebrations, but indoor gatherings of up to 100 people are still allowed;
outdoors up to 250 people can congregate. Police are setting up roadblocks to
slow a second surge of infections that authorities and scientists say is being
fueled by another variant of the virus, one distinct from the variant affecting
England. Some countries are banning flights from South Africa, where the weekly
infections and deaths have doubled over the past two weeks.
LEBANON
Unlike much of the world, Lebanon eased restrictions during the holidays, hoping
to inject foreign currency into a tanking economy. Tens of thousands of Lebanese
expats have arrived home for the holidays, leading to fears of an inevitable
surge in infections.
Last week, the Interior Ministry allowed nightclubs to reopen — but said dancing
will be prohibited. That triggered a debate on social media about what
constitutes dancing. Lebanon's health sector has been challenged by the pandemic
that struck amid an unprecedented financial crisis. The massive Aug. 4 explosion
in Beirut's port only increased pressure on the city's hospitals, knocking out
at least three of them.
ITALY
Newspapers in Italy are running color-coded graphics that resemble children's
board games to help people keep track of the rules aimed at limiting new
infections over the holidays. Travel between regions is banned for 16 days, and
a curfew begins at 10 p.m.
From Dec. 24-27, "red" rules kick in, closing all shops except food stores,
pharmacies and hairdressers – since looking one's best is essential in Italy.
Two people can visit the home of another family member and bring children
younger than 14 with them. Restaurants and cafes can't serve customers, although
takeout and home delivery are allowed. From Dec. 28-30, Italians segue into
''orange" rules, when non-essential shops can re-open, although dining out is
still banned. Things turn red again for Dec. 31-Jan. 3, orange for Jan. 4, then
red again on Jan. 5-6 for the national holiday on Epiphany.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korea is clamping down on private social gatherings of five or more people
and closing tourist spots from Christmas Eve through at least Jan. 3. National
parks and coastal tourist sites, where thousands travel to watch the sun rise on
the new year, will close. So will churches and skiing, sledding and skating
venues. Restaurants could face fines of up to 3 million won ($2,700) if they
serve groups of five or more. The greater Seoul area, home to half of the
country's 51 million people, has been at the center of a viral resurgence in
past weeks that has overwhelmed hospitals, increased death tolls and raised
questions as to how the government is handling the outbreak, after winning
global praise for its response earlier in the year. Forty-eight COVID-19
patients have died in the deadliest two days since the pandemic began.
THE UNITED STATES
The U.S. has issued no nationwide restrictions on travel, a decision left to
state governments, but a federal agency is advising against criss-crossing the
country for the Christmas season. Still, millions of people have passed through
airport security in recent days. The travel company AAA predicted that nearly 85
million Americans would be journeying during the holidays – a 29% decline from
last year. The U.S. has reported by far the most virus infections and deaths in
the world, over 18 million cases and 322,800 deaths, according to a tally by
Johns Hopkins University. Even before Christmas, new cases have been rising over
the past two weeks.
UK Discovers Another New Coronavirus Variant
Agence France Presse/December 23/2020
Britain on Wednesday introduced restrictions on travel from South Africa over
the spread of another new variant of coronavirus, UK Health Minister Matt
Hancock said. The restrictions, which applied with immediate effect, were
introduced following the discovery of two cases of the virus strain in Britain.
"This new variant is highly concerning, because it is yet more transmissible,
and it appears to have mutated further than the new variant that has been
discovered in the UK," Hancock said, referring to a strain of the virus
discovered in Britain which has also been found to be more contagious.
The health minister said that all individuals in the UK who had contracted the
variant originating in South Africa had been placed in quarantine as well as
their close contacts. In addition to the travel restrictions, Hancock said the
government was also asking anyone who has been in close contact with someone who
had been in South Africa in the last two weeks to quarantine. "They must
restrict all contact with any other person whatsoever," he said. The discovery
of cases of what officials believe is a new, more transmissible variant of the
coronavirus in the UK follows the announcement last week that a new strain had
spread throughout the south of England. In response to the growing number of
coronavirus cases, Britain ordered a series of coronavirus restrictions across
the affected areas. More than 50 nations also imposed their own travel
restrictions on the UK, including France. A ban on cross-Channel freight to
Europe has wrought havoc around the key port of Dover and led to fears of food
shortages in the country's supermarkets because of paralysis in supply chains.
Hancock on Wednesday announced the expansion of strict lockdown measures across
further parts of the south of England to contain the spread of the disease. With
more than 68,000 deaths from the virus, the United Kingdom is one of the hardest
hit countries in Europe.
EU Starts to Ease Bans over UK Virus Strain; WHO to Meet
Agence France Presse/December 23/2020
Europe on Wednesday began lifting travel bans on Britain put in place to contain
a new fast-spreading Covid strain while WHO experts were set to meet on a
response to it. Meanwhile, in the United States, President Donald Trump rejected
a massive Covid economic relief package passed by Congress, branding it "a
disgrace" as millions of Americans are suffering fallout from the pandemic.
There was however positive news in Australia, where Sydney eased lockdown
restrictions for Christmas after the country's largest city reported a second
day of new cases in the single digits. The new coronavirus variant has swept the
UK and spurred global panic just as vaccines are being rolled out. But the
European Commission on Tuesday urged EU nations to lift travel bans imposed on
Britain in recent days. The new strain of the virus, which has also been
detected in small numbers elsewhere, appears to spread more easily than other
types but experts say there is no evidence it is more lethal or resistant to
vaccines. The discovery unleashed panic that led to more than two dozen
countries suspending UK flights, threatening travel chaos during the holiday
season. The European Union instead urged virus tests be carried out on
passengers within 72 hours before travel. "Flight and train bans should be
discontinued given the need to ensure essential travel and avoid supply chain
disruptions," the EU said. France was reopening cross-border travel with Britain
Wednesday but a negative Covid-19 test will be required.
The ban on arrivals in France has led to long tailbacks of freight lorries in
southern England and has disrupted passenger travel in the run-up to Christmas.
