LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
December 15/17
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ
Ephesians 02/11-22: “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. 

Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 14-15/17
There is no place for a Hezbollah clone in Yemen/Dr. Manuel Almeida/Arab News/December 15/2017
The Latest on the Lebanese Situation/Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 14/2017
How Many Muslims in Europe? Pew's Projections Fall Short/Soeren Kern/Gatestone Institute/December 14/17
Palestinians: Arab Rulers are Traitors, Cowards/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/December 14/17
Islamic Terrorism vs. Political Correctness/A. Z. Mohamed/Gatestone Institute/December 14/17
On the radical road to Palestine/Fahad Suleiman Shoqiran/Al Arabiya/December 14/17
End of the fossil fuel era/Dr. Mohamed A. Ramady/Al Arabiya/December 14/17

Titles For Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on December 14-15/17
Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Relationship of Trust between US, Lebanese Army
Lebanese Forces, Future Movement's Relations Aggravated
Hariri circles hint some of his partners in government have ‘betrayed’ him
Cabinet Approves Licenses for Oil Excavation in Two Offshore Blocks
Hariri: Lebanese Don't Need Foreign Volunteers to Defend Their Land
Hariri Says Relation with LF 'Good' but Needs 'Clarifications'
Berri welcomes UN's Kardel, lauds UNIFIL efforts
Bassil Asks Govt. to Open a Lebanese Embassy in Jerusalem
Qabalan Describes President as 'Imam Michel Aoun'
Bkirki Christian-Muslim Summit: Trump's Decision Provokes Over 3 Billion People
Lebanon-Syria Border Crossing to Reopen
Geagea announces Bou Assi's nomination for Baabda Maronite seat
Machnouk receives new Mount Lebanon, Bekaa governors
Ibrahim inaugurates General Security new post in Al Qaa: It is of particular importance in these exceptional circumstances
ISF: Syrian arrested on charges of collaboration with Israeli enemy
Riachy, Shorter tackle developments
Army commander receives Kazakh Deputy Minister of Defense
There is no place for a Hezbollah clone in Yemen
The Latest on the Lebanese Situation

Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on December 14-15/17
Protests Near UN Headquarters against Violations in Iran
ISIS Relaunches Attack in South Damascus
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Claims Prepared to Undertake Syria Reconstruction Projects
Russia’s Putin Seeks Re-Election As an Independent, Dismisses Meddling in US Election
Bahrain: Our Legislative, Judicial Systems Protect Human Rights
Nikki Haley: Houthi missile fired at Saudi Arabia was ‘made in Iran’
In first, US presents its evidence of Iranian weaponry from Yemen
Damascus Says U.N. Mediator 'Undermined' by His Putin Appeal
Putin Says Trump Opponents 'Made Up' Russia Vote Interference
US to publicize Khamenei’s assets to prove Iranian support of terrorism
Syrian regime refuses negotiations before cancelling Riyadh statement
Staffan de Mistura urges Putin to press for Syria elections
Israel carries out series of strikes on Hamas sites in Gaza

Latest Lebanese Related News published on December 14-15/17
Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Relationship of Trust between US, Lebanese Army
Beirut - Nazeer Rida/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 14/2017/The US raised the level of its military assistance to Lebanon, saying on Wednesday that it was providing it with six MD 530G light attack helicopters, six Scan Eagle drones, and communication and night vision equipment. Sources said that the visit of Commander of the US Central Command (Centcom) General Joseph Votel to Lebanon’s Army chief General Joseph Aoun on Wednesday is the third since Aoun assumed power this year. “A relationship of trust has been built between Washington and the Lebanese military institution, including Aoun. Such trust enhances Washington’s enthusiasm to increase its military assistance to the army,” the sources said. Hisham Jaber, the head of the Middle East Center for Studies and Public Relations, told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that the new package is the largest US military assistance offered in a single batch to Lebanon in decades. He said the assistance would enhance the capabilities of the Lebanese military to protect the border and fight terrorism. “Lebanon’s aerial defensive capacities lack any attack helicopters,” he said. Jaber, who is a retired Lebanese general, said that MD 530G helicopters would constitute a supplement to the mission of the Super Tucano that Washington had offered to Lebanon. “Those helicopters will match the mission of the ground forces by supporting them with gunfire,” he said. After visiting Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Wednesday with Votel, US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard said: “We had an excellent conversation about the challenges facing Lebanon and the region. We also talked about how the US and the broader international community can support Lebanon in these challenging times.”Richard and Votel also discussed with the Prime Minister and earlier with the Army Commander, three nw US Department of Defense programs valued at more than $120 million.

Lebanese Forces, Future Movement's Relations Aggravated
Beirut- Paula Astih/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 14/2017/ The current conflict between Future Movement and Lebanese Forces (LF) intensified after a period of "give and take" through back channels and unnamed sources.The relationship deteriorated after Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation and accusations followed stating that Lebanese Forces didn't support him. What contributed to the growing controversy was Hariri's announcement earlier this week that some political parties wanted to secure their place during this crisis by "backstabbing" allies. Hariri threatened "to call things by their names" and "spill the beans" during a television interview before retreating and postponing the interview. But what Hariri did not say was said by the Secretary-General of Future Movement, Ahmed Hariri, who raised several questions about the government's performance. "We need answers," said Ahmed Hariri. His statement was not well received among the Lebanese Forces which reflected in a debate between officials and leaders in both parties and between supporters on social networks. Lebanese Forces MP, Antoine Zahra, stressed that the statements of Ahmed Hariri are completely unacceptable, pointing out that it is shameful to direct remarks or even questions about the performance of the Forces. "We do not owe anyone an explanation or apology, and we are only responsible before the Lebanese people," Zahra told Asharq al-Awsat. MP Zahra said there was a national and official consensus on the outstanding and transparent performance of LF ministers, which enables them to question and not be questioned. "Should we explain our commitment to the constitution and regulations?" wondered Zahra. When asked whether everything is broken between LF and Future, Zahra replied: "This issue is up to Prime Minister Hariri and no one else, since we rely on what he personally says."He went on to say that Lebanese Forces and Future Movement have agreed on one project in politics since before the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, and therefore any continuity in their political companionship will be determined upon Hariri's adherence to national principles. A number of Future MPs preferred to wait to comment on the matter, stressing that the final word should be left to Prime Minister Hariri. A source in the Future Movement told Asharq Al-Awsat that surely things are getting more difficult, but PM Hariri will have the last say in this. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Ghassan Hasbani stressed that Lebanese Forces has no idea what Hariri was planning to uncover, adding: "we are relying on political rationality to reach stability." Speaking during a radio interview, Minister Hasbani stated that some were trying to create a rift, indicating that it is within the right of Lebanese Forces to question the reason behind this attack on it. "We want to know what is the purpose of the attack [on Lebanese Forces]? Is it to divert attention away from dissociation policy?" Hasbani inquired. Head of LF communications and media department Charles Jabbour described Ahmed Hariri's statements as "unacceptable at all". "As far as I know, Samir Geagea did not request an appointment to meet with Hariri, and who said Geagea wanted to meet with PM Hariri?" questioned Jabbour. Responding to Jabbour, Future Movement Media Official Abdulsalam Moussa said in a statement that Jabbour seems to have read Ahmed Hariri's statement in reverse and didn't see any positivity. Moussa added that if Jabbour was provoked by Sec-Gen Hariri's request to clarify the previous stage, this doesn't consider previous calls for rationing the relations if they need any. "In any case, we will consider as if Mr. Jabbour's reaction didn't happen because the relationship with LF is much deeper to be dealt with by such rhetoric," concluded Moussa.

Hariri circles hint some of his partners in government have ‘betrayed’ him
Al-Arabiya./December 14/2017/Lebanon’s political scene is again engulfed in controversy for the past two days, particularly within Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s coalition government. It all erupted after Hariri circles accused some of their partners in government and Future Movement figures of treason. On Monday, Hariri, who heads the Future Movement, wrote on Twitter that he “will reveal everything” during a television interview with Marcel Ghanem. However, the tweet was later deleted. According to the official Future Movement website Al-Mustaqbal, Hariri said while receiving members of his party that he will reveal many details about the recent crisis he has been through and noted that some political parties tried to find themselves a foothold during this crisis “via backstabbing.” “In all cases, I will come out with everything during the interview at Kalam Ennas with Marcel Ghanem,” Hariri said on Twitter. After Hariri deleted the tweet, Marcel Ghanem tweeted: “Upon Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s wish who announced his intention to (say everything) via Kalam Ennas, the episode has been postponed for now to another day which will be announced later.” However, the situation eventually became clear when Future Movement Secretary General Ahmad Hariri said on Wednesday during a television interview that “Saad Hariri knows everything about what happened in the past three weeks.”
Serving Lebanon's stability
“Ever since the settlement we reached, we decided to mainly work towards serving Lebanon’s stability and safety,” he said, adding that the prime minister was not pressured to cancel the interview. Asked whom the premier meant when he said he “will reveal everything,” Ahmad said there were many questions to be asked to the Lebanese Forces, headed by Samir Geagea, and which is the most prominent Christian ally of Saad Hariri. Ahmad noted that these questions related to the performance of the government, adding: “We need answers.” The Future Movement Secretary General also slammed former minister Ashraf Rifi and said his stances during the recent crisis served Hezbollah, adding that some figures like Rifi and others, who owe Saad Hariri, “have gotten daggers to stab Saad.” Not only that but relations with Member of Parliament Khaled al-Daher, who is viewed as one of Saad Hariri’s most prominent allies in North Lebanon, have also witnessed some unprecedented tensions, especially after he said that the prime minister “has been kidnapped by Hezbollah.”
Good ties
Meanwhile on Wednesday evening, Saad Hariri said while receiving families in his Downtown residence, that he “has good ties with the Lebanese Forces,” adding, however, that he “wishes they can be better.” This is because some of his allies in government have viewed his recent stance as a “settlement” regarding the matter of Hezbollah. Hariri had resigned as prime minister on November 4. However, he put his resignation on hold later following a request from Lebanese President Michel Aoun, and on December 5 officially rescinded his resignation. “The Lebanese government said it is committed to the Taif Agreement and to a policy of self-restraint from any regional conflicts,” Hariri said when he rescinded his resignation.

Cabinet Approves Licenses for Oil Excavation in Two Offshore Blocks
Naharnet/December 14/17/The Cabinet on Thursday approved granting licenses for oil exploration and excavation in the offshore blocks 5 and 9. According to al-Akhbar newspaper, Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil had agreed with the firms that excavation should begin in 2019. Block 5 lies off Lebanon's northern coast while block 9 lies off Lebanon's southern coast. Earlier this decade, geologists discovered a bonanza of gas reserves off the coasts of Lebanon and Israel, sparking a frenzy of development on the Israeli side to tap into the fields.
Lebanon's successive governments, beset by infighting and corruption, made only marginal progress toward that goal. In January, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil described the government's approval of the executive decrees for offshore oil and gas excavation as the government's “first achievement.”
A portion of the reserves lies in territory disputed by the two countries.
Hizbullah has repeatedly warned Israel against tapping into Lebanon's gas reserves.

