English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For September 05/2022
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2021/english.september05.22.htm
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Bible Quotations For today
There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who
repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance
Luke/01/01-07: “All the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to
listen to him.And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This
fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’So he told them this parable: ‘Which
one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the
ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds
it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he
comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them,
“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you,
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on September 04-05/2022
Al-Rahi says presidential void would be 'conspiracy' and 'treason'
Rahi: Presidential vaccum is a deliberate conspiracy against what the republic
presidency represents & a betrayal of Lebanon
Rahi inaugurates St. Semaan church in Zgharta
Bishop Aoudi: We regrets that young people chant their souls as a sacrifice for
leaders who do not suffer for human suffering: we suffer from irresponsibility
and lack of pursuit of reform and accountability
Aoun receives call from Bou Saab informing him of Hochstein's visit end of
upcoming week
Aoun salutes youth participating in maritime campaign
Geagea urges opposition to unite over 'salvation' and 'confrontation' president
"No matter what happens, we will not accept any change in Lebanon's facet, role,
message or identity," underlines Geagea
UNIFIL denies conveying a message from the Israeli side: We call on the media to
review us before publishing reports that increase tension
State Security agents suspected of torturing detainee to death arrested
Money transfer firms replace banks in crisis-hit Lebanon
Al-Murtada from Deir Dourit: Christian presence in Lebanon a blessing & source
of wealth to be preserved by all
Marine boats set out from Tripoli towards Naqoura, in adherence to Lebanon's
right to its waters, wealth resources
Rifi: I appeal to Italy to rescue 70 Lebanese migrants stranded off the Maltese,
Italian coasts
Lebanon Maintains Silence on Border Demarcation Talks with Israel
Lebanon: Death of Syrian Detainee under Torture Disconcerts Security, Judicial
Authorities
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on September 04-05/2022
Iran announces defense system against chemical, biological threats
US Adheres to Its Conditions, Keeps Door Open for Iran’s Return to Nuclear Deal
Iran’s Crackdown on Filmmakers Escalates
Congressmen Urge Biden to Reconsider Dangerous Iran Deal
Russia Tells Iran to Withdraw From Syrian Bases Struck by Israel
6 Israeli troops wounded in attack on bus in West Bank
Gantz nominates Maj.-Gen. Hertzi Halevi to be next IDF chief of staff
IDF soldier stabbed near Kiryat Arba, assailant killed
Hamas Executes 2 Palestinians for Helping Israel
Turkish Warship Docks at Haifa Port for 1st Time in 12 Years
Arab Sources In The Gulf And The Syrian Opposition: Iran Is Deepening Its Hold
On Southern Syria, Deploying Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade Forces Along Border With
Jordan
US Forces Establish Third Military Base in Syria's Qamishli
Serious’ Indications of Possible Assassination Attempts in Baghdad, Other Iraqi
Cities
UN Participates in Egypt’s International Cooperation Forum
Titles For The
Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on September 04-05/2022
ANALYSIS: What’s Behind the Reconciliation Between Turkey and Israel/Yochanan
Visser/Israel Today/September 04/2022
'There We Will Strike Them': The Munich Massacre and Its Aftermath/Richard Kemp/Gatestone
Institute/September 0/2022
Nuclear Blackmail and European Terror from Zaporizhzhia to Natanz/Raghida
Dergham/The National/Published on September 04/2022
On Violated Syria/Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al-Awsat/September 04/2022
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on September 04-05/2022
Al-Rahi says presidential void would be 'conspiracy' and 'treason'
Naharnet/September 04/2022
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/111681/%d9%86%d8%b5-%d8%b9%d8%b8%d8%aa%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1%d9%83-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%b9%d9%8a-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%b7%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%af%d9%87/
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday warned that “a deliberate
presidential vacuum” would be “a conspiracy against what the presidency position
represents in the republic.”It would also be “treason against Lebanon,” the
patriarch added in his Sunday Mass sermon. “The suggestion that there will be a
presidential vacuum is rejected,” he stressed. Al-Rahi noted that “speaking of
presidential vacuum is constitutionally limited to the president’s resignation
or death or a force majeure, according to articles 73 and 74 of the
constitution.”“Political forces should agree on a figure or two who enjoy the
characteristics that have become well-known and repeated, and let parliament
elect the new president within the constitutional timeframe that has started,”
the patriarch urged.
Warning that “manipulation with the presidency is manipulation with the republic
itself,” al-Rahi said: “Beware of opening this door.”“The Maronite patriarchate,
which is directly concerned with this juncture and every juncture on which
Lebanon’s fate hinges, calls on everyone to put an end to adventures and
bargains” in this regard, the patriarch added.
Rahi: Presidential vaccum is a deliberate conspiracy
against what the republic presidency represents & a betrayal of Lebanon
NNA/September 04/2022
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/111681/%d9%86%d8%b5-%d8%b9%d8%b8%d8%aa%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1%d9%83-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%b9%d9%8a-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%b7%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%af%d9%87/
Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi presided over Sunday Mass in
Bkirki this morning, during which he rejected what was being circulated about
the possibility of falling into presidential vacuum. During the sermon, Al-Rahi
said that "the presidential vacuum is a deliberate conspiracy against what the
presidency post represents in the republic," and rather a "betrayal of
Lebanon."In this context, the Patriarch called on all parties to "stop their
adventures and bargaining". Al-Rahi concluded: "In parallel with the issue of
the election of the President of the Republic, we see the daily living situation
in the country deteriorating frighteningly... Inflation has reached about 200%,
which disrupts purchasing power no matter how much the wage rate is adjusted,
and the unemployment rate has exceeded 40% of the labor force this year."
Rahi inaugurates St. Semaan church in Zgharta
NNA/September 04/2022
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/111681/%d9%86%d8%b5-%d8%b9%d8%b8%d8%aa%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1%d9%83-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%b9%d9%8a-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%b7%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%af%d9%87/
Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Beshara Boutros Al-Rahi inaugurated the Church
of Mar Semaan Al-Amoudi in the town of Arda in Zgharta district, in the presence
of Caretaker Minister of Information Ziad al- Makary. At the inauguration
ceremony, Rahi said that he is not afraid for Lebanon, as it rises and is born
again, and like an eagle it renews its youth.
Bishop Aoudi: We regrets that young people chant their
souls as a sacrifice for leaders who do not suffer for human suffering: we
suffer from irresponsibility and lack of pursuit of reform and accountability
LCCC/September 04/2022
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/111681/%d9%86%d8%b5-%d8%b9%d8%b8%d8%aa%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1%d9%83-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%b9%d9%8a-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%b7%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%af%d9%87/
Bishop Aoudi stated today in his Sunday homely that "Many desire peace, but is
there peace far from the Lord? Some say that working in God's field is difficult
and requires selflessness, but they forgot the words of the Apostle Paul: "I can
do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). The Lord
does not leave us alone in the struggle, and He says: “I will not leave you
orphans” (John 14:18), but He waits for us to take the first step towards Him,
with our full freedom, then we will see the sweetness of life with Christ and in
Him. Spiritual fatherhood” so that no one struggles alone and loses his way
instead of entering the heavenly kingdom. Therefore, there is no need to be
afraid or ashamed of the sins that young people may commit knowingly or
unknowingly, by word, deed or thought. They should not listen to the voice of
Satan, who sows despair In their hearts, persuading them that they would not be
saved.The apostles asked the Lord Jesus: “Who can then be saved?!” He answered
them: “As for people, this is not possible, but with God all things are
possible.” Young people should give a chance to the Lord’s work in their lives,
without prejudice.
He added: We regret that young people trust earthly leaders more than they trust
God the Creator. They trust leaders who did not manage the country well, did not
master love and giving, and did not allow God to work in their hearts. Leaders
exploit the people and the resources of the country instead of exploiting the
talents given to them by the Lord and fruiting them to double their production
and increase the country’s harvest. We suffer from irresponsibility, immorality
and lack of faith. We suffer from not striving for the goodness that the young
man asked for in today's gospel. We suffer from recklessness and lack of
accountability, which leads, for example, some of the contractors and those
responsible for them to overlook dark and booby-trapped roads and potholes,
turning them into a trap that kidnaps young people, orphan children, and breaks
the hearts of parents and brothers. We regret that young people chant their
souls and blood for the sacrifice of leaders who do not suffer for human
suffering, instead of placing their full trust in the Lord who shed his blood on
the cross for their salvation. We regret that young people are migrating,
instead of trying to save their homeland. The Bible tells us something beyond
doubt, that God is “true” and that everyone is “a liar” (Romans 3:4). And he
concluded his return: “Therefore, the Lord’s call for us on this blessed day is
to leave everything and every enslaved person, both human and material, and to
follow Him alone, the Truthful and Loving Human Being, and to link the righteous
deeds that we do with the love that we learn from Him, transmitting it to Him.