The Netherlands also said it was lifting its ban beginning Wednesday but noted
that all passengers, including EU citizens, must have a recent negative test to
enter. The World Health Organization in Europe said its experts would meet on
Wednesday to discuss how to handle the outbreak, saying "limiting travel to
contain spread is prudent until we have better info". WHO's Europe director Hans
Kluge wrote on Twitter that the organisation would "discuss strategies for
testing, reducing transmission & communicating risks". The death toll from the
virus surpassed 1.7 million on Tuesday, roughly a year after it emerged in
China.
Vaccine can adapt
Germany on Tuesday extended its ban on arrivals from the UK -- as well as South
Africa, where a similar variant has been found -- until January 6. Health
Minister Jens Spahn said that "as long as it is possible", Germany aims to
prevent "potentially dangerous virus mutations from spreading in continental
Europe". The European Union is preparing its rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech
vaccine on Sunday, following similar vaccination campaigns in the UK and the US.
Mexico said it would start its Covid vaccinations on Thursday. The co-founder of
BioNTech said on Tuesday it was "highly likely" that its vaccine would work
against the mutated strain detected in Britain. And if not, the vaccine could be
adapted in six weeks, said Ugur Sahin, adding that tests are already being run
on the variant. In the US, the world's worst-affected country, top infectious
disease specialist Anthony Fauci received his Covid-19 vaccine as officials
continued to seek to build confidence among the public. But Trump's rejection of
the $900 billion Covid relief package passed overwhelmingly by Congress led to
concern, though lawmakers can override his veto if he goes through with it.
UK shortage fears -
Britain has become increasingly isolated, and one of the biggest concerns was
France's ban on freight traffic as part of a 48-hour blockade on the movement of
people across the English Channel. Late Tuesday, UK Transport Secretary Grant
Shapps announced Britain and France had settled on a protocol that "will see the
French border reopen to those travelling for urgent reasons, provided they have
a certified negative COVID test." French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste
Djebarri also confirmed that air travel, boats and Eurostar trains would "resume
service as of tomorrow morning".
Despite the breakthrough in talks, congestion around the key southern port of
Dover remains unlikely to recede in the short term. The major British transit
hub said it would reopen from midnight local time (2300 GMT) for travellers with
a negative result. While Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted that supply
chains were "strong and robust", experts warned that Britain may face shortages
of certain fresh foods over Christmas if crossings to France were not reopened
Wednesday. Meanwhile, two cardinals close to Pope Francis have contracted
Covid-19, according to sources in the Vatican, where efforts were underway to
trace their recent contacts. The 84-year-old pope, known for his love of getting
close to the faithful, has been reluctant to wear a mask despite the pandemic
that has hit Italy hard.
Top US officials discuss options to protect Americans in
Iraq from Iran attacks
Reuters/Wednesday 23 December 2020
Top US national security officials agreed on Wednesday on a proposed range of
options to present to President Donald Trump aimed at deterring any attack on US
military or diplomatic personnel in Iraq, a senior administration official told
Reuters. The meeting was spurred by an attack on Dec. 20. At least eight rockets
landed in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone in an attack targeting the US
Embassy, causing some minor damage, the Iraqi military and the embassy said on
Sunday. The official said the so-called principals committee group of officials,
including acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
and national security adviser Robert O’Brien, discussed the situation at the
White House. They agreed on a “range of options” that will be presented soon to
Trump, the official said. The official would not describe the content of the
options or say whether they included military options.
“Each one is designed to be non-escalatory and to deter further attack,” the
official said. The Iraqi military blamed the Dec. 20 attack on an “outlaw
group.” But US officials blame Iran-backed militia for regular rocket attacks on
US facilities in Iraq, including near the embassy in Baghdad. No known
Iran-backed groups have claimed responsibility. The senior administration
official said the aim of the White House meeting was “to develop the right set
of options that we could present to the president to make sure that we deter the
Iranians and Shia militias in Iraq from conducting attacks on our personnel.” An
array of militia groups announced in October that they had suspended rocket
attacks on US forces on condition that Iraq’s government present a timetable for
the withdrawal of American troops. But a rocket strike on the US Embassy on Nov.
18 was a clear sign that Iranian-backed militias had decided to resume attacks
on US bases, according to Iraqi security officials. Washington, which is slowly
reducing its 5,000 troops in Iraq, threatened to shut its embassy unless the
Iraqi government reins in Iran-aligned militias.
Bahrain Urges End to Regional Disputes as Gulf Summit Looms
Agence France Presse/December 23/2020
Bahrain called Wednesday for an end to regional disputes, the latest statement
suggesting a rift between Qatar and four countries could ease ahead of a Gulf
summit next month. Manama's Supreme Defense Council, led by King Hamad bin Isa
Al-Khalifa, convened on Wednesday and declared a need "to end regional conflicts
and disputes by peaceful means", according to the official Bahrain News Agency
(BNA). Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with
and initiated an economic blockade against Qatar in June 2017, saying it was too
close to Iran and funding radical Islamist movements, charges Doha denies. The
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) -- comprised of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain,
Oman, Kuwait and Qatar -- will meet on January 5 in Saudi Arabia. The softened
rhetoric surrounding the three-year dispute comes amid Riyadh-led efforts to
resolve the crisis. Earlier this month, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin
Farhan said a resolution was in sight, with the four governments behind the
blockade "on board" and a final agreement expected soon. Egypt and the UAE have
since given their public support to the negotiations although diplomatic sources
say the UAE has been reluctant to compromise. Anwar Gargash, UAE minister of
state for foreign affairs, said on Twitter on Wednesday "we look forward to a
successful summit in Riyadh that strengthens the Gulf dialogue". Qatar had a
longstanding territorial dispute with Bahrain that was only resolved by the
International Court of Justice in 2001. Last month, two Bahraini boats breached
Qatari territorial waters, Doha's interior ministry said in a statement. Bahrain
insisted however that the two vessels, part of its coastguard fleet, had been
wrongfully intercepted, adding that "the incident occurred in the territorial
waters of the Kingdom of Bahrain." On Sunday, Manama accused Doha of
confiscating 47 Bahraini fishing boats, but in a cabinet meeting on Monday "the
importance of direct bilateral negotiations with Qatar to reach a lasting
agreement" on fishing activities, according to the BNA. Referring to the wider
Gulf spat, Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani
said during an official visit to Moscow on Wednesday "no party from this crisis
will emerge victorious." "We will all emerge victorious only if a solution is
found and trust is rebuilt," he said during a press conference alongside his
Russian counterpart.
