LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
November 03/17
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations
Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 22/15-22/:"The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away."

For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body Jews or Greeks, slaves or free and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many
First Letter to the Corinthians 12/12-27/:"Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body Jews or Greeks, slaves or free and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot were to say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear were to say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’, nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."

Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 02-03/17
Netanyahu tells May: I don't want to nix Iran deal, just fix it/Nnetnews/Itamar Eichner/November 02/17
Facebook and Co/Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/November 02/17
Germany: Violence Spirals in Refugee Shelters/Soeren Kern/Gatestone Institute/November 02/17
Stop the "Diversity" Visa Lottery, Gateway for Jihadists/Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/November 02/17
Global Council for Tolerance and Peace launched in Malta, AlJarwan elected president/NNA/November 02/17

Titles For Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on November 02-03/17
Al-Rahi: Solution to Hizbullah Arms Should Not Hinge on Mideast Solution
French Culture Minister arrives in Beirut
Israeli Jets Bomb Syria Arms Depot
Aoun meets new envoy to Syria
Lebanese Ambassador to Syria Says to Work for 'Benefit of Both Countries'
Aoun Meets ABL Delegation, Assured Banks Not Targeted by Sanctions against Hizbullah
Aoun: New economic vision for Lebanon in the making
Berri Asks Lazzarini to Report New Israeli Violations
Hariri chairs Cabinet session: Saudi Arabia is keen on stability
Hariri Tells Cabinet Saudi Arabia is Keen on Lebanon's Stability
ISF Detains IS Militant Before Joining Group in Syria
Election Supervisory Committee 'Racing Against Time' as Polls Loom
Army Receives U.S. Hellfire Missiles, Mortar Shells
Mashnouq to Bassil: You'll Never be in Position Allowing You to Define My Jurisdiction
Delegation of Defence Committee of Italian Chamber of Deputies visits Lebanese officials, affirms excellent bilateral relations
Tueni urges Security Council to prevent Israel's aggressive, cunning practices
French Culture Minister arrives in Beirut
Lebanese Army intelligence refers Yousef Fakhri Ismail to judiciary for links to terror Bilal Badr group
Lebanese Army Commander, interlocutors tackle current developments
Lebanese Army seizes explosive devices in Mukheirmeh camp in Ras Baalbek mountains
Khoury at UNESCO conference in Paris: For finding peaceful solution to bring stability back to region

Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on November 02-03/17
Netanyahu tells May: I don't want to nix Iran deal, just fix it
IS Executed 741 Civilians during Mosul Battle
Iran Offered Support to Qaeda in Exchange for Targeting Gulf: CIA Document
Kuwait: Jaber al-Mubarak Forms his Seventh Cabinet
Moscow Bets on Sochi Conference… Ankara Refuses Kurds’ Participation
13 Dead in Clashes between Turkish Troops, Kurdish Gunmen
Egyptian Army Announces Success in Liquidating Al-Wahat Terrorist Cells
Syria army captures Deir al-Zor city from ISIS
Bin Laden’s handwritten memoirs show Muslim Brotherhood links
Prosecutors Seek EU Arrest Warrant for ex-Catalan Leader
Russians Also Used Instagram for Disinformation Campaign
Scientists discover hidden chamber in Egypt’s Great Pyramid

Latest Lebanese Related News published on November 02-03/17
Al-Rahi: Solution to Hizbullah Arms Should Not Hinge on Mideast Solution
Naharnet/November 02/17/Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi announced Thursday that “the solution to the issue of Hizbullah and its arms should not hinge on a Middle East solution,” noting that “the Arab and international communities have a role to play in this regard.”Al-Rahi was commenting on remarks by President Michel Aoun, who said Monday that “a solution in the Middle East would lead to a solution for the issue of Hizbullah's arms.”“The issue of Hizbullah is not purely Lebanese anymore and it is linked to Arab and international affairs,” the patriarch added in an interview on LBCI television. “No one can overlook the role of Hizbullah and Iran in Lebanon and it played a part in the election of the president and filling the vacuum. Yes there is a significant influence but we must build our strong, capable and just state – a state that has its entity, role and justice,” al-Rahi went on to say. “It is not up to us to find the solution but the solution should not be imposed on us,” the patriarch noted. Asked about the invitation he has received to visit Saudi Arabia, al-Rahi confirmed that he will visit the kingdom in two weeks. As for his stance should he be asked by Saudi officials about Hizbullah's controversial arsenal of arms, the patriarch said “even Hizbullah does not accept” the notion that its weapons could coexist with those of the Lebanese Army. “We must look into the situation from all its aspects,” he added. Al-Rahi also said that “no preconditions” for the visit have been imposed on him by Riyadh and that his rhetoric will be “a rhetoric of peace, partnership and love” despite the current tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran and Hizbullah.“I'm not a politician to side with a certain party,” he added.

French Culture Minister arrives in Beirut
Thu 02 Nov 2017/NNA - French Culture Minister Francoises Nyssen arrived in Beirut this evening, coming from Paris, on a two-day visit to Lebanon, where she will meet with President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Culture Minister Ghattas Khoury. Minister Nyssen will inaugurate the 24th Francophone Book Fair, which will be held in Beirut on Nov 4 until 12. The visit also includes the announcement of several cultural partnerships between Lebanon and France. The French official is also scheduled to visit the National Museum.

Israeli Jets Bomb Syria Arms Depot
Naharnet/November 02/17/Israel's air force bombed a weapons depot in Syria's Homs province on Wednesday, adding to a series of strikes in recent weeks, according to a monitoring group. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was still unclear whether the depot belonged to the Syrian government or its Lebanese ally Hezbollah. "Israeli planes fired rockets at an arms depot in the industrial zone of Hisyah, south of the city of Homs, the observatory's director, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP. Syrian television reported "an aggression" by Israel in the region, adding that the national army had "responded".The Israeli army refused to comment on the report. Israel has acknowledged carrying out airstrikes in Syria since the outbreak of the bloody war in the country six years ago to stop arms deliveries to Hezbollah forces. The Syria observatory said Israel had also struck an arms depot near the Damascus airport on September 22, and this month targeted a jihadist faction linked to the Islamic State group in southern Syria, killing at least 10. Israel said last month it had attacked Syrian government artillery after fire from across the armistice line hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and warned it would step up such retaliation in the future.

Aoun meets new envoy to Syria
The Daily Star/November 02, 2017/BEIRUT: A number of newly appointed diplomats – including the controversial new envoy to Damascus – met Wednesday with President Michel Aoun, who instructed them on their mandates while in office. Aoun met with Lebanon’s Ambassador to Italy Mira Daher Violides, Ambassador to Cyprus Claude Hajal Demashkieh, Ambassador to Australia Milad Raad and Ambassador to Syria Saad Zakhia, according to a statement from the presidency’s office. “Aoun provided the ambassadors with his instructions, wishing them luck in their new diplomatic missions,” the statement added. Zakhari’s appointment has drawn controversy as Lebanon does not officially maintain direct relations with the Syrian regime and the issue of coordinating with the regime over refugee issues has split government. Prime Minister Saad Hariri last week defended his decision to sign the appointment decree, arguing that having a Lebanese Embassy in Syria confirmed Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty.

Lebanese Ambassador to Syria Says to Work for 'Benefit of Both Countries'
Naharnet/November 02/17/Newly-appointed Lebanese Ambassador to Syria Saad Zakhia announced Thursday that he “will work for the benefit of both countries and peoples,” shortly after he arrived in Damascus to assume his duties. “I'm glad because I will assume my post in Damascus and I'm happy because I'm in my country and among my people,” Zakhia said in remarks to al-Manar television.“We will for for the benefit of both countries and peoples,” the ambassador added, thanking the Syrian protocol department and authorities for the reception he was given.

Aoun Meets ABL Delegation, Assured Banks Not Targeted by Sanctions against Hizbullah
Naharnet/November 02/17/President Michel Aoun stressed during a meeting with a delegation from the Association of Banks in Lebanon that the country's new economic vision aims to achieve economic growth, as he was reassured that new U.S. sanctions against Hizbullah won't target Lebanese banks, the National News Agency said Thursday. “The new economic vision for Lebanon is in the process of preparing for achieving the desired economic growth,” Aoun told the delegation led by ABL chief Joseph Torbey. For his part, Torbey announced that he received “assurances from US authorities that Lebanon's banking sector will not be targeted by the new sanctions against Hizbullah as long as it adheres to the international banking procedures.”A U.S. bill has adopted new measures late in October designed to thwart Hizbullah's cash flow and finances. The bill directs the Trump administration to sanction the people and businesses engaged in fundraising and recruitment activities for the group. Hizbullah is a member of Lebanon's coalition government and the House measure touched off alarms in Beirut, where officials feared major damage might be done to the country's banking sector if the bill is signed into law.
Torbey said earlier that U.S. officials have reassured a Lebanese banking delegation that visited Washington recently that the sanctions won't target Lebanese banks as long as they abide by American regulations.He added that the Lebanese banking delegation tried through its meetings with U.S. officials and bankers "to shield the Lebanese economy from negative repercussions resulting from the new laws."