To everyone around us.
Aoun receives call from Bou Saab informing him of
Hochstein's visit end of upcoming week
NNA/September 04/2022
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, received this afternoon a call
from the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, MP Elias Bou Saab, informing him that he
had contacted the American mediator on the issue of demarcating the southern
maritime borders, Amos Hochstein, within the framework of the mission assigned
to him by President Aoun, and was informed that Hochstein will visit Lebanon at
the end of this upcoming week to continue discussions with the Lebanese side
over the demarcation dossier. Bou Saab indicated that "most of the media reports
recently published about Hochstein's mission are based on speculation and are
not accurate."
He added that he heard from the American side that the efforts being made to
reach a just agreement are top priority.
Aoun salutes youth participating in maritime campaign
NNA/September 04/2022
“From Tripoli to Naqoura, passing through our ports, we salute the youth of
Lebanon participating in the maritime campaign and upholding Lebanon's full
right to its waters, borders and wealth,” tweeted this morning President of the
Republic, Michel Aoun.He added: “The unity of our position is the guarantor of
our rights and wealth for our generations who are looking forward to embodying
their aspirations for a homeland that they build on their dreams under the
country’s flag.”
Geagea urges opposition to unite over 'salvation' and
'confrontation' president
Naharnet/September 04/2022
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Sunday accused rival parties of "blocking
the formation of a new government and preparing, as usual, to block the
presidential election.""What's very certain is that this is not for proposing a
certain reformist plan but rather to try and secure the election of Jebran
Bassil or someone named by him as president," Geagea said at the annual mass
commemorating the "martyrs of the Lebanese resistance."He added: "We will not
accept a president from them. We rather want a president who can change
everything that we have lived in this presidential term." "We want a
confrontation president, not in the face of the Lebanese, but rather in the face
of everyone who has ruined their lives," the LF leader went on to say.
Addressing all change and opposition blocs and MPs by name, Geagea urged
them to secure the election of a "salvation president.""We as the Strong
Republic bloc -- LF, National Liberal Party and independents -- are the biggest
bloc in parliament, and we enjoy the biggest Christian representation. Despite
this, we're not clinging to anything, and we're rather ready to sacrifice
everything, on the condition that all opposition parties unite over a salvation
candidate," Geagea added.
"No matter what happens, we will not accept any change in
Lebanon's facet, role, message or identity," underlines Geagea
NNA/September 04/2022
Lebanese Forces Party held a Mass service on Sunday dedicated to the fallen
martyrs of the Lebanese resistance, led by Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara
Boutros al-Rahi, in the courtyard of the Party's headquarters in Maarab.
In his delivered word on the occasion, Party Chief Samir Geagea said: "We
will not accept, no matter what happens, any change in Lebanon’s facet or role,
message and identity, and we will not accept at all that our country remains
alienated and isolated from its Arab environment or from the international
community."He added: "We will confront any project that aims to drag the country
to a place that does not resemble it, and has nothing to do with its past or
history, nor the nature of its people, and threatens its existence and the
future of its people..." Geagea stressed that any
attempt to obliterate the history of Lebanon by any side, seeking to alter it to
suit its ideology and theories, will totally be rejected.
"Hands off the presidency, hands off the Lebanese, hands off Lebanon!"
Geagea continued.He stressed, "Our people at the present time are counting the
days, day after day, moment after moment, until the current covenant ends."On
Lebanon's future president, Geagea said: "We want a president who is an actual
representative of legitimacy, and who does not succumb to an illegitimate
militia subject to a foreign state."“We want a president who defends our
sovereignty, restores our dignity and the strategic decision of the state...His
power is to reform our institutions and our economy, not disrupt them," he
maintained. "The rescue operation will only be
achieved by a confronting, rescue president, and here the responsibility rests
entirely upon the Parliament that will elect a new president of the republic,
knowing that the time has come to define responsibilities in a precise and clear
manner, away from generalisations and evasion of responsibility," the LF Chief
underscored.
UNIFIL denies conveying a message from the Israeli side: We
call on the media to review us before publishing reports that increase tension
NNA/September 04/2022
The United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon, "UNIFIL", commented in a statement
on one of the media reports that claimed that UNIFIL conveyed a message from
Israel that the Israeli army will shoot anyone approaching the Blue Line from
the Lebanese side, stressing that "this report is incorrect and UNIFIL did not
convey such a message.""UNIFIL would like to take this opportunity to underscore
the important and critical role that the media plays in conveying factual
information, and we invite them to review with us immediately before publishing
reports that could increase tension in a volatile environment," the statement
added.The statement declared that UNIFIL "continues to do its utmost to maintain
stability in southern Lebanon, where its peacekeeping forces patrol and monitor
the area of operations day and night."
State Security agents suspected of torturing detainee to
death arrested
AFP/NNA/September 04/2022
Lebanese authorities have arrested five State Security agents on suspicion of
torturing to death a Syrian detainee, in the latest abuse allegation against the
security services, a judicial source told AFP.The arrests came on the orders of
the government's commissioner to the military court, Fadi Akiki, who had ordered
an investigation into last month's death in custody, the source said. The young
Syrian "died within three hours of his arrest after being subjected to severe
torture and beatings that triggered a heart attack," the source said, adding
that the detainee was pronounced dead on arrival in hospital. The State Security
agents arrested Bashar Abdel Saud on August 31 and took him to an agency
facility in Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon for questioning with other detainees.
The agents wanted to "obtain a confession from the deceased suspect that he was
the leader of a cell" linked to the Islamic State group but he "persisted in
denying the allegation," according to the source. In pictures seen by AFP, the
body of the deceased was covered in cuts and bruises. The bodies of fellow
detainees who survived their ordeal also bore signs of torture. The State
Security agency, which has faced multiple allegations of torture in the past,
said Abdel Saud's death had been referred to the "competent authorities."Lebanon
passed a law banning the use of torture in September 2017, but in March last
year human rights group Amnesty International published a report detailing the
alleged use of torture against 26 Syrian refugees "arbitrarily detained on
counter-terror charges." ---
Money transfer firms replace banks in crisis-hit Lebanon
Agence France Presse/September 04/2022
Like many people in crisis-hit Lebanon, Elias Skaff used to wait for hours to
withdraw cash at the bank but now prefers money transfer companies as trust in
lenders has evaporated. Anyone who relies on traditional banks to receive their
money "will die 100 times before cashing it," said Skaff, 50, who has survived
Lebanon's three-year-old economic downturn with the help of U.S. dollar payments
from a relative abroad. Once the flagship of Lebanon's
economy, the banking sector is now widely despised and avoided after banks
barred depositors from accessing their savings, stopped offering loans, closed
hundreds of branches and slashed thousands of jobs.
Last month, a local man was widely cheered as a folk hero after he stormed a
Beirut bank with a rifle and held employees and customers hostage for hours to
demand some of his $200,000 in frozen savings to pay hospital bills for his sick
father.
Increasingly, as Lebanon's deep crisis shows no sign of abating, money transfer
agencies are filling the gap, also offering currency exchange, credit card and
tax payment services and even setting up wedding gift registries.
Skaff said he now receives his money via a Beirut branch of Western
Union's Lebanese agent OMT, which says it operates more than 1,200 branches
nationwide and handles 80 percent of money transfers outside the Lebanese
banking sector. "We create services similar to those
that banks provide at the request of our customers," said OMT spokesman Naji
Abou Zeid.
Lebanon has been battered by its worst-ever economic crisis since the financial
sector went into meltdown in 2019. The local currency has lost more than 90
percent of its value on the black market, as poverty and unemployment have
soared. Angry protesters have often targeted banks,
trashing their ATM machines with rocks and spray cans."We can't even withdraw a
penny" from the bank, said 45-year-old Alaa Sheikhani, a customer standing in
line at an OMT branch.
"How are we supposed to trust them with our money?"
