LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
November 01/17
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations
So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 13/47-53/:"‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’ When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.

I do not want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons
First Letter to the Corinthians 10/14-24/:"Therefore, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?What do I imply then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? ‘All things are lawful’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful’, but not all things build up. Do not seek your own advantage, but that of others.

Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 01/17
Aoun's Debate Pros & Cons/Elias Bejjani/October 30/17
One Year On Aoun's Presidency/Elias Bejjani/October 30/17
RECAP: Aoun marks 1 year anniversary with interview/Joseph Haboush|/The Daily Star/October 31/17
President: Sectarian system hampering political reforms/Hussein Dakroub/The Daily Star/October 31/17
Is Israel Preparing to Strike Hezbollah/Ari Heistein/The National Interest/October 31/17
8 killed by driver on bike path in 'cowardly act of terror/The Canadian Press/October 31/17
Moroccan ISIS Commander: We Killed Italian Father Paolo Dall'oglio/ Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 31 October, 2017/
Turkey and the U.S.: A Poisoned Alliance/Burak Bekdil/The Gatestone Institute/October 31/17
On leaving the old guard and welcoming the new/Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/October 31/17
France: New Anti-Terrorism Law Takes Effect/Soeren Kern/Gatestone Institute/October 31/17
Surprise! Study Shows Islamic Terrorism is Islamic/Judith Bergman/Gatestone Institute/October 31/17
America's Catastrophic Success Against ISIS/Eli Lake/Bloomberg/October 31/17
Professors Like Me Can’t Stay Silent About This Extremist Moment on Campuses/
Lucía Martínez Valdivia/The Washington Post/October 31/17
Netanyahu warns enemies 'not to test our will'/Ynetnews/October 31/17/

Titles For Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on November 01/17
Aoun's Debate Pros & Cons
One Year On Aoun's Presidency
Aoun Sounds Alarm on the Number of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
Al Sabhan says meeting with PM Hariri 'fruitful'
Hariri 'Summoned' to KSA, Riyadh Wants Him to 'Distance Himself from Aoun'
Report: Saudis Fiercely Criticized Aoun in Talks with Geagea, Gemayel
Hariri Meets Sabhan, Says Agreed with Bin Salman on 'Lebanon Stability'
Berri: Parliament Rescued Lebanon in Presidential Void Period
Two Wounded in Fatah-Islamist Clash in Ain el-Hilweh
Machnouk, Lazzarini discuss range of issues
Sami Gemayel, European parliamentary delegation tackle recent developments
Lebanese Army Commander, Italian official tackle current developments
Change and Reform bloc marks President Aoun's first year in office: Lots of accomplishments in short period of time
Future bloc hails joint security operation in freeing abducted Lebanese businessmen
Sarraf, Italian official tackle bilateral military relations
National Union of Associations operating with the disabled briefs Riachy on latest activities
RECAP: Aoun marks 1 year anniversary with interview
Lebanon is at breaking point due to Syrian refugees: president
President: Sectarian system hampering political reforms
Is Israel Preparing to Strike Hezbollah

Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on November 01/17
8 killed by driver on bike path in 'cowardly act of terror'
New York Mayor: 8 dead in lower Manhattan “cowardly” terror attack
Tehran Threatens to Leave Nuclear Deal if US Reinstates Sanctions
US Hails Barzani’s Resignation Decision, Urges Baghdad, Irbil to Resolve Disputes through Dialogue
Russia Invites Kurdish Authorities to Syrian Congress in Sochi
Iraqi Forces Regain Control of Habur Crossing with Turkey
At Least 3 Killed in ISIS Bombing in Kabul
Syrian Arrested in Germany for Planning Bomb Attack
Moroccan ISIS Commander: We Killed Italian Father Paolo Dall'oglio
Sisi Seeks more Coordination with EU to Confront Terrorism

Latest Lebanese Related News published on November 01/17
Aoun's Debate Pros & Cons
Elias Bejjani/October 30/17
President Micheal Aoun's debate today with the Lebanese televisions' head editors showed clearly one prominent positive observation, and that is his excellent and deep knowledge in regards to all the governing issues (files) the journalists raised. On the negative side came his unlawful stance and the claim that the UN Resolution number 1701 legalizes Hezbollah's weaponry, and at the same time tying the fate of this Iranian weaponry with the Middle East Conflict.

One Year On Aoun's Presidency
Elias Bejjani/October 30/17
One year on Aoun's Presidency: True the state some how is back, but back to Hezbollah's hegemony and not to the Lebanese people. Meanwhile the state's sovereignty, independence and the free decision process are still confiscated, The current Lebanon is not the one that was ..No, not the Lebanon that we long for or the one our ancestors handed over to us.

Aoun Sounds Alarm on the Number of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
Beirut - Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 31 October, 2017/Lebanese President Michel Aoun warned on Monday that the presence of Syrian refugees in Lebanon represented a real danger. During a meeting on Monday with a delegation from the European Parliament for Relations with the Arab Mashreq countries led by Marisa Mattias, and in the presence of European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Christina Lassen, Aoun underlined the need for a political solution to the Syrian crisis, but noted that “this solution does not seem imminent and Lebanon can no longer tolerate the simmering refugee situation.” He briefed the European Parliament delegation on the political situation that followed his election as president and the steps that have been taken to stabilize security in the country and regularize the work of institutions. In response to questions by members of the European parliamentary delegation, Aoun stressed that Lebanon was living in secure and stable conditions “because the Lebanese people have prioritized their country’s interest above all other considerations, despite political differences of the democratic parliamentary system in Lebanon.”The president also said he hoped the parliamentary elections in May would come out with a new parliament. He also called on the European Union to support Beirut’s request that Lebanon become a UN-recognized international center for dialogue of civilizations, cultures and religions. “We will spare no effort to meet challenges and help Lebanon,” Mattias said, hailing Aoun’s efforts to achieve stability, adopt a new electoral law and liberate Lebanese territories from terrorist groups.

Al Sabhan says meeting with PM Hariri 'fruitful'
Tue 31 Oct 2017/NNA - State Minister for the Arab Gulf Affairs, Thamer al-Sabhan, indicated, in a tweet on Tuesday, that he had held a "lengthy" and "fruitful" meeting with Prime Minister Saad Hariri, adding that the pair agreed on an array of matters that concern the Lebanese people.

Hariri 'Summoned' to KSA, Riyadh Wants Him to 'Distance Himself from Aoun'
Naharnet/October 31/17/Prime Minister Saad Hariri's previously unannounced visit to Riyadh on Monday was not a normal visit and the premier was “summoned” to Saudi Arabia to be pressed on Hizbullah and on his ties with President Michel Aoun and the Free Patriotic Movement, a media report published Tuesday said. Quoting high-ranking Mustaqbal Movement sources, al-Akhbar newspaper said Hariri “went to Saudi Arabia directly after being summoned.”“He will certainly face Saudi pressure asking him to lead a confrontation inside the government. It is not known if he can dodge it or if he can convince the (Saudi) officials of the need to preserve the (political) settlement” in Lebanon that led to the election of President Michel Aoun, the sources told al-Akhbar. The sources noted that the latest flurry of tweets by Saudi State Minister for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan were “repeated warnings to Hariri to distance himself not only from Hizbullah but also from President Michel Aoun and the FPM.” Saudi Arabia wants the premier to “draw a line in his relation with the FPM in order to preserve balance inside the executive authority, seeing as there is no clear or firm stance from Hariri on the FPM's policies and its stances on Hizbullah and (Lebanon's) foreign policy,” the sources added. And as the Mustaqbal sources expressed concern over the visit and its possible repercussions on the domestic situation, they ruled out that Hariri will be asked to “take practical steps, such as resigning from the government.”
After his arrival in Riyadh on Monday, Hariri held talks with the kingdom's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Talks between the two leaders tackled "bilateral relations between the two countries and the regional developments," the Saudi news agency said. Al-Sabhan had on Monday called for “toppling Hizbullah” and promised “astonishing” developments in “the coming days.” Referring to his Sunday tweet about the Lebanese government, the minister said: “I addressed my tweet to the government because the Party of Satan (Hizbullah) is represented in it and it is a terrorist party. The issue is not about toppling the government but rather that Hizbullah should be toppled.”Al-Sabhan had on Sunday voiced surprise over what he called the “silence of the government and people” of Lebanon over Hizbullah’s actions.

Report: Saudis Fiercely Criticized Aoun in Talks with Geagea, Gemayel
Naharnet/October 31/17/Saudi officials fiercely criticized President Michel Aoun and his relation with Hizbullah during recent meetings in the kingdom with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel, a media report published Tuesday said. “Geagea and Gemayel heard from the Saudis bitter criticism against Aoun during their visits,” sources close to Prime Minister Saad Hariri told al-Akhbar newspaper. The sources quoted the Saudis as openly saying: “We did not want the president to join the March 14 camp, but we were hoping that he would become centrist, and that's why we did not oppose his election.”“He surprised us. He is acting as if he is linked ideologically to Hizbullah. He is formally claiming that he is at the same distance from everyone in order to facilitate his presidential tenure, but at heart and at the core he is totally linked to Hizbullah,” the Saudi officials reportedly added.

Hariri Meets Sabhan, Says Agreed with Bin Salman on 'Lebanon Stability'
Naharnet/October 31/17/Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced Tuesday that he held a “long meeting” with firebrand Saudi State Minister for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan, a day after the minister voiced fierce remarks about Hizbullah. “A long meeting with His Excellency, the friend Thamer al-Sabhan,” Hariri said in a tweet from Saudi Arabia accompanied by a smiling selfie with the Saudi minister. Al-Sabhan later took to Twitter to announce that he held "a lengthy and fruitful meeting" with "my brother, His Excellency PM Saad Hariri.""We agreed on a lot of things that are of concern to the Lebanese people, and God willing the future situation will be better," al-Sabhan added. “Whenever I meet His Highness, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, I become more convinced that we and the Saudi leadership are in full agreement on Lebanon's stability and Arab identity,” said Hariri in another tweet, referring to his Monday meeting with the powerful crown prince. Saudi Arabia's official news agency said talks between the two leaders tackled "bilateral relations between the two countries and the regional developments." Al-Sabhan had called Monday for “toppling Hizbullah” and promised “astonishing” developments in “the coming days.” Referring to his Sunday tweet about the Lebanese government, the minister said: “I addressed my tweet to the government because the Party of Satan (Hizbullah) is represented in it and it is a terrorist party. The issue is not about toppling the government but rather that Hizbullah should be toppled.”“The coming developments will definitely be astonishing,” al-Sabhan added. He also lamented that “Lebanon has fallen a captive to Hizbullah's militias.” Prior to his interviews with MTV and Sky News Arabia on Monday, al-Sabhan had blasted Hizbullah in a series of tweets.

Berri: Parliament Rescued Lebanon in Presidential Void Period
Naharnet/October 31/17/Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday announced that the parliament had “rescued Lebanon” during the presidential vacuum period that preceded the election of President Michel Aoun. “Despite its extended term, this parliament rescued Lebanon during the presidential void period,” visitors of Berri quoted him as saying. “Lebanon is heading for parliamentary elections on time and for the first time under a proportional representation system,” the speaker added. Separately, Berri noted that “the most important assistance that Europe can offer to Lebanon to help it confront the refugee problem would be speeding up the political solution in Syria.”

Two Wounded in Fatah-Islamist Clash in Ain el-Hilweh
Naharnet/October 31/17/Two people were wounded Tuesday in an armed clash in the restive Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh in the southern city of Sidon. Al-Jadeed television said the clash between “a number of Islamists” and “others from the Fatah Movement” broke out on the camp's al-Fawqani street. Media reports identified one of the wounded as Youssef al-Orqoub, the son of the Islamist militant Bilal al-Orqoub – a member of a group led by notorious militant Bilal Bader. A ceasefire was later reached according to media reports. By long-standing convention, the Lebanese Army does not enter the country's Palestinian refugee camps, where security is managed by joint committees of Palestinian factions. Ain el-Hilweh is an impoverished, overcrowded camp that is home to some 61,000 Palestinians, including 6,000 who have fled the war in Syria.