Aoun: New economic vision for Lebanon in the making
Thu 02 Nov 2017/NNA - President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, said during his meeting with a delegation of the Association of Banks in Lebanon, headed by Joseph Torbey, that "the new economic vision for Lebanon is in the process of preparation in order to achieve the desired economic growth."
President Aoun told the delegation that "the adoption of the budget, and the determination of spending and revenues, shall put an end to waste and secure the financial discipline that has been absent for 12 years."He stressed that "the adoption of the electoral law and the holding of parliamentary elections next spring, would give the democratic work in Lebanon added value, and enable the Lebanese to produce a parliamentary council that reflects their aspirations."Aoun pointed out that "Lebanon's image abroad has regained its glory and prestige," and "the visits I have made to a number of Arab and foreign countries have brought Lebanon back on the map of international concerns.""The new economic vision, which is being addressed in cooperation with the government, will shape the necessary directions for the Lebanese economy for years to come, and will identify the productive sectors that achieve the desired economic growth.""Security and stability remain the basis. The military and security forces continue, through pre-emptive operations, to pursue sleeper terrorist cells, after it succeeded in liberating the mountains from the grip of terrorist organizations. This shall enhance confidence in the country's security conditions, and activate regional and international visits to the country and conferences held in it," President Aoun concluded. "We have received assurances from the Americans that the banking sector is not targeted by the sanctions against Hezbollah as long as it adheres to international banking procedures," said Joseph Torbey, the president of the Association of Banks in Lebanon.

Berri Asks Lazzarini to Report New Israeli Violations
Naharnet/November 02/17/Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday met with Philippe Lazzarini, the Officer-In-Charge of the Office of the U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, asking him to report “new Israeli violations” to the United Nations.
The National News Agency said Berri raised with Lazzarini “the Israeli violations of Resolution 1701, the attack that targeted the Prophet Ibrahim shrine in the Shebaa Farms, and Israel's intention to build a border wall that encroaches on Lebanese territory and represents an occupation and annexation of more Lebanese land and a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty.”The speaker asked the U.N. official to “add these new Israeli violations to his report to the U.N. Secretary-General” and to “raise them with the highest competent U.N. authorities before the end of this month.”Berri had warned of the aforementioned violations during his weekly meeting with lawmakers on Wednesday.

Hariri chairs Cabinet session: Saudi Arabia is keen on stability
Thu 02 Nov 2017/NNA - The Council of Ministers on Thursday met in a regular session at the Grand Serail, presided over by Prime Minister, Saad Hariri. At the end of the meeting, Minister of Information, Melhem Riachy, read the following official statement: "The Council of Ministers held an ordinary session at the Grand Serail chaired by Prime Minister Saad Hariri and approved the agenda. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Hariri talked about his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, saying "Saudi Arabia is very keen on stability in Lebanon and all that is mentioned in the media otherwise is not true."
The Council then approved the agenda, most notably electricity via wind power in Akkar area." Question: Was there a heated debate between ministers Machnouk and Bassil? Riachy: There was no heated debate, but discussion took place over some items related to the permits granted to municipalities on granting building permits of 150 meters. Question: Is it true that you objected that the Lebanese Ambassador takes his post in Damascus and submits his credentials? Riachy: Now I am talking in the name of the government and I will answer the question later on. The debate was about whether the Ambassador should submit his credentials or not and some ministers including those of the Lebanese Forces objected the submission of his credentials in these circumstances. They called for waiting until a solution was reached between Syria and the Arab League because many appointed Ambassadors in Syria did not submit their credentials until now.
Question: Were the names of the Ambassadors to Argentina and the Vatican switched?
Riachy: This issue has not been resolved yet but will be soon.
Question: What about the appointments in Tele Liban?
Riachy: This issue was not on the agenda.
As for the postponement of the meeting of the electoral law committee, Riachy said that postponement was for technical reasons and the committee will hold a meeting tomorrow.

Hariri Tells Cabinet Saudi Arabia is Keen on Lebanon's Stability
Naharnet/November 02/17/Saudi Arabia is “very keen on stability in Lebanon,” Prime Minister Saad Hariri told the Cabinet during a session at the Grand Serail on Thursday. “Saudi Arabia is very keen on stability in Lebanon and all that is mentioned in the media to the contrary is not true,” Hariri told the ministers, according to Information Minister Melhem Riachi. “The Cabinet then approved the agenda, most notably generating electricity via wind power in the Akkar region,” Riachi added. Asked whether the session witnessed a “heated debate” between the ministers Nouhad al-Mashnouq and Jebran Bassil, Riachi said: “There was no heated debate, but rather a discussion over some items related to the authorization that was granted to municipalities to offer building permits of 150 meters.”As for Riachi's demand during the session that the newly-appointed Lebanese ambassador should not assume his post in Damascus or submit his credentials, Riachi said: “The debate was about whether the Ambassador should submit his credentials or not and some ministers including those of the Lebanese Forces objected against the submission of his credentials in these circumstances.”“They called for waiting until a solution was reached between Syria and the Arab League because many appointed Ambassadors in Syria have not submitted their credentials until now,” he added.As for the postponement of the meeting of the electoral law committee, Riachi said the postponement was for technical reasons and that the committee will hold a meeting tomorrow, Friday.

ISF Detains IS Militant Before Joining Group in Syria
Naharnet/November 02/17/The Internal Security Forces said in a statement on Thursday that it arrested a Lebanese-Australian suspect for his links to the Islamic State extremist group, LBCI reported. “ISF has arrested A.M. for his affiliation to the IS and after an attempt to travel to Syria to join the group's ranks,” said the statement. Investigations have shown that the suspect had resided in Sydney for several years and embraced extremist ideology by following the publications and videos of the organization through the Internet. He came to Lebanon on 20/08/2017 with plans to move later on to Syria and join the group. He used Lebanon as a conduit to be able to obtain his passport from Australian authorities and a travel permit to leave Australia without drawing attention. After his arrival in Lebanon, he continued to communicate with members of the IS in Syria via the Internet. He was linked to a coordinator of the organization in one of the neighboring countries where he explained his travel plan to Syria.

Election Supervisory Committee 'Racing Against Time' as Polls Loom
Naharnet/November 02/17/In light of a governmental difficulty to agree on whether to issue biometric cards for the upcoming parliamentary elections, the Election Supervisory Committee said on Thursday that time is running out and stressed the need to complete preparations for the polls away from procrastination, al-Joumhouria daily reported. “We are in race against time, the matter can longer tolerate procrastination and waste of time,” sources from the committee told the daily on condition of anonymity, pointing out that issuance of biometric voter cards is still an unfinished “obstacle.”“The project referred from the government to the Finance Committee to cover the issuance expenses of biometric cards (LL202 billion) was not approved. Similarly it will not be passed in the parliament therefore the government must withdraw the suggestion,” they said. Pointing to another obstacle that government ministers should reach common ground on, the sources said: “Another complicated issue is pre-registration of voters which is still a controversial issue among the committee members.” “There is almost complete acceptance in the committee on the pre-registration of voters in their places of residence, in light of the Free Patriotic Movement opposition represented by Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, who gave no convincing reason for this refusal,” they emphasized. Ministers of various political parties remain divided over the mechanism of the elections and whether to approve pre-registration of voters in their places of residency. Bassil refuses the move and believes it to be a move “targeted against the freedom of these voters.”For his part Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq argues that “the pre-registration of voters has become inevitable,” but sees “inability” to create voter cards—as per Bassil's insistence-- due to lack of time.
Lebanon's elections will be held under a complex proportional representation law for the first time in Lebanon's history. The electoral law was reached after years of political wrangling and three extensions of parliament's term. The government will reportedly address other files during its meeting mainly the file of appointments at State hospitals and the State-owned television, Tele Liban.

Army Receives U.S. Hellfire Missiles, Mortar Shells
Naharnet/November 02/17/The Lebanese Army on Thursday received a quantity of ammunition as part of the U.S. military assistance program, the National News Agency said. The shipment was received by the army's Logistic Brigade at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport, NNA said. It included air-to-surface Hellfire missiles and a quantity of 60mm mortar shells, the agency added. The army had received two U.S. A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft last month. The planes are designed for counter-insurgency operations. The U.S. has been a major supporter of the Lebanese Army, which until recently had been fighting the Islamic State group and al-Qaida's Syrian branch on the border with Syria. The two groups were ousted from the border region following Hizbullah and army offensives. Last year, Washington delivered three Huey II helicopters, raising to 10 the number of such U.S.-made aircraft in Lebanon's fleet. The U.S. has provided more than $1 billion in military assistance to Lebanon since 2006.

