English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For April 27/2022
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 06/12-19/:”Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot, and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on April 26-27/2022
Prosecutor: New Jersey man working for Hezbollah eyed US targets for terror attack
Projectile Launched From Lebanon Targets Northern Israel
Cabinet condemns Fayyad assault, decides to form 'council for North development'
Army chief briefs Cabinet on boat tragedy, Military court to probe incident
Cabinet convenes in extraordinary session at Baabda Palace to discuss Tripoli boat sinking, security
President Aoun receives EU Special Representative for Middle East Peace
Berri calls Parliament to convene Thursday over request to withdraw confidence from foreign minister
Ahmed Hariri criticizes Saniora remarks that resemble 'anti-Hariri campaigns'
Israel seizes weapons on Lebanon's border
Activist who assaulted Fayyad turns himself in after State Security erects checkpoints
Canada must designate Iran’s revolutionary guard as a terrorist group/Tzvi Kahn/Macdonald-Laurier Institute/April 26/2022
Lebanon’s judicial independence is vital for the nation’s democracy/Hanin Ghaddar/Al Arabiya/April 26/2022
The May 15 Election Is a Turning Point for Change and The Importance of the Vote of Lebanon’s Diaspora

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 26-27/2022
Iran Welcomes 'Positive' 5th Round of Talks with Saudi Arabia
Tehran: Prolonging Vienna Talks Not in Interest of Nuclear Parties
Iran Court Sentences 2 Students to 16-year Prison Terms Each
Iran-Pakistan Ties on Brink after Khan's Ouster
UN Chief Tells Russia that Ukraine Ceasefire Is Needed as Soon as Possible
UN chief pushes for Ukraine corridors on Moscow visit
Russia Warns of WWIII ahead of Western Summit on Arms to Ukraine
UK Cuts all Tariffs on Ukraine, Bans More Exports to Russia
Israel to reopen Gaza crossing after closing it over rockets
Israeli Parliament Bars Critic of PM Bennett from Reelection
Shabaab targets Somali police chief in Mogadishu suicide bombing
Israeli Soldiers Fight with Ukrainian Army
Palestinians Say Man Killed in Israeli West Bank Raid
World Leaders Welcome Macron's French Election Win
UN: Humanity Stuck in 'Spiral of Self-destruction'
US Administration Expands Availability of COVID Antiviral Pill
Kim Vows to 'Strengthen' North Korea's Nuclear Weapons at Parade

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on April 26-27/2022
Biden Administration Ignores What the Palestinians Are Really Saying/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/April 26/2022
Turkey Balances and Benefits from Ukraine/Robert Ford/Asharq Al-Awsat/ April 26/2022
Biden’s Solar Plans Run Into a Chinese Wall/Liam Denning/Bloomberg/April 26/2022

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on April 26-27/2022
Prosecutor: New Jersey man working for Hezbollah eyed US targets for terror attack
The Associated Press, New York/26 April ,2022
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/108268/%d8%a3%d9%84%d9%8a%d9%83%d8%b3%d9%8a-%d8%b5%d8%b9%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%86%d8%a7%d8%a6%d9%85-%d9%84%d8%ad%d8%b2%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d9%87-%d8%b9%d8%a7%d8%b4/
A prosecutor told jurors in an opening statement Monday that a New Jersey software developer was actually a highly trained terrorist scoping out US landmarks for attack from 2000 to 2005.
Alexei Saab, 45, of Morristown, New Jersey, had a double identity while he worked for Hezbollah’s Islamic Jihad Organization, ready to attack Americans at popular locations if Iran was attacked by the US, said Assistant US Attorney Samuel Adelsberg. By day, Saab was a software engineer working for technology companies who fit in enough that he became a US citizen, the prosecutor said. By night, he was “a terrorist and spy” scoping out potential terrorism targets in New York, Boston, Washington, DC, and abroad in France, Turkey and the Czech Republic, Adelsberg said. Saab was arrested in July 2019 after being questioned during 11 sessions over several weeks with FBI agents. Saab’s lawyer, Marlon Kirton, said all the evidence in the case was from Saab himself and could not be considered reliable. And he claimed that Hezbollah had never attacked Americans in the United States. In court documents, investigators said Saab told agents he took photographs of buildings and locations including Quincy Market and the Prudential Center in Boston and the Capitol Building, Congress and the White House in Washington, DC A video of Fenway Park was recovered from one of Saab’s electronic devices. Adelsberg said the targets researched by Saab included Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Terminal, all three New York area airports, the Brooklyn, Triborough and George Washington bridges and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels connecting New Jersey to Manhattan, among other locations. “On paper, he lived a normal life when in reality he was a sleeper agent for Hezbollah,” he said. Besides surveillance activities in the United States, Adelsberg said Saab also operated abroad after joining Hezbollah in 1996. He said Saab tried to kill a man he later understood to be a suspected Israeli spy by pointing a weapon at the individual at close range, but the firearm jammed. Saab is also facing a marriage fraud charge for allegedly marrying a co-conspirator in 2012 under false pretenses. Saab’s lawyer did not contest that charge. Saab has pleaded not guilty to charges including providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy, receiving military-type training from a foreign terrorist organization, unlawful procurement of citizenship to facilitate international terrorism and citizenship application fraud. The most serious charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 25 years in prison, though the charges collectively carry potential penalties of over 100 years in prison.

Projectile Launched From Lebanon Targets Northern Israel
JoeTruzman/FDD's Long War Journal/April 26/2022
A rocket launch was identified from Lebanon that exploded in an open area near northern Israel near Kibbutz Metzuva Monday morning, according to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Twitter statement. The IDF said it responded with artillery fire “near the area from which the shooting was carried out” and against “open spaces” using “dozens of artillery shells.”The attack comes against the backdrop of the resumption of rocket fire from Gaza by Palestinian militants towards southern Israel, which has been blamed on clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at Al-Aqsa Mosque. [See FDD’s Long War Journal: Gaza-Based Militants Fire Rockets for Second Night in a Row.] While there has not been official blame placed on a particular militant group, it is likely Palestinian factions were behind the strike with the tacit approval of Hezbollah. This is a strategy that has been employed before by suspected Palestinian factions, notably during last year’s Gaza war. Suspected Palestinian militant rocket assaults from Lebanon are not treated by the IDF in the same manner as those from Gaza due to the possible involvement of Hezbollah. This may be a reason for the Israeli military’s limited response to the offensive. Generally, the IDF targets terrorist military infrastructure it has previously identified based on intelligence following an attack. This also brings up the absence of blame by the IDF in its public statements following the strike from Lebanon. The IDF omitted placing blame on the Lebanese government, Hezbollah or Palestinian militants for the rocket fire. This suggests either the IDF did not have exact intelligence on the actor(s) behind the attack or preferred not to publicly blame a specific group in an effort to contain its response.It’s unclear what spurred Monday morning’s attack against northern Israel. Reasonable analysis can point to a Palestinian response to Israel’s closure of the border crossings with Gaza, continued clashes at Al-Aqsa Mosque or an attempt by Hezbollah to curry favor in the upcoming elections in Lebanon by attacking Israel. Adding to previous attacks from Lebanon by suspected Palestinian militants, it appears the Resistance Axis, led by Iran, is becoming more unified in its response to Israeli military efforts against Palestinian militant factions and unrest at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
*Joe Truzman is a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.

Cabinet condemns Fayyad assault, decides to form 'council for North development'
Agence France Presse/April 26/2022
Cabinet decided Tuesday to establish a council for developing the North region, as it convened to discuss the tragic sinking of a boat off the northern port city of Tripoli. The ministry of social affairs will contact international organizations to discuss offering aid to the families of the victims, Information Minister Ziad Makari said at the end of the session, adding that the military court will investigate the accident. The sea disaster had ignited widespread public anger just three weeks before May 15 parliamentary elections, as an unprecedented economic crisis has plunged millions into poverty, driving growing numbers of Lebanese to attempt perilous crossings. Activists had removed election posters from the walls of Tripoli -- a city ravaged by unemployment but also home to some of Lebanon's wealthiest politicians. Social media was later abuzz with a picture of Prime Minister Najib Miqati's 79-metre-long (259 foot) 100-million-dollar yacht docked in the French city of Nice, with a cardboard banner alongside that read: "The people of Tripoli are being assassinated by this yacht's owner." On Sunday evening, a video also circulated on social media showing Energy Minister Walid Fayyad being taken to task in the streets over living conditions and shoved hard against a wall. The man who assaulted him posted the video, and criticized Fayyad and the government for being insensitive to the fate of millions of desperate Lebanese. Another man told Fayyad that his mother “has no electricity” and that “a massacre happened in Tripoli” whereas he was “having a drink.” Cabinet on Tuesday condemned the attack, requesting penalties against the perpetrators.

Army chief briefs Cabinet on boat tragedy, Military court to probe incident
Agence France Presse/Associated Press
Cabinet Tuesday tasked the armed forces with investigating how an over packed migrant boat capsized, a tragedy some survivors have blamed on the military. The government "tasked army command with conducting a transparent investigation into the circumstances behind the incident under the supervision of the relevant judicial authority," said Information Minister Ziad Makari. The announcement came after survivors took to TV stations and social media to accuse the military of insulting passengers aboard the ship and then deliberately cracking its hull.
President Michel Aoun said, during an emergency Cabinet session, that the judiciary must probe the tragic sinking of the boat off the northern port city of Tripoli due to the presence of "conflicting accounts of events." During the session that discussed the circumstances that led to the tragic sinking, the Army commander, the Navy commander and the head of the Military Intelligence branch briefed Cabinet over the incident. The Army officials presented a report supported by documents and photos as media reports said they had been asked to attend the session, while al-Markazia news agency reported Tuesday that Army Commander General Joseph Aoun had expressed, in a phone call with Prime Minister Najib Miqati, his willingness to attend. Miqati welcomed the initiative, al-Markazia said. The circumstances that led the small and overloaded craft to sink were not entirely clear, with some survivors claiming the navy rammed into their boat, and officials insisting the smuggler attempted reckless escape maneuvers. The sea accident, Lebanon's worst such disaster in years, ignited widespread public anger just three weeks before May 15 parliamentary elections in the small country hit by a severe economic crisis. The Lebanese army said Sunday that 48 people had been rescued, but it was not immediately clear exactly how many would-be asylum seekers were crammed onto the boat when it set off. The migrant vessel had set off from the coastal town of Qalamoun on Saturday night. No precautionary measures were taken and no one was wearing life vests when the boat meant to carry only six people capsized later that night. The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said the boat was carrying at least 84 people when it capsized about three nautical miles (3.5 miles, 5.5 kilometres) off the coast -- which would leave some 30 people still unaccounted for. Lebanon was once a transit point for asylum seekers from elsewhere in the Middle East who were hoping to reach the European Union island state of Cyprus, 175 kilometres (110 miles) away. However, Lebanon's unprecedented economic crisis that has plunged millions into poverty is driving growing numbers of its citizens to also attempt the perilous crossing. The U.N. says more than 1,500 people have tried to leave Lebanon illegally by sea since the start of 2021.

