English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese,
Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For June 01/2020
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
http://data.eliasbejjaninews.com/eliasnews21/english.june01.21.htm
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Bible Quotations For today
No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s
life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 15/09-16/:”As the
Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my
commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s
commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my
joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. ‘This is my commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than
this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do
what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant
does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I
have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not
choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that
will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese
Related News & Editorials published on May 31- June 01/2021
Your Lebanon Is Holy, Defend Its Sovereignty & Independence/Elias Bejjani/ٍMay
29/2021
Health Ministry: 111 new Coronavirus cases, 6 deaths
Pope to meet Lebanese Christian leaders to pray for 'the gift of peace and
stability'
Pope invites Lebanon’s Christian leaders to Vatican amid crisis
Urgent Call of the Victims for Support in Securing Funds for the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon
Aoun discusses developments in exporting Lebanese products to KSA and Gulf
states with Hoballah
Center House meeting discusses local developments, cabinet formation
Lebanon Receives French Report Regarding Beirut Port Blast
Qatari Emir Urges Lebanese to Speed Up Govt. Formation
French Investigators Question Carlos Ghosn in Beirut
Berri broaches cabinet formation with Hariri, meets Del Col and Shawabkeh
Hariri Returns to Beirut, Holds 'Positive' Meeting with Berri
Berri revives initiative to form Lebanon’s government
UNIFIL marks UN Peacekeepers’ Day, affirming importance of peace in south
Lebanon and celebrating power of youth
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published on May 31-
June 01/2021
Iran Says Saudi Talks Ongoing in 'Good Atmosphere'
Iran judiciary sets ‘red lines’ for candidates in already tightly-controlled
system
Tehran says Iraq to release $125 million of frozen funds for vaccines
No deadlock, but still no deal in Iran nuke negotiations
Iran: Hamas already rebuilding Iran-backed rocket arsenal
Iran presses Houthis to step up drone attacks on Saudi Arabia
Netanyahu compares Bennett-Lapid coalition to Syria, Iran politics
France captures ex-soldier after overnight manhunt
Cairo leads a regional effort to keep the Palestinian issue under control
Turkish agents abduct Gulen’s nephew from Kenya
Toll In Twin DR Congo Attacks Rises To At Least 50: Monitors
US-Denmark spying allegations 'extremely serious' if proven: France
Scores of children abducted from Islamic seminary in Nigeria
Titles For The Latest The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from
miscellaneous sources published
on May 31-
June 01/2021
Hagia Sophia: A True “Center of Knowledge about Islam”/Raymond
Ibrahim/May 31/2021
How did Iran target a secret CIA site in Iraq?/Seth J. Frantzman/Jerusalem
Post/May 31
Palestinians launch campaign to oust ‘illegitimate’ Abbas/Khaled Abu Toameh/Jerusalem
Post/May 31
Is Israel entering the post-Netanyahu era? - analysis/Herb KeinonJerusalem
Post/May 31/2021
Bennett's decision to oust Netanyahu is Israel's first step to sanity/Yaakov
Katz/Jerusalem Post/May 31/2021
European Parliament Freezes Ratification of China Investment Treaty/Soeren Kern/Gatestone
Institute/May 31/2021
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News
& Editorials published on May 31- June 01/2021
Your Lebanon Is Holy, Defend Its Sovereignty & Independence
Elias Bejjani/ٍMay 29/2021
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/77734/elias-bejjani/
History teaches us that almost none of the world’s greatest nations have ever
been defeated by their rivals. All of them were first weakened and destroyed
from within, before their enemies were able to bring them to their knees. Even
medicine teaches us that when the body loses immunity it becomes vulnerable to
disease. Perhaps the best examples of this can be seen in the fall of the
Ottoman and Roman empires.
These historical and medical realities are a good example of what personifies
the pathetic derailed stances of some of our people in both occupied Lebanon and
in Diaspora. These people are destroying the Lebanese communities from within,
through their shameless collaboration and subservience to the Iranian
occupation.
“Everyone who sins is a slave of sin” (John 8-34), and every Lebanese who
betrays his people to advocate for the Iranian occupation in any way and by any
means is also a sinner too.
These mercenaries and Pharisees, are void of any kind of dignity or national
honor. Unfortunately they come from all walks of life and from all religious
backgrounds and regions.
They have sold themselves to the devil in a bid to increase their riches and
solidify their power. They steal, cheat, embezzle, betray, and change their skin
for personal interests, all at the expense of the Lebanese people and Lebanon.
They ignore Lebanon’s deeply rooted history, distinguishable identity, and they
have no respect for the sacrifices of the many thousands of Lebanese patriots
who offered themselves on the nation’s altar to enable us to be proud,
prosperous and independent.
These antagonists are thirsty for power and blood; They sold their souls and
honor for thirty pieces of silver. They have no respect for Lebanon’s 7000 years
of civilization, culture and its glorious history. They are masters in
defeatism, ignorance, cowardice and faithlessness.
Their wicked camouflage, sweet words and lies are well known to all those who
are witnesses to the truth. They have missed the fact that Lebanon’s people have
never, ever knelt and hung their heads before any tyrant, invader, occupier or
conqueror.
All foreign invaders with their armies were forced to leave Lebanon in defeat,
humiliation and a fractured dignity.
The only memory of these invaders are the primitive carvings on the “Nahr Al-Kaleb”
rocks, near the city of Beirut. These carvings should foretell to the Iranian
occupiers their fate in Lebanon and that they definitely are not going to be any
better than those who like them deluded themselves and falsely believed that
they can destroy Lebanon and subdue its people.
They have all left while Lebanon and its people still stand as proud and
patriotic as they were 7000 years ago!
We remind the Pharisees and Trojans, who apparently suffer of an advanced
selective amnesia that the people of Sidon in the year 350 BC, chose to burn
themselves and their city after their prolonged heroic resistance failed to
safeguard their city against the Persian invader Artechtahta. They preferred to
die with dignity rather than live with humiliation.
The people of Tyre followed this same pattern in 332 BC. They resisted Alexander
the Great’s mighty army for seven months refusing to surrender or kneel.
Alexander, after capturing the city crucified many of the brave Tyrians, while
enslaving others in a bid to revenge his huge loss and demeaning humiliation.
In the same context,The Maronite Patriarch Gabriel Hgola choose to be burned
(1367 AD) in Tripoli northen Lebanese City in front of the Omari mosque in a bid
to save his people from the Mamlouk’s humiliation and torture.
The same sacrifice was taken by the Maronite Patriarch Daniel Al-Amshiti in the
same place in year 1282 for almost the same reasons and for the same cause.
In principle, a man is considered defeated when winning the whole universe, if
he lacks the courage needed to witness the truth and defend God’s word. By the
same token, the brave man who honors human values and dignity, remains
victorious even when imprisoned and chained in shackles.
We remind those who are afraid to takes clear stances in life, change their skin
to suit their opportunistic interests, and lack the courage to witness the
truth, that by doing so, they are committing the worst mortal crime. Imam Ali
says in this regard: “He who accepts acts of others is considered their partner.
He who is involved in evil acts commits two sins, that of performing the act and
that of its acceptance.”
We call on our derailed leaders and politicians in occupied Lebanon to
strengthen your faith, repent for their cowardice behavior and be witness for
the truth.
We call on them not to fall into the trap of individual interests, and not to be
deceived by the golden garments and illustrious schemes of those who have been
assigned to divide our nation and communities, and spread hatred and conflicts
among its members.
These derailed and weak shepherds, “God has blinded their eyes and closed their
minds, so that their eyes would not see, and their minds would not understand,
and they would not turn to me, says God, for me to help them”. (John 12-39).
It is a proven fact that the coward is a blind man in both sight and discretion,
whose conscience has turned numb.
Shame on every Lebanese who keeps a blind eye towards his people who imprisoned
arbitrarily in the Syrian jails and shame on every Lebanese who does not support
human rights and does not advocate for Lebanon’s liberation.
Shame on all these Lebanese who are scared to oppose the occupation of their
country, so as not to be expelled from the heaven of opportunistic interests and
privileges provided by the occupier, or in fear of his reprisal. They have
chosen the track of sin rather than that of righteousness.
These Pharisees are destroying the country which is our holy temple. They should
be dealt with in the same way Jesus did over 2000 years ago:
“It was almost time for the Passover festival, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. There
in the temple he found men selling cattle, sheep and pigeons, and also the money
changers sitting at their tables. So He made a whip from the cords and drove all
the animals out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle; he overturned the
tables of the money changers and scattered their coins; and he ordered the men
who sold the pigeons: Take them out of here, stop making my Fathers House a
marketplace”. John 03-13
We call on all those who have accepted slavery, are afraid to be witnesses for
the truth, feel defeated inside themselves, have deviated from the righteous
track, camouflaging, cheating and betraying Lebanon; We call on all of them to
wake up and start thoroughly reviewing their dangerous acts! Forgiveness is
always there and Lebanon’s open loving arms will embrace them once they repent.
“If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples, you know the truth, and
the truth will set you free”. (John 8-13)
Health Ministry: 111 new Coronavirus cases, 6 deaths
NNA/May 31/2021
The Ministry of Public Health announced, on Monday, the registration of 111 new
Coronavirus infections, thus raising the cumulative number of confirmed cases
to-date to 540388. It added that 6 deaths were also recorded during the past 24
hours.
Pope to meet Lebanese Christian leaders to pray for 'the
gift of peace and stability'
Mychael Schnell/The Hill/May 31/2021
Pope Francis on Sunday said he would meet with Lebanese Christian leaders to
“pray together for the gift of peace and stability,” as the country continues to
recover from a large chemical explosion at a Beirut port last year that killed
200 people and caused billions of dollars in damage. Reuters reported that
Francis, in his weekly blessing, said that his meeting in the Vatican set to
take place on Tuesday will be “a day of reflection on the worrying situation in
the country.”The blast in Beirut last year weakened the country’s economy, which
was already facing turmoil, Reuters noted. Francis, however, promised to visit
Lebanon if its politicians came to an agreement on a new government, the wire
service noted. Prime Minister designate Saad al-Hariri, according to Reuters,
has been in disagreement for months with President Michel Aoun over cabinet
positions. The Vatican did not reveal which of Lebanon’s three main Christian
denominations - Maronite Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Melchite Catholics -
would be represented at the meeting, according to Reuters. Hariri, a three-time
prime minister, left his post in 2019 following protests throughout the country
against a political elite, which protesters blamed for forcing the country into
crisis, the wire service reported. He was nominated prime minister again in
October, but has not been able to form a new government. After meeting with the
Pope in April, Hariri said the Francis told him he would only visit the country
after a government is formed, the wire service noted.
Pope invites Lebanon’s Christian leaders to Vatican amid
crisis
The Arab Weekly/May 31/2021
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis, who has promised to visit Lebanon if fractious
politicians agree on a new government, said on Sunday he would meet its
Christian leaders to discuss the country’s worst crisis since its civil war that
ended in 1990.
He told pilgrims and tourists in St Peter’s Square for his weekly blessing that
the meeting in the Vatican on July 1 would be a “day of reflection on the
worrying situation in the country.” Lebanon, a Mediterranean nation of six
million, has the largest percentage of Christians in the Middle East and is the
only Arab country with a Christian head of state. Christians make up a third of
the population. Lebanon is still reeling from a huge chemical explosion at the
Beirut port last year that killed 200 people and caused billions of dollars
worth of damage, further weakening an economy already facing meltdown.