Israel Parliament Dissolves, Sparking Fourth Election in
Two Years
Agence France Presse/December 23/2020
Israel's parliament dissolved on Wednesday after Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu's fractured ruling coalition failed to pass a budget, triggering a
fourth election in two years and renewing an unprecedented political crisis. The
coalition led by Netanyahu and his former election rival, Defence Minister Benny
Gantz, had been inching towards collapse for weeks, undermined by mutual
acrimony and mistrust. The dissolution of parliament, the Knesset, could see
elections held as early as March 23, likely forcing Netanyahu to seek
re-election while the coronavirus pandemic is still raging and as his
long-awaited corruption trial intensifies. The coalition headed by Netanyahu's
right-wing Likud and Gantz's centrist Blue and White party had until midnight to
pass a 2020 budget. Failure to do so legally forces parliament's dissolution,
Knesset spokesman Uri Michael told AFP on Tuesday. The deadline's expiration
marks the end of a troubled political marriage between Netanyahu and Gantz, who
faced off in three inconclusive elections in April and September of 2019 and
again in March.
Budget battle
They agreed to form a so-called unity government in April. Gantz has said he
never trusted Netanyahu, but wanted to spare Israelis a fourth election,
especially as the pandemic was gathering pace. The three-year coalition deal had
stipulated that Netanyahu serves as premier for 18 months, with Gantz taking
over in November 2021.Gantz demanded the government pass a budget covering both
2020 and 2021, arguing Israel, and the coalition, needed stability. But
Netanyahu refused to endorse a 2021 budget. That, his critics said, was a
political tactic to keep the coalition unstable, making it easier for him to
sink the government before he had to yield power to Gantz. "The reason we're
heading to an election is because Netanyahu refused to pass a budget as required
by law and honour political agreements so that he can remain in power for the
duration of his trial," said Yohanan Plesner, the head of the Israel Democracy
Institute think-tank. Late Sunday, Blue and White said it had an agreement with
Likud on a bill to buy more time to pass the budget. But the Knesset rejected
that bill on Tuesday, following yet another round of bitter back-and-fourth
between Netanyahu and Gantz.
Lawmakers from Likud and Blue and White both voted against the coalition
proposal.
Gantz, currently in precautionary coronavirus quarantine, was unable to vote.
'Risk all around'
Both Netanyahu and Gantz face substantial political risks in new elections,
especially if held in March. Political commentators have said Netanyahu always
planned to force an election before vacating the premier's office for Gantz, but
would have preferred a vote date in June or later. That would have allowed more
time to vaccinate the public against the novel coronavirus and hopefully push
Israel's economy towards recovery. A March election would compel Netanyahu to
campaign in February, when he is due to appear in court multiple times a week
for his trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He is accused of
accepting improper gifts and seeking to trade favours with media moguls in
exchange for positive coverage, but denies wrongdoing. Netanyahu also faces a
new challenge from influential right-winger Gideon Saar, who has left Likud to
form his own New Hope party. Multiple polls suggest Saar could peel significant
support away from Netanyahu if elections were held soon. Netanyahu is expected
to highlight recent achievements including a series of US-brokered normalisation
agreements with former Arab rival states. But he will no longer be able to boast
of his ironclad alliance with outgoing President Donald Trump. Meanwhile,
Gantz's political fortunes have plummeted. Blue and White fractured when made a
deal with Netanyahu and recent polls suggest the party would win only a handful
of seats if elections were held soon. Gantz's former ally, Yair Lapid of the
Yesh Atid, became the opposition leader in parliament, but voter surveys
indicate Lapid would struggle to form a government. Overall, prospects for
left of centre parties appear dim, possibly complicating any attempt by
President-elect Joe Biden's administration to renew Israeli engagement with the
Palestinians. "We enter this election with a clear advantage in polls for the
political right," Plesner of the IDI said, while stressing "the growing
possibility" that a right-wing camp emerges that refuses to accept Netanyahu as
prime minister.
U.S. imposes fresh sanctions on Syria in push for Assad to
end war
WASHINGTON/Reuters/December 23/2020
-The United States on Tuesday slapped fresh sanctions on Syria, targeting its
central bank and blacklisting several people and entities in a continued effort
to cut off funds for President Bashar al-Assad’s government. The latest action,
building on sanctions imposed on Syria earlier this year, marked another round
in a U.S. campaign to push Assad’s government back into U.N.-led negotiations to
end the country’s nearly decade-long war. “The United States will continue to
seek accountability for those prolonging this conflict,” U.S. Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo said in a statement. Millions of people have fled Syria and millions
more have been internally displaced since a crackdown by Assad on protesters in
2011 led to civil war with Iran and Russia backing the government and the United
States supporting the opposition. In a separate statement, the U.S. Treasury
Department said the new sanctions add two individuals, nine business entities
and the Central Bank of Syria to Washington’s Specially Designated Nationals and
Blocked Persons List. The U.S. State Department also designated Asma al-Assad,
the British-born wife of the Syrian president, accusing her of impeding efforts
for a political resolution to the war, and several members of her family, Pompeo
said. Asma al-Assad was previously hit with sanctions in June. Among those
blacklisted were Lina Mohammed Nazir al-Kinayeh, one of Assad’s key advisers;
her husband, Syrian parliamentarian Mohammed Hammam Mohammed Adnan Masouti;
several government affiliated businesses; and General Kifah Moulhem, commander
of Syria’s Military Intelligence organization.Tuesday’s action freezes any U.S.
assets of those blacklisted and generally bar Americans from dealing with them.