Cabinet convenes in extraordinary session at Baabda Palace to discuss Tripoli boat sinking, security
NNA/April 26/2022
The Council of Ministers, convened in an extraordinary session at Baabda Palace headed by President General Michel Aoun and in the presence of Prime Minister Najeb Mikati, Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, Intelligence Director Brigadier General Antoine Kahwaji and Naval Forces Commander Colonel Haitham Dannawi. the cabinet decided to assign the Higher Relief Commission to take all necessary measures related to the sinking of the boat in Tripoli and assigning the ministries of social affairs to communicate with international bodies to search for the possibility of providing assistance to the victims and their families, and the Foreign Ministry, expatriates and national defense to communicate with international bodies to help float the sank boat.
The army command was asked to conduct a transparent investigation into the circumstances of the accident under the supervision of the competent judiciary and to intensify efforts to search for the missing in cooperation with the international emergency forces.
After the session, the Minister of Information announced that the army commander had placed himself and the army and military leadership at the disposal of the judiciary.
The council formed a ministerial committee headed by the deputy prime minister whose goal is to prepare a draft law aimed at establishing a council for the development of the north, and decided to request the ministries of interior, municipalities and finance to transfer Tripoli municipality dues from the independent municipal fund.
The Council condemned the attack on the Minister of Energy and Water, Walid Fayyad, and asked the security and judicial authorities to take the necessary measures to prosecute the perpetrators and impose penalties against them.
The session was preceded by a retreat between President Aoun and President Mikati, in which they discussed the latest available data and information on the sinking of the boat, in addition to the security situation in the country.
President Aoun
President Aoun began the session by calling for a minute of silence to mourn the souls of the victims if Tripol port, stressing the need to address what happened from various aspects, and the judiciary to investigate the circumstances of the sank boat amid conflicting accounts about it, with the aim of clarifying the truth and putting an end to any contradictory interpretations. He described other security incidents in Tripoli and Beirut and the attack on Energy Minister Walid Fayyad as "unacceptable and unjustified," calling for taking the necessary measures to prevent their recurrence.
PM Mikati
Prime Minister Mikati stressed the inadmissibility of diverting attention from the grief and tragedy of this case to its legal and judicial context, which must take its course to the end that leads to revealing the circumstances of what happened and the retribution of those responsible for what happened. While expressing his refusal to throw accusations arbitrarily before the investigation is completed, he stressed “to conduct investigations quickly and transparently, away from media pressure and cheap political, populist and electoral investment,” He stressed that the case will be pursued according to judicial and security principles, and that investigations must be comprehensive. He called for strictness in following up on what happened, calling on all security services to be strict in preventive security to avoid any disaster, expressing great confidence in the wisdom and leadership of the army and the investigations it will carry out.
He said that the recent incidents, which took place in a close and consecutive circumstance, all "undermine the prestige of the state, and we must take firm stances towards it.”
Statement
At the end of the session, Minister of Information Ziad Makary read the following statement:
"The Council of Ministers held an extraordinary session this morning at Baabda Palace, headed by the President of the Republic. At the beginning of the session, President Aoun asked to observe a minute of silence for the victims of the boat, then offered his condolences to their families and wished recovery for the survivors, hoping to know the fate of the rest of the passengers who are being searched for. President Aoun said: What happened is an accident that has hurt us all, and it must be dealt with from various aspects, and the judiciary should investigate the circumstances of the sinking of the boat, amid conflicting accounts about it, with the aim of clarifying the truth and putting an end to any contradictory interpretations or interpretations.
President Aoun also drew attention to other security incidents in Tripoli and Beirut and an attack on Energy Minister Walid Fayyad, all of which are unacceptable and unjustified, calling for taking the necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
After deliberation, the Cabinet decided the following:
1- Assigning the Higher Relief Commission to take all the necessary measures related to the matter to accompany the families of the victims and to transfer the necessary appropriations from the general budget reserve to the budget of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers - the Higher Relief Commission - on the basis of the twelve rule.
2- Assigning the Ministry of Social Affairs to communicate with international bodies and organizations to explore the possibility of providing assistance in the health, humanitarian, and psychological fields to the victims and their families.
3- Requesting the army command to conduct a transparent investigation into the circumstances of the accident, under the supervision of the competent judiciary, and requesting the army to intensify its search and rescue efforts for the missing in cooperation with the international emergency forces (UNIFIL).
4- Requesting the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants and National Defense to communicate with international bodies to help secure the equipment and mechanisms needed to float the sunken boat.
5- Assigning the Minister of Social Affairs to amend the conditions for benefiting from the emergency social safety net project and the poorest families project to enable the largest segment of the Lebanese to benefit from them.
6- Formation of a committee headed by the Deputy Prime Minister and the membership of the Ministers: Justice, Finance, Administrative Development Affairs, Interior and Municipalities, Social Affairs, Economy and Trade.
7- A request to the Ministries of Interior, Municipalities and Finance to transfer Tripoli municipality dues from the Independent Municipal Fund.
8- A request from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to instruct whoever is required to register all marine boats with the Presidency of the concerned ports in accordance with the rules, within a maximum period of 3 months from its date, at the risk of confiscating all unregistered boats within this period, as required by the laws and regulations in force.
The Council of Ministers also decided to approve the request of the Ministry of Social Affairs to pay the coverage of joint contracts with civil and religious associations for the year 2022.
In addition, the Council condemned the attack on the Minister of Energy and Water, Walid Fayyad, and asked the security and judicial authorities to take the necessary measures to prosecute the perpetrators and impose penalties against them.
The Council of Ministers also asked the security services to prevent attacks on people and property.
Q&A
Then a dialogue took place between Minister Makary and the journalists, and he was asked about the position of the army commander and the responsible officers putting themselves at the disposal of the judiciary and whether he will investigate them.
He replied: “It is true that the military judiciary is the one who will investigate them, and the army commander confirmed today that he and all the command of the army and the military are at the disposal of the judiciary.”
Asked how to prevent the recurrence of this scenario, amid talk that some boats may be preparing at the beginning of the summer to repeat the matter.
He replied: "The army command, with its few capabilities, is trying to do everything it can to prevent incidents of this kind. It is not that easy. There is another issue related to the judiciary, which is not strict enough when arresting smugglers, and this is what was discussed."
He was asked about the method of dealing with smugglers and pursuing them after they started repeating their actions.
He replied: "Because the judiciary is lax with them. I learned that one of the smugglers in this particular incident was arrested and released in a short time, while the sentences should be strict."
Asked: Pictures and documents were shown. Can we know what these pictures contained?
He replied: "I do not prefer that, because the judiciary will take over the matter, and the case is very delicate."
Question: Were you convinced by the proofs and evidence presented by the Army Commander?
He replied, "I want to be very precise with every word I say and for the judiciary to decide. We have seen pictures and videos, but I prefer not to comment on this matter."
Asked about the possibility of events of this kind in order to postpone the elections?
He replied: "I do not feel that there is a "long and broad" conspiracy to postpone the elections. We say that in every election - and we all experienced elections - accidents happen. The country is in crisis? The session was dedicated to resolving this issue."
He was asked about the case of Dr. Richard Kharrat.
He replied: "We did not discuss this issue today, but we did touch on it in the previous session."
He was asked about the possibility of the third party, which will provide assistance in recovering the sunken boat, to contribute to the investigation as well.
He replied: "No. The investigation is carried out by the Lebanese courts, and mainly the military court."
On the possibility of adopting technical reports.
He replied: “We can take technical reports. The defense and foreign ministers were asked to contact the major countries surrounding the country so that we could withdraw the boat, but I do not know whether this matter should be linked to the investigation because it has begun and there are arrested, and there will be other detainees. "
Asked: Do you think that the investigation can absorb the anger of the street in Tripoli, especially since we have seen the anger of the people and the direct accusation of the Lebanese army?
He replied: “May God help the people of Tripoli, the Lebanese, and the poor. No one wants to be in someone else’s place. Imagine the degree of despair that some have reached, so that they decided to sell everything from home furniture, gold and clothes, to resort to a boat that does not know whether it can sail a kilometer.” One in the water dies as it happened. May God help the people. the investigation is supposed to warm hearts a little."
Asked: Did the Council of Ministers stop at the cost of shooting, which took place despite the extreme poverty in the region?
He replied: "The Council of Ministers discussed all issues related to security. Do you mean that there is an entity that funds this work? Today there are elections and there is a lot of money, as you know. But I want to say something to the media that I said previously and they criticized me on social media." The issue of publishing pictures of victims is not humanely acceptable, there are those who put a picture of a child, this is an ethical and humanitarian issue and not a legal or media issue. We ask the media and social media pioneers to take this into consideration, with love and humanity. -- Presidency Press Office

President Aoun receives EU Special Representative for Middle East Peace
NNA/April 26/2022 
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met the European Union’s Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Sven Koopmans, today at the Presidential Palace. European Union Ambassador to Lebanon, Ralph Tarraf, also attended the meeting. President Aoun told Mr. Koopmans that “Lebanon supports any European move to revive the peace process in the Middle East, based on the Arab Peace Initiative which was adopted by the Beirut Summit in 2002”. The President also noted that “Any sustainable solution to the Middle East crisis begins with putting an end to the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people that has been occurring for 74 years. The solution is just, lasting and comprehensive, based on the principle of two states and the implementation of international legitimacy resolutions”. Moreover, President Aoun considered that Israel’s attempts to change the situation and persist in its expansionist settlement policies do not help at all in any attempt to revive peace negotiations, which is a flagrant violation of international law. “The latest infringements on the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the attacks on worshipers in it are the best evidence of the aggressive Israeli intentions” President Aoun said. In addition, the President pointed out that “Lebanon, which has paid dearly and continues to pay the price of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, also believes that the continuation of occupied parts of its lands does not help at all to discuss any peace process before the withdrawal of the Israelis from the occupied Lebanese territories. Lebanon welcomes any European role in helping to achieve the Israeli withdrawal from its lands”. On the other hand, President Aoun stressed the continuation of contacts to demarcate the southern maritime borders in a way that preserves Lebanon’s rights to obtain all of its oil and gas wealth.
Finally, the President raised the issue of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the need for the European Union countries to facilitate their return to Syria and provide them with assistance there; pointing out that Lebanon can no longer bear the negative repercussions of this displacement. ----Presidency Press Office

Berri calls Parliament to convene Thursday over request to withdraw confidence from foreign minister
NNA/April 26/2022 
Speaker of the House Nabih Berri has called the Parliament to convene on forthcoming Thursday at the UNESCO Palace to look into a motion filed by a group of lawmakers to withdraw confidence from Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.

