English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For September 27/2020
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations For today
Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!” and they will lead many astray
Matthew 24/01-14: “As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Then he asked them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’ When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!” and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs. ‘Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But anyone who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.”
 

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on September 26-27/2020

13 Terrorists were killed during clashes between security forces and Jihad Terrorists in Wadi Khaled
French president to address situation in Lebanon on Sunday after PM-designate resigns
Lebanon PM-Designate Steps down after Failing to Form Cabinet
Mustapha Adib, Lebanon's Short-lived PM-designate
Aoun Accepts Adib’s Resignation
Kubis Lashes Out at Officials for Foiling ‘Unique’ French Chance
Lebanon: From Deadly Explosion to New PM Resignation
Mustapha Adib, Lebanon's Short-lived PM-designate
Berri ‘Adheres’ to French Initiative ‘Based on Content’
Lebanon’s Hariri says failure to form government nothing to celebrate
Geagea Congratulates Abid for Stepping Down
PSP Says Foiled Govt. Efforts a ‘Sin’ against Lebanese
Sami Gemayel calls on every deputy to take the courageous decision of resigning
FPM: To adhere to French initiative, abide by its rules as a way of salvation
Franjieh after meeting al-Rahi: French initiative is a golden opportunity for Lebanon and must continue through a consensual PM
Lebanon, Israel Agree to Hold Negotiations to Demarcate Maritime Border
KSrelief Continues Humanitarian Missions in Lebanon, Yemen
Lebanon Losing Control over Covid-19 Outbreak
Adib’s resignation compounds Lebanon’s crisis, deals setback to France
U.S. Officials to Mediate Israel-Lebanon Maritime Border Talks
Ehud Yaari, Simon Henderson, and Hanin Ghaddar/The Washington/Institute/September 26, 2020
 

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on September 26-27/2020

US President Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court
Iran and Iraq commit to improving border cooperation, boosting trade
7 in Custody after Stabbing in Paris
President Rouhani condemns US for ‘crimes’ against Iran
Jailed Iranian human rights lawyer ends hunger strike over health concerns
US threatens Baghdad with sanctions over Iran-backed militia attacks in Iraq: Sources
Reports: Trump to Name Amy Coney Barrett to US Supreme Court
Pompeo Visits Greece In Show of Support Amid Turkey Tensions
Clashes erupt in London as thousands protest UK lockdown measures
Major Efforts Underway to Normalize Ties between Israel and Oman, Sudan
Removal from US terrorism list unrelated to normalizing ties with Israel, says Sudan
US Senator Opposes Removing Sudan from List of State Sponsors of Terrorism
Senior Sudanese Official Says Khartoum, Tel Aviv Held Indirect Talks in Abu Dhabi
Lavrov Meets ‘Peace and Freedom Front’ Headed by Jarba
Damascus Releases Dozens of Makhlouf's Employees
Turkey Says Ready to Sign Maritime Border Demarcation Agreement with Egypt
GNA Orders Dismantling of 2 Armed Groups after Tripoli Clashes
Ethiopian PM Says Dam Not Meant to Harm Egypt, Sudan
Egypt’s Coptic Pope Says Confident GERD Talks Will Lead to Solution
Iran’s Oil Minister Admits Forging Export Documents to Avoid US Sanctions
Ukraine Plane Crash Death Toll Rises to 26
Six Palestinians, including three brothers, dead as cesspit caves in near Hebron

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on September 26-27/2020

From Rationality and Interest to Armed Militias!/Radwan al-Sayyed/Asharq Al-Awsat/September, 26/2020
Trump’s Threat to Democracy Threatens the Economy/Noah Smith/Bloomberg/September, 26/2020
What Does the Future Hold for the Middle East?/Vitaly Naumkin/Asharq Al-Awsat/September, 26/2020
Toward a Transformational Peace in the Middle East/Guy Millière/Gatestone Institute/September 26, 2020
Women’s voices must be part of the Middle East’s new narrative/Heba Yosry/Al Arabiya/Saturday 26 September 2020

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on September 26-27/2020

13 Terrorists were killed during clashes between security forces and Jihad Terrorists in Wadi Khaled
LCCC/September 27/2020
The heavy clashes that took place yesterday between the Internal Security Forces Information Branch unit and Jihad terrorists in a holed up isolated house in the outskirts of the town of al-Fard in Wadi Khaled, is over now. The end result was the killing of 13 terrorist and the arrest of 15 others while 2 escaped
 

French president to address situation in Lebanon on Sunday after PM-designate resigns
Reuters/Saturday 26 September 2020
French president Emmanuel Macron will hold a news conference on Sunday on the political situation in Lebanon, the French presidency said. Lebanon’s prime minister-designate, Mustapha Adib, quit on Saturday after trying for almost a month to line up a non-partisan cabinet, dealing a blow to a French plan aimed at rallying sectarian leaders to tackle the worst crisis since the nation’s 1975-1990 civil war. President Macron arrived in Lebanon shortly after a massive blast at Beirut port on August 4 that killed more than 190 people and injured 6,000, to put forth a roadmap for reform that included forming a Cabinet of independent ministers within two weeks. The formation of a new cabinet was expected to be complete by September 15 but efforts were hindered by ongoing demands made by the Shia groups Amal and the Iran-backed Hezbollah to choose a candidate for the position of finance minister. A new government is needed to pass a set of reforms that are required to unlock foreign aid.

Lebanon PM-Designate Steps down after Failing to Form Cabinet
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Lebanon's prime-minister-designate quit on Saturday after almost a month of efforts to line up a non-partisan cabinet despite French pressure on the country's sectarian leaders to rally together to haul the nation out of a deep crisis. Mustapha Adib said he was stepping down from "the task of forming the government" following a meeting with President Michel Aoun, after his efforts ran into trouble, particularly over who would run the finance ministry. At the heart of the logjam has been a demand by the two main Shiite parties, Iran-backed Hezbollah and its ally Amal, to pick several ministers and to keep the finance post in their hands. The finance ministry will have a vital role in drawing up plans to exit the economic crisis. Lebanon is enduring its worst financial crisis since the 1975-90 civil war. France has drawn up a timeline for Lebanon to tackle corruption and deliver reforms to help secure billions of dollars in foreign aid to save a country drowning in debt. But the leaders who oversaw years of wasted state spending and corruption have stumbled at the first hurdle by failing to deliver on a promise to French President Emmanuel Macron to form a new cabinet by mid-September. Macron, who visited Beirut after a devastating Beirut port blast in August, has told politicians they could face sanctions if graft gets in the way. And Paris has repeatedly said there will be no aid without change. France has said Lebanon faces collapse if it doesn’t change course. The Lebanese president has said the country is going “to hell” if doesn’t name a cabinet. Many Lebanese, thousands of whom took to the streets last year to demand change, have already been plunged into poverty as the economy has crashed. Donors who promised billions of dollars to help Lebanon in a 2018 Paris conference refused to hand over the cash when the country failed to deliver reforms. They have made changing course a condition for any future help. Macron delivered a stark message in Beirut on Sept. 1: “If your political class fails, then we will not come to Lebanon’s aid.”

Mustapha Adib, Lebanon's Short-lived PM-designate
Naharnet/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Mustapha Adib, a little-known diplomat tasked with forming a new crisis government to save Lebanon from the brink, resigned Saturday after less than a month as premier designate. Adib was named on August 31 to replace Hassan Diab, whose government resigned in the aftermath of the deadly August 4 blast at Beirut's port. Until then, he had been Lebanon's ambassador to Germany since 2013. The 48-year-old was born in the northern city of Tripoli and is a Sunni Muslim, making him eligible for the prime minister's post under Lebanon's sectarian-based power-sharing system. His biography on the Berlin embassy website presents him as an academic who holds a PhD in law and political science. It says he has conducted "research and expert work in the areas of both human and state security, parliamentary oversight of the security sector, decentralisation and local democracy, and electoral laws". From 2000 to 2004, he served as an adviser to Najib Mikati, a billionaire former prime minister who backed his nomination. In 2011, then-premier Mikati appointed Adib as his chief of cabinet. Former premiers Saad Hariri and Fouad Siniora also threw their weight behind Adib, after two other candidates were reportedly rejected by the dominant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah and its political allies.
- 'Timid professor' -
An acquaintance from Tripoli, who asked not to be named, described Adib as "calm, courteous and diplomatic". "He is not a man of confrontation," the acquaintance said. Mohammed Dhayby, 40, one of his former students, said that when Adib taught at the Lebanese University's law faculty in Tripoli in 2000-2001, he was just 28. "He was a timid professor at the time, and if he hadn't been wearing a suit, we wouldn't have believed he was a university professor at all." Opposition groups representing the protest movement that erupted last year to demand the wholesale removal of a political class seen as corrupt and incompetent had rejected Adib's nomination before it was even confirmed. Activists on social media were quick to compare Adib to Diab, who had promised to lead Lebanon's first government of technocrats when he took office in January but showed no ability to break from his political sponsors.
Lebanon Rises Up -- Germany, a Facebook page representing Lebanese activists in Germany, told AFP that Adib was a product of the past and could not embody change. It claimed that Adib himself, who was not a career diplomat when he was appointed to Berlin by a Mikati government, owed his job to the former prime minister and to Lebanon's sectarian quotas.

Aoun Accepts Adib’s Resignation
Agence France Presse/Saturday 26 September 2020
President Michel Aoun accepted the resignation of PM-designate Mustafa Adib and was set to "take the appropriate measures according to the requirements of the constitution", the president's office said Saturday. "The initiative launched by French President Emmanuel Macron is still ongoing and still receives my full support," it quoted Aoun as saying. Adib stepped down Saturday, saying he had been unable to form a reform-minded government to lift the country out of its worst economic crisis in decades. Adib, a little-known 48-year-old former ambassador, was named just hours before French President Emmanuel Macron made his second visit to the crisis-hit country since the August 4 blast, pressing for the speedy formation of a reformist government. Macron had launched an initiative to help Lebanon steer out of multiple crises. He described his initiative including a road map and a timetable for reforms, as “the last chance for this system.”

Kubis Lashes Out at Officials for Foiling ‘Unique’ French Chance
Naharnet/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis on Saturday criticized Lebanon’s politicians for thwarting the French initiative to assist Lebanon, shortly after the resignation of PM-designate Mustafa Adib over a Cabinet impasse.
“Such a degree of irresponsibility, when the fate of Lebanon and its people is at stake! Politicians, have you really scuppered this unique chance created by France? …” said Kubis in a tweet. He added: “When will you finally stop playing your usual games, listen to the cries and needs of the people, prioritize the future of Lebanon?” Adib stepped down Saturday, saying he had been unable to form a reform-minded government to lift the country out of its worst economic crisis in decades. Adib, a little-known 48-year-old former ambassador, was named just hours before French President Emmanuel Macron made his second visit to the country since the August 4 blast, pressing for the speedy formation of a reformist government.