Prime minister-designate Saad al-Hariri has been at loggerheads for months with
President Michel Aoun over cabinet positions. Cardinal Bechara Rai, head of the
Maronite Catholic church that is the largest in Lebanon, has criticised the
country’s political class and urged them to quickly form a Cabinet to bring
Lebanon out of its crisis. “Excuses are not convincing anyone regarding delays
in the formation of a government,” Rai said last week. “It looks like Cabinet
formation is in a long vacation. The stalemate is a killing to the country and
the people. It must stop.” Lebanon’s three main Christian denominations are
Maronite Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Melchite Catholics. There is a number
of other smaller Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic denominations. The Vatican
did not say which would be represented at the pope’s meeting. Hariri, a
three-time prime minister, resigned in 2019 after nationwide protests against a
political elite blamed by demonstrators for pushing the country into crisis. He
was nominated as prime minister again in October but has been unable to form a
new government. Hariri said after meeting the pope at the Vatican in April that
the pontiff told him he would visit the country but only after a government is
formed. Traditionally, invitations for the pope to visit a country are made by
both civil and religious leaders. Francis has urged the international community
to help Lebanon get back on its feet. He said on Sunday that the meeting with
Lebanon’s Christian leaders would be an opportunity to “pray together for the
gift of peace and stability.”Lebanon’s economic meltdown has pushed much of the
population into poverty and poses the biggest threat to stability since the
1975-1990 civil war.
Urgent Call of the Victims for Support in Securing Funds
for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon
NNA/May 31/2021
On behalf of the participating victims, the Legal Representatives of the
participating victims at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (“Tribunal”) in
Prosecutor v. Ayyash, Case STL-18-10, avail this opportunity to voice and convey
the participating victims’ urgent request to secure sufficient funds for the
continuation of the work of the Tribunal, consistent with the duty of the
international community to end impunity and ensure that the victims have access
to justice.
The participating victims have waited for more than fifteen years since a series
of terrorist attacks to have access to justice through the case heard at the
Tribunal, the only judicial institution capable of independently and
appropriately addressing and hearing the victims’ concerns and end their quest
for justice, truth, and reparation.
On 25 February 2021, the Tribunal’s mandate was extended from 1 March 2021 for a
further period of two years, or until the completion of the cases before the STL,
if sooner, or until the exhaustion of available funds, if sooner. On 26 March
2021, the United Nations General Assembly Fifth Committee passed a draft
resolution, which appropriated almost $15.5 million to the Tribunal by way of a
subvention. However, the amount approved was insufficient to secure the
continuation of the works of the Tribunal to complete its mandate.
At the outset, if the funding of the Tribunal is not secured and Case STL-18-10
is abruptly terminated, this will be a negative message to the victims who have
awaited justice and accountability for an extensive period of time. Moreover, it
will be a message of encouragement to the perpetrators to commit further
terrorist attacks without deterrence or fear. The termination of proceedings at
the Tribunal will destroy the last hope for rule of law and justice in Lebanon
and the commitment of the international community to uphold that.
In the interests of the participating victims, we, the undersigned, submit this
urgent request to ensure that the Tribunal is able to continue its works in
order to secure and uphold the victims’ right to truth and justice.
Annexed to this request are petitions of the participating victims in Case
STL-18-10, echoing their urgent request.
A. Prosecutor v. Ayyash (Case STL-18-10)
There are currently 31 victims granted participatory status in the case of
Prosecutor v. Ayyash (Case STL-18-10), and they are represented by the three
undersigned Legal Representatives. The case is comprised of three attacks found
to be connected to the attack against the former Lebanese Prime Minister H.E.
Rafiq Hariri on 14 February 2005; the attacks against Mr Marwan Hamade, the late
Mr Georges Hawi and Mr Elias El-Murr. In addition to the assassination of Mr
Georges Hawi as the main and direct target, these attacks resulted in multiple
casualties, including the death of Mr Ghazi Abou-Karroum and Mr Khaled Moura.
The proceedings of the STL-18-10 case is currently in the pre-trial phase. The
trial is expected to begin on 16 June 2021. This comes after a period of more
than one year of pre-trial proceedings, wherein participating victims’
expectations to finally have their voices heard were built up.
In this context, Excellency, we draw your attention to the fact that already at
this moment some trial preparations are put on hold in light of the uncertain
financial situation.
B. The Victims’ Right to Truth and Justice
Victims’ right to truth and justice is the crux of the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon. It is a right that the international community and the United Nations
have recognised in any societal transition towards the rule of law, democracy
and human rights.
For example, the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of
Crime and Abuse of Power promulgates the entitlement of victims “to access to
the mechanisms of justice and to obtain redress”, whereby judicial and
administrative mechanisms would enable victims “to obtain redress through formal
or informal procedures that are expeditious, fair, inexpensive and accessible.”
The participating victims have emphasised the need for a Tribunal; they waited
for more than fifteen years since the attacks before they were eventually
permitted to participate in the proceedings in 2020, and they have the right to
know the truth behind the attacks.
All the participating victims have universally voiced a similar concern: if the
Tribunal is unable to complete its mandate prior to the final pronouncement of
judgment in Case STL-18-10, the participating victims will have no access to
justice and the truth behind the attacks will not be established.
Respectfully, Excellency, we refer to Security Council resolution 1664, which
was drafted “[m]indful of the demand of the Lebanese people that all those
responsible for the terrorist bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister
Rafiq Hariri and others be identified and brought to justice”.
C. Ending Impunity
All the participating victims in Case STL-18-10 have expressed the importance of
the existence and functioning of the Tribunal in contributing to the ending of a
culture of impunity in Lebanon. The proceedings at the Tribunal not only
symbolise hope, but they are a requirement for justice to be achieved.
As mentioned, the trial is expected to begin on 16 June 2021. To end the
proceedings abruptly due to lack of funding would breach the rights of the
participating victims, and result in the continuation of a culture of impunity
in Lebanon.
The abrupt end to an ongoing case will convey a negative message to the
international community that the rule of law need not be upheld, and impunity
will prevail over accountability and justice. This disorder will lead to a
slippery slope where contributing States may decide to halt their contributions
to international judicial institutions and perpetrators of heinous crimes are
not brought to justice. In Lebanon and the Middle East, this would indicate an
encouragement to the perpetrators to pursue further acts of terrorism.
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is an institution that upholds the democracy
and freedom of expression in the Arab world. The Tribunal’s legacy is not held
only by Lebanon; it is the legacy of the contributing States and the
international community. To abandon the work and efforts of the Tribunal and the
international community to put an end to impunity thus far will be an indignity
not just to the rule of law but also to the legacy of an institution that was
established by and made possible through joint efforts of contributing States.
We, the undersigned, therefore submit this urgent request for your Excellency to
ensure the works of the Tribunal is able to continue, and consequently, uphold
the rights of the participating victims and put a stop to impunity in Lebanon.
D. Equality Among All Victims
All victims must be accorded equal rights and treatment at an international
judicial institution, including the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The case of
Prosecutor v. Ayyash et al. (Case STL-11-01, concerning the attack against H.E.
Rafiq Hariri) has advanced into the appellate phase by the end of 2020.
It is unjust for the participating victims – who have waited for more than
fifteen years – in Case STL-18-10 should the proceedings stop due to the lack of
funding. All proceedings require finality in order for the victims to achieve
the justice; a right that international law promulgates to protect, as
highlighted above.
In STL-11-10, the harms suffered by the participating victims in that case,
together with evidence presented by the participating victims, were recorded in
the trial judgment. This presented a milestone for the participating victims and
international justice in the ending of impunity. To refuse the same level of
participation to the participating victims in Case STL-18-10 would be unfair and
inconsistent with the notion of equality in international law.
E. Conclusion and Request
The urgent request for sufficient funding is consistent with the UN Security
Council’s willingness – as enshrined in resolution 1757 – “to continue to assist
Lebanon in the search for the truth and in holding all those involved in the
terrorist attack accountable and reaffirming its determination to support
Lebanon in its efforts to bring to justice perpetrators, organizers and sponsors
of this and other assassinations”.
Victims’ rights, including the right to present their views and concerns and the
right to have access to judicial mechanisms must be upheld to the highest
standards at international judicial institutions. To ensure that the
continuation of the proceedings at the Tribunal are of high standards in Case
STL-18-10, the funding shall be sufficient to cover the duration of all phases
of the proceedings.
The participating victims and their Legal Representatives in Case STL-18-10
therefore respectfully request your full support in securing the necessary
funding to ensure the proceedings at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon are able
to continue to their finality.
As mentioned, annexed herewith are the petitions of the participating victims in
Case STL-18-10 to urge the international community to support the continuation
of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and ensure that it is financially able to
conduct proceedings until their finality.—STL
Aoun discusses developments in exporting Lebanese
products to KSA and Gulf states with Hoballah
National News Agency/31 May 2021
President Michel Aoun received Industry Minister Imad Hoballah, accompanied by
Chairman of the Board of Arwan company, Mr. Abdul Razzaq Youssef, and Vice
President, Dr. Rouweida Daham, today at Baabda Palace.
After the meeting, Minister Hoballah announced that "During the second week of
next month, a contract will be signed to produce Sputnik vaccine in Lebanon,
through Arwan pharmaceutical company."
In addition, the Industry Minister emphasized that, "Through this contract,
between 30 and 60 million vaccines will be annually produced, with high
capabilities and efficiencies, provided that the company begins to manufacture
the vaccine as soon as the imported raw materials are imported from Russia."
The cement production crisis, the issue of exporting Lebanese industries to KSA,
and the steps which must be taken to address these two issues, were also
discussed in the meeting.
Statement:
After the meeting, Minister Hobballah made the following statement:
"I was honored to meet His Excellency, President Michel Aoun. We addressed some
issues of interest to the Lebanese people, especially regarding Lebanese
industry. We briefed the President on positive news in the industrial field, and
other news related to some difficulties which we hope we will soon overcome,
especially regarding the closure of some cement factories. Concerning this
issue, we had our contacts with the President and Prime Minister, and we hope
that matters will be resolved by granting the opportunity for factories to open
quarries, provided that these factories abide by what the Council of Ministers
and Ministers promised. Cement prices have been agreed upon and soon we will be
able to announce these prices, when quarries are opened. We affirm that this
problem is not a problem of the Industry Ministry, rather we are taking this
problem upon our shoulders to help reach a solution. We also tackled the issue
of Lebanese exports to KSA, where we completely agreed with His Excellency on
all necessary steps which Lebanon must take. We, as a Lebanese government, are
committed to implementing all what is required to secure the export of Lebanese
industries to KSA and Gulf states, with full supervision, and with focusing on
using scanners of course. The possibility of sending a Lebanese delegation
to visit KSA was deliberated, and we announced readiness to take this step. We
also hope our brothers in KSA will follow-up their response regarding Lebanese
agricultural and industrial exports.
Concerning the positive news, I would like to inform you, in the presence of Mr.
Abdul Razzaq Youssef and Dr. Rouweida Daham, from Arwan pharmaceutical
industries company, that during the second week of next month a contract will be
signed to manufacture the Sputnik V vaccine in Lebanon, through Arwan company.
We thank “Arwan” for its enthusiasm, the efficiency it has and its effort to
reach this result. We have asked the President for his support for this project,
and of course he was one of our supporters since the first launch. President
Aoun and PM Diab expressed their willingness to do all that is necessary to
facilitate this process. We look forward to the day of signing this agreement,
and God Willing, it will be a good sign, as the company will annually produce
between 30 and 60 million vaccines, with high capabilities and competencies.
In addition, I would like to congratulate the Lebanese industry for all what it
offered, especially during Corona lockdown period. I would also like to
congratulate Arwan company, its board of directors, its workers and its
employees for this achievement, which we hope will be soon achieved without any
obstacles. Finally, I congratulate Prof. Youssef and Dr. Daham for their efforts
to achieve this project, and the Industry Ministry will provide all the support
for its success."
Questions & Answers:
Question: When will the actual manufacture of vaccines begin?