Ahmed Hariri criticizes Saniora remarks that resemble 'anti-Hariri campaigns'
Naharnet/April 26/2022   
Al-Mustaqbal Movement Secretary-General Ahmed Hariri on Tuesday criticized remarks voiced by ex-PM Fouad Saniora, who is backing an electoral list in Beirut’s second electoral district. “Your love and keenness on al-Mustaqbal Movement are not new, but the return to evaluating ex-PM Saad Hariri’s decision to suspend participation in elections as being part of the handover of the country to Hizbullah and Iran is something that resembles that campaigns targeted against our Movement and its leader,” Ahmed Hariri tweeted. “Our decision is to suspend participation and your decision along with those who are with you is to take part in the elections, and there is no need to pin the blame on anyone although we wish you success,” Hariri added.

Israel seizes weapons on Lebanon's border
Naharnet/April 26/2022   
The Israeli army announced Tuesday that it seized weapons on the border with Lebanon, after having fired flares overnight over the border area. “The army overnight detected suspects approaching the security fence from the Lebanese side and scrambled security forces to the location,” Israeli army Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a tweet. The Israel force discovered two machineguns and around 100 hand grenades, Adraee added. “We will continue to work against any attempt to violate Israel’s sovereignty or carry out acts of sabotage and smuggling on the border with Lebanon,” the spokesman went on to say. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett later announced that the Israeli forces "foiled an extraordinary arms smuggling operation on the Lebanese border."He said the forces seized "100 hand grenades that were supposed to be used to stage terrorist operations."
The development comes a day after a rocket was fired at northern Israel from southern Lebanon drawing retaliatory tank fire.

Activist who assaulted Fayyad turns himself in after State Security erects checkpoints
Naharnet/April 26/2022   
Elie Haykal, the activist accused of assaulting the energy minister, turned himself in Tuesday to the Zouk Mosbeh police station. State Security agents had earlier erected checkpoints across Zouk Mosbeh in a bid to arrest the man, as his lawyer sought to convince him to turn himself in, al-Jadeed TV reported. A patrol from the Ashrafieh police department had on Monday raided Haykal's house without managing to find him. The raid took place based on an order from State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat, who also ordered the arrest of another activist according to reports. Haykal had physically assaulted Energy Minister Walid Fayyad outside a restaurant on Sunday night. An online video shows Haykal saying “this is a message from all the Lebanese people” before violently pushing Fayyad to a wall. You need to “wake up,” he tells the minister. Another man is meanwhile seen telling Fayyad that his mother “has no electricity” and that “a massacre happened in Tripoli” whereas he was “having a drink.”In the same video, a female activist tells the minister that she was interrogated at a State Security center along with other female activists due to his “corruption.” This is not the first time Fayyad has been intercepted by activists at a restaurant since he was appointed as minister. He is often seen at public places without bodyguards. In a statement issued Sunday, Fayyad had called on top officials and all security agencies to address the incident, adding that he would personally file a lawsuit against anyone involved in “inciting, monitoring, planning and carrying out this attack.” “The arrest of the attacker or attackers is not enough and they must rather receive a punishment … that would prevent a repetition of what happened, seeing as the dignity of people, regardless of their positions, is not the property of anyone,” the statement added, describing the attackers as “lawless groups that are violating all laws, norms, ethics and human values while falsely claiming to be speaking in the name of the Lebanese people."

تسفي كان/معهد ماكدونالد-لوريير /يجب على كندا تصنيف الحرس الثوري الإيراني كمجموعة إرهابية
Canada must designate Iran’s revolutionary guard as a terrorist group
Tzvi Kahn/Macdonald-Laurier Institute/April 26/2022
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/108264/tzvi-kahn-macdonald-laurier-institute-canada-must-designate-irans-revolutionary-guard-as-a-terrorist-group-%d8%aa%d8%b3%d9%81%d9%8a-%d9%83%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%87%d8%af-%d9%85%d8%a7/
Designating the IRGC as a terrorist group would serve as an act of justice that the families of the IRGC’s Canadian victims have long demanded
The United States remains on the verge of making a dangerous concession to Iran. And Canada seems prepared to double down on a policy that echoes it.
Washington may soon delist Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the paramilitary force responsible for advancing Tehran’s radical Islamist ideology, as a foreign terrorist organization. This capitulation – part of a US bid to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – would fuel the IRGC’s domestic repression and regional aggression for years to come.
But Ottawa has yet to sanction the IRGC. In 2012, Canada did sanction the Quds Force, the IRGC’s foreign operations arm, which provides military and economic support to Iran’s proxies in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and elsewhere in the region. Since then, however, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has steadfastly ignored repeated calls by Canadian parliamentarians – including a 2018 resolution that passed the House of Commons overwhelmingly – to designate the IRGC in its entirety.
Even after the IRGC’s Aerospace Force downed a Ukrainian airliner in early 2020, killing all 176 people on board, including dozens of Canadians, Trudeau failed to impose meaningful consequences on Tehran. Though Iran described the incident as an accident, an Ontario judge ruled last year that the shootdown was “intentional” and an “act of terrorism.”
Ottawa’s position may reflect a perceived bifurcation of the IRGC’s foreign and domestic policies. According to this line of thinking, the Quds Force constitutes an entity distinct from the broader IRGC’s operational command, thereby obliging Ottawa to regard them as independent political actors. In this view, Canadian policy-makers can address the IRGC’s two missions separately.
But this approach is an illusion. In fact, the IRGC as a whole operates under the control of one man: Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. And for him, the IRGC – as the Islamic Republic’s 1979 constitution stipulates – has one overarching objective: “fulfilling the ideological mission of jihad in God’s way; that is, extending the sovereignty of God’s law throughout the world.”
In other words, the IRGC seeks to export the same Islamist creed that it enforces at home. The IRGC’s various branches facilitate this goal. For example, as Jason M. Brodsky of United Against Nuclear Iran, a US advocacy group, notes in a recent op-ed, the IRGC’s Basij militia and Ground Force have assisted the Quds Force in Syria, where Tehran seeks to preserve Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Meanwhile, the IRGC’s Intelligence Organization monitors and represses domestic dissent.
Ultimately, Tehran’s worldview conflates politics and religion, regarding the state as the key instrument for discharging the divine will. As Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Islamic Republic’s founding father and first supreme leader, put it in his 1970 treatise Islamic Government, “Any person who claims that the formation of an Islamic government is not necessary implicitly denies the necessity for the implementation of Islamic law, the universality and comprehensiveness of that law, and the eternal validity of the faith itself.”
Ottawa and Washington seem unable to grasp this fundamental reality, clinging to the hope that they can reason with the regime or intimidate it with tough rhetoric. But the Islamic Republic will not renounce its raison d’être. Only a US-led maximum pressure campaign — drawing on all instruments of Western power, be they military, economic, or diplomatic — stands a chance of changing the regime’s behaviour.
The Trudeau government should set an example by designating the IRGC in its entirety as a terrorist organization. And Trudeau should publicly urge the United States to resist Iran’s demands. Even if Washington fails to heed him, Trudeau’s position would help further delegitimize an organization that has claimed the lives of innocent Canadians.
Perhaps more notably, Canada’s designation of the IRGC as a terrorist group would serve as an act of justice that the families of the IRGC’s Canadian victims have long demanded. For their sake if no one else’s, Ottawa should finally call the IRGC what it really is.
*Tzvi Kahn is a Research Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) in Washington, DC. Follow him on Twitter @TzviKahn.
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2022/04/25/canada-must-designate-irgc-as-a-terrorist-group/

حنين غدار/العربية: استقلال القضاء هو أمر حيوي للديموقراطية في لبنان
Lebanon’s judicial independence is vital for the nation’s democracy
Hanin Ghaddar/Al Arabiya/April 26/2022
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/108271/hanin-ghaddar-lebanons-judicial-independence-is-vital-for-the-nations-democracy-%d8%ad%d9%86%d9%8a%d9%86-%d8%ba%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%82%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%a7/
International diplomatic efforts have increased in the past few weeks as the Saudi and Kuwaiti ambassadors returned to Lebanon, supported by a French policy that focuses on the May 15 parliamentary elections and stability. Part of these diplomatic initiatives is motivated by the Lebanese political post-election scene, mainly the form of the next government and the election of the next president when Michel Aoun’s term closes at the end of the year.
The elections are a significant crossroad in Lebanon, as they will determine the most critical upcoming financial and security decisions in light of the dire economic crisis.
However, Lebanon’s malaise will continue without an independent judicial system and accountability. With Hezbollah’s arms pointed at any Lebanese opposing it, and with the ongoing corruption within state institutions, no parliament could enforce change, recovery, or stability.
In both the 2005 and 2009 parliamentary elections, the Hezbollah-supported March 8 alliance lost but managed to continue ruling with the power of arms and threats. With the lack of liability, that same method continues to this day. Since then, the Beirut port exploded, Lokman Slim assassinated, thefts increased 270 percent between 2019 and 2021, and murder by 82 percent.
No one has been brought to justice in political cases – the port explosion and Slim’s death. On the contrary, many political parties and figures have been working very hard to hamper the investigation and the judicial process. Lebanon will only descend into one worse scenario after another if this continues without international pressure.
The Beirut port case has received international support, mainly to back up Judge Tarek Bitar after Hezbollah’s security chief Wafiq Safa publically threatened him. Still, the focus on elections left the port investigations vulnerable and under serious threat. Just last week, Finance Minister Youssef Khalil – and Amal minister- refused to sign the decree on partial judicial appointments to fill the void at the level of the presidencies of several chambers at the Court of Cessation.
Since February, the port investigation has been on hold because of lawsuits issued against Bitar by two former ministers.
The Court of Cessation is responsible for determining the next steps – either accept or reject these lawsuits. However, with planned new appointments blocked by Khalil, the course of justice in the Beirut explosion has been hindered. It is a ruthless delaying tactic, which has come on top of many other attempts since the investigation began.
Minister of Justice Henry Khoury has already signed the decree, and the Finance Minister’s role in such cases is very technical and is usually related to budget issues. But the Amal minister decided not to sign because he could, and except for some public and local media outcry, he does not feel any pressure or responsibility to allow justice to take its course. Only the justice minister, the Supreme Judicial Council, and the cabinet are constitutionally entitled to examine the decree's legitimacy or validity.
Justice, accountability, and the Beirut port victims have disappeared from the current diplomatic discourse. Meanwhile, Amal officials and its leader Nabih Berri are having meetings every day with Gulf and Western officials to discuss elections and post-elections political processes and scenarios.
It is dangerous because the post elections phase looks more significant than the days leading to it, and more pressure needs to be put on Berri and others to help Bitar continue his work.
In the best-case scenario, the opposition groups could only manage to get around ten people to the new parliament, but this is becoming a farfetched scenario, as civil society groups have generally failed to achieve unity. The upcoming elections will barely lead to any change, and the political parties will remain in power.
Instead of investing all diplomatic pressure on elections, the international community needs to save whatever is left of the state institution – to help Lebanon prepare for the worse that is yet to come. One of these small institutional spots is the small space left within the judicial system.
It needs saved because the institutional opening, and public support Bitar symbolizes could be crucial to navigating worrisome scenarios before and after the election.
Suppose France, the Gulf, and other actors working on Lebanon could send a strong message about the importance of accountability for the port explosion and other crimes. In that case, they could not only help secure a path to justice for particular incidents but also bolster a relatively independent part of the judiciary.
Judges might then feel more empowered to offer some protection against any new waves of violence or assassinations that may emerge in the coming months. Maintaining even a tiny space of accountability within one state institution could help restrain the potential social explosion, reduce the risk of violence, and bolster other struggling institutions.
Political compromise is not an option under the current circumstances. Efforts to sideline Bitar would eliminate the only sovereign space left within Lebanon's institutions. Ensuring that the election takes place on time is vital. This is not enough.
However, the international community must also help protect those in Lebanon who dare to stand up to the political establishment, taking steps that shield them from violence, arrests, random interrogations, and threats. Without some level of independence within the judicial system, threats, violence, repression, and assassinations will continue to devour Lebanon.
https://english.alarabiya.net/views/2022/04/26/Lebanon-s-judicial-independence-is-vital-for-the-nation-s-democracy