Mashnouq to Bassil: You'll Never be in Position Allowing You to Define My Jurisdiction
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 02/17/Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq lashed out fiercely at Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Wednesday in connection with the bickering over the mechanisms of the new electoral law. “I'm surprised that a minister possessing experience and intelligence is failing to understand very simple things, such as that the ongoing debate over (voter) pre-registration is a political debate in which Minister Mashnouq is not a party,” Mashnouq said in a statement. The dispute “is between Minister Jebran Bassil and those whom he apparently does not dare to name,” Mashnouq added. “It seems that Minister Bassil is no longer differentiating between his limit and the limit of others or between his position as a minister and his dreams to become an authority above the Constitution, the state and the institutions,” the minister added, accusing Bassil of “unacceptable encroachment on jurisdiction and norms.” “I directly tell Minister Bassil: You are not and will never be in a position allowing you to define, to me or to my political group, our jurisdiction, role or status in the Lebanese political system, which we exclusively draw from popular legitimacy, parliamentary confidence and the Taef constitution,” Mashnouq went on to say. “Your simplistic belief that you are in a position allowing you to appoint or sack ministers or to change their portfolios and responsibilities reflects personal and private dreams that have no place in the Constitution,” he added. Bassil had on Tuesday described Mashnouq as “a friend on the personal level” but accused him of “incompetence” regarding “the issue of the implementation of the electoral law.”"There is political collusion from the side overseeing the elections, or the interior minister, who is dealing in a lax manner with the issue of (biometric voting) cards in order to hold the elections without them. The current conduct regarding the issue of the card is an attempt to underestimate the intelligence of the Lebanese and the Lebanese should revolt,” Bassil added, warning of “an intention to rig” the elections.

Delegation of Defence Committee of Italian Chamber of Deputies visits Lebanese officials, affirms excellent bilateral relations
Thu 02 Nov 2017/NNA - In a press release by the Italian Embassy in Beirut, it said: "A delegation of the Defence Committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, led by Hon. Francesco Saverio Garofani, paid a 3-day visit to Lebanon during which meetings were held with Lebanese authorities. The Italian delegation was received by the Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, the Minister of Defence Yaacoub Sarraf, the Members of the Defence Committee of the Lebanese Parliament and the Commander in Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces, Gen. Joseph Aoun. The Italian delegation visited as well UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura and Unifil Sector West, under Italian command, in Shamaa. In Tyre, they had a meeting with the President of the Union of the Municipalities of Tyre District, Hassan Dabbouk. The Italian delegation reaffirmed the excellent relations between Italy and Lebanon and the important Italian presence in Lebanon, and full support to the country and its Institutions."

Tueni urges Security Council to prevent Israel's aggressive, cunning practices
Thu 02 Nov 2017/NNA - State Minister for Combating Corruption, Nicolas Tueni, on Thursday called on the Security Council and super power countries to prevent Israel's recurrent hostile, cunning practices, indicating that using Lebanon as a platform for firing rockets into Syria is a prohibited matter under Resolution 1701. "For the third time in a row and within a month, Israeli jets struck Syria through the Lebanese airspace.. Using Lebanon as a platform for firing rockets at Syria is prohibited under resolution 1701, and constitutes an attack on Lebanese sovereignty," Minister Tueni said in a statement.

French Culture Minister arrives in Beirut
Thu 02 Nov 2017/NNA - French Culture Minister Francoises Nyssen arrived in Beirut this evening, coming from Paris, on a two-day visit to Lebanon, where she will meet with President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Culture Minister Ghattas Khoury. Minister Nyssen will inaugurate the 24th Francophone Book Fair, which will be held in Beirut on Nov 4 until 12. The visit also includes the announcement of several cultural partnerships between Lebanon and France. The French official is also scheduled to visit the National Museum.

Lebanese Army intelligence refers Yousef Fakhri Ismail to judiciary for links to terror Bilal Badr group
Thu 02 Nov 2017/NNA - Army Intelligence referred the Palestinian Yousef Fakhi Ismail to the concerned court for links to the Bilal Badr group affiliated to the terror Daesh Organization, army command said in a communiqué on Thursday.
Ismail partook in the recent battles which occurred inside Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian camp and was associated with the terrorist Fadi Ibrahim Ahmad Ali Ahmed, nicknamed as "Abu Khattab".

Lebanese Army Commander, interlocutors tackle current developments
Thu 02 Nov 2017/NNA - Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, on Thursday met at his Yarzeh office with MP Qassem Abdel Aziz, with talks reportedly touching on most recent developments in the country. Major General Aoun also met with UN Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Philippe Lazzarini, with whom he discussed the overall situation in Lebanon and the broader region. Among General Aoun's itinerant visitors for today had been Businessman Wadih Al-Absi.

Lebanese Army seizes explosive devices in Mukheirmeh camp in Ras Baalbek mountains
Thu 02 Nov 2017/NNA - The Army Command - Orientation Directorate - issued on Thursday the following statement: "Today, an Army force in the Mukheirmeh camp seized seven explosive devices, each weighing 5 kg, and two bombs weighing 30 and 40 kilograms, all of them ready for detonation, as well as a number of grenades and mortars shells and light and medium-sized ammunition, left behind by terrorist organizations. An Army Engineering Corps dismantled and detonated the findings."

Khoury at UNESCO conference in Paris: For finding peaceful solution to bring stability back to region
Thu 02 Nov 2017/NNA - Culture Minister, Dr Ghattas Khoury, delivered Lebanon's speech at the 39th General Conference of UNESCO, in which he said: "It is an honor and a privilege to address the 39th General Conference of UNESCO. For decades, this organization has defended an inclusive vision for humanity and safeguarded a place for education, science and culture. Lebanon is proud to be one of its founding members. Let me begin by sincerely congratulating Mrs. Audrey Azoulay on her election as Director General of this prestigious organization. Lebanon fully supports the Director General's program for the reform of UNESCO, which we hope will make this organization even more effective within the scope of its mandate. Lebanon and UNESCO are bound by special ties. Our country is fortunate to be home to five UNESCO classified World Heritage Sites, and is seeking to add the Tripoli International Fair, one of the largest exhibition centers in the world, designed in 1963 by the famed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. UNESCO occupies a privileged position among Lebanon's partners in the international community and our cooperation spans various fronts.
In the realm of education, UNESCO is working closely with Lebanon to provide primary and secondary education to all children by 2030. The Lebanese government is committed to expanding access to free education for vulnerable children. Today one child in four in Lebanon is a Syrian refugee, displaced by war and deeply affected by conflict. The government has been able to waive school fees for this population, but the ongoing situation has strained our limited resources. We call on members of the international community to share this responsibility.
In the domain of social and human sciences, our collaboration with UNESCO has also been fruitful. We take pride in the choice of Byblos, a coastal city that was the cradle of the alphabet, as host city for the International Center for Human Sciences. This center promotes democracy and the culture of peace by sponsoring research on key issues around democratic transitions, with a particular focus on the role of young women and men. In the realm of physical cultural heritage, Lebanon has made significant progress in fighting the illicit trafficking of cultural property and implementing international conventions, including the 1970 UNESCO convention. We have worked jointly with UNESCO's office in Beirut to raise awareness and fight the trafficking of antiquities and cultural property. We recognize that culture stands at the crossroads of social advancement and innovation and creates opportunities for economic development. To set a vision for Lebanon's cultural revival, we recently launched a five-year strategy and plan to support growth across various sectors. In tandem with this plan, we are strengthening laws that protect ancient buildings and monuments, and establishing a national cultural policy on intangible heritage. Across these efforts, we look to UNESCO and our partners in the international community for their valued support and guidance. Without a doubt, the proliferation of extremist ideologies is one of the biggest threats facing our civilized world today. We are firm believers that positive exchanges in culture, education, and the arts are an important tool in this long and difficult war against radical extremism, which cannot be fought through military means alone. We believe that UNESCO, which has, since its inception devoted itself to promoting understanding, dialogue and peace among the peoples of the world, has a central role to play in confronting extremism. During the last UN General Assembly, the President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, issued a call for Lebanon to serve as a center for dialogue among civilizations at a time when hatred and wars are ravaging countries. Lebanon is well-positioned to host this exchange, as it provides a powerful example of religious coexistence and cultural diversity. In closing, I would like to remind you all of the horrendous images we have seen of historical and archaeological sites being destroyed throughout Syria and Iraq. Our region's cultural heritage is under attack, and our rich past is being systematically destroyed. It is painful to watch sites being decimated knowing that they represent our shared history and identity, and can never be replaced. These horrors must come to an immediate end. As Lebanon reels from the spill-over effects of the war in Syria, we cannot but underline the urgency of finding a peaceful solution to bring stability back to the region. We call on all actors to intensify their efforts in support of the UN-led political track seeking a solution to the conflict. Lebanon stands ready to continue its collaboration with UNESCO to create a sustainable, equitable and peaceful community for all."

Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on November 02-03/17
Netanyahu tells May: I don't want to nix Iran deal, just fix it
Ynetnews/Itamar Eichner/November 02/17/
During meeting at 10 Downing Street, the Israeli PM tells his British counterpart 'who want to keep the deal should cooperate in correcting the deal,' warning that 'Iran is determined to achieve not only regional hegemony, but to develop nuclear weapons as well.'Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told British Prime Minister Theresa May Thursday that he would not work to cancel the nuclear deal signed between Iran and world powers, but rather seek to improve and fix it. "The goal that I have in mind is not keeping or eliminating the deal; it’s improving the deal and correcting its main flaws," Netanyahu said during the two leaders' meeting at 10 Downing Street. "And I think those who want to keep the deal should cooperate in correcting the deal."  Netanyahu has repeatedly called in the past to nix the nuclear deal with Tehran altogether, dubbing it a "bad deal," while May has been a staunch supporter of the agreement, even after US President Donald Trump declared he will not certify it again. "Arab countries now see Israel not as an enemy, but as their indispensable ally in the battle against militant Islam. The threat we all see is a resurgent Iran that is bent not only on dominating the region, but bent on developing nuclear weapons," Netanyahu told May. The prime minister was in London to attend a banquet hosted by descendants of Balfour and the recipient of his declaration, Jewish community leader Walter Rothschild, in the gilded halls of Lancaster House mansion.  "Israel is committed to peace, I’m committed to peace," Netanyahu stressed. "A hundred years after Balfour, the Palestinians should finally accept the Jewish national home and finally accept the Jewish state. And when they do, the road to peace will be infinitely closer. In my opinion, peace will be achievable." Netanyahu thanked May for welcoming him, "and for inviting me to mark with pride a great historical event, a great event in Jewish history, British history and world history."He went on to say that "A hundred years ago, the Balfour Declaration helped pave the way for the reestablishment of an independent state for the Jewish people in our ancestral homeland. A hundred years later, our two countries, our two democracies – Israel and Britain – are strong allies and partners. "We cooperate closely on intelligence. We cooperate closely in the battle against terrorism. And we’ve saved, through this cooperation, countless lives—British lives, Israeli lives. We cooperate in cybersecurity, in technology, in business and enterprise. We share the values of freedom and democracy and peace," he added. The Israeli premier also thanked May for her "resolute stand against anti-Semitism, for your resolute stand on the historical truth."Netanyahu also met with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Thursday. On Friday morning, he is scheduled to speak at Chatham House and answer questions. Later, Netanyahu and his wife Sara will participate in an event at the London Stock Exchange, with the Israel prime minister opening the trade. He will then meet with heads of corporations in Britain. On Sunday, Netanyahu will meet with Britain's chief rabbi and then with the heads of the Jewish community in the country. He will return to Israel on Sunday.

IS Executed 741 Civilians during Mosul Battle
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 02/17/The Islamic State group executed 741 civilians in the battle for the Iraqi city of Mosul, the U.N. said Thursday, accusing the jihadists of perpetrating "international crimes" during the nine-month military campaign. A total of 2,521 civilians were killed, mostly by IS attacks, during the fight between IS and the internationally-backed Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) that ended in July, the UN rights office said in a report. "Those responsible must answer for their heinous crimes", the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said in a statement. Mosul, Iraq's second city, was captured by IS in 2014 and became the capital of the group's self-styled "caliphate" in the country. Following IS' defeat in the city, the rights office said it had compiled witness testimony documenting "mass abductions of civilians, the use of thousands as human shields, the intentional shelling of civilian residences, and indiscriminate targeting of civilians trying to flee the city." More than 800,000 people were displaced by the fighting, the report said. The rights office also called for investigations into alleged violations committed by the ISF and their allies, including militia groups. The report "recorded 461 civilian deaths as a result of airstrikes during the most intensive phase of the ISF-led offensive from 19 February," the U.N. said in a statement, noting that it was impossible to establish responsibility for the strikes "in almost all cases."The rights office urged the Iraqi government to invite the International Criminal Court to investigate the country's situation "as an immediate step.""By prosecuting those responsible for 'international crimes' in Mosul the Iraqi authorities would be sending a message to the people of Iraq who have suffered, no matter when or where, that justice is eventually delivered," the rights office said.

Iran Offered Support to Qaeda in Exchange for Targeting Gulf: CIA Document
Asharq Al Awsat/November 02/17/The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Wednesday released a vast archive of nearly 470,000 files found on a computer seized in the May 2, 2011, US raid on Osama bin Laden’s hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan. CIA Director Mike Pompeo authorized the release in the interest of transparency and to enhance public understanding of Qaeda and its former leader. "Today's release ... provides the opportunity for the American people to gain further insights into the plans and workings of this terrorist organization," said Pompeo. One 19-page document describes an offer by Iran to provide Qaeda with “money, arms” and “training in Hezbollah camps in Lebanon, in exchange for striking American interests in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf”, according to the Guardian, quoting The Long War Journal, a US-based website, which has received some material in advance and reported that the documents give new details of the terrorist group’s relationship with Iran. But the files also show Tehran and the extremists sometimes had stark disagreements, and bin Laden once wrote to Iranian leader Ali Khamenei to demand his relatives be released. "Other files show that Qaeda kidnapped an Iranian diplomat in order to force an exchange," according to Thomas Joscelyn, a scholar from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "Osama bin Laden's correspondence shows that he and his lieutenants were also concerned that the Iranians would track (his son) Hamza or other family members after they were released." Mor so, the documents confirmed the previously reported visits by Osama bin Laden to Western countries, including his visit to Britain as a teenager for treatment, when he says that he discovered that the West community was “a morally loose society”. He returned the following year for study, spending about 10 weeks in Oxford to study English.

Kuwait: Jaber al-Mubarak Forms his Seventh Cabinet
Asharq Al Awsat/November 02/17/Kuwait’s Emir reappointed Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak on Wednesday and asked him to form a cabinet, two days after the government stepped down. This would be the 35th government in Kuwait since 1962, and the 7th for Mubarak, whose cabinets have witnessed relative stability compared to governments headed by his predecessor former prime minister Nasser Mohammed. The Emir of Kuwait issued a royal decree to appoint Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak as prime minister and assigned him to nominate members of the new government. The cabinet had resigned ahead of a planned vote of no-confidence in parliament against Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Information Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. The minister faces accusations of negligence in tackling the problem of unemployment, and of employing non-Kuwaitis in important posts despite having qualified Kuwaiti nationals. He is also accused of disregarding strict monitoring on spending in some state institutions, which has allegedly led to the loss of millions of dollars. The minister has denied the charges and noted that the unemployment rate has remarkably dropped to 3.3 percent thanks to the government’s efforts. Sheikh Jaber, 74, has been prime minister since 2011. His political career began as a minister in successive governments since 1986. This will be the seventh cabinet to be formed by him in six years.

Moscow Bets on Sochi Conference… Ankara Refuses Kurds’ Participation
Asharq Al Awsat/November 02/17/Despite the announcement of Syrian opposition factions and Ankara's rejection of the participation of any Kurdish party, Russia is still pinning hopes and intends to discuss their participation with international and regional powers to influence their positions. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in statements on Wednesday that Russia does not consider the rejection of the Higher Negotiations Committee (HNC) a final decision. “We continue to discuss this matter and work with all involved parties,” Ryabkov said, describing their positions as kind of signal, “which the opposition has issued earlier on other different stances.”He expressed his conviction that "in cooperation with those forces that have real influence on the opposition, we will still be able to move in a direction that obviously takes into account the beginnings that were formulated in Geneva, during the previous rounds of negotiations."For his part, Secretary General of People’s Will Party Qadri Jamil, also the Head of Russia-based Moscow Platform group, announced his position in an official statement in which he said that they haven't received an official invitation yet for the Sochi conference. He, however, noted that his group supports any step that could push forward the political process. Cairo platform welcomed the Russian invitation in case it would lead to a political transition in Syria. “We are with any conference that is carried out to achieve political transition under the virtue of UN resolutions (2254) and (2118), Geneva I and II and other relevant documents,” Member of Cairo platform Fares al-Khalid told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. Earlier, Leader and Founder of Alghad Alsoury Current (The Syrian Tomorrow Current) Ahmad Jarba said the opposition must sit with the Syrian government to reach a political solution in Syria. He said that there are chances to resolve the crisis in Syria, saying "we have reached a deadlock in the Syrian crisis and that requires us to hold a dialogue conference.” The Russian-sponsored congress of Syrian national dialogue will support the Geneva talks, Jarba added, pointing out that "all components in Syria will take part in it."Regarding the participation of the Kurds in the conference, Spokesman for the Turkish presidency Ibrahim Kalin said during a press conference that Russia’s invitation to the Kurdish-led Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed affiliate, People’s Protection Units (YPG), to the congress is “unacceptable,” adding that the Turkish government considered it an “imposition”.