Machnouk, Lazzarini discuss range of issues
Tue 31 Oct 2017 /NNA - Interior and Municipalities Minister, Nuhad Mashnouq, received on Tuesday UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Philippe Lazzarini. Discussions reportedly touched on three main topics, notably the upcoming legislative elections and UN assistance in this regard, the Syrian refugee dossier and preparations underway for Rome 2 Conference devoted to support the Lebanese army and security services.

Sami Gemayel, European parliamentary delegation tackle recent developments
Tue 31 Oct 2017/NNA - Kataeb party chief, MP Sami Gemayel, on Tuesday met at the Kataeb Central House in Saifi with a European Parliamentary delegation, in the presence of EU Ambassador Christina Lassen. Talks reportedly touched on most recent developments in Lebanon, including the electoral law and the need to hold legislative elections on schedule, as well as the impact of the Syrian refugee crisis on Lebanon, as per a statement by Kataeb Party. Talks also dwelt on the mounting regional crises and their repercussions on Lebanon.

Lebanese Army Commander, Italian official tackle current developments
Tue 31 Oct 2017/NNA - Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, on Tuesday met at his Yarze office with the chairman of the Italian Parliament's Defense Committee, MP Francisco Garovani, in the presence of his accompanying delegation, Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Massimo Marutti, and Embassy Military Attaché. Both sides broached the general situation in Lebanon and the region, in addition to the bilateral ties between both countries' armies. Talks also reportedly touched on the tasks carried out by the Italian Contingent's operating within "UNIFIL" and cooperation with the Lebanese army.

Change and Reform bloc marks President Aoun's first year in office: Lots of accomplishments in short period of time
Tue 31 Oct 2017/NNA - Change and Reform bloc merrily celebrated the first year of President of the Republic Michel Aoun in office, saying the President has accomplished a great deal in a short period of time. "There are plenty of other accomplishments to be realized in the remaining time," the bloc said in the wake of its periodic meeting in Rabieh, under the chairmanship of "Free Patriotic Movement" head, Minister Gebran Bassil. The bloc voiced utter support to the President in his march to achieve people's various aspirations, saying the bloc shall use all its potentials to this end. The bloc called on all the Lebanese, opposition and loyalists, to join the considerable development workshop in the country.

Future bloc hails joint security operation in freeing abducted Lebanese businessmen
Tue 31 Oct 2017/NNA - Future bloc hailed the joint security operation by the ISF Information Branch and the General Security in cooperation with the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, which resulted in freeing the three Lebanese businessmen abducted in Iraq. "Such an unfortunate incident asserts the national role played by the official Lebanese security services in protecting and preserving the freedom and dignity of Lebanese citizens," Future bloc said in a statement on Tuesday in the wake of its periodic meeting, chaired by Bloc head Fouad Siniora. The bloc broached most recent developments on the local arena. In this framework, Future bloc underlined that "the sole protector of the Lebanese people is the Lebanese state with all its legitimate services."Turning to the recent incidents that occurred in Beirut suburbs' Hay Selloum neighborhood during the implementation of measures to eliminate certain violations and irregularities, the bloc voiced permanent support for the official security services' measures aimed at restoring the state's role, powers and prestige, and eliminating trespasses and violations.

Sarraf, Italian official tackle bilateral military relations
Tue 31 Oct 2017/NNA - National Defense Minister, Yacoub Riad Al-Sarraf, on Tuesday met with the chairman of the Italian Parliament's Defense Committee, MP Francisco Garovani, in the presence of his accompanying delegation and Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Massimo Marutti. Both sides broached the bilateral ties between the two countries, notably in the military sphere. Talks also reportedly touched on the tasks carried out by the Italian Contingent's operating within "UNIFIL" and cooperation with the Lebanese army.

National Union of Associations operating with the disabled briefs Riachy on latest activities
Tue 31 Oct 2017/NNA - Minister of Information, Melhem Riachy, welcomed at his office on Tuesday a delegation of the National Union of Associations operating with the disabled, which includes 79 Lebanese institutions providing services to 12,000 people. The delegation briefed Riachy on Minister of Social Affairs Pierre Bou Assi's support for the association, especially in its endeavors to attain the rights of people with disabilities. The meeting had also been an occasion to shine light on the importance of having the media cover stories about people with various disabilities.

RECAP: Aoun marks 1 year anniversary with interview
Joseph Haboush|/The Daily Star/October 31/17
BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun Monday gave a live interview on Lebanese TV to mark his first year in office, taking questions from the heads of several local TV stations in a debate format that was moderated by the head of Aoun's office, Rafik Chelala.
Aoun began his address saying: "I promised you I will overcome obstacles and secure stability in social economy and safety. Today, we need to go over what we achieved and what remains to be completed. We do not want a government without opposition."
"The work to build [a state] is not easy, especially after the years that passed. It requires all Lebanese people to come together. Tonight I will speak with all honesty, far from all rumors and exaggerations."
The first topic discussed was change and reform
New TV’s Mariam Bassam asked: “Do you think this was a year of achievements or consensus? We realize that achievements weren’t made until political understanding was reached. Why did we see [Prime Minister Saad Hariri's Chief of Staff] Nader Hariri and [Foreign Minister] Gebran Bassil going around in meetings at night ... so what is the role of authorities? Is there a mandate for President Aoun or are there other people ruling? For example, people are saying that Gebran Bassil is the ruler?”
Aoun responded: “People always say things and there are always rumors. I passed the leadership of the Free Patriotic Movement to Bassil when I became president. People know that he studies his files, but we don’t want to turn this into a dialogue about specific people.”
Jean Feghali from LBC said: “After 27 years, if Aoun is back and the trash is back - can we tell the Lebanese people how we are going to get rid of both forms - corruption and trash?
Aoun responded: “First we have to establish a state and its institutions. One person cannot combat corruption - it needs institutions. Our first priority was security and that is why we started with appointing the heads of Army and the Internal Security Forces. We held the Higher Defense Council meetings and we took on the battle to remove Daesh (ISIS).”
“Security and stability was achieved, but this is not enough. We need a judiciary, which is the important thing. When someone trusts his security and judiciary when he has problems, it will help to have a good judiciary.”
“We also formed a budget, had diplomatic appointments and passed a new electoral law. The majority and minority will all be represented and the MPs will represent all the sects of Lebanon.”
“All these things are helping to build the country, but to combat corruption more, the FPM made a book called Ibraq al-Mostahil [a book detailing allegations of official corruption] and I recommended a specific judiciary to combat corruption - but nothing has been done in this regard.”
“MP Ghassan Moukheiber proposed a number of laws, only one was approved so far, the right of access to information law - this is the plan for corruption.”
“Regarding the plan for solving trash, yes, there is a problem in Lebanon and it has been a problem for a long time. Now, all Lebanese people want to put their trash somewhere else, not in their own areas, [but the] government needs to make the decision.”
Future TV's Nadim Koteich asked the president over his choice for administrative appointments and why they didn't make the impact that the Lebanese people were expecting. Aoun said, "No appointment was made to shock ... The people that say there is sharing of spoils - this is the political environment we are in. We put the primary pillars in place and now we have to build on them. Half of the Lebanese population is a partner in this corruption. When one person goes and pays a bribe, he is taking part in this.”
The second issue discussed was the security situation and refugees
Ghayath Yazbek from MTV said: “The Army and security apparatuses kicked Daesh out and you selected Gen. Joseph Aoun as Army chief. The question is when will this institution be the sole defender?”
Aoun responded: “First, there is an internal problem, the financial issue - though do we get some aid from the Americans that we used in the battle [against Daesh]. But the economic situation does not allow us to have a full Army to battle external and internal problems."
“Another problem is that there is [Israeli-occupied] land that has not been returned to us. We also have a Syrian refugee crisis and we do not know their fate. This all needs an external solution between the Arab powers and we are just one of the powers responsible for contributing to this decision. We are not responsible for the Middle East’s problems.”
Ali Nourredine from Hezbollah’s Al-Manar said: “[Hezbollah’s] tripartite equation of [the Army, the people and resistance] proved successful in the face of takfiri [terrorism] and Israel. This is a solution that is already present.”
Aoun responded: “People are split in Lebanon. In the last Cabinet session I was in, I stood up and said, ‘some people are with this side and some are with the other side. One side will win and one will lose. But during this time, let's build Lebanon and we will both eventually win.”
Responding to a question on how Lebanon will guarantee visitors’ safety after a reported removal of a travel warning by the United Arab Emirates, [to Lebanon], Aoun said: “We told all Arab tourists that we can secure their stability and safety.”
Aoun also denied there was an American intelligence center in the Hamat airbase in north Lebanon.
The next topic was concerning the Syrian refugee crisis
Regarding his administration's accomplishments toward resolving Lebanon’s Syrian refugee crisis, Aoun said, “[I met with the ambassadors of the] five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council ... it wasn’t an easy discussion and there was some confrontation in the meeting. They say they will not return refugees until there is a solution in Syria, [but we] cannot cope with this anymore. And I say that this is an excuse for them to find a solution that they want.”
Regarding the government’s split over whether or not to have direct dialogue with Syria, Aoun said, “There are two opinions in government, one for and one against. We have not cut off relations with Syria. We are working on a plan for this, which we discussed in France and at the UN. I know the dangers of this situation. People accused us of racism at the beginning, but no one would accept half of their population being refugees.”
Responding to allegations that Aoun sold Lebanon’s foreign policy to Hezbollah in exchange for the Aoun family ruling internally, as numerous members of the family have been appointed to public office, the president replied, “The most important thing for us is solving the economic problems in Lebanon. We agreed with international economic bodies to study the issue.”
The state of the economy was the next topic
Asked about corruption, extra-budgetary spending and failure to pass a state budget for 12 years, Aoun said, “We accomplished in 10 months what multiple past governments could not.”
Responding to a question about how to resolve the budget, salary scale and tax hike, that the “public sector took from the private sector’s budget,” Aoun said: “We can’t wage the battle against corruption before building the state institutions.”
“I get a security report first thing in the morning before I have a sip of coffee,” Aoun said.
Asked about why Lebanon’s appointments for ambassadors to the U.S., the Vatican and Kuwait all had issues - “something that has never happened before” - Aoun responded, “[Our pick for the ambassador to] Washington D.C. needs to renounce his U.S. citizenship first. Regarding Kuwait, we all know the problem. With the Vatican, the candidate was a part of an organization that isn’t approved by the Vatican.” The president didn't elaborate further.
Playing down ongoing fears over the stability of the Lebanese pound, Aoun said there is no fear about the stability of Lebanese pound and also denied that there are fears over the banking sector.
Asked about the U.S. sanctions on Hezbollah, Aoun said the sanctions “aren’t anything new.”
He also said that the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and European countries are coming to Lebanon and that he “is comfortable with the [economic] situation,” while “trust and faith in Lebanon is going forward.”
To a question put forward on the oil and gas sector, Aoun said, “The first thing we did was pass the oil and gas law.”
Touching on the new electoral law
Aoun said there no revision would be made to the electoral law.
A question acknowledged the success of allowing the diaspora to vote in the new law, but asked about how to keep Lebanese people from emigrating at such high rates. Aoun said, “We need to make a good economy and create jobs, and the Lebanese people will stay here. They are leaving because they graduated and cannot find jobs. Since 1990, emigration has gone down after it was hit when the economy went down when we left the country. That day the middle class disappeared.”
When asked about how Arab nations aren’t investing in helping to rebuild the economy “because of Hezbollah and its arms,” Aoun responded: “Let’s bet [that the investments will come],” in a sign that the investments will find their way to Beirut.
Asked about comments from Saudi Minister Thamer al-Sabhan, Aoun said, “We must be unified and our national unity is essential to this. We said we will live in safety but each is allowed to believe in what he wants, politically - but national unity is important. You're free to believe in what you want.”
Al-Manar’s reporters asked the president if the economy was tied to the security situation and suggested that Hezbollah was helping maintain this. However, Aoun sidetracked and said that in his Arab League speech he was clear and told them differing sides to come sit at a table and determine what they want.
Lebanon’s positions on regional developments
Aoun was asked about the condition of Lebanon's disassociation policy and where Lebanon was on this - Aoun said, "I am in Lebanon. I'm being honest; I spoke to Arab nations and said that we are all brothers. Iran is a regional power and one is required to take it into consideration. But this doesn’t have an effect on us."
Asked where Lebanon is in the Arab-Iranian problem, Aoun didn't answer and sidetracked. "Are all Arabs against Iran," he asked. He added that he warned, in 2007, "Israel will try to change Israel-Arab problem to Arab-Arab problem.”
Concerning Lebanon’s stability and a question over Hezbollah’s role in this, Aoun said: "Stability doesn't come from Hezbollah. We have three problems: state’s problem economically, closure of all Lebanese borders and Syrian refugee crisis."
"It is a good thing that we are still standing and we have increased salaries," Aoun added.
Chelala read tweets to the president toward the end of the session.
One citizen said, "In Rabieh, we used to see you and now we don’t, we feel like we’ve lost you," to which Aoun said he was "sorry that he hasn’t been able to communicate with people the way he used to."
When asked what was left given that "80 percent of promises from the presidential oath have been completed in the first year," Aoun said, "The economy needs infrastructure, the judiciary and a lot of work still needs to be done in electricity and water sectors. And we have public debt."
Asked about job opportunities for the youth, Aoun said the economic situation needs to improve and there is a need to increase industry sectors in Lebanon.
Again asked about the security situation and if there was a need to be worried, Aoun said "if [you mean] terrorist acts, then yes we are safe and Israel will not launch a war."
"Lebanon will not play a game bigger than itself. We are a country who wants peace with all."
In conclusion, speaking to Lebanese Aoun said: "We have more work to do, but tonight shows that there are still some doubts and I call on the Lebanese media and citizens to follow truths, not rumors. I feel like I answered honestly. We want the Lebanese people to restore their trust between one another and this will not happen until we stop false talk and accusations."
"If an MP comes on TV and says another stole millions, they need to come out and show proof," he said firmly.