Lebanese American Coordinating Committee Press Release
The May 15 Election Is a Turning Point for Change and The Importance of the Vote of Lebanon’s Diaspora
Press Release
April 22, 2022
The date of the parliamentary elections is approaching.
On May 15, 2022, the Lebanese people –with the transformative and sovereign powers of residents and expatriates—are committed to an intense round of voting to protect the identity and the sovereignty of the Lebanese people and to liberate the state. Their will is aimed at asserting Lebanon’s full sovereignty, launching a course of structural reforms at all levels and enforcing the law against crimes that have affected thought leaders, statesmen, and influencers in public affairs and especially the horrific crime of the explosion that destroyed the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020.
In addition, the Lebanese people are demanding the restoration of Lebanon to its Arab roots and its international legitimacy.
The Lebanese people are asking for the implementation of its Constitution in all its aspects, for the country’s recommitment and adherence to Security Council resolutions, and for the neutrality of Lebanon with regards to regional conflicts. Since the upcoming parliamentary elections and constitutional obligations that
secure the peaceful and orderly democratic transfer of power are pivotal, the Lebanese American Coordinating Committee (LACC) calls for:
1- The recognition of the authority and legitimacy of the Lebanese military and security forces, together with the competent judicial agencies, to protect voting and freedom of expression, and to condemn the systematic verbal and physical attacks against electoral candidates who support the country’s sovereignty, and to protect it from groups within the ruling forces with known agendas and connections.
2- The specialized Lebanese election authorities to respect legal standards to facilitate the voting of expatriates, and to stop all attempts to obstruct voting either administratively, legally, or logistically, given that this obstruction will be subject of judicial prosecution by the vast majority of the societies and communities in the Lebanese diaspora.
3- The Lebanese people, residents and expatriates, will vote in large numbers to effect change and confirm the country’s sovereignty; as the nature of the battle this time is an existential one, and is linked to Lebanon’s independence and cultural identity. May 15 is an opportunity to launch a serious democratic path to liberate Lebanon from its kidnappers despite the overwhelming corruption of the present regime and their foreign-controlled agenda.
4- The international community and the Arab world must request strict oversight and control over the course of the electoral process, and demand that there be no hidden strategies by the present regime to deflate or rig these crucial elections. Also, LACC requests that the international community and the Arab world hold the present regime accountable pending strong sanctions against their financial interests if they manipulate the elections, which would deny the Lebanese people the key opportunity to allow the true voice of the country to be heard.
The Lebanese American Coordinating Committee, while affirming its steadfastness in its support of the rights of the Lebanese people, also looks to the powerful expatriate community with its unwavering commitment to the sovereignty of Lebanon to contribute seriously to these elections and to this struggle for preserving the true identity of Lebanon.
LACC Members Organizations:
Assembly for Lebanon (AFL)
Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership (LARP)
Lebanese Information Center (LIC)
Our New Lebanon (ONL)
Shields of United Lebanon (SOUL)
World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU)
Lebanese World Partner Organizations:
Civic Influence Hub (CIH)
Advisory Committee:
Abbas Dahouk, Col.(Ret.) US Army
Hanin Ghaddar
Wajih Kanso, Ph.D
Jessica Obeid
Philip Salem, M.D.
Stephen Stanton, Barrister

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 26-27/2022
Iran Welcomes 'Positive' 5th Round of Talks with Saudi Arabia
Baghdad, London - Fadhel al-Nashmi and Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
Iran said the latest round of talks with Saudi Arabia was "positive and serious.""The fifth round of talks between Saudi Arabia and Tehran were held in Iraq, and the talks were progressive and positive," spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a televised weekly news conference.
However, he noted that a meeting for their foreign ministers is not yet on the cards. An Iraqi government official had previously confirmed that Riyadh and Tehran held the fifth round of talks to improve the severed ties between the two countries. Khatibzadeh said that the officials agreed to hold a subsequent round of negotiations without specifying a date. Agence-France Presse (AFP) quoted Khatibzadeh saying that "if the negotiations are upgraded to a first-class political level, it can be expected that progress can be made swiftly in different sectors of the talks."
Riyadh has severed diplomatic relations with Tehran since January 2016 after the attack on the Saudi embassy in the Iranian capital and its consulate in Mashhad. Saudi Arabia rejects Iranian interference in the affairs of Arab countries, including Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen, and the development of its nuclear program. During the past year, four dialogue rounds were held in Iraq, sponsored by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, aiming to improve ties. The Iranian government, which is suffering from a stifling economic crisis due to US sanctions, pledged to end Tehran's regional isolation. Iran's relations with the regional countries recently became an issue of public opinion in the country. Nour News Agency, affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, expressed optimism about the talks held between high-level representatives and expected a joint meeting at the level of foreign ministers soon. The official Iraqi newspaper Assabah quoted an unnamed Iranian source as saying that the latest round of talks set a roadmap for the meetings and relations between Riyadh and Tehran, which increases hopes of restoring the diplomatic ties soon. The newspaper quoted an Iranian parliamentary spokesman as saying that improving relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran will positively impact the countries and peoples of the region on the political, cultural, and economic levels.

Tehran: Prolonging Vienna Talks Not in Interest of Nuclear Parties
London, Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
Tehran has voiced its concern over the stalemate in the Vienna talks with its foreign ministry spokesperson warning that “prolonging” and “slowing down” indirect negotiations with Washington “is not in the interest of any of the parties.” “Remaining talks and negotiations between Iran and the US must be followed along their track,” said Saeed Khatibzadeh, noting that the EU's coordinator for talks to restore the Iran nuclear deal, Enrique Mora, is working to resolve issues remaining between the two parties. The European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borell, had held a phone call with the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the matter. Khatibzadeh was asked about Borrell’s warning to Amir-Abdollahian about the consequences of a protracted impasse at the Vienna talks. “Iran and Europe agree that prolonging the pause in the Vienna negotiations is not in the interest of the negotiations,” said Khatibzadeh, referring to the need for reviving the suspended discussions “through a face-to-face meeting.”“No decision has yet been taken about the place and at what level this meeting will be held, but it is on the agenda,” added the spokesperson. A statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry had quoted Borrell as saying in the phone call that the stalemate was “not constructive,” proposing a meeting between Mora and Iran's chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani. For his part, Amir-Abdollahian confirmed that “consultations are underway.”
“There is no doubt that the Iranian administration wants to reach a good, strong and lasting agreement,” he said. “The White House must abandon exaggerated demands and take a realistic path,” added Khatibzadeh. He denied being aware of an agreement between Amir-Abdollahian and Borrell on a meeting that goes beyond the issues they talked about. Referring to the exchange of messages between Tehran and Washington, Khatibzadeh said: “What is important is that the dialogues did not stop.” “Bagheri and Mora communicate almost daily and regularly, and exchange messages. We continue the dialogues through the European coordinator,” he remarked, according to Iranian state news agencies

Iran Court Sentences 2 Students to 16-year Prison Terms Each
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
A court in Iran has sentenced two students to 16-year prison terms each on charges of endangering national security, the judiciary’s spokesman said Tuesday. According to the spokesman, Zabihollah Khodaeian, the two sabotaged public facilities, tried to cooperate with opposition groups and spread propaganda against the system. These actions translated to 10-year, five and one -year prison terms, he added. If an appeals court upholds the ruling, the 10-year term will go into effect, Khodaeian added. The authorities detained the two students — Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi — of the prestigious Sharif Industrial University in 2020, prompting an outcry among students and teachers of the university, as well as by Amnesty International and various rights groups. Younesi and Moradi have been in custody since then, The Associated Press said. Younesi’s lawyer Mostafa Nili said the students would appeal the verdict by the Iranian Revolutionary Court, which handles security-related charges.

Iran-Pakistan Ties on Brink after Khan's Ouster
London, Tehran - Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
Iran is concerned that the progress it has made in bilateral relations with Pakistan may evaporate with the ouster of prime minister Imran Khan. Iranian experts expect new Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif to pay a visit to Iran soon as part of a revision of his predecessor's foreign policy.
Pakistan is geopolitically significant to Iran in spite of the clash of interests and political stances over regional and international issues. These differences were highlighted in wake of the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, Iran's signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with China, Iran's nuclear deal, American sanctions, and the Iranian Quds Forces' plans to expand its reach in the northern Indian Ocean and its backing of the Shiites in Pakistan, through the Zainebiyoun militia. These issues pose a risk to the strategic balances of the decision-makers in Tehran. Iranians are divided over the causes that led to Khan's ouster. The conservatives blamed it on international factors, while few have spoken about regional and local causes. Iranian Revolutionary Guards media blamed the United States, an accusation it has made before in regards to government changes in Pakistan. Some media reports have also said that the crisis in Pakistan will persist after Khan's exit from the scene. Security and regional developments had taken the spotlight between Pakistan and Iran since Khan came to power. The Guards have frequently come under bloody attacks by opposition factions in Iran's volatile eastern Baluchestan region.
Iran sought to contain the situation by signing security and trade agreements with Pakistan covering the 900-km long border. The neighbors have since opened several border crossings and set up joint markets to confront security challenges. It has apparently paid off, with less instability being reported in the region. In spite of this perceived improvement, Iranian experts believe that with the exception of some security and political breakthroughs, Khan's government had not really developed economic relations with Tehran. They believe that a government change in Pakistan will not lead to radical and strategic changes in relations with Tehran. There are no differences between Iran and Pakistan, said one analyst, describing relations as strong, in spite of some tensions that may occasionally emerge, and predicting that the ties will continue in the same vein.

UN Chief Tells Russia that Ukraine Ceasefire Is Needed as Soon as Possible
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in Moscow on Tuesday that conditions for a ceasefire in Ukraine should be created as soon as possible. "We are extremely interested in finding ways in order to create the conditions for effective dialogue, create the conditions for a ceasefire as soon as possible, create the conditions for a peaceful solution", Guterres said at a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He also said he wanted to reduce the impact of fighting in Ukraine on food security in other parts of the world. Lavrov said they would discuss "the situation around Ukraine that acts as a catalyst for a great number of problems which had piled up over recent decades in the Euro-Atlantic region.”Guterres was later due to meet President Vladimir Putin.