Surviving on remittances -
Elie, 36, who recently got married, said he used Whish Money, a Lebanese money
transfer firm, to set up his wedding gift registry, something he said saved
wedding guests time, hassle and money in fees. "Rather than waiting for hours at
the bank, which is often crowded, they can hand over the money to an agency,"
said the man who asked not to be fully named. "In terms of time saved and costs,
it's incomparable."Whish Money's marketing director Dina Daher said the company
is winning customers by charging "zero fees" on Lebanese pound transfers.
Some companies are now even paying salaries through money transfer
companies instead of banks. "When the crisis began, we were forced to pay
salaries in cash, and it was a waste of time," because accountants had to count
out large bundles of banknotes, said Rachelle Bou Nader, a human resources
manager. But now her firm, sporting goods retailer
Mike Sport, pays its employees through Whish, allowing them to "withdraw their
salary easily, in instalments, and free of charge," said Bou Nader. Sami Nader,
director of the Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs, said remittances from
the Lebanese diaspora have become crucial to help families weather the crushing
economic crisis. "Today, a young Lebanese employee
living abroad won't hesitate to send $100 to his parents because this sum now
makes a difference," he said. Lebanese banks have
drastically increased fees on the few services they still offer -- including
foreign currency transfers, now their only meaningful source of income -- said
Nader, who added that this has further fueled the exodus to money transfer
companies. About 250,000 residents of Lebanon received
remittances in the first half of 2022, according to OMT, up eight percent from
the same period last year.The World Bank has reported that Lebanon received $6.6
billion in remittances in 2021, one of the highest levels in the Middle East and
North Africa.
Al-Murtada from Deir Dourit: Christian presence in Lebanon
a blessing & source of wealth to be preserved by all
NNA/September 04/2022
Caretaker Minister of Culture, Judge Mohamed Wissam Al-Murtada, inaugurated the
activities of the 5th Deir Dourit Summer Festival on Sunday, in the presence of
a crowd of political, social, cultural and spiritual figures from the Chouf
region. The opening of the festival was preceded by a Mass service held in the
town's sports stadium, led by Maronite Archbishop of Sidon and Deir al-Qamar,
Maroun Al-Ammar, who delivered a sermon highlighting the importance of "devotion
and coexistence, goodness and cooperation among all..." In turn, the Caretaker
Culture Minister reiterated the Archbishop's words on coexistence and
cooperation. He emphasized the richness and importance of Christian existence in
Lebanon, saying: "The Christian presence in Lebanon is a blessing and source of
wealth, and we all, especially the Muslims, must work to preserve and safeguard
it by preserving the Christian in his presence, dignity, faith and sanctities,
and to block the road before the outsider who aims to sow division between
us..." "The Christian presence and the diversity that exists in Lebanon is a
blessing, and we must thank God for it and work to preserve and perpetuate it,"
Al-Murtada asserted.
Marine boats set out from Tripoli towards Naqoura, in
adherence to Lebanon's right to its waters, wealth resources
NNA/September 04/2022
M sign of adhering to Lebanon's full right to its waters and wealth resources,
under the slogan "Lebanon's oil for Lebanon."National Youth Leader in Triarine
boats set out today from the city of Tripoli in the North passing through the
regions of El Heri, Amchit, Jiyeh, Sidon and Tyre, far-reaching Al-Naqoura,
accompanied by the army, in apoli, Lawyer Abdel Nasser Al-Masri, explained that
“the campaign is a message to the enemy that the strong formula of the army,
people and resistance is committed to extracting Lebanon's oil wealth,"
stressing on the need to exert pressure to prevent any obstacles standing in
Lebanon's way to its economic recovery.
Rifi: I appeal to Italy to rescue 70 Lebanese migrants
stranded off the Maltese, Italian coasts
NNA/September 04/2022
Deputy Ashraf Rifi tweeted today: "We appeal to Italy, the friendly country of
Lebanon, to take the initiative to rescue 70 Lebanese migrants stuck in their
primitive and broken boat off the Maltese and Italian coasts, after throwing
themselves into sea fleeing Lebanon...We call on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and the Lebanese Embassy in Rome to make quick contacts to avoid a new tragedy."
Lebanon Maintains Silence on Border Demarcation Talks with
Israel
Beirut - Thaer Abbas/Asharq Al Awsat/Sunday, 04 September, 2022
Lebanese officials maintained silence over the negotiations to demarcate the
maritime borders with Israel, led by US mediator Amos Hochstein, amid recent
indications on promising developments, especially with the direct intervention
of President Joe Biden to advance the talks. A Lebanese source following the
mediation asserted that the atmosphere surrounding the negotiations was
completely different from the negative impression conveyed by the media,
pointing in this regard to the issuance of recent statements on the matter,
after a long period of silence.
First, a statement was issued by Deputy Speaker of Parliament MP Elias Bou Saab,
followed by comments from the White House, and a phone communication between
Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on the eve of Hochstein’s meeting
with Israeli officials, and finally, a clear statement from the US
president.According to the Lebanese source, the global energy crisis and US
interests [with Europe] make stability in the region very important to the US.
These factors gave Lebanon an opportunity to reach a solution that is
commensurate with its demands, and could finally constitute a solution to the
country’s political, economic and financial crises. Bou Saab, who is in charge
of communicating with Hochstein, told Asharq Al-Awsat that he hoped to obtain
Israeli answers within the next two weeks, after the recent US impetus. The
Lebanese deputy, who refused to go into details, explained that his country “is
not overly pessimistic or optimistic about this issue, especially since things
are not stagnant”, avoiding to give specific information about Lebanon’s demands
and Israel’s proposals in this regard. Bou Saab, however, did not hide his
contentment with the ability of the Lebanese side to prevent leaks that could
harm the negotiation process. He noted that the purpose of maintaining silence
was to avoid embarrassing the other side, which could feel compelled to retreat
due to popular pressure. He said: “Last week, I sensed an escalation in the pace
of communication by the US mediator. The work has never stopped, and secrecy is
in the interest of negotiations; we are now waiting for an evaluation by
Hochstein of his meetings with the Israelis, after which he will communicate
with me."A source close to the White House pointed that Hochstein continued his
“robust engagement to bring the maritime border discussions to a close.”
“We continue to narrow the gaps between the parties and believe a lasting
compromise is possible. We welcome the consultative spirit of both parties to
reach a resolution.” The source explained that Hochstein maintained daily
communication with Israeli and Lebanese officials, including Bou Saab, adding
that US Ambassador Dorothy Shea was also in touch with the Parliament speaker,
the prime minister and their advisors. Resolving the maritime border dispute “is
a key priority for the Biden Administration,” the source told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“We firmly believe a deal has the potential to promote lasting stability and
economic prosperity for both countries.”
Lebanon: Death of Syrian Detainee under Torture Disconcerts Security, Judicial
Authorities
Beirut - Youssef Diab/Sunday, 04 September, 2022
The death of a Syrian young man under torture inside a state security prison in
southern Lebanon sparked confusion at the security, judicial and political
levels, and brought back to the fore the file of torture in pretrial detention
centers. Lebanese sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the arrested Syrian, Bashar
Abdel-Saud, “died less than three hours after his arrest.” He was questioned on
suspicion of leading a terrorist network working for ISIS. In view of the uproar
caused by the death of the detainee, and following the spread of photos of the
corpse showing traces of torture, the State Security body quickly issued a
statement to alleviate the impact of the incident. “The General Directorate of
State Security, which is always keen on credibility, objectivity and
transparency, clarifies that as a result of the investigations it conducted with
the members of the cell, they confessed information that led to the arrest of
their (deceased) associate,” the statement said. It added: “During the
interrogation, he admitted that he belonged to the terrorist organization
(ISIS).” The directorate said that the death incident was referred to the
“competent court”, under its supervision, and that the court was responsible for
revealing the results of the investigations and issuing a legal ruling. Military
Court’s Government Commissioner Judge Fadi Akiki examined on Friday the body of
the Syrian detainee. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Akiki said that he ordered
the detention of the officer who heads the State Security Office in Tibnin,
where the incident took place, and four of the office’s personnel pending
investigation. “The forensic doctor’s report proved that the Syrian detainee
died as a result of the severe torture he was subjected to, the effects of which
appeared on the body,” he noted. In a statement issued on Aug. 29, the State
Security announced that it had “arrested a cell affiliated with ISIS operating
between southern Lebanon and Beirut.” It added that the cell fought in Syria,
and moved to Lebanon illegally.