Answer (Mr. Abdul Razzaq Youssef): “We thank His Excellency the President for
his unlimited support and also the Premier. God willing, within a period not
exceeding two months, we will start production and manufacture, and that depends
on the date of receipt of raw material from Russia, since this product is
manufactured based on raw materials which are imported from Russia. We promise
that all will be good, and God willing we will give you good news two weeks from
now”.
Question: What about solving the problem of cement, and balance in prices?
Answer (Minister Hobballah): “I would like to assert that we previously said
that we will control exports, and it has been controlled. We said that we will
allow import, and we opened import and issued licenses for that. As for prices,
it was agreed with companies and concerned ministries, on a price which is
considered excellent for local industry. We hope that this issue will be
resolved soon, especially since people are in deep need of this issue, at the
present time”.
Judge Meshleb:
The President also met Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Judge Tannous
Meshleb, and deliberated with him the work of the Council in light of the
vacancy after the death of three members.
Legal and constitutional issues were also tackled in the meeting.
Center House meeting discusses local developments,
cabinet formation
NNA/May 31/2021
A meeting was held at the "Center House" on Monday afternoon, which included
Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri, and former prime ministers, Najib Mikati,
Fouad Siniora, and Tamam Salam. The meeting reportedly took stock of the latest
political developments, as well as the country’s general conditions, especially
those related to the new government formation.
Lebanon Receives French Report Regarding Beirut Port Blast
Associated Press/May 31/2021
Lebanon on Monday received a preliminary report from France regarding last
year's massive port blast in Beirut that killed and wounded thousands, judicial
officials said. The officials said the French report is useful for the ongoing
investigation in Beirut over the August blast, which decimated the country's
main port and caused severe damage to surrounding areas. The officials, who
spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, declined to give
details about the report. Nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate -- a highly
explosive material used in fertilizers -- had been improperly stored in the port
for years. The catastrophic blast on Aug. 4 killed 211 people and injured more
than 6,000. Days after the explosion, French forensic police experts took part
in the investigation and left weeks later. Nearly 10 months after the blast, it
is still not known what triggered an initial fire at the warehouse that then
caused the explosion or who was responsible for storing the rotting fertilizer
at the port warehouse for years.Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned amid outrage
over the explosion, and prime minister-designate Saad Hariri has not been able
to form a new Cabinet since. That has worsened an unprecedented economic and
financial crisis that has seen the local currency collapse and thrown nearly
half the country's population into poverty. Earlier this month, the judge
investigating the blast, Tarek al-Bitar, requested that countries with
satellites stationed over Lebanon provide authorities with images taken before
and after the explosion that could help their investigation.
Qatari Emir Urges Lebanese to Speed Up Govt. Formation
Naharnet/May 31/2021
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has called on the Lebanese parties
to “put the national interest first, cooperate with the international efforts
and speed up the formation of a new government.”Sheikh Tamim voiced his message
in a letter sent to caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab. Voicing support for
Lebanon and the “brotherly Lebanese people,” the Qatari ruler the new government
would have a mission of “overcoming the challenges and crises and consolidating
stability in Lebanon.”
French Investigators Question Carlos Ghosn in Beirut
Agence France Presse/May 31/2021
French investigators interrogated former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn Monday
in Lebanon, where he has sought refuge since a dramatic escape from Japan, a
court source said. Ghosn, his defense team, a Lebanese prosecutor sitting in on
the hearing and the visiting French judges met at 10:00 am (0700 GMT) in the
Court of Cassation where the interrogation over alleged fraudulent activities
went underway, the source said. A separate Lebanese judicial source said the
hearing ended shortly before 6:00 pm and will resume every day until Friday from
10:00 am until 6:00 pm with a lunch break.
The 67-year-old Ghosn faces scrutiny from French investigators centering on
alleged improper financial interactions with Renault-Nissan's distributor in
Oman, payments by a Dutch subsidiary to consultants and parties organized at the
Versailles Palace. Jean Tamalet, one of Ghosn's lawyers, said that on Monday his
client was able for the first time to defend himself since his arrest in Japan
in 2018 on suspicion of financial misconduct. "It’s the very first time that our
client can explain himself in front of judges with his lawyers seated near him
and after preparing his defense," he told reporters at the end of the hearing.
Another defense lawyer, Jean Yves Le Borgne, said this was the "opportunity that
Ghosn had been waiting for.""It shows that the accusations against him are
unfounded," he added. Ghosn -- who holds French, Lebanese and Brazilian
passports -- was released on bail with a ban on leaving Japan which he violated
when he fled purportedly hidden in an audio equipment case in late 2019. He
faces potential charges in France but fears that leaving Lebanon could land him
back in Japan, despite the fact that France does not extradite its citizens.
Ghosn has long maintained that he would not have been given a fair trial in
Japan. Several French judges and investigators therefore made the trip to
Lebanon. "The defense team has already identified serious procedural
irregularities in the French dossiers," a statement by Ghosn's lawyers said.
"These abnormalities, which undermine the judicial process, are the result of
the peculiar methods of the Japanese investigation, which is the primary source
for building the French cases," the statement said. Ghosn is being heard as a
witness and would need to be in France to be formally indicted and gain access
to the details of the charges he faces.
Berri broaches cabinet formation with Hariri, meets Del
Col and Shawabkeh
NNA/May 31/2021
House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Monday, welcomed at his Ein al-Tineh residence,
Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri, with whom he discussed cabinet formation
progress amid a “positive atmosphere.”
The meeting lasted for two hours, during which the pair also discussed the
general situation, and the latest political developments.
Earlier today, Berri received UNIFIL Commander, General Stefano Del Col.
The House Speaker also met with the Secretary General of the Arab Parliamentary
Union, Fayez Shawabkeh.
Hariri Returns to Beirut, Holds 'Positive' Meeting with
Berri
Naharnet/May 31/2021
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri returned Monday to Beirut from the United
Arab Emirates. Shortly after his return, Hariri visited Ain el-Tineh for talks
with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the state-run National News Agency said.
The meeting kicked off the first phase of the Berri-led mediation that is aimed
at expediting the new government's formation. Hariri left the meeting without
making a statement but TV networks described the talks as "positive.""Berri has
laid out the main characteristics for the line-up's format: a 24-seat government
comprised of nonpartisan specialists and efforts are underway to find a format
for the naming of the two remaining (Christian) ministers," al-Jadeed TV
reported, adding that there was "optimism" in Ain el-Tineh after the meeting.
Berri revives initiative to form Lebanon’s government
The Arab Weekly/May 31/2021
BEIRUT – Lebanese political circles told The Arab Weekly on Monday that this
week would be decisive in terms of moves led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri
to remove hurdles that have been hindering the formation of a new Lebanese
government headed by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri.
Berri’s moves are supported by several political parties in Lebanon, including
Hezbollah and the Progressive Socialist Party. They also enjoy Western blessing,
especially from the United States and France. The Lebanese political sources,
who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that these moves constitute the last
chance for the formation of a Lebanese government. They, however, expressed
concerns over a detrimental role by Gibran Bassil, the head of the Free
Patriotic Movement, who might intervene to thwart Berri’s initiative. The
sources said they were awaiting the meeting that will likely take place on
Monday between Berri and Lebanese President Michel Aoun. Hariri has been at
loggerheads for months with Aoun, an ally of the powerful Shia Muslim Hezbollah,
over cabinet positions. Experts argue the main stumbling block to the formation
of a new government is still the issue of the “blocking third” of portfolios,
with Hariri now wanting to know the affiliation of the two Christian ministers
who will enter the government when the number of its members is raised to 24, as
Berri suggested. The same sources noted Hariri’s refusal to nominate new
Christian ministers in the government for fear they will serve as a cover for
the “blocking third” in the government that Aoun and his son-in-law, Bassil,
could use to blackmail him. Berri had recently succeeded in avoiding a political
escalation between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Future Movement over
Aoun’s letter to the Parliament, in which he tried to revoke Hariri’s mandate.
This success in avoiding a ratcheting up of tension encouraged Berri to revive
an initiative to form a government without a “blocking third.” This time,
however, the chances of success seem uncertain in view of the climate of
disapproval that still dominates the presidency.
Lebanon is still reeling from a huge chemical explosion at the Beirut port last
year that killed 200 people and caused billions of dollars worth of damage,
further weakening an economy already facing meltdown. Lebanon’s economic crisis
has pushed much of the population into poverty and poses the biggest threat to
stability since the 1975-1990 civil war.
UNIFIL marks UN Peacekeepers’ Day, affirming importance
of peace in south Lebanon and celebrating power of youth
NNA/May 31/2021
UNIFIL marked the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers at the
mission’s headquarters today. As 29 May fell on a Saturday this year, UNIFIL
chose to hold its ceremony the following Monday. On the occasion, the
peacekeeping mission’s head and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col
paid tribute to thousands of UN peacekeepers around the world, notably in south
Lebanon, for their selfless service in pursuit of lasting peace. “As
peacekeepers, our job is to keep the peace,” said Major General Del Col. “All
around the world, men and women in blue berets protect communities –individual
women and men, girls and boys, the old and the young, people with hopes and
dreams and plans for a brighter future that are too often thwarted by conflict.
We do this, sometimes, at great personal risk. Today, the world pays tribute to
your bravery and commitment.” This year’s commemoration focused on youth and
young peacekeepers as powerful agents of peace and security. Remarking on the
tens of thousands of young peacekeepers currently serving around the world, the
Head of Mission and Force Commander remarked that “each young peacekeeper makes
a crucial contribution to international peace and security. Each young
peacekeeper brings energy and hope to their mission, values we can never have in
short supply in this difficult job.” During the ceremony, Major General Del Col
and Brigadier General Maroun Kobayati, representative of the Lebanese Armed
Forces (LAF) laid wreaths in tribute to fallen peacekeepers. Since 1978, 322
UNIFIL peacekeepers have given their lives to the cause of peace in south
Lebanon. Over 4,000 UN peacekeepers have lost their lives on missions around the
world since 1948.
“We honour their memories by redoubling our efforts to accomplish our mission,
and by working toward a lasting peace in the region,” Major General Del Col
said. He remarked on recent incidents along the Blue Line, noting that the peace
and stability of the past 15 years cannot be taken for granted. “We cannot allow
any actions that could put the cessation of hostilities in jeopardy,” he said,
thanking the LAF for “their quick and effective actions these past weeks to
prevent further escalation.”Noting the particular challenges Lebanon has faced
in the past year, including the global COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic Beirut
port explosion, the UNIFIL Force Commander reiterated continued support to
Lebanon and its people. “UNIFIL and its troop-contributing countries provided
support to the people of south Lebanon to deal with this unprecedented crisis,”
he said. “We have donated equipment, expertise, and training to hospitals,
schools and communities, and will continue to do so as long as it takes.”In
2002, 29 May was designated as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers to pay
tribute to the professionalism, dedication, and courage of the military and
civilian peacekeepers serving in UN peacekeeping operations, and to remember
those who lost their lives for the cause of peace. The date was chosen to
commemorate the establishment of the first peacekeeping mission, the UN Truce
Supervision Organization (UNTSO), whose more than 50 observers currently work
with UNIFIL for peace and stability in south Lebanon.-- UNIFIL
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And
News published on May 31- June 01/2021
Iran Says Saudi Talks Ongoing in 'Good
Atmosphere'
Agence France Presse/May 31/2021
Iran's foreign ministry said Monday that the Islamic republic is continuing
talks with regional rival Saudi Arabia in a "good atmosphere," in the hope of
reaching a "common understanding."Media reports last month revealed that Iranian
and Saudi officials met in Baghdad in April, their first high-level meeting
since Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016. "Talks are still
continuing in a good atmosphere," ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a
press conference. "We hope these talks can achieve a common understanding
between Iran and Saudi Arabia," he added. Ties between the two countries were
cut in 2016 after Iranian protestors attacked Saudi diplomatic missions
following the kingdom's execution of a revered Shiite cleric. The talks in
Baghdad, facilitated by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi, remained secret
until the Financial Times reported that a first meeting was held on April 9.