UN chief pushes for Ukraine corridors on Moscow visit
Agence France Presse/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called during a visit to Russia Tuesday for Moscow and Kyiv to work together to set up aid and evacuation corridors in war-torn Ukraine. "We urgently need humanitarian corridors that are truly safe and effective," he told a press conference after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. "To that end I have proposed the establishment of a humanitarian contact group bringing together the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United Nations to look for opportunities for the opening of safe corridors," he said. Guterres also called for an independent investigation into "possible war crimes" in Ukraine. "I am concerned about the repeated reports of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law and possible war crimes. And they require independent investigation for effective accountability," Guterres said. Lavrov said Moscow was ready to cooperate with the United Nations to help civilians in Ukraine.  "Our goals are primarily to protect the civilian population and here we are ready to cooperate with our colleagues from the U.N. to alleviate the plight of the civilian population," Lavrov said. He said Russia was in favour of resolving the conflict in Ukraine with peace talks, but said it was "depressing" the way the Kyiv delegation and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky behaved.

Russia Warns of WWIII ahead of Western Summit on Arms to Ukraine
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
Russia has warned of the "real" threat of World War III breaking out, ahead of a Tuesday meeting between the United States and allies over sending further arms to war-torn Ukraine. Moscow's invasion of its neighbor has triggered an outburst of support from Western nations that has seen weapons pour into the country to help it wage war against Russian troops, AFP said. But Western powers have been reluctant to deepen their involvement, for fear of sparking a conflict against nuclear-armed Russia. Speaking to Russian news agencies, Moscow's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the risk of a World War III "is serious" and criticized Kyiv's approach to floundering peace talks. "It is real, you can't underestimate it," Lavrov said. For months, President Volodymyr Zelensky has been asking Ukraine's Western allies for heavy weapons -- including artillery and fighter jets -- vowing his forces could turn the tide of the war with more firepower. The calls appear to be resonating now, with a host of NATO countries pledging to provide a range of heavy weapons and equipment, despite protests from Moscow. In a landmark trip to Kyiv over the weekend, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Zelensky and promised $700 million in new aid to Ukraine. "The first step in winning is believing that you can win," Austin told a group of journalists after meeting the Ukrainian leader. "We believe that we can win -- they can win -- if they have the right equipment, the right support."
And on the invitation of the United States, 40 countries will also hold a security summit in Germany on Tuesday to discuss further arms to Ukraine -- as well as to ensure the country's longer-term security once the war is over. Among the invited countries are European allies of the United States, but also Australia and Japan -- who fear that a Russian victory in Ukraine will set a precedent and encourage the territorial ambitions of China. Finland and Sweden -- traditionally neutral countries that have been considering NATO membership since Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- are also on the guestlist. And on the Russian side, President Vladimir Putin is due to hold talks with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, his spokesman told RIA Novosti.
Death and destruction
But far from the diplomatic hustle and bustle, on the frontline, civilians continue to die in fighting raging across war-torn Ukraine. At least five people were killed and another 18 wounded on Monday after a Russian rocket attack targeted railway infrastructure in the central Ukraine region of Vinnytsia. The head of Ukraine Railways, Alexander Kamyshin, had earlier announced the attacks, accusing Moscow's army of "systematically" destroying railway infrastructure. Dozens of people were killed earlier this month in Russian strikes on a train station used for evacuations in the eastern city of Kramatorsk. Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv, remains partially surrounded and Moscow's forces are regrouping in the south, but a Russian attempt to break through towards Zaporizhzhia in the east failed, the ministry added. In Kharkiv -- which has faced a daily barrage of Russian rocket attacks since the war began over three months ago -- children spoke to AFP about the bombings, their daily life and hopes for peace. "I miss my kickboxing training and dance classes," said Alina, 9, who has been forced to sleep in an underground car park. "Victory would make me very happy. The war won't end straight away, but it will in a few weeks, I made a wish."Meanwhile, on Monday, the governor of a Russian region bordering Ukraine accused Kyiv of bombing one of its villages, injuring two civilians and damaging several houses. "A village was targeted... It is already clear that there are injured civilians," Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram. Russia has in recent weeks accused Ukrainian forces of striking targets on Russian soil, including two villages in Belgorod and another in the region of Bryansk. Moscow also accused Kyiv of preventing civilians trapped with Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol's Azovstal steelworks from leaving the besieged industrial complex despite a ceasefire announcement. The Russian defense ministry had said it would allow a civilian evacuation from Mariupol's sprawling steel plant, which has been sheltering the remaining Ukrainian resistance in the southeastern port city.
But the Russian army on Monday evening said no one used the proposed humanitarian corridor. "The Kyiv authorities have again cynically undermined this humanitarian operation," it said in a statement, accusing the Ukrainian government of "indifference" towards its citizens.
- 'International crimes' -
Forty German diplomats will meanwhile be heading home from Russia after Moscow announced their expulsion, following Berlin's decision to kick out 40 Russian diplomats earlier this month. From The Hague, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor will join an EU investigations team to probe "alleged core international crimes committed in Ukraine", officials said. The chief prosecutor visited the town of Bucha -- the scene of civilian killings that Ukraine has blamed on Russian forces -- almost two weeks ago. Russia has denied responsibility for the deaths. "Ukraine is a crime scene. We're here because we have reasonable grounds to believe that crimes within the jurisdiction of the court are being committed," Karim Khan said at the time. Meanwhile, the IMF warned that Asian nations, like the rest of the world, are being battered by the war, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Western sanctions on Moscow driving up food and fuel prices worldwide. "This is a challenging time for policymakers as they try to address pressures on growth and tackle rising inflation," IMF official Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf wrote in a blog. And the UN is set to vote Tuesday on a resolution that would require the five permanent members of the Security Council to justify their use of the veto in future. "It is not directed against Russia," said co-sponsor Christian Wenaweser, Liechtenstein's ambassador to the body. The proposal was on ice for more than two years and its revival came as the Security Council has proven incapable of condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, due to Moscow's veto power. But its application "will shed light" on the use of the veto right and on the "blockages" within the Security Council, said one ambassador on condition of anonymity.

UK Cuts all Tariffs on Ukraine, Bans More Exports to Russia
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
Britain said it has dropped tariffs on all goods from Ukraine while slapping a ban on some technology exports to Moscow to help Kyiv in its fight against the Russian invasion. Responding to a direct request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the UK's international trade department said Monday it had reduced "all tariffs on goods imported from Ukraine", including key exports such as barley, honey and poultry. "The UK will continue to do everything in its power to support Ukraine's fight against Putin's brutal and unprovoked invasion," international trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said in a statement. At the same time, Britain announced it would prevent the export of "products and technology that Russia could use to repress the heroic people of Ukraine", including possibly surveillance and interception equipment, AFP said. Last week, Britain boosted its sanctions regime against Russia, targeting army chiefs and adding import bans on silver, wood products and caviar. The invasion has triggered an outburst of support from both sides of the Atlantic, with Western nations implementing a raft of financial penalties and funneling weapons into Ukraine to help Kyiv beat back Russian troops. The latest UK measures come as Russia warns the conflict -- now in its third month -- risks escalating into World War III. For months, Zelensky has been asking allies to do more -- including sending artillery and fighter jets -- vowing his forces could turn the tide of the war with more firepower.

Israel to reopen Gaza crossing after closing it over rockets
Associated Press/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
Israel said Monday it will reopen its border crossing with the Gaza Strip to Palestinian workers after closing it for several days following rocket attacks from the Palestinian enclave. COGAT, the Israeli military body coordinating civilian affairs in Gaza, said the opening of the Erez Crossing on Tuesday would be conditioned "on the maintenance of a stable security situation in the area." In recent months, Israel had issued thousands of work permits to Palestinians from Gaza, which has been under a crippling Israeli and Egyptian blockade since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces nearly 15 years ago. Israel grants permits to some 12,000 Palestinians in Gaza and over 100,000 to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, mostly for work in construction and agriculture. The job permits have been an economic lifeline for thousands of Gazan families and were considered to be a key factor in maintaining stability before the latest fighting broke out. The decision to close the border came after days of rising tensions between Israel and the Palestinians following a string of deadly attacks inside Israel, arrest raids in the West Bank, clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site, and the first rocket attacks into Israel from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in months.

Israeli Parliament Bars Critic of PM Bennett from Reelection
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
Israel’s parliament has barred a breakaway member of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's party from running for reelection with any political faction, a small political victory for the premier as he seeks to stabilize the fragile government and a warning to any other rebel lawmakers.
The Knesset committee voted 7-0 on Monday to take action against lawmaker Amichai Chikli, declaring him a "defector." Chikli said he would challenge the move in court. Israeli media reported that Bennett had requested the vote. Chikli broke away from Bennett's Yamina party almost immediately after the coalition was formed, and has been seen as a likely candidate for the opposition Likud party in the future. The vote prevents him from doing that during this session of the Knesset. It is also a warning to Idit Silman, who resigned from Bennett's party earlier this month, and any other potential political rebels in the parliament. Silman's exit deprived the eight-party coalition of its 61-seat majority, less than a year after it was sworn in. That raised the prospect of a new national election at a time of rising tensions with the Palestinians. The eight-party alliance, made up of ultranationalists, dovish parties and a small Islamist faction, is now deadlocked with the opposition with 60 seats each in the 120-member Knesset. That has greatly complicated the government's ability to pass legislation and raised the risk of plunging the country into snap elections. Labor Party leader Merav Michaeli, Israel's transportation minister, said Monday that all party chiefs are working together to find a way to preserve the government. Local media reported that Chikli may form new party. He rankled the coalition last year, when he voted with the opposition against renewing a law that kept Arab citizens from extending citizenship or residency rights to spouses from the occupied West Bank and Gaza. It was a major setback for Bennett that cast doubt on the future of the coalition. "Israel needs a functioning Zionist government, and not a mismatched patchwork that is reliant on" the votes of Arab lawmakers, Chikli said at the time.Bennett's unwieldy coalition also faces other challenges. Ongoing unrest surrounding a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, has prompted the small Islamist party Ra'am - the first Arab party to serve in an Israeli coalition - to temporarily suspend its participation in protest.