Lebanon is at breaking point due to Syrian refugees: president
BEIRUT, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's President Michel Aoun said Monday that his country was at a breaking point in dealing with Syrian refugees, describing the crisis as "an existential threat.""Lebanon is no longer able to wait anymore and bear with the suffering of the Syrian refugees because this issue has turned into an existential threat," a statement from the presidency said. He added "there is a need to achieve a political solution in Syria, but it seems the solution is still not within reach."
The statement came out after Aoun welcomed the European Parliament's delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Syrian and Lebanon. Marisa Matias, who headed the delegation, thanked Aoun for welcoming the delegation and handed him a written message from the European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, which included an invitation to address the parliament in Strasbourg. According to the statement, the EU has expressed support for Aoun's proposal for Lebanon to become a hub for religious and cultural dialogue.

President: Sectarian system hampering political reforms
Hussein Dakroub/The Daily Star/October 31/17
BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun acknowledged Monday that Lebanon’s sectarian-based ruling system is hampering attempts to carry out fundamental political and economic reforms, viewed as the key to fighting rampant corruption in the public administration and halting waste of public funds. He also said parliamentary polls, planned in May next year, would take place on time, stressing that lingering differences between the rival factions over the adoption of the biometric voting cards and the voters’ preregistration would not stop Lebanon’s first polls since 2009.
Speaking in a live interview with news editors of Lebanese television stations from Baabda Palace to mark his first year in office, Aoun cited Parliament’s approval of a new electoral law, the public sector’s salary scale bill and the 2017 state budget, along with a string of long-awaited key security, military, diplomatic and judicial appointments endorsed by the government as major achievements of his freshman year.
Told that his Free Patriotic Movement got the lion’s share in the latest administrative appointments, Aoun said: “Sharing of spoils is within the state’s structure in which we are living. We cannot override reality. It is the norm that has been followed until today in our sectarian system. But we tried to bring the most efficient and competent people to the [key] posts and appointments.”
The president, who has pledged to combat graft, admitted that the state lacked the tools to fight graft.
“We don’t yet have all the means to fight corruption. We are working to get them. Corruption cannot be combatted by individuals but by institutions,” Aoun said.
“First we have to establish a country and state institutions ... Our first priority was security and that is why we started with appointing the chiefs of Army and the Internal Security Forces. We held the Higher Defense Council meetings and we fought the battle [to oust Daesh (ISIS) from the northeastern border],” he added.
“Security and stability were achieved, but this is not enough. We need a judiciary, which is the important thing. When someone trusts his security and judiciary when he has problems, it will help to have a good judiciary,” Aoun said.
“We also formed a budget, had diplomatic appointments and passed a new electoral law. The majority and minority will all be represented and the MPs will represent all the sects of Lebanon,” he added.
Aoun, who was elected president on Oct. 31, 2016, as part of a political settlement that also brought Saad Hariri to the premiership, ending a presidential vacuum that lasted two and a half years, reassured the Lebanese that the security situation was under control.
“I am confident about the security situation in Lebanon,” he said. He also dispelled fears of any negative impact on the Lebanese pound or the banking sector as a result of new tough U.S. sanctions on Hezbollah.
“There is no fear about the stability of the Lebanese pound,” Aoun said. Asked about the U.S. sanctions on Hezbollah, he said the sanctions “aren’t anything new.”
Aoun said that he “is comfortable with [economic] situation,” and that “trust and faith in Lebanon is going forward.”
Aoun, a key ally of Hezbollah, defended the party retaining its arsenal despite local and foreign demands for the Iranian-backed group to disarm.
“There is an internal reason, which is the lack of arms and also a financial problem to buy equipment [for the Army], though we do get some aid from the Americans that we used in the battle [against Daesh]. But the economic situation does not allow us to have a full Army to face external and internal problems,” Aoun said.
“Another problem is that there is an [Israeli-occupied] land that has not been returned to us. We also have a Syrian refugee crisis and we do not know their fate. This all needs an external solution between the Arab powers and we are just one of the powers responsible for contributing to this decision. We are not responsible for the Middle East’s problems.”
Aoun said that Lebanon and Hezbollah were abiding by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended Israel’s 34-day war on Lebanon in the summer of 2006, The president said that the 2006 FPM-Hezbollah understanding and the government’s policy statement have outlined the use of the party’s weapons.
However, Aoun appeared to link the fate of Hezbollah’s arsenal to an overall peace settlement for the decadeslong Arab-Israeli conflict.
“A solution in the Middle East will lead to resolving the problem of Hezbollah’s arms,” he said. Aoun also denied reports of the presence of a U.S. military base in the Hamat air base in north Lebanon. Throughout the interview that lasted more than one and a half hours, Aoun underlined the need to maintain national unity and national balance.
He also promised that the government would give priority to dealing with the country’s ailing economy, burdened by more than $75 billion in public debts and an endemic deficit. “The most important thing for us is to tackle the economic situation. We have assigned a reputable international company to carry out a survey to outline the sectors in which can invest,” Aoun said. Aoun, who has visited some Arab countries since his election, said he has not so far received an official invitation to visit Syria, where rival Lebanese factions are sharply split over dealing with President Bashar Assad’s regime.
While denying that Iran was exerting pressure on Lebanon through Hezbollah, the president said Tehran’s regional influence should be taken into consideration.