Khatibzadeh confirmed the talks on May 10, saying their purpose was "both
bilateral and regional", but stressed it was "too soon" to disclose any details.
"De-escalation and (establishing) ties between two great Islamic countries in
the Persian Gulf region is to the benefit of both nations," he said at the time.
Iran in late April welcomed a "change of tone" from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad
bin Salman towards it after he called for a "good and special relationship" with
Tehran.The regional rivals have backed opposite sides of several regional
conflicts, from Syria to Yemen, where a Saudi-led military coalition is fighting
the Huthi rebels.Iran backs the Huthis, who are battling the coalition that
intervened in Yemen's war in support of an internationally recognized government
in 2015.
Iran judiciary sets ‘red lines’ for candidates in
already tightly-controlled system
The Arab Weekly/May 31/2021
TEHRAN--A senior Iranian judiciary official Sunday warned candidates running in
the forthcoming presidential election against crossing the “red lines” of the
Islamic republic in an already tightly-controlled system. Iranians are set to
elect a successor to President Hassan Rouhani on June 18, amid widespread
discontent over a deep economic and social crisis.The Islamic republic’s
candidate-vetting Guardian Council, controlled by Sharia jurists, has approved
seven mainly ultraconservative candidates to run in the election from a field of
about 600 hopefuls. “Candidates should not cross the system’s red lines in their
campaigns and speeches,” said Tehran Attorney General Ali Alqassi-Mehr, quoted
by Mizan Online, the judiciary’s official news agency. Wrongdoers will be
“confronted firmly”, he said and warned in particular against any attacks on the
“reputation” of the judiciary. Several issues are considered “red lines” in
Iran, including questioning the doctrine of Velayat-e faqih (the guardianship of
the jurist) which establishes religious authority over politics. The head of the
judiciary, ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi, is widely considered the favourite
candidate in the race to the presidency. Raisi won 38 percent of the vote in the
2017 presidential election but was defeated by Rouhani. The presidential
election campaign officially kicked off quietly on Friday. The Guardian
Council’s disqualification of several candidates appeared to have cleared the
way for Raisi, who faces four lesser-known candidates from his own camp and two
reformists without a strong base. The Islamic republic’s supreme leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday said candidates should focus on “youth
unemployment” and economic woes of “the disadvantaged class,” two themes
prominently highlighted in Raisi’s campaign in 2017 and again this year. Iranian
authorities, including the supreme leader, have in recent months called for a
high turnout, while the limited polls available have pointed to a potential
record abstention. A record 57 percent of Iranians stayed away from legislative
elections in February last year in which thousands of candidates, many of them
“moderates” and “reformists,” were barred from running. Iranian media,
meanwhile, quoted police chief Hossein Ashtari on Friday warning that the force
would take action against those “who break electoral standards” and who
“encourage the people not to vote”.
Tehran says Iraq to release $125 million of frozen funds
for vaccines
The Arab Weekly/May 31/2021
Iraq has agreed to transfer $125 million of frozen Iranian funds to a European
bank for the purchase of 16 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, Iranian Energy
Minister Reza Ardakanian was quoted as saying by state media on Saturday. Iran,
the hardest hit Middle Eastern country by COVID-19, has complained that US
sanctions were preventing it from making payments to buy vaccines. Ardakanian
said the payments would go towards the purchase of vaccines from the World
Health Organisation-sponsored global COVAX vaccine-sharing plan, state news
agency IRNA reported.
There was no immediate confirmation by Iraqi officials of the reported release
of Iran’s funds to buy the vaccines. While holding talks with world powers in
Vienna to revive its 2015 nuclear accord, Tehran has demanded the release of $20
billion of its oil revenues which it says have been frozen in countries such as
Iraq, South Korea and China due to US sanctions since 2018. Iranian foreign
ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday Iran and six world powers
have made significant progress in talks to revive their 2015 nuclear deal but
important issues still need to be resolved. “Each round of talks in Vienna could
have been the final round. We should not rush. We have made significant progress
but key issues remain,” Saeed Khatibzadeh told a televised weekly news
conference. “There has been no stalemate on the Vienna talks.”After former US
President Donald Trump ditched the deal three years ago and reimposed sanctions
on Iran, Tehran has been rebuilding stockpiles of low-enriched uranium,
enriching it to higher levels of fissile purity and installing advanced
centrifuges to speed up production. President Joe Biden has said Washington will
return to the pact if Tehran first resumes compliance with its strict limits on
uranium enrichment, a potential pathway to nuclear bombs. “All sanctions should
be lifted and then it should be verified by Iran…then we will reverse our
nuclear steps,” Khatibzadeh said.
No deadlock, but still no deal in Iran nuke negotiations
Jerusalem Post/May 31
The US, the Islamic Republic and world powers have been actively negotiating to
resolve the nuclear standoff since April and started a fifth round of talks last
week.
There is no deadlock, but still no deal, officials involved in the Iran nuclear
negotiations said Monday, as the fifth round of talks in Vienna enter their
second week. The US, the Islamic Republic and the other world powers have been
seeking to resolve the nuclear standoff since April.
Currently, the deadlines hovering over the talks are whether there will be a
deal before the Iranian presidential election on June 18 or before an agreement
for access to nuclear sites between Tehran and IAEA inspectors expires on June
24.
“We conduct the negotiations and discussions in Vienna with the necessary care
and obsession,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a
press conference on Monday, according to Iranian media. “Each round of the talks
could have been the last round, but because some issues remain, that round has
been moved to the next round.”“If the remaining key issues are resolved, it
could be the last round,” he said. “But if it is not, it will continue.” “The
Vienna talks have made good and significant progress in all three working
groups,” he added. “But key issues remain. These issues must also be addressed
carefully.”“All US sanctions must be lifted, and verification should be done,”
Khatibzadeh said. “This verification will take place in the formulas discussed
in Vienna, and then Iran will reverse its compensatory measures.” Iran’s demand
that the Biden administration lifts sanctions first, before a return to the 2015
nuclear deal’s limitations, has been the sticking point to concluding a deal
since the fourth round of talks. Many analysts believe Iranian negotiators are
purposely dragging out negotiations so that a new hard-line president can
complete the deal and take credit after June 18,
“There is no deadlock in the Vienna talks, and the talks have reached key
points, and key issues need to be decided, and this requires its own care,
obsession and time,” Khatibzadeh said. “We do not allow the talks to erode, nor
do we rush,” he said, adding: “The United States must decide whether to continue
[former president Donald] Trump’s failed legacy or return to its commitments
under the JCPOA, and if that happens, Iran’s response is the full implementation
of the JCPOA.”“The JCPOA is what is written, neither more nor less,” Khatibzadeh
said. A regional diplomat who was briefed by Western officials involved in the
talks said: “An agreement that would clarify the obligations of Tehran and
Washington to move forward” will be announced in Vienna this week.” But it was
unclear where that official’s optimism came from for an imminent breakthrough,
as neither Iranian or American officials have voiced a similar message that a
deal is close to being agreed. Reuters contributed to this report.
Iran: Hamas already rebuilding Iran-backed rocket arsenal
Jerusalem Post/May 31/2021
"The Palestinian resistance resumed production of missiles after the end of the
recent Israeli aggression," Iranian media has stated. Hamas in the Gaza Strip is
already rebuilding its massive rocket arsenal to target Israel in the next war,
according to Iranian news reports. The assessment by the media is based on
information received from Hamas’s political bureau to Fars News. It “announced
that the Palestinian resistance has resumed production of missiles with the end
of the recent Israeli aggression.” Hamas told its Iranian backers that “our
factories and workshops have resumed production of thousands of missiles to stop
the [attacks] of Netanyahu in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv,” Fathi Hamad, a member of
Hamas’ political bureau, said in a message on Sunday evening. Hamas has vowed to
protect Palestinians in Jerusalem. It launched a war on Israel on May 10,
targeting Jerusalem. It used more than 4,000 rockets to attack Israel over 11
days. It targeted air bases and major cities. Iran advised it on its strategy
and celebrated its efforts. Hamas thanked Iran for its support. Iran has used
this to fuel Hezbollah and other proxies against Israel. “The option of war
against Israel and [due to] discriminatory measures against the Palestinians is
still valid, but the Palestinians are not looking for a war because it costs
money, but it will continue forever, Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, said on
Monday,” according to Fars News. “Israel is occupying our lands, displacing our
people and continuing to kill,” said Sinwar, who has been touring Gaza in recent
days. Hamas has held parades showing off its weapons as well. Hamas has some
15,000 rockets and Palestinian Islamic Jihad still has rockets as well. These
have ranges up to 250 km., Hamas says. Hamas rocket technology is based on
Iranian technology and has included rockets smuggled from Iran in the past.
Iran presses Houthis to step up drone attacks on Saudi
Arabia
Jerusalem Post/May 31
The Iran-backed drone war is now threatening, or has involved Syria, Iraq,
Israel, Yemen and other states in the region. Iran, bolstered by its increased
unmanned aerial capabilities through encouraging Hamas to try to strike Israel
with them from Gaza, after it flew a UAV into northern Israel on May 18 and when
it used one in April to attack a CIA hangar in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan Region,
has now celebrated new Houthi drone attacks on Saudi Arabia. The Iran-backed
drone war is now threatening or has involved Syria, Iraq, Israel, Yemen and
other states in the region.
Iran’s major drone contribution has been to Yemen, where it supplied expertise
and equipment, such as gyroscopes and other specialist parts, to aid an
indigenous industry for UAV manufacturing. These became the Qasef-style drones
that the Houthi rebels have used for years against Saudi Arabia and the
Riyadh-led coalition. “According to Fars News Agency’s International Group,
Brig.-Gen. Yahya Sari, the official spokesman for the [Houthi] Yemeni Armed
Forces, announced that King Khalid Air Base was once again targeted by a Yemeni
drone,” an Iranian report said Monday.
It is clear from the Iranian reports that Iran is encouraging and is behind
these attacks. They are used to pressure Saudi Arabia. Iran relies on Houthi
information to tell the public of the role of the UAV units that the Houthis
have. “With the help of God, the UAV unit succeeded in targeting King Khalid Air
Base in Khamis Mushait this morning in an attack operation with a 2K Qasef UAV,”
the report said. “Referring to the precise targeting, [the Houthis] stressed
that the attack was carried out in response to the escalation of aggression and
the pervasive siege of Yemen.” The Yemeni UAV unit also targeted the King Khalid
Base in Khamis Mushait with a 2K Qasef UAV in an offensive operation on Friday
and Sunday. This means there has been a rising drone offensive against Saudi
Arabia over the past several days. Its “coalition air defenses intercepted an
explosives-laden drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia towards Saudi Arabia
late on Saturday, the alliance command center said early Sunday,” Arab News, an
English-language daily newspaper published in Saudi Arabia, reported. In a
statement carried by Al-Ekhbariya state TV, the coalition said the weaponized
UAV was aimed at the southern Saudi city of Khamis Mushait along the border with
Yemen, the report said. “It was the latest in a series of missile and drone
attacks by the Iran-backed militia against Saudi Arabia since the Kingdom
spearheaded a coalition to restore the UN-recognized government in 2015,” it
said. “Ignoring calls to support the peace negotiations being brokered by the
UN, the militia has also refused to end its offensive in the city of Marib.” A
drone that flew into northern Israel on May 18 came from Syria or Iraq and was
linked to Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. On that date, the IDF
said: “Earlier this morning, a UAV approaching the Israeli border in the Emek
Hama’ayanot region, near the Beit She’an Valley, was intercepted after being
monitored by the IAF. The UAV fragments were collected by security forces.”