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on September 04-05/2022
Iran announces defense system against
chemical, biological threats
Agence France Presse/September 04/2022
Iranian authorities have introduced defense systems in 51 cities to counter
"biological, radiological and chemical threats," deputy defense minister Mehdi
Farahi has announced. The defense ministry has "provided 51 cities in the
country with the necessary installations and equipment for passive defense,"
Farahi was cited as saying on Saturday by Iribnews, the state broadcaster's
website. He added that the ministry is "now able to identify the threats thanks
to the infrastructure put in place to confront all sorts of biological,
radiological and chemical threats."The announcement comes as Iran is engaged in
negotiations to revive its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that granted the
Islamic republic much-needed sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear
program. As momentum builds to restore the deal, Israel has been waging a
last-minute push to convince allies to halt talks. On August 28, Israeli Prime
Minister Yair Lapid said instructions had been given to the army and the Mossad
spy agency to "prepare for any scenario" in the event that the deal is passed.
In March 2021, Iran's former defense minister Amir Hatami had said that the
Islamic republic should be ready to defend itself against nuclear, chemical and
biological attacks. "We must be ready to defend our nation against all threats
and anything that the enemy could one day use as a tool for attack," he said at
an event commemorating a 1987 chemical attack against Iranian Kurds by former
Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. "These include (attacks using) chemical, nuclear
and biological weapons," Hatami added, according to Fars news agency.During the
Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, Saddam's forces launched numerous chemical attacks
on Iran, including the 1987 strike on the Kurdish town of Sardasht in
northwestern Iran. The official toll was 119 dead and 1,518 wounded, but
witnesses say thousands more were exposed to what experts say was mustard gas,
dropped in canisters from planes.
US Adheres to Its Conditions, Keeps Door Open for Iran’s
Return to Nuclear Deal
Washington - Elie Youssef/Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday,
4 September, 2022
The US Special Representative for Iran, Robert Malley, is
scheduled to brief members of the House Foreign Relations Committee on Sept. 14
in a classified setting about the recent developments in the nuclear
negotiations with Iran. US media said several developments could take place on
the negotiations before the session, hinting that the recent complications after
Tehran’s “unconstructive” response may not be a “final response.”The statements
of US officials that the nuclear agreement is the best option to deal with
Tehran indicate Washington’s intention to encourage Tehran to let go of its
“unrealistic” conditions. Malley last briefed the Congress, along with White
House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk, on the status of the talks on Jun
15.
No concessions before the US elections
The Democratic Party has increased its pressure on the US administration to
prevent further “concessions” to Tehran ahead of the midterm elections.
Bipartisan lawmakers signed a letter to President Joe Biden calling for a return
to Congress before signing any agreement with Iran. Last week, negotiators
seemed to be making progress toward reviving the Iran nuclear deal after Iran
appeared to drop several key demands. Tehran wanted to close the investigations
of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) before it would agree to any
deal. The US State Department reiterated that Washington is determined to
complete investigations into the effects of uranium found in three previously
undeclared Iranian nuclear sites. It rejected linking a revival of the 2015 Iran
nuclear deal with the closure of investigations by the UN atomic watchdog. On
Friday, the White House stressed there should not be any conditionality between
re-implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and
investigations related to Iran's legal obligations under the Non-proliferation
Treaty.
The ball is in Tehran's court
Observers believe the ball is now in Iran’s court, preparing to obtain
significant concessions. Some believe that Tehran's threat to increase uranium
enrichment to more than 93 percent are desperate attempts, given its knowledge
that its possession of nuclear weapons will present significant obstacles from
the West, Israel, neighboring countries, and even Russia. On Friday, Iran
returned two captured US maritime drones after being confronted by US
destroyers, but the unmanned vessels were missing their cameras. It wasn’t clear
if the Iranians kept the cameras, the official added, or if they fell off when
the Iranians hauled the drones out of the Red Sea and later put them back in the
water. US officials have said that the cameras, radars, and other drone
equipment are commercially available and aren’t classified technology. But
retaining the cameras and inspecting the drones up close could give Iran a
better idea of the system’s capabilities. The Navy has been deploying a network
of advanced aerial and maritime sensors in the region, known as Task Force 59,
designed to use artificial intelligence to monitor Iran’s activities at sea and
potential threats. The US first began deploying maritime drones in October. The
vessels are 23-feet-long, rely on wind and solar power, and are equipped with
cameras, radars, and other sensors. Reuters reported that Iran state television
earlier on Friday acknowledged the Iranian Navy released two US maritime drones
in the Red Sea but accused the American unmanned vessels of jeopardizing naval
safety. A US defense official suggested the Iranians sought to secretly seize
the drones, pulling the sail drones entirely out of the water on Thursday and
then covering them with tarps. He said Iran initially denied having US property
before returning them on Friday to the US warships that converged on the scene.
Iran’s Crackdown on Filmmakers Escalates
Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 4 September, 2022
One year after ultraconservative President Ebrahim Raisi came to power, Iranian
authorities are targeting the country's cinema. The July arrests of directors
Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, both icons abroad, reflect the pressure that
filmmakers and actors are facing. The Iranian film community has been asking
"who will be next?" ever since Panahi and Rasoulof were arrested in July in
Tehran. Panahi, who was sentenced to six years in prison in 2010 for "spreading
anti-regime propaganda", is one of Iran’s most celebrated filmmakers. Most
notably, he won the Golden Bear in Berlin for "Taxi Tehran" in 2015 and three
years later, the screenplay prize at Cannes for "3 Faces". For his part,
Rasoulof won the Golden Bear in 2020 for "There is no evil", and the prize in
the "Un Certain Regard" category in Cannes for his feature "A Man of Integrity"
in 2017. Both filmmakers are very well known and their arrests have been
publicized abroad, but other directors have also been touched by the wave of
repression that has hit Iranian cinema in recent months, AFP reported. "This
wave of arrests did not start with Panahi and Rasoulof," says Asal Bagheri, a
teacher-researcher at Cergy-Paris University and a specialist in Iranian cinema.
A few days before the Cannes festival in May, a dozen documentary filmmakers
were arrested, including Mina Keshavarz and Firouzeh Khosravani, two directors
who are regularly invited to France and awarded prizes at international
festivals.
Bagheri fears that "this is only the beginning", as other filmmakers have also
been put under pressure. Majid Barzegar and Mohsen Amir-Yousefi, two documentary
filmmakers, received a summons from the Iranian justice system at the end of
August.
"We are entering a period of repression that is damaging to culture," says the
Iranian film specialist. Not only has the film, which takes a no-holds-barred
look at the ravages of Iran's economic crisis, been banned in the country, but
its cast and crew have also been under duress. One of the lead actors, Navid
Mohammadzadeh, has had several plays suspended. "In his film, Saeed Roostaee
managed to play very intelligently with the red lines, but the film’s release at
Cannes, at a time when the country has been going through a serious social
crisis, has put the Iranian authorities on edge," says Bagheri. Beyond the
film's political aspect, "certain behavior at Cannes displeased the authorities"
adds the researcher. "In Iran, when a film is judged for its morality, this not
only includes the film’s content but also everything that happens around it,
including the attitude and statements of actors and directors in the media,
especially abroad." A joyful Mohammadzadeh kissed his wife on the steps of
Cannes in front of the cameras, for the whole world to see. The Iranian
authorities saw this sign of affection as immoral, even though the two artists
are married. Actress Taraneh Alidoosti, famous for her roles in several films by
Asghar Farhadi, is another member of the cast of "Leila’s Brothers" whom
authorities targeted. "Extremely popular in Iran, she is one of the leading
figures of the #MeToo movement in the Iranian film industry and has a sharp
tongue," says Bagheri.
The Cinema Organization of Iran, a body under the authority of the ministry of
culture, announced on August 16 that, for the first time, a list of banned
filmmakers would soon be made public. Although nothing has been decided yet,
Alidoosti, whose name may be on the blacklist, has already addressed authorities
in a letter posted on Instagram. The actress called the publication of such a
list "unfortunate" and "illegal". Bans were previously imposed on a case-by-case
basis, according to judicial convictions of the filmmakers, or, sometimes,
unofficially. "But never before have the authorities talked about an official
list. This marks a repressive turning point," says Bagheri. The arrival of
Ebrahim Raisi, an ultraconservative cleric who was elected president in June
2021, has a lot to do with this. "The cultural community knew that repressive
measures would increase once the ultraconservative government was in place. This
is reminiscent of the darkest hours of the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad era (2005-2013),
during which many documentary filmmakers were arrested." Relations between the
authorities and Iranian filmmakers are also tense because the country is
currently experiencing one of the worst economic crises in its history with high
inflation. Iranians protested en masse in June, accusing the authorities of
incompetence and corruption in the city of Abadan after a building collapsed.