Is Israel Preparing to Strike Hezbollah?
هل تستعد إسرائيل لضرب حزب الله
Ari Heistein/The National Interest/October 31/17
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/?p=59931
Though a targeted strike has up-front costs, failing to act will likely exact an even greater price in the next conflict.
Likely as a response to the effective Israeli interdiction of convoys delivering high-quality arms from Iran to Hezbollah, Tehran and Hezbollah have decided to build the capability to produce advanced weapons in Lebanon rather than ship them there. The arms set for production reportedly include precise surface-to-surface missiles that can travel long distances and inflict significant damage on Israeli forces and infrastructure, thus crossing a red line set by Israel. The latter’s most preferable strategy is to halt Hezbollah’s production of advanced weaponry in Lebanon by means that do not unnecessarily risk provoking a war. The question that Israel now faces is how to proceed in a way that ensures its red line is enforced, while minimizing the risk for uncontrolled escalation.
On the diplomatic front, Israel has already used several methods to relay the message that it will not accept Hezbollah’s production of high-quality weaponry in Lebanon. Behind the scenes, Israeli officials asked European diplomats to pass Jerusalem’s warning about its red line in Lebanon to Iran, which sponsors and manages the arms project. In the public view, Israel and the United States have cooperated in international bodies and public forums to promote multilateral efforts to oppose Hezbollah’s continued acquisition of advanced weaponry. Senior Israeli officials like the minister of defense have also made unequivocal public declarations that such activities are unacceptable. Public statements are important because they relay to Iran the message that these actions will not be tolerated, at the same time as they demonstrate to the international community that any future use of force on Israel’s part will be a last, rather than first, resort. Although threats and declarations did not dissuade Iran from moving forward, and had a low probability for doing so, Israel was right to exhaust its diplomatic options for resolving this issue before turning to military escalation.
Alongside its diplomatic efforts, Israel has demonstrated its determination to prevent Hezbollah from acquiring advanced weapons by surgically striking the group’s weapons convoys in Syria without violating the current “rules of the game.” According to the current understanding, Israeli strikes on Lebanese soil will receive a military response from Hezbollah, while attacks on weapons convoys in Syria will not. The latter is therefore a means to assertively enforce Israel’s red line vis-à-vis Hezbollah’s acquisition of advanced weaponry (at least in Syria), while likely avoiding unpredictable enemy responses or uncontrolled escalation, as these actions are tacitly governed by an understanding between the two sides. However, the same reason that makes these actions less risky also renders them unlikely to change calculations of risk from the enemy’s perspective: they do not present any bold new Israeli strategy or willingness to escalate that Hezbollah and Iran had not already seen prior to embarking on their venture to produce weapons in Lebanon.
Therefore, in early September 2017, Israel allegedly sent a stronger message to Iran by launching an unprecedented strike from Lebanese airspace on an Iranian-run weapons-production facility in Syria that tested the limits of the current “rules.” This single attack delivered several messages. First, Israel is broadening its actions against Hezbollah weapons acquisition to include production facilities. Second, the strike was reportedly launched from Lebanese airspace into Syria, and this was probably meant as a warning shot regarding the weapons production facilities on the Lebanese side of the border. Third, Israel demonstrated that it will confront Iran as necessary. And fourth, the attack highlighted the fact that Russian air defenses will not protect Hezbollah-Iranian activities that violate Israel’s red lines.
If these limited efforts do not succeed in convincing Hezbollah and Iran to turn back on their weapons-production venture, Israel will be faced with two options.
First, Israel may opt to launch a preemptive strike on the production facilities in Lebanon. Doing so constitutes a blatant violation of the unwritten “rules of the game,” and its ramifications are accordingly difficult to predict. In responding militarily to this violation, Hezbollah would likely seek to preserve the existing understanding by punishing Israel’s violation while trying to avoid escalation to full-scale war. In delivering a limited response to the Israeli strike, the group would simply attempt to control the escalation as it has in the past. Unfortunately, escalation control is hardly an exact science; miscalculations have cost many lives along this border in the past, and are liable to do so again in the future. Recalling a previous error that led to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War, Hassan Nasrallah lamented, “You ask me, if I had known on July 11 . . . that the operation would lead to such a war, would I do it? I say no, absolutely not.”
The benefits of a preemptive strike are not limited to the instrumental destruction of production facilities, which can be rebuilt and therefore do not represent a long-term solution. But they do signal a level of determination that includes risking an outbreak of war in order to prevent facilities from going operational. Breaking the established rules of the game may convince Hezbollah that it should cease its efforts to manufacture advanced weapons if it wants to avoid full-scale war. On the other hand, Hezbollah could also decide to in a manner that starts a chain of escalation to full-scale war. Overall, the results of a strike are heavily dependent on Hezbollah’s reaction which, in turn, will be based on fluid calculations regarding its strategic environment.
Should Israel choose to strike, however, the current situation presents an opportune moment to carry out a preemptive attack, as Hezbollah is disinclined to escalate the conflict for several reasons. First, the group is heavily involved in Syria and is not interested in fighting on two fronts (although this window of opportunity is contingent on the duration of the Syrian Civil War, which appears to be winding down). Second, President Trump’s strong support for Israel and hostile attitude towards Iran will likely translate into support on the bilateral and multilateral levels for Israeli actions that pushback against the aggressive posturing of the Iranian-led axis; the same may not be true of the next U.S. administration. Third, if Israel is striking to prevent Hezbollah from producing high-quality arms, the risk of attack will be lower before Hezbollah has had time to produce them. Doing so after the group has already manufactured advanced weapons could be costly if these arms are used against Israel in response to the strike. Fourth, the recent successes of Hezbollah and Iran in the region may provide a false sense of security that time is on their side to close the gap between Hezbollah-Iranian forces and those of the IDF (which does not necessarily reflect reality). If Hezbollah views the long-term trends as favorable to its positioning with respect to its Israeli opponent, it is less likely to risk all out war at present in order to confront adversaries like Israel from a position of greater relative strength in the future.
Should the strike lead into a full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would likely emerge victorious due to its quantitative and qualitative edge over the Lebanese militia—although it is important to note that Israel would not emerge unscathed. Hezbollah possesses more than one hundred thousand rockets and missiles, and though the majority of them are of poor quality, dozens of these weapons have the potential range and accuracy to strike sensitive sites or population centers in Israel despite the latter’s cutting-edge missile-defense system. As a consequence, though insufficient to deliver Hezbollah a military victory, the group’s missiles could severely damage Israel’s infrastructure. Furthermore, Hezbollah’s status as a state-sanctioned organization neutralizes the potential strategic advantage it can derive from asymmetric warfare that plays to the advantage of a conventionally weaker party; any future war between Israel and Hezbollah will be more along the lines of a conventional interstate conflict in which Israel has an enormous military advantage. Although Hezbollah’s positioning as the “underdog” may set a lower bar for success (which includes little more than inflicting damage on Israel and its own survival), this will not negate the objective devastation that both Hezbollah and Lebanon would experience in the event of war.
Israel’s second option is to rely on its ability to deter Hezbollah from using advanced weapons, rather than preventing the group from acquiring them. Doing so avoids the heightened risk of escalation through enforcing Israel’s red line, but it also means that the IDF will have to cope with a more dangerous enemy along its northern border and a potential loss of credibility in regard to upholding its red lines. While adopting this approach may prevent the outbreak of “the most destructive Arab-Israeli war yet” in the short-term, it will likely increase the price of a future Israel-Hezbollah conflict in the long term.
Israel may consider this second option because of its purported success in deterring Hezbollah from attacking again after 2006, which many attribute to the heavy price the IDF inflicted on Lebanon in the previous conflict. However, drawing a direct connection between Israel’s ability to inflict damage and the current quiet along the Israel-Lebanon border is dubious, and there are two major problems with relying on this approach. First, deterrence is not an exact science and actors are not always rational (particularly those with radical religious ideologies). Second, deterrence is dependent not only the ability to inflict maximum damage on an adversary, but also how that adversary views its long-term prospects. For instance, if Hezbollah were to foresee its own decline compared to Israel for any number of reasons—reasons that do not necessarily relate to Israel directly—it is possible that the threat of overwhelming Israeli force may not be enough to prevent a future outbreak of hostilities. If Israel decides to rely on its ability to deter Hezbollah, the failure of this strategy would put the IDF up against a far more capable foe on land, sea and air.
Israel appears to have exhausted its low risk methods for stopping Hezbollah-Iran efforts to produce advanced weapons in Lebanon, and it is now faced with a choice: deterrence or preemption. Relying on the imperfect and uncertain idea of deterrence would entail unacceptable risks that are likely to increase exponentially over time. Instead, Israel should opt for a precision strike against Hezbollah’s production facilities while clarifying that it is prepared for, but does not seek, a wider war. Though a targeted strike has up-front costs and does not guarantee that Hezbollah will not rebuild its production facilities, failing to act will likely exact an even greater price in the next conflict, and could leave Israel poorly positioned to protect its interests in the future.
**Ari Heistein is the special assistant to the director at the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel.

Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on November 01/17
8 killed by driver on bike path in 'cowardly act of terror'مهاجر ازبكستاني يقتل ثمانية ويجرح 10 بصمهم بشاحنة
The Canadian Press/October 31/17
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/?p=59925
NEW YORK — A man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along a busy bike path near the World Trade Center memorial on Tuesday, killing at least eight and seriously injuring 11 in what the mayor called "a particularly cowardly act of terror."
The driver was shot in the abdomen by police after jumping out of the truck with what turned out to be a fake gun in each hand and shouting what witnesses said was "Allahu Akbar," Arabic for "God is great," authorities said. The man underwent surgery and was in critical condition but was expected to survive.
Officials who were not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity identified the attacker as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov and said he is from Uzbekistan and came to the U.S. legally in 2010. He has a Florida driver's license but may have been staying in New Jersey, they said.
The driver barrelled along the bike path in a rented Home Depot truck for the equivalent of about 14 blocks, or around eight-tenths of a mile, before slamming into a small yellow school bus. The mayhem and the burst of police gunfire set off panic in the neighbourhood and left the pavement strewn with mangled bicycles and bodies that were soon covered with sheets.
"I saw a lot of blood over there. A lot of people on the ground," said Chen Yi, an Uber driver.
Eugene Duffy, a chef at a waterfront restaurant, said, "So many police came, and they didn't know what was happening. People were screaming. Females were screaming at the top of their lungs."
Argentina's foreign minister said the dead included Argentine citizens.
Police closed off streets across the western edge of lower Manhattan along the Hudson River, and officers rushed into the neighbourhood just as people were preparing for Halloween festivities, including the big annual parade through Greenwich Village.
A police bomb squad scoured the truck but found no explosives.
"This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
New York and other cities around the globe have been on high alert against attacks by extremists in vehicles. The Islamic State has been exhorting its followers to mow down people, and England, France and Germany have seen deadly vehicle attacks in the past year or so.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called it a "lone wolf" attack and said there was no evidence to suggest it was part of a wider plot.
City Police Commissioner James O'Neill said a statement the driver made as he got out of the truck and the method of attack led police to conclude it was a terrorist act.
On Twitter, President Donald Trump called it "another attack by a very sick and deranged person" and declared, "NOT IN THE U.S.A.!"
While police did not specifically blame the Islamic State for the New York bloodshed, Trump railed against the extremist group, tweeting, "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"
Police said Saipov rented the truck at about 2 p.m. in New Jersey, entering the bike path about an hour later on West Street a few blocks from the new World Trade Center, the site of the deadliest terror attack in U.S. history. The truck then turned at Chambers Street, hitting the school bus and injuring two adults and two children.
A paintball gun and a pellet gun were found at the scene, police said. At least two covered-over bodies could be seen lying on the bike path, and the front end of the truck was smashed in, as was the side of the school bus.
Tom Gay, a school photographer, heard people saying there was an accident and went down to West Street, where a woman came around the corner shouting, "He has a gun! He has a gun!"
Gay said he stuck his head around the corner and saw a slender man in a blue track suit running on West Street holding a gun. He said a heavyset man was chasing him.
He said he heard five or six shots, and the man in the tracksuit fell to the ground, gun still raised in the air. He said a man came over and kicked the gun out of his hand.
**Associated Press writers Sadie Gurman in Washington, Tom Hays and Adam Geller in New York and Michael Balsamo in Los Angeles contributed to this story.
Colleen Long And Jake Pearson, The Associated Press

New York Mayor: 8 dead in lower Manhattan “cowardly” terror attack
Staff writer, Al Arabiya EnglishTuesday, 31 October 2017/
The New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said that eight people were killed in a truck attack and shooting incident that occurred in a Lower Manhattan area in New York on Tuesday. Dozens more were injured.“This was a particularly cowardly act of terror.” he said. New York state governor Andrew Cuomo told media that there is no evidence to suggest wider plot or wider scheme. The incident took place near the West Side Highway and Chambers Street, which is near Battery Park City, police said. The truck attack was being treated as a terrorist attack, two U.S. government sources told Reuters.Authorities respond near a damaged school bus where a terror suspect drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined the New York City police department in investigating the incident, the sources said. Several people have been hit by a vehicle near Chambers Street at around the time of the reported shooting, and at least five people were hurt, news channel PIX 11 reported. A woman is aided by first responders after sustaining injury on a bike path in lower Manhattan in New York. (Reuters)
The NYPD commissioner, James O'Neill said that the driver was a 29-year-old male armed with paintball gun and pellet gun. He was shot in abdomen by a uniformed New York police officer The attacks took place at around 3:00 PM local time (7:00 PM GMT) according to a municipal official told media. NYPD said that the vehicle struck another vehicle then the suspect got out displaying imitation firearms and was shot by police.Multiple people in the area reported on social media that they heard several gunshots. The Associated Press reported that police and witnesses say that the assailant drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, then emerged from the vehicle screaming and firing something that appeared to be a gun. US President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. He Tweeted: “We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough” Similar attacks in Europe last year killed dozens of people. On July 14, 2016, a suspect drove a large truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice, killing 86 people and injuring hundreds more in an attack for which ISIS claimed responsibility. Five months later a 23-year-old migrant from Pakistan plowed a truck into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48. In April of this year, a failed asylum seeker careened down a busy street in a truck in central Stockholm, crashing into a department store and killing three people in what the prime minister called a terrorist attack. (with Reuters and The Associated Press)

Tehran Threatens to Leave Nuclear Deal if US Reinstates Sanctions
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 31/17/Iranian Chief of Staff Major General Mohammed Baqeri warned that Tehran may leave the nuclear deal if sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program are brought back under other pretexts. He further stressed that Tehran will quit the nuclear deal immediately if the sanctions were re-imposed. The Iranian military official noted that the United States’ main goal, through its new strategy, is to topple the Islamic Republic's system, noting that "this is what US State Secretary Rex Tillerson has openly announced lately." During his participation in a conference on civil defense in Tehran, Baqeri said that the "nuclear deal is not a goal or a sacred verse to abide by under any circumstance. It is rather a deal that was agreed on by the United Nations." Baqeri is the first leader in Iran's armed forces to comment on the possibility of a return of nuclear sanctions after the US Senate approved a bill last week that would tighten US sanctions without undermining the nuclear deal. The Senate’s move was part of steps the Congress might take after Trump has refused on October 13 to ratify Iran's compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal. Carrying out the so-called Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) would be tantamount to US unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said earlier this month. Baqeri, for his part, considered US intention from imposing CAATSA is to divide the people and power in Iran. He said that his country is facing a "crossroads between defending our honor alongside the hardship of living or accepting humiliation and destruction, as well as the US promises to reject life hardships.”CAATSA expands US sanctions targeting Iran's ballistic missile program and enhances the legal basis for existing sanctions targeting the IRGC. It would also establish an additional US legal basis for sanctions targeting IRGC on the allegations of support for terrorism. On the other hand, commenting on European calls for negotiations on Iran’s ballistic missiles program and its regional role, Bagheri said “someone who aims to overthrow us is not suitable for dialogue”.