Non-Americans that engage in certain transactions with the targeted people and
entities may also be hit with sanctions, the Treasury said. *Reporting by Daphne
Psaledakis and Lisa Lambert Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Heinrich and Richard
Chang
Hey Iran: Israeli Sub Heads To Persian Gulf With Egypt OK
By ARIE EGOZI/Beaking Defence/December 23/2020
The Dolphin submarines are armed with a mix of very advanced weapons, including
long-range ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads. TEL AVIV: An Israeli
Dolphin submarine possibly carrying nuclear weapons crossed the Suez Canal last
week on its way to the Persian Gulf, sources here confirmed on Dec 22. The
submarine crossed the Suez Canal with Egyptian approval and sailed on the
surface, a source said, “sending a clear warning to Teheran.”Last week, the
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley visited Israel to
coordinate joint actions against Iran should it attack Israeli targets.
The Dolphin submarines are armed with a mix of very advanced weapons, including
long-range ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads, according to foreign
press sources. Israeli intelligence point to a possible military action by Iran
against the U.S and Israel as the Jan. 3 anniversary of the death of Qassem
Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Quds Force, approaches. He was killed when a
U.S drone launched missiles that obliterated his car near Baghdad International
Airport. In a parallel development, the Israeli government instructed the IDF to
prepare for an American action against Iran, according to a report by senior
reporter Barak Ravid at the Israeli Walla News outlet. This report said the IDF
was instructed “to prepare for a scenario of a U.S action against Iran before
President Donald Trump leaves the White House on January 20.” It also says
Israeli Defense Secretary Benny Gantz has spoken twice in the past two weeks
with Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller. Earlier this month, the New
York Times reported that President Trump had discussed attacking Iran’s central
uranium enrichment facility in Natanz during an Oval Office meeting. Vice
President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other senior government
officials convinced the president it would lead to regional escalation and the
matter was dropped. A few days after the New York Times report, Pompeo visited
Israel and the Gulf states. While Pompeo was in the Gulf, Central Command
announced a surprise exercise in which B-52 strategic bombers were launched. A
CentCom statement said “the aim of the exercise was to deter aggressive
elements” and to express support for the United States’ allies in the Middle
East. The B-52s are capable of carrying the giant deep penetrating bombs
designed to destroy buried and protected sites such as those the Iranians have
reportedly built to protect their facilities.
The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 23-24/2020
Will Biden learn from Trump and keep making America secure
again
Clifford D. May/The Washington Times/December 23/2020
Trump recognized threats, and at least began to address them
“Build Back Better” was Joe Biden’s campaign slogan. How different is that,
really, from “Make America Great Again”? Both BBB and MAGA suggest the need for
restoration, for reversing deterioration and decline, for fixing what’s broken.
In foreign and national security policy, President Trump — following eight years
of President Obama’s unwillingness to bolster the credibility of American power
against America’s enemies — achieved some significant successes. He also
suffered some significant failures. In other areas, he made incremental progress
which his successor can advance — if he sees his task as building his own
presidency rather than building back the Obama White House.
Mr. Trump came into office with limited knowledge of international relations,
and the complex mechanisms by which policy is formulated and implemented. He did
know a thing or two about deal-making, and he intuitively grasped the logic of
“peace through strength.” On that basis, he increased defense spending —
essential because massive defense cuts during the Obama years had left the U.S.
military with decreasing readiness and aging weapons.
He was either smart or lucky to appoint a disciplined solider/scholar as his
national security adviser. Gen. H.R. McMaster’s process of analysis and
prioritization culminated in the 2017 National Security Strategy. Most
significantly, the NSS shattered the rose-colored glasses through which the
People’s Republic of China had been viewed since the 1970s.
The new NSS recognized that the regime ruling China views itself as an adversary
of the United States, and that it has long been implementing a strategy to
transform the so-called international liberal rules-based order — to make it
decidedly illiberal with rules “antithetical to U.S. values and interests.”
The NSS also recognized that Mr. Obama’s vaunted “reset” with Russia failed to
make Vladimir Putin America’s friend. Though Mr. Trump too often defended
President Putin, his administration’s policies, bolstered by Congress, have been
comparatively muscular.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, and the dynastic dictatorship that rules North
Korea were characterized as “rogue regimes.”
The former, for more than four decades, has pledged “Death to America!” while
covertly attempting to acquire the nuclear weapons that could bring its
capabilities in line with its intentions. Under President Obama’s Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action, the regime agreed to pause — not end — some
aspects of its nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars. This attempt
to buy — or rent — the goodwill of Iran’s Islamist rulers never enjoyed the
support of Congress or the public and, in May 2018, Mr. Trump withdrew from the
JCPOA.
He then began to impose sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy and reduced
the regime’s financial support for terrorist groups. But the “maximum pressure”
campaign was never really maximum, and slightly more than two years has not been
enough time to force Iran’s rulers to make serious concessions in exchange for
relief. Elliott Abrams, the president’s special envoy for Iran, believes the
regime may be nearing that point — if the new administration doesn’t blink.
Mr. Trump also made the bold decision to eliminate Qasem Soleimani, commander of
the Quds Force, a branch of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a
terrorist organization responsible for killing hundreds of Americans. The ruling
mullahs’ longstanding belief that, “The Americans cannot do a damn thing!”
suddenly seemed questionable.
As for North Korea, Mr. Obama’s policy of “strategic patience,” a euphemism for
doing nothing, achieved nothing. Mr. Trump attempted a different approach:
personal diplomacy. It, too, fell flat. In retrospect, it was naive to think
that Kim Jong-un would be tempted by Mr. Trump’s offers to help him lift his
people from poverty. Nor, apparently, did veiled threats of military action
prompt the dictator to consider ending his efforts to develop the capability to
deliver nuclear warheads to American targets.
Mr. Trump took meaningful action against Sunni terrorism in Syria. A small
cohort of elite American forces led Kurdish and Arab allies in a campaign that
deprived the Islamic State of the territories it had conquered following
President Obama’s withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq in 2011.
The most historic victory of the Trump administration was the signing of the
Abraham Accords, the first time in more than a generation that Arab states have
opened formal diplomatic relations with Israel. The United Emirates and Bahrain
were the pioneers. Sudan and Morocco are now following suit.