"Iranian society has become increasingly vocal and bold," says Bagheri. "But the
work of this wave of directors, who constitute a form of 'social cinema',
reflects society’s ills. They are simply a reflection of this anger."Filmmakers
are now showing solidarity with the protesters. Some 100 leading Iranian
figures, including Panahi, Rasoulof and many artists, signed a letter in June
calling on the authorities to "put down their arms" in the face of the Abadan
protests. This is one of the reasons the authorities give for the recent
arrests. "Some people are still under pressure and being held accountable. They
are being asked to publicly withdraw their support for the petition," says
Bagheri. However, none of them have yet agreed to do so.
Congressmen Urge Biden to Reconsider Dangerous Iran Deal
Dmitriy Shapiro/Israel Today/September 04/2022
“Strengthened with an estimated one trillion dollars in sanctions relief over a
decade, Iran would be an enormous danger to Americans and to our allies.”
(JNS) A bipartisan group of members of the US House of Representatives is
calling for the Biden administration to consult Congress on a potential
agreement to re-enter the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran,
expressing concerns over reported sanctions relief and the role of Russia. Reps.
Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) spearheaded the effort this
week, garnering 50 signatures from colleagues by Wednesday for a letter
addressed to US President Joe Biden. The letter expressed the legislators’
concerns with reported provisions of an agreement. According to a news release,
the House members were concerned with the weakening of effective
terrorism-related sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and
allowing Russia to have a role in Iran’s nuclear capabilities. The letter listed
the numerous terrorist organizations directly or indirectly supported by the
IRGC in the Middle East involved in malign activities against the United States
and its allies. The groups include Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis in Yemen,
Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Shi’ite militias in Iraq who were responsible for
the military bases of the United States and its allies in the region.
“Strengthened with an estimated one trillion dollars in sanctions relief over a
decade, Iran and the IRGC would be an enormous danger to Americans at home and
abroad, and to our allies. Additionally, it has been reported that under this
proposed deal, Russia will be the de facto judge of compliance and the keeper of
Iran’s enriched uranium, without any oversight mechanisms by the United States
or our European partners,” wrote the letter’s authors. While the letter
commended the administration for refusing Iran’s demand to remove the IRGC from
the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, the members believed the proposed
sanctions relief in the deal would dilute the effectiveness of the sanctions
against the organization. The letter also urged the administration to not permit
Russia to be the recipient of Iran’s enriched uranium or give it the right to
conduct nuclear work in Iran as Russia currently has a $10 billion contract with
Iran to expand Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. “We should not let war criminal
Vladimir Putin be the guarantor of the deal or the keeper of massive amounts of
Iran’s enriched uranium,” the letter stated. “Iran supports the illegal war in
Ukraine and has been supplying Russia with drones used to kill
Ukrainians.”According to the letter, Iran has offered to help Russia evade
sanctions, and both countries have recently collaborated with China to increase
diplomatic, economic and defense cooperation. The letter asked Biden to provide
Congress with the full text of any proposal to rejoin the deal but stopped short
of calling for a vote from Congress in accordance with the Iran Nuclear
Agreement Review Act of 2015, which prevents the president from suspending
sanctions on Iran that were passed by Congress before it is given a chance to
vote on the agreement. Concluded the letter: “We urge you not to return to any
deal with Iran prior to releasing the full text of the agreement and any side
agreements to Congress, to provide us with an in-depth briefing on the matter,
and to consult with all key stakeholders.”
Russia Tells Iran to Withdraw From Syrian Bases Struck
by Israel
JNS/ September 04/2022
Iranian militias manufacture and develop weapons at these sites, including
short-range missiles.
(JNS) Russia has demanded that Iranian militias withdraw from military positions
west of the Syrian province of Hama and from other positions in central and
western Syria to prevent them from being targeted by Israel, Asharq al-Awsat
reported on Friday. Three Russian officers and their Iranian counterparts made
the demand at the Hama Military Airport in central Syria on Aug. 31, the
London-based Arabic daily. “Russian officers informed the Iranian side of the
need to evacuate Iranian military headquarters near the site of Regiment 49,
which belongs to the Syrian regime forces,” a source told the news outlet. The
Regiment 49 site is one of the top military sites in western Hama as it houses
long-range, Russian-made S-200 missiles as well as other Russian-manufactured
equipment, according to the report. “The Russian officers also demanded that the
Iranians evacuate a second Iranian military site in the Hamidiya area, south of
Tartus governorate on the Syrian coast,” the source added. Iranian militias
manufacture and develop weapons at these sites, including short-range missiles,
according to Asharq al-Awsat. The demand comes after Israel recently struck the
Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC), a Syrian weapons installation,
near the city of Maysaf in the country’s northwestern region on Aug. 25.
According to Ynet, Masyaf has become the principal production facility for
Syrian and Iranian precision missiles and rockets used by Hezbollah and other
Shi’ite militias. Iranian missile and rocket components arrive regularly via the
nearby Syrian seaport of Tartus and are stored in vast underground bunkers at
this installation, according to the report.
6 Israeli troops wounded in attack on bus in West Bank
Agence France Presse/September 04/2022
Seven Israelis including six soldiers were wounded on Sunday in a shooting
attack on an Israeli bus in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army said.
The army said one of the soldiers was severely wounded while the others and the
civilian were lightly hurt. "We saw two gunshot victims outside of the bus who
were being treated by IDF (Israeli military) medics and other people who were at
the scene," said paramedic Matti Carmi, from the Magen David Adom emergency
medical services. Those shot in the northern West Bank incident were both
conscious and were airlifted to Rambam hospital, in the Israeli city of Haifa.
Three others were hit with glass fragments and subsequently transferred by road
to another hospital in northern Israel, MDA said. A photograph published by a
union representing bus drivers showed the vehicle's windscreen peppered with
bullet holes. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said security forces
"immediately went in pursuit and got their hands on suspects in the attack."
Sunday's incident follows a shooting spree last month targeting an Israeli bus
in occupied east Jerusalem. Eight people, including several American citizens,
were wounded in that pre-dawn attack near the Old City of Jerusalem. Following
an hours-long manhunt, police said a suspect had turned himself in. Israel has
controlled east Jerusalem and the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War, when it
seized the territories from Jordan.
Gantz nominates Maj.-Gen. Hertzi Halevi to be next IDF
chief of staff
Anna Ahronheim/Jerusalem Post/September 04/2022
Maj.-Gen. Hertzi Halevi, long considered a front-runner for the job as head of
the IDF, will replace current chief of staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi in January.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz has nominated IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen.
Hertzi Halevi to replace Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi and become the 23rd chief of
staff.
Halevi was long seen as a front-runner to replace Kohavi, who is set to retire
in January. “He is the most suitable officer in terms of the rich operational
experience he has in a variety of areas, as well as in terms of his command
abilities and his approach to various military issues, which he has demonstrated
throughout his years of service,” Gantz said in a statement. “He is the most
suitable officer in terms of the rich operational experience he has in a variety
of areas, as well as in terms of his command abilities and his approach to
various military issues, which he has demonstrated throughout his years of
service.”
The decision was made following a thorough assessment process conducted over the
period of several months, Gantz’s office said in a statement.
How did Israel choose the next IDF chief of staff?
The selection process, which is based on recommendations by the military
advocate-general, consists of six stages. Gantz consulted with Kohavi, Prime
Minister Yair Lapid and former senior officials, including prime ministers,
defense ministers and chiefs of staff. Deciding between Halevi and Maj.-Gen.
Eyal Zamir was “a choice between two worthy and good candidates,” Lapid said.
“The choice of Maj.-Gen. Hertzi Halevi is worthy and natural,” he said. “Hertzi
is an outstanding officer with a wealth of experience and skills. I am sure that
he will lead the IDF to many significant achievements.” Kohavi “welcomed the
selection of a highly talented and experienced officer,” the IDF said, adding
that he congratulated Halevi on his appointment and wished him luck. In the
coming week, Gantz will present Halevi’s name to the Senior Appointments
Advisory Committee, which is headed by Supreme Court Justice Menachem Mazuz.