US Hails Barzani’s Resignation Decision, Urges Baghdad, Irbil to Resolve Disputes through Dialogue
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 31 October, 2017/The United States on Monday urged Iraq's federal government and Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) institutions to resolve their disagreements after Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani said he would resign on Wednesday. "Barzani is a historic figure and courageous leader of his people, most recently in our common fight to destroy ISIS," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. "We call on all Kurdish parties to support the KRG as it works to resolve pending issues over the remainder of its term and prepare for elections in 2018," Nauert added in a statement commending Barzani's decision. It urged Iraq and the KRG "to work urgently to resolve pending issues under the Iraqi constitution." The statement appeared to reflect a US belief that the departure of Barzani, whose September 25 independence referendum is widely seen has having backfired, may make it easier for the two main Kurdish factions to work together and to negotiate with the federal government led by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, according to Reuters. In the statement, Nauert stressed a US desire to work with KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, Masoud Barzani's nephew and a fellow member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) faction, and with Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, a member of the other faction, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). "A strong KRG within a ‎unified and federal Iraq is essential to its long-term stability and to the enduring defeat of ISIS," she said, whose destruction is a major US policy objective in the region. Disputes between the KRG and the Baghdad federal government range from the perennial tussle over how to share oil revenues to the control of territory and border crossings. Suggesting that Barzani's departure may yield greater Kurdish unity and improve the odds of a resolution with Baghdad, a US official said: "We can’t allow this tension to continue. They have to be able to find a way to live together. Now is the time to get them to sit down and try to work things out." In this context, President Barzani expressed his appreciation to Germany and France and stated that the Kurdistan Region will work towards peacefully negotiating the issues with Baghdad, all in accordance with the Iraqi Constitution. “However, if Iraq chooses to aggressively approach the issues, then the people of the Kurdistan Region, as well as the Peshmerga forces, will defend Kurdistan and the dignity of the people of the Kurdistan Region.”He also described the recent military measures by Iraq's forces and militias as illegal and unconstitutional. This came as he received a German and French diplomatic delegation headed by Germany's ambassador Cyrill Nunn and France's ambassador Bruno Aubert. During the meeting, Barzani and his two guests spoke of the latest political developments in the Kurdistan Region and the issues between Baghdad and Irbil. They also spoke of the recent military confrontations, which took place initially in Kirkuk and later in the areas west of the Tigres River.

Russia Invites Kurdish Authorities to Syrian Congress in Sochi
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 31 October, 2017/Russia has invited Kurdish authorities to the Congress of the Peoples of Syria, a meeting of the country’s various ethnic groups that is scheduled to be held in Sochi. Such a congress would focus on seeking “compromise solutions towards the political settlement” of Syria’s conflict, a Russian negotiator on Syria said earlier this week. “We are studying the issue and our stance has been positive so far,” said Badran Jia Kurd, an adviser to the administration that governs Kurdish-led autonomous regions of northern Syria. They received the official invitation during meetings with Russian officials in northern Syria last month, he said. Moscow, a key ally of the Damascus government, may host a congress in mid-November to bring together Syria’s ethnic groups and work on a new constitution, Russian news agency RIA said on Monday. It remains unclear which other groups or combatants in Syria’s multi-sided war would take part in the congress. The congress, which Russian President Vladimir Putin first mentioned this month, may take place at Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi, RIA said. Russia’s Hmeymim air base in Syria also might be used, Alexander Lavrentyev, a senior Russian negotiator on Syria said on Monday. The proposal has received backing from the United Nations, Lavrentyev told reporters in Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, in Syria, at least four Syrian children were killed in regime shelling as they left their school in a rebel-held town outside the capital Damascus, activists reported Tuesday. The violence comes as Russian-sponsored talks are underway in the Kazakh capital Astana to consolidate so-called "de-escalation zones" designed to freeze the lines of conflict and allow humanitarian aid to rebel-held areas besieged by government forces. Syria is in its seventh year of a civil war that has left more than 400,000 dead. The Ghouta Media Center and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a shell landed at the gate of a school in Jisreen, a town in the eastern Ghouta suburbs of Damascus as children were leaving for the day. The shelling left at least five dead, including the four children, one of whom had his legs blown off. The shelling has hit a number of towns and villages in the suburbs northeast of the capital, leaving another three killed in the town of Musraba. Another shell in Harasta, also in eastern Ghouta suburbs, landed near a school but only caused injuries.
Residents of the eastern Ghouta suburbs, estimated at 350,000, have been living under a suffocating regime blockade amid intense bombings. The violence and siege have continued even though the suburbs are part of a de-escalation agreement guaranteed by Syrian regime backers Russia and Iran

Iraqi Forces Regain Control of Habur Crossing with Turkey
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 31 October, 2017/Iraqi authorities were handed on Tuesday control of the main land border crossing between Turkey and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, announced three Iraqi officials. One of the officials released photos of the Iraqi flag as it was being raised above the border gate. Iraqi and Turkish forces have been deployed in the area and Turkish flags were also raised there. Ali Abdullah of the border police said that the border is officially under the complete control of the Iraqi government. Authorities in Kurdistan denied however that the portal was handed over to Iraq.
An official in Irbil said that the negotiations are still ongoing over the issue. Iraq’s border with Turkey lies completely within the semi-autonomous Kurdish region. Iraq had demanded that it assume control of all land borders soon after Kurdistan held an independence referendum on September 25. Baghdad and Ankara had both rejected the vote. The Iraqi government carried out a lightening military campaign earlier in October in retaliation to the referendum. It succeeded in retaking regions the Kurds had gained in their battle against ISIS over the past three years. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim had meanwhile declared that control of the Habur border crossing had been handed to the Iraqi government. He also said that Turkey had agreed to open another border gate with Iraq, as part of a route that would lead to the city of Tal Afar, some 40 kilometers west of Mosul. The handover of the crossing is a culmination of three-day talks that kicked off on Friday to resolve the crisis between the Iraqi government and Kurdistan.

At Least 3 Killed in ISIS Bombing in Kabul
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 31 October, 2017/At least three people were killed on Tuesday in an ISIS suicide bombing in the Afghan capital Kabul, announced an Afghan official. The attack in central Kabul took place near the US embassy. The area is also houses other foreign embassies and government departments. A Reuters television team counted eight people who appeared to have been killed, besides several wounded at the scene, which was shrouded in smoke from the explosion. All the casualties appeared to be Afghan civilians. Wahid Mujro, spokesman for the Health Ministry, says 15 people were wounded in Tuesday's blast, which took place in Wazir Akbar Khan. The site of the explosion is about 500 meters (yards) from the American Embassy. General Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said the bomber was on foot. Police were also investigating whether it was a bomb planted earlier. The ISIS terrorist group later said in a statement that the attacker was wearing an explosives belt.

Syrian Arrested in Germany for Planning Bomb Attack
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 31 October, 2017/German authorities arrested on Tuesday a Syrian youth on suspicion of plotting a bomb attack. The Syrian, 19, was arrested in the northeastern city of Schwerin where security agencies had carried out several raids, including in the region north of Berlin.
The counter-terrorism prosecution said that the suspect had planned an extremist-driven attack in Germany with very powerful explosives. It was not yet known if the detainee had already set his target, said the prosecution. It added that it has not yet been determined if he belonged to a terrorist organization. It revealed however that he had taken the decision in July 2017 to detonate a bomb in Germany for the purpose of killing or injuring the greatest number of people. In the next two weeks, he started to acquire the material needed to build his bomb.
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Moroccan ISIS Commander: We Killed Italian Father Paolo Dall'oglio
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 31 October, 2017/
September of 2013 A.A. turned his back to his home just off the coast of the Mediterranean in the Moroccan capital Rabat, and headed to Raqqa, arguably the hottest zone of the Syrian conflict. Rising within ISIS ranks, A.A. eventually became a “leader” in the extremist group.
He aspired to thrive under a self-proclaimed “caliphate,” that was until he found himself locked up in a top-security prison north of the country belonging to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Born in Rabat in 1982, A.A. holds a technology certificate and had opened a private company to sell electronic devices.
No one in his family knew when he made up his mind and traveled to Syria.
Speaking to an Asharq Al-Awsat at the SDF headquarters in the northern Raqqa, he explained how footage showing the events of the Syrian civil war stirred his feelings, eventually building up to his decision to join the fight.
He denied however ever being involved with ultra-hardline Islamist groups in Morocco—but said that the woes of the Syrian civil war became the center of discussions of his family members, and everyone initially thought he intended to travel to aid displaced people and refugees in makeshift camps.
In the summer of 2013, he established a line of communications with extremists over social media networks, and received an in with al-Qaeda. Members of the group presented him with a route to travel and gave him exclusive contact information to link up with him upon his arrival.
Later in September, A.A. flew to Istanbul, Turkey, from where he took a bus to the city of Gaziantep near the Syrian border.
"I called the trafficker, who was informed about my arrival. He sneaked me across the border with Syria, and dropped me off at a meeting point where I was received by members of the organization who then took me to a reception.”
The next day, he joined a group of newcomers who were sent to Idlib, northwestern Syria, where he stayed for some 60 days. During this period, he attended an educational course and received arms and combat arts training.
He contacted his family to inform them that he was in Syria and had joined Qaeda’s offshoot Al-Nusra Front.
"My father did not tolerate the news and hung up his conversation with me. My mother was a bit more calm. She asked me to stay in touch with them, and tried to persuade me into going back on my decision."
Two months after A.A. arriving to Syria, disputes between ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Al-Nusra Front, headed by Abou Muhammad al-Julani, escalated and the two sides parted ways.
Many foreign and Arab fighters preferred to join al-Baghdadi, A.A. included.
"Al-Julani was harsh with the foreign fighters and deployed them in city outskirts—Al-Nusra was in disarray and confusion with no apparent goal, while ISIS on the other hand declared that his goal to establish an alleged caliphate.”
After ISIS secured its control of the city of Raqqa in January 2014, A.A. was appointed commander of the northern border. He was responsible for the land strip between the town of Ras al-Ayn and its border gate with Turkey.
He said that his multilingual skills had earned him the position.
"It was because I could speak English, French and Spanish in addition to my mother tongue Arabic. I was then dubbed Abou Mansour."
He pointed out that until the end of 2013, the number of foreign arrivals to Syria did not exceed 150 per month.
“After I took office, and as of 2014, an average rate of about 300 foreigners came in daily wishing to fight among the organization’s ranks.”
ISIS members set up a special registry bureau dedicated to noting down the names, nationality and date of entry of foreign recruits.
On the case of the disappearance and murder of the Italian Christian priest Father Paolo Dall'oglio, who visited Raqqa in July 2013, he confirmed that ISIS militants killed him days after keeping him locked up.
"In the summer of 2014, a year after the incident, a Vatican-linked association contacted ISIS via intermediaries in Turkey and asked to interview us on the border between Syria and Turkey, to unveil the fate of Father Paolo and an Italian journalist who had gone missing,” said A.A.
“I in turn delivered the request to the commander-in-chief of Abou Muhammed al-Iraqi who warned not to ask about Father Paolo and refused to meet the association for an interview. ISIS leaders told me that Abou Luqman al-Raqqawi (an ISIS member) had executed the Christian priest. "
Commenting on the nationalities that joined the organization, A.A. said that the majority of fighters came in from Chechnya, Georgia and former Soviet republics.
As for combatants joining from Arab countries, Tunisia registered the highest share, followed by Morocco, then Algeria, Egypt and Libya.
Two years after the so-called "caliphate" was declared in the areas under ISIS control, many towns were gradually lost on the outskirts of Raqqa, most notably Tal Abyad and Ein Issa. The terror group was completely driven out from its Raqqa stronghold in October, 2017.
"A ‘caliphate’ without historic capitals means nothing, a ‘caliphate’ without control over Damascus or Baghdad is incomplete," A.A. said.
The organization staged mass executions, beheadings, rapes, abductions, ethnic cleansing, stoning and other barbaric practices in Raqqa and other cities it controlled.
ISIS was keen on using modern techniques to broadcast its atrocities through live footage posted on the Internet to spread terror among people.