An end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can now be imagined, but it would
require Palestinian leaders to define the “Palestinian cause” not as the
destruction of the Jewish state, but as two states for two peoples peacefully
co-existing. Hamas, which rules Gaza, will never adopt that position. Mahmoud
Abbas, the 85-year-old president of the Palestinian Authority that governs the
West Bank, has been, at best, ambivalent about what a two-state solution could
mean.
In 2013-15, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management was hit with a hack
targeting the records of more than 20 million Americans. China is believed to
have been responsible. The most recent cyberattack on at least six U.S.
cabinet-level departments, likely carried out by Russia, makes clear that the
tens of billions spent on cyber defense by both the Obama and Trump
administrations have failed to get the job done.
The primary responsibility of a U.S. president is to defend Americans from those
intent on doing them harm. In the Trump administration, significant threats,
ignored or downplayed by his predecessor, were at least recognized.
Accommodation was not the default response.
No one expects Mr. Biden to say publicly that Mr. Trump’s policies served as a
necessary corrective to Mr. Obama’s. But perhaps he and his top advisers have
learned some lessons over the last 12 turbulent years. It would be premature,
not to mention cynical, to rule out that possibility.
• Clifford D. May is founder and president of the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies (FDD) and a columnist for The Washington Times.
To fight anti-Semitism, the UN must first define it
David May and Haley Weinischke/ Washington Examiner/December 23/2020
The United States “must deal with the insanity at the center of the Human Rights
Council — persistent and egregious anti-Israel bias,” U.S. Ambassador to the
United Nations Kelly Craft declared last Monday. She criticized the council for
targeting Israel more than any other country in the world. Craft is right about
the U.N.’s anti-Israel bias, but an effective response to the problem begins
with recognizing that this bias is rooted in plain anti-Semitism.
It is the kind of anti-Semitism that manifests itself in double standards. The
council obsesses over Israel to the point of distraction and deems it a pariah,
all the while turning a blind eye to genuinely oppressive regimes, such as those
in Beijing, Tehran, or Damascus.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance has recognized that such double
standards constitute anti-Semitism as much as other manifestations such as
Holocaust denial and symbols like the swastika. The IHRA is a joint initiative
of dozens of governments, mainly European, committed to Holocaust education and
combating anti-Semitism. Its definition of anti-Semitism has been adopted by
more than 25 countries, the European Parliament, and even the English Premier
League.
The Human Rights Council may be the U.N. body that has most often engaged in
IHRA-defined anti-Semitism. The UNHRC maintains agenda item seven, which
requires the council to review Israel’s human rights record at every meeting. No
other country is singled out in this way. In fact, resolutions targeting Israel
far outnumber those leveled against China, Iran, Syria, and North Korea
combined. The UNHRC also supports a special rapporteur whose mandate is limited
to investigating alleged Israeli crimes but not Palestinian ones.
In 2016, the council called for the creation of a database of all businesses
conducting activities in or related to Israel’s settlements. The list is
intended to intimidate companies out of operating in the West Bank, even though
they are legally allowed to do so, and even though no such list exists for any
other conflict zone around the world, from Russian-occupied Ukraine to the
Turkish-dominated northern Cyprus.
Meanwhile, the U.N. General Assembly maintains a special committee to
investigate accusations of Israeli abuses. It also has a committee and a
division dedicated to advocating for Palestinians, which in practice has mainly
entailed denunciations of Israel. The U.N. maintains no analogous bodies
dedicated to defaming any other country.
Likewise, the U.N. holds Israel to a double standard on refugee issues through
the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, a special agency dedicated to the
Palestinians, whereas all other refugees are the concern of the U.N. High
Commissioner for Refugees. Unlike UNHCR, UNRWA insists upon a “right of return”
for Palestinian refugees and their descendants rather than promoting
resettlement. This approach demonstrably perpetuates tensions rather than
resolving them. Furthermore, UNRWA teachers have been documented praising
Hitler, denying the Holocaust, calling for the murder of Jews, and promoting
anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
Despite applying a double standard to Israel, the U.N. has begun to recognize
anti-Semitism as an actual problem, especially in the context of Holocaust
denial. At a U.N.-sponsored seminar on anti-Semitism in June 2004, former
Secretary-General Kofi Annan recognized the U.N.’s shortcomings in fighting
anti-Semitism and issued a call to action. In 2005 and 2007, the General
Assembly passed resolutions condemning Holocaust denial. And in 2006, the U.N.
established a Holocaust remembrance outreach program.
In another positive development, the U.N. held its first informal meeting on
anti-Semitism in January 2015. Then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared, “A
United Nations that wants to be true to its founding aims and ideals has a duty
to speak out against anti-Semitism.” In 2017, current Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres condemned calls to destroy Israel as a “form of modern anti-Semitism”
and vowed that the U.N. would treat Israel fairly. For once, a U.N. leader
recognized that prejudice against the Jewish state, and not just Jewish
individuals, is a form of anti-Semitism.
U.N. leaders have even begun to embrace the IHRA definition as a useful tool for
combating anti-Semitism. In September 2018, Guterres praised the IHRA
definition. A year later, U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or
Belief Ahmed Shaheed encouraged countries to adopt the IHRA definition to fight
anti-Semitism. Then, in November 2020, U.N. focal point to monitor anti-Semitism
Miguel Moratinos said that the U.N. should work on a definition of anti-Semitism
“based on the IHRA definition.”
While the efforts of these individuals are admirable, they are insufficient if
the U.N. does not dismantle the institutional machinery that perpetuates
anti-Semitism in the form of pervasive, obsessive anti-Israel bias. The U.N.
should therefore adopt the IHRA definition and its examples and ensure that none
of its bodies or officials engage in anti-Semitic behavior. This should be a
prerequisite for the U.S. rejoining U.N. bodies such as the UNHRC. Otherwise,
the U.S. would be lending legitimacy to this insanity.
*David May is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies,
where Haley Weinischke is an intern. Follow David on Twitter @DavidSamuelMay.
Follow FDD on Twitter @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research
institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.
Iran Is Not Looking for a War With America/But Biden should make it clear that
the U.S. is willing to respond to anything the Iranians are planning.