Lebanon: From Deadly Explosion to New PM Resignation
Agence France Presse/Saturday 26 September 2020
From the Beirut port blast to premier-designate Mustapha Adib stepping down on Saturday after less than a month of trying to form a new cabinet, here are developments in crisis-hit Lebanon:
Devastation
On August 4, one of the world's biggest ever non-nuclear explosions destroys much of Beirut's port and devastates swathes of the capital.The detonation was caused by a fire in a warehouse which Lebanese authorities acknowledge held a vast stockpile of ammonium nitrate for the past six years. The huge explosion leaves more than 190 dead, over 6,500 injured and ravages large parts of Beirut. The tragedy strikes as Lebanon has for months been mired in its worst economic crisis in decades, marked by an unprecedented depreciation of its currency, massive layoffs and drastic banking restrictions.
'Apocalyptic situation'
Beirut is in a state of shock, with residents looking for the missing, tending to the wounded and searching gutted buildings for pets and belongings. It is an "apocalyptic situation", says Beirut governor Marwan Aboud, a day after the blast. A state of emergency is declared. International aid starts to fly in.
Macron weighs in

On August 6, Macron visits Beirut and walks through the devastated Beirut neighbourhood of Gemmayzeh. His visit is praised by many Lebanese angry at their own leaders, whom they accuse of corruption and incompetence.
Macron calls for an international probe and for the "deep changes" that the Lebanese population has been demanding for months. President Michel Aoun the next day rejects any international probe into the disaster.
Protests
On August 8, following a handful of lawmakers resigning, thousands of Lebanese call for vengeance against their leaders over the explosion. Clashes erupt between security forces, using tear gas and rubber bullets, and protesters. Demonstrators storm a series of ministries and the banking association, occupying the foreign ministry for several hours.
International aid
On August 9, the international community pledges around $300 million in emergency aid at a video conference jointly organised by France and the United Nations. The international community promises to stand by Lebanon but demands that its aid be directly distributed to the population, and a transparent probe be carried out.
Government resigns
On August 10, prime minister Hassan Diab announces the resignation of his government. Demonstrators again take to the streets of Beirut and clash with security forces.
System criticised
On August 28, Macron points to the "constraints of a confessional system" in a country where political posts are allocated by sect. "If we let Lebanon go... it will be civil war," he warns. Two days later, Hassan Nasrallah, chief of the powerful Shiite Muslim movement Hezbollah, says his group is "open" to a French proposal for a new political pact for Lebanon. Aoun calls for the proclamation of a "secular state" during a televised address to mark the centenary of the Lebanese state.
New premier
On August 31, diplomat Mustapha Adib is named as Lebanon's new premier.
He vows to carry out reforms demanded by the international community and to conclude an accord with the International Monetary Fund. Macron lands in Beirut hours later, extracting a promise from all political sides to help Adib form a crisis government of independents in less than a fortnight.
PM-designate resigns
On September 26, less than a month later, Adib bows out, apologising to the Lebanese people over his "inability to realise its aspirations for a reformist team".
His resignation follows weeks of deadlock, including over the insistence of the two main Shiite parties Hezbollah and Amal on keeping the finance ministry under their control. President Michel Aoun accepts Adib's resignation and is set to "take the appropriate measures according to the requirements of the constitution".

Mustapha Adib, Lebanon's Short-lived PM-designate
Agence France Presse/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Mustapha Adib, a little-known diplomat tasked with forming a new crisis government to save Lebanon from the brink, resigned Saturday after less than a month as premier designate. Adib was named on August 31 to replace Hassan Diab, whose government resigned in the aftermath of the deadly August 4 blast at Beirut's port. Until then, he had been Lebanon's ambassador to Germany since 2013. The 48-year-old was born in the northern city of Tripoli and is a Sunni Muslim, making him eligible for the prime minister's post under Lebanon's sectarian-based power-sharing system. His biography on the Berlin embassy website presents him as an academic who holds a PhD in law and political science.It says he has conducted "research and expert work in the areas of both human and state security, parliamentary oversight of the security sector, decentralisation and local democracy, and electoral laws". From 2000 to 2004, he served as an adviser to Najib Mikati, a billionaire former prime minister who backed his nomination. In 2011, then-premier Mikati appointed Adib as his chief of cabinet. Former premiers Saad Hariri and Fouad Siniora also threw their weight behind Adib, after two other candidates were reportedly rejected by the dominant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah and its political allies.
'Timid professor'
An acquaintance from Tripoli, who asked not to be named, described Adib as "calm, courteous and diplomatic". "He is not a man of confrontation," the acquaintance said. Mohammed Dhayby, 40, one of his former students, said that when Adib taught at the Lebanese University's law faculty in Tripoli in 2000-2001, he was just 28. "He was a timid professor at the time, and if he hadn't been wearing a suit, we wouldn't have believed he was a university professor at all." Opposition groups representing the protest movement that erupted last year to demand the wholesale removal of a political class seen as corrupt and incompetent had rejected Adib's nomination before it was even confirmed. Activists on social media were quick to compare Adib to Diab, who had promised to lead Lebanon's first government of technocrats when he took office in January but showed no ability to break from his political sponsors. Lebanon Rises Up -- Germany, a Facebook page representing Lebanese activists in Germany, told AFP that Adib was a product of the past and could not embody change. It claimed that Adib himself, who was not a career diplomat when he was appointed to Berlin by a Mikati government, owed his job to the former prime minister and to Lebanon's sectarian quotas.

Berri ‘Adheres’ to French Initiative ‘Based on Content’
Naharnet/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stressed “adherence” on Saturday to the French initiative towards Lebanon, shortly after the resignation of PM-designate Mustafa Adib amid a Cabinet impasse. Berri, head of the Shiite Amal Movement, said that no one like them adheres to the French initiative, accusing others of “foiling” it. Adib was under pressure to form a fresh cabinet so it can undertake long-sought economic reforms. But his efforts have been effectively blocked by the two main Shiite groups in Lebanon's usual power-sharing arrangement -- Amal and Hizbullah. “I believe that all parliamentary blocs support reforms. The Parliament is most motivated to endorse what should be done, and we adhere to our position and to the French initiative based on its content,” said Berri in a statement released by his media office.
 

Lebanon’s Hariri says failure to form government nothing to celebrate
Tamara Abueish, Al Arabiya English/Saturday 26 September 2020
Anyone celebrating the failure of a French initiative to get Lebanon’s fractious leaders to form a new government will regret wasting the opportunity, former prime minister Saad al-Hariri said on Saturday. “We say to those who applaud the collapse of French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative today, that you will bite your fingers in regret,” he said in a statement. His comments came soon after Prime Minister designate Mustapha Adib announced he would be stepping down from his position amid political impasse over the formation of a new government cabinet. The prime minister designate said he was stepping down from “the task of forming the government” after a meeting with President Michel Aoun. The formation of a new cabinet was expected to be complete by September 15 but efforts were hindered by ongoing disagreements between competing political forces.

Geagea Congratulates Abid for Stepping Down
Naharnet/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea issued a statement on Saturday in which he congratulated PM-designate Mustafa Adib for stepping down “because he could not put his convictions into action.”“My warm congratulations to PM Adib, even if we had not named him, because he is the first Lebanese official to resign when he saw an inability to translate his convictions,” said Geagea, shortly after Adib’s resignation from Baabda because of a Cabinet impasse. “The resignation of Adib confirms that a rescue can only be considered with a truly independent government,” he added. "Nomination of ministers by parties of the current ruling group has proven its failure leading us to where we are today," he added. "From now onward, it won’t be possible to think of any government except on the grounds for which Adib apologized for," he went on.

PSP Says Foiled Govt. Efforts a ‘Sin’ against Lebanese
Naharnet/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
The Progressive Socialist Party described on Saturday the obstructed efforts of PM-designate Mustafa Adib to form a crisis government and his eventual resignation, as a “sin” against the Lebanese people. “What happened is a sin against the Lebanese. Everyone who helped drive Adib’s mission towards his resignation shoulders the responsibility. Everyone is under shock now,” PSP sources told al-Jadeed TV. PSP leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat “kicked off an initiative to prevent Adib’s resignation,” and has been making contacts “since Friday evening and until the moment Adib reached Baabda, but he failed,” added the sources. “Jumblat’s initiative was directed in the interest of everyone, the French, the Shiite duo (Amal and Hizbullah) and Adib. Those who foiled it shall shoulder responsibility for what we are heading to,” they stated.

Sami Gemayel calls on every deputy to take the courageous decision of resigning
NNA/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
"There is no salvation in the existence of this destructive system that surrenders to the will of Hezbollah and its weapons. I call on every deputy to take the courageous decision and resign from the Parliament so that the Lebanese people can restore their decision and save their future," tweeted Kataeb Party Chief, resigned MP Sami Gemayel, on Saturday.

FPM: To adhere to French initiative, abide by its rules as a way of salvation
NNA/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
The Free Patriotic Movement's political body confirmed, in a statement today, "adherence to the French rescue initiative", asking French President Emmanuel Macron "to pursue it on the basis of giving priority to forming a mission government that implements the agreed-upon reform program, and being comprised of ministers who have the ability to implement the program, without restricting the cabinet to preconditions that impede its formation, be it form or size." "What is important is the government's ability to yield accomplishments and to obtain the confidence of the Parliament, that is, to be formed through an understanding with the representative blocs," the statement added, highlighting the need for the selected cabinet ministers "to reflect trust, productivity and success, and not to be politicians but rather capable specialists."
The FPM political body thanked the "apologizing PM-designate for his efforts," noting that the Movement facilitated his entire mission, and did not meet nor consult with him "so as not to give anyone the opportunity to create hurdles and then attribute them to FPM with obstruction aims."
"The circumstance today is to facilitate and not to impose new conditions outside the constitution and the established norms," the statement asserted, emphasizing the need for dialogue and openness at this stage, "in which all parties accept that no one imposes on others a list of names, but that everyone works according to the principle of reciprocity." The FPM political body hoped that "the French President, whose intentions we trust, would continue his efforts to encourage the Lebanese to find a rescue solution to the financial and economic crisis on the basis of his initiative," and urged "all political parties to have trust in each other and in the sincerity of the French initiative and abide by its rules as a way for Lebanon's financial and economic salvation."

Franjieh after meeting al-Rahi: French initiative is a golden opportunity for Lebanon and must continue through a consensual PM
NNA/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
"Marada Movement" Chief, Sleiman Franjieh, deemed Saturday that "the French initiative is a golden opportunity for Lebanon and must persist through a consensual prime minister", calling for "speeding up the formation of a government of reconciliation to save Lebanon."Following his visit to Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, Franjieh confirmed being under Bkirki's rooftop for any dialogue it calls for. He added that discussions with the Patriarch touched on the overall situation in the country, stressing that Lebanon ought not to lose the French initiative, saying: "This initiative must continue, and it is necessary to revive it by agreeing on a consensual prime minister, who may be Mustafa Adib or someone else, but no party can manage matters alone." Franjieh indicated that his Movement will not be interested in any government that is like its predecessor, with a prime minister chosen by a certain party or group. Expressing his surprise at learning of PM-designate Mustafa Adib's apology while on his way to al-Diman today, Franjieh reiterated "the need to accelerate the formation of a reconciliatory government to save Lebanon."

Lebanon, Israel Agree to Hold Negotiations to Demarcate Maritime Border
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
A spokesman for Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, revealed that Israel and Lebanon have reached an agreement to resume negotiations on the demarcation of their shared maritime border. The talks will take place immediately following the Sukkot holiday, which ends on October 10, and will be held at the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura, according a report by Israel’s Channel 12 on Friday. The meeting will be attended by Assistant US Secretary of State for Near East Affairs David Schenker. Lebanon will be represented at the talks by Speaker Nabih Berri and officials from President Michel Aoun’s office and Steinitz will represent Israel. Beirut has an unresolved maritime border dispute with Israel over a sea area of about 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) extending along the edge of three of Lebanon’s southern energy blocks. Lebanon in 2018 licensed a consortium of Italy’s Eni, France’s Total and Russia’s Novatek to carry out the country’s first offshore energy exploration in two blocks. One of the blocks, Block 9, contains waters disputed with Israel.

KSrelief Continues Humanitarian Missions in Lebanon, Yemen
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) cooperated with with Al-Ghina Charitable Association to deliver more food aid in Lebanon on Friday. They distributed 682 food baskets to the Syrian and Palestinian refugees and most needy Lebanese families in a number of Lebanese governorates reaching 3,410 beneficaries. Meanwhile in Yemen, the medical clinics of the Riyadh-based center continued providing treatment services in Hodeidah governorate. KSrelief's medical aid in Yemen comes in partnership with Taybah Foundation for Development. The center also implemented another water supply and environmental sanitation project in Hajjah. During the period from 10 to 16 September, 2020, up to 456,000 liters of non-drinking water and 304,000 liters of drinking water were pumped into the tanks, benefiting 6,320 individuals.