13 Dead in Clashes between Turkish Troops, Kurdish Gunmen
Asharq Al Awsat/November 02/17/Eight members of the Turkish security forces and five Kurdish militants were killed in clashes on Thursday in Turkey's restive southeast that borders northern Iraq, the army said. Six soldiers and two military security guards died while two soldiers were wounded -- one heavily -- after fighting broke out in the Semdinli district of Hakkari province, the armed forces said in a statement. The military reported it had killed five members of the "separatist terror organization", Turkey's official term for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). It was not possible to independently verify the toll. The armed forces said the militants were "trying to benefit from the heavy fog and bad weather conditions" to launch an attack. The military operations in the region continue, the army said. The PKK is proscribed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Egyptian Army Announces Success in Liquidating Al-Wahat Terrorist Cells
Asharq Al Awsat/November 02/17/The Egyptian security operation, which succeeded in eliminating the perpetrators of the terrorist attack in Al-Wahat area, has uncovered the great danger posed by that terrorist cell. Brigadier Khalid Akasha, member of the National Council for Combating Terrorism and Extremism, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the number of the cell members exceeded 50 persons, who were equipped with modern weaponry not available inside Egypt, and that they infiltrated from Libya to carry out dozens of terrorist operations through potential cells spread in several provinces, waiting for orders to start the mission. The Egyptian Army announced on Wednesday its success in eliminating the remaining perpetrators of the terrorist attack in Al-Wahat, which took place about two weeks ago. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi visited the officer Mohammed al-Hayes, who was rescued during a raid against terrorist suspects in western Fayoum, which included a military air strike. Hayes was freed by security forces after he was abducted during confrontations with terrorists, that left 16 policemen killed and 13 wounded. The two-day clashes that started on October 20 also left 15 militants either dead or injured. Sisi, accompanied by Interior Minister Majdy Abdel-Ghaffar, visited the police officer who was receiving treatment at a military hospital in Cairo. Ambassador Bassam Radi, spokesman for the presidency, said the president praised the efforts of the military and security forces in confronting terrorism and keeping the security and stability of Egypt. A statement issued by the Egyptian armed forces said that the Air Force, in cooperation with the security forces and the police, had identified and tracked the fugitive terrorist group in the desert region west of Fayoum and carried out a precise air strike that resulted in the elimination of all terrorist elements in the area. The Egyptian army published a videotape of the successful operation carried out in cooperation with the police, which resulted in the elimination of a number of terrorist elements in Al-Wahat and the liberation of Hayes.

Syria army captures Deir al-Zor city from ISIS
AFP/Friday, 3 November 2017/Syria’s army and allied fighters have captured the city of Deir al-Zor from the ISIS group in a Russian-backed operation, a monitor said on Thursday. There was no immediate confirmation from official sources, though state media earlier reported army advances in the city in the country’s east. "Regime forces and allied fighters... with Russian air support have full control of Deir al-Zor city," the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "Fighting has ended, now there are sweeping operations under way," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said. Earlier, the Observatory and Syrian state media reported Syrian government troops had captured three new neighborhoods from the militants. But a military source had said the government only held around 80 percent of the city. Syria’s army broke into Deir al-Zor in September, ending an ISIS siege of nearly three years on government-held parts of the city. ISIS once held most of Deir al-Zor province, an oil-rich region that runs along the eastern border with Iraq. But it is under attack from two separate campaigns, including the regime’s Russian-backed assault, and another operation by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters.

Bin Laden’s handwritten memoirs show Muslim Brotherhood links
Staff writer, Al Arabiya EnglishThursday, 2 November 2017/The Central Intelligence Agency archived documents belonging to Osama bin Laden released Wednesday reveal bin Laden’s ideological beginnings stemming from the Muslim brotherhood. The CIA released documents and videos seized during the 2011 US raid in bin Laden’s Abbottabad, Pakistan compound where he was killed. According to researchers at American think tank, the Foundation for Defense of Democracy (FDD), who obtained the declassified documents for the first time, a video showing the wedding of bin Laden's son was present along with his private diaries as well as still images and notes written by bin Laden in his own handwriting. "I was committed to the Muslim Brotherhood, despite their limited curriculum," Bin Laden said in one of his memoirs. "The first time I thought of jihad, at any stage of your life," bin Laden said, was that it was in "secondary school.""I was religious from a young age, I keep my prayers and my mother takes care of me from other aspects," he said. "There was no one guiding me like the Brotherhood was, it was just natural instinct,” he said on his hand written notes.
The documents also show evidence of al-Qaeda's ties to Iran in terms of funding, recruitment and support, as well as facilitations made by Iran for accommodation and visas.

Prosecutors Seek EU Arrest Warrant for ex-Catalan Leader
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 02/17/Spanish prosecutors requested a European arrest warrant for Catalonia's axed leader Carles Puigdemont Thursday after he failed to show up to be grilled by a judge over his role in the region's tumultuous quest for independence. In another day of drama in Spain's worst political crisis in decades, prosecutors in Madrid asked a judge to approve the warrant for Puigdemont and four of his former ministers, all thought to be in Belgium, a judicial source said. The source, who declined to be named, said Puigdemont had "publicly announced his intention not to appear," adding that he and two other former ministers asked to appear via videoconference "without giving any information as to where they are."Prosecutors also asked for the preventive detention of eight of Puigdemont's ministers who did adhere with a legal summons to face accusations of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds.
Fuel' to fire
A total of 19 people including Puigdemont, his deputy Oriol Junqueras and the speaker of the Catalan regional parliament had been summoned to be questioned on Thursday. A hearing of the speaker and five others at the Supreme Court was adjourned until November 9 after their lawyers requested more time to prepare their defense. But a judge at the National Court pressed ahead with separate proceedings concerning Puigdemont and his fellow former ministers. The judge, Carmen Lamela, was due to make a ruling later on Thursday. Under Spanish law, rebellion carries a jail sentence of up to 30 years and sedition up to 15 years. As they arrived at court on Thursday, the Catalan leaders, who were deposed by Madrid on Friday after the regional parliament declared independence, were greeted by cheering supporters but booed by opponents brandishing red-and-yellow Spanish flags. "You are not alone," a group of around 30 people, mostly Catalan lawmakers, chanted as the former regional ministers ran the gauntlet of a mass of photographers and TV crews. "The conflict between Catalonia and the Spanish state won't be resolved through courts and violence," said former Catalan president Artur Mas, in Madrid to show his support. "The more fuel and wood you add to the fire, the bigger it becomes."
Independence drive
Catalan demands for independence date back centuries but have surged in recent years, in part due to a difficult economic situation that has left many Catalans fuming about their taxes going to Madrid. Puigdemont's government organized an independence referendum on October 1 despite a court ban. Spanish police tried and failed to stop it, in some cases firing rubber bullets at people defending polling stations. A declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament followed last Friday, greeted by celebrations on the streets of Barcelona. But that same day, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's government dismissed the regional government and imposed direct rule on the semi-autonomous northeastern region.
He also called fresh Catalan elections for December 21.
Puigdemont should have come
Back in Barcelona on Thursday, several hundred demonstrators gathered in front of the regional assembly chanting "freedom" and "Puigdemont is our president.""(Puigdemont) hasn't fled, it is a political strategy... forcing the EU to take a stand," said protestor Jorde Segu, 68, a retiree. "He's a hero," added secretary Lidia Amoraga, 62. Puigdemont, 54, explained in a statement from Belgium that some members of his government would go to the National Court "to denounce the drive of Spanish justice to pursue political ideas." But others, including himself, "will stay in Brussels to decry this political process to the international community."It was not clear how coordinated the actions were, however. Javier Melero, the lawyer of two of the parliamentary members under investigation, said Puigdemont should have turned up.
Divided?
Catalans, fiercely proud of their language and culture, remain deeply divided about independence, polls indicate. The European Union, several members of which have disgruntled regions of their own, has swung firmly behind Rajoy. In addition, there are signs of growing divisions in the separatist camp, with many unhappy with Puigdemont, particularly now he is hundreds of miles away. Adding to concerns, Spain's central bank also warned Thursday that the region risks suffering an economic recession if the strife continues, slowing down Spain's growth.