Eli Lake/Bloomberg/December 23/2020
Ever since a U.S. missile killed Iran’s most important general almost a year
ago, the regime has been vowing revenge, with the latest threat coming just last
week. Yet aside from a barrage of missile strikes on an Iraqi base last January,
causing traumatic brain injuries for U.S. soldiers stationed there, Iran’s
response has been relatively muted. That’s because, even as the U.S. military
prepares for anything Iran or its proxies might try, the regime is not looking
for an open confrontation with the world’s most powerful military. So says
General Frank McKenzie, the man in charge of the U.S. Central Command.
“It’s a very complex issue,” McKenzie said in an interview Sunday with a small
group of reporters. “At one level the Iranians are not looking for a major
incident with the United States, they are not looking for a war.” At the same
time, he acknowledged that there is a real desire for the regime to avenge
General Qassem Soleimani’s death. That last part is understandable.
Soleimani was a gifted military strategist, commanding a multi-front war and
insurgency in the Middle East that at its peak included operations in Yemen,
Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. His leadership abilities helped Soleimani coordinate
this multi-front war and keep the disparate proxies and militias on the same
page. Since Soleimani’s demise, McKenzie said, the U.S. has seen fissures within
the Shiite militias Iran supported in Iraq, some of which are more open to
taking orders from Iraq’s elected government instead of its more menacing
neighbor. Soleimani’s death, McKenzie said, “unhinged Iran’s ability to direct
these units forcefully.”
On the one hand this makes it more likely that rogue units could launch
unauthorized attacks. On the other, the frequency of attacks from
Iranian-supported militias against the U.S. and its allies has diminished. “In
the last few months, they have been few and far between,” McKenzie said.
All of this raises a question for President-elect Joe Biden. Most of his party
denounced President Donald Trump’s decision to kill Soleimani in January as a
reckless provocation. Biden himself wrote in Foreign Affairs that Soleimani’s
killing “removed a dangerous actor but also raised the prospect of an
ever-escalating cycle of violence in the region.” Will Biden attempt to
de-escalate that cycle with Iran — and will that work?
McKenzie’s perspective is instructive. Iran’s leaders have never doubted
America’s “capability to respond” to their attacks, he said. Instead, the regime
has doubted “our will to respond.” The Soleimani attack demonstrated a
willingness “they did not think we would be able to have,” he said.
The events leading to Soleimani’s demise demonstrate the point. Iran began to
escalate its attacks on U.S. allies in the region in the spring of 2019. Its
revolutionary guard corps attacked oil tankers. A fleet of drones attacked a
Saudi refinery. In the weeks leading up to the strike against Soleimani,
Iranian-backed militias overran the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. All the while,
Trump avoided striking Iranian targets inside Iran, fearing it would lead to a
new war in the Middle East. When Trump finally did escalate last January, the
result was not a new war. The regime did fire on an Iraqi base and mistakenly
shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet. But eventually the pace of its attacks on
U.S. forces and allies in the region diminished. Deterrence was re-established.
That’s a valuable lesson for Biden as he prepares to take office. Iran’s supreme
leader is now threatening revenge during a chaotic presidential transition.
Biden should make it clear that the U.S. has both the capability and willingness
to respond to anything the Iranians are planning.
Drug Trafficking: The Dirtiest Little Secret
Chris Farrell/Gatestone Institute/December 23/2020
In a border community like El Paso, the Mexican cartels have an insidious,
silent and powerful control that few people wish to acknowledge or accept --
that includes a largely compliant news media who usually report what happens,
but rarely, if ever, ask "Why?" or "How can this go on, decade after decade,
without accountability or resolution?"
If a population is dying from overdoses that is one-third as large as the COVID
pandemic -- and we don't see, don't hear about it, and apparently don't really
care about it, what does that say about us?
Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers, billions of taxpayer dollars,
fifty years -- and the highest overdose rate in history? It is terribly
unpopular to blame law enforcement, especially when they are being unfairly
attacked by the militant fringe elements like Antifa and various lunatic
municipal officials seeking to defund them -- but cleaning house within various
agencies and increasing police pay would go a long way towards thwarting our
greatest domestic threat.
A year ago, President Donald J. Trump declared he would name Mexican Cartels as
foreign terrorist organizations. He paused his decision, and then tabled it,
based on assurances from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and a
reported wave of resistance from his own cabinet. The incoming Biden
administration has the cartels virtually "high-fiving" each other -- they know a
Biden administration will do nothing to stop cartel dominance and control of the
US-Mexico border.
Here is the answer: Law enforcement corruption. The question? Why are we
continuing to fight and lose the "War on Drugs," proclaimed by President Nixon,
almost fifty years ago, in June 1971?
Think about the U.S. forces arrayed against Mexican drug cartels: DEA, FBI,
Homeland Security, state police forces, county sheriffs, municipal police
forces, even the postal service. We have established High Intensity Drug
Trafficking Area task forces with their own regional fusion centers.
The United States is incapable of defeating Mexican cartels? We can transport
armored and special operations forces halfway around the world to the Middle
East and Southwest Asia, and defeat both conventional and irregular military
forces -- but we cannot secure our southern border and stop the poisoning of our
own population?
How can this be? Are we not smart enough? ... Not strong enough? ... Not enough
money, or resources, or people? ... Not enough technology? Are you prepared to
believe any of those excuses?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Over 81,000 drug
overdose deaths occurred in the United States in the 12 months ending in May
2020, the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month
period..." That is equal to one-third of the total number of deaths supposedly
attributed to the COVID pandemic.
Deaths equal to one-third of the pandemic? From another cause? Where is the
wall-to-wall news reporting on that public health crisis? Why aren't people
marching in the streets demanding action and justice for that threat to human
life? Since Joe Biden was elected president, we have not heard a peep from
Antifa and BLM -- maybe they can take up the drug overdose cause?
In October, federal law enforcement officials arrested Mexican General Salvador
Cienfuegos as he arrived in Los Angeles for a family vacation. Cienfuegos was
accused of taking bribes and protecting cartel leaders when he served as defense
minister from 2012 to 2018. A month later, the U.S. dropped charges and returned
Cienfuegos to Mexico. "Foreign policy considerations" was the official lie
covering for the reversal of what might have been an incremental step forward
towards legitimate justice in America's decades-long, losing "War on Drugs."