Shabaab targets Somali police chief in Mogadishu suicide bombing
CALEB WEISS & ANDREW TOBIN/FDD's Long War Journal/April 26/2022
On the evening of April 22, Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, struck a popular restaurant in Lido Beach in Mogadishu in an attempt to assassinate the chief of the Somali Police Force, Abdi Hassan Mohamed Hijaar. The police commander was accompanied by 11 members of the Somali Parliament at the time of the attack. Local reporters describe the attack as “complex” as the terrorist organization conducted a suicide bombing of the crowded restaurant, then followed the explosion with an assault by gunmen. Hijaar, along with several other Somali government officials, were breaking their Ramadan fast at the restaurant at the time of the attack. Shabaab frequently employs the tactic of suicide assaults, especially upon popular hotels in Mogadishu, using the shock and chaos created by the suicide bombing to enable its gunmen to then enter the fray. According to local sources, Hijaar and other Somali government officials were unharmed in the assault, indicating that Shabaab failed to accomplish its objective. However, at least 6 people, all civilians, were killed in the attack. Local officials stated at least another 7 people were also injured. Shabaab was quick to claim the suicide bombing via its Shahada News Agency and local radio stations. According to the jihadist group, it was specifically targeting “the grouping of apostate government officials” at the restaurant. According to data compiled by FDD’s Long War Journal, Friday’s blast marks the group’s 12th successful or attempted suicide bombing so far this year. The vast majority of these have occurred inside Mogodishu.  Shabaab further stated it “killed and wounded 44 people,” including an alleged government official, though the group routinely inflates the casualty numbers of its attacks. Local media has also denied that any government personnel were injured.
Shabaab often uses suicide bombings in its political assassinations. For instance, the group killed Somali lawmaker Amina Mohamed Abdi in a suicide bombing in central Somalia last month. Last year, it also attempted to assassinate the governor of Somalia’s Bay region in a similar blast. While in 2020, two regional governors, of Puntland’s Nugaal and Mudug regions, were killed by Shabaab’s suicide bombers.
Targeting Somalia’s Election Process
Friday’s suicide assault once again demonstrates that Mogadishu is not safe from insurgent attacks. Shabaab continues to attempt to undermine the federal government by illustrating its inability to protect its population and secure its territory. In this regard, Friday’s suicide bombing was just the latest in a recent series of attacks. On Monday, Shabaab claimed credit for a mortar attack on the Somali parliament building in Mogadishu. Though no one was killed in the attack, at least six were injured. The attack occurred while the newly elected parliamentarians were approving procedures for electing the speakers.
The mortar blasts, like the consecutive strikes at the end of March, represent yet another Shabaab attempt to undermine the Somali election process. Friday’s suicide assault can also be seen within the context of Shabaab’s attempts at disrupting the process. As the election process continues, with various delays, Shabaab will continue to muster its forces to disrupt the elections across the country. Government officials, including local politicians, are likely to continue to be targets of Shabaab’s violence. Despite some setbacks in recent years, Shabaab continues to be one of al Qaeda’s most effective branches. It maintains significant control over much of southern Somalia and retains the ability to strike in Mogadishu, Kenya, where it also controls territory, and against heavily fortified bases in both Somalia and Kenya.Though its fortunes have ebbed and flowed over the past decade, it has weathered numerous offensives from an array of local, regional, and international actors, including the United States.Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.

Israeli Soldiers Fight with Ukrainian Army
Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
Videos posted to social media Sunday appeared to show several Israelis who are fighting with Ukrainian forces giving thanks to Israel and the Jewish people for supporting their efforts to repel the Russian invasion. The clips, which circulated widely, showed the men in Ukrainian military uniforms in an unspecified forested area. The video was likely shot over the last week as the fighters thanked Ukraine’s chief rabbi for supplying them with kosher food to celebrate the weeklong Passover holiday, reported Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth. “We want to give thanks to the people of Israel and the government of Israel for the help they give us. We are here fighting against the Russians in this very difficult war,” said one fighter in Hebrew. He also thanked the main synagogue in Kyiv and Ukrainian Chief Rabbi Moshe Azman for providing the troops with kosher food and helping them celebrate Passover.
“We, the soldiers of the Ukrainian army who are at the front fighting the Russian invader, want to express our support for the people of Israel who are experiencing severe terror attacks,” a soldier said. “When Russia started this war against us, you stood with us and so we want to give our thanks for your support and are standing with you at this difficult time,” he said. “We are sure that our countries will be able to defeat the enemy and end the terror.”There are believed to be hundreds of Ukrainian-born Israelis and several native Israelis who traveled to Ukraine to join volunteer units after the Russian invasion, but the exact numbers are not clear. The effusive thanks given to Israel in the videos is also unclear, with Ukraine previously repeatedly chastising Israel for its tepid support. Israel has avoided aligning too closely with either side since Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24. It is one of the few countries that maintains relatively warm relations with both Ukraine, a fellow democracy, and Russia.

Palestinians Say Man Killed in Israeli West Bank Raid
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
Israeli forces on Tuesday shot and killed a 20-year-old Palestinian man during a raid in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority's Health Ministry said. The PA said the man, Ahmad Oweidat, was shot in the head. The army confirmed it carried out an arrest raid overnight at the Aqbat Jabr refugee camp, south of Jericho. It said troops opened fire after dozens of Palestinians threw rocks and firebombs at soldiers. In a separate statement, the army said 11 Palestinians suspected of militant activity were arrested in the West Bank. The shooting came after days of rising tensions between Israel and the Palestinians following a string of deadly attacks inside Israel, arrest raids in the West Bank, clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, and the heaviest fighting along the Gaza frontier since a war last year. Israel captured east Jerusalem - which includes major holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims - along with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories to form their future state.

World Leaders Welcome Macron's French Election Win
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
World leaders rushed to congratulate France's centrist President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election and defeat of far-right leader Marine Le Pen in elections Sunday. Here are some of the main reactions according to AFP:
- European Union -"I am delighted to be able to continue our excellent cooperation," tweeted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen."We can count on France for five more years," European Council President Charles Michel wrote on Twitter.
- United States -"France is our oldest ally and a key partner in addressing global challenges," US President Joe Biden tweeted. "I look forward to our continued close cooperation -- including on supporting Ukraine, defending democracy, and countering climate change."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also congratulated Macron.
"We look forward to continuing close cooperation with France on global challenges, underpinning our long and enduring Alliance and friendship," he wrote.
- Germany -Chancellor Olaf Scholz said French voters "have sent a strong vote of confidence in Europe today. I am happy that we will continue our good cooperation".
- Britain -Prime Minister Boris Johnson called France "one of our closest and most important allies" and said he looked forward "to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world".
- Ukraine -President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has spoken with Macron several times since Russia's invasion on February 24, called Macron a "true friend of Ukraine". "I wish him further success for the sake of the (French) people. I appreciate his support and I am convinced that we are moving together towards new common victories," he wrote in both Ukrainian and French.
- Russia -Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote in a telegram: "I sincerely wish you success in your state activities, as well as good health and well-being," according to a statement from the Kremlin.
- Algeria -President Abdelmadjid Tebboune congratulated Macron on his "brilliant" victory and invited him to visit Algeria soon "to intensify and broaden" relations which have been fraught in recent times between France and its neighboring former colony.
- China -China President Xi Jinping said he would "like to continue working with President Macron to maintain diplomatic relations based on independence, mutual understanding, foresight and mutual benefit". according to a readout from state broadcaster CCTV.
- Australia -Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Macron's victory was a "great expression of liberal democracy in action in uncertain times". "We wish you and France every success, in particular your leadership in Europe and as an important partner to Australia in the Indo-Pacific," he tweeted, using an alternative name for the Asia-Pacific region. In November, Macron accused his Australian counterpart of lying over a multi-billion-dollar submarine contract that Canberra scrapped without warning.
- Canada -Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was "looking forward to continuing our work together on the issues that matter most to people in Canada and France -- from defending democracy, to fighting climate change, to creating good jobs and economic growth for the middle class".
- India -Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his "friend" on being re-elected and said "I look forward to continue working together to deepen the India-France Strategic Partnership."
- Japan -Tweeting in French, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wrote: "We will strengthen our close cooperation with President Macron in various areas, such as the Indo-Pacific region and the Russian aggression against Ukraine."
- Italy -Prime Minister Mario Draghi described Macron's victory as "great news for all of Europe".
- Spain -"The citizens have chosen a France committed to a free, strong and fair EU. Democracy wins. Europe wins," tweeted socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. "Congratulations Emmanuel Macron."
- Belgium -Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said French voters had made a "strong choice", opting for "certainty and Enlightenment values".
- UN bodies -UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi sent his "warm congratulations" and said his organization would continue to count on Macron's support on the European and world stage "as humanitarian challenges and refugee crises become more serious and complex every day".
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he looked forward to "continuing the important partnership" with France "for a healthier, safer, fairer world".
- Ireland -Prime Minister Micheal Martin hailed Macron's "principled and dynamic leadership" as "important not only for France, but for Europe".
- Switzerland -President Ignazio Cassis said he looked forward to "continuing our good collaboration," stressing the close ties between the two neighboring countries.
- Sweden -Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson sent her "warmest congratulations". "Let's continue our close cooperation -- bilaterally and for a competitive, green and resilient European Union," she tweeted.
- African Union -African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat congratulated Macron over "his brilliant re-election", saying he hoped to continue building "mutually beneficial relations between Africa and France".

UN: Humanity Stuck in 'Spiral of Self-destruction'
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
Humanity is suffering from a "broken perception of risk", spurring us into activities and behaviors that cause climate change and a surging number of disasters around the globe, the UN warned Tuesday.
In a fresh report, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, or UNDRR, found that between 350 and 500 medium- to large-scale disasters took place globally every year over the past two decades, AFP reported. That is five times more than the average during the three preceding decades, it said. And amid the changing climate, disastrous events brought on by drought, extreme temperatures and devastating flooding are expected to occur even more frequently going forward. The report estimated that by 2030, we will be experiencing 560 disasters around the world every year -- or 1.5 disasters every day on average.
UNDRR said in a statement that the sharp rise in disasters globally could be attributed to a "broken perception of risk based on optimism, underestimation and invincibility". This, it said, had led to policy, finance and development decisions that exacerbate vulnerabilities and put people in danger. Ignoring the towering risks we face "is setting humanity on a spiral of self-destruction," UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned in the statement. Ignoring risks has come at a high price. Disasters around the world have cost roughly $170 billion (160 billion euros) each year over the past decade, the report found. But most of that is incurred in lower-income countries, which on average lose one percent of their national GDP to disasters each year, compared to just 0.1 to 0.2 percent in wealthier nations. The Asia and Pacific regions suffer the greatest economic losses, the report found. And as the number of disasters increase, the costs will as well. The report estimated that 37.6 million more people will be living in conditions of extreme poverty by 2030 due to the impacts of climate change and disasters. Most disaster-related losses are meanwhile not covered by insurers.
Since 1980, only about 40 percent have been covered globally, but in developing countries the less than 10 percent of such losses had insurance coverage. "Disasters can be prevented, but only if countries invest the time and resources to understand and reduce their risks," UNDRR chief Mami Mizutori stressed in the statement. However, she warned, "by deliberately ignoring risk and failing to integrate it in decision making, the world is effectively bankrolling its own destruction."