Lebanon Losing Control over Covid-19 Outbreak
Beirut - Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Lebanese authorities have isolated several towns in light of a significant increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the country. The head of the parliamentary health committee, MP Assem Araji, said that Lebanon has lost control over the outbreak of the virus.
“It is very difficult to control it if we continue to proceed in the same way,” he said, adding: “There are procedures that have been put in place since the outbreak of the epidemic in February, including the need to wear a mask, adhere to social distancing rules and disinfection, but they are not applied properly.”
In a radio interview, Araji emphasized the need to implement preventive measures, in the absence of a vaccine at the present time. “This is the most effective way to stop the spread,” he noted. Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab held a meeting on Friday at the Grand Serail with the ministerial committee following up on the outbreak of the pandemic. The meeting discussed “the necessary measures to face the outbreak, especially in the regions that recorded the highest rates of infections.” The crisis cell in Fneideq in Akkar, North Lebanon, in cooperation with the municipal police, took a decision to close all entrances to the town. Also in the North, the municipal council of Al-Qobayat announced a general closure until Sunday Oct. 4.Lebanon’s total number of COVID-19 cases increased on Friday by 1,143 to 33,962 while the death toll went up by four to 333, the Health Ministry said.
It is the highest single-day increase since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Lebanon on Feb. 21.
 

Adib’s resignation compounds Lebanon’s crisis, deals setback to France
The Arab Weekly/September 26/2020
الإسبوع العربي: استقالة أديب متفاقم أزمة لبنان وهي انتكاسة للمادرة الفرنسية
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/90768/adibs-resignation-compounds-lebanons-crisis-deals-setback-to-france-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a5%d8%b3%d8%a8%d9%88%d8%b9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a8%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%a7/
Hezbollah is not ready to give up neither its influence nor its full control over the political institutions within the Lebanese state, even if that means dragging the country into a dangerous impasse.
BEIRUT –Lebanon entered a dark tunnel with no end in sight Saturday when Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib announced his decision to quit after trying for almost a month to line up a non-partisan cabinet.
Adib’s departure dealt a severe blow to a French bid aimed at rallying sectarian leaders to tackle the worst crisis since the nation’s 1975-1990 civil war. It also opened the door for all sorts of scenarios.
“I excuse myself from continuing the task of forming the government,” Mustapha Adib said in a televised speech, apologising to the Lebanese people for his “inability to realise its aspirations for a reformist team” to save the country.
Under the French roadmap, the new government was to take swift steps to tackle corruption and implement reforms needed to trigger billions of dollars of international aid to fix an economy that has been crushed by a mountain of debt.
While announcing he was stepping down, Adib said Lebanon must not abandon the French plan or squander Macron’s goodwill.
“I stress that this initiative must continue,” he said after meeting President Michel Aoun, a Christian. He wished his successor well in the “hard task” of forming a government.
How the Lebanese street would react to the development, that remains to be seen, in a country spiralling towards becoming a failed state.
In October last year, desperation created the first sign of unity among the Lebanese people when civil protests erupted across the country.
Traditionally, protests were held by specific religious groups and frequently led by their corresponding parties, but in October, desperate civilians marched through Beirut as one, demanding change.
And then came the coronavirus pandemic, plunging Lebanon deeper into financial ruin.
Every session of government resulted in new taxes to try to curb the country’s financial problems, further angering citizens already struggling to feed their families.
Just when it seemed like it could not get worse, the August 4 explosion tore through the capital, prompting the Lebanese people to take to the streets again and demand reform and accountability.
Former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, a leading Sunni politician, said in a statement Saturday anyone celebrating the failure of a French initiative to get Lebanon’s fractious leaders to form a new government will regret wasting the opportunity.
“We say to those who applaud the collapse of French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative today, that you will bite your fingers in regret,” he said in a statement.
Adib had sought to form a government of specialists in a nation where power is shared between Muslims and Christians and political loyalties tend to follow confessional lines.
Politicians had promised Paris they would have a government in place by mid-September. But Adib’s efforts stumbled over how to make appointments, particularly the post of finance minister, who will have a key role in drawing up an economic rescue plan.
Talks with the International Monetary Fund on a vital bailout package stalled this year, and one of the cabinet’s first tasks would have been to restart the negotiations.
A senior Lebanese political source said much now depended on whether the French would give up.
Paris’ answer came quick. “It’s a setback, but we’re not giving up. These people need to realise that this is bigger than Lebanon,” a French diplomatic source said after Adib’s resignation.
France has so far demonstrated that it seriously doesn’t want Lebanon to collapse, showing concerns about French interests there amid a struggle in eastern Mediterranean over the control of ports, water passageways, gas and oil.
Paris also fears Lebanon’s 1.5 million Syrian refugees would seek to reach Europe if the situation deteriorates in the Arab country.
However, Lebanon’s leaders have long resisted any serious attempt to introduce reforms, even as the country plunged further into poverty, with its banking system breaking down, its currency plummeting to record lows, inflation and unemployment skyrocketing.
Now with Lebanon’s leaders refusing to take action and blocking efforts to form a new government, they can be sanctioned and blacklisted by the international community. This time, it is their personal wealth that will be targeted.
The most recent developments indicate that the struggle is not limited to the national scope. It is rather a battle between outside powers pushing for reforms to avoid the collapse of the country and a ruling elite resisting and refusing to take any serious steps in that direction, for fear of losing influence and control over state institutions.
Replacing political leaders, who have been controlling the country for more than 40 years, is no easy mission and Washington seems to have better knowledge of that than Paris, according to some experts.
In fact, the task to bring changes to the political scene in Lebanon has become more intricate in recent years after the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement became deeply embedded in Lebanese politics.
Unlike the French who say Hezbollah’s elected arm has a legitimate political role, the United States has designated the heavily armed and politically powerful movement as a terrorist group since 1997.
Other European countries, particularly Germany and Britain, also consider the group a terrorist organisation, but French officials argue that ostracising it would make efforts to resolve the crisis impossible.
The role that Hezbollah played, along with its political ally the Shia Amal movement, following the August 4 explosion confirms Washington’s better understanding of the political power-plays in Lebanon.
In short, Hezbollah is not ready to give up neither its influence nor its full control over the political institutions within the Lebanese state, even if that means dragging the country into a dangerous impasse, with compromise becoming elusive and dangers of new violence growing.
Following Adib’s decision to quit, the French approach, of engaging Lebanese political leaders in a new process while threatening them with sanctions, has shown its limitations.
Worse, such an approach might give Lebanese political players, particularly Hezbollah, cover to stay in power, playing the cards of resistance and struggle against foreign meddling.
The cabinet formation hit a roadblock over a demand by Lebanon’s two main Shia groups, Amal and the heavily armed Iran-backed Hezbollah, that they name several ministers, including finance, a position previously held by a Shia.
The two parties have refused to budge on their demand, a position analysts say is linked to recent US sanctions against a former minister from Amal, as well as Hezbollah-linked businesses.
Adib held several meetings with senior Shia politicians but failed to reach agreement on how the minister would be chosen.
Shia leaders feared being sidelined as Adib sought to shake up appointments to ministries, some of which have been controlled by the same faction for years, politicians said.
Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center said Iranian-backed factions might have wanted to stall the cabinet formation to await the result of a US election on November 3.
US President Donald Trump, seeking re-election, has taken a tough line on Iran and its allies, and his administration imposed sanctions on Lebanese politicians who back Hezbollah.
In an attempt to contain the political and diplomatic damage that could be caused by Adib’s resignation, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is the leader of the Shia Amal Movement, said his group would stick to the French initiative.

U.S. Officials to Mediate Israel-Lebanon Maritime Border Talks
Ehud Yaari, Simon Henderson, and Hanin Ghaddar/The Washington Institute/September 26, 2020
Negotiating a dividing line would enable Beirut to fully exploit potential offshore oil and gas reserves.
After almost a decade of intensive diplomatic efforts, the United States has succeeded in brokering an agreement between Israel and Lebanon to start formal negotiations on demarcating their maritime border. Barring a last-minute change of heart in Beirut, the talks are scheduled to begin in early October after the Jewish high holidays. Under the auspices of a U.S. delegation, representatives will meet in Naqoura at the headquarters of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). A UN rapporteur will attend the sessions at Lebanon’s insistence, but his notes will not be filed at the UN due to Israel’s objection.
The breakthrough was achieved after Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker visited Jerusalem and Beirut earlier this month. To overcome the parties’ persistent differences regarding the legal basis and format of negotiations, the U.S. government issued side letters that provide assurances to both countries. One unresolved issue concerns possible linkage between maritime decisions and final demarcation of their land border, especially relating to the small area that Israel calls Mount Dov, in the vicinity of Shebaa Farms on the slopes of Mount Hermon.
Israeli energy minister Yuval Steinitz was already authorized to signal Lebanon that his government is prepared to split the 860 square kilometers of contested maritime territory in a 58:42 ratio in Beirut’s favor. The Lebanese are eager for the French company Total to start drilling in Block 9 adjacent to the contested area, while Israel is preparing international tenders for drilling at the neighboring “Alon D” block.
The main Lebanese interlocutor for this process has been the Shia Muslim speaker of parliament Nabih Berri, who acted with President Michel Aoun’s consent and, presumably, Hezbollah’s tacit approval. Lebanon’s financial meltdown likely accelerated the State Department’s preparatory efforts. On the other side, Israeli officials believe that once a demarcation line is approved and Lebanon starts exploring for natural gas, the risk to Israeli offshore gas rigs will be greatly diminished.
While Egypt and Jordan have been cooperating with Israel on gas projects for some time, dealing with Lebanon has been problematic. The maritime border challenges are both legal and geological. The usual first requirement is establishing an agreed land border in order to pin down where it meets the sea. But in this case the relevant border point—Rosh Hanikra/Ras Naqoura—is still technically disputed and terminates in a towering white cliff with no beach.
Moreover, while nearby Cyprus has an agreed maritime border with Israel, its attempts to reach one with Lebanon were stymied by Turkish pressure on Beirut. In response, an irritated Nicosia decided to draw its line with Israel from the southern end of the line it had hoped to draw with Lebanon. From Beirut’s perspective, the so-called “tri-point” where the three countries’ exclusive economic zones meet is further south. This contested pizza slice of territory will therefore be discussed in the upcoming talks.
Israel has not yet drilled in the contested area, but nearby discoveries to the south have fed optimism that hydrocarbon deposits could exist in commercial quantities deep below the seabed. Although such deposits may wind up straddling any maritime border reached in the coming weeks, this complication arises in many places around the world, and legal templates exist for shared exploitation.
Considering the country’s dire financial situation, the talks are good news for Lebanon because an agreed boundary could benefit the economy in the long term. Yet these benefits may be negated if Hezbollah is permitted to maintain its current access to most of Lebanon’s key ministries, since the group and its allies would no doubt tap any oil and gas profits that materialize. On the one hand, then, it is important to shelter the maritime demarcation deal from U.S. pressure related to Lebanon’s political reform process. On the other hand, Washington needs to understand that only the corrupt political class will benefit from the deal unless serious changes are made in Lebanon’s political structure—which means supporting early elections and a new electoral law, as well as implementing the reforms stipulated during the Paris meeting last December and more recently.
Hezbollah has always been good at buying time when it is cornered. As sanctions pile up against the group, its domestic allies, and Iran, some observers in Lebanon are concerned that maritime talks may just be the latest bid to stall any real reforms and freeze further outside pressure. Washington should therefore continue its efforts to designate members of the corrupt political class and show the Lebanese people that this deal is for their benefit, not that of the Hezbollah axis.
Finally, it is important to note that the drive toward a potential maritime agreement is not part of the recent normalization process seen between Israel and other Arab states. From the perspective of Hezbollah and the current Lebanese government, maritime demarcation would not reflect any change in their attitudes toward Israel or the Blue Line land border drawn by the UN following the 2006 war. Yet it may remove at least one danger: that any future confrontation with Hezbollah will necessarily spill into Israel’s offshore gas fields.
*Ehud Yaari is a Lafer International Fellow with The Washington Institute and a veteran commentator for Israeli television. Simon Henderson is the Institute’s Baker Fellow and director of its Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy.

*Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Fellow in the Institute’s Geduld Program on Arab Politics

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on September 26-27/2020

US President Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court
Ismaeel Naar, Al Arabiya English/Sunday 27 September 2020
US President Donald Trump has nominated Amy Coney Barrett as his pick to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court. The announcement was made by Trump on Saturday days after several media outlets confirmed through sources of his upcoming choice. Barrett, 48, is an Indiana-based federal appeals court judge and known for being a devout Catholic with fervent anti-abortion views. If confirmed by the Senate, Barrett would become the third justice appointed to the nine-member high court by Trump. An airplane believed to be carrying likely Supreme Court nominee Barrett and her family has arrived at Joint Base Andrews earlier in the day.

Iran and Iraq commit to improving border cooperation, boosting trade
Reuters/Saturday 26 September 2020
Iran and Iraq on Saturday pledged to improve border cooperation and boost trade between the two neighbors that has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.“We remain committed to increasing political, economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries,” President Hassan Rouhani told visiting Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, according to a government website. Hussein called for implementing bilateral accords in areas including border cooperation, transportation and trade between the two countries, the website said.
The pandemic has led to border closures and disruptions to trade and visits by millions of pilgrims and tourists. Iran, which shares a long border with Iraq, has been the epicenter of the virus in the Middle East but the spread has also accelerated in Iraq.Iran is one of Iraq’s biggest trading partners. Both countries’ economies are in crisis. Iran continues to suffer from US sanctions and Iraq’s economy has been battered by years of wars, sanctions and an extremist insurgency. Tehran also used to meeting to denounce the US military presence in the region.

7 in Custody after Stabbing in Paris
Saturday, 26 September, 2020/Asharq Al-Awsat
Seven people were in custody Saturday after a stabbing outside the former Paris offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, including the suspected assailant, authorities said. Counterterrorism authorities are investigating what authorities called an extremist attack linked to Charlie Hebdo, which lost 12 employees in an al-Qaeda attack in 2015. The suspected assailant in Friday’s stabbing had been arrested a month ago for carrying a screwdriver but was not on police radar for radicalization, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said. He said the screwdriver was considered a weapon, but did not explain why. The suspect arrived in France three years ago as an unaccompanied minor, apparently from Pakistan, but his identity was still being verified, the minister said. Seven others were detained in the aftermath of Friday’s attack, but one has been released, according to judicial officials. Five of those in custody were detained in the Paris suburb of Pantin in a residence where the suspect is believed to have lived, a police official said. Two people were wounded in Friday’s attack, a woman and a man working at a documentary production company who had stepped outside for a smoke break. The interior minister conceded that security was lacking on the street where Charlie Hebdo was once headquartered, and ordered special protection for all “symbolic sites.”

President Rouhani condemns US for ‘crimes’ against Iran
AFP/Saturday 26 September 2020
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday said people should blame Washington for the “crimes and pressure” facing the country, as waves of US sanctions impact the struggling economy. “They prevented the purchase of medicines and food by imposing unjust, illegal, and inhuman sanctions,” Rouhani said in a televised address.In May 2018, US President Donald Trump withdrew from a landmark deal that gave Iran relief from sanctions in return for UN-verified guarantees that it is not seeking nuclear weapons. Since breaking from the accord, the US has slapped a string of sanctions on Iran that have crippled its economy. While humanitarian supplies such as medicine are theoretically exempt from US sanctions, many companies fear breaking the rules and have avoided transactions with Tehran. “The correct address for all crimes and pressure against the dear Iranian people is Washington DC, the White House,” Rouhani added. He saved particular criticism for US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Rouhani called him “a gentleman who presents himself as the Minister of Foreign Affairs but who is (in reality) the Minister of Crimes.”Washington’s partners at the UN Security Council have refused to reimpose sanctions and say the US actions are legally unfounded since it left the deal. In a letter dated September 23 and made public Saturday by the UN, US Ambassador Kelly Craft called on the secretariat to “take the steps necessary to re-establish the Committee established pursuant to Resolution 1737 (2006) and its Panel of Experts” to monitor compliance with international sanctions. Tehran and Washington, long-time enemies, have not maintained diplomatic relations for more than four decades.

Jailed Iranian human rights lawyer ends hunger strike over health concerns
AFP/Saturday 26 September 2020
Jailed Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has stopped a hunger strike she began more than 45 days ago due to health concerns, her husband said on Saturday. Sotoudeh, 57, announced she was going on hunger strike last month to demand the release of political prisoners and focus attention on their plight due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Last week, Sotoudeh’s husband said she was hospitalized for five days before being returned to her prison cell. On Saturday, he said she had ended the hunger strike. “We spoke briefly this morning. She decided to end the hunger strike in order not to worsen her heart problems,” Reza Khandan told AFP. On August 11, Sotoudeh and Khandan announced her hunger strike on social media. They described the conditions faced by political prisoners detained on “unbelievable” charges as impossible to tolerate and said they were offered no legal hope of release as the pandemic engulfs Iran.Sotoudeh, co-laureate of the European Parliament’s prestigious Sakharov prize in 2012, is serving a 12-year sentence handed down last year after defending women arrested for protesting compulsory headscarf laws. She is being held at Tehran’s Evin prison, where other political prisoners are detained, including Iranian-French academic Fariba Adelkhah. The novel coronavirus pandemic has so far killed at least 25,394 people in Iran and infected 443,086, according to official figures released on Saturday.

US threatens Baghdad with sanctions over Iran-backed militia attacks in Iraq: Sources
Joseph Haboush, Al Arabiya English/Friday 25 September 2020
The United States has threatened to shut its embassy in Baghdad in a strongly-worded message delivered to Iraq’s president in recent days over continued attacks against US targets by Iran-backed militias, sources familiar with the matter said Friday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent a “very tough message” to Iraqi President Barham Salih regarding Washington’s frustration, which included the threat of sanctions on top Iraqi officials, an Iraqi political source said. US and Iraqi political sources briefed on the content of the message told Al Arabiya English that the threat of sanctions and limits on dollar transactions, including withholding badly-needed aid through the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund for Iraq, were all raised by Pompeo. The US State Department said it does not comment on the Secretary of State’s private diplomatic conversations with foreign leaders when asked about the matter. “We have made the point before, however, that the Iran-backed groups launching rockets at our Embassy are a danger not only to us but to the Government of Iraq, neighboring diplomatic missions, and residents of the former International Zone and surrounding areas,” a State Department official told Al Arabiya English. The US has around 5,200 troops stationed in Iraq, although Washington announced that it would reduce the number to about 3,000. Meanwhile, rocket attacks continue against bases housing US or Coalition forces. In August, three Katyusha rockets fell in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport. That attack followed at least five attacks directed at US interests in Iraq within one week, including four blasts against convoys carrying supplies to bases housing US forces, a rocket attack on an air base north of Baghdad and a rocket attack near the US Embassy in the capital.
This week a former Iraqi official acknowledged the message sent by Pompeo. Hoshyar Zebari, the former finance and foreign minister, said the “recent stern warning” from Pompeo meant that “Iraqi leaders have to rise to the challenges posed by armed militia to target US diplomatic & military installations.”
The US has been patient with Iraq, and the international community will follow Washington’s calls to help Baghdad or not, Randa Slim of the Middle East Institute think-tank said. “The US waited for the Iraqi government to stop attacks on its assets in Iraq and have been very patient. The international community will take its cues from Washington if it were to refuse to offer assistance to Iraq,” Slim told Al Arabiya English, adding that an IMF assistance package was needed for Iraq. The State Department official said that the US was working to secure financial support for Iraq from the international community and various private-sector businesses. But “the presence of lawless, Iran-backed militias remains the single biggest deterrent to additional investment in Iraq.”

Reports: Trump to Name Amy Coney Barrett to US Supreme Court
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
US President Donald Trump is set to unveil his Supreme Court nominee on Saturday, barely five weeks out from the November 3 presidential election, with US media reporting that he has chosen conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett for the job. If the 48-year-old law professor is indeed nominated and confirmed, her appointment would consolidate a conservative majority in the country's top court. Citing sources close to the process, various media outlets, including The New York Times and CNN, said Trump would put forward the 48-year-old judge.
"We are going to be announcing somebody great," the US president said in Virginia on a whirlwind three-state campaign tour Friday. "Tomorrow [Saturday] I think is going to be a big day!" he added, as the crowd roared with approval. The president did not name his nominee but earlier said his decision was made. Barrett was "outstanding" he said. Media reports noted the mercurial Trump could still change his mind before the official announcement, expected at 5 pm (2100 GMT) Saturday. Democratic opponents, led by presidential candidate Joe Biden, have demanded that Republicans back off on replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg -- a liberal icon -- until after the November 3 election. Leaders of the Republican majority in the Senate, which is tasked with confirming Supreme Court nominees, said they have enough support to hold a vote on the nomination either before the election or at worst during the "lame duck" session between the election and the inauguration of the next president in January. "We will certainly do that this year," Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said. If Barrett is confirmed, the Supreme Court would have a 6-3 conservative majority, AFP reported. Barrett was only appointed to the bench for the first time in 2017. A deeply conservative Catholic, she is considered hostile to abortion rights -- a key issue for many Republicans. The left-leaning government watchdog group Accountable US was unimpressed with the reported choice. "Barrett has proven time and again that protecting businesses -- not people -- is her top priority," said group president Kyle Herrig. In 2018, the mother of seven was on the shortlist presented by Trump for a seat vacated by the retirement of justice Anthony Kennedy, a position ultimately filled by Brett Kavanaugh after a ferocious confirmation battle.

Pompeo Visits Greece In Show of Support Amid Turkey Tensions
Washington - Elie Youssef/Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Greece next week to reduce tensions in the Mediterranean with Turkey, said a senior State Department official. Speaking at a press conference, which Asharq Al-Awsat attended, the official indicated that it is within the US’ political, security, and economic interests to hold discussions and dialogue between NATO allies and European friends. He announced that Pompeo’s tour will begin Sunday and include: Greece, Italy, the Holy See, and Croatia. The official emphasized that the US does not wish to be a party to the dispute between Greece and Turkey, despite the belief that the visit to Athens is seen as a support to it, as Ankara escalates the situation on the rights of gas exploration. “Greece and Turkey of course are both allies there. We face collective threats, and those have intensified in terms of some of the strategic competition.”He added that it is Pompeo's second visit to Greece within a year, and aims to strengthen the country's ability to be independent in its sources of energy and to enhance bilateral relations. The visit “will underscore just how strong US-Greek ties have become over the last few years. US-Greek relations are at a generational high, and this coming visit will underscore a year of real successes in our bilateral relationship,” announced the official. He also informed reporters that Pompeo will head to Crete to meet with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and visit the Naval Support Activity at Souda Bay. He indicated that Pompeo will reiterate Washington’s commitment to peace and stability in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, Turkey Program Senior Director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), Aykan Erdemir, described Pompeo's statement on East Med as mere “tactical.”Erdemir told Asharq Al-Awsat that Erdogan depends on Trump to ensure his country is not sanctioned, and it seems that Washington recently joined Germany in pressuring the EU against imposing sanctions on Turkey. The expert said it is only a matter of time before Erdogan recreate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and destabilizes NATO for more concessions from his Western counterparts. During his visit to Cyprus two weeks ago, Pompeo urged Turkey to halt activities that could lead to hostilities in the Sea, calling on all parties to maintain diplomacy. Turkey is in dispute with both Greece and Cyprus over oil and gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, which raises fears of intense conflict in the region. The dispute escalated on August 10, when Turkey sent gas exploration ships and warships to the disputed waters. The situation further worsened when both Turkey and Greece held military exercises last month. However, tensions eased after they announced the resumption of negotiations. The Turkish President’s policies towards NATO allies as well as neighboring countries, except Iran and Qatar, increase Turkey's isolation, according to the expert.

Clashes erupt in London as thousands protest UK lockdown measures
The National/September 26/2020
Clashes broke out on Saturday after thousands of maskless protesters demonstrated against UK lockdown measures in central London. The crowds, ignoring social distancing rules, were dispersed by the police during the "We Do Not Consent" rally. At least four police officers and three demonstrators were injured in the clashes while 10 more people have been arrested. Earlier on Saturday, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention reported 1,078 new Covid-19 cases. The cases came from an additional 98,168 tests, while 857 recoveries were confirmed along with two fatalities.
Globally, coronavirus cases reached 32.2 million with 22.2m recoveries, while the death toll moved past 984,000.