Netanyahu compares Bennett-Lapid coalition to Syria, Iran
politics
Jerusalem Post/May 31
Netanyahu said Bennett was acting for his own personal interest, knowing that if
there would be another election, his political career would be over. Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared the expected Bennett-Lapid coalition to
politics in Syria and Iran on Sunday after Yamina leader Naftali Bennett
announced that he will form a government with Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid. In
his announcement, Bennett accused Netanyahu of leading Israel to national
suicide. Netanyahu said that if Bennett would have allowed Lapid's mandate
to form a government expire on Wednesday night, MKs from the so-called "Change
Bloc" camp would have joined and enabled the formation of a right-wing
government. He said Bennett was acting for his own personal interest, knowing
that if there would be another election, his political career would be over.
Netanyahu said what Bennett was forming was not a unity government but a weak
government that would harm Israel's deterrence. He compared it to what is
happening in politics in Syria and Iran. “What will this do to Israeli
deterrence? How will we look in the eyes of our enemies? What will they do in
Iran or Gaza? What will they say in the corridors of the administration in
Washington? This government will stand against Iran? This government supports
the dangerous nuclear deal,” Netanyahu said. Netanyahu blamed Bennett for
spreading lies and misleading the public. "He said prior to the elections that
he would not allow Lapid to become prime minister, even in a rotation model ...
he said he would never make Lapid prime minister because he is right-wing, and
it goes against his values." Concluding his speech on Sunday evening, Netanyahu
said: "No one would have voted for you if they knew what you would do," calling
Bennett's move "the deception of the century." On Friday in a three-minute video
released on social media, Netanyahu said Likud and Yamina negotiators had
reached what he called a far-reaching agreement, but Bennett refused to sign it.
He said the agreement would create a coalition of 59 MKs, two less than is
needed. Bennett has declined to form a minority government and urged Netanyahu
to find two defectors. Netanyahu accused Bennett of rejecting a right-wing
government and instead seeking to become prime minister of a “government of the
Left.” “Naftali Bennett is running to the Left,” Netanyahu said at the time.
“This goes against all their principles and promises and everything necessary to
guarantee the future of our state.”Tobias Siegal and Celia Jean contributed to
this report.
France captures ex-soldier after overnight manhunt
NNA/DW/May 31/2021
Elite tactical teams and paramilitary police in France captured an ex-soldier
who was on the run after firing at officers deployed to a domestic violence
dispute. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced on Twitter Monday
that a former soldier, who allegedly fired at a patrol responding to a domestic
violence call the previous evening, had been "neutralized" after being on the
run in southwestern France. The manhunt for the 29-year-old, who was armed with
a hunting rifle and sustained injuries during his capture, was brought to an end
by the gendarmes — France's paramilitary police. Interior Minister Darmanin
thanked the gendarmes and other state security services that had been mobilized
in pursuit of the fugitive. Elite tactical teams and some 300 gendarmes swept
through a forested area in the Dordogne region to look for the gunman with the
help of seven armored vehicles, seven helicopters and sniffer dogs. "Combing the
area will be long and painstaking... It could take many more hours yet,"
Dordogne prefect Frederic Perissat had told reporters.
Cairo leads a regional effort to keep the Palestinian
issue under control
The Arab Weekly/May 31/2021)
CAIRO - Recent Egyptian political moves have revealed a regional and
international consensus on re-opening dialogue with the Palestinians in order to
prevent the situation in the occupied territories from spinning out of control.
Cairo is working to open the way for the resumption of negotiations between
Israel and the Palestinians after firming up the bases of the ceasefire and
agreeing on a long and comprehensive truce, establishing the mechanisms for the
reconstruction of Gaza and resolving the prisoner exchange issue with Hamas.
Each of these issues needs time for Egyptian mediators to overcome the remaining
obstacles. Cairo’s effort is hence focused on convincing all parties that their
vital interests lie on avoiding any new escalation. Egyptian Foreign Minister
Sameh Shoukry held talks with his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi in Cairo on
Sunday, focusing on a set of issues related to the Palestinians, as well as on
the promotion of economic relations between the two countries. Ashkenazi’s visit
coincided with the arrival of the head of the Egyptian intelligence service,
Major General Abbas Kamel, in Jerusalem and Ramallah to follow up on the truce
agreement between Israel and the armed factions in Gaza. The agreement was
reached after an Egyptian mediation on May 21. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu received the head of Egyptian intelligence. He said that his meeting
with Abbas Kamel in Jerusalem addressed issues of regional security and ways to
prevent Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, from benefiting from civilian aid to
enhance its capabilities.
Palestinian sources revealed that Netanyahu informed Kamel that the truce and
reconstruction effort are linked to the prisoner exchange deal and Hamas’
confirmation that two Israeli imprisoned soldiers are indeed alive because there
is concern in Jerusalem that Hamas is manipulating this issue. Egyptian
President Abdelfattah al-Sisi sent a message to Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas, carried by Abbas Kamel, “confirming Egypt’s full support for the
Palestinian people” and indicating that Abbas will be considered the legitimate
representative of the Palestinians in any upcoming political talks. During their
meeting at the Palestinian Presidency in Ramallah, the Palestinian president and
the head of Egyptian intelligence discussed the latest developments in the
comprehensive truce and reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian researcher and director of the Arab Progress Centre for Policies
Muhammad Masharqa said, “We have to watch whether Kamel will land his plane in
Gaza or if his arrival will be via an Israeli crossing. That (landing in Gaza)
would be of significance as it will signal that Gaza is stable under the aegis
of Egypt considering that its intelligence chief in the Strip”. Talking to The
Arab Weekly, Masharqa indicated that there is a “multi-directional” package
under discussion that includes all parties, but at the same time “it is not
final and it still has many loopholes and booby-traps.”He noted that the
selection of the next Israeli prime minister within days will reveal more
details of this package, especially if Netanyahu is relieved of the task of
forming the government.
He stressed that there is talk about a long-term truce that extends for over ten
years and not just a ceasefire. Ambassador Rakha Ahmed Hassan, a member of the
Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, said Ashkenazi’s visit aims to reach an
understanding on aborting any attempt to re-ignite war, finding an appropriate
mechanism for the reconstruction of Gaza without involving Hamas, and consulting
about transfer of the Qatari grant to the Strip through the Palestinian
Authority and not Hamas.
Talking to The Arab Weekly, Hassan added that the Israeli foreign minister might
leave a delegation in Cairo to complete the indirect talks between the two
parties. It is assumed that the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail
Haniyeh, will visit Egypt soon.
The Egyptian security services arranged for indirect negotiations between an
Israeli delegation and another representing Hamas in Cairo. This made
Ashkenazi’s visit to Egypt and Abbas Kamel’s shuttle tour between Tel Aviv,
Ramallah and Gaza particularly important as a unique opportunity to achieve
tangible results. Cairo has the backing of the US administration in its efforts
aimed at preventing the deterioration of the situation in the region. It also
has the support of other regional and international powers that want to
coordinate all processes.
The Palestinian Authority, which had recently appeared to be isolated, believes
that there is an opportunity for it to resume its absent political role as long
as Hamas does not exploit the results of the Gaza war to its advantage. That
however requires the PA to seize at least part of the regional momentum. Egypt
is sparing no effort to build on the current conditions to lead a political
process that will restore its role, and ensure its influence on the decisions of
war and peace. Palestinian militant groups seem to follow the situation with
great caution, wary that the Egyptian role will adversely affect the close
relationship the radical factions have with Iran. Observers point out that the
Hamas leadership is refraining from fully resolving any of the issues under
discussion, as it has not rejected the parallel track approach followed by Cairo
and is waiting to assess its gains and losses on various issues where it has
much at stake.
Israel is inclined to bridge the gap with Egypt and favour a return to the
status quo ante that gave Cairo an important role to play over the Palestinian
issue, while Tel Aviv seeks to put its house in order in light of the failures
of the Gaza war at the intelligence level and in light of the ongoing
discussions about forming a government of national unity without Netanyahu.
Egypt wants to work on reaching a comprehensive, long-term truce in the West
Bank and Gaza, ending divisions between the Palestinian factions and preparing
for the start of the resumption of negotiations with Israel, thus preempting any
new approaches to dealing with the Palestinian issue.
The efforts made by Egypt are aimed at capitalising on the current relative calm
and exploiting the desire of the majority of the parties to return to the old
formula that determined the way of dealing with key aspects of the Palestinian
issue, allowing each party to maintain a significant part of its objectives.
The United States is working to engage in a long-term political process in which
Israel is to collaborate while the Palestinian Authority sees an opportunity to
restore its image as a reliable party to lead the settlement process from on
Palestinian side.
Hamas also maintains its position in the “trenches of resistance” without
fundamental concessions, leveraging the talk about the truce, reconstruction and
prisoner exchange to enhance its political reputation.
Turkish agents abduct Gulen’s nephew from Kenya
The Arab Weekly/May 31/2021
ISTANBUL – Turkish intelligence operatives arrested and repatriated a nephew of
an enemy of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who Turkey says ordered a failed coup
in 2016, state media reported Monday. Ankara accuses US-based Muslim preacher
Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the attempted overthrow which left hundreds
dead and thousands more injured. Since 2016, Turkey has arrested tens of
thousands of people suspected to have links to Gulen. Turkish state news agency
Anadolu reported that Selahaddin Gulen was brought back to Turkey by agents from
Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), quoting unnamed security
sources, but did not say which in country he was arrested. In a video posted on
social media on May 20, Selahaddin’s wife has hpwever confirmed the couple lived
in Kenya and that she had not heard from her husband, who taught at a school in
Nairobi, since May 3. Individuals and media linked to Gulen’s movement said on
social media that Selahaddin had been “kidnapped” in Kenya, as they launched a
campaign calling for his release. The Turkish news agency published a photograph
of the suspect in handcuffs with a Turkish flag on each side of him, but did not
say whether the MIT operation took place in agreement with the country in which
he was captured. Selahaddin Gulen is accused of belonging to the “FETO terrorist
organisation”, the description used by Ankara for Fethullah Gulen’s movement.
The preacher, who lives in Pennsylvania, insists he is the head of a peaceful
network of charities and companies and denies any links to the 2016 coup bid.
But Erdogan, who once was allied with Gulen, describes the preacher today as the
leader of a “terrorist” group which seeks to infiltrate and overthrow the
Turkish government. Since the failed coup, Turkey has “repatriated” dozens of
people accused of belonging to Gulen’s network, especially in the Balkans and
Africa. The kidnapping of six Turkish nationals in Kosovo by MIT agents in 2018
sparked a political crisis in the Balkan country, leading to the sacking of its
interior minister and intelligence chief. The raids continue against alleged
Gulen members, with almost daily police operations to arrest suspects across the
country. Since 2016, more than 140,000 public sector workers including teachers
and judges have also been sacked or suspended over suspected Gulen ties.
Toll In Twin DR Congo Attacks Rises To At Least 50:
Monitors
NNA/AFP/May 31/2021
The death toll from two overnight attacks in eastern Democratic Republic of
Congo shot up to at least 50, monitors said Monday. Citing a toll that is "still
provisional", the Kivu Security Tracker (KST) group said 28 people were killed
in Boga and 22 in Tchabi, villages lying about 10 kilometres (six miles) apart
in area that has long had a reputation for Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)
attacks and ethnic friction. The earlier toll was at least 39 dead.
US-Denmark spying allegations 'extremely serious' if
proven: France
NNA/AFP/May 31/2021
Media reports alleging that the US spied on top politicians in Europe with the
help of Danish intelligence are "extremely serious" if proven, the French
government said on Monday."It is extremely serious, we need to see if our
partners in the EU, the Danes, have committed errors or faults in their
cooperation with American services," Europe Minister Clement Beaune told France
Info radio, adding it would also be very serious if it turned out Washington had
been spying on EU leaders.