Subject to its approval, Gantz will then bring the nomination to the government
for approval. “It should be noted that the defense minister has a significant
acquaintance over decades with the two final candidates for the appointment in a
variety of positions,” Gantz’s office said.
Gantz spoke with Halevi and informed him of the decision.
Who is Hertzi Halevi, the next IDF chief of staff?
Halevi, 54, was drafted into the Paratroopers Brigade in 1985 and later served
in the elite General Staff Reconnaissance Unit (Sayeret Matkal) before
commanding it in 2001. He replaced Zamir as deputy chief of staff after serving
as head of Military Intelligence and Southern Command.
Gantz also spoke with Zamir, who is currently a research fellow at the
Washington Institute, and told him he considers him an “excellent and worthy
candidate” and thanked him for his contribution to Israel’s security over his
decades of service.
Zamir is a quality candidate for future positions in the defense establishment
and would continue to contribute to the state, Gantz said. Kohavi also spoke
with Zamir following the announcement. Zamir was a leading candidate to replace
former chief of staff Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Gadi Eisenkot in 2018. Zamir spent most of
his career in the Armored Corps and commanded the Seventh Armored Brigade and
the 36th Armored Division (Ga’ash Division). He held a number of key positions
in Ground Forces Command before serving as former prime minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s chief military and intelligence adviser.
IDF soldier stabbed near Kiryat Arba, assailant killed
Jerusalem Post/September 04/2022
The terrorist approached an IDF military post and stabbed one of the soldiers
that was standing guard. An IDF soldier was moderately injured in a stabbing
attack near Kiryat Arba on Friday afternoon, according to the IDF Spokesperson
Unit. The terrorist approached a military post where a number of soldiers were
standing guard and stabbed one of them before being shot dead by a different
soldier. “I didn’t hesitate, and I killed the terrorist,” said Corporal M. “As a
medic, I gave life-saving medical attention to my team sergeant.” According to
Palestinian media, the terrorist was 19-year-old Fadi Muhammed Ratas from the
Dehaishe refugee camp near Bethlehem. United Hatzalah volunteer Ben Zion Cousin,
who was the first respondent on the scene, reported that the injured soldier had
been stabbed and injured in his upper body. “Together with medical personnel
from the IDF, I treated the injured soldier,” he said. “I bandaged him and
stabilized him at the scene before he was transported to the hospital. The
assailant was neutralized by security forces at the scene.”"The assailant was
neutralized by security forces at the scene." The soldier was taken to
Hadassah-University Medical Center in Ein Kerem for further medical treatment
and his family was notified. Highway 60 was closed to traffic following the
incident. Lapid wishes the soldier a speedy recovery. “I wish a speedy recovery
to the IDF soldier who was injured in the attack near Kiryat Arba,” said Prime
Minister Yair Lapid. “I support the soldiers who acted fast to stop the
terrorist. We will continue to fight anyone who tries to harm our citizens and
our soldiers.” “I’m wishing a full recovery to the IDF soldier who was injured
in the Kiryat Arba attack and want to praise the conduct of his friends who
stopped the terrorist and prevented a worse attack,” said Defense Minister Benny
Gantz. “IDF soldiers continue to be stationed at all times in the West Bank and
around Israel in order to protect Israeli citizens from any threat – and we are
all grateful.”
Hamas Executes 2 Palestinians for Helping Israel
Israel Today Staff /September 04/2022
The Palestinians signed deals obligating them to combat terror. But any
Palestinian who does so is certain to be brutally punished.
The Palestinians have several signed peace agreements with Israel, all of which
obligate them to cooperate with the Jewish state to combat terrorism and end the
so-called “cycle of violence.”But should any Palestinian Arab dare to actually
fulfill that obligation, he or she faces severe punishment, and likely death.
That is especially true in the Gaza Strip, where at the weekend the coastal
enclave’s Hamas overlords executed two Palestinians on charges of aiding Israel
in its recent military campaign to eliminate the threat of Islamic Jihad rocket
attacks. One man reportedly helped Israeli forces identify the launch pads
Islamic Jihad was using to fire its rockets, while the second is accused of
aiding Israel in the targeting of terrorist forces hiding among the civilian
population. A decade of incessant Hamas and Islamic Jihad rocket fire on
southern Israel has kept Gaza in a perpetual state of low-level war (punctuated
by periodic major flare-ups), which has in turn resulted in ongoing destitution.
Many Gazans are fed up. But their only recourse is almost certain to get them
arrested, tortured and killed. Even though their actions were in line with the
supposed spirit of the peace process. It should be remembered that Hamas and its
violent, peace-rejecting ideology was actually voted into political power by the
Palestinian electorate in 2006.
Turkish Warship Docks at Haifa Port for 1st Time in 12
Years
Ramallah - Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 4 September, 2022
A Turkish warship docked in Haifa port on Saturday for the first time in 12
years, as part of a NATO drill. According to a spokesperson for the port, the
TCG Kemalreis, a Barbaros-class frigate, is expected to remain docked for
several days alongside a US missile destroyer ship, the USS Forrest Sherman. No
drills or other interactions are planned between the Israeli army and the
Turkish ship, which is considered one of the most modern vessels in Türkiye’s
navy. “The docking is part of Israel’s cooperation with and support of NATO,” an
Israeli army statement read.
Israel and Türkiye decided in August to restore full diplomatic ties and would
reappoint ambassadors, four years after they summoned each other’s envoy.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid
have held a phone call expressing their satisfaction with the progress in ties
and congratulating each other on the decision to appoint ambassadors. According
to reports, Erdogan is also interested in appointing an ambassador before
Israel's elections in November. This is partly because of his concern that if
Benjamin Netanyahu returns to office, the normalization process could stall. In
addition to that, flights between the two countries will resume soon.
Arab Sources In The Gulf And The Syrian Opposition: Iran
Is Deepening Its Hold On Southern Syria, Deploying Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade
Forces Along Border With Jordan
MEMRI/September 04/2022
The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and
Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.
The Kuwaiti Al-Qabas daily and the Syrian opposition website Horan Free League
recently published lengthy articles describing the "increasing tension in
southern Syria,"[1] in light of Iran's moves to exploit Russia's preoccupation
with the war in Ukraine, to entrench its control over Syria's Daraa Governorate
by deploying forces of the militias it supports, headed by the Afghan Fatemiyoun
Brigade, along the border with Jordan. The articles contend that the Iranian
activity in southern Syria is intended to ensure that drugs can be easily
smuggled into Jordan, and may also be in preparation for a military operation in
the Daraa area, most likely against Syrian opposition elements.
It is noteworthy that in recent months senior Jordanian officials have claimed
that there has been a steep increase in instances of drug smuggling from
southern Syria to territory in the kingdom, including by means of drones.[2]
The following are excerpts from some of the reports about the Iranian
entrenchment in southern Syria:
Iran Digs In Along the Syria-Jordan Border And Establishes New Bases in the
South of the Country
On August 23, 2022, the Al-Qabas daily in Kuwait reported that the Iranian
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recently dispatched three units of the
Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade to Daraa City in southern Syria. Together, these units
number 350 men, under the command of "a senior member of the Afghan militias
named Hikmatullah Harati," and according to Al-Qabas they were sent to the
region with the objective of deploying along the border with Jordan, under the
supervision of "Iranian experts." The militiamen were reportedly sent after they
were trained and equipped at military camps southeast of Tehran, where their
training included instruction in the operation of short-range rockets and
drones. Iranian officers and other IRGC members were also said to be in Daraa.
The daily adds that relatives of the members of the Fatemiyoun Brigade were also
relocated to Daraa.
Al-Qabas writes that the IRGC also established a new command center to direct
operations in southern Syria, and that the center became active after the
Fatemiyoun Brigade concluded the deployment of its units along the border with
Jordan. At the same time, the new Malik Al-Ashtar base was set up in Daraa, to
replace the small military outposts that Iran employed until recently. The paper
maintains that the establishment of the new base indicates an Iranian intention
to remain in the area for a lengthy period of time, with the aim of protecting
Iran's interests and investments in the region.