Major Efforts Underway to Normalize Ties between Israel and Oman, Sudan
Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Assistant to the US President Avi Berkowitz said he is optimistic about the chances that more Arab countries will normalize ties with Israel in the near future amid reports Oman and Sudan will soon follow suit. Tremendous efforts are being exerted to normalize ties between Israel and several Arab countries, he stated, according to the Jerusalem Post. The UAE officials expressed their wish to be first to normalize ties with Israel, which is “a very courageous act,” according to Berkowitz. “You need parties that are willing to take courageous steps, and had they not been ready to be first, we may not be where we are.”Berkowitz endorsed statements made last week by the US ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft who revealed that a new Arab state will soon normalize ties with Israel. Sudan and Oman may join the ranks of countries normalizing ties with Israel as soon as next week, an Israeli daily said on Friday. According to a report by Maariv, Muscat and Khartoum are currently engaged in intensive US-brokered talks with Israel “with the aim of announcing peace agreements next week.” The newspaper said significant progress has been made between Israel and Oman, with both sides having agreed on releasing a joint statement soon. “The statement will be published next week, and if technical difficulties arise, it will be announced in the following week,” read the report. On Sudan, the newspaper reported that a possible deal has been put off until a new government and parliament are finalized in the North African country.
However, it said Washington opposes any postponement and is pressing Sudanese officials to move forward immediately, promising in return to remove Sudan from the US’ list of countries accused of supporting terrorism. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Feb in Uganda Sudan's Sovereignty Council chair General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. There is another prospective meeting, reliable sources revealed.

Removal from US terrorism list unrelated to normalizing ties with Israel, says Sudan
Reuters, Khartoum/Saturday 26 September 2020
Sudan does not want to link its removal from a US terrorism list that is hindering access to foreign funding for the country’s economy with a normalization of relations with Israel, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said on Saturday. Sources said this week that US officials indicated in talks with a Sudanese delegation they wanted Khartoum to follow the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and open ties with Israel. Sudan’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism dates back to its toppled ruler Omar al-Bashir and makes it difficult for its new transitional government to access urgently needed debt relief and foreign financing. Hamdok said Sudan had told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a visit last month it was necessary to separate the removal from the US list from the normalization of relations with Israel. “This topic (ties to Israel) needs a deep discussion of the society,” he told a conference in Khartoum to discuss economic reforms. Sudan’s surging inflation and plummeting currency have been the biggest challenges to Hamdok’s transitional administration, which rules with the military since Bashir’s ouster. Sudan was put on the US list in 1993 because the United States believed Bashir’s regime was supporting militant groups. But many in Sudan consider this is undeserved since Bashir was removed last year and Sudan has long cooperated with the United States on counter-terrorism. The White House and State Department have declined to comment when asked about the status of negotiations. Burhan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a surprise meeting in Uganda earlier this year. Yet opening ties is sensitive, as Sudan was a staunch foe of Israel under Bashir.
 

US Senator Opposes Removing Sudan from List of State Sponsors of Terrorism
Washington - Rana Abtar/Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
US Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) reiterated his rejection to removing Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, if the agreement between Washington and Khartoum does not include compensation for the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Speaking at a hearing for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during which US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale gave his testimony, Menendez indicated that Sudan is at a “very fragile moment” and he has consistently declared that the administration needs to do more to support democracy there. However, the Senator stressed that the current compensation agreement with Sudan is not sufficient and “falls short.” He indicated that the State Department considers the legislation to be fair for the US victims, but he wondered if it is fair that the State Department left “9/11 victims completely out in the cold in the Sudan negotiations? Is it fair that you [Hale] intentionally exclude their claims from the Sudan deal?”It doesn’t strike me as a fair deal. It is a slap in the face of our fellow citizens who lost loved ones in 9/11.” In response, Hale stated that the agreement addresses the existing claims from victims of the embassies' bombings in east Africa.
“We believe that this deal offers a fair basis as do the victims themselves, who have accepted the deal.”Hale noted that the administration is open to adding amendments and settlements that protect any future claims of 9/11 victims against Sudan.

Senior Sudanese Official Says Khartoum, Tel Aviv Held Indirect Talks in Abu Dhabi
Khartoum - Mohammed Amin Yassine/Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
A senior Sudanese official revealed that indirect talks took place between the Sudanese government and an Israeli official in Abu Dhabi during recent high-level meetings held between the US and the government in the UAE. Last week, Washington and the Sudanese government met in Abu Dhabi to discuss Khartoum’s agreeing to normalize relations with Tel Aviv in return for removing it from the State Department’s list of sponsors of terrorism and a package of $7 billion in financial assistance. "The ministerial delegation that led the negotiations did not reach a final agreement on delisting Sudan and signing a peace agreement with Israel, noting that talks are still ongoing," said the source, who wished to remain anonymous. He also said that Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok was informed about all the details of the talks with the US and Israeli sides. However, several members of the Sudanese ruling coalition parties oppose any normalization with Israel. Member of the Forces for Freedom and Change FFC Kamal Boulad said the council would ask for a trilateral meeting including the Sovereignty Council and the cabinet to discuss details of talks held with the US administration and the reports regarding normalizing ties with Israel. Boulad reiterated the position of his coalition and Hamdok’s government concerning those developments. “The Transitional Government is not delegated to decide on the issue of normalization with Israel. This is the position that was conveyed to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last August,” he noted.
The Sudanese transitional government said earlier that the negotiations confirmed Sudan’s support for the Arab-Israeli peace agreements and considered them a path to stability in the region. Boulad warned the Transitional Government from reaching a normalization deal with Israel before gaining a full Sudanese consent. For his part, Arab Socialist Baath Party leader Adil Khalafallah said Sudan has no interest in repeating the “failed” experiments of normalization with Israel.

Lavrov Meets ‘Peace and Freedom Front’ Headed by Jarba
Moscow - Raed Jaber/Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday met in Moscow for the first time a delegation from the Peace and Freedom Front to discuss the Syrian conflict. The meeting is a sign that Moscow is taking an additional step towards expanding its role East of the Euphrates amid similar efforts made by the US in the region. Established in June, the Peace and Freedom Front includes brings together four Syrian opposition entities. They are The Kurdish National Council in Syria, the Assyrian Democratic Organization, the Syrian Future Movement, and the Arab Council in Al-Jazeera and the Euphrates.
The delegation, headed by Ahmed Jarba held two meetings in the Russian capital, one with Lavrov and another with Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. “Russia bets on the important role that the Front can play to push the political process forward in Syria,” the Foreign Ministry statement said.
Member of the delegation Wassef al-Rab told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Front stressed the importance of the unity and integrity of Syrian territories in line with UN Resolution 2254. “The meeting was honest and constructive,” he said, adding that the two sides discussed the dire situation in Syria and the latest developments on finding a political solution to the country’s’ war. The delegation also gave a detailed explanation of the Front’s expectations. Al-Rab also said the delegation called on the Russian government to use its influence to play an active role in the release of detainees and to reveal the fate of kidnapped and missing people. The delegation also asked for the voluntary return of refugees and to reject demographic changes in all Syrian regions. It expressed the importance to ending the standoff and stressed the need for a swift political solution. Al-Rab revealed that the delegation would continue to discuss the latest developments in Syria with other parties, including the US and a number of EU states in addition to regional powers, like Turkey.

Damascus Releases Dozens of Makhlouf's Employees
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Syrian security services have released dozens of employees working in companies of business tycoon Rami Makhlouf, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. Up to 185 persons were released in the past 48 hours, while 12 others remained imprisoned, the war-monitor said. Makhlouf said security forces were arresting his employees to pressure him to give up his companies, most notably Syriatel. Security agencies had released 41 of Syriatel's employees and 57 former employees of the Al-Bustan charity. The Observatory also said that 58 army officers and soldiers connected to a former Makhlouf-funded, pro-regime militia had been released. Also, a former Syriatel employee who requested anonymity told AFP that several colleagues had been freed, including four they knew personally. The 51-year-old businessman has been embroiled in a power struggle with the state since last year, when authorities seized control of his charity, Al-Bustan, and dissolved armed groups affiliated to him. Syrian authorities have claimed Syriatel owes money to the government, including outstanding fees for maintaining its operating license. But in a series of controversial videos posted online, Makhlouf has disputed the claims, alleging that some in power sought to overthrow him and reap a cut of the company's profits and called on Assad to save him. The government in May ordered the seizure of assets from Makhlouf and his family, then slapped a travel ban on the businessman.
Last year, authorities froze the assets of several businessmen over tax evasion and illicit enrichment, including that of Makhlouf, his wife and companies.

Turkey Says Ready to Sign Maritime Border Demarcation Agreement with Egypt
Ankara - Saeed Abdulrazek/Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Turkey reiterated that dialogue is a priority for the fair sharing of natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, adding that it was willing to sign a maritime border demarcation agreement with Egypt. "Turkey supports dialogue at all platforms, especially when it comes to the fair sharing of natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean,” said the National Security Council (NSC) after a meeting headed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey will not be lenient in protecting its rights and interests on land, air and sea, it vowed. In a veiled message to Greece, it called on countries, “which are engaged in activities that contravene international law and agreements and are arming islands with non-military status, to act with commonsense in resolving disputes. Turkey, which in all regional and global disputes stands by rights and justice, maintains the same approach in the Eastern Mediterranean. Meanwhile, deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim Kiran urged dialogue and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean to help establish security, stability and prosperity in the region. Addressing the International Conference on the Eastern Mediterranean, organized by Turkey's Communications Directorate, he stressed Ankara’s willingness to sign a maritime border demarcation agreement with Egypt in the Mediterranean. Retired Brigadier General Ali Er warned the Turkish government against embroiling the country in several conflicts in the Eastern Mediterranean. The solution, he said, lies in Turkey making concessions over the Muslim Brotherhood file, which have caused Ankara several problems, and in cooperating with Egypt in the Eastern Mediterranean. Becoming involved in several conflicts may lead to a clash with other countries and the European Union and United States may force Turkey to make concessions, he added. “The current regime in Turkey has led to the country’s isolation,” he noted. “Concessions have to be made in the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus files and regional cooperation must be established with Egypt.”

GNA Orders Dismantling of 2 Armed Groups after Tripoli Clashes
Cairo – Khaled MahmoudAsharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
The Government of National Accord (GNA) ordered the dismantling of two armed groups that are affiliated with its loyalist militias in wake of fierce clashes that had erupted between them in an eastern suburb of the Libyan capital Tripoli. The clashes between the “Al-Daman” and “Lions of Tajoura” militias broke out late on Thursday and lasted until the early hours of morning. The dispute was sparked over payments owed to them by the GNA. The GNA forces attempted to end the clashes, but they were met with fire when they tried to intervene. At least 13 people were killed in the fighting, revealed medical and security forces. No official statement has been made over the casualties. In an acknowledgment of the unrest, GNA Defense Minister Salah al-Namroush said Friday that he has ordered the use of force against the two militias should they refuse to immediately cease their fighting. He also ordered their dismantlement, referring their commanders to the military prosecutor. Separately, GNA chief Fayez al-Sarraj said that reaching a lasting truce in Libya demands that the Sirte and al-Jufra regions be removed of weapons. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, he also demanded the withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries from those areas and the whole of Libya in order to achieve the country’s sovereignty. In an indirect reference to Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar, he accused “aggressors” of violating the ceasefire, stressing that the GNA was committed to the peaceful solution that is based on constructive dialogue. “This is the only way to overcome the country’s crisis,” he said, urging the importance of resuming political dialogue “with all parties.”