Sisi Seeks more Coordination with EU to Confront Terrorism
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 31 October, 2017/Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi stressed the importance of strengthening coordination and consultations with the European Union (EU) in regional files to confront joint challenges emerging from the existing regional crises, topped by terrorism and its repercussions on the security of the Middle East and Europe. Sisi received on Monday Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn in the presence of Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. The president welcomed the EU official, stressing that Egypt pays great attention to its ties with the EU in light of their bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Egyptian-European partnership agreement, said presidential spokesman Bassam Rady. Sisi also affirmed that the EU is the first trade partner of Egypt. For his part, Hahn voiced the EU's keenness on bolstering the existing cooperation with Egypt, which is considered one of the most important neighboring countries. He hailed Egypt's pivotal role in the region as it is the main pillar of stability and security, lauding steps taken over the past years to achieve stability and efforts exerted to fight terrorism and illegal migration.. The meeting tackled means of promoting joint cooperation in various developmental issues, as well as the latest regional developments, including Egypt's efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation and settle the Libyan crisis. The two sides agreed on continuing coordination and consultation pertaining to the various regional issues, the spokesman reiterated. In this context, during a joint press conference with Hahn, Shoukry pointed out that the meeting provided ample opportunity to address human rights issues. The Egyptian point of view was raised regarding the aspirations of the society and the government to promote human rights, the positive role of civil society organizations and the attention given by the government to address these issues from a comprehensive perspective. Shoukry also shed light on Egypt's efforts to prevent any type of illegal immigration from its territory, stressing that this stems from the Egyptian state's responsibility to control its coasts, prevent illegal immigration and eliminate human trafficking. The meeting also included the singing of a memorandum of understanding, which outlined the allocation of European financial assistance to a number of development projects in accordance with Egypt's Sustainable Development Strategy 2030.

Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 01/17
Turkey and the U.S.: A Poisoned Alliance
Burak Bekdil/The Gatestone Institute/October 30/17
http://www.meforum.org/6983/turkey-and-the-us-a-poisoned-alliance
In theory, Turkey and the United States have been staunch allies since the predominately Muslim nation became a NATO member state in 1952. Also, in theory, the leaders of the two allies are on friendly terms. President Donald Trump gave "very high marks" to Turkey's increasingly autocratic, Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the Turkish leader's recent visit to Washington when his security detail attacked peaceful protesters.
It is puzzling why Trump gave a passionately (and ideologically) pro-Hamas, pro-Muslim Brotherhood, Islamist leader "very high marks." But in reality, the Ankara-Washington axis could not be farther from diplomatic niceties such as "allies" or "very high marks."
This is a select (and brief) recent anatomy of what some analysts call "hostage diplomacy" between the two "staunch NATO allies."
In June this year, Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Survey, covering a total of 37 countries, revealed that 79% of Turks had an unfavorable opinion of the U.S. That was the second-highest among the countries surveyed, after 82% in Jordan. Anti-American sentiment in Turkey is 27% higher than in Russia, and more than twice as high as the global median of 39%.
There are reports that six Turkish government banks face billions of dollars in fines from the U.S. over alleged violations of Iran sanctions.
Turkey is keeping in jail, among a dozen or so others, a NASA scientist who was vacationing with relatives in Turkey, and a Christian missionary who has lived in Turkey for 23 years. Others include a visiting chemistry professor from Pennsylvania and his brother, a real-estate agent. All of them face long prison sentences for allegedly playing a part in last year's failed coup against Erdogan's government.
There is little doubt that the U.S. citizens are being held in Turkey as a bargaining chip to pressure Washington to extradite Muslim cleric Fethullah Gülen, a former Erdogan ally and allegedly the mastermind behind the attempted putsch. Erdogan himself does not hide his intentions. If Gülen were handed over, Erdogan said, he would sort out the American pastor's judicial case. "Give him to us and we will put yours through the judiciary; we will give him to you," he said recently.
Early in October, as "hostage diplomacy" intensified, the "staunch allies" U.S. and Turkey stopped issuing non-immigrant visas to each other's citizens -- a restriction that has already affected thousands of travelers. The first ban came from the U.S., then Turkey retaliated. The U.S. move came after Turkey's arrest of a U.S. consulate employee, a Turkish citizen, on charges that he had links to Gülen. The visa ban put Turkey in the same category of countries such as Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Venezuela and Yemen. Erdogan also claims that the U.S. is hiding a suspect in its Istanbul consulate who is also linked to Gülen. Erdogan apparently wants to raise the stakes. A Turkish court earlier in October convicted -- in absentia -- a Wall Street Journal reporter of producing "terrorist propaganda" in Turkey and sentenced her to more than two years in prison. Ayla Albayrak was sentenced for writing an August 2015 article which, the judges ruled, violated Turkey's anti-terror laws. Had Albayrak not been in New York at the time of the verdict, she would have joined nearly 200 journalists already jailed in Turkey.
Adding insult to injury over the "very high marks," Erdogan claims that the U.S., not Turkey, is uncivilized and undemocratic. In an Oct. 21 speech, he said that the U.S. indictment against his bodyguards was "undemocratic." He said, "They say the United States is the cradle of democracy. This can't be true. This can't be democracy ... I'm sorry, but I cannot say that country [the U.S.] is civilized."
A kind of "transactional relationship" is, of course, understandable, given U.S. interests in a volatile region of the world where Turkey happens to be one of the state actors. All the same, the U.S. administration does not have the luxury of maintaining a game in which it views Turkey as a "staunch ally" and Erdogan as a leader with "very high marks." This make-believe policy toward Turkey will only further poison whatever is left of what once was a genuinely staunch alliance.
Washington does not have the luxury of maintaining the pretense that Turkey is 'staunch ally.'
Turkey is clearly no longer a "staunch ally." Take the most significant geostrategic regional calculation in northern Syria: What Ankara views as the biggest security threat are U.S. allies fighting the Islamic State: the Syrian Kurds.
Ever since the Iraqi Kurds held a referendum (and voted "yes") on independence, on September 25, Turkey has aligned itself with Iran and the Iran-controlled government in Iraq, who view the Kurdish political movement as a major threat.
In addition, the anti-American sentiment in Turkey (part of which has been fueled by the Islamist government that has been in power since 2002) may push Turkey further into a Russian-led axis of regional powers, including Iran. Erdogan will not wish to look pro-American ahead of critical presidential elections in 2019 when 79% of Turks have an unfavorable opinion of the U.S.
Moreover, the idea of unifying Sunnis against the Shiite bloc is more difficult than it may look. Sunni Turks view Sunni Kurds, as an existential threat who are -- allied with Shiite Iran and Iran-controlled Iraq, which contains Kurds.
Saudi Arabia and Turkey also found themselves at the opposite ends of the crisis surrounding Qatar -- all Sunni.
**Burak Bekdil is an Ankara-based political analyst and a fellow at the Middle East Forum.

On leaving the old guard and welcoming the new
Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/October 31/17
In the past, we used to view China as being very far away from us geographically, but this has changed in the age of globalization and the birth of the “global village.” The development that took place in China last week therefore concerns us in our economy and security because it concerns global international and economic balances. The 19th national congress of the Chinese Communist Party not only extended the term of President Xi Jinping for five years, but it went much more beyond that. It has enshrined Xi’s political thought on communism in the constitution. This is an unprecedented move that was only achieved by Mao Zedong’s successors after their retirement. If we take into consideration that we are talking about the world’s second greatest economy and its most populous country, then the introduction of an extraordinary leadership there is a global event that concerns countries near and far.
Belonging to the age is not an easy or light decision. It is a decision to adopt change, openness, coexistence and partnership. It requires a shift in regulations, mentalities and tools. It requires a comprehensive vision, executive plans and the ability to attract partners to join a workshop never before seen in the region.
It is true that the US economy is still on top and that its military is the most advanced. But it is also true that the American system is no longer able to produce a constant stream of extraordinary leaders who are immune to scandals created by journalism and the internet. It was also clear that Russia has, a hundred years after the Bolshevik Revolution, witnessed the rise of a new czar, as the Economist magazine reported. It is clear though that the new czar was able to improve the situation in his country in international balances, more than he did in rehabilitating its economy to be able to compete on the long-term.
‘Great Captain’
The truth is that Xi owes a lot to Deng Xiaoping, who soon after Mao’s death sought to take the major and difficult decision to join the modern age. Deng was the first to give the signal that labels such as “Great Captain” were no longer suitable in our world. “Comrade Deng” took a firm decision to prevent Mao from ruling China from his grave. He preserved the sanctity of the grave, but he opened a window and buried many rulings of the “Red Book” after they were no longer applicable in a changing world. This is how Mao remained a party machine that includes some 90 million members, who are guarantors of stability, while Deng’s disciples embarked on a journey in search of prosperity. Over the past five years, Xi played a major role in solidifying the image of a new China and in bolstering its position. The world took note of Deng’s students in helping hundred of millions of Chinese get out of poverty and the numbers backed the credibility of dreams. On the outside, it is enough to point to the Belt and Road initiative, for which Beijing dedicated $124 billion, in order to bolster trade and its influence in new markets. In January, Xi attended the Davos World Economic Forum where he delivered a speech that ardently defended globalization and warned against protectionist policies. It was said at the time that US President Donald Trump, who had only assumed his post weeks earlier, was the main target of this speech.
Mao’s successor stole the spotlight and it became clear that the Chinese age was coming, albeit a bit late. As I sat at the forum hall, I felt dejected that the Arab world had not yet taken the decision to belong to the age.
Coincidence would have it that the final day of the Chinese Communist Party national congress took place simultaneously with the opening of the Riyadh-hosted Future Investment Initiative. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the conference was unprecedented in the Arab world because it brought together under one roof businessmen who control $22 trillion of the world’s wealth. Sovereign and investment funds and technology giants came together at an event that would not have happened at that time and place had the decision to belong to the age not been taken.
The new age in Saudi Arabia
Belonging to the age is not an easy or light decision. It is a decision to adopt change, openness, coexistence and partnership. It requires a shift in regulations, mentalities and tools. It requires a comprehensive vision, executive plans and the ability to attract partners to join a workshop never before seen in the region.
I had many ideas while sitting at the conference hall, perhaps because I am a journalist who comes from a trend that gives priority to searching for the political mastermind. This trend gives precedence to generals in power or to the opposition. The truth is that the world has changed. It became clear that the decision-making power has been transferred from the old generals to the new ones, who manage financial institutions that are more powerful than countries. The old generals do not have a solution to the economy and they cannot improve the lives of people, except through finding agreements with the new ones.
I met in the hallways of the Riyadh conference Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group that runs some 400 companies. I asked him about the extent of his interest in the conference. He replied: “The best reflection of my interest is the fact that I have visited Saudi Arabia three times in three months. I believe that what Saudi Arabia is witnessing is very interesting. The quality of the participants in the conference demonstrates the world’s interest in Vision 2030 and the change that we have started to sense in the kingdom. I look forward to taking part in the massive futuristic NEOM project.”
“What is happening is very important. The Saudi Crown Prince is thinking about the post-oil Saudi Arabia. He is banking on the youth and their energies and Saudi women in developing the economy and society. He wants to attract Saudi capabilities and lure investors. It is remarkable to find a man who enjoys such courage and such a long-term vision. The truth is I have never met an official who has such a strong drive to succeed,” added Branson.
In the late 1970s, China took the decision to open its windows and belong to the age. It took the decision to belong to these successive technological and scientific revolts and employ them in improving the lives of the people. China is now picking the fruit of these efforts.
In Riyadh, the participants witnessed the irreversible decision to belong to the age. This led the generals of investment and technology to flock to take part in an experience, whose success will set an attractive example to the Arab and Muslim worlds.