Russians Also Used Instagram for Disinformation Campaign
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 02/17/The Russian-led effort to spread misinformation and sow discord ahead of the 2016 US election also used the social network Instagram, parent company Facebook acknowledged in Congress on Wednesday.Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch told a hearing that Instagram posts by suspect Russian accounts were seen by some 20 million Americans last year. "We now discovered, in the last 48 hours, 120,000 Russian-based posts on Instagram," Stretch told the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. The latest data on Instagram is on top of the estimated 126 million Americans exposed to Facebook posts from Russian entities seeking to create divisions during the election campaign. "So all told, that gets you to approximately -- a little less than 150 million," Stretch said in response to questioning from Democratic Senator Mark Warner. The hearing was the second in Congress this week in which social media and internet firms including Google and Twitter have been called to explain how fake news and other disinformation was allowed to spread during the election campaign. Many of the social media posts came from the Internet Research Agency, which has been linked to Russian intelligence efforts to disrupt the US election. Twitter told lawmakers on Tuesday it found that nearly 37,000 automated "bot" accounts with Russian links generated 1.4 million tweets that were seen by a potential 288 million people in the three months before the November presidential election. Google has found accounts linked to Russia which launched ads on YouTube, the video-sharing platform of the internet giant.Kent Walker, the general counsel for Google, said the company would release a transparency report next year "showing data about who is buying election ads on our platform and how much money is being spent."
- Lawmakers split -Warner, who has become one of the most vocal critics of the internet firms, repeated his claim that the social media operations were misused.
"Russian operatives are attempting to infiltrate and manipulate American social media to hijack the national conversation and to make Americans angry, to set us against ourselves and, at their most basic, to undermine our democracy," the senator said. Republican Senator Richard Burr however downplayed the Russian role, arguing the media has blown it out of proportion. "A lot of folks, including many in the media have tried to reduce this entire conversation to one premise; foreign actors conducted a surgical executed covert operation to help elect a United States president," Burr told the hearing.
"I'm here to tell you this story does not simplify that easily. It is shortsighted and dangerous to selectively focus on one piece of information and think that that somehow tells the whole story."Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who represents California, said the internet firms "have a huge problem" to fix.
"You've created these platforms, and now they are being misused, and you have to be the ones to do something about it, or we will," Feinstein told the lawyers for the companies. Twitter general counsel Sean Edgett said the messaging platform is "troubled" by the apparent misuse by foreign actors and is working to remedy the problem. He said less than one percent of election-related tweets people saw came from Russian-linked automated accounts but acknowledged that there were "instances where Russian-linked activity was more pronounced."

Scientists discover hidden chamber in Egypt’s Great Pyramid
The Associated Press, CairoThursday, 2 November 2017/Scientists say they have found a hidden chamber in Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza, in what would be the first such discovery in the structure since the 19th century and one likely to spark a new surge of interest in the pharaohs. In an article published in the journal Nature on Thursday, an international team said the 30-meter void deep within the pyramid is situated above the structure’s Grand Gallery, and has a similar cross-section. The purpose of the space is unclear, and it’s not yet known whether it was built with a function in mind or if it’s merely a gap in the pyramid’s architecture. Some experts say such empty spaces have been known for years. “This is a premier,” said Mehdi Tayoubi, a co-founder of the ScanPyramids project and president of the Heritage Innovation Preservation Institute. “It could be composed of one or several structures... maybe it could be another Grand Gallery. It could be a chamber, it could be a lot of things.”The scientists made the discovery using cosmic-ray imaging, recording the behavior of subatomic particles called muons that penetrate the rock similar to X-rays, only much deeper. Their paper was peer-reviewed before appearing in Nature, an international, interdisciplinary journal of science.
Scanning methods
Egypt’s former antiquities minister and famed archaeologist Zahi Hawass, who has been testing scanning methods and heads the government’s oversight panel for the new techniques, said that the area in question has been known of for years and thus does not constitute a discovery. He has long downplayed the usefulness of scans of ancient sites. “The Great Pyramid is full of voids. We have to be careful how results are presented to the public,” he said, adding that one problem facing the international team is that it did not have an Egyptologist as a member. He said the chamber was likely empty space builders used to construct the rooms below. “In order to construct the Grand Gallery, you had to have a hollow, or a big void in order to access it - you cannot build it without such a space,” he said. “Large voids exist between the stones and may have been left as construction gaps.”
Khufu's pyramid
The pyramid is also known as Khufu’s Pyramid for its builder, a 4th Dynasty pharaoh who reigned from 2509 to 2483 B.C. Visitors to the pyramid, on the outskirts of Cairo, can walk, hunched over, up a long tunnel to reach the Grand Gallery. The space announced by the scanning team does not appear to be connected to any known internal passages. Scientists involved in the scanning called the find a “breakthrough” that highlighted the usefulness of modern particle physics in archaeology. “It was hidden, I think, since the construction of the pyramid,” Tayoubi added. The Great Pyramid, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world, has captivated visitors since it was built as a royal burial chamber some 4,500 years ago. Experts are still divided over how it and other pyramids were constructed, so even relatively minor discoveries generate great interest.
Late last year, for example, thermal scanning identified a major anomaly in the Great Pyramid - three adjacent stones at its base which registered higher temperatures than others. Speculation that King Tutankhamun’s tomb contains additional antechambers stoked interest in recent years, before scans by ground-penetrating radar and other tools came up empty, raising doubts about the claim. The muon scan is accomplished by planting special plates inside and around the pyramid to collect data on the particles, which rain down from the earth’s atmosphere. They pass through empty spaces but can be absorbed or deflected by harder surfaces, allowing scientists to study their trajectories and discern what is stone and what is not. Several plates were used to triangulate the void discovered in the Great Pyramid. While the technology can detect large open spaces, it cannot discern what is inside, so it’s not known if the empty space contains any objects. Tayoubi said the team plans to work with others to come up with hypotheses about the area. “The good news is that the void is there, and it’s very big,” he said.

Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 02-03/17
Facebook and Co
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/November 02/17
A view worth considering: representatives of three major corporations swearing in before US congressional committee and surrendering to the state that made it clear to them: our interests are far more important than your gains.
The information technology trilogy: Facebook, Twitter, and Google were feeding information to over two billion people in the world and flaunted the fact that they broke down walls, canceled censorship, and spread facts. They are now admitting that they have become a major issue.
US authorities are now convinced more than ever that Facebook, Twitter, Google and other social media outlets pose a threat to the regime and the society because they spread terrorism and hatred and manipulate people in elections.
They were summoned to open sessions, and with the threat of consequences if they lied under oath, they admitted to shocking information. Those corporations are afraid their charges will turn into conspiracy against the state and treason, if it was proven that they knew, or traded the information in elections to influence constituents’ political stances or create internal strives.
Facebook admitted that 126,000 US citizens read or dealt with information that seemed to have been issued from the US, but in reality were sent from a building in Pittsburgh, Russia. Most information and news were false and incentive against immigrants, Muslims and others. Ten million users received political advertisements which turned out to be paid from Russia.
Twitter confessed that during the same period, it detected three thousand Russian accounts backed by 36 thousand fake accounts, electronic army, that tweeted million and a half times. As for Google, it announced that about five thousand Russian-funded ads appeared in the search, as well as thousand videos from Russia on YouTube of duration of 43 hours.
A large amount of information proved that information technology companies were like Trojan horse, they carried the US enemy, with the public unaware they were Russians.
The companies justified their position saying they are platforms and not in the content business, except for Google that has intel activity. All of them pledged to reconsider and enhance their electronic surveillance that screens the enemy from the friend and ends the media content directed for inside US and prevent directed foreign advertisements. Of course, the accused Russia is also a victim of US dumping, targeting it politically and aiming at its regime. So, we are before a wide-ranged misleading destructive war of information.
Major countries complain about this; countries that have huge capabilities to direct and educate and with immense military capabilities. What about our countries facing the same problem? Here's a similar crisis: Qatar is using information weapons against countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, and Bahrain. The countries considered this a direct target against their stability and presence. To stop Doha, the four countries announced that dealing with Qatar is treason.
Over the past five months, the quartet tried to destruct all that Qatar built whether they were means or affiliates. The confrontation ended most of the Qatari instigation platforms, which had been trying to compensate their losses by infiltrating into open free markets like Kuwait and using its platforms.
Qatar, a pioneer in this field, recruited accounts in the targeted countries, as well as electronic armies, to spread fake news, bragging that it is promoting Arab Spring. But the truth is that its inclinations are toward a political group like extreme Islamist groups, aiming to topple or weaken regimes.
Many of the information people receive on WhatsApp, Twitter, or Facebook are created with political goals to spread fake information. Such information is not worth freedom of expression and access. The US, a leader of freedom in the world, decided to change its concepts. Freedom of expression doesn't mean freedom of the foreigner to interfere, influence, and change.