US Administration Expands Availability of COVID Antiviral Pill
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
President Joe Biden's administration is taking steps to expand availability of the life-saving COVID-19 antiviral treatment Paxlovid, as it seeks to reassure doctors that there is ample supply for people at high risk of severe illness or death from the virus. Paxlovid, produced by Pfizer, was first approved in December. Supply of the regimen was initially very limited, but as COVID-19 cases across the country have fallen and manufacturing has increased it is now far more abundant. The White House is now moving to raise awareness of the pill and taking steps to make it easier to access, AFP said. The White House said Tuesday it is stepping up outreach to doctors, letting them know that they shouldn't think twice about prescribing the pill to eligible patients. It is also announcing that the drug will now be distributed directly to pharmacies, in addition to existing distribution channels run by states. That is expected to boost the number of sites from 20,000 to more than 30,000 next week and eventually to 40,000 locations. The administration believes the pharmacy channel, which it used to boost availability of COVID-19 vaccines more than a year ago, will similarly make the antiviral pills more available to people. Paxlovid, when administered within five days of symptoms appearing, has been proven to bring about a 90% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths among patients most likely to get severe disease. About 350 Americans are now dying each day from the coronavirus, down from more than 2,600 during the height of the omicron wave earlier this year. The US has ordered enough supply of the pills for 20 million people, which is estimated to last for several more months. The administration has warned that subsequent deliveries are dependent on Congress approving additional COVID-19 response funding.
The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s drug for adults and children age 12 or older with a positive COVID-19 test and early symptoms who face the highest risk of severe outcomes. That includes older people and those with conditions like obesity and heart disease, though the drug is not recommended for patients with severe kidney or liver problems. The administration is also working to expand the number of test-to-treat sites that provide a one-stop shop for those with COVID-19 to get tested for the virus, consult with a medical professional if they're positive and fill a prescription for Paxlovid on site. Currently there are 2,200 locations nationwide, and the administration hopes support from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and pharmacy companies will enable more sites to come online in the coming weeks.

Kim Vows to 'Strengthen' North Korea's Nuclear Weapons at Parade
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 26 April, 2022
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to strengthen the country's nuclear weapons program during a speech at a high-profile military parade in Pyongyang, state media reported Tuesday. "We will continue to take steps to strengthen and develop our nation's nuclear capabilities at the fastest pace," Kim said, according to a transcript published by the official Korean Central News Agency. According to KCNA, Kim gave the speech late Monday at a parade marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, said AFP. North Korea is under biting international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, and repeated negotiations aimed at convincing Kim to end it have come to nothing. Kim on Monday said the country's nuclear weapons were "a symbol of national power" and that the country would "further strengthen and develop our nuclear force at the highest possible speed."Pyongyang has carried out more than a dozen weapons tests this year, including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full range for the first time since 2017. North Korea had paused long-range and nuclear tests while Kim met then-US president Donald Trump for a bout of doomed diplomacy, which collapsed in 2019. Talks have since stalled. US and South Korean officials and analysts have warned Pyongyang could soon resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 2017. Satellite imagery has shown signs of new activity at a tunnel at the Punggye-ri nuclear testing site, which North Korea said was demolished in 2018 ahead of the first Trump-Kim summit.
- Nuclear attack? -
KCNA reported that Kim oversaw a huge military parade Monday, featuring paratroopers, displays of the country's largest and most powerful missiles, and thousands of troops marching together. In a speech at the major event, Kim said that while the primary role of the country's nuclear weapons was as a deterrent, they "cannot be bound to only one mission". "If any force attempts to usurp the fundamental interests of our country, our nuclear force will have no choice but to carry out its second mission unexpectedly," he said. KCNA said the parade had showcased the North's most sophisticated weaponry, including the Hwasong-17, which it claims to have successfully tested on March 24. "The spectators raised loud cheers, greatly excited to see the giant ICBM Hwasongpho-17 which soared into the sky on March 24," KCNA reported. At the time, state media trumpeted the "miraculous" launch of what it claimed was the Hwasong-17, publishing dramatic photos and videos of leader Kim personally overseeing the test. But analysts identified discrepancies in Pyongyang's account, and South Korean and US intelligence agencies have concluded that North Korea actually fired a Hwasong-15 -- a less-advanced ICBM which it had already tested in 2017. Seoul-based specialist site NK News published photos it said had come from the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper showing a Hwasong-17 missile at the parade. North Korea stages military parades to mark important holidays and events, often featuring thousands of goose-stepping troops followed by a cavalcade of armored vehicles and tanks and culminating with the key missiles Pyongyang wants to display. Observers closely monitor these events for clues on North Korea's latest weapons development.

The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on April 26-27/2022
Biden Administration Ignores What the Palestinians Are Really Saying
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/April 26/2022
the goals of our people are achieved, including the liberation [of all Palestine]." — Hazem Qassem, Hamas spokesperson, palinfo.com, April 22, 2022.
The Biden administration's representatives who are talking about "the need for all parties to work for calm, especially in Jerusalem," appear to be overlooking that the latest tensions are, at best, only partially related to the city or the al-Aqsa Mosque.
For Hamas, the riots at the al-Aqsa Mosque are simply part of a long-term strategy to destroy all of Israel.
"The battle [with Israel] is open. What is happening at the mosque will shorten the life of the occupation until it is expelled from Palestine. We are still at the beginning of the battle." — Ismail Haniyeh, senior political leader of Hamas, panet.co.il, April 21, 2022.
So, while the Biden administration is reaffirming its commitment to a "two-state solution," which means establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel, Hamas and its supporters are openly expressing their intention to continue their jihad until they exterminate Israel.
Haniyeh remains more popular than Abbas and in a presidential election, would easily defeat him. The poll also showed that if parliamentary elections were held today, Hamas would defeat Abbas's faction, the Fatah.
The results of the polls clearly telegraph that any future Palestinian state will unquestionably be controlled by Hamas and used as a launching pad to continue the fight until Israel is obliterated.
The Palestinians, for their part, have been, as always, refreshingly clear about what they want -- and a mosque is not it.
Recent riots at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount in Jerusalem provide further proof of the widespread support among Palestinians for Hamas, the Islamist group controlling the Gaza Strip that is designated as a terrorist organization not only by Israel, but also by the US, Canada, the EU, Japan, Australia and Britain. Pictured: Palestinian rioters attack Israeli police officers with rocks outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque, on April 22, 2022. (Photo by Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images)
The recent riots at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount in Jerusalem provide further proof of the widespread support among Palestinians for Hamas, the Islamist group controlling the Gaza Strip that is designated as a terrorist organization not only by Israel, but also by the US, Canada, the EU, Japan, Australia and Britain.
Yet, none of these countries has so far condemned Hamas for orchestrating and inciting the violence, during which thousands of Palestinians desecrated the al-Aqsa Mosque compound by hurling stones and launching fireworks at Israeli security forces. Nor have they expressed concern over the calls made by Hamas supporters at the holy site to murder Jews and wage jihad (holy war) against Israel.
Instead of condemning Hamas for defiling the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and encouraging Muslim worshippers to attack Israeli police officers, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken continues to talk about the need "to end the cycle of violence in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza by exercising restraint and refraining from actions that escalate tensions, including at Jerusalem's Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount."
At an April 22 meeting in Ramallah between US State Department envoys Yael Lempert and Hady Amr, and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and his top advisers in Ramallah, there was no mention at all of Hamas's non-stop provocations and incitement.
According to a statement issued by the Palestinian Affairs Unit at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, the two sides discussed "the need for all parties to call and work for calm, especially in Jerusalem, and our mutual commitment to a two-state solution."
The Biden administration and many in the international community continue to turn a blind eye to the fact that Hamas has exploited the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to tighten its grip on one of Islam's holiest shrines, the al-Aqsa Mosque. They are also ignoring the daily calls at the site to slaughter Jews.
"O' settler, patience, patience, Hamas will dig your grave!" Hamas supporters chanted during one of the rallies at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
During another rally, the Hamas supporters kept repeating "We are the men of Mohammed Deif."
Deif, the commander of the military wing of Hamas, has been on Israel's most wanted list for more than two decades for his involvement in several terrorist attacks that included kidnappings and suicide bombings. In 2015, the US State Department finally added the Gaza-based arch-terrorist Deif to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
"In the name of God, in the name of the religion, we want to liberate Palestine," thousands of Hamas supported and other worshippers repeated again and again on April 22.
When Hamas and its supporters talk about the liberation of Palestine, they are referring to the elimination of Israel, as explicitly stated in the Hamas covenant of 1988.
Its preamble states, "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it...."
According to Article 11 of the Hamas covenant:
"The Islamic Resistance Movement [Hamas] believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Muslim generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up."
Article 13 states:
"These conferences are only ways of setting the infidels in the land of the Moslems as arbitrators... There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."
Article 32: "Leaving the circle of struggle with Zionism is high treason, and cursed be he who does that."
Article 33: "Hail to Jihad!"
In keeping with this ideology, Hamas supporters have also been chanting: "Allah is our goal, the Koran is our constitution, jihad is our path, Hamas our movement and its Qassam Brigades [military wing] is our army."
After the Friday prayer at the al-Aqsa Mosque on April 22, thousands of Palestinians chanted: "Khaibar, Khaibar ya Yahud, jaishu Mohammed sawfa ya'ud!" ("Khaibar, Khaibar O' Jews, the army of Mohammed will return).
This slogan, referring to a battle between the early Muslims and the Jews in the 7th century, during which Jews were massacred, is a direct threat to slaughter Jews and is heard as such.
The year 2007 will be remembered for Hamas seizing control of the Gaza Strip and forcibly exiling the Palestinian Authority. The year 2022 will be remembered as the year Hamas seized control of the Haram al-Sharif, turning it into a podium for issuing threats to massacre Jews and destroy Israel.
As far as the terrorist organization is concerned, the pro-Hamas rallies at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound over the past few weeks show that the Palestinians fully endorse its charter and terrorism.
As Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem put it:
"Our people in Jerusalem and at the courtyards of the al-Aqsa Mosque have shown that they stand behind the symbols of the Palestinian resistance. Their chants and banners [in support of Hamas] reflect the depth of their belief in the option of resistance as a way to restore the land and the sanctities."
Hamas, he added, "will remain committed to its charter until the goals of our people are achieved, including the liberation [of all Palestine]."
It is important to understand that when Hamas talks about the "resistance," it is referring to different types of terrorism, including stabbings, shootings, vehicular attacks, suicide bombings and firing rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel.
The Biden administration's representatives who are talking about "the need for all parties to work for calm, especially in Jerusalem," appear to be overlooking that the latest tensions are not solely related to the city or al-Aqsa Mosque.
For Hamas, the riots at the al-Aqsa Mosque are part of a long-term strategy to destroy every inch of Israel.
"The battle [with Israel] is open," said Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. "What is happening at the mosque will shorten the life of the occupation until it is expelled from Palestine. We are still at the beginning of the battle."
So, while the Biden administration is reaffirming its commitment to a "two-state solution," which means establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel, Hamas and its supporters are openly expressing their intention to continue their jihad until they displace all of Israel.
The events of the past few weeks at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, during which Hamas demonstrated that its supporters control the holy site, should serve as a warning to all those who believe that the "two-state solution" will lead to an end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Public opinion polls have shown a dramatic surge in Palestinian support for Hamas after last year's war between the terrorist group and Israel. A more recent poll revealed that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh remains more popular than Abbas and could easily defeat him in a presidential election. The poll also disclosed that if parliamentary elections were held today, Hamas would defeat Abbas's faction, Fatah.
The results of the polls clearly telegraph that any future Palestinian state will be controlled by Hamas and used as a launching pad to continue the fight until Israel is obliterated.
By ignoring the dangerous repercussions of the Hamas takeover of the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem and the calls for slaughtering Jews emanating from the al-Aqsa Mosque, the Biden administration and the rest of the international community are, in fact, emboldening the Islamist terrorists and facilitating their jihad against Israel. Their silence is correctly understood as a green light to keep on escalating their assaults.
If the Americans believe that Hamas will heed their calls to "refrain from actions that escalate tensions," they are deluding themselves. They are further deluding themselves if they in believe that Abbas is able to stop Hamas from extending its control to the West Bank.
Meanwhile, perhaps to try to stay competitive with the more popular Hamas, Abbas and his top advisers continue to fan the flames of terror, especially by stepping up their incitement against Israel and accusing it of "waging war on the Palestinians and Islamic and Christian holy sites."
It would have been far more beneficial had the US envoys who visited Ramallah last week demanded an end to the inflammatory statements by Abbas and other Palestinian officials. It would also have been more helpful had they and the Biden administration denounced Hamas and its supporters for defiling the al-Aqsa Mosque and calling for the murder of yet more Jews.
The Palestinians, for their part, have been, as always, refreshingly clear about what they want -- and a mosque is not it.
*Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
© 2022 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.