On August 27, 2022, the Syrian opposition website Horan Free League referred to
the Al-Qabas report regarding Iran's intention to establish a new base named
Malik Al-Ashtar, and noted that the Fatemiyoun Brigades already has a base in
the "Triangle of Death – Damascus-Daraa-Quneitra," which has existed since 2014,
but that Iran is now working to establish another base, adjacent to the border
with Jordan, possibly where an anti-aircraft base is currently located, near
Daraa. The website suggests that this may be because the pro-Iranian militias
took control of this base several months ago and banished all the locals who
belonged to the Syrian security apparatuses.
Iran Kills Syrian Opponents of the Regime in Southern Syria and Works To
Transform Daraa Governorate into its "Spearhead against Iran, the Gulf, and
Saudi Arabia"
Horan Free League claims that another way in which Iran is attempting to boost
its presence in southern Syria, is by killing opponents of the Syrian regime in
the area. The website contends that recently Iran has boosted its "systematic
policy" of assassinating senior officials of the Syrian opposition who oppose
its presence in the area, citing the examples of Khaldoun Al-Zou'bi who was
killed on August 25, and the sheikh Fadi Al-'Asmi who was murdered on August
16.[3] The killings have taken place concurrently with Iran's moves to attain
control over the Daraa Governorate.
The website further states that according to updated information it possesses,
the killings are expected to continue and in the future rather than being
carried out by deliberately anonymous perpetrators, it will be clear who is
behind them. This is said to be part of Iran's transition from a phase of
clandestine activity to a new phase of open activity in the region.
Immediately following the establishment of the Iranian bases in Daraa
Governorate, the article continues, Tehran is expected to act against Syrian
opposition elements, relying mostly on foreign fighters and locals. In this
context it recounts that in the final days of August 2022, Fatemiyoun forces
began to organize in the suburbs of Daraa City, in advance of their move to the
new base that has been established in the area. The article concludes with the
assertion that, "The situation in Daraa is veering in a very dangerous
direction" in light of Iran's intentions to acquire total control of Daraa
Governorate and transform it into its "spearhead threatening Jordan, the Gulf
[States], and Saudi Arabia."
The short video clip from June 2022 that was released with the Horan Free League
article reviews the level of preparedness of the Iran-backed militias in
southern Syria, among them: Hizbullah, Fatemiyoun Brigades, and the Iraqi Abu
Al-Fadhl Al-'Abbas militia.[4] According to the video, these militias have
secretly deployed along the Jordanian border in order to ensure smooth drug
smuggling operations into the kingdom or in preparation for a military campaign
in Daraa, which will most-likely target Syrian opposition elements in the area.
The above photograph depicts members of the Fatemiyoun Brigade in Syria (Source:
Alqabas.com, August 23, 2022)
The reports referred to above corroborate others released recently by Syrian
opposition elements which state that the IRGC and Hizbullah are working to
entrench their hold on southern Syria and along the Syrian border with Jordan
and with Israel.[5]
[1] August 23, 2022.
[2] See for example MEMRI JTTM Reports: While Jordan Reports Significant Hike In
Drug Smuggling Into The Country Involving Iran-Backed Organizations, Syrian
Opposition Websites Report Hizbullah Is Ramping Up Drug Production In The South,
May 24, 2022; and Syrian Opposition Website: Iran-Backed Militias Use Drones To
Smuggle Drugs, June 7, 2022.
[3] August 27, 2022.
[4] June 3, 2022.
[5] See for example MEMRI JTTM Reports: Syrian Opposition Website: Hizbullah
Opens Course To Train Operatives For Deployment On The Border Between Syria, And
Israel And Jordan, June 29, 2022; and Syrian Opposition Websites: Iran Is
Establishing A Local Militia In Southern Syria, On The Border With Israel, May
10, 2022.
US Forces Establish Third Military Base in Syria's Qamishli
Damascus - London - Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 4 September, 2022
US forces established a third military base in Syria’s northeastern province of
Hasakah on Saturday, a war monitor reported. According to the Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights (SOHR), the new military base was set up in Naqara village,
three kilometers southwest of Qamishli city in Hasakah province. The two other
bases are in Himo village, which is located nearly four kilometers northwest of
Qamishli, and Tel Fares area, which is located nearly three kilometers to the
southwest of Qamishli, adjacent to the end of the runway of Qamishli Airport.
Separately, reliable SOHR sources in Deir Ezzor’s countryside reported that
Iran-backed militias have been redeployed in the area, fearing possible attacks
by international coalition reconnaissance drones on their positions. They
confirmed that explosions that rocked al-Omar oil field base in Deir Ezzor’s
countryside were caused by military drills by coalition forces in the base.
Serious’ Indications of Possible Assassination Attempts
in Baghdad, Other Iraqi Cities
Baghdad - Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 4 September, 2022
Senior security officials have said there were "serious" indications of possible
assassinations in Baghdad and other cities, against the backdrop of the ongoing
political conflict between Muqtada Sadr's movement and the Coordination
Framework. An Iraqi security source quoted Iraqi officers of the Interior
Ministry and the National Security Service as saying that they expected
assassination attempts against activists from the Sadr Movement and Tishreen
Forces. Local media circulated a document issued by the Baghdad Operations
Command that included information about the intention of armed groups to carry
out assassinations. Although it was not possible to verify the authenticity of
the text, the security source confirmed the presence of such a document. Iraqi
activists fear the Iraqi government will not be able to deter the murder
attempts. An activist from the Tishreen Movement said that the protest
committees in Baghdad and other cities circulated security information about
threats to activists, warning them against engaging in a plot to overthrow
legitimacy, and working with the Sadrist movement. However, militants loyal to
the Sadrist movement are still launching attacks on the headquarters of the
Framework parties, and targeting the homes of leaders of the armed factions. A
Sadrist official said they met with Tishreen officials, but did not agree on
unifying any move except for agreeing on the same goals. The Sadrist movement is
trying to pressure the Iraqi government to take quick measures to “dismantle”
the armed factions in the Green Zone, and make structural changes in the
leadership of the Popular Mobilization Authority (PMA). A Sadrist spokesman
asked Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhimi to remove the head of the Popular
Mobilization Forces, Faleh al-Fayyadh.
UN Participates in Egypt’s International Cooperation Forum
Cairo - Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 4 September, 2022
The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, will attend the
second edition of the Egypt International Cooperation Forum, which is scheduled
to be held on September 6 at the New Administrative Capital. Amina will depart
to Cairo on September 5 to attend the two-day event, which will be held as part
of the preparations to host the COP27 United Nations Climate Change Conference
2022 at the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh in November, Egypt’s official news
agency MENA reported. She will also meet with senior government officials
involved in the COP27 process, the UN country team, as well as youth and civil
society organizations, the UN spokesman’s office said. According to the Ministry
of International Cooperation, the event will be held under the patronage of
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.It is organized in cooperation with the
ministries of foreign affairs and environment, as well as the UN Economic
Commission for Africa. The Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that the
Forum’s objectives are in line with the upcoming climate summit’s main goal to
implement commitments and the pledges in all sectors of the climate change
agenda, whether it’s in adaptation, mitigation or finance, loss and damage. The
forum sets three main objectives, namely mobilizing resources and facilitating
access to finance, financing the mitigation and adaptation agenda to climate
change, and discussing national efforts and measures for Africa’s transformation
into a Green Economy. Minister of International Cooperation Dr. Rania al-Mashat
held talks on Saturday with Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed
Shaker. Discussions touched on the projects included in the energy theme at the
National Platform for Green Projects and Climate Action and the “Nowfi” program,
as well as the steps taken so far in this regard. The program is the link
between food, water projects and energy, and aims to mobilize concessional
development finance, technical support, and investments by the private sector
for a package of priority green development projects within the framework of
Egypt’s 2050 Comprehensive National Climate Strategy. The two ministers
discussed the continuous coordination with development partners, launching the
program’s national platform with the participation of all multilateral and
bilateral development partners, briefing them with the details of the projects,
and engaging in discussions on cooperation proposals in each of the projects
listed in the energy sector. They underlined the importance of energy within
Nowfi, in light of Cairo’s vision and goal to transform the country into a
regional energy hub by implementing key development projects in the renewable
energy sector. Cairo also aims to expand the green hydrogen sector, implement
legislative and structural reforms that attract foreign investment and soft
development finances in this vital sector. The efforts made since 2014 and the
launching of the Sustainable Energy Strategy have contributed to attracting soft
development finances and private sector investments and implementing pioneering
projects such as the Benban Solar Power Plant and other projects.