Germany: Violence Spirals in Refugee Shelters
Soeren Kern/Gatestone Institute/November 02/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11264/germany-refugee-shelters
German authorities have justified their failure to inform the public about the scale of the problem by citing the privacy rights of the criminal offenders.
Experts have long warned that the practice of housing migrants from different ethnic and religious backgrounds in tight accommodations is the ideal breeding ground for violence.
"A maintenance man who worked in a refugee shelter reported 'mafia-like' conditions. Refugees were required to pay for access to the electrical sockets there." — Der Tagesspiegel.
Violent crime, including murder, rape and physical assault, is running rampant in German asylum shelters, according to a leaked intelligence report. German authorities, who appear powerless to stem the rising tide of violence, have justified their failure to inform the public about the scale of the problem by citing the privacy rights of the criminal offenders.
The report, leaked to the newspaper Bild, was prepared for Markus Ulbig, the interior minister of Saxony, where more than 40,000 migrants are being housed in refugee shelters. According to the report, there were ten murders or attempted murders at Saxon migrant shelters in 2016, as well as 960 physical assaults, 671 cases of grievous bodily injury, seven rapes, 10 sexual assaults of children and 268 cases of drug trafficking. The report also cited hundreds of incidents of theft, coercion, arson, brawls and attacks on police officers.
The violence at Saxon migrant shelters continued during the first six months of 2017: there were more than 500 physical assaults, several homicides and hundreds of reported thefts.
Experts have long warned that the practice of housing migrants from different ethnic and religious backgrounds in tight accommodations is the ideal breeding ground for violence.
In Germany as a whole, around 40,000 crimes — nearly 150 each day — were reported in refugee shelters during the first nine months of 2016, according to another leaked report by the Federal Criminal Police (Bundeskriminalamt, BKA). These crimes included 17,200 physical assaults, 6,500 thefts, 510 sexual assaults and 139 murders or attempted murders.
Observers say this is just the tip of the iceberg, as most crimes go unreported out of a fear of revenge. The BKA does not make public its data about migrant shelter criminality and there have been no additional leaks of such information. Anecdotal evidence, however, suggests that migrant-on-migrant crime is endemic across Germany.
Migrant men exercise at the shelter where they live in Sarstedt, Germany, on November 17, 2015. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images)
In Saxony-Anhalt, for instance, a parliamentary inquiry into a stabbing between Afghans at an asylum shelter in Bernburg revealed that migrants have assaulted other migrants at shelters across the state, including in Aschersleben, Ballenstedet, Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Burg, Dessau-Rosslau, Eckartsberg, Genthin, Haldensleben, Halle, Harbke, Kemberg, Leuna, Lutherstadt Eisleben, Magdeburg, Naumburg, Oranienbaum, Oschersleben, Salzwedel, Sangerhausen, Seegebiet Mansfelder Land, Stassfurt, Wanzleben, Weissenfels, Wolmirstedt, Zeitz and Zerbst. The stabbings involved migrants from Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Benin, Bosnia, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Macedonia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Somalia, Syria, Turkey and Ukraine.
In Baden-Württemberg, 87% of all migrants who were victims of crimes in 2016 were attacked by other migrants, according to official statistics.
In Berlin, police recorded more than 2,000 physical assaults at migrant shelters during 2016, in addition to 800 thefts, 86 rapes and three homicides. Der Tagesspiegel reported:
"The fact that there is an accumulation of criminal offenses in refugee shelters is not surprising. Cramped spaces, wearisome waiting, constant noise and unrest and an uncertain future generates aggression. There are also ethnic and religious conflicts. Many Syrians cannot deal with Afghans, many Serbs do not deal with Iraqis, many Muslims reject Christians, many Sunnis do not want to deal with Shiites. A maintenance man who worked in a refugee shelter reported 'mafia-like' conditions. Refugees were required to pay for access to the electrical sockets there."
In Hamburg, 219 sexual assaults against women and children at migrant shelters were reported there during the first six months of 2017, compared to 200 such assaults reported during the same period in 2016.
In Schleswig-Holstein, rival gangs of migrants competing for the drug trade at migrant shelters in Lübeck and other cities have attacked each other in more than a dozen mass brawls. The gangs are said to involve migrants from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, as well as from North Africa.
In Bavaria, a 41-year-old Afghan migrant at a refugee shelter in Arnschwang stabbed to death an eight-year-old boy from Russia, apparently because the boy was too noisy. It later emerged that a Bavarian court had warned that the Afghan, who had previously been arrested for arson, posed a threat to others. Bavarian officials had ignored that warning and placed him at the refugee shelter where the boy was staying with his mother. The murder prompted calls for the 6,500 single mothers at migrant shelters in Bavaria to be housed in separate units.
Also in Bavaria, a 47-year-old migrant from Kazakhstan at a refugee shelter in Eggenfelden castrated a 28-year-old Ukrainian migrant, who subsequently bled to death. It later emerged that the Kazakh man had been raped by the Ukrainian man, who was aided and abetted by a group of migrants from Chechnya.
In Lower Saxony, a 26-year-old migrant from Sudan sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl from Serbia at a refugee shelter in Braunschweig. More than a hundred Serbians attempted to deliver street justice before police intervened with pepper spray.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, a mass brawl at a migrant shelter in Dortmund resulted in the stabbing of a 28-year-old migrant. When police attempted to arrest the 19-year-old perpetrator, they were attacked by a mob of more than 40 migrants. Police used dogs to restore order. In Cologne, a mass brawl between groups of African migrants resulted in the stabbing death of a 22-year-old man. At an asylum shelter in Espelkamp, a 32-year-old migrant from Lebanon stabbed another migrant, who bled to death at the scene. The Lebanese man was arrested and then released; the public prosecutor said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the man.
In Hesse, migrants have stabbed other migrants at shelters in Bad Salzschlirf, Dillenburg, Ehrenberg, Fulda, Giessen, Helsa, Hilchenbach, Kassel and Wetzlar.
Elsewhere in Germany, migrants have stabbed other migrants at shelters in Albbruck, Alsterdorf, Asperg, Bad Aibling, Beelitz, Bonn, Dorfen, Gelsenkirchen, Gera, Görlitz, Helmstedt, Hilchenbach, Iserlohn, Kirchheim, Leipzig, Neugablonz, Neustadt, Peine, Prenzlau, Schaidt, Simmozheim, Tröstau, Ulm, Usedom, Waffenbrunn, Wardenburg, Weißenbrunn, Weißkeißel, and Wernau — among others.
Back in Saxony, when Bild asked why such crimes, which are rarely reported by the police or media, are being kept secret, an interior ministry spokesperson replied that publishing such information was not in the public interest: "The facts which the investigative authorities deem appropriate for public knowledge depend on the circumstances of the individual case."
The interior ministry said that the high levels of violence were not surprising:
"In general, long-term accommodation of many people in small spaces, such as first-time reception facilities, can lead to temporary, exceptional mental states which can lead to physical disputes in individual cases. Such an effect is further enhanced by heterogeneous ethnic and cultural backgrounds."
The interior ministry added that some of the violence could be prevented by providing migrants with "a sufficient supply of leisure activities."
**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.