Scores of children abducted from Islamic seminary in
Nigeria
NNA/-AFP/May 31/2021
Gunmen kidnapped scores of children from an Islamic seminary in central Nigeria,
officials said, the latest in a string of such incidents plaguing the populous
African nation. Some 200 children were at the school in Niger state on Sunday
during the attack, the local government tweeted, adding "an unconfirmed number"
were taken. The abduction came a day after 14 students from a university in
northwestern Nigeria were freed after 40 days in captivity. Niger state police
spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said the attackers arrived on motorbikes in Tegina town
and started shooting indiscriminately, killing one resident and injuring
another, before kidnapping the children from the Salihu Tanko Islamic school.
One of the school's officials, who asked not to be named, said the attackers
initially took more than 100 children "but later sent back those they considered
too small for them, those between four and 12 years old".
The state government, in a series of tweets, said the attackers had released 11
of the pupils who were "too small and couldn't walk" very far. In a later
Twitter thread, the state added the governor Sani Bello had directed "security
agencies to bring back [the] children as soon as possible".
Armed gangs are terrorising inhabitants in northwest and central Nigeria by
looting villages, stealing cattle, and taking people hostage. Such seizures have
become a frequent way for criminals to collect ransoms. Since December 2020,
before the attack on Sunday, 730 children and students had been kidnapped. On
April 20, gunmen known locally as "bandits" stormed Greenfield University in
northwestern Nigeria and kidnapped around 20 students, killing a member of the
school's staff in the process. Five students were executed a few days later to
force families and the government to pay a ransom. Fourteen were released on
Saturday. Local press said that the families had paid a ransom totalling 180
million naira ($440,000) for their release. Africa's most populous country has
been plagued by kidnappings for years, with criminals largely targeting the
wealthy and prominent. But more recently, the pool of victims has expanded with
the poor now also taken for ransom. Earlier this month, hundreds of protesters
partially blocked a motorway into the capital Abuja after a spate of kidnappings
in the area. Marching along the highway, a dozen young men chanted: "We won't
accept this, kidnapping must stop!"
The criminal gangs maintain camps in the Rugu forest which straddles northern
and central Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states. Their motives have been
financial with no ideological leanings, but there is growing concern they are
being infiltrated by jihadists from the northeast waging a 12-year-old
insurrection to establish an Islamic state. The kidnappings in the northwest are
also complicating challenges facing Buhari's security forces, battling a more
than decade-long northeast Islamist insurgency. ---
The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources
published on May 31- June 01/2021
Hagia Sophia: A True “Center of Knowledge about Islam”
Raymond Ibrahim/May 31/2021
Last summer, Turkish authorities transformed Hagia Sophia (“Holy Wisdom”) —
which was originally built, and for a millennium functioned, as one of
Christendom’s greatest cathedrals — into a mosque (again). On that Friday, July
24, 2020 (which for millions of Eastern Christians is now deemed a “day of
mourning“), Muslims met inside the desecrated church, where they were led in
prayer by a sword-waving imam, to spasmodic cries of “Allahu akbar.”
The Turks, beginning with their president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have been
presenting this bit of cultural appropriation as their “right.” Imam Ali Erbas,
Turkey’s president of religious affairs, has gone one farther, recently claiming
that “the goal is for all our mosques and especially Hagia Sophia to become
centers of knowledge about Islam.”
So be it. As the anniversary of the Turkish conquest of Constantinople and its
Hagia Sophia recently passed (May 29, 1453), let us revisit what happened on
that day — a day that truly does impart much “knowledge about Islam,” not least
because we have primary source documents describing exactly what the Turks did,
particularly in and around Hagia Sophia. (All quoted text in the following
narrative was derived from contemporary sources, mostly eyewitnesses; exact
references can be found in chapter 7 of Sword and Scimitar.)
Once they had penetrated inside Constantinople, the “enraged Turkish soldiers …
gave no quarter”:
When they had massacred and there was no longer any resistance, they were intent
on pillage and roamed through the town stealing, disrobing, pillaging, killing,
raping, taking captive men, women, children, old men, young men, monks, priests,
people of all sorts and conditions[.] … There were virgins who awoke from
troubled sleep to find those brigands standing over them with bloody hands and
faces full of abject fury[.] … [The Turks] dragged them, tore them, forced them,
dishonored them, raped them at the cross-roads and made them submit to the most
terrible outrages[.] … Tender children were brutally snatched from their
mothers’ breasts and girls were pitilessly given up to strange and horrible
unions, and a thousand other terrible things happened[.]
Because thousands of citizens had fled to and were holed up in Hagia Sophia, the
ancient basilica offered an excellent harvest of slaves once its doors were axed
down:
One Turk would look for the captive who seemed the wealthiest, a second would
prefer a pretty face among the nuns. … Each rapacious Turk was eager to lead his
captive to a safe place, and then return to secure a second and a third prize. …
Then long chains of captives could be seen leaving the church and its shrines,
being herded along like cattle or flocks of sheep.
The slavers sometimes fought each other to the death over “any well-formed
girl,” even as many of the latter “preferred to cast themselves into the wells
and drown rather than fall into the hands of the Turks.”
Having taken possession of the Hagia Sophia — which at the time of its capture
had served as a cathedral for a thousand years — the invaders “engaged in every
kind of vileness within it, making of it a public brothel.” On “its holy altars”
they enacted “perversions with our women, virgins, and children,” including “the
Grand Duke’s daughter who was quite beautiful.” She was forced to “lie on the
great altar of Hagia Sophia with a crucifix under her head and then raped.”
Next “they paraded the [Hagia Sophia’s main] Crucifix in mocking procession
through their camp, beating drums before it, crucifying the Christ again with
spitting and blasphemies and curses. They placed a Turkish cap … upon His head,
and jeeringly cried, ‘Behold the god of the Christians!'”
Practically all other churches in the ancient city suffered the same fate. “The
crosses which had been placed on the roofs or the walls of churches were torn
down and trampled.” The Eucharist was “thrown to the ground and kicked.” Bibles
were stripped of their gold or silver illuminations before being burned. “Icons
were without exception given to the flames.” Patriarchal vestments were placed
on the haunches of dogs; priestly garments were placed on horses.
“Everywhere there was misfortune, everyone was touched by pain” when Sultan
Muhammad finally made his grand entry into the city. “There were lamentations
and weeping in every house, screaming in the crossroads, and sorrow in all
churches; the groaning of grown men and the shrieking of women accompanied
looting, enslavement, separation, and rape.”
The sultan rode to Hagia Sophia, dismounted, and went in, “marveling at the
sight” of the grand basilica. After having it cleansed of its crosses, statues,
and icons — Muhammad himself knocked over and trampled on its main altar — he
ordered a muezzin to ascend the pulpit and sound “their detestable prayers,”
wrote a disgruntled Christian. “Then this son of iniquity, this forerunner of
Antichrist, mounted upon the Holy Table to utter forth his own prayers,” thereby
“turning the Great Church into a heathen shrine for his god and his Mahomet.”
To cap off his triumph, Muhammad had the “wretched citizens of Constantinople”
dragged before his men during evening festivities and “ordered many of them to
be hacked to pieces, for the sake of entertainment.” The rest of the city’s
population — as many as forty-five thousand — were hauled off in chains to be
sold into Easter captivity.
Such is the “knowledge about Islam” that the Hagia Sophia’s experiences truly
impart.
Setting the record straight concerning the conquest of Constantinople, as this
article has done, is doubly important now that Google and Big Tech are, like the
Turks, devoted to hiding the truth of this day. Before Turkey violently
transformed the Hagia Sophia into a mosque, googling the date “May 29” — a day
that for centuries before Pearl Harbor “lived in infamy” — produced numerous
search results on the Muslim conquest of Constantinople; today, very few do.
How did Iran target a secret CIA site in Iraq?
Seth J. Frantzman/Jerusalem Post/May 31
As US and Iranian drones dueling in Iraq, is there a new drone world order
developing in the Middle East?
A scoop at The Washington Post by John Hudson and Louisa Loveluck revealed that
Iranian-backed militias were able to target a “secret CIA hangar” using a drone
in April. This attack hit a hangar in Erbil in the autonomous Kurdistan region.
This is a major escalation and shows careful planning and complex know-how by
the Iranian regime and its militias in Iraq. It means that Iran was able to
transfer the drone itself to Iraq and gather the intelligence on the apparent
location of this secret site, which is inside a known US facility, and precisely
set the drone to strike it. This kind of kamikaze drone is similar to the
technology Iran used to target Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq and similar to the kind of
drones the Iran-backed Houthis use to attack Saudi Arabia and drones that Hamas
unveiled in recent attempts to attack Israel.
Iran has thus transferred its drone threats all over the region.
The attack in Iraq is particularly interesting because US bases are supposed to
have some sort of defenses against this known and rising threat. US CENTCOM head
Kenneth McKenzie has warned for a year about the rising threats of drones in the
region. He warned in March 2020, and again in February 2021.
“We've spent billions of dollars in the Department of Defense on counter drone
systems. I'm concerned that we're still under grave threat from them. But I'm
also encouraged to see that your command has been experimenting with so many new
and more effective counter drone systems,” he told the US Senate in March 2020.
The US has sent Patriot missiles, C-RAM and other defenses to Iraq to stop
ballistic missiles and rocket threats. The US army has also acquired two Iron
Dome batteries which can be used against drones, although this is not linked to
the current threat in Iraq.
The drone attack alarmed the US according to the report. It has led to questions
about the warehouse and whether Iran knew specifically who was running the
building. Remains of the drone were recovered after the attacks. The article
says that the drone was used a new method after years in which pro-Iran militias
used rockets, such as the 107mm. The “evolving drone threat” is a major concern
in Iraq. “The drone’s flight was tracked to within 10 miles of the site, but its
path was then as it moved into a civilian flight path, the coalition official
said,” according to the report. “Preliminary analysis suggested it was made in
Iran.” The White House was unnerved. The facility was covert and the attack was
sophisticated. The April 14 attack was the first major drone attack by the
pro-Iran militias in Iraq. However, they have provided Kataib Hezbollah with
drones in the past to strike at Saudi Arabia in May 2019 and again in January
2021. Another drone was used to target Al-Asad base in May 2021. The type of
kamikaze drone used in Iraq is not known. It could be like an Ababil or Qasef
what Hamas calls its Shehab drone. This is a drone about the size of a person
with a warhead and guidance up front and two sets of small wings. It is launched
from a catapult. However, Iran has a plethora of other types of kamikaze drones.
According to the Twitter handle Alex Almeida, the drone attack may have targeted
a hangar housing one of the CIA or Special Operation Command’s
contractor-operated turboprop aircraft that fly from the base and which are used
for reconnaissance and intel gathering missions. The US has its own drones at
the base, according to Joseph Trevithick at The Drive. He wrote in May that a
Long Endurance Aircraft Program drone crashed in July 2020. This kind of drone
is basically a small prop plane that looks no different than a civilian
two-seater aircraft but has had everything removed and flies autonomously now as
a UAV. According to online sleuths who use OSINT to find information, a hangar
was damaged by the April drone attack on Erbil airport.
According to the image showing the damage, the location is a hangar in the
central eastern part of the base near an area where chinook helicopters are
parked. This is a huge, sprawling base that has expanded with the war on ISIS
and also likely expanded as the US reduced forces in other facilities. How one
would determine to attack that specific hangar, out of dozens of other locations
and hundreds of buildings, is unclear. The particular complex is unique for
having four buildings with red-colored roofs. If an Iranian-backed militia used
a drone to target a hangar where drones fly from, this could be one of the few
instances of drone versus drone combat, using drones to take out other drones.
Targeting US drones in Iraq using Iranian drones may be a sort of new drone
"world order", so to speak, taking place in the Middle East, especially if Iran
knew this hangar was used for surveillance droned that might one day be used
against its own forces in Iraq. The region, as it were, is now rapidly
approaching a kind of cross between The Terminator, Robocop and Skynet, as
machines are doing the fighting and people are just watching computer screens –
though we may not be there quite yet.