Ethiopian PM Says Dam Not Meant to Harm Egypt, Sudan
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told the annual UN gathering of world leaders that the country has “no intention to harm” Egypt and Sudan, which are downstream from a hydroelectric dam Ethiopia is building on the Nile River and has led to talk of potential military action. “I want to make it abundantly clear that we have no intention to harm these countries,” he told the 193-member UN General Assembly in a video statement, pre-recorded due to the coronavirus pandemic. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi also used his UN speech this week to describe the dam, Africa’s largest, as an existential threat.
“We are steadfast in our commitment to addressing the concerns of downstream countries and reaching a mutually beneficial outcome in the context of the ongoing AU-led process,” Nobel Peace Laureate Abiy said. Negotiations have previously faltered over a demand from Egypt and Sudan that any deal should be legally binding, over the mechanism for resolving future disputes, and over how to manage the dam during periods of reduced rainfall or drought. Egypt says it is dependent on the Nile for more than 90% of its scarce fresh water supplies, and fears the dam could have a devastating effect on its economy. Abiy told the United Nations that the project contributes to the conservation of water resources, “which would otherwise have been lost to evaporation in downstream countries.” “What we are essentially doing is to meet our electricity demands from one of the cleanest sources of energy. We cannot afford to continue keeping more than 65 million of our people in the dark,” he said. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi also used his UN speech this week to describe the dam, Africa’s largest, as an existential threat. “The Nile River must not be monopolized by one state. For Egypt the Nile water is an existential matter. This, however, does not mean that we want to undermine the rights of our brothers and sisters, sharing with us the Nile basin,” he said, Reuters reported. “Nevertheless, it is unacceptable for the negotiations to continue forever in an attempt to impose the realities on the ground,” Sisi said. Earlier, US President Donald Trump has intervened in the dispute between two of African nations, directing the State Department to suspend some aid to Ethiopia over “lack of progress” in talks among the countries. Negotiations continue on a deal that must address how to resolve future disputes.

Egypt’s Coptic Pope Says Confident GERD Talks Will Lead to Solution
Cairo - Walid Abdulrahman//Asharq Al-Awsat/September, 26/2020
Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II is confident the negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will move forward towards a solution that is appropriate for all. Speaking during his meeting with Ethiopia’s new ambassador in Cairo, Markos Tekle, the Pope said that he aims to gradually change the misconceptions between both peoples and support the relations to facilitate the negotiations, which are expected to resume soon. Pope Tawadros II described the Nile River as “God’s gift for all of us, same as sun and air.”The Pope praised the strength of the relationship between Egypt and Ethiopia, as well as between the Egyptian and Ethiopian churches, referring to his visit to Ethiopia and the loving relationship he has with the patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Mathias. The Pope also stressed the important role the Ethiopian ambassador will play to boost ties between both countries and the two peoples during his term, according to a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Coptic Church. Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have been in negotiations over GERD for years, with the latest round sponsored by the African Union (AU). The countries have not reached an agreement yet, as the path of negotiations remains unclear due to the countries' failure to reach a unified draft on contentious issues which should be presented to the AU presidency. Egypt and Sudan stress the necessity of reaching a binding agreement that guarantees the rights and interests of the three countries, in accordance with the Declaration of Principles Agreement signed in 2015 and the principles of international law. Earlier, Ethiopia announced the completion of the first filling of the dam, without agreeing with Egypt and Sudan, which angered the two downstream countries. Meanwhile, the Ethiopian ambassador affirmed his country's appreciation for the recent position of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Ethiopia's right to development. He told Egyptian media that his role as a diplomat is to create agreement between the two countries, noting that he will seek to support relations and facilitate negotiations on the Renaissance Dam. During his video-conference speech to the 75th UN General Assembly, Sisi called for an agreement on the GERD, stressing that the negotiation period should not be extended indefinitely in an attempt to impose a fait accompli.

Iran’s Oil Minister Admits Forging Export Documents to Avoid US Sanctions
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh defended last week his efforts to boost crude exports despite US sanctions and admitted that oil documents were forged to hide the origin of Iranian cargoes. “What we export is not under Iran’s name. The documents are changed over and over, as well as specifications,” Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying in parliament by the website of the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). In September, it was reported that three assessments based on tanker tracking showed that Iranian oil exports have risen sharply. Iranian exports have shrunk from over 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) since the US withdrew from a nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions in 2018. Still, Iran has been working to get around the measures and keep exports flowing. Data from TankerTrackers and two other firms, who asked not to be named, indicated exports are rising in September, although the figures fall into a wide range of between 400,000 bpd and 1.5 million bpd, reflecting the difficulty in tracking the shipments. “Exports are way up right now. We are seeing close to 1.5 million bpd in both crude and condensate so far this month,” Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers, told Reuters. “These are levels we haven’t seen in a year and a half.”Data from TankerTrackers, which tracks shipments and oil storage, showed almost half of Iranian exports were picked up by foreign vessels via ship-to-ship transfers, making it difficult to determine final destinations.

Ukraine Plane Crash Death Toll Rises to 26
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 26 September, 2020
Searchers combing the area where a Ukrainian military aircraft crashed found two more bodies on Saturday, bringing the death toll to 26. One person survived. The plane, a twin-turboprop Antonov-26 belonging to the Ukrainian air force, was carrying a crew of seven and 20 cadets of a military aviation school when it crashed and burst into flames Friday night while coming in for landing at the airport in Chuhuiv, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of the capital Kyiv. Two people initially survived the crash, but one later died in a hospital. No cause for the crash has been determined. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared Saturday to be a day of mourning for the crash victims and ordered that flights of An-26 planes be halted pending investigation of the crash cause. Zelenskiy, who visited the crash area on Saturday, called for a full assessment of the condition of the country’s military equipment and said he wanted an official report on the crash by Oct. 25.The An-26 is a transport plane used by both military and civilian operators. Nearly 1,400 of the planes were manufactured from 1969 to 1986, according to the company’s website, The Associated Press reported.

Six Palestinians, including three brothers, dead as cesspit caves in near Hebron
AFP/Sunday 27 September 2020
Six Palestinians from the same extended family were killed as an old cesspit caved in Saturday in a village near Hebron in the West Bank, Palestinian police and witnesses said. A father and his son were digging a septic pit when the adjacent old one collapsed, drowning them both, witnesses in Deir al-Asal said.
Three brothers who attempted a rescue also died, along with another youth trying to help. A police spokesman told AFP the victims were aged between 16 and 50.

The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on September 26-27/2020

From Rationality and Interest to Armed Militias!
Radwan al-Sayyed/Asharq Al-Awsat/September, 26/2020
I didn't know that the well-known philosopher Paul Ricoeur - French President Macron’s mentor - had started talking about peace and its links to advantage and rationality in the 50s of the 20th century. A colleague brought it to my attention while I was researching the evolution of the US legal philosopher John Rawls’ position between the 1950s and 1971 (the year his book, “A Theory of Justice” was published). Of course, the context in the 1950s was that of the Cold War raging between the two superpowers after the Korean War, a war that had been with weapons and through culture. Of course, when non-leftist philosophers entered the debate, they introduced into it Emanuel Kant’s thesis (1804) on lasting peace. In the actual and cultural war, the Americans and their allies employed the concept of freedom, considering it a prerequisite or equivalent to both rationality and advantage.
Free countries, in their constitutions and domestic laws, are true to securing peace. According to Kant, constitutional states establish federations of peace before the general international law slogan appears. As for John Rawls - aware of the necessities after the Vietnam War and the American Youth Revolution - he brought the notion of justice into liberal rationalism at the national and global levels; that the strategic primacy of freedom became an ethical demand as well.
What is the justification for this philosophical stance? It is justified by what happened after the end of the Cold War. The new world order that President Bush Senior talked about, and with which the former Pope John Paul II addressed, which appeared as something pushing in the direction of world peace or justice. As for the what remained of leftists, they spoke of hegemony, at a time when what had prevailed was conquests and conflicts over everything, between major and middle powers, over strategic interests and resources in the sea, land, and space. As for those who do not possess the capabilities and means needed for conflict - in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans - turmoil, subordination, and social, political, and economic penetration enveloped all aspects of their lives. The case remains the same today.
Amid the extremely difficult circumstances of the last three decades, particularly in the Middle East, the demand for stability, only stability, has prevailed. It was a requirement that was fulfilled or sought by the national authorities in every country during the Cold War era. But in times of chaos and "creative chaos" - according to the term used by the US Secretary of State during the President Bush Jr. era - and after the security of small and fragile national states became strategic, attaining stability became difficult, sometimes impossible. Even subservience to one of the great and middle powers does not achieve stability - as had been the case in the Cold War - because the division of areas of influence is no longer approved of, and it has become everyone’s “right” to dominate everywhere. In Syria, for example, the state was not helped by being subjugated by the Russian Federation. Indeed, this subjugation has hastened the intervention in it by the Americans, Iranians, Turks, and Israelis.
The same applies to Libya, where the French, Americans, and NATO intervened to topple the regime, and then several other countries others such as the Italians, Turks, and Russians, rushed to its land and sea over the past seven years, while the French and the Americans remained or returned. An international resolution, or several ones - was issued by the Security Council to bring back peace to every country of the five or six Arab countries where turmoil and upheaval occurred. But as the great British historian Eric Hobsbawm said, during this era global chaos, the Security Council, two-thirds of the time, is unable to stop the conflict between competing hegemons, which cannot be hinged or restrained by anything, including international laws, of course.
The most terrible thing to happen to the Arab and African states is that the major and middle powers, fighting over resources, are not satisfied with bringing their own armies and intelligence services, they also use internal and external militias. This happened in five Arab countries and eight African countries. The first impression was that these militias were local and organized terrorist and criminal organizations. Then it became clear that all of them - since their phenomenon began in the 1990s in Somalia and Congo, from Boko Haram to ISIS and “Al Qaeda” - receive support from neighboring countries, the major and middle powers, despite everyone emphasizing their roles in fighting colonialism or terrorism!
The phenomenon of militia is dangerous! It has been blended with Islamic schisms, and this link is a novel contingency, as previous affiliations with the left wing and, extreme leftists had been. They are armed gangs with “sub-state” (civil) loyalties. Their leaders, not their members, are no different from mafia leaders. They develop their operations by collaborating with the outside to be able to compete, increase gains, and persist for longer. It is known for everyone that intervening states or local political elites do not conceal their cooperation with the militias. In Mali, Congo, and Somalia there are militias, there are great powers, and there are local authorities. When a militia attacks cities or people, it gets support from external and local forces. The same is true for the militias in Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon, where foreign forces outside openly help them. The US wants to maintain the conventional arms embargo imposed on Iran because it supplies the militias deployed in the Arab countries. China, Russia, and European countries deny this.
However, Iran recently announced that it was able to supply the Houthis with missile technology to be manufactured locally after it had been forced to smuggle them in before! In Lebanon, which is controlled by the Iranian militia, Hezbollah, the United States is trying to isolate the group, but the French came to undermine their strategy, and the President of the Lebanese Republic is supporting it, granting its weapons legal legitimacy. Saad Hariri, the former prime minister - under the pretext of facilitating the formation of the government - hastens to make concessions that allow the group to continue to hijack major ministries! The conquest and conflict over strategic gains and resources today have rules and partnerships that they compete on. For instance, militia partnerships that were formed by local and international entities, are now partners in running the institutions, corruption, and the violation of citizens’ rights and security. During nearly three decades of “idleness” in the international system, there are no standards, rules, and practices that could help achieve stability anymore, so how about a rational and reformist peace?!