Stop the "Diversity" Visa Lottery, Gateway for Jihadists
Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/November 02/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11273/diversity-visa-lottery
Among the heaviest users of the US Diversity Visa lottery are people in countries known to have terrorism problems. Entering the Diversity Visa program, Islamists openly felt, was their opportunity to access the US and cause destruction to the country and its people, which they viewed as their enemy.
In this lottery, not just the winner gains access. When a foreign person wins the lottery, the US gives out visas to his or her family as well -- no matter where they were born. As a result, the number of people that come into the US thanks to the lottery program is actually much larger than 50,000 a year.
The terrorists, who share the goal of devastating everything we value, do not care about political correctness, or what the true purpose of the lottery might be. They see only the opportunity to take advantage of a hole in our immigration security.
The US immigration system is significantly flawed; it paves the way for terrorists to enter the country. Since 9/11, no serious actions have been taken to address this fundamental problem. Mercifully, President Donald Trump announced yesterday that he wants the Diversity Visa Program terminated.
As the world now knows, on October 31, in a jihadi vehicular attack, a terrorist, Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, drove a rented pickup-truck onto a crowded bicycle path in lower Manhattan. He murdered at least eight innocent people -- including students, school staff and tourists celebrating a reunion -- and wounded eleven people. He celebrated by shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("Allah is the greatest"). After police stopped his rampage by shooting and wounding him, he asked for an ISIS flag to be brought to his hospital room.
While politicians avoid the truth that "lone wolves" among terrorists effectively do not exist and, along with many in the mainstream media, refuse to tackle the underlying cause of this terror act and refrain from fully reporting on terrorism, we all badly need an open discussion about it.
The mainstream media would doubtless prefer to hide from you that Saipov, an Uzbek national, came to the US thanks to Senator Chuck Schumer's "Diversity Program," and that there are many flaws in the US immigration system. The Diversity Visa lottery is high among them.
Sayfullo Saipov (left), the Uzbek terrorist who carried out the October 31 attack in Manhattan, moved to the US thanks to the Diversity Visa Program.
The program accepts 50,000 people a year, totally at random. Citizens from some countries that are US-friendly, such as Canada and the United Kingdom, are not even allowed to apply. Other countries, known to be epicenters of jihadists and Islamist ideologies, are permitted to participate. The applicant does not even need to have a high school education. Among the heaviest users of this lottery are people in countries known to have terrorism problems -- specifically Middle Eastern, North African and Central Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen, and Uzbekistan.
If you had grown up, as I did, in Syria and Iran, you would have seen Islamists gathering in groups to further their goals. You would also have seen them encouraging and informing their affiliate groups through various means, including social media, to enter the US Diversity Visa program. This, they openly felt, was their opportunity to access the US and cause destruction to the country and its people, which they viewed as their enemy.
Worse in this lottery is, not just the winner gains access. When a foreign person wins the lottery, the US gives out visas to his or her family as well -- no matter where they were born. As a result, the number of people that come into the US thanks to the lottery program is actually far larger than 50,000 a year.
In addition, applicants do not need to have skills, education, training, or even the ability to speak English -- in total contrast to successful immigration policies in other advanced countries, where immigrants must score high regarding the required skills, talents, and language before they are admitted.
Other countries look for -- and get -- the best from other nations, and vet them carefully; the US just gives out green cards to anyone unreservedly.
The application can be easily completed on a website, and applying is free. If the applicant wins, he receives a permanent green card, paving the way for citizenship.
Furthermore, this is happening while many, far more qualified and hardworking people in the US, including skilled workers, taxpayers, doctors, engineers and CEOs, remain on temporary visas for years. Others wait and struggle interminably, to obtain a green card legally.
If even a few of the tens of thousands of Islamists who apply for the visa lottery every year kill "infidel" Americans and terrorize a whole nation, they have accomplished their goal.
While terrorist attacks are the most visible crimes committed as a result of this lottery, others go unnoticed. Even the lottery itself has become fraudulent. According to testimony from Stephen A. Edson before the House Judiciary Committee:
"In Bangladesh, for example, one agent is reported to have enrolled an entire phone book so that he could then either extort money from winning applicants who had never entered the program to begin with or sell their winning slots to others."
The lottery program also poses health risks to Americans. If and when global epidemics occur, such as the Ebola virus, the lottery visa program does not stop. People with viruses and other serious infectious diseases can easily get into the country.
Even the screening and enforcement procedures are unreliable and pose a significant national security risk. As Janice Kephart, then National Security Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, testified before Congress in 2011:
"The Diversity Visa (DV) Program is an unfortunate blind spot in our immigration system that has outlived whatever purpose it might have had. The applicants for these 50,000 "visa lottery" immigration slots require few skills. Neither their qualifications nor identity can be properly vetted. The program does not know, really, who these applicants are or their true purpose in coming to the United States. The program is a national security vulnerability, and has been used by terrorists and organized criminals to not only enter the United States, but to bring others in as well.
According to unofficial statements from the State Department, the program is rife with fraud in part because application standards are so low".
Regarding the flimsy requirements and enormous resources that the US waste for this program, Kephart added:
"The program claims to have strict eligibility requirements, but only calls for a high school education or its equivalent or two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience. In most of the countries eligible for a diversity visa, neither education nor work experience can be verified, let alone identity. Consular officers in U.S. embassies abroad thus spend an inordinate amount of time attempting to determine if people are who they say they are and actually qualify for the program. Checking watch lists based on names or prior U.S. immigration histories thus often has little bearing on making a solid determination of identity, qualifications, or legitimate national security concerns."
Even known civil rights activists, such as Barbara Jordan, have pointed out that the Diversity Visa lottery does not provide any benefits to this nation. Despite all of this, the Diversity Visa 2019 green card lottery registration is now open.
Instead of worrying about political correctness, let us focus on how to protect this nation. The terrorists, who share the goal of devastating everything we value, do not care about political correctness or what the true purpose of the lottery might be. They see only the opportunity to take advantage of a hole in our immigration security. Instead of standing by and letting this continue, let us start, as the president suggested, by stopping the absurd and obsolete Diversity Visa lottery. The program serves no humanitarian, political, or economic purpose for America.
Imagine how much more devastation will occur if nothing is done.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a Harvard-educated scholar and political scientist, business advisor, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He is the author of "Peaceful Reformation in Iran's Islam". He can be reached at Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu.
© 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.

Global Council for Tolerance and Peace launched in Malta, AlJarwan elected president
NNA/November 02/17
Prompted by increased threats of extremism, racial intolerance, and intellectual violence, the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace was launched in Malta on Thursday during an official ceremony at Malta's Mediterranean Convention Center, at the joint invitation of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Government of Malta, and the World Council. With its headquarters based on the island of Malta and liaison offices around the world, the primary mission of this international council will be to propagate a culture of tolerance in order to attain worldwide peace.
The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, newly elected President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Jarwan, a number of foreign affairs, education, youth and culture ministers from several countries, United Nations representatives, Sheikh Al-Azhar, heads of international organizations, universities, and media.
"Our world faces many great challenges, conflicts, inequality, deadly intolerance and security threats, including nuclear weapons," United Nations Secretary General, Ant?nio Guterres said in a documentary video which was screened during the event. "We have the tools and the will to overcome these challenges, especially as the threats go beyond the limits of concerned states. Ensuring human rights and human dignity for all builds a world of peace and lasting justice," the UN Secretary General added. Guterres went on to wonder about the means to provide millions of people suffering from large-scale wars that seem to be never-ending. "No one wins in these wars, everyone loses, especially as the new global terrorist threat affects us all and destabilizes most regions. So, peace is always our goal and guide."In his delivered speech at the Global Mediterranean Conference Centre, the Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, said that he was thrilled that Malta had been chosen as the new headquarters of the Council. "We are here today because we live in a time when we can no longer take peace for granted," the Prime Minister said, "there is a need to address the unrest that has filtered across the globe, and also a need to address people's concerns about this." He said it was the government's role to stave off conflict and ensure stability, and that instability in any nation affects trade and productivity negatively.
"It is my duty to protect Maltese citizens, not only from conflict, but to ensure our human rights are protected," he said.
The GCTP's mission was in line with Malta's foreign policy objectives, he explained, adding that as a neutral country our island had always been a promoter of peace across all nations. Moreover, he said that Malta had been chosen as the Council's new seat in recognition of its policy objectives.
"Malta believes different cultures can coexist and that diversity enriches us. What we have in common - our humanity - should be what unites us," the Prime Minister maintained.
Malta would do well to ensure the present and next generation internalize the true values of our nation, that is peace, equality and tolerance towards different cultures and backgrounds, he added, saying that there was no space in our democracy for hate speech and hate crimes.
The government of Malta could ensure that its citizens could realize their full potential, free from fear and any oppression, he said in his closing remarks, maintaining that Malta had an open door for all those wishing to promote peace.
For his part, President of the Global Council for Tolerance, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Jarwan, sounded the alarm on today's danger of terrorism, fanaticism, hatred, ethnic cleansing, sectarianism, and racial extremism, which he described as having been "growing and growing like cancer and jeopardizing world peace.""Convictions are no longer sufficient. Only armies can fight these terrible phenomena. No country or institution can rely solely on its own capacities to address the problem of terrorism, racism, extremism, violence and discrimination. We are here today for this reason, we are here to launch this global endeavor," al-Jarwan said.. He went on to explain that the Council was an international organization based on democratic principles and that it derived its own system of work from international laws and agreements. "The Council signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for cooperation and building international partnerships. The Council is composed of eminent international figures who maintain a sound reputation and experience in areas related to peace and tolerance," he added.
Al-Jarwan also gave a briefing on the GCTP's road map, which includes the creation of a global parliament for tolerance and peace, raising the values of tolerance, promoting preventive diplomacy, supporting regional and global youth initiatives, launching a global prize for those who contribute to the protection of world peace and developing and implementing joint programs, events, and conferences to promote tolerance and peace. "Together, we can build a more tolerant and secure world. Together we can build a future in which love wins over hatred, tolerance over revenge, openness over intolerance, and knowledge over ignorance." The eight founders of the council are the US, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, Comoros, Albania, India, Egypt and Indonesia, which all share their common love of tolerance and ambition to spread a culture of peace worldwide.