Every thinking person who has contemplated the drug corruption crisis
confronting America knows that absolutely nothing will happen to Cienfuegos now
that he is back in Mexico. He gets off Scot-free, other than having to vacation
in places other than the United States.
The Wall Street Journal, reporting on the Cienfuegos debacle, noted:
"Gen. Cienfuegos's return puts an uncomfortable spotlight on Mexico's judicial
system. More than nine in 10 crimes are never reported or punished, according to
the country's statistics agency."
Let us look more deeply at the drug crisis we face at the level of families and
communities. We can get lost looking at national overdose numbers and corrupt
foreign generals. Dirty cops are killing Americans, directly and indirectly. In
a border community like El Paso, the Mexican cartels have an insidious, silent
and powerful control that few people wish to acknowledge or accept -- that
includes a largely compliant news media who usually report what happens, but
rarely, if ever, ask "Why?" or "How can this go on, decade after decade, without
accountability or resolution?"
More than seven years of ongoing investigation by Judicial Watch in that region
has revealed law enforcement corruption that ranges on a scale from merely
turning a blind eye; to marked law enforcement vehicles being used to move
burlap bales of marijuana; all the way up to senior officials communicating with
and tipping-off cartel members about planned operations. That is what some of
the supposedly "good guys" are doing.
This is a dark, dangerous and threatening side of life in American communities
across the country. The drugs do not just materialize out of thin air in Dayton,
OH, or Rockville Centre, NY, or Whitefish, MT. If a population is dying from
overdoses that is one-third as large as the COVID pandemic -- and we don't see,
don't hear about it, and apparently don't really care about it -- what does that
say about us?
Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers, billions of taxpayer dollars,
nearly fifty years -- and the highest overdose rate in history? It is terribly
unpopular to blame law enforcement, especially when they are being unfairly
attacked by the militant fringe elements like Antifa and various lunatic
municipal officials seeking to defund them -- but cleaning house within various
agencies and increasing police pay would go a long way towards thwarting our
greatest domestic threat.
A year ago, President Donald J. Trump declared he would name Mexican Cartels as
foreign terrorist organizations. He paused his decision, and then tabled it,
based on assurances from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and a
reported wave of resistance from his own cabinet.
The incoming Biden administration has the cartels virtually "high-fiving" each
other -- they know a Biden administration will do nothing to stop cartel
dominance and control of the US-Mexico border. What law enforcement officer is
going to put his life on the line for a Biden administration policy? None.
Unless there is an unforeseen and dramatic positive change in law enforcement at
the federal, state and municipal levels, expect more of our dirtiest little
secret for years to come and a continuation of the United States' longest war.
**Chris Farrell is a former counterintelligence case officer. For the past 20
years, he has served as the Director of Investigations & Research for Judicial
Watch. The views expressed are the author's alone, and not necessarily those of
Judicial Watch.
*© 2020 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
It’s easy to criticize Abbas for Palestinian failures but
the true blame lies with the extremists
Ray Hanania/Arab News/December 23/2020
Since the death of Yasser Arafat and the collapse of the peace process, many
Palestinian activists and groups have blamed his successor, Mahmoud Abbas, for
Palestinian failures.
Abbas is the “president” of Palestine, a title that symbolized something during
the former peace process but now, under the brutal Israeli occupation, is
essentially an empty title.
Yet Abbas has done as much as he could in the face of mounting criticism from
Palestinian extremists and those who have spent their lives opposing any peace
deal with Israel based on compromise. These extremist critics of Abbas have
never really supported the peace process or a compromise agreement. They
aggressively opposed the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords and yet, ironically, in the
same breath were quick to denounce Israel for rejecting peace based on
compromise.
If anyone is to blame for the suffering of the Palestinians, besides Israel, it
is not Abbas — who has struggled to rally support among European nations in an
attempt to put pressure on the Israelis in the pursuit of peace — it is
extremists such as Hamas and others groups, including the Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine, and Islamic Jihad.If Palestinian extremists have one
thing in common with the Israeli authorities, it is their opposition to a peace
based on compromise. They both want it all.
But it is easier for the Palestinians to focus their criticism on Abbas; he is
now in his 80s and has been weakened by the deterioration of the Oslo
agreements, driven by opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
and his predecessors, including the terrorist Ariel Sharon.
The Palestinian extremists know that they have a better chance of succeeding in
undermining Abbas, thus achieving a Pyrrhic victory fighting against fellow
Palestinians who support peace, than in standing up to the Israelis who oppose
peace. These extremists rely on the battered emotions of the Palestinian people
who live in Israel, Gaza, under occupation in the West Bank, and in the diaspora,
where the extremism is even greater.
The worse the situation becomes for the Palestinians, the greater the emotional
suffering — and the greater the emotional suffering, the stronger the extremists
become. They do not have to actually achieve anything; all they have to do is
speak out in opposition to any form of peace based on compromise and denounce
those who support the two-state solution as “sell-outs,” “Uncle Toms” or
“quislings.”
This kind of name-calling directed against their own kind is the most potent
weapon the extremists have in their arsenal of hate. They are ineffective at
everything else. Their many acts of violence — from suicide bombings intended to
derail the peace process in the 1990s to the killings of Israeli civilians in
various attacks — have never come close to achieving freedom. However it
reinforces the anger, which reinforces the opposition to compromise with Israel.
Abbas has protested against the peace gestures initiated by the Trump
administration, including the Peace to Prosperity economic plans unveiled in
Bahrain in June 2019 and the “Deal of the Century” presented at the White House
in January this year. If Abbas has a fault, it was to surrender to the
extremists by refusing to participate in discussions about these with
Washington.
The Palestinian extremists know that they have a better chance of succeeding in
undermining Abbas, thus achieving a Pyrrhic victory fighting against fellow
Palestinians who support peace, than in standing up to the Israelis who oppose
peace.