Trump’s Threat to Democracy Threatens the Economy
Noah Smith/Bloomberg/September, 26/2020
It’s still possible the November election will go off without a hitch and be settled the way most elections are settled -- by simply counting the votes, assigning electors based on statewide majorities and letting the constitutional rules decide who won. But this outcome is looking less likely by the day. It’s an open question what effect a contested election and a constitutional crisis would have on the US economy — but it probably won’t be good. President Donald Trump has increasingly signaled he won’t accept an election that doesn’t result in his own victory. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many voters are reluctant to go to crowded polling places and want to vote by mail. Supporters of Joe Biden appear far more likely to mail in their votes. But Trump has claimed (without evidence) that mail-in votes are widely fraudulent. And he has suggested he won’t accept an outcome in which Biden’s margin of victory comes via the mail.
There are other ways Trump could reject the verdict of democracy. Some sources suggest he has been discussing ways to circumvent the results of state elections and have Republican-controlled state legislatures appoint electors who won’t cast their votes for Biden. A few Trump allies, such as political provocateur Roger Stone, are even urging the president to declare martial law, seize ballots, and make widespread arrests of political opponents. If Trump either refuses to recognize the legitimacy of mail-in votes or uses a technicality of the electoral system to circumvent the will of the voters, it will represent at least a temporary cancellation of American democracy. The country may join the ranks of Turkey, Hungary, and other formerly democratic, quasi-authoritarian states.
What effect will this have on the economy? Plenty of research shows political instability is correlated with lower future economic growth. Coup attempts in Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, tend to inhibit growth in the following years (interestingly, the effect is even worse when the coups fail). Coups that overthrow democratically elected leaders seem to be especially harmful.
Asset markets have shrugged off other huge recent disruptions — COVID-19, the George Floyd protests — with remarkable resilience. It’s possible they’ll take the suspension of American democracy in stride as well. An unelected Trump administration may feel the need to replace lost democratic legitimacy with economic prosperity and pour on the stimulus. In the long term, political mismanagement could result in sharp economic decline, as in Venezuela, but that might not come for years. Growth in Turkey, for example, continued for several years after the massive 2013 protests against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A more serious economic impact could occur if a disputed election sends the country spiraling into chaos and civil conflict. The George Floyd protests in June were probably the largest in US history. If a Trump rejection of the election result provokes an even larger surge of demonstrations, it could lead to a spiral of violence, with leftist and rightist militias shooting each other in the street, if not worse. The result would be, if not a civil war, then a protracted sectarian conflict akin to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Such unrest would certainly be bad for economic growth. It would make future policy highly uncertain, as policy depends on maintaining stable control of the nation. Such uncertainty is believed to have a deleterious effect on investment and economic output, and some measures of uncertainty have already spiked to unprecedented levels:
Urban chaos, violent conflict and uncertainty over who will control the country in the coming years make for a very bad business environment. In a worst-case scenario, businesses and investors could decide the US is a failing state and that their money is best kept elsewhere, at least until things quiet down. The result could be an unprecedented capital flight — money stampeding out of one of the world’s largest economies and abandoning the reserve currency at the same time. That would probably mean a dollar crash, a surge of US inflation and destabilizing flows of hot money into Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia, South Korea and other, more stable developed nations. Bitcoin and gold would probably surge, but other assets would incur catastrophic losses, adding to the spiral of unrest.
Capital flight, investment exodus, and loss of reserve currency status would bring long-lasting economic devastation. The US would probably never again regain its position as the center of global wealth and technology. As when Russia lost the Cold War and fell into chaos in the 1990s, the collapse would be deep and long — but perhaps even worse, as the US has so much further to fall. That’s a worst-case scenario, but we must consider it. In general, a contested election and social unrest can’t be regarded as a net positive for the economy. Republican senators, Supreme Court justices, and other powerful figures should think very hard about the potentially enormous costs of allowing Trump to dispute the verdict of the electoral system.

What Does the Future Hold for the Middle East?
Vitaly Naumkin/Asharq Al-Awsat/September, 26/2020
Turbulent developments have swept across the eastern Mediterranean over the past decade, where old conflicts have become linked with new ones. Influential foreign forces have also come into the picture to compete with regional rivals, further fueling tensions. The discovery of gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean has only heightened these tensions.
Despite all attempts to put an end to the cycle of violence, armed conflicts in the region have become the norm. Tensions between regional powers have become so great that debates are being held on whether a military conflict may erupt between NATO members Greece and Turkey. Discussions have also revolved on the possibility of NATO allies imposing sanctions against Ankara (although it seems unlikely to ever happen).
Russia’s role in all of this emerged on the diplomatic, security and economic levels, and significantly when it comes to energy. Moscow has been strongly promoting its approach of “friendship with everyone” and has been increasingly offering its services as mediator among rival regional players. It is enough to mention the major drills the Russian navy held in the Mediterranean on September 1 to 8. They were the first in the region in Russia’s modern history and included the participation of 28 ships, two submarines and 34 jets.
Moscow is concerned about the signing of a defense cooperation agreement between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias. The deal will call for the expansion of the American base on the island of Crete and three new ones will be built. Russian military analysts believe that Greece, by resorting to the Americans in its dispute with Turkey, will inadvertently become a pawn in the game against Moscow and will gain nothing from the United States once Washington resolves its problems with Turkey.
When speaking of mediation, I would like to point to the latest visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Cyprus, which boosted cooperation between the two countries. The minister presented Moscow’s services in resolving the Cypriot-Turkish dispute should they agree to it. The growing trust between Moscow and Ankara and the gradual cooperation between them may make such a proposal viable. Moreover, reports have shown that Moscow has played a role in improving relations between Turkey and Egypt.
Lavrov said that the increased Russian-Turkish cooperation will not have any impact on the dialogue with Nicosia. He stressed that relations between Russia and Cyprus can now be described as friendly and full of trust. Cyprus, for its part, expressed its great appreciation over the visit and granted Lavrov its highest honor. A handful of skeptics believe Russia will never defend Cyprus at the expense of ties with Turkey, which Moscow views as a more valuable asset.
Turkey, on its end and despite pressure from various sides, has no intention of abandoning its plans to develop the eastern Mediterranean region despite disputes with Greece and Cyprus. It will continue to drill wells and will be prepared to take decisive steps to “defend its rights,” as it claims. At the same time, it is taking reconciliatory steps. Many Russian analysts were surprised with the Turkish opposition’s negative response to Turkey’s decision to withdraw the seismic research vessel Oruc Reis from the disputed area after it had sailed to it on August 10 with an entourage of warships.
Russian analysts have questioned the seriousness of such a “reconciliatory” move by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, dismissing it as a tactical gesture, (especially since the vessel was docked in Antalya for resupplies) aimed at not just Greece, but the whole European Union ahead of its September 24 – 25 summit.
At any rate, is there anything wrong with Turkey seeking to ease tensions especially in wake of serious discussions among the EU about the possibility of imposing sanctions on Ankara? Erdogan’s maneuver is an important step for everyone to ease the dangerous tensions that are putting relations between members at risk. These tensions have caused deep concern, significantly in wake of tank exercises the Greek military had staged near the border with Turkey. American tanks were involved in the drill.
On the other hand, the opposition has criticized Erdogan for his saber-rattling and lack of dialogue with regional countries. They have also slammed him for making unjustified concessions to the Greeks. However, the modest positive reactions from the EU and Greece to the Oruc Reis’ withdrawal from the disputed zone reveal that Erdogan’s moves are reaching their goal.
In an attempt to push the EU to take firm measures against Erdogan and force him to make concessions, Cyprus obstructed, days before Lavrov’s visit, the EU’s attempt to impose sanctions against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and several of his senior officials. It demanded that Europe first impose sanctions on Turkey. Despite such moves, the majority of analysts believe that the chances of Europe slapping sanctions on Turkey are slim. Alongside Greece and Cyprus, France remains Erdogan’s fiercest opponent in Europe. President Emmanuel Macron had declared that Turkey was no longer a partner of the EU in the Mediterranean and has demanded clarifications from Erdogan over his intentions in the area before contacts between them can be held. Germany, meanwhile, is the supporter of the “soft approach” towards Ankara because it is home to a large and influential Turkish diaspora.
The gas diplomacy is an important approach for Russia in the region. It is a significant factor in the complicated Russian-Turkish interaction in Libya. Russia and Turkey are interested in easing the contradictions between them by attempting to reach a cessation of hostilities in Libya. We can expect Moscow and Ankara to take more confidence-building steps in the near future by making serious moves to normalize the situation in Libya. Indeed, some reports have said that they were already working to achieve this.
Here, the experience of cooperation between them in Syria comes in handy. They have deployed joint patrols in Syria that are very useful for them, and should their efforts yield fruit, then they may bolster their positions in Libya. One Turkish politician told me that Turkey was better off at this point dealing with one major global power: Russia. Russia, he explained, has vast experience in getting itself out of difficult positions and of achieving constructive cooperation despite differences. Ankara is better off working with a country that it enjoys common interests with, than working with a few where these interests deeply clash.