At the very least the US needs to be concerned that Iran is collecting
intelligence on its covert and secure sites, its hangars and other systems in
Iraq, and that Iran’s vastly expanding precision missile and drone technology
could be used more in the future.
The drones give Iran some plausible deniability because they can be launched by
Iranian proxies. However, the gyroscopes and other systems on the drones link
them to Iran, at least in the past. It should be noted that a drone mysteriously
entered Israeli airspace on May 18 and was shot down by Israel. Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu later said it came from Syria or Iraq. A drone damaged a
hangar in Asad base in Iraq on May 8. The Erbil attack was on April 14. These
attacks may all be linked and have an address in Iran.
Palestinians launch campaign to oust ‘illegitimate’ Abbas
Khaled Abu Toameh/Jerusalem Post/May 31
Abbas is facing criticism for allegedly failing to support the Palestinians in
the Gaza Strip during the recent 11-day fighting between Israel and Hamas.
Various Palestinian factions, academics and political activists are demanding
that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas resign or be removed from
power. The demand came as the 85-year-old Abbas continues to face sharp
criticism from many Palestinians for calling off the parliamentary and
presidential elections that were supposed to take place on May 22 and July 31.
Abbas, in addition, is facing criticism for allegedly failing to support the
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the recent 11 days of fighting between
Israel and Hamas. After Abbas announced in late April the postponement of the
elections, representatives of several Palestinian factions met in the Gaza Strip
to discuss ways of removing Abbas from power.
The factions decided to launch a popular campaign to demand the resignation of
Abbas on the pretext that he was no longer a legitimate leader of the
Palestinians.
Abbas was elected PA president in January 2005, and his term in office expired
in 2009. He has since used his dispute with Hamas as an excuse to avoid holding
parliamentary and presidential elections. The last parliamentary election was
held in 2006, when Hamas defeated Abbas’s ruling Fatah faction and won a
majority of the seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The 132-seat
PLC has been paralyzed since 2007, when Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip.
When Abbas announced the postponement of the elections, he renewed his call for
the formation of a Palestinian national unity government that would consist of
various Palestinian factions, including Hamas. He has also asked Egypt and Qatar
to exert pressure on Hamas and other Palestinian factions to accept his
initiative for the establishment of a unity government. But the faction leaders
who met in the Gaza Strip a few weeks ago rejected Abbas’s call and said that
they would urge Palestinians to work toward forcing Abbas to step down.
The leaders, however, suspended their campaign when the fighting between Israel
and Hamas began in early May. Last week, days after the Egyptian-brokered
ceasefire agreement was announced, the factions announced that they have resumed
their campaign to drive Abbas out of office.
In a related development, a group of Palestinian academics and public figures
last weekend launched a campaign to demand the resignation or dismissal of Abbas
from all the positions he holds in the Palestinian leadership: the presidency
and chairmanship of the PA, PLO and Fatah.
“The recent intifada of Jerusalem has revealed the resounding incompetence of
the president, his policies and his authority, and the Palestinian people have
had enough,” the group said in a statement. They accused Abbas of failing to
show “moral solidarity with the suffering of the Palestinian people” during and
after the Israel-Hamas fighting. They further denounced attempts by the US
administration to “restore Abbas’s legitimacy” by holding meetings with him and
working toward reviving the peace process between the Palestinians and Israel.
The group accused Abbas of turning the PA into a “dictatorial institution ruled
by one individual,” and said: “We declare that this president no longer has any
political or national legitimacy; he must resign immediately, or be removed from
the three leadership positions he controls. We call on our Palestinian people to
join this call, and to start a new page based on the unity of the struggle, the
unity of the people, and the unity of the land.”
Is Israel entering the post-Netanyahu era? - analysis
Herb Keinon/Jerusalem Post/May 31/2021
It will take time for some to adjust to an Israel without Netanyahu as prime
minister.
With Naftali Bennett’s dramatic announcement on Sunday night of his intention to
join Yair Lapid’s government and rotate as prime minister, the country moved one
step closer to the end of the Netanyahu era.
Twelve years and 55 days after Benjamin Netanyahu became prime minister for the
second time, and after a total of 15 years and 73 days of him sitting in the
Prime Minister’s Office, the day that everyone knew would come at some point –
but which many wondered if they ever would really see – is just around the
corner: Israel without Netanyahu at the helm. Netanyahu has been a part of the
political landscape here for so long, has been the prime minister for so long,
that it will take some time for people to get used to the very notion that he
will not be calling the shots, his baritone voice won’t be giving speeches, and
he won’t be determining policy.
It will take time for some to adjust to an Israel without Netanyahu as prime
minister. But they will adjust, and Israel will move on, and that aphorism about
no one being irreplaceable will surely come true. Why? Because Israel is more
than its leader, no matter how dominant a leader he may be, or how deep are the
footprints that he leaves. And also, because there is more than just one man
capable of leading this country. Why is Bennett doing this, many are asking
themselves, especially after the campaign in which he promised explicitly not to
do exactly what he’s doing: enable Lapid to form a government, sit in a
government with Lapid as prime minister, and serve as prime minister himself,
even though he is bringing to the table only six Knesset seats.
Another of his promises – ensuring that there won’t be a fifth election – he is
keeping. But what are his motivations? Is he taking this step because he
believes it is what is in the best interest of the country? Or, as Netanyahu
railed Sunday night in response, is he doing this because of blind personal
ambition and because he has much to gain personally; namely, being prime
minister, a job that – if it were dependent on the number of votes he garnered
in any of the previous elections – would be far from his grasp.
The question about Bennett’s motivations, however, is not a binary one, and it
should not be phrased in an either/or framework. Bennett is doing this both
because he sincerely believes that it is for the good of the country and that a
fifth election, which could then lead to a sixth and even seventh, would be a
disaster, and he is doing this because he will become prime minister.
The two reasons are not contradictory, and people are not motored by just one
motivation: The mind has room for many different reasons and motivations. If,
indeed, Bennett’s move succeeds, and if there is not some unforeseen snafu that
will keep the anti-Netanyahu coalition from coalescing, then the man who
deserves the credit is Yesh Atid’s Lapid. During the campaign and after it; when
Netanyahu had the mandate to form the government and when Lapid himself received
it; when it looked as if Lapid was about to form a government, and when the
crisis in Gaza derailed that idea; Lapid quietly soldiered on, without getting
overly excited, without making bombastic statements.
He also demonstrated a degree of political magnanimity that is rare in these
parts when – soon after the elections in March – he offered Bennett the first
shot at prime minister in a rotation arrangement, despite the latter's poor
showing at the polls. Lapid demonstrated with this act that the goal he set –
removing Netanyahu – trumped his personal ambitions, and that he was willing to
sacrifice personal ambitions for what he viewed as the collective good. This
wasn’t the first time he acted in this manner. In March 2019 he yielded the
right of way to Benny Gantz and gave him the leadership of the Blue and White
Party.
For years, the government here has been about one person: Netanyahu. If this new
government comes into existence, it will be about three: Lapid, Bennett and New
Hope leader Gideon Sa’ar. It’s going to take the public some time to get used to
that, and it is also going to take a great deal of that magnanimity – even
political selflessness – that Lapid demonstrated in recent months, to make it
work.
Bennett's decision to oust Netanyahu is Israel's first
step to sanity
Yaakov Katz/Jerusalem Post/May 31/2021
Naftali Bennett spoke like a uniter, someone who believes in bringing people
together. The story of Israeli politics from now on, he explained, is not about
“me, but about us."
Israelis witnessed the beginning of change on Sunday night, a taste of what a
national reset can look like.
There is still plenty that can go wrong – Yamina members can still jump ship
until the new government is sworn in, and Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas can still
get cold feet – but the disparity between the way Naftali Bennett and Benjamin
Netanyahu addressed the nation tells the whole story.
Bennett spoke like a uniter, someone who believes in bringing people together.
The story of Israeli politics from now on, he explained, is not about “me, but
about us. We will restore the ‘us’ that was Israel’s secret weapon from its
establishment. All parties are invited to join in this government.”
When Bennett finished, Netanyahu delivered his own address, and the difference
was glaring: while Bennett’s speech was about hope, Netanyahu projected
desperation and gloom.
Israel, he warned, is on the brink of disaster. He warned of Hamas, Hezbollah,
Iran, the US administration and every other adversary Israel has in the world.
“What will this do to for Israeli deterrence? How will we look in the eyes of
our enemies? What will they do in Iran or Gaza? What will they say in the
corridors of the administration in Washington? This government will stand
against Iran? This government supports the dangerous nuclear deal,” Netanyahu
said.
It was classic Netanyahu, a repeat of what he has done for the last 12 years by
ruling through fear and scaremongering, presenting to the Israeli public every
step of the way a different enemy or adversary, someone or something from which
only he could save them. Once, it was Hamas, then Iran, then the Obama
administration, and now Hamas and Iran again. Bennett’s speech had a different
tone to it. It was pragmatic and hopeful. He laid out a path for how the country
can move forward, can recalibrate, can return to its senses and go back to being
an Israel that is stable, sane and optimistic.
Will Bennett and Lapid succeed? At this moment we don’t know, as a lot can still
go off the rails. Netanyahu will use the coming days – until the negotiations
are completed and the new government is sworn in – to do everything he can to
prevent them from establishing a unity government.
But for the first time since the beginning of the last two-and-a-half years of
political upheaval, Israelis have a feeling that there is an alternative. That
there is another option. That things don’t have to stay the way they were.
For many Israelis, this will be hard. There is a large group of citizens who
cannot imagine anyone else leading the country who is not Netanyahu. They are
good people, people who need to be heard and respected. But they also need to
understand that Israel is greater than any single individual.
Netanyahu is not Israel and Israel is not Netanyahu. That is what he wants
everyone to think. This country, founded 73 years ago, is tough, resilient and
far greater than one single person, no matter how talented he or she might be,
or how long that person has been in office.
What will Bennett do now? Here is what he shouldn’t do: he shouldn’t talk. He
should take a page out of the Joe Biden playbook from his first 100 days in
office and get to work. He should show Israelis that he is working for them and
on their behalf.
Israelis need to see that there is another way for this country to be run. We
don’t have to have daily news of political upheaval and mudslinging. We can live
without it. What we do need are politicians who will work on our behalf, to make
Israel better, safer and more prosperous.
Sunday was a first step in that direction.
European Parliament Freezes Ratification of China
Investment Treaty
Soeren Kern/Gatestone Institute/May 31/2021
The lopsided agreement, which ostensibly aims to level the economic and
financial playing field by providing European companies with improved access to
the Chinese market, actually allows China to continue to restrict investment
opportunities for European companies in many strategic sectors. The deal also
lacks meaningful enforcement mechanisms for issues that the EU claims to care
about, such as climate change and human rights, including forced labor.
"China has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to use its economic power as
a strategic weapon. By deepening their economic reliance on China — without
coordinating their policy with fellow democracies — European nations are
increasing their vulnerability to pressure from Beijing. That is a remarkably
shortsighted decision to make." — Gideon Rachman, Financial Times, January 4,
2021.
China contends that its sanctions are tit for tat — morally equivalent
retaliation — in response to those imposed by Western countries. In fact, the
European sanctions are for crimes against humanity, whereas the Chinese
sanctions seek to silence European critics of the Chinese Communist Party.
"China cannot and will not be tamed. It will not adhere to the rule of law. It
will not give up on its uncouth wolf warriors. It will not change its debt trap
diplomacy. It will not end the weaponization of political systems, in this case
the fault lines of democracies, to smother democracies. If it is counter
sanctions today, it will be intellectual property theft tomorrow, and 5G data
surveillance of free citizens next. Under Xi Jinping, China has become a
hydra-headed monster." — Gautam Chikermane, Indian foreign affairs expert,
Observer Research Foundation, May 21, 2021.