During Trump’s time in office it has been easy for the extremists to align
themselves with Abbas, who rejected the US president’s deals as one-sided
strategies designed to strengthen Israel at the expense of the Palestinians.
Trump’s embarrassing defeat by Joe Biden in the presidential election last month
has given Abbas an opportunity to distance himself from the extremists, who do
not really care whether it is Trump or Biden who proposes a peace deal based on
compromise. No form of compromise is acceptable to them.
We have now seen an attempt by Abbas to re-engage with the Israelis and restore
the Oslo-based relations of an occupation-government existence, which is the
only type of government that Israel allows and the only type the Palestinians
can ever hope to have. He has called on Israel to return to the negotiating
table for renewed peace talks now that the biased Trump administration is on its
way out.
Although Abbas spoke out against the agreements by the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and
Morocco to normalize relations with Israel, he did not argue against peace. His
criticism of the so-called “Abraham Accords” and the subsequent agreements is
not based on opposition to the premise of achieving peace with Israel, but
opposition to the premise of achieving peace with Israel without including
Palestine.
Fortunately, Saudi Arabia remains one of the strongest voices in opposition to
any peace agreement that does not also include the Israelis signing a peace
accord with the Palestinians.
This week, Egypt and Jordan worked together in an effort to convince the
Israelis and Palestinians to return to the negotiating table, and their leaders
have discussed hosting a peace conference in 2021.
The challenge Abbas faces is to stand firm against the criticisms from
extremists that fan the flames of anger and violence among the Palestinians,
which in the end always scuppers peace talks. While Hamas waffles, claiming to
support peace, they have done everything they can to thwart peace efforts and
have proven to be unreliable partners.
Abbas must stand firm and crack down on Hamas to build a renewed Palestinian
peace movement that can rival the limited peace accords Israel achieved under
Trump.
If there is to be an alternative to the leadership of Abbas, it must not come
from among the extremists but from moderates such as Hanan Ashrawi, who resigned
from the Palestine Liberation Organization after she called for “reforms” and a
resumption of elections to rebuild the weakened political organization.
Short of that, Abbas remains the only real hope for Palestinian aspirations —
and extremists such as Hamas remain the greatest obstacle to peace and
Palestinian independence.
*Ray Hanania is an award-winning former Chicago City Hall political reporter and
columnist. He can be reached on his personal website at www.Hanania.com.
Twitter: @RayHanania
Why the Qatar blockade should remain in place
Mohamed Alodadi/Al Arabiya/December 23/2020
Since Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain severed diplomatic relations with
the Qatar and imposed an air, land, and sea embargo, the country has not altered
its behavior. With talks of normalization with Qatar on the horizon, the
blockading states should acknowledge that none of their demands have been met.
Qatar has been playing the victim as it lobbies the US and the European Union to
pressure the boycotting countries to re-establish diplomatic relations and lift
the embargo. Unfortunately, some American and European politicians and diplomats
seem to believe the Qatari narrative of victimhood and its argument that the
boycotting countries are trying to interfere in the internal affairs of Qatar,
infringe its sovereignty, and stifle the freedom of the press there.
Most often, Qatar cites the boycotting countries’ demands as interference in its
internal affairs. When the blockade was launched, the Arab Quartet gave a list
of 13 demands. Among them was that Doha shut down Al Jazeera, sever all ties
with terrorist organizations – including the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS, al-Qaeda
and Iran-backed Hezbollah – scale back cooperation with Iran, hand over
terrorist figures harbored in Qatar, and stop granting citizenship to wanted
nationals from the blockading quartet.
Over the years, Qatar has actively tried to undermine the blockading countries,
and unless Qatar drastically changes its behavior by ceasing support for
extremist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, the blockade should remain in
place.
One of the principle complaints the blockade had of Qatar was its use of Al
Jazeera, that some countries, including Iraq, argue airs news programs that
incite hatred, violence and acts of terrorism with its bellicose Arabic language
rhetoric.
I distinctly remember how Al Jazeera programming in the late 1990s and early
2000s was exclusively directed against the presence of American troops in Saudi
Arabia, and how violence and terrorism against Americans and Europeans living
and working in Saudi Arabia was instigated by Al Jazeera and by Saudi Arabian
and non-Saudi Arabian clerics whose views were aired on Al Jazeera. Both Al
Jazeera and the clerics cited a saying ascribed to Prophet Mohammed to expel
Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula.
When the American forces relocated to Al-Udaid airbase in Qatar in 2002, the
calls for “expelling the Jews and the Christians from the Arabian Peninsula”
disappeared from the rhetoric of both Al Jazeera and the clerics.
I remember, also, how Al Jazeera became the mouthpiece of Al Qaeda and of Osama
bin Laden during the US invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist
attacks on the twin towers in New York City.
We should not forget that in 2004 the US complained about Al Jazeera’s coverage
of the war on terror in Afghanistan. Three years prior, Al Jazeera’s Kabul
office was bombed by a US missile. The US government has never acknowledged the
bombing, but a memo leaked in 2004 gave impetus to the belief that the strike
was intentional.
Some saw Al Jazeera’s lopsided reporting as being partly responsible for the
violence against Americans in Saudi Arabia, and further placed blame on Qatar
for inciting violence in Eastern Saudi Arabia and in Bahrain following the Arab
Spring uprisings. In 2015, a Qatar-based cleric called for protests in Egypt
against President Hosni Mubarak, saying that Mohamed Morsi, the previously
elected president who belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood, was the legitimate
leader.
More recently, recordings of senior Qatari officials have surfaced in which the
former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khaliah, the father of the current Emir,
conspired with Libya’s late dictator Muammar Al-Gaddafi to assassinate the King
of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.
Qatar has referred to itself as “Ka’abat Almadhyoom” which, loosely translated,
means “sanctuary for the oppressed.” But for close to a quarter of a century,
Qatar has been staging a clandestine war against its Arab Gulf neighbors and has
offered refuge to extremists, sheltering them in Doha.
The Arab Gulf state has not altered its behavior since 2017, and until Doha is
ready to make some serious adjustments, stop harboring international fugitives,
and work to become a regional partner, the blockade should remain in place.