Hariri: Lebanese Don't Need Foreign Volunteers to Defend Their Land
Naharnet/December 14/17/Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed Thursday that “the Lebanese know how to defend their land and sovereignty” and that “they do not need foreign volunteers under any label.”“We underscore the importance of the government's dissociation resolution and the need to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Arab countries,” Hariri said at the beginning of a cabinet session in Baabda. “We should prevent any foreign party from interfering in Lebanon's affairs or using Lebanese territory for addressing regional messages in a manner that violates Lebanon's commitment to international resolutions,” Hariri added. The premier's remarks come days after the circulation of a video showing members of Iraq's Saraya al-Salam militia in south Lebanon and another showing the chief of Iraqi militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Qais al-Khazali, in a tour on the Lebanese-Israeli border.
Hariri has ordered a probe into Khazali's visit to Lebanon. The prime minister had recently agreed to rescind a resignation announced from Riyadh after securing an agreement from Hizbullah that Lebanon should keep out of regional conflicts. In his resignation statement, Hariri had accused Tehran and Hizbullah -- which has ministers in the Lebanese government -- of destabilizing Lebanon and the region.

Hariri Says Relation with LF 'Good' but Needs 'Clarifications'
Naharnet/December 14/17/Prime Minister Saad Hariri has described his relation with the Lebanese Forces as “good” while noting that it needs “some clarifications.”“Today we are witnessing concentration on some of our allies, whether the LF or Kataeb, but the press is blowing things out of proportion,” Hariri told a delegation of Beiruti families. “We have good ties with the LF and we certainly want them to be better. They also want that but some things need to be clarified and this will happen,” the premier added. Hariri had sparked a storm of speculation on Monday when he said that certain “political parties” had stabbed him in the back during the political crisis of his surprise resignation announcement from Riyadh. “There are political parties that tried to find a place for them in this crisis by stabbing me in the back and I will deal with these cases, case by case, but I do not hold grudge against anyone,” Hariri said. Hariri also promised to “call things by their names” in an upcoming TV interview. Hariri's Future TV has recently lashed out at ex-minister Ashraf Rifi, ex-MP Fares Soaid and political activist Radwan al-Sayyed, while some members of Hariri's al-Mustaqbal Movement have criticized the LF. In his resignation statement Hariri accused Tehran and Hizbullah -- which has ministers in the Lebanese government -- of destabilizing the country and region.But he eventually returned home and agreed to stay on as premier after securing an agreement from Hizbullah that Lebanon should keep out of regional conflicts.
Hariri remained in Riyadh for two weeks after his resignation, fueling speculation that he was being “held hostage.”French President Emmanuel Macron later invited Hariri to Paris for talks, after which he returned home to a hero's welcome.

Berri welcomes UN's Kardel, lauds UNIFIL efforts
Thu 14 Dec 2017/NNA - Pernille Dahler Kardel of Denmark - the newly appointed Acting United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), visited on Thursday Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, who briefed her on the current situation in Lebanon and the region. Welcoming Kardel, President Berri praised "the good existing relations between UNIFIL, the Lebanese army, and the people of South Lebanon." He also commended the UN Secretary-General's stances concerning the most recent political crisis in Lebanon. Talks between the pair touched as well on the latest international report on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which clearly enumerated the many Israeli violations of the resolution. Addressing the issue of maritime borders and the exclusive economic zone in Lebanon, Berri reiterated the need for the United Nations to complete what it had started on this issue. In turn, Kardel confirmed the United Nations' determination to pursue its efforts in this regard. Berri also said that the most important assistance to Lebanon concerning the Syrian refugee dossier was reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis. Berri later received the Lebanese ambassadors to Egypt, Ali Halabi, United Arab Emirates, Fouad Shehab Dandan, Sultanate of Oman, Albert Samaha, Armenia, Maya Dagher, and Colombia, Ara Khashadrian, on the occasion of their nearing departure from Lebanon.

Bassil Asks Govt. to Open a Lebanese Embassy in Jerusalem
Naharnet/December 14/Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil announced Thursday that he has “submitted a memo to the government to establish a Lebanese embassy in Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine.”“I raised with the Palestinian president the issue of exchanging land lots between Lebanon and Palestine to this end and he promised me to exert quick efforts to offer Lebanon a land lot in East Jerusalem,” Bassil added in a tweet. “God willing, the Cabinet should take a decision today,” the FM went on to say. Bassil has called for an Arab popular uprising and for diplomatic, political and economic Arab measures against U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “Jerusalem cannot belong to a unilateral state… Jerusalem is for Jews, Christians and Muslims. We are the sons of Abraham, Jesus and Mohammed, we all want to pray in Jerusalem and we will not accept to be prevented,” said Bassil at an emergency Arab League meeting in Cairo on Saturday. Later on Thursday, the Cabinet formed a ministerial panel led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri to study Bassil's suggestion.

Qabalan Describes President as 'Imam Michel Aoun'
Naharnet/December 14/17/Higher Islamic Shiite Council chief Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan on Thursday described President Michel Aoun as “Imam Michel Aoun” in appreciation of his stances on Jerusalem. “It turns out that the representatives of Muslims are (Foreign Minister) Jebran Bassil and Michel Aoun and the representatives of Christians are (Speaker) Nabih Berri and (Prime Minister) Saad Hariri,” said Qabalan at a Christian-Islamic summit on Jerusalem in Bkirki. The summit was called by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to discuss the developments after U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ordered the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed holy city.“They represent me,” Qabalan added, referring to Aoun and Bassil. “Michel Aoun represents the Lebanese and I call him Imam Michel Aoun,” the Shiite leader went on to say. “We are one nation. We draw strength from God and we work for his sake. We support the aggrieved and we stand in the face of the aggressor,” Qabalan said. Turning to Lebanon, the Shiite leader said the country is “small and weak, but also strong through its unity and its strenuous efforts to support rightful causes.” “Bkirki is not for Maronites but rather a Lebanese land where all Lebanese are represented,” Qabalan added. During an emergency summit for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday, Aoun had called on the international community to recognize Palestine as a state and urged Muslim nations to penalize any state that recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Bassil for his part has called for an Arab popular uprising and for diplomatic, political and economic Arab measures against Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “Jerusalem cannot belong to a unilateral state… Jerusalem is for Jews, Christians and Muslims. We are the sons of Abraham, Jesus and Mohammed, we all want to pray in Jerusalem and we will not accept to be prevented,” said Bassil at an emergency Arab League meeting in Cairo on Saturday.

Bkirki Christian-Muslim Summit: Trump's Decision Provokes Over 3 Billion People
Naharnet/December 14/17/Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders meeting in Bkirki warned Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration on Jerusalem represents “a provocation against over three billion people which targets the core of their faith.”The spiritual leaders “reject this decision and demand its reversal,” the summit's closing statement said. Trump's decision “violates international laws and conventions and insults the symbolism of the city of Jerusalem as a unifying spiritual city,” the statement added. The summit was called by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, who said in opening remarks that the U.S. declaration is “an unjust decision against Palestinians, Arabs, Christians and Muslims.”“It violates U.N. resolutions and international law,” al-Rahi lamented. “We categorically reject the Judaization of this holy city,” he added. Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan for his part underlined that “Jerusalem is not a land lot but rather the cause of Arabs which should be their first and central cause given its significance in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict.” “We will support the Palestinians in their legitimate right to resistance, because what they are doing is not terrorism but rather a resistance against the land's occupiers and usurpers,” Daryan added.

Lebanon-Syria Border Crossing to Reopen
Naharnet/December 14/17/Lebanon and Syria said Thursday they will reopen a border crossing closed five years ago, in another sign of the Syrian government's increasing control over its territory. The crossing, called al-Qaa in Lebanon and Jussiyeh in Syria, was closed in 2012 as fighting raged between President Bashar al-Assad's forces and rebel fighters seeking his overthrow. Assad's regime has since reclaimed most of the territory once held by the rebels, thanks to a Russian military campaign in support of his forces and deep divisions among the rebels. Jihadists from the Islamic State group had moved into the border area but were pushed out in offensives by regime forces in Syria and the Lebanese Army and Hizbullah on Lebanon's side of the frontier. Ceremonies were held Thursday on both sides of the al-Qaa/Jussiyeh crossing, which is set to re-open on Friday morning.  It was the only one of the five crossings between Lebanon and Syria that was permanently closed by the war. The head of Lebanon's General Security agency, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, said the re-opening of the crossing was a moment for celebration after it was closed by "terrorism that targeted the entire region." The mainly Christian al-Qaa area in Lebanon was targeted several times in cross-border attacks, including suicide bombings in June last year that killed five people.

Geagea announces Bou Assi's nomination for Baabda Maronite seat
Thu 14 Dec 2017/NNA - Lebanese Forces Party leader, Samir Geagea, said "many are trying to isolate us (...) which is not new to us. We have experienced it, and are even used to bigger and more brutal attempts, and the result is clear to all."Geagea congratulated "the Lebanese on the approval of oil and gas exploration in Lebanon, which will open to the Lebanese people economic prospects completely different from what we are accustomed to."
He also congratulated the Ministry of Energy and Water on "the work it has done to prepare this decree which, after thorough studying, turned out to be flawless."He stressed, in this regard, that "the electricity tender, as it is today, with a book of conditions tailored to only one company, will not have our consent," wishing "the Ministry of Energy and Water would take into account the comments of the department of tenders and prepare a new book of conditions that provides the required transparency and integrity. Geagea made these remarks in a speech during the nomination of Minister of Social Affairs, Pierre Bou Assi, for the Maronite seat in the Baabda constituency for the parliamentary elections 2018. "We want a just and strong State with no weapons overpowering its own. We want an economically active State, not a semi-state, dependent on assistance from here, and a gift from there," the LF chief said. "This is why we are meeting today, to add a new nomination to our series of nominations across all Lebanese regions. After the usual party consultation, and after long discussions and deliberations, the executive body of the party decided by a majority of votes to nominate comrade Pierre Bou Assi for the Maronite seat in Baabda region."Tackling the US president's Jerusalem decision, Geagea said this decision was faced by international condemnation and rejection "which should make it null, thus preserving the right of Palestinians, Arabs, Christians and Muslims to Al-Quds."

Machnouk receives new Mount Lebanon, Bekaa governors
Thu 14 Dec 2017/NNA - Interior Minister Nuhad Machnouk received on Thursday the new governors of Mount Lebanon, Judge Mohammad Makkawi, and Judge Kamal Abu Jaoudeh who was named Mohafez of the Bekaa.Minister Machnouk gave the directives to the two governors and they talked about upcoming deadlines, such as the legislative elections.

Ibrahim inaugurates General Security new post in Al Qaa: It is of particular importance in these exceptional circumstances
Thu 14 Dec 2017/NNA - General Security Chief, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, said during his inauguration of the new GS post in the border village of Al-Qaa, that this post was of particular importance at these exceptional circumstances. "We are here to strengthen the borders of our countries through efforts and sacrifice, at a time when other countries are victims of cross-border terrorism and the interests of foreign countries," said General Ibrahim. "Today, after a forced closure due to terrorism that has targeted the entire region, we celebrate together the opening of this border crossing," he added.
"The presence of this post in this area, in coordination with other security networks, is one of the essential pillars of national sovereignty, while respecting international pacts and conventions, as well as local laws," concluded the Major General.