"While halting the ratification of CAI is good, scrapping CAI altogether would
be better." — Andreas Fulda, German China scholar, May 20, 2021.
The European Parliament has halted ratification of a controversial investment
treaty with China until Beijing lifts sanctions on European lawmakers, academics
and think tanks. Pictured: Berlaymont, the European Parliament building in
Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Jean-Christophe Guillaume/Getty Images)
The European Parliament has halted ratification of a controversial investment
treaty with China until Beijing lifts sanctions on European lawmakers, academics
and think tanks. The move, a rare display of fortitude by an institution
notorious for vacillation, reflects a hardening stance in Europe toward the
Chinese Communist Party.
The ratification freeze, backed by all of the major groupings in the European
Parliament, is significant for several reasons: it represents a turning point in
EU-China relations, in that Beijing no longer calls the shots; it marks a shift
in the balance of power in favor of the European Parliament at the expense of
the European Commission; and it signifies the beginning of the end of Merkelism,
and ideology which has, among other things, consistently prioritized commercial
interests over human rights concerns, whether in China, Russia or Iran.
The European Parliament on May 20 overwhelmingly passed a resolution to "freeze"
ratification of the deal with 599 votes in favor, 30 against and 58 abstentions.
A statement said:
"The resolution emphasizes that any consideration by the European Parliament of
the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) ... as well as any
discussion on its mandatory ratification by MEPs, have 'justifiably been frozen'
because of the Chinese sanctions.
"MEPs demand that China lift the sanctions before they consider the
agreement.... They also remind the European Commission that MEPs will take the
human rights situation in China, including in Hong Kong, into account when
deciding whether to endorse the agreement or not....
"MEPs also call for re-balancing EU-China relations. They support a toolbox of
autonomous measures such as legislation against distortive effects of foreign
subsidies on the internal market, an import ban on forced labor goods as well as
an enhanced and strengthened EU Foreign Investment Screening Regulation. The EU
also needs to adequately address China's cybersecurity threats and hybrid
attacks."
The CAI was concluded in great haste on December 30, 2020 by German Chancellor
Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European
Commission Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.
Other EU countries were excluded from the negotiations. Merkel reportedly wanted
an agreement at any cost before Germany's six-month EU presidency ended on
December 31.
The lopsided agreement, which ostensibly aims to level the economic and
financial playing field by providing European companies with improved access to
the Chinese market, actually allows China to continue to restrict investment
opportunities for European companies in many strategic sectors. The deal also
lacks meaningful enforcement mechanisms for issues that the EU claims to care
about, such as climate change and human rights, including forced labor.
On December 30, Von der Leyen proudly declared that the CAI will "uphold our
interests" and "promote our core values." On January 6, only seven days later,
Chinese launched a massive crackdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong.
Former Hong Kong Governor Lord Patten said the CAI makes a "mockery" of the EU's
ambitions to be taken seriously as a global and economic player:
"It spits in the face of human rights and shows a delusional view of the Chinese
Communist Party's trustworthiness on the international stage."
In commentary published by the Financial Times, columnist Gideon Rachman argued
that the deal was "naive" and will increase China's leverage over Europe:
"Over the past year, China has crushed the freedom of Hong Kong, intensified
oppression in Xinjiang, killed Indian troops, threatened Taiwan and sanctioned
Australia. By signing a deal with China nonetheless, the EU has signaled that it
doesn't care about all that....
"China has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to use its economic power as
a strategic weapon. By deepening their economic reliance on China — without
coordinating their policy with fellow democracies — European nations are
increasing their vulnerability to pressure from Beijing. That is a remarkably
shortsighted decision to make."
Sanctions and Countersanctions
The current standoff revolves around burgeoning evidence of massive human rights
abuses by the Chinese Communist Party against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, a
remote autonomous region in northwestern China. Human rights experts say that at
least one million Muslims are being detained in hundreds of internment camps,
where they are subject to torture, mass rapes, forced labor and sterilizations.
In November 2018, Western countries including France, Germany and the United
States called on China to close down detention camps in Xinjiang.
In October 2019, the Trump Administration imposed sanctions on Chinese
individuals and entities accused of responsibility for abuses against Uyghurs in
Xinjiang. It imposed additional sanctions in May, June and July 2020. On January
19, 2021, then U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo determined that China, under
the direction and control of the Chinese Communist Party, has committed genocide
against Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.
In March 2021, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada, presumably
under pressure from the United States, announced (here, here and here) that they
too had imposed sanctions on Chinese officials accused of Uyghur-related human
rights abuses in Xinjiang.
China responded by imposing sanctions (here, here and here) on more than two
dozen European, British and Canadian lawmakers, academics and think tanks.
The sanctioned individuals, who are prohibited from entering China, include
German lawmaker Reinhard Bütikofer, who chairs the European Parliament's
delegation to China; four other Members of the European Parliament; Tom
Tugendhat, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee of the British Parliament;
four other Members of the British Parliament; Sjoerd Wiemer Sjoerdsma of the
Dutch Parliament; Samuel Cogolati of the Belgian Parliament; Dovilė Šakalienė of
the Lithuanian Parliament; Iain Duncan Smith, former leader of the British
Conservative Party; British scholar Joanne Nicola Smith Finley; German scholar
Adrian Zenz; and Swedish scholar Björn Jerdén.
The individuals have publicly criticized the Chinese government for human rights
abuses. Sjoerdsma, for instance, recently called for a boycott of the Winter
Olympics in Beijing in 2022. Cogolati and Šakalienė have drafted genocide
legislation, while Zenz has written extensively on the detention camps in
Xinjiang.
China also sanctioned the EU's main foreign policy decision-making body, known
as the Political and Security Committee; the European Parliament's Subcommittee
on Human Rights; the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies; the
UK-based China Research Group; the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission;
and the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, a Danish think tank founded by
former NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
China contends that its sanctions are tit for tat — morally equivalent
retaliation — in response to those imposed by Western countries. In fact, the
European sanctions are for crimes against humanity, whereas the Chinese
sanctions seek to silence European critics of the Chinese Communist Party.
In a March 22 statement, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said:
"The Chinese side urges the EU side to reflect on itself, face squarely the
severity of its mistake and redress it. It must stop lecturing others on human
rights and interfering in their internal affairs. It must end the hypocritical
practice of double standards and stop going further down the wrong path.
Otherwise, China will resolutely make further reactions."
In the days before the European Parliament voted on the CAI, Chinese President
Xi Jinping reportedly called German Chancellor Merkel and French President
Macron, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang phoned Italian Prime Minister Mario
Draghi, in an unsuccessful effort to save the investment deal.
On May 20, Global Times, the daily tabloid newspaper owned by the Chinese
Communist Party, responded to the decision to halt ratification of the CAI:
"The conditions imposed by the European Parliament for resuming ratification
process are rough and arrogant. It demands that 'China lift the sanctions before
Parliament can deal with the CAI.' These sanctions imposed by China are actually
countermeasures against the EU's sanctions over Chinese officials and
entities."There is no way China will lift those sanctions under pressure from
the European Parliament. The European Parliament said in the motion that it
'calls on the [European] Commission to use the debate around the CAI as leverage
to improve the protection of human rights' in China. Such an intent will be
resisted and despised by China."
On May 21, China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that he hoped the
EU "could do less emotional venting and more rational thinking, and make correct
decisions in line with its own interests."
On May 25, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi launched a blistering attack against
European sanctions: "Our European friends know what is genocide."
Reponses
The European Parliament's decision to freeze ratification of the CAI has been
greeted with broad approval. Reinhard Bütikofer, the German MEP sanctioned by
China and co-author of the resolution, said that Beijing's efforts to silence
criticism of the Chinese Communist Party were "as ridiculous as they are
arrogant, and they will fail." Using language from the Chinese playbook, he
added: "With its sanctions, China has miscalculated. They should learn from
their mistakes and rethink."
In an interview with Euronews, Bütikofer said that even if China lifts its
sanctions, the CAI would have to be modified in order for it to be ratified:
"Basically, the resolution says this agreement is in the freezer, buried very
deep in the freezer. And we demand that China lift its sanctions before the
European Parliament could be willing to consider dealing with the matter.
"When you look at the substance of the deal, there are issues not really
addressing the application of forced labor in China. The deal doesn't give a
very strong conflict-resolution mechanism. If China fails to implement the
provisions of the deal, the instruments that we have to force them to live by
them, the letter that they have signed onto, are extremely weak.
"There are restrictions with regard to market access. This is neither providing
a level playing field nor is really very beneficial to European industry, with a
few exceptions maybe. And on the other hand, it allows the Chinese side to enjoy
national treatment with regard to European media while European media are still
excluded from the Chinese market completely."
Armin Laschet, a leading candidate to succeed Merkel as German chancellor in
general elections in September, said that the CAI could not be ratified unless
China lifted its sanctions: "If you want to be our partner, you have to show
mutual respect. So, on that issue I would like to see movement on the Chinese
side."Portuguese MEP Pedro Marques said that China was guilty of an "attack
against European democracy." He declared: "We will not tolerate it."
Adrian Zenz, the scholar sanctioned by China for unearthing human rights abuses
in Xinjiang, tweeted that overwhelming support for freezing ratification of the
CAI "is akin to a death sentence."
China expert Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian said:
"The Chinese government has bungled its relationship with the EU, just as it
seemed that Beijing had successfully driven a wedge between a Trump-weary Europe
and the Biden administration."
Indian foreign affairs expert Gautam Chikermane wrote that the EU needs to
rethink its first principles "thrice over" and decide what it stands for:
"The announcement says the CAI or any other agreement with China will not move
forward while the sanctions are in place. In a corollary, if China pulls back on
sanctions, the EU will pull back its rejection. This is geopolitical naivete....
"China cannot and will not be tamed. It will not adhere to the rule of law. It
will not give up on its uncouth wolf warriors. It will not change its debt trap
diplomacy. It will not end the weaponization of political systems, in this case
the fault lines of democracies, to smother democracies. If it is counter
sanctions today, it will be intellectual property theft tomorrow, and 5G data
surveillance of free citizens next. Under Xi Jinping, China has become a
hydra-headed monster.
"Further, the gentle fine print the EU has placed is little more than good
manners. Behind this fine print lie the dark lobbies of the EU's largest
corporations. There is danger that the tail of EU capitalism will wag the dog of
member states and sovereign democracies into submission....
"The values of liberty, equality and fraternity the EU has floated and
disseminated across the world in the 20th century need to be expanded into the
21st century. Right now, these values, and through them the citizens of EU
nations, are being ruthlessly smothered by Beijing.
"That the EU continues to imagine business as usual with such a country shows
the internal contradictions of values, now sugar-coated by petty corporate
interests."
Japanese analyst Katsuji Nakazawa, writing for Nikkei Asia, added:
"The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to freeze the ratification
process of an investment pact with China — a deal that Beijing six months ago
considered a big strategic victory.
"It has sent shock waves throughout China, with only one month and change before
arguably the most important event in President Xi Jinping's era, the 100th
anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party's establishment, on July 1.
"Some party members are worried that the centenary's festive mood will be
dampened by the harsh diplomatic reality. Not only are China's relations with
the U.S. bad, but now EU relations are stuck in a ditch....
"With Xi playing his cards to remain as China's top leader beyond the party's
next quinquennial national Congress in the autumn of 2022, he is in no mood to
admit to policy failure. Therefore, no major reversals are on the horizon."
Perhaps Andreas Fulda, a German scholar of China, said it best: "While halting
the ratification of CAI is good, scrapping CAI altogether would be better."
*Soeren Kern is a Senior Fellow at the New York-based Gatestone Institute.
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