France: New Anti-Terrorism Law Takes Effect
Soeren Kern/Gatestone Institute/October 31/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11258/france-terrorism-law
The new law authorizes prefects to order the closure of mosques or other places of worship for a period of up to six months if preachers are deemed to express "ideas or theories" that "incite violence, hatred or discrimination, provoke the commission of acts of terrorism or express praise for such acts."
French police and intelligence services are surveilling around 15,000 jihadists living on French soil, Le Journal du Dimanche reported on October 9. Of these, some 4,000 are at "the top of the spectrum" and most likely to carry out an attack.
Of the 1,900 French jihadists fighting with the Islamic State, as many as one-fifth have received as much as €500,000 ($580,000) in social welfare payments from the French state, Le Figaro revealed on October 26.
French President Emmanuel Macron has formally signed a new counter-terrorism law which gives prefects, police and security forces wide-ranging powers — without the need to seek prior approval from a judge — to search homes, place people under house arrest and close places of worship. The measure also authorizes police to perform identity checks at French borders.
The new law, adopted by the French Senate on October 18, makes permanent many of the previously exceptional measures imposed under a two-year-old state of emergency, which was introduced after the jihadist attacks in Paris in November 2015. That state of emergency was slated to expire on November 1.During a signing ceremony at the Élysée Palace on October 30, Macron said the compromise measure strikes the right balance between security and respect for civil liberties. Hardliners counter that the new law does not go far enough, while human rights groups complain that it will leave France in a permanent state of emergency.
The new law — Law to Strengthen Internal Security and the Fight Against Terrorism (Loi renforçant la sécurité intérieure et la lutte contre le terrorisme) — consists of seven main parts:
Security Zones. The new law gives prefects, the top government official in each of France's departments or regions, the power to designate public areas and sporting or cultural events, including music concerts, that are deemed to be at risk of terrorism, as security zones. The law authorizes police to search all persons or vehicles attempting to enter such areas or events. Anyone refusing to submit to such searches will be denied access.
Closing Places of Worship. The new law authorizes prefects to order the closure of mosques or other places of worship for a period of up to six months if preachers are deemed to express "ideas or theories" that "incite violence, hatred or discrimination, provoke the commission of acts of terrorism or express praise for such acts." Violations are punishable by six months in prison and a fine of €7,500 ($8,750). Opponents of the law argue that "ideas" and "theories" are subjective and therefore open to abuse.
House Arrest. The new law authorizes the Minister of the Interior to confine suspected Islamists, even those who are not accused of a specific crime, to the town or city of their domicile. Any individual for whom there are "serious reasons to believe that his or her conduct constitutes a particularly serious threat to public security and public order," may be placed under house arrest — without the prior approval of a judge — for a period of three months, renewable for additional periods of three months to a maximum period of one year. Individuals subject to such confinement will be required to report to their local police station once a day. Alternatively, individuals may be placed under mobile electronic surveillance. The Minister of the Interior may also prohibit individuals from being in direct or indirect contact with certain persons, named by name, who are believed to pose a threat to public security. Violations of the measures are punishable by three years in prison and a fine of €45,000 ($52,500).
Search and Seizure. The new law authorizes a prefect to ask a judge for a warrant to search the home of anyone suspected of posing a threat to public security. The individual being searched may be detained for up to four hours if he or she represents "a threat of particular gravity for security and public order" and has "habitual contact to persons or organizations with terrorist aims" or supports and adheres to ideas inciting to such acts. The law also authorizes police to seize any documents, objects or electronic data at the place being searched.
Radicalized Public Servants. A civil servant working in fields related to national security or defense can be transferred or even dismissed from the public service if he or she is found to hold beliefs that are "incompatible with the exercise of his or her duties." Soldiers can also be discharged for similar motives.
Electronic Surveillance and Data Collection. The new law authorizes the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Transport to collect the telephone and email communications of suspicious individuals "for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offenses and serious crimes." The law also allows security services to access travel information, including from travel agencies, about airline and maritime passengers. Data collection "shall exclude personal data that may reveal a person's racial or ethnic origin, religious or philosophical beliefs, political opinions, trade union membership, or data relating to the health or sexual life of the person concerned."
Border Checks. The new law authorizes police to conduct warrantless identity checks at more than 118 border areas and 373 airports, seaports and train stations, as well as the surrounding areas up to a radius of 20 kilometers. This encompasses 28.6% of French territory and 67% of the French population, according to Le Monde. Critics say this includes many mainly immigrant suburbs and could lead to harassment of ethnic minorities.
Macron insisted that the new law will allow authorities to combat terrorism "without abandoning our values and principles" and that it will enshrine "full and permanent respect for France's constitutional order and traditions of liberty." He also pledged to review the law in two years and to make any changes deemed necessary. Marine Le Pen, the leader of the anti-immigration National Front party, criticized the law for being too weak:
"This law is a scam, it is a sub-state of emergency, we will not vote for this harmful text. It will be even less effective than the state of emergency because it is less applicable. This text does not address either the specific Islamic dimension of terrorism or the Islamist ideology that has declared war on us."
Civil rights groups, by contrast, complained about what they have described as a "normalization of emergency powers." Human Rights Watch wrote:
"The law takes elements of emergency practices — intrusive search powers, restrictions on individuals that have bordered on house arrest, closure of places of worship — that have been used abusively since November 2015, and makes them normal criminal and administrative practice. It does all this in a way that weakens the judiciary's control over and ability to check against abuse in the way the new counterterrorism powers are used by prefects, the Interior Ministry's appointed delegates in each region."
Amnesty International echoed these concerns:
"Rather than ushering in a period of restored freedoms and civil liberties, the legislation threatens to do the opposite by embedding a raft of repressive measures into ordinary law."
The new law has encountered little resistance from the public. A September 26 poll conducted for Le Figaro found that 57% of respondents said they were in favor of the new law; 62% of respondents said the measure will infringe on civil liberties; 85% said it would improve their security.
More than 230 people have been killed in jihadist attacks in France since January 2015, when Islamic radicals attacked the headquarters of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in central Paris.
The latest fatalities occurred on October 1, when a 29-year-old illegal immigrant from Tunisia stabbed two women to death at the central train station in Marseille. The man, identified as Ahmed A., was using seven different identities and had a long history of petty crime. He had been arrested just days before the attack for shoplifting, but those charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence. It remains unclear why he was never deported.
French police and intelligence services are surveilling around 15,000 jihadists living on French soil, Le Journal du Dimanche reported on October 9. Of these, some 4,000 are at "the top of the spectrum" and most likely to carry out an attack.
Of the 1,900 French jihadists fighting with the Islamic State, as many as one-fifth have received as much as €500,000 ($580,000) in social welfare payments from the French state, Le Figaro revealed on October 26.
**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.

Surprise! Study Shows Islamic Terrorism is Islamic
Judith Bergman/Gatestone Institute/October 31/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11091/islamic-terrorism
Although the internet evidently did play a role in the radicalization process, the study showed that face-to-face encounters were more important, and that dawa, the proselytizing of Islam, played a central role in this process, as the men themselves became missionaries for Islam.
The third factor was the establishment of a "them and us" distinction between the radicalized men and the rest of the world, especially the belief that the West is an enemy of the Muslim world. The distinction also involved a rejection of democracy and a commitment to the establishment of a caliphate governed by sharia law, which the men want to bring about either through dawa (proselytizing) or violence (jihad).
"The Islamic State is a byproduct of Al Azhar's programs. So can Al Azhar denounce itself as un-Islamic? Al Azhar says there must be a caliphate and that it is an obligation for the Muslim world. Al Azhar teaches the law of apostasy and killing the apostate. Al Azhar is hostile towards religious minorities, and teaches things like not building churches, etc. Al Azhar upholds the institution of jizya [extracting tribute from non-Muslims]. Al Azhar teaches stoning people. So can Al Azhar denounce itself as un-Islamic?" — Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah Nasr, scholar of Islamic law, graduate of Egypt's Al Azhar University, explaining why it refused to denounce ISIS as un-Islamic, 2015.
Western leaders insist that Islamic terrorism has nothing to do with Islam. Evidence to the contrary appeared again this week from Mohamad Jamal Khweis, an ISIS recruit from the United States who said in a 2016 interview with Kurdistan24, "Our daily life was basically prayer, eating and learning about the religion for about eight hours." Khweis was sentenced to 20 years in prison on October 27 for providing material support to ISIS, according to CBS News.
As early as 2001, immediately after 9/11, then-President George W. Bush gave a speech in which he claimed that in the United States, the terrorist acts in which over 3,000 people were killed "violate the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith" and that "Islam is peace".
Twelve years and many spectacular terrorist attacks later, in 2013, when two jihadists murdered Lee Rigby in broad daylight in London, the prime minister at the time, David Cameron, declared that the attack was "a betrayal of Islam... there is nothing in Islam that justifies this truly dreadful act".
In January 2015, jihadists in Paris shouting "Allahu Akbar" attacked Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket, murdering 15 people. French President François Hollande said that the jihadists had "nothing to do with the Muslim faith".
Two years later, when a jihadist targeted the very heart of European democratic civilization, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge, British PM Theresa May said: "It is wrong to describe this as Islamic terrorism. It is Islamist terrorism and the perversion of a great faith".
In the face of hundreds of Muslim terrorists yelling "Allahu Akbar" while bombing, shooting, stabbing, and car-ramming thousands of innocent civilians to death and wounding thousands of others, it would be reasonable to assume that elected representatives might feel obliged to put their denial of reality on hold long enough to read at least bits of the Quran. They might start by reading the commands in "Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them..." (9:5), or, "So fight them until there is no more fitna [strife] and all submit to the religion of Allah" (8:39).
If that is asking too much, perhaps they might be willing to consider a recent study by Islamic theologian and professor of Islamic religious education at the University of Vienna, Ednan Aslan, which was commissioned by the Austrian ministry of Foreign Affairs. The purpose of the 310-page study, which was conducted over 18 months and involved interviews with 29 Muslims who were all jailed or in juvenile detention (over half for having committed terrorist offenses) was reportedly to investigate the role that Islam plays in the radicalization of young Muslims in Austria. The study showed that jihadists are not, as Western leaders claim, ignorant of Islam and therefore "perverting" it. On the contrary, the jihadists apparently have a deep understanding of Islamic theology. Aslan explicitly warns against reducing the issue of Islamic terrorism to questions of "frustrated individuals, who have no perspective, are illiterate and have misunderstood Islam".
The study found that three factors were particularly relevant to the radicalization process of the interviewees. The first factor was Islam itself: The interviewees had actively participated in their own radicalization, by engaging with the content, norms and standards of Islamic doctrine, and had apparently found this engagement to be a positive turning point in their lives. The study describes the approach to Islam of these men as "Salafism", which it defines as the view that Islam comprises all aspects of life, religious, personal and societal. Moreover, the majority of the men evidently came from religious Muslim homes and were therefore already familiar with the foundations of Islam. The study explicitly states that the prevailing assumption that the majority of radicalized Muslims know very little about Islam could not be confirmed by the interviewers' findings.
The second factor was the environment: the specific mosques and imams to which the men went and on which they relied. Although the internet evidently did play a role in the radicalization process, the study showed that face-to-face encounters were more important, and that dawa, proselytizing Islam, played a central role in this process, as the men themselves became missionaries for Islam. Notably, the study showed that the level of theological knowledge determined the individual's role in the hierarchy -- the more knowledge they had of Islam, the more authority they had.
The third factor was the establishment of a "them and us" distinction between the radicalized men and the rest of the world, especially the belief that the West is an enemy of the Muslim world. The distinction also involved a rejection of democracy and a commitment to the establishment of a caliphate governed by sharia law, which the men want to bring about either through dawa (proselytizing) or violence (jihad).
Critics might argue that a qualitative study of 29 radical Muslims is not representative of most Islamic terrorists, but that is hardly true. In 2015, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah Nasr, a scholar of Islamic law and graduate of Egypt's Al Azhar University, explained why the prestigious institution, which educates mainstream Islamic scholars, refused to denounce ISIS as un-Islamic:
"The Islamic State is a byproduct of Al Azhar's programs. So can Al Azhar denounce itself as un-Islamic? Al Azhar says there must be a caliphate and that it is an obligation for the Muslim world. Al Azhar teaches the law of apostasy and killing the apostate. Al Azhar is hostile towards religious minorities, and teaches things like not building churches, etc. Al Azhar upholds the institution of jizya [extracting tribute from non-Muslims]. Al Azhar teaches stoning people. So can Al Azhar denounce itself as un-Islamic?"
In 2015, Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt -- a prestigious institution that educates mainstream Islamic scholars -- refused to denounce ISIS as un-Islamic. (Image source: Sailko/Wikimedia Commons)
Western leaders did not listen.
They also did not listen when, in 2015, The Atlantic published a study by Graeme Wood, who researched the Islamic State and its ideology in depth. He spoke to members of the Islamic State and Islamic State recruiters and concluded:
"The reality is that the Islamic State is Islamic. Very Islamic. Yes, it has attracted psychopaths and adventure seekers, drawn largely from the disaffected populations of the Middle East and Europe. But the religion preached by its most ardent followers derives from coherent and even learned interpretations of Islam".
How much longer can the West afford to ignore reality?
**Judith Bergman is a columnist, lawyer and political analyst.
© 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.