ISF: Syrian arrested on charges of collaboration with Israeli enemy
Thu 14 Dec 2017/NNA - The ISF General Directorate issued on Thursday the following statement: "On December 13, 2017, in Al-Beddawi in North Lebanon, a force from the Northern Investigation Unit arrested a Syrian person (born in 1996) sought after under an arrest warrant for the crime of collaborating with the Israeli enemy. The arrestee has been handed over to the competent judiciary."

Riachy, Shorter tackle developments
Thu 14 Dec 2017/NNA - Information Minister, Melhem Riachy, received this Thursday the British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hugo Shorter, with talks touching on the latest developments.

Army commander receives Kazakh Deputy Minister of Defense
Thu 14 Dec 2017/NNA - Army Chief, General Joseph Aoun, received at his office in Yarzeh, Kazakh Deputy Defense Minister, Talgat Mukhgtarov, at the head of an accompanying delegation in the presence of the Kazakh Ambassador B. Omarov, with talks touching on means to promote cooperation between the two countries' armies.

There is no place for a Hezbollah clone in Yemen/ليس هناك مجالاً لإسنساخ حزب الله في اليمن
Dr. Manuel Almeida/Arab News/December 15/2017
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/?p=61031
The death of Ali Abdullah Saleh has opened a new chapter in Yemen’s conflict, depriving the Zaidi militants of their once powerful ally. More than the tragic humanitarian situation — including a massive cholera outbreak on top of acute shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel — it was last week’s execution of the former president by the Houthis that brought renewed international focus to Yemen’s dramatic crisis.
“It’s in the interests of everybody to stop this war,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres remarked to CNN just a few a days ago. “What we need is a political solution.”The UN secretary general is right to stress the urgency and to point out that the ultimate solution to the conflict can only be a political one. The UN and, more broadly, the international community have a potentially important role to play in the efforts to reach it. However, previous peace initiatives have elevated the Houthis to an unwarranted status, while failing to place the necessary pressure on the militant group to retreat and abandon its radical and unrealizable agenda. On this front, there has been a gap between UN Security Council resolutions on the conflict, chief among them Resolution 2216, and the various rounds of negotiations in Geneva, Muscat and Kuwait City since 2015.
Resolution 2216 sets unequivocal demands on the Houthis, including abandoning all areas seized since the beginning of the conflict and relinquishing all arms seized from military and security institutions. It also demands the Zaidi militants “refrain from any provocation or threats to neighboring states, including through the acquisition of surface-to-surface missiles” and “end the recruitment and use of children” in their militia’s ranks.
Yet the various rounds of negotiations have given undue prominence to the Houthis and their grievances and demands. Although militarily they are a key part of the conflict, ever more so with Saleh out of the picture, the Houthis bear the main responsibility for Yemen’s collapse. They are the only faction among various, such as Al-Islah or Al-Hirak, to have ditched outright the outcomes of the political transition process and the National Dialogue Conference, in which they participated. Politically, the Houthis are more isolated than ever. By killing Saleh, their alliance with the segments of the General People’s Congress still loyal to the former president lies in tatters. The Houthi leadership’s flimsy claim that they represent a significant proportion of Yemenis and mainstream Zaidi interests has lost any semblance of credibility. Their strong ideological and operations links to Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, often downplayed by analysts as Gulf paranoia or exaggeration, are now overwhelmingly evident. It is the explosive mixture of radicalism and populism, quite characteristic of Khomeinist ideology, that has driven the Houthi leadership down the path of trying to revive the Imamate in north Yemen.
Even the UN now acknowledges Iran’s hand in transferring ballistic missile technology to the Houthis. Last week, reports of the death of an Iranian missile expert in Sanaa were confirmed.
The example of Lebanon should provide a cautionary tale about the consequences of the institutionalization of a militant group as a political party without relinquishing its military capabilities and abandoning its radical agenda. Neither Yemenis themselves nor their Arab neighbors are open to the once unthinkable scenario of half the country being controlled by the Houthis as an armed group. There is no place for another Hezbollah in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. Understanding this is key to understanding the conflict and how to resolve it. There is also the urgent issue of governance and the provision of basic services, which the Houthis have revealed themselves to be utterly incapable of delivering.
By now, it should be evident there is only one way forward: The Houthi leadership must dissolve its militias, disarm, and return to its origins as a political party without an armed wing a la Hezbollah. A crucial obstacle in the previous rounds of negotiations was disagreement between the Yemeni government and the Houthis on the implementation of the peace plan, namely whether the Houthi withdrawal and handover of seized weapons should precede a new political process or happen in parallel with it. But even this hurdle was overcome, with the Yemeni government agreeing to proceed in parallel.
The example of Lebanon, where Hezbollah has become a state above the state, should provide a cautionary tale about the consequences of the institutionalization of a militant group as a political party without relinquishing its military capabilities and abandoning its radical agenda. Preventing this scenario in Yemen requires pressure from the international community and would be a key step to reaching the urgent solution millions of Yemenis desperately need.
• Dr. Manuel Almeida is a political analyst and consultant focusing on the Middle East. He is the former editor of the English online edition of Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper and holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Twitter: @_ManuelAlmeida

The Latest on the Lebanese Situation
Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 14/2017
«الحالة اللبنانية» في أحدث تجلياتها
إياد أبو شقرا/الشرق الأوسط/10 كانون الأول/17
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/?p=61025
New words and idioms have recently imposed themselves on Lebanon’s political dictionary; such as ‘preventing vacuum’, ‘stability’, ‘realism’, and ‘temporary truce’. All these express a particular ‘situation’ pointing to a local imbalance that benefits from regional disorder and global confusion.
The Lebanese are now merely passing time while international strategies around conflict intersect and conceal themselves, as the players wait to agree on the lowest common denominator for a new world order.
To begin with, before tackling the regional disorder from which one goes to deal with what is happening in Lebanon, let us look at the confusion encountered by three of the of the world’s most influential blocs.
One year ago the USA went from living under one of the most ‘liberal/leftist’ administrations in its history to another which may be described as the most ‘right-wing’. Despite the fact that the American political system is based on ‘checks and balances’, the election of Barack Obama as America’s first African-American president pointed to structural changes in the country’s social and political concepts, or so it seemed in November 2008.
Later, in November 2016, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction with the election of Donald Trump. Not only Trump was an ultra-conservative Republican, but also a businessman who came from outside the ‘political establishment’, fought the primaries against the Republicans’ traditional leader, and was never elected to any political office. His election, too, pointed to yet another change in the public mood, if not America’s political culture. Moving from the extreme ‘left’ to the extreme ‘right’ uncovered a deep rift dividing a ‘nation of immigrants’, which after enjoying an ever-increasing strength thanks to its diversity, has now become averse to diversity, openness, tolerance and welcoming others.
What we have witnessed in America has happened too in Western Europe where strident globalization was with met long-dormant ‘racism’ which has now rediscovered its voice and self-confidence. With this phenomenon, people seem to have forgotten the disasters that nationalistic – indeed, ethnic – extremism caused in Europe in the 20th century, including the rise of Nazism and Fascism, and later the Balkan crises in the aftermath of the collapse of the USSR and ‘the Berlin wall’.
In Asia, home to China and India, the world’s two most populous nations, there are also complicated problems that are becoming even worse against a background of diverging interests and different calculations, whether towards a ‘nuclear’ North Korea, or the conflict over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, in addition to the problems of the Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, and East Turkestan (Chinese Xinjiang).
The pre-occupations of these three major blocs were bound to have repercussions on the Middle East, one way or another. Such a reality has since helped three well-organized regional powers, namely Israel, Iran and Turkey, in flexing their muscles and competing for regional hegemony; and failing that, benefitting from apportionment.
America’s unshakable support for Israel is not new, but has been further enhanced by Donald Trump’s giving an official seal of approval to the old congress vote recognizing Jerusalem as ‘Israel’s capital’. Washington, indeed, has politically sponsored and militarily aided Israel for seven decades.
As for Iran and Turkey, both countries have had a rollercoaster relationship between animosities and alliances. After both countries were Washington’s allies during the Cold War, their respective relations with both Washington and Moscow changed radically, as each pursued its own interpretation of ‘political Islam’, and invested its own ‘Islamist’ slogans in strengthening its presence in an Arab world that has since lost its nationalist identity without gaining an alternative capable of safeguarding the territorial unity of its political entities.
Iran began its interventions aiming at regional hegemony in the first day of the ‘Khomeinist Revolution’ in 1979. This was done through the slogans of “Exporting the Revolution” which precipitated the first Iran-Iraq War. Turkey, on the other hand, had long dreamt of moving ‘westwards’ by joining the European family. However, it eventually discovered that it was not a welcome addition to that family; and consequently, under Necmettin Erbakan then Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it changed direction, moving instead to the east and south towards the Arab world and western Asia.
What became known as ‘The Arab Spring’ of 2011 was an opportunity for all three regional powers to compete for influence at the expense of Arab ambitions and aspirations. As Iran gained an early advantage in 2003 with the US invasion of Iraq, and later in 2008 as – through Hezbollah – took control of Lebanon, Turkey decided to confront Iran by winning in Syria, Egypt, and perhaps Libya too. For its part, Israel has decided to benefit from the escalating Sunni – Shi’ite animosities, first, by destroying any remaining chance of creating a Palestinian state; and secondly by ensuring that the region and Arab bloodletting continues thus increasing its impregnability and killing off all what might threaten its existence.
By 2011, Iran had already achieved hegemony in both Iraq and Lebanon, and through the Houthis established a foothold in Yemen. Later on, however, in the Syrian conflict, Iran’s militias fought against forces supported by Turkey, before both the Iranians and Turks were brought together to the ‘Astana process’, as a result of Moscow’s limiting ambitions, and Washington's ‘zeal’ in encouraging the Kurds. Moreover, in 2013 Ankara suffered another major setback in Egypt, where it had regarded itself a winner after the ‘January 2011 Uprising’, soon exploited by the ‘pro-Ankara’ Muslim Brotherhood who managed to rule Egypt between 2012 and 2013.
In Lebanon, meanwhile, the Lebanese had begun to realize that the withdrawal of the Syrian troops in 2005 following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, was almost meaningless. The Damascus regime was actually nothing but a ‘front’ and ‘nanny’ to a concealed Iranian occupation under the motto of ‘Resistance’; and the divisions between Lebanon’s factions were – and still are – too deep to build a responsible awareness of the need for an inclusive interest that is necessary for nation building.
Today, Lebanon remains ‘occupied’; and worse still, there is an international collusion with this ‘occupation’ providing it with a cover of constitutional ‘legitimacy’. Some Lebanese leaders, claiming to seek ‘stability’ and adhering to ‘realism’ after warning of the danger of ‘vacuum’, have agreed to an apportionment that provides that cover. This is why they are now acting as if they did not know, although they know only too well what is asked of them.

Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on December 14-15/17
Protests Near UN Headquarters against Violations in Iran
Asharq Al-Awsat/December 14/2017/Human rights organizations have organized a protest near the United Nations headquarters in New York to denounce Iran's aggressive human rights practices, calling on the international community to support their efforts by imposing sanctions on Tehran. As New York City shivered under sub-zero temperatures, hundreds of Arabs, Iranians and Americans joined the rally organized by the Arab-American International Center for Human Rights and the US Organization for Justice and Peace. Demonstrators raised banners demanding the punishment of the Iranian regime for its human rights violations and absurd behavior in Middle Eastern countries. The protest was aimed at putting the spotlight on “the violations of the Iranian regime and its support for terrorism,” Deputy Secretary-General of the Arab-American Center for Human Rights Meshary al-Aida told Asharq Al-Awsat. Aida pointed out that the protest was held under the slogan “Stop the terror of the Iranian regime, its violations of human rights and its intervention in the affairs of countries.”It coincided with global celebrations of the International Day of Human Rights, Aida said, noting that the rally aimed to draw the attention of the international community and the United States to the crimes of terrorism and violations carried out by the Iranian regime in Iran and abroad. During the rally a magazine was distributed to reveal the crimes of Iranian terrorism around the world and its violations and intervention in the Middle East and neighboring countries, Aida added. He explained that the magazine included the number of executions carried out by Iran against men, women and children over the past 10 years and the names of some militias and armed terrorist groups that were founded and supported by Iran and were the reason behind the displacement and killing of thousands of women, children and helpless people in Syria and Yemen. In this context, the US Foundation for Defense of Democracies issued a statement on Wednesday urging US President Donald Trump to support UN efforts in its celebrations on World Human Rights Day by imposing additional sanctions on the Iranian regime.

ISIS Relaunches Attack in South Damascus
Asharq Al-Awsat/December 14/2017/ISIS terrorist organization broke the deadlock in the southern field of the Syrian capital, Damascus, by launching an attack, the first in months, during which it managed to advance in al-Tadamon neighborhood. The terrorist organization was also trying to secure a safe haven in the southeastern Syrian desert, by relocating and devising a new positioning plan in the vicinity of al-Tenf, before it was attacked by US-backed Syrian forces in the region. Commander of the Revolutionary Commando's Army Colonel Muhannad al-Tallaa confirmed that hundreds of ISIS militants were spotted in al-Badia area behind "safety line" around the military base trying to set up a campsite in the desert. Tallaa told Asharq al-Awsat that the forces launched an attack against them killing at least 13 and capturing 20, while others fled the areas and are being chased down. He explained that these militants escaped the Euphrates Valley in the eastern region around Abu Kamal with ongoing clashes between Syrian regime focers and the Syrian Democratic Forces, adding that most of the fighters were foreigners. Tallaa indicated that what happened was not a breach of the area protected by the international coalition. "The question today is how they got to the region," he said, noting that the regime and its allies are in control of large areas all the way to the Iraqi border. He added that the regime most likely "had small gaps through which members of the terrorist organization infiltrated to areas of our control." "We will prevent their relocation or placement in our region and areas surrounding the Syrian desert," added Tallaa, pointing that ISIS changed its tactics from fighting on a broad front to working with smaller groups seeking to kidnap soldiers of the regime or fighters, while the regime is incapable of controlling the region.
Spokesperson of Free Syrian Army’s Revolutionary Commando Army Mohammed Mustafa al-Jarrah announced that coalition air force and fighters, including Revolutionary Commando, thwarted an ISIS attack near “Area 55” in the vicinity of al-Tanf border crossing between Syria and Iraq.
Coalition military base in the region includes five groups of fighters: Revolutionary Commando, Lions of the East Army, Forces of Martyr Ahmed al-Abdo, Brigade of the Two Villages Martyrs, and Army of Free Tribes. Meanwhile, sudden clashes erupted in the southern part of Damascus between regime forces and armed forces loyal to them, against ISIS militants and other Islamist factions in al-Tadamon neighborhood. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) stated that ISIS fighters attacked regime posts in the neighborhood on Wednesday and managed to advance into 12 buildings and locations, followed by a violent counterattack by the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them, resulting in several deaths among both parties. ISIS is in control of small neighborhoods south of Damascus including: Black Rock neighborhood and al-Yarmouk Camp, yet, the area hadn't seen such fierce clashes in about a year.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Claims Prepared to Undertake Syria Reconstruction Projects
Asharq Al-Awsat/December 14/2017/Iranian Revolutionary Guard's economic wing leader Ebadullah Abdullahi announced that the Iranian government's debt to the Revolutionary Guards is about 10 billion dollars. He also announced the guard's willingness to undertake reconstruction projects in Syria. In a Wednesday press conference in Tehran, Abdullahi strongly defended economic activity carried out by the Revolutionary Guard. The news conference came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told parliament on Sunday to submit a new budget proposal for next year. According to the new budget, the government has allocated $ 11 billion to the armed forces, and 70 percent of which will be pumped to the Revolutionary Guard. Iranian forces "played the first role in Syria," Abdullahi claimed, citing the presence of Iranian forces fighting ISIS. He, at the same time, pointed out to the large Iranian loss of lives but refrained from mentioning accurate statistics. The external arm of the Revolutionary Guard (Quds Force) has been leading a coalition of multinational militias for six years in Syria. Abdullahi announced that the Khatam Al-Anbiya group's companies are ready to enter the reconstruction field in Syria, but that such a step depends on the Iranian government reaching an agreement with the Syrian government. This opens the door for economic activity inside Syria, he added. Iranian reports claim that the Khatam al-Anbiya group of companies accounts for 20 to 40 percent of Iran's economy. Since 2012, by virtue of an order by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the group has been barred from investing in projects under than $2 billion. Incidentally, President Rouhani repeatedly accused the Revolutionary Guard of obstructing his government’s economic involvement. The group includes 812 companies and 650,000 workers, as well as recording activity with more than 5,000 national contractors. The group was founded in 1989 by Khamenei issued orders, and is part of the economic cooperation arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Russia’s Putin Seeks Re-Election As an Independent, Dismisses Meddling in US Election
Asharq Al-Awsat/December 14/2017/Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he faced no credible high-profile political opponents as he prepared to run for re-election in March ass an independent candidate rather than with the backing of his traditional party. In his first major public appearance since announcing he would seek a new six-year term in March 2018 elections, Putin said it was too early to set out his electoral program, but named priority issues, aside from helping forge what he called a flexible political system, as nurturing a high-tech economy, improving infrastructure, healthcare, education, productivity and increasing people’s real incomes. The ruling United Russia party has traditionally backed Putin and is likely to do so again this time. Earlier this month, Putin announced he would run for re-election in March 2018 - a contest he seems sure to win comfortably and extend his grip on power into a third decade. Putin, 65, has been in power, either as president or prime minister, since 2000, longer than veteran Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and outstripped only by dictator Josef Stalin. With an approval rating of around 80 percent if, as expected, he wins what would be a fourth presidential term, he will be eligible to serve another six years until 2024, when he turns 72.
Putin said he was aware he faced no real competition.“The political environment, like the economic environment, needs to be competitive,” Putin told an audience of more than 1,600 Russian and foreign reporters gathered in a Moscow conference hall for his annual news conference. “I will strive for us to have a balanced political system.” He said he regretted the lack of competition, but accused his political opponents of failing to come up with any positive ideas to tackle Russia’s problems.“It’s important not to just make noise on public squares and speak about the regime,” said Putin. “It’s important to propose something to make things better. But when you start to compare what the leaders of the opposition are proposing, especially the leaders of the non-systemic (liberal) opposition, there are a lot of problems.”
US gripped by fabricated spymania
The Russian President rejected allegations of Russian interference in last year's US presidential election, saying that the United States was in the grip of a fabricated spymania whipped up by Trump’s opponents to undermine his legitimacy. However, Putin expressed hope that US-Russia relations will normalize.
US intelligence agencies have concluded Putin ordered a campaign meant to influence the US vote with a preference for Trump to defeat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Trump has said his campaign did not collude with Russia. Putin also praised the US president for what he said were his achievements.
“I‘m not the one to evaluate the (US) president’s work. That needs to be done by the voters, the American people,” Putin told his annual news conference in Moscow, in answer to a question. “(But) we are objectively seeing that there have been some major accomplishments, even in the short time he has been working. Look at how the markets have grown. This speaks to investors’ trust in the American economy.” Putin expressed his concern over the United States pulling out of arms control agreements, while his country will continue to abide by the pacts. He also said Russia's military will develop as it needs to without getting into an arms race with the US. Washington and Moscow had many common interests, he said, citing the Middle East, North Korea, international terrorism, environmental problems and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. “You have to ask him (Trump) if he has such a desire (to improve ties) ... or whether it has disappeared. I hope that he has such a desire,” said Putin. “We are normalizing our relations and will develop (them) and overcome common threats.”

Bahrain: Our Legislative, Judicial Systems Protect Human Rights
Asharq Al-Awsat/December 14/2017/Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a report entitled "The Legal protection of Human Rights: Achievements and Challenges" in response to Amnesty International's allegations in its report on the human rights situation in Bahrain published last September. Amnesty International's report contained false allegations and interpretations of what it called "suppression of the opposition". The report affirmed Bahrain's pride in its human rights record and its adherence to most of basic human rights conventions, like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Ministry stated that Bahrain recognizes the importance of promoting respect for human rights and its protection, a process that is both challenging and difficult. Therefore, the Kingdom of Bahrain exerts all efforts to promote and protect human rights in spite of all challenges, including external interference in its affairs and sovereignty, increased sectarian and extremist dangers, regional conflicts, intolerance, terrorism and violations of citizens' right to live in safety. These terrorist acts violate the right to safety and impede efforts to ensure stability and comprehensive development, added the statement. The ministry reiterated Bahrain's efforts, in accordance with the law, to confront and deal with terrorism while protecting human rights through national protection mechanisms that monitor the respect of national laws and institutions without compromising social, political and civil rights of individuals. These mechanisms, the ministry added, have become an important factor in activating the legislative provisions and working to respect them. In its report, Amnesty International earlier stated that several of its investigators looked into alleged human rights violations during the period from June 2016 to June 2017. However, Amnesty failed to mention its method of verifying the credibility of its sources, and the objective indicators it had set for itself in reading media reports or other references. Amnesty International sought to collect information on allegations of human rights violations, stressing that there was a severe lack of access to credible information, indicated the ministry. The Ministry explained that legal means have been provided to ensure criminal and disciplinary accountability for those charged with committing acts of torture or cruel, degrading treatment. The Public Prosecution also affirmed it will challenge these facts as provided by the law and will determine disciplinary responsibility, irrespective of rank or position. Accordingly, the Special Investigation Unit referred many cases to the competent governmental authority to try those found guilty of omission or disciplinary negligence, in addition to what is referred to the competent criminal courts in the light of criminal responsibility. As for the shutdown of al-Wasat newspaper, the report stated that the legal procedures to suspend the issuance of the newspaper in June 2017 came as a result of its repeated violations to Law of Press, Printing and Publishing of 2002, and national and international press and media covenants. Concerncing Amnesty International's recommendation on freedom of assembly, the ministry stressed it will ensure that there is no prohibition on the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly, especially when it is done in accordance with legal provisions ensuring safety of participants, maintain public order and morals, and protect the rights and freedoms of others. The ministry established Special Investigation Unit in accordance with the decision of the Attorney-General of 2012, and the General Secretariat Ombudsman, which is an administratively and financially-independent body of the Ministry of Interior.
The ministry also established a new Directorate of Internal Investigations, which is responsible of examining complaints related to allegations of wrongdoing by any members of the public security forces. It has also issued the Code of Conduct for Policemen under Ministerial Resolution. Regarding allegations of arbitrary strip of citizenship and forced deportation, Foreign Ministry stated that the deprivation of nationality occurs in accordance with the constitution and mechanism provided by the law either based on judicial decisions or upon the order of Interior Minister after government's approval. In its report, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the government has compensated victims of human rights violations and adopted a civil settlement initiative to compensate the victims of the events of February and March 2011.