Turkey Balances and Benefits from Ukraine
Robert Ford/Asharq Al-Awsat/ April 26/2022
Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan has many critics in the United States, but his careful balance on Ukraine gives lessons on how diplomacy can change discomfort into political advantage.
Erdogan has recaptured influence in the North Atlantic alliance despite its continued close economic relations with Russia. Erdogan is a difficult character but he has avoided threatening either side in the Ukraine conflict.
US President Joe Biden is a likeable person, but he stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin should not remain in power, surprising the world. Washington later said that Biden was expressing only his personal opinion, but American politicians and foreign policy analysts are openly hoping for a big defeat for Russia.By contrast, Erdogan avoided criticizing Putin personally, and Ankara stresses finding for Putin an honorable exit from the war. At the same time, Ankara never recognized the Russian annexation of Crimea and it has been very clear in public that it supports Ukrainian independence and territorial sovereignty.A second important element of Turkey’s balanced policy towards the Ukraine war is that it helps both sides and also causes each of them pain while it pursues its own interest. Turkish drones in the hands of the Ukrainian army have destroyed many Russian convoys and tanks. (It is remarkable that Russian officers watched Turkish drones smash the Syrian Arab Army attack against Idlib in 2020 but they didn’t adjust Russian military tactics in Ukraine.)
In addition, the Turkish government blocked transit of Russian warships through the Bosporus. After the sinking of the cruiser Moskva, Russia needs naval reinforcements to threaten an invasion of the vital Ukrainian port of Odesa. The Turkish action closes the door.
These concrete Turkish steps have improved Turkey’s position with NATO. France and Italy at the alliance summit last month agreed to reenter a deal with Turkey to manufacture an air defense system. The US State Department sent a letter to the American Congress last month justifying an American sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. The letter stressed the American interest in good US-Turkey defense relations. The US Defense Department praises Turkey for closing the Bosporus.
Statements from Paris and Washington defending Turkey had been absent for many months, but Turkish concrete actions that truly support the western position on Ukraine gives them a tool against critics of Turkey.
At the same time, Ankara has avoided imposing sanctions on Russia, and its imports of Russian gas and oil are helping Putin finance the Russian military campaign. Germany is doing the same, but is receiving more criticism than Turkey. At the same time, Turkish ports welcome yachts of Putin’s billionaire friends and Turkish cities, like Antalya and Istanbul, welcome Russian investments. Turkey is even working on a new payments system to use Russian rubles to settle business deals.
Of course, Turkey has a big economic interest and Ankara justifies its position with the absence of a United Nations requirement to impose sanctions. It knows the Russian veto in the Security Council makes a United Nations action impossible. On the other hand, international law and respecting the obligations of the Montreux Convention from 1936 enable it to block Russian warships in the Bosporus. Erdogan helps and harms both sides.
The final element of Turkey’s balancing strategy is keeping communications channels open with all sides.
Western leaders visit Kyiv and speak with President Volodymyr Zelensky every day, but western leaders will not meet Putin in the weeks ahead, especially after the Russian war crimes against Ukrainian civilians.
Erdogan and his foreign minister will exploit that western absence to maintain dialog with Moscow. Erdogan had another telephone conversation with Putin on April 21, while at the same time Ankara is in constant communication with Kyiv. And despite Erdogan’s anger at Washington and Paris in recent years, he never closed the door to western leaders. He attended the NATO summit and met his adversary French President Emmanuel Macron, and Erdogan still hopes for a political reconciliation with Biden even if the Turkish president knows they will never been friends.
In the coming weeks, the Turkish balancing policy will become more difficult. The US Treasury Secretary on April 13 warned countries that ignore western sanctions on Russia that there would be consequences. Analysts thought she was referring to China, but her warning is also to Turkey. If the fighting in eastern Ukraine becomes more severe, western pressure will increase on Turkey to impose sanctions.
Russia, at the same time, can exploit the upcoming United Nations renewal in early July of humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians in Idlib as a tool against Turkey. The Turkish announcement on April 23 that it would block Russian military flights over Turkey to Syria suggests that Erdogan is preparing for more wrestling with Putin in Syria, but the two presidents can talk directly about it.
*Robert Ford is a former US ambassador to Syria and Algeria and a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute for Near East Policy in Washington

Biden’s Solar Plans Run Into a Chinese Wall
Liam Denning/Bloomberg/April 26/2022
A new and unexpected obstacle to President Joe Biden’s green ambitions has emerged: a tiny solar-power company based in San Jose.
Auxin Solar Inc., which accounts for all of 2% of US solar-module manufacturing, recently persuaded the Commerce Department to open a potentially devastating trade inquiry. After the US imposed anti-dumping measures against Chinese solar-cell and module manufacturers just over a decade ago, alternative suppliers sprang up in South Korea and Southeast Asia. Auxin now contends that those other Asian suppliers are effectively used by Chinese companies to circumvent the anti-dumping measures.
If Commerce ultimately agrees, then more than four-fifths of solar-module imports to the US and half of all cells could suddenly be subject to steep tariffs, perhaps levied retroactively. The Solar Energy Industries Association warns of dire consequences for US solar-power development — critical to Biden’s decarbonization targets — claiming that some suppliers are already backing away because of the risk. Heavyweight NextEra Energy Inc. warns that the investigation may delay 2.8 gigawatts of projects slated for this year. Timothy Fox of ClearView Energy Partners, a Washington-based analysis firm, says Commerce’s “structural” inclination toward protectionism may lead it to concur with Auxin.
Auxin, like many western solar-equipment manufacturers, finds it hard to compete with China. The US share of the global solar-module market has collapsed to about 1%. The vast majority of the US domestic solar industry today is involved in developing, financing and constructing projects rather than making the nuts and bolts. This explains why Auxin is now about as popular with the solar crowd as a coal plant.
The idea that a tiny manufacturer could throw a wrench of such proportions into a vital industry does seem farcical. But Auxin has illuminated an inherent tension within Biden’s green agenda.
About a year ago, the president began recasting his efforts as being about not merely saving the planet or creating jobs, but also taking on China in a Sputnik-like contest for industrial supremacy. The problem is that Chinese manufacturing is what drove down the cost of cleantech, making Biden’s green industrial policy viable in the first place. While the likes of Auxin have been marginalized, you can’t have a green revolution if green energy isn’t competitive, and global supply chains are what made it so.
Yet globalization has fewer defenders on either the left or the right these days, with populism, the pandemic and Russia’s attack on Ukraine fraying or altogether snapping the bonds of trade. Deglobalization is inflationary for all types of energy. The secular trend of falling prices for solar equipment, batteries and other cleantech has been arrested.
Think about this in terms of externalities. Fossil-fuel advocates often criticize renewables for their reliance on subsidies, conveniently forgetting that their favored energy source has long enjoyed the biggest subsidy of all: unpriced emissions. Yet cleantech developers and advocates must now grapple with having to internalize some unpriced externalities of their own: security and protectionism.
There is no getting away from the reality that, while an increasing majority of Americans express concern about climate change, its abstract nature often makes it necessary to co-brand policies to address it — with jobs or infrastructure or geopolitics or whatever. As Auxin’s challenge shows, this creates tensions, especially around costs.
Similarly, the Ukraine War lays bare some real dilemmas. It would be madness to rely too much for critical equipment or minerals on a China that backs Russian aggression, not to mention on Russia itself. Equally, it would be madness to aim for energy autarky, an unhelpful fetish dating from the 1970s oil crises. Interdependence may be dialed up or down but it is inescapable. Note how the US becoming a net oil exporter — scratching that neurotic itch from the 1970s — hasn’t shielded drivers from high and volatile pump prices. Diversifying away from fossil fuels, on the other hand, offers a way to blunt the power of petrostates such as Russia (and address climate change, obviously). Auxin’s victory would be a Pyrrhic one if, by raising costs, it shrinks the solar opportunity overall.
Reconciling these complex, conflicting pressures isn’t easy. But any attempt must start with acknowledging that national security and environmental protection are public goods that demand more than the odd tax break here, research grant there. Nor can they be simply left to “the market.” “It means recognizing that, actually, energy is not a commodity, it’s strategic,” says Sarah Ladislaw, who leads the US program at the Rocky Mountain Institute.
This doesn’t mean demanding that all solar panels be built in American factories (or looking the other way while the Commerce Department effectively does that). It does mean setting strategic goals such as decarbonization and security of supply and then using the tools of government creatively to balance costs with risks. Where the US can reasonably mine or manufacture what it needs, it should. Where it can’t, it should strive for trade agreements with allies that foster alternative supply chains.
Biden has shown himself willing to use executive powers to foster domestic production of lithium and other critical minerals, albeit in a fairly limited way. Yet he hasn’t communicated a holistic strategy, as evidenced by his mixed messaging on fossil fuels — which, like it or not, are also strategic as long as we are overwhelmingly reliant on them. Politically, it remains difficult to rally the collective effort required to address the challenges at hand. As Ladislaw puts it: “The US is trying to have an industrial policy without being able to do the hard stuff.”
In case you think this is dunking on Democrats, it isn’t. This stuff involves difficult trade-offs in the context of a razor-thin governing majority, recovery from a pandemic and a major foreign policy crisis. Biden’s party is at least trying to grapple with these vital issues. If you’re seeking thought-leadership from the Republican party on energy and climate, I regret to inform you that its leading lights have their hands full canceling Disney. The simultaneous imperatives to refashion and decarbonize fractured energy markets require more than denial or piecemeal measures — or, for that matter, policy set by random trade investigations.