America's Catastrophic Success Against ISIS
Eli Lake/Bloomberg/October 31/17
One might expect President Donald Trump to take a victory lap after last week's liberation of Raqqa from the ISIS terrorist group. Thanks to American air power, Maoist Kurds, Syrian patriots and US special operators, this caliphate ended as the shortest-lived in Islamic history.
And yet the president chose not to exploit this win. The White House issued a five-paragraph statement. Much of last week was consumed with the president's feud over his phone call to the mother of one of the soldiers killed in Niger.
How to explain the subdued reaction? (After all, this White House is desperate for policy wins.)
It’s the geopolitical equivalent of “Mo Money Mo Problems.” Success brings new challenges. In this case, the eclipse of ISIS reopens old rifts in the Middle East that were paused to defeat a universally loathed enemy.
Now all of this fair-weather esprit de corps is gone. One glaring example is in northern Iraq, where the Iraqi Security Forces advanced on Kurdish Peshmerga positions in the last week following their recapture of Kirkuk, the oil-rich city Kurdish forces protected from ISIS in 2014. But there are small examples as well. In Raqqa there are now reports the Kurdish YPG militia have started taking down Syrian revolutionary flags favored by Arab members of the opposition forces that liberated the city, according to Jennifer Cafarella, senior analyst with the Institute for the Study of War.
This says nothing of the new tensions between the US and Iran in Iraq. This week Secretary of State Rex Tillerson earned a rare public rebuke from the Iraqi prime minister's office after he called on Iranian-supported militias fightingISIS to return home now that the fight is coming to a close. Only two years ago, the US was providing air support for ground offensives led by these militias in that fight.
Cafarella told me that one of the problems with the US strategy against ISIS is that it was almost purely a military one, without the much-needed political component necessary for winning the peace. "What we have not addressed are larger institutional and societal challenges that gave rise to ISIS to begin with, and are now fueling the cascading crisis in Iraqi Kurdistan,” she said. “The very best example of that is that we have ignored and overlooked Iran's penetration into the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defense."
In many ways this is an old story. Iran's penetration into these institutions vexed George W. Bush before he decided to “surge” troops into Iraq and pursue a counterinsurgency under the leadership of General David Petraeus. One of the White House staffers who argued for that strategy was Brett McGurk, the American diplomat who went on to forge the coalition against ISIS. At the time, the US pursued both Sunni and Shiite terrorists in Iraq, targeting any groups that threatened the elected government. Much of that strategy relied on a close partnership between Bush and the Iraqi prime minister at the time, Nouri al-Maliki. Eventually Maliki succumbed to sectarianism. Under Obama, he pursued a ruthless campaign against Sunni groups in the west of the country, laying the ground work for the rise of the Islamic State. Maliki reasoned that if Obama was intent to leave, he best make his peace with Iran. After ISIS began to take territory and went on a rampage in 2014, Obama abandoned his non-interventionism. He instructed McGurk to find an alternative that summer. That alternative became Haider al-Abadi, who ascended to be prime minister that September. The Iranians supported Maliki in that power struggle and eventually lost. Today Abadi is at a crossroads again. His security forces have pressed ahead into Kurdish areas over the objections of the US government – though a cease-fire was said to be reached on Friday. The situation threatens to pit two Iraqi forces, both supported and armed by the US government, against one another, even though only a month ago they were cooperating against ISIS.
It follows a certain depressing logic. Without an enemy to unite them, America's allies in the Middle East return to fighting one another.

Professors Like Me Can’t Stay Silent About This Extremist Moment on Campuses
Lucía Martínez Valdivia/The Washington Post/October 31/17
At Reed College in Oregon, where I work, a group of students began protesting the required first-year humanities course a year ago. Three times a week, students sat in the lecture space holding signs — many too obscene to be printed here — condemning the course and its faculty as white supremacists, as anti-black, as not open to dialogue and criticism, on the grounds that we continue to teach, among many other things, Aristotle and Plato.
In the interest of supporting dissent and the free exchange of ideas, the faculty and administration allowed this. Those who felt able to do so lectured surrounded by those signs for the better part of a year. I lectured, but dealt with physical anxiety — lack of sleep, nausea, loss of appetite, inability to focus — in the weeks leading up to my lecture. Instead of walking around or standing at the lectern, as I typically do, I sat as I tried to teach students how to read the poetry of Sappho. Inadvertently, I spoke more quietly, more timidly.
Some colleagues, including people of color, immigrants and those without tenure, found it impossible to work under these conditions. The signs intimidated faculty into silence, just as intended, and these silenced professors’ lectures were quietly replaced by talks from people willing and able to carry on teaching in the face of these demonstrations. I think obscuring these acts of silencing was a mistake that resulted in an escalation of the protesters’ tactics. This academic year, the first lecture was to be a panel introduction of the course: Along with two colleagues, I was going to offer my thoughts on the course, the study of the humanities and the importance of students’ knowing the history of the education they were beginning.
We introduced ourselves and took our seats. But as we were about to begin, the protesters seized our microphones, stood in front of us and shut down the lecture.
The right to speak freely is not the same as the right to rob others of their voices.
Understanding this argument requires an ability to detect and follow nuance, but nuance has largely been dismissed from the debates about speech raging on college campuses. Absolutist postures and the binary reign supreme. You are pro- or anti-, radical or fascist, angel or demon. Even small differences of opinion are seized on and characterized as moral and intellectual failures, unacceptable thought crimes that cancel out anything else you might say.
No one should have to pass someone else’s ideological purity test to be allowed to speak. University life — along with civic life — dies without the free exchange of ideas.
In the face of intimidation, educators must speak up, not shut down. Ours is a position of unique responsibility: We teach people not what to think, but how to think.
Realizing and accepting this has made me — an eminently replaceable, untenured, gay, mixed-race woman with PTSD — realize that no matter the precariousness of my situation, I have a responsibility to model the appreciation of difference and care of thought I try to foster in my students.
If I, like so many colleagues nationwide, am afraid to say what I think, am I not complicit in the problem?
At Reed and nationwide, we have largely stayed silent, probably hoping that this extremist moment in campus politics eventually peters out. But it is wishful thinking to imagine that the conversation will change on its own. It certainly won’t change if more voices representing more positions aren’t added to it.
Nuance and careful reasoning are not the tools of the oppressor, meant to deceive and gaslight and undermine and distract. On the contrary: These tools can help prove what those who use them think — or even what they feel — to be true. They make arguments more, not less, convincing, using objective evidence to make a point rather than relying on the persuasive power of a subjective feeling.
I ask one thing of all my first-year students: that they say yes to the text. This doesn’t mean they have to agree with or endorse anything and everything they read. It means students should read in good faith and try to understand the texts’ distance, their strangeness, from our historical moment. Ultimately, this is a call for empathy, for stretching our imaginations to try to inhabit and understand positions that aren’t ours and the points of view of people who aren’t us.
A grounding in the study of the humanities can help students encounter ideas with care and learn that everything — including this column — is open to critical interrogation. The trick is realizing — and accepting — that no person, no text, no class, is without flaws. The things we study are, after all, products of human hands.

Netanyahu warns enemies 'not to test our will'نتنياهو يحذر اعداء بلاد ويقول لا تجربزا ارادتنا
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/?p=59928
Ynetnews/October 31/17/
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5036619,00.html
Speaking at ceremony to pay homage to Australian and New Zealand soldiers for their role in liberating Be'er Sheva, Netanyahu tells audience Israel seeks 'peace with all our neighbors, but we will not tolerate any attacks on our sovereignty, on our people, on our land, whether from the air, from the sea, from the ground or below the ground.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended a ceremony Tuesday to pay homage to Australian and New Zealand soldiers for their role in liberating the city of Be’er Sheva from Turkey a century ago, where he also used his speech to deliver a stern warning against Israel's enemies not “to test the will of the State of Israel or the army of Israel.”
Speaking at the ceremony attended by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife and New Zealand Governor General Patsy Reddy and her husband, Netanyahu linked the themes of battle from World War I to celebrate agreements recently signed by Israel and Australia.
When the Light Horse were charging here, their commanders were worried about the absence of water. Today we do not worry about that. A few months ago, we signed an agreement on water between Australia and Israel. It can apply to New Zealand. We can make water. We can change the world,” Netanyahu said.
“What we established here with the rise of Israel, the rise of technology, the rise of ingenuity, is that we can cooperate to better the lives of our peoples and of all people everywhere. That too we should remember at the Battle of Beer Sheba,” he continued.“I believe that those soldiers who fell here would be proud of the deep and enduring alliance between our countries today.”
Lauding the “natural kinship between between our peoples,” the Israeli premier went on to praise the “ANZAC soldiers went on to capture Jerusalem, Tiberias, Megiddo, then continued northward.
We saw here in Beer Sheba 800 cavalry go against 4,000 embedded Turks with machine guns, with bunkers. The few won against the many.”
Turning to Israel’s battle against terror movements, Netanyahu stated that while peace was the overarching policy, Israel would not hesitate to deploy force when necessary.
We set out a simple policy: We seek peace with all our neighbors, but we will not tolerate any attacks on our sovereignty, on our people, on our land, whether from the air, from the sea, from the ground or below the ground,” he said in reference to Israel’s controlled explosion Monday of a terror tunnel that had crossed from Gaza into Israeli territory.
We attack those who seek to attack us. And those who contemplate that, I strongly advise you: Do not test the will of the State of Israel or the army of Israel."
Concluding his remarks, Netanyahu highlighted the values that he said united Israel, New Zealand and Australia.
As then, today we stand on the same side of history, on the right side of history. We stand for progress; we stand for peace; we stand for democracy. We stand against tyranny and terror. Israel salutes the sacrifice of these brave soldiers. We will never forget them. We will forever honor and treasure their memory."