Nikki Haley: Houthi missile fired at Saudi Arabia was ‘made in Iran’
Al Arabiya/December 14/2017/US envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Thursday at a press conference befor the Security Council in New York that Iran’s behavior in the Middle East is getting worse, fanning flames of conflict. Haley confirmed that the US has evidence that the missile fired by Houthi militia targeting a civilian airport in Riyadh was made in Iran. "It was made in Iran then sent to Houthi militants in Yemen," Haley said of the missile. "From there it was fired at a civilian airport with the potential to kill hundreds of innocent civilians in Saudi Arabia," she added. Washington seeks to form an international coalition to confront the threat of Iran, Haley stated. Haley also revealed that the United States has evidence of Iranian support for the Houthis with missiles and weapons. Haley said that the seized weaponry on display at US base shows blatant Iranian violation of UN resolutions. The threat of Iranian missiles includes everyone, not just Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, she said, noting that UN resolutions prevent Iran from exporting weapons or missiles. She added that there has been no improvement in Iran's actions and its continued support for terrorism. Haley stated that the US Defense Secretary will announce new measures against Iran because of its hostile actions. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed the report of the United Nations, which stressed that Iran’s hostile interventions and support for the Houthi terrorist militias with advanced and dangerous missile capabilities to threaten the security and stability of the region. (With AFP)

In first, US presents its evidence of Iranian weaponry from Yemen
Reuters, Washington/December 14/2017/The United States on Thursday presented for the first time pieces of what it said were Iranian weapons supplied to the Iran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen, describing it as conclusive evidence that Tehran was violating UN resolutions. Reuters was given advanced access to the military hangar at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling just outside of Washington where the US Defense Department put the fragments of weaponry on display and explained how it concluded that they came from Iran. The arms included charred remnants of what the Pentagon said was an Iranian-made short-range ballistic missile fired from Yemen on Nov. 4 at King Khaled International Airport outside Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, as well as a drone and an anti-tank weapon recovered in Yemen by the Saudis. Iran has denied supplying the Houthis with such weaponry. “The US has long believed that Iran is providing weaponry to proxies and partners and militias throughout the region, and what we have here to show you today is proof,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Laura Seal, adding Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had recovered the arms and loaned them to Washington. Saudi-led forces, which back the Yemeni government, have been fighting the Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen’s more than two-year-long civil war.
Unprecedented presentation
The unprecedented presentation by the Pentagon is part of its follow-through on President Donald Trump’s new Iran policy, which promises a far harder line toward Tehran. US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, was due to see the weapons on Thursday. The US mission to the United Nations said she would offer “irrefutable evidence that Iran has deliberately violated its international obligations.”The jet vane housing from a missile that the US Department of Defense says is a “Qiam” ballistic missile manufactured in Iran. (Reuters)Under a UN resolution that enshrines the Iran nuclear deal with world powers, Tehran is prohibited from supplying, selling or transferring weapons outside the country unless approved in advance by the UN Security Council. A separate UN resolution on Yemen bans the supply of weapons to Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi and others. Katie Wheelbarger, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, acknowledged that there could be implications of such an accumulation of evidence against Iran, to include sanctions. “You could see future sanctions... But the first step is at least to bring awareness and understanding and to have a similar picture of what we’re looking at,” Wheelbarger said.
Iran links
The Pentagon offered a detailed explanation of all of the reasons why it believed the arms came from Iran, noting Iranian corporate logos on arms fragments and the unique nature of the designs of Iranian weaponry. That included the designs of short-range “Qiam” ballistic missiles. The Pentagon said it had obtained fragments of two Qiam missiles, one fired on Nov. 4 against the airport and another fired on July 22. The Pentagon cited corporate logos of Iranian defense firms on jet vanes that help steer the missile’s engine and on the circuit board helping drive its guidance system. It also said the missile’s unique valve-design was only found in Iran. Iran, it said, appeared to have tried to cover-up the shipment by disassembling the missile for transport, given crude welding used to stitch it back together. “The point of this entire display is that only Iran makes this missile. Theyhave not given it to anybody else,” Seal said. “We haven’t seen this in the hands of anyone else except Iran and the Houthis.” A new UN report found that the July 22 and Nov. 4 missiles fired at Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Houthi rebels appeared to have a “common origin.” But the report said UN officials were still investigating US and Saudi claims that Iran supplied them. The Pentagon put on display other weapons with designs it said were unique to Iran’s defense industry. It pointed to a key component of a Toophan anti-tank guided missile and a small drone aircraft, both of which were recovered in Yemen. It also showed components of a drone-like navigation system like the one the Pentagon says was used by the Houthis to ram an exploding boat into a Saudi frigate on Jan. 30. The United Arab Emirates seized the system in late 2016 in the Red Sea. “What makes these exploding boats so dangerous is not just that they can explode. It’s that they have a guidance system that allows them to track and hit a moving target without an operator on board,” Seal said. “This computer system here represents that navigational system.”

Damascus Says U.N. Mediator 'Undermined' by His Putin Appeal
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 14/17/The U.N. mediator at Syria peace talks in Geneva has "undermined" his position by appealing to Moscow to convince Damascus to hold new elections, the Syrian government's top negotiator said Thursday. Bashar al-Jaafari harshly criticised U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura for comments made to Swiss television Wednesday calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to "have the courage" to convince his Syrian counterpart to allow new polls. "His statement undermined his mandate as a facilitator of the talks, which will affect the entire Geneva process," he told reporters as the eighth round of negotiations concluded with no sign of progress.

Putin Says Trump Opponents 'Made Up' Russia Vote Interference
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 14/17/Opponents of Donald Trump made up allegations of Russian interference in last year's U.S. elections to discredit him, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at his annual press conference Thursday. "All this was made up by people who are opposed to Trump so as to delegitimize his work," the president said in response to a question about allegations of Russian influence. Putin said representatives of the Russian government had met with Trump's team but said this was normal diplomatic practice. "Our ambassador was accused of meeting with someone, but this is normal practice worldwide," the president said. "What is so transgressive in this case and why should it take on this spy-thriller tone?"Putin said he hoped relations between the two countries would improve but suggested it would not be possible in the current U.S. political climate.
Asked to assess Trump's work so far as president, Putin said it was up to U.S. voters rather than him to judge. "We can see several quite significant achievements in the short time he has been at work," Putin said, citing the markets and consumer confidence in particular.

US to publicize Khamenei’s assets to prove Iranian support of terrorism
Al Arabiya/December 14/2017/The House of Representatives approved a draft resolution stating that the Treasury Department is required to publish a list of the assets of Iranian leaders, more specifically the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei. This comes amid congressional calls for investigations on how these resources are spent on supporting and spreading terrorism. The US House of Representatives approved law number HR 1638 on Wednesday titled “Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act”. The law gained a majority vote of 289 votes for, and 135 against.The draft resolution also needs to be approved by the Senate, and signed by the President in order to become a law.
Personal fortunes
About 70 Iranian officials have acquired a vast amount of personal wealth and are using it to support terrorist groups and militias, said Republican representative Bruce Poliquin. He had said: “This bill will allow the world to see how the top Leadership in Iran facilitates human rights abuse through funding pilfered from the Iranian people. It will allow financial institutions to see in public form the type of assets associated with these individuals and hopefully better focus anti-money laundering efforts.”He also stressed that senior Iranian government officials, including Iran's supreme leader and key political and military officials, have acquired enormous wealth through dictatorship and corruption.
Unidentified origins
“As the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, Iran has consistently violated its people’s basic human rights and has ignored United Nations sanctions against its dangerous weapons programs,” said Congressman Poliquin. “They simply cannot be trusted.”The bill was passed by the finance committee of the House of Representatives last November, which called for the American government to reveal all the assets of Iran’s leaders and officials, and how they attained such wealth. The law also requires the US Treasury Department to create a full report about movable and immovable property of prominent figures including the Supreme Leader of Iran, President Hassan Rowhani, members of the Council of Guardians, members of the Expediency Council and the top military leaders.
Corruption and embezzlement
The bill reaffirms that these political figures, military leaders, governmental heads and Revolutionary Guard officials in Iran have received vast amounts of wealth through corruption and embezzlement. The Borgen Project, a non-profit organization that works with US leaders to improve their response to the global poverty crisis, had released a report last November stating that poverty in Iran has reached record-breaking levels with the spread of government corruption and the dominance of ruling figures over the wealth of the country.

Syrian regime refuses negotiations before cancelling Riyadh statement
Al Arabiya/December 14/2017/Bashar al-Jaafari, the head of the Syrian regime delegation at the Geneva-8 talks, said there will be no negotiations with the opposition without cancelling the Riyadh statement. Jaafari said in a press conference following his meeting with UN envoy Staffan De Mistura that there will be no negotiations as long as the opposition adheres to its position that President Bashar al-Assad be excluded from any transitional government. “We told De Mistura that we reject his recent statements,” Jaafari also said, adding that the UN envoy’s “mistakes” undermine his task. Asked who is obstructing the negotiations, he said: “Yusuf’s brother threw him in the well. We all know this story in the Quran,” adding that the opposition is the party obstructing the negotiations. Jaafari also held “those who formulated the Riyadh statement” responsible for the collapse of the Geneva-8 talks.

Staffan de Mistura urges Putin to press for Syria elections
AFP, Geneva/December 14/2017/The United Nations peace envoy for Syria called Wednesday on Russian President Vladimir Putin to “have the courage” to convince his ally in Damascus to hold new elections in the war-ravaged country. Staffan de Mistura, who is mediating peace negotiations in Geneva, said that a military victory alone in Syria’s six-year civil war was not enough for President Bashar al-Assad and that new polls were needed for him to “win the peace”. “There needs, straight away, to be a political process that includes everyone to achieve a new constitution and new elections,” he told Swiss RTS television. Russia intervened in Syria’s devastating conflict in 2015, providing aerial and ground support for government forces, ostensibly to combat advances by what Moscow and Damascus termed “terrorist” groups. On Tuesday, the first Russian troops began returning home after Putin ordered a pullout, saying their mission had been largely completed. De Mistura said Putin “had to convince the (Syrian) government that there’s no time to lose”.
The territorial war
“We can talk about having won the territorial war, which is temporary, but the peace also needs to be won and for that there needs to be the courage to push the government to accept” new elections, which De Mistura said should be monitored by the UN.
Talks this month, the eight round of UN-brokered negotiations between the Syrian government and rebel factions, have snagged on the issue of Assad’s future, with a rebel alliance insisting the president must go as part of any peace deal.A parallel process organized by Moscow and including fellow government ally Iran and rebel backer Turkey, is set to resume next week in Astana, Kazakhstan. More than 340,000 people have been killed since the conflict broke out in March 2011 when protests against Assad’s rule sparked a brutal crackdown.