Toward a Transformational Peace in the Middle East
Guy Millière/Gatestone Institute/September 26, 2020
Both Arab countries and Israel will benefit immensely.
Palestinian leaders are suddenly discovering that, as the Arab saying goes, "The dogs bark but the caravan moves on" – possibly without them.
"We [realists] understand that only defeat will convince Palestinians like Mrs. Ashrawi, and through them Iranian, Turkish, Islamist, leftist, fascist, and other anti-Zionists, that the century-plus conflict is over, that Israel has prevailed, and that the time has come to give up on futile, painful, and genocidal ambitions." — Daniel Pipes, Middle East Scholar.
If President Trump is able to continue following the bold, unconventional path he has traced, he will most likely succeed where all his predecessors have failed. What he has accomplished already -- in less than four years, with so many forces determined to undermine him... is extraordinary.
"Trump has done more for peace in the Middle East in four years than any other American President in seventy-two years." — Meyer Habib, member of the French National Assembly, i24 News, September 14, 2020.
Pictured from left to right: Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan participate in the signing of the Abraham Accords in Washington, DC on September 15, 2020. (Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
On September 15, two peace agreements with Israel and known as The Abraham Accords – one with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and one with Bahrain, and -- were made official at a White House ceremony. President Donald J. Trump spoke of a "historic breakthrough" and a "previously unthinkable regional transformation". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added that the world is witnessing "the dawn of a new Middle East ".
The agreements, which come 26 years after the last peace treaty, between Jordan and Israel, mark a further step towards the integration of Israel in the region.
The UAE and Bahrain are the first Arab countries to recognize Israel without requiring any concession from Israel (Netanyahu said that the extension of Israeli sovereignty to parts of Judea-Samaria and the Jordan Valley was suspended, not canceled) and without any American financial contribution involved.
The UAE and Bahrain are also the first Arab countries to establish fully normal country-to-country diplomatic relations with Israel. Embassies will open soon. Direct flights will connect Ben Gurion Airport to Abu Dhabi and Manama. Both Arab countries will establish financial and economic relations with Israel, invest in Israel and have already signed contracts with Israeli companies.
Israel, one of the world's most inventive countries and a world leader in high technology, has much to offer wealthy countries. Both Arab countries and Israel will benefit immensely.
The UAE may also reportedly be openly entering into military cooperation with Israel. The defense of the UAE and Bahrain would be significantly improved. Perhaps Israel will be better able to ward off the "Death to Israel" attack that Iran has been threatening since its 1979 Revolution.
The text of the signed document speaks of the need to continue "the efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive, and enduring resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict", but the Emirates and Bahrain apparently did not consider the Israeli-Palestinian conflict an obstacle to peace or to full cooperation with Israel. Neither the UAE nor Bahrain received the slightest condemnation from other Arab countries. In fact, they received congratulations.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi said on Twitter: "I value the efforts of those in charge of the deal to achieve prosperity and stability for our region."
The Arab League, which, at the Khartoum Conference of 1967, delivered the three "nos" -- no peace, no recognition, no negotiations [with Israel] -- this year rejected the Palestinians' demand to reject the Abraham Accords.
Although the Palestinian Authority spoke of "betrayal," support for the Palestinian cause from leaders of the Arab world has been collapsing for years. Palestinian leaders are suddenly discovering that, as the Arab saying goes, "The dogs bark but the caravan moves on" -- possibly without them.
Over the past decade, in fact, a geopolitical earthquake has swept through the Middle East that changed almost everything.
The Muslim Brotherhood seized power in Tunisia and in Egypt (although they were soon rejected). Libya's Gaddafi regime was destroyed and the country found itself abandoned to Islamist gangs. A jihadist "Islamic State" was created in northern Iraq and eastern Syria and quickly became the rear base for attacks against Saudi Arabia and the West. Syria was ravaged by an atrocious civil war. Lebanon came under the control of Hezbollah. The mullahs' regime in Iran showed ever more clearly its expansionist goals, nuclear ambitions and its will to become the regional hegemon.
Saudi leaders and Gulf monarchs presumably feared being overthrown -- and reacted. They helped General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to seize power in Egypt and weaken the Muslim Brotherhood. They are currently helping Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who holds eastern Libya, to fight the Islamist militias and Turkish troops that support Fayez al Sarraj in Tripoli.
Saudi leaders and Gulf monarchs had the sophistication and foresight to see that the Obama administration had accepted and even encouraged Iran's regime, as well as the Muslim Brotherhood's rise to power in Tunis and Cairo, and had led the destruction of the Gaddafi regime. President Obama seemed intentionally powerless in the face of ISIS, the civil war in Syria and Hezbollah's takeover of Lebanon. He signed the Iran nuclear deal that gave the mullahs access to tens of billions of dollars, which they used to tighten their grip on their citizens, the region, and to finance Islamic terrorist groups threatening the Sunni world. Saudi leaders and Gulf monarchs saw that they and Israel have a common enemy. The Iranian regime, their main enemy, was also Israel's enemy. They saw that Israel was a regional economic and military superpower, the Middle East's "Silicon Valley". They saw that, unlike Iran, Israel has no regional ambitions and is no threat to them. They began to see that it would be greatly in their interest to get closer to Israel and that the "Palestinian cause" had long since ceased to be an asset and had instead become an ungrateful burden. They remember that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1970 attempted to overthrow Jordan's King Hussein and assassinate him. They remember that the Palestinians backed Saddam Hussein during the Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait, which until then had peacefully been employing nearly half a million Palestinians.
Saudi leaders and Gulf monarchs, who were already engaged in discreet, unofficial ties with Israel, had tried pressuring the Palestinian Authority to soften its positions -- to no avail.
On coming to power in January 2017, President Trump saw opportunities to move forward and found in Prime Minster Netanyahu a reliable ally who shared his strategic vision.
Trump also decided to quickly destroy the Islamic State, and a few months later he eliminated its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. On May 8, 2018, Trump also removed the United States from the Iranian nuclear deal; put in place strict sanctions against the Iranian regime to try to limit the internal and external damage it was doing and planning to do, and took out the Iran's terror chief General Qassem Soleimani.
In May 2017, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Trump announced his desire to "discard the strategies that have not worked"; proposed that the leaders of the Sunni Arab world "build new partnerships in pursuit of peace to act for "stamping out extremism and vanquish the forces of terrorism", and "to choose between two futures". He told them that if they fought terrorism and reformed, the United States would be on their side against Iran. He also suggested that they move closer to Israel. Trump's flight from Riyadh to Jerusalem was the first between the two capitals, and he was the first sitting President to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem. He said the United States officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, went to Bethlehem to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and, breaking with the previous diplomacy of self-flagellation and appeasement, accused Abbas of being responsible for inciting hatred and terrorism. Trump also asked that the Palestinian Authority stop payment to terrorists and their families. When the PA refused to do so, he slashed US funding and ceased all dialogue with PA leaders. On May 14, 2018, he moved the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, and shortly after, announced that because UNWRA employs members of Palestinian terrorist groups, it is thus an "irredeemably flawed operation" which the US would no longer fund. He asked the State Department to publish a statement clarifying that from now on the United States will regard as refugees only the people who left the territory of Israel in 1948-49, and not their descendants.
His decisions did not provoke the general uprising of the Arab street that many so-called "experts" had predicted, and led only to mild reactions from Sunni Arab leaders. Trump also refused to give in to the crippling delusions that had wrecked the now defunct Oslo Accords. He refused to make any concession to terrorists or to subvert the imperatives of security or the historical rights of Israel. He entrusted a group led by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to develop a plan to establish peace between Israel and the Sunni Arab countries and to solve the Palestinian problem. The plan, presented in Washington on January 28, 2020, proposed to the Palestinian Authority a state that would be fully demilitarized, on the strict condition that the PA completely renounced terrorism, teach children peace and tolerance, and accepted Israeli control for everything related to security and defense. As expected, the Palestinian Authority rejected the proposal. Few commentators noted that the ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman were present at the White House that day, and few noted that the plan had the support of seven Sunni Arab states (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Morocco).
Other agreements appear set to follow. President Trump has noted that "seven, eight or nine more countries are ready to join the deal".
Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said on August 19 that Saudi Arabia remained "committed to peace with Israel on the basis of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative". Helpfully, Abu Dhabi's Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is close to Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman; Prince bin Zayed undoubtedly did not make a decision without speaking to Prince bin Salman. The King of Bahrain, Hamed bin Issa Al Khalifa, is also close to Prince bin Salman. When asked if Saudi Arabia had approved Bahrain's signing the Accord, a spokesman for the kingdom replied that "it remains committed to working with all of its strategic partners to achieve a just and enduring peace within the region".
It is reasonable to think that Saudi Arabia will wait to know the outcome of the US presidential elections and work out the priorities of Saudi royal family members before a further commitment.
They can clearly see that, depending on the result in the US on November 3, the process can either continue smoothly or be threatened. They can also doubtless see that the strict sanctions against Iran put in place by President Trump in 2018 must not be removed if peace is to advance, but that the Democrats, if they win, are considering removing them. The Saudi rulers can also see that Iran recently made an agreement with China, and that President Trump intends to pursue an intransigent policy towards China. They also may justifiably fear that the Democrats, should they win, will revert to their previous policy of trying to persuade hostile regimes to change by appeasing them.
If the US initiative continues, a regional peace could take shape within the next few years. The Iranian regime would be contained and presumably prevented from developing nuclear weapons. The Palestinian Authority would be faced with a choice: either accept what was proposed -- which may dwindle to less than what was proposed on January 28 -- or suffer the consequences of further intransigence, further irrelevance, and even defeat.
For now, the Palestinian Authority is stubbornly sticking to its intransigence. "There is," Palestinian negotiator Hanan Ashrawi recently said, "an erroneous assumption that the Palestinians are defeated". Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes, in a reply to Ashrawai's statement, wrote:
"We [realists] understand that only defeat will convince Palestinians like Mrs. Ashrawi, and through them Iranian, Turkish, Islamist, leftist, fascist, and other anti-Zionists, that the century-plus conflict is over, that Israel has prevailed, and that the time has come to give up on futile, painful, and genocidal ambitions."
Meanwhile, Norwegian MP Christian Tybring-Gjedde has proposed President Trump, the driving force behind the accords, for the Nobel Prize for Peace. A few days later, a Swedish MP, Magnus Jacobsson, also proposed that President Trump receive the Nobel Peace Prize -- this time for agreements he obtained between Kosovo and Serbia (Kosovo, a Muslim state, intends to establish diplomatic relations with Israel and to locate its embassy in Jerusalem). President Trump would be a deserving choice that would shed a renewed honor on the Nobel Committee.
If President Trump is able to continue following the bold, unconventional path he has traced, he will most likely succeed where all his predecessors have failed. What he has accomplished already -- in less than four years, with so many forces determined to undermine him (for instance, here, here and here) -- is extraordinary. Deploring that France and the European Union refused to recognize the importance of the event and chose to continue supporting the Palestinian Authority unconditionally, French MP Meyer Habib said on television, "In less than four years, Trump has done more for Israel and for a real peace in the Middle East than any other American President in seventy-two years."
British journalist Melanie Philips wrote:
"If the moderate Arab world now finally understands that Israel is not its enemy but its ally, this could begin to undermine the foundations of irrational and self-defeating hatred that has fueled the Islamist war against the West. While intractable Islamic fanaticism will not just disappear, the Abraham Accords might give Arab and Muslim reformers wind in their sails to bring their culture into an accommodation with the rest of the world."
"Western Europe and the American left," she added, "will be the last people on earth to realize this."
*Dr. Guy Millière, a professor at the University of Paris, is the author of 27 books on France and Europe.
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Women’s voices must be part of the Middle East’s new narrative
Heba Yosry/Al Arabiya/Saturday 26 September 2020
Women and girls in the Middle East must be heard. Progress on increasing women’s access to decision-making spaces has been made, but there is still a long way to go.
The world recently incurred a great loss with the passing of American Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Her arduous work for gender equality and women’s empowerment compelled even her ardent critics to pay respect and acknowledge her legacy. One of her most abiding quotes will be “women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” It is as simple as that. The apparent dichotomy between the public and the private arenas must not dictate a woman’s place. Women belong wherever the conversations are taking place that will shape her, others, and the future.
But how can women belong, have certainty that contributing to every conversation is their rightful place, and participate in every decision when we silence them at a young age? In Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan and so many other nations, the World Bank data shows us the population parity between women and men: for how much longer will we silence our children and women?
Today we are witnessing the great change in the Middle East and the wider Muslim world. Our leaders in Egypt Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain are catapulting our nations from the historical nostalgia of our heydays to new and sustainable advances that will allow Muslim countries to reclaim our place at the table of civilization through applying visionary strategies on Artificial Intelligence, dedicating the necessary resources for advancing education, technology, sustainable development and improving women’s rights.
Yet there is still a deep malaise in Middle Eastern societies. One could assume, like many westerners do, that perhaps Islam is the problem, perhaps it is a religion that oppresses and silences women. As a Muslim woman my answer is no, Islam is not the problem, our captivity within religious dogma is the problem. Historically, Islam championed women’s rights such as granting them right to inheritance, initiation of divorce, and custody rights at a time when women in Greek culture, for example, had absolutely no rights. Not to mention the many examples of strong and outspoken women within Muslim history. One could look at Khadija, the prophet’s first wife, who chose her husband a much younger man who worked for her. Or Ayesha, the most beloved wife who accompanied the prophet on battles and Muslim men and women would flock to benefit from her knowledge. She led men in war. Or Zaynab, the prophet’s daughter whose husband didn’t believe in the prophet and still she loved and lived with him in Mecca. Muslim history is rife with stories of strong, willful and opinionated women who refused to be silenced or their voices to be drowned out. Islam initiated the impetus for advancing women’s rights. It is now time to transform this impetus into a drive for achieving complete equality.
The pervasiveness of historically strong Muslim women or Islam’s previous role in advancing women’s rights shouldn’t deter us from acknowledging the dire inequalities that many Muslim women endure. This oppression does not emanate from the Quran, but from the static and historically contextual readings of the Quran. One of the most essential premises of monotheistic religions is the transcendence of God’s wisdom of any spacio-temporal conditions, i.e. its freedom from limitations. Nevertheless, dogmatic and literalist readings are being used to imprison women within a historically bygone era of submissiveness. It was in the 1920s that the Egyptian icon Huda Sha’rawi vehemently fought for girls and women’s inherent right to access education and to full participation in public life. She fought for our right to speak and demanded the world to listen. A woman’s totality is integral to the global story.
We need to acknowledge the strides taken by Arab governments to advance women’s rights and eliminate gender parity. In 2019, the World Bank recognized Saudi Arabia as the top reformer globally due to the various policies and legislations that aim to increase female economic participation. In Egypt, the National Council for Women recently pushed for legislation to protect the anonymity of sexual abuse victims to provide a safe space for survivors to report and hold the perpetrators accountable. This week, the UAE's Gender Balance Council announced a new law that will ensure equal pay for men and women in the private sector, which will further improve the country’s position on the UN Gender Inequality Index. Last year, the UAE ranked first in the Arab world and 26th globally. Women’s issues are getting the centrality and attention they deserve on governmental agendas. Yet, to create systemic and sustainable progress, taboos and dogmas that are weaponized to silence women need to be abolished.
There is a new narrative being written. A narrative where friend and foe are changing. A narrative that aims to include diverse voices of those who can achieve progress, not dwell on the past. This narrative must include girls and to include our girls we must stop shackling them with shame and silence. We must allow them not only to speak but also to sing, for one could never know when the next Um Kulthoom might rise from the silent ranks and emerge unto her stage.
*Heba Yosry teaches psychology and philosophy in Cairo. She holds a post-graduate degree in Arabic literature and philosophy from the American University in Cairo.