Israel carries out series of strikes on Hamas sites in Gaza
AFP, Gaza/December 14/2017/Israel carried out a series of air strikes against Hamas in Gaza early Thursday, the army said, hours after rockets were fired at the Jewish state from the Palestinian enclave. In a statement the Israeli army said they had targeted three Hamas military facilities in different parts of the Gaza Strip, which Hamas controls. “The military facilities were used as training and weapons storage compounds,” the statement said. “This was in response to the projectiles fired at Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip earlier this evening.”A Palestinian security source said there were more than 10 strikes on the targets, which included a Hamas naval site and a military base near the Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza.
Significant damage
The source said there had been significant damage to the sites, as well as more minor damage to nearby houses, causing minor injuries. There was no initial confirmation of injuries from the ministry of health in Gaza. The strikes came hours after Israel’s missile defense system intercepted two rockets fired from Gaza. The rockets are often fired by small groups but Israel holds Gaza’s rulers Hamas responsible for any attacks from the territory. The army also announced it would close off the main goods crossing between Gaza and Israel from Thursday “due to the security events and in accordance with security assessments”. There has been an uptick in violence from Gaza since US President Donald Trump announced he would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last Wednesday. Four Gazans have been killed, two in clashes along the border and two Hamas militants in an Israeli airstrike.

Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 14-15/17
How Many Muslims in Europe? Pew's Projections Fall Short
Soeren Kern/Gatestone Institute/December 14/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11545/how-many-muslims-in-europe
Pew's baseline estimate of the number of Muslims currently in Europe — the estimate upon which its future projections are calculated — has been undercounted by at least five million Muslims.
The UCIDE figures — which posit that there are roughly 750,000 more Muslims in Spain today than the estimate proffered by Pew — are widely recognized in Spain as the most accurate assessment of the Muslim population in that country. It remains unclear why Pew failed to mention the UCIDE report in its source appendix.
In Germany, Pew "decided not to count" the one million plus Muslim asylum seekers who arrived in the country in 2015/2016 because "they are not expected to receive refugee status."
The Pew report entirely ignores the key issue of how Europe will integrate tens of millions of Muslim migrants whose values — including anti-Semitism, polygamy, female genital mutilation and honor violence — cannot be reconciled with those of Europe's Judeo-Christian and liberal-democratic heritage.
Europe's Muslim population is set to double — and possibly triple — between now and 2050, according to new projections by the Pew Research Center.
The projections, contained in a report, "Europe's Growing Muslim Population," confirm what has long been common knowledge: decades of declining European birthrates, coupled with mass migration from the Muslim world, are fast-tracking the Islamization of Europe.
The demographic calamity facing Europe, however, is even worse than the Pew report lets on. A critical analysis of the data shows that Pew's calculations of the current Muslim population in key European countries are partial and incomplete — and in some instances inaccurate. As a result, Pew's baseline estimate of the number of Muslims currently in Europe — the estimate upon which its future projections are calculated — has been undercounted by at least five million Muslims, whose presence in Europe will significantly increase the future size of the continent's Muslim population.
The Pew report offers three projections based on three different scenarios involving migration during the next three decades. The baseline for all three scenarios is the Muslim population in Europe (defined by Pew as the 28 countries presently in the European Union, plus Norway and Switzerland), estimated at 25.8 million (4.9% of the overall population) as of mid-2016 — up from 19.5 million (3.8%) in 2010.
The first scenario envisions a complete halt to Muslim immigration between now and 2050. This scenario will not occur, of course, but was modeled to determine what the future might look like with migration removed from the equation.
In this scenario, Europe's Muslim population is projected to increase by about 10 million people, from an estimated 25.8 million Muslims in 2016 to 35.8 million in 2050. In percentage terms, the Muslim population would rise from about 5% of Europe's overall population today to 7.4% at midcentury — not only because Muslims are growing in absolute numbers, but because the non-Muslim population in Europe is expected to decline by roughly 10%.
A second, "medium" migration scenario assumes that all refugee flows will stop as of mid-2016 but that recent levels of "regular" migration to Europe will continue (that is, migration of those who come for reasons other than seeking asylum). This is the scenario most likely to occur, according to Pew. Under these conditions, the number of Muslims in Europe could reach 57.9 million, or 11.2% of Europe's population in 2050.
Finally, a "high" migration scenario projects the record flow of refugees into Europe between 2014 and 2016 to continue indefinitely into the future with the same religious composition — namely Islamic — in addition to the typical annual flow of regular migrants. In this scenario, the number of Muslims could reach 75.6 million, or 14% of Europe's population by 2050 — nearly triple the current share.
The impact of these scenarios on different European countries is astounding: Under the high-migration scenario, for instance, the Muslim population of Sweden — a formerly homogeneous Christian country — would reach nearly one-third (30.6%) of the overall population by 2050, followed by Cyprus (28.3%), Austria (19.9%), Germany (19.7%), Belgium (18.2%), France (18%), Norway (17%), Britain (16.7%), Denmark (16%), Netherlands (15.2%), Finland (15%) and Italy (14.1%).
The raw numbers are equally jarring:
In Germany, the Muslim population would increase from 4,950,000 (6%) today to 17,490,000 (around 20%) by 2050 in the high scenario, compared to 11% in the medium scenario and 9% with no further Muslim migration.
In France, the Muslim population would increase from 5,720,000 (8.8%) today to 13,210,000 (18%) by 2050 in the high scenario, compared with 17.4% in the medium scenario and 12.7% with no further Muslim migration.
In Britain, the Muslim population would increase from 4,130,000 (6.3%) today to 13,480,000 (17.2%) in the high scenario, compared to 6.7% in the medium scenario and 9.7% with no further Muslim migration.
In Belgium, the Muslim population would increase from 870,000 (7.6%) today to 2,580,000 (18.2%) in the high scenario, compared to 15.1% in the medium scenario and 11.1% with no further Muslim migration.
The report's authors acknowledge that no one can know today what Europe's Muslim population of Europe will be in 2050, but they claim to know, more or less, the size of Europe's Muslim population today. In this aspect, some of Pew's calculations — which are said to be based on "analysis and projections of the best available census and survey data in each country combined with data on immigration from Eurostat and other sources" — fall short.
In Spain, for instance, Pew estimates the current Muslim population at 1,180,000 or 2.6% of the overall population. The Union of Islamic Communities in Spain (Unión de Comunidades Islámicas de España, UCIDE), however, estimates that Spain's Muslim population at the end of 2016 was 1,919,141, or 4.1% of the overall population.
The UCIDE figures — which posit that there are roughly 750,000 more Muslims in Spain today than the estimate proffered by Pew — are widely recognized in Spain as the most accurate assessment of the Muslim population in that country. It remains unclear why Pew failed to mention the UCIDE report in its source appendix.
The different estimates of the Muslim population in Spain today yield significantly different projections of Spain's Muslim population in 2050. According to Pew, Spain's Muslim population would increase from 1,180,000 (2.6%) today to 2,810,000 (7.2%) by 2050 in the high scenario, compared to 2,660,000 (6.8%) in the medium scenario and 1,880,000 (4.2%) with no further Muslim migration.
Applying Pew's projections to UCIDE's data, however, Spain's Muslim population would increase from 1,919,141 (4.1%) today to 4,570,242 (11.7%) by 2050 in the high scenario, compared to 4,326,128 (11%) in the medium scenario and 3,057,575 (6.9%) with no further Muslim migration.
In other words, the roughly 750,000 additional Muslims estimated by UCIDE in 2016 would — in the high scenario — yield around 1.8 million more Muslims in Spain by 2050 than projected by Pew.
In Austria, Pew estimates the current Muslim population at 600,000, or 6.9% of the overall population. However, the Austrian Integration Fund (Österreichische Integrationsfonds, ÖIF), an agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, estimates Austria's Muslim population at 700,000, or 7.9%. The difference of 100,000 Muslims, seemingly insignificant, will — in the high scenario — yield 350,000 more Muslims in Austria by 2050 than projected by Pew. In percentage terms, Austria's Muslim population would be nearly 25% according to the ÖIF, compared to 19.9% according to Pew.
In France, Pew estimates the current Muslim population at 5,720,000, but it admits that "France hasn't measured religion in a nationwide census since 1872." Nevertheless, Pew assures readers that "it is nonetheless still possible to measure religious identity and practice in France."
No one, in fact, knows the exact number of Muslims in France. What is known, however, is that millions of Muslims in France are permanently hidden from the official statistics. French analyst Yves Mamou explains:
"This figure [six million] does even not take into consideration the Muslim population that immigrated to France from North Africa in the 1960s and early 1970s. There are a few million of them — nobody knows how many exactly. They became French very early, and for demographers, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren are not regarded as immigrants anymore. These Muslims are, rather, integrated into statistics as French citizens born of French parents. They are Muslim, but under the statistics radar."
In Germany, Pew "decided not to count" the one million plus Muslim asylum seekers who arrived in the country in 2015/2016 because "they are not expected to receive refugee status." Pew assumes they will either return to their countries of origin or be deported, even though Germany is notoriously lax in deporting illegal migrants. In fact, tens of thousands of migrants, including many convicted criminals, have been allowed to continue to live in Germany, often for decades, after receiving deportation orders.
Moreover, German authorities have admitted to losing track of potentially hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, many of whom are believed to be sustaining themselves on a steady diet of drug dealing, pickpocketing, purse snatching and other forms of petty crime, and who are responsible for the across-the-board increase of lawlessness on German streets.
Pew's analysis of the number of asylum seekers in Europe is highly confusing and virtually unintelligible to the lay reader. Much of the problem lies in the fact that the statistics compiled by European governments are incomplete and often contradictory. This confusion is compounded by nuances in how to define different categories of migrants, including regular migrants entering legally as workers and students, asylum seekers and refugees, as well as illegal migrants posing as refugees. Still, Pew's failure to provide clarity is exemplified in the following paragraph:
"Between the beginning of 2014 and mid-2016 – a stretch of only two and a half years – roughly three times as many refugees (1.2 million, or about 490,000 annually) came to Europe, as conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan continued or intensified. (These figures do not include an additional 970,000 Muslim asylum seekers and 680,000 non-Muslim asylum seekers who arrived between mid-2010 and mid-2016 but are not projected to receive legal status in Europe.)"
Pew admits that "we may be erring on the side of being too conservative in our overall estimates, because if significant numbers of those in legal limbo remain in Europe, their presence will have ripple effects increasing the future size of the continent's Muslim population."
More importantly, the Pew report downplays the societal effects of mass migration from the Muslim world by stressing that even if the Muslim population in Europe triples by 2050, it "will still considerably smaller than the populations of both Christians and people with no religion in Europe." The report entirely ignores the key issue of how Europe will integrate tens of millions of Muslim migrants whose values — including anti-Semitism, polygamy, female genital mutilation and honor violence — cannot be reconciled with those of Europe's Judeo-Christian and liberal-democratic heritage.
Finally, the Pew report stresses that the Pew Research Center is nonpartisan and "does not take policy positions." The report, however, appears to have been expressly written to debunk what it says are "sensationalistic claims" about the dangers of Muslim migration in Europe. A section on Germany assures readers:
"In general, Germans express positive views of refugees, with most saying they make Germany stronger because of their hard work and talents (59%), rather than being a burden by taking jobs and social benefits (31%). Most Germans also see Muslims in their country in a positive light: Roughly two-thirds say they have a "very favorable" (10%) or "mostly favorable" (55%) view of Muslims, compared with about three-in-ten who express a mostly (23%) or very (6%) unfavorable opinion."
In fact, widespread anger over Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door migration policy contributed to the September 24 election debacle in which her center-right CDU/CSU alliance won only 33% of the vote, its worst electoral result in nearly 70 years. The election results showed that more than a million traditional CDU/CSU voters defected to the Alternative for Germany (AfD), an upstart party that has harnessed voter anger over runaway immigration.
The Pew report's co-author, Conrad Hackett, a respected demographer, also claimed that by 2050, "there will be no country [in Europe] where Muslims make up more than a third of the population." His own report, however, clearly states that the Muslim population of Sweden could, in fact, comprise one-third of the population within the next three decades. In any event, the Muslim population of many European cities — Antwerp, Birmingham, Bradford, Brussels, Leicester, Malmö, Marseille — will almost certainly exceed one-third of the population by 2050.
In summary, the Pew report provides invaluable insights into the demographic challenges facing Europe during the next three decades; due to its uniqueness, the report is certain to be a primary reference source on Europe's Muslim population for years to come. At the same time, however, the report showcases the limits of estimating and projecting the number of Muslims in Europe —especially in a political climate marked by dogmatic multiculturalism and political correctness.
**Soeren Kern is a Senior Fellow at the New York-based Gatestone Institute.
© 2017 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Palestinians: Arab Rulers are Traitors, Cowards
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/December 14/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11546/palestinians-arab-rulers
The decision to boycott a visit later this month by US Vice President Mike Pence comes in the context of absorbing the anger of the street. Abbas and his Palestinian Authority have also made it clear that they no longer consider the Trump administration an "honest" and "unbiased" broker in any peace process with Israel. As such, the Palestinian Authority leadership announced that it will reject any peace plan proposed by the Trump administration, even if the plan gains the support of Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
The Palestinian strategy now is to work hard to thwart any peace plan coming from the Trump administration. The Palestinians are convinced that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Arab leaders are cooking up a new "conspiracy" behind their backs -- with the aim of "liquidating" the Palestinian cause by imposing an acceptable solution on them. This, of course, has nothing to do with Trump's announcement on Jerusalem. This has been the Palestinian position even before Trump made his announcement, and it is unlikely to change after.
The question now is: How will the Arab regimes respond to this latest charge of fratricide leveled against them by their Palestinian brothers?
Once again, the Palestinians are disappointed with their Arab brothers.
A declaration of war on the US, in the Palestinians' view, would have been the appropriate response to US President Donald Trump's December 6 announcement recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
For the Palestinians, the anti-US demonstrations that took place in some Arab countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Iraq and Lebanon were a welcome development.
But the protests have evidently failed to satisfy the appetite of the Palestinians, who were banking on the Arab heads of state and governments to take more drastic measures against the US.
The Palestinians are not expecting the Arab and Islamic armies to march on the White House or bomb New York and Los Angeles.
All they have gotten so far from the Arab and Islamic leaders and governments are demonstrations on the streets and statements of condemnations. Moreover, it does not look as if the Palestinians should be expecting more from their Arab and Muslim brothers.
The sense of let-down on the Palestinians' part is large: the streets of the West Bank and Gaza Strip are rising with chants labeling the Arab and Muslim leaders and regimes as "traitors" and "puppets" in the hands of Israel and the US.
Almost every Palestinian protester interviewed in the past few days about the Trump announcement spoke also of the "weakness" and "cowardice" of the Arab and Islamic heads of state.
Welcome to the Palestinian mindset, where an Arab leader who talks about peace with Israel is a traitor, while an Arab leader who talks about destroying Israel or launching rockets at it, like Saddam Hussein, is a "hero."
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is rumored to be working with the Trump administration on a new peace plan to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is being dubbed a "traitor" and "collaborator" by many Palestinians. Likewise, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Sisi is being accused by many Palestinians of being too soft on Israel and the US and in collusion with the Trump administration.
Hassan Nasrallah, on the other hand, the secretary-general of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, who has called for a new intifada against Israel, is being hailed as a "hero." So are his Iranian masters.
A Bahraini Interfaith group that visited Israel with a message of peace and conciliation was met with Palestinian anger. The Palestinians accused the Bahraini delegation of promoting "normalization with the Zionist entity."
When Palestinians heard that the members of the Bahraini group might visit the Gaza Strip, they waited for them with eggs and shoes to throw at them at the entrance to the Gaza Strip. The Bahraini delegates later denied that they had planned a visit to the Gaza Strip. However, this did not stop Palestinian protesters from condemning the Bahrainis.
Echoing the embitterment towards the Arab "impotence" and "weak" response to Trump's announcement, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas said that statements issued by governments and leaders were inadequate in the extreme. In a message to the Arab Parliament, Abbas expressed disappointment that the Arab and Islamic countries did not take tougher measures in response to Trump's announcement.
For Abbas, the condemnations alone were "meaningless". At a minimum, he stated, the Palestinians were expecting that Arabs and Muslims would throw the US ambassadors out of their countries, shut down US embassies, cut off their diplomatic relations with the US, or boycott US officials and delegations and goods. "Rejecting or saying that the [Trump] decision is null and void is insufficient," Abbas said. "We expect a series of measures and steps that would rise to the level of the event."
The reaction of the Palestinian street to the Arab and Islamic "apathy" has been even stronger, especially after the meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo to discuss the Trump announcement.
"As far as I'm concerned, all the Arabs are not worth two shekels," commented a Palestinian interviewed in Ramallah." Another Palestinian remarked: "There are no Arabs or Muslims left." A third Palestinians said, "I find it strange that there are still some Arabs who expect anything good to come out of the Arab league. When will the Arabs wake up?"
"Anyone who expects the weary Arab regimes to defend Jerusalem is living under an illusion," said Palestinian political analyst Mohammed Ismail Yassin. "All one should expect from these regimes is more failure. The Arab regimes are busy shedding the blood of their people."
Meanwhile, it seems that the Palestinians are disgusted not only with the Arab leaders, but also with their own president, Abbas. A Palestinian public opinion poll published this week showed that 70% of the Palestinians want Abbas to resign. Three months ago, 67% of the Palestinians interviewed for another poll said they wanted Abbas to resign. The latest poll found that Palestinians favor more hardline leaders such as Fatah's imprisoned leader, Marwan Barghouti, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
The Palestinians are fed up with Abbas because, among other things, they believe he is not being tough enough with Israel. Many would like to see Abbas cancel the Oslo Accords with Israel and openly endorse the "armed struggle." They also want him to halt security coordination with Israel. In an attempt to appease the Palestinian street, Abbas and his top officials have resorted to inflammatory rhetoric against Israel and the Trump administration.
The decision to boycott a visit this month by US Vice President Mike Pence comes in the context of absorbing the anger of the street. Abbas and his Palestinian Authority have also made it clear that they no longer consider the Trump administration an "honest" and "unbiased" broker in any peace process with Israel. As such, the Palestinian Authority leadership announced that it will reject any peace plan proposed by the Trump administration, even if the plan gains the support of Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Mahmoud Abbas and his Palestinian Authority have made it clear that they will reject any peace plan proposed by the Trump administration. Pictured: Abbas speaks during the U.N. General Assembly on September 20, 2017.
The Palestinian strategy now is to work hard to thwart any peace plan coming from the Trump administration. The Palestinians are convinced that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Arab leaders are cooking up a new "conspiracy" behind their backs -- with the aim of "liquidating" the Palestinian cause by imposing an acceptable solution on them. This, of course, has nothing to do with Trump's announcement on Jerusalem. This has been the Palestinian position even before Trump made his announcement, and it is unlikely to change after.
The Palestinians have placed themselves on a collision course not only with the US, but also with the Arab world. The question now is: How will the Arab regimes respond to this latest charge of fratricide leveled against them by their Palestinian brothers?
*Khaled Abu Toameh, an award-winning journalist, is based in Jerusalem.
© 2017 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Islamic Terrorism vs. Political Correctness
A. Z. Mohamed/Gatestone Institute/December 14/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11478/islamic-terrorism-political-correctness
Religion (in this instance, Islam) plays a smaller part in what makes terrorists tick than "the [human] need for... personal significance... Especially when it comes to violence that is shunned by most religions and most cultures, you need validation from a group of people that would then become your reference group. So the group component is very important, particularly when it comes to antisocial activities that are forbidden or shunned...." — Arie W. Kruglanski, distinguished professor of psychology at the University of Maryland and former co-director of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism
It seems as if many analysts gloss over the role of Islamic teachings -- the Quran, the Sunna, and fatwas -- by minimizing them while highlighting matters such as the need for personal significance and validation. By minimizing the content of the Islamic literature, what they overlook is that Islamic teachings actually justify many activities that they would label antisocial.
The validation jihadists get from their reference group is mainly Islamic in words and meanings and that reference group has no significance without referring to the Islamic texts. What seems a universal dismissal or whitewashing -- intentionally or not -- of what is written in the texts, has become so prevalent, that it undermines our ability to recognize, let alone rectify, it.
Even relatively "moderate" Muslims, as hard as it is for a Westerner to comprehend it, deeply believe that we are here just for an insignificant instant, and that the really important life is yet to come in the afterlife.
Responding to findings of a recent study on what motivates both ISIS fighters and those who combat them, Arie W. Kruglanski -- distinguished professor of psychology at the University of Maryland and former co-director of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism -- said:
"The ideology component addresses individuals' need to matter and feel significant. ... It tells people what to do, such as fight and make sacrifices, in order to gain respect and admiration from others."
Kruglanski, whose 2014 article, "Psychology Not Theology: Overcoming ISIS' Secret Appeal," argues that religion (in this instance, Islam) plays a smaller part in what makes terrorists tick than "the [human] need for ... personal significance." He added:
"Especially when it comes to violence that is shunned by most religions and most cultures, you need validation from a group of people that would then become your reference group. So the group component is very important, particularly when it comes to antisocial activities that are forbidden or shunned."
Kruglanski is one of many Western professionals who attempt -- through science -- to gloss over the very real distinction between people who become jihadists in the name of Islam and those who do not. It seems as if many analysts gloss over the role of Islamic teachings -- the Quran, the Sunna, and fatwas -- by minimizing them while highlighting matters such as the need for personal significance and validation. By minimizing the content of the Islamic literature, what they overlook is that Islamic teachings actually justify many activities that they would label antisocial. Many analysts also ignore that the validation jihadists get from their reference group is mainly Islamic in words and meanings and that reference group has no significance without referring to the Islamic texts. It often seems as if political correctness -- trying to persuade the readers that jihadists are no different from other terrorists and Islamic teachings have no connection to terrorism -- is substituted ignoring and minimizing the Islamic texts. the Islamic. What are the roles played by Islam and its group dynamics?
What seems a universal dismissal or whitewashing -- intentionally or not -- of what is written in the texts, has become so prevalent, that it undermines our ability to recognize, let alone rectify, it.
There also seems to be a tendency often to put a finger in the Petrie dish to compel the evidence toward a desired result, rather than to follow the scientific evidence where it would lead. As Nathan Cofnas, a doctoral student of philosophy at the University of Oxford, wrote in the journal Foundations of Science:
"Some prominent scientists and philosophers have stated openly that moral and political considerations should influence whether we accept or promulgate scientific theories... [M]isrepresenting findings in science to achieve desirable social goals will ultimately harm both science and society."
Where radical Islamism is concerned, this practice of political correctness has proven deadly, literally and figuratively. Out of fear of being labelled by their peers as "Islamophobic," many of the people engaged in research on Islamic terrorism overlook or understate certain facts – such as the call on the part of jihadists to obliterate Western civilization [see Sayyid Qutb's Social Justice in Islam] -- and justify evil through moral equivalence. This is done, in part, by equating the teachings of the Koran with the Bible, and by claiming that no culture is superior to, or more violent than, another.
Contrary to politically correct psychological assessments, there is abundant empirical evidence to suggest that Islamic teachings are central to the radicalization of Muslims. Highlighting terrorists' situational factors and universal human tendencies fails to include actually looking at the texts themselves and, but downplaying what is there, makes the solution even more elusive.
There are many variables that work together to make a Muslim believe, for instance, that they love death more than unbelievers love this 'donya,' -- this inferior life. Even relatively "moderate" Muslims, as hard as it is for a Westerner to comprehend it, deeply believe that we are here just for an insignificant instant, and that the really important life is yet to come in the afterlife.
Many young Muslims might be possessed by their sadistic impulses and welcome the thrill of being given permission to act on them, being told that they are actually obligatory and good; that the person committing them is, in the view of the texts, heroic and will receive lavish rewards.
Other people, who feel dependent and need structure, might be relieved by having every activity proscribed for them and might be pleased to be possessed by their highly persuasive and controlling Islamist leaders.
Confronting and defeating global terrorism is noble and necessary. Scientific study of its roots, triggers, recruitment methods and geographical ambitions is a crucial tool in the endeavor. Unless such a study is completely insulated from the devastating effects of political correctness – rather than by knowledge of what Islam actually says and conclusions based on that evidence – the results will be based misrepresenting the facts in order to continue obfuscating the true origins and nature of Islamic terrorism.
**A.Z. Mohamed is a Muslim born and raised in the Middle East.
© 2017 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute

On the radical road to Palestine
Fahad Suleiman Shoqiran/Al Arabiya/December 14/17
Following Donald Trump’s declaration recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, ideological parties, as usual, began to exploit the Palestinian cause to settle accounts with countries they hate. The Palestinian cause is the most famous matter among ideological, leftist, nationalist and leftist networks.
Therefore, these movements’ armies were quick to harm Saudi Arabia’s image in terms of the Palestinian cause. We will not engage much in listing the honorable Saudi stances towards Palestinians because be doing so, we’d be descending into an ungainly ideological debate.We would rather address the point of these movements’ use of the cause and the aim of criticizing Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries in the name of defending it.It’s well-known that Arabs stood by Palestinians by way of initiatives as well as by managing negotiations and defending entities and capabilities. However, it’s no secret that Palestinian elites contributed to marginalizing and weakening the cause and gambling with it. There have been investments by politicians who sealed deals with the Israelis to benefit from the chance to build settlements via contracting companies they own. This is in addition to other politicians who supported building the wall. We must look at the cause rationally, which requires experts’ and media figures’ intellectual courage to go beyond political squandering
Irresponsible behavior
Meanwhile, the Hamas movement, through some of its irresponsible behavior and destructive acts, distorted the cause’s image before Arabs and the world. Its rapprochement with Iran and Hezbollah came as an enthronement of all the destruction it caused since its establishment. Hamas does not only have an ideological Brotherhood formation but it is also managed and funded by Iran. Hamas contributed to handing the cause over to Iran, emptied it from its content and weakened its credibility, and it’s thus responsible for the new generation’s lack of interest in it. The Muslim Brotherhood exploited the cause to enhance its presence on the ground while the Sururist organization in Saudi Arabia exploited it at religious educational platforms. One Brotherhood magazine was actually the guide of Sururist orientation towards Palestine. Sururists would gather and read about the movement’s program, discuss governments’ weaknesses in terms of confronting Israel and looked into recruitment and confrontation possibilities. Many articles acted like a map which helped form the ideas of the Sururist generation back then, like Fathi Yakan’s writings. Safar Al-Hawali played a significant role in establishing the organization’s orientation towards the cause, specifically via his lectures and lessons. In 2000, he wrote the book The Day of Wrath in which he predicted the end of the state of Israel and discussed the “Jewish character” via the torah and bible. The Palestinian cause was thus the fuel that kept the movement’s members motivated. As for al-Qaeda, it exploited the cause to enhance the capabilities of terror groups. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Al-Jazeera television channel broadcast a video attained by al-Qaeda. It contained Bin Laden’s “famous oath” in which he said: “I swear America will not enjoy security before we live it as a reality in Palestine.” That’s what he said although the composition of al-Qaeda and the main aim of its major program is not to liberate Palestine as much as it is to topple the “infidel” governments and confront the crusaders in the Arabian Peninsula and everywhere else in the world. However, like other terrorist movements, it wanted to exploit the cause to recruit more followers and enhance its legitimacy among youths.
The Quds brigade
The same applies to Shiite militias. Qassem Soleiman’s faction chose the name the Quds brigade. The latter, however, has nothing to do with liberating Quds. The same applies to Hezbollah whose rhetoric focuses on Jerusalem and which relies on Jerusalem as a tool of mobilize people.
Hezbollah also used the cause to carry out genocide in Syria. Hassan Nasrallah’s statements are famous for noting that the road to Jerusalem passes through Qalamun and Zabadani where they dragged women and children and where mass murder is carried out via exploiting Jerusalem and resorting to slogans about the Palestinian cause. This is a hideous exploitation of the cause, so what’s the point of using it, of propagating slogans pertaining to it and of relying on its disturbing history? The cause has been thus used to harm humanity, violate civil values and motivate the birth of partisan movements.
Therefore, discussing the repercussions of the cause is the right reaction towards attacks on Saudi Arabia, instead of falling into the trap of bidding and making justifications or reminding of the Gulf countries’ honorable stance towards the Palestinian people.
We must look at the cause rationally and realistically, and this requires experts’ and media figures’ intellectual courage to go beyond political squandering of the cause especially that the latter has become a trading tool as Nizar Qabbani put it: “Palestine to you was like a hen from whose precious eggs you ate, Palestine to you was like the shirt of Uthman in which you traded.”

End of the fossil fuel era?
Dr. Mohamed A. Ramady/Al Arabiya/December 14/17
The race to diversify oil-based economies is moving at a fast pace, not only to wean such economies from oil based revenue addiction but also a realisation that environmental pressure and technological advances in renewable energy are posing long term threats to fossil fuel producers.
Nuclear fusion is on the brink of a major milestone, and the advent of electric and hybrid cars and technological advances to reduce cost of production in solar energy are now realities. While safer nuclear fusion faces a chronic lack of funding, there’s a group of scientists quietly working on another method of generating electricity, in the lab that once created the atomic bomb in a process called nuclear fusion.However, there have been 33 serious incidents and accidents at nuclear power stations since the first recorded one in 1952 at Chalk River in Ontario, Canada, raising public concern and sensitivity given the headline grabbing major incidents like Chernobyl (Russia), Fukushima (Japan), Three Mile Island (USA), Sellafield (UK) and Saint Laurent des Eaux (France). This has not deterred nuclear power advocates from continuing to see this renewable energy source as a viable option. In the GCC, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have announced major nuclear power initiatives, in parallel with mega investments in solar energy, with Egypt also entering this field after signing with Russia to build North Africa’s largest nuclear power plant. At the same time, some oil producers are diversifying from oil revenue dependency and the news that Norway’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund has announced an intention to sell off its oil and gas holdings caused some excitement and raised a few eyebrows about Norway’s intentions, given that Norway is a significant oil non-OPEC producer.
This financial divestment amounts to about 6 percent of the fund’s stockholdings, about $37 billion. Environmental activists were delighted and expect this to trigger a broader sell-off in fossil fuels.
The key question is whether oil is an appreciative or depreciative asset in the long term
Aligning with transition
The Norwegian decision comes on the heels of other global institutions like Rockefellers divesting from fossil fuels and prompted questions that investors will look more closely at alignment with the low carbon transition taking place globally, especially from the advent of electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid cars.
Electric vehicles sales surged, largely driven by strong demand in China. Sales of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids exceeded 287,000 units in the three months ended in September, 63 percent higher than the same quarter a year ago and up 23 percent from the second quarter, according to a report released by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). China accounted for more than half of global sales as its market for electric cars doubled amid government efforts to curb pollution, which seems to worsen by the year and is now a serious health hazard. BNEF expects global EV sales to surpass 1 million units this year for the first time. The market for electrified transport is starting to pick up speed as charging infrastructure becomes more accessible and manufacturers roll out models with longer driving ranges. In 2017, many established carmakers from Jaguar Land Rover to Volvo Cars announced plans to bring electric versions of their vehicles to market in the next few years. Government intentions are also crucial indicators on where demand for fossil fuel is heading. Several governments have announced targets for cleaner transport, some driven by the emissions-cheating scandal that engulfed Volkswagen AG.
France and the UK said they will ban sales of new gasoline and diesel-burning cars by 2040, while the Netherlands is targeting that all new cars sold by 2030 will be emissions-free.
Hybrids and pollution
China - the world’s largest auto market -is mulling its own ban, and even California is considering following suit. India is another large market for EV and hybrids and faces rising pollution problems. However, there are skeptics around who argue that while the switch to EV vehicles is to be welcomed, for this to succeed there has to be a renewable energy supporting infrastructure in place to recharge the EV batteries, as it defeats the whole purpose of a cleaner environment if in rural China and India newly empowered EV owners will still have to use diesel oil generators to charge EV car batteries. Only time will tell, but a combination of emission taxes, public pressure on governments to act and financial incentives to industry and automobile manufacturers to come up with emission controls and energy efficiency measures are very strong push factors to reduce fossil fuel demand in the future. This raises different policy options for major oil producers on whether it is wise to keep oil in the ground for future sales or to maximize production and sales now. The key question is whether oil is an appreciative or depreciative asset in the long term. Until they truly diversify their economies away from oil revenue dependency, the Gulf oil producers can only try to assess current and future forecasted oil prices based on global supply and demand, but this time they also have to factor in demand for renewable energy and technological development for EV and hybrid vehicles.