The Latest LCCC English analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on September 04-05/2022
ANALYSIS: What’s Behind the
Reconciliation Between Turkey and Israel
Yochanan Visser/Israel Today/September 04/2022
Has Turkish dictator Erdogan had a genuine change of heart toward Israel, or
does he have ulterior motives?
After nearly 13 years, political relations between Israel and Turkey are finally
normalizing and embassies will be reopened in both countries.
The relationship between Israel and Turkey deteriorated dramatically during and
after the first war between Hamas and the Israeli army (IDF) in late 2008 and
early 2009. At the time, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan openly sided with
Hamas, accusing Israel of committing war crimes and causing a riot during the
March 2009 World Economic Forum in Davos, where Erdogan reiterated his harsh
criticism of Israel and drew the ire of then-Israeli President Shimon Peres.
After Erdogan finished his rant, a visibly emotional Peres replied and asked the
Turkish leader what he would have done if rockets were fired at residential
areas in Istanbul. Erdogan then demanded that the chairman of the forum give him
the opportunity to respond to Peres, but was rebuffed because of the protocol,
after which the Turkish leader stood up in furor and left the hall.
The Mavi Marmara crisis
A major crisis later erupted between Turkey and Israel after Israeli commandos
boarded the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara in international waters off the coast of
Ashdod in southern Israel. The Turkish ship was part of an international
flotilla assembled by the Turkish terrorist organization IHH and, according to
the Turks, had “humanitarian goods” destined for Gaza onboard. During a visit to
the IDF base in Tzrifin, after the ship was unloaded in the Israeli port city of
Ashdod and the goods were transferred to the Tzrifin base, I was able to see for
myself that there were no humanitarian goods on board.
The only humanitarian aid the Mavi Marmara was carrying was a large number of
expired medicines. The IHH action was carried out with Erdogan’s permission and
was intended as a clear provocation of Israel. When the United Nations published
a report on the Mavi Marmara incident in 2011, declaring that the Israeli
military blockade of Gaza was justified under international law, Erdogan
expelled Israel’s ambassador and recalled the Turkish ambassador from Tel Aviv.
The crisis continued until President Barack Obama more or less forced ex-Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to apologize to Turkey. That was in March 2013, when
Obama finally paid a visit to Israel and the Netanyahu government later even
paid compensation to the families of the nine killed IHH members, which was one
of the Turkish conditions for reconciliation with Israel.
A new crisis in 2018
The new reconciliation did not last for long, however, and in 2018 Turkey again
expelled the Israeli ambassador after Arabs staged violent demonstrations in
Jerusalem, and Israeli security forces used force to contain those
demonstrations. The Arab violence was openly encouraged by Turkey after the US
administration of President Donald J. Trump announced that the United States
embassy would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and also recognized the
entire city as the capital of Israel. The new diplomatic crisis eventually led
to a general rift in Turkish-Israeli relations and caused Yossi Cohen, the
then-head of Mossad (Israel’s secret service), to label Turkey a threat to peace
in the Middle East.
Turkish aggression
Cohen’s remarks about Turkey had to do not only with the open hostility Erdogan
showed towards Israel, but also with other aggressive actions Turkey carried out
in the Middle East and against its neighbors Greece and Cyprus. For example, on
orders from Erdogan, Turkey carried out two incursions into Syria that caused
great misery among the Syrian Kurdish population and resulted in thousands of
displaced civilians. These invasions were invariably justified by Erdogan with
the false allegation that the Syrian Kurds were “terrorists” threatening Turkey.
The aggressive Turkish actions in Syria, as well as in northern Iraq, where the
Turkish army regularly attacks targets of the banned Turkish Kurdish movement
PKK, eventually led the IDF to add Turkey to its list of threats to Israel.
Turkish-Israeli relations had now reached an all-time low and the crisis
appeared to be further exacerbated when the Arab Gulf states made peace with
Israel in 2020, something Erdogan originally labeled as “treason” against the
Palestinian Arabs. Israel and Turkey were fast friends and allies before Erdogan
came to power and realigned his nation with Palestinian terror groups. Photo:
Aaed Tayeh/Flash90
The turnaround in relations
The improvement in Turkey-Israel relations eventually began after the Bennett-Lapid
government took office last June, but can be attributed almost entirely to
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, who visited Ankara last March and received a
warm welcome, to the surprise of many in Israel. The Israeli president’s visit
took place at the invitation of Erdogan, who had earlier called Herzog to
congratulate him on his appointment as President of Israel. Since then, the
Turkish leader moderated his anti-Israel rhetoric and even had his Foreign
Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu pay a visit to the Jewish state on May 25th this year,
marking the first time in 15 years that such a visit took place. At the same
time, both Erdogan and Cavasoglu emphasized that the renewal of relations with
Israel did not mean ending Turkey’s support for the Palestinian Arabs, while he
visited the areas under the administration of the Palestinian Authority during
his trip. At the time, Israel still reacted reluctantly to the sudden positive
turn in relations with Turkey and seemed to condition normalization of relations
on Ankara expelling Hamas terrorists, who were allowed to operate against Israel
from Turkish territory.Apparently, the Jerusalem government has now decided that
this issue can be better resolved after the new normalization in relations with
Turkey takes effect following the upcoming Israeli election.
The why of Erdogan’s sudden turnaround
Now that diplomatic relations between Israel and Turkey have been restored, the
question arises as to why Erdogan suddenly changed his attitude and sought
conciliation with Israel. The answer to that question is that a mix of primarily
economic interests and Turkey’s increasing isolation in the Middle East prompted
Erdogan to shift his aversion to the Jewish state into a more conciliatory
stance. For example, the dire state of the Turkish economy, which is now on the
brink of complete collapse, has been a major reason for the Turkish leader to
change his attitude towards Israel, which has become the region’s number one
economic powerhouse. Turkey now needs Israel to launch new economic initiatives
like the exploitation of gas in Turkey’s economic zones in the Mediterranean, as
well as the construction of a gas pipeline to Europe. Turkey also needs income
from Israeli tourism, which hit a snag during the political crisis and during
the COVID-19 pandemic, and is interested in purchasing Israeli state-of-the-art
technology and inventions that can give a push to the country’s ailing economy.
Erdogan also saw that the so-called Abraham Accords between Israel and some Arab
countries yielded enormous economic benefits for the parties involved and didn’t
lead to a rift in the Arab world. So it’s mainly about interests and not about a
sudden change of heart on the part of the Turkish dictator. It is a fact that in
recent years Turkey, under Erdogan, has joined the group of countries that
threaten world peace and especially stability in the Middle East. Turkey, a NATO
member state, has recently strengthened ties with Russia and Iran, as well as
with Libya, which is a hotbed of Islamists and has seen a revival of its civil
war in recent weeks. Also, the fact that Turkey has not changed relations with
Hamas shows that the new-found reconciliation with Israel is merely a cosmetic
change.
'There We Will Strike Them': The Munich Massacre and Its
Aftermath
Richard Kemp/Gatestone Institute/September 0/2022
Prime Minister Golda Meir — who had been a signatory to Israel's declaration of
independence in 1948 — refused to bargain with [the terrorists], branding it
blackmail. She later said: "We have learnt the bitter lesson. One may save a
life immediately only to endanger more lives. Terrorism has to be wiped out."
Meanwhile Berlin offered safe passage and unlimited cash to the terrorists....
Libyan president Muammar Gadaffi had funded the attack at the behest of PLO
leader Yasser Arafat, who subsequently denied any involvement and two years
later was feted in a standing ovation at the United Nations General Assembly.
"We were not engaged in vengeance. What we did was to concretely prevent in the
future. We acted against those who thought that they would continue to
perpetrate acts of terror". — Mossad Chief Zvi Zamir, in an interview with Yossi
Melman, (17 February 2006), Haaretz.
Too often Western nations, despite earlier rejection, condemnation and sometimes
hostility, have eventually been obliged to follow the lead Israel was first
forced to take to protect its people. American and European responses to
jihadist attacks on their own territory, especially after 9/11, is an example of
that. We are at present living through another example: the Iranian nuclear
threat. Israeli leaders have repeatedly warned that Tehran's nuclear programme
not only represents grave danger to their own country but to the entire region
and to the world. As in its response to Munich, Israel is conducting a covert
campaign to stop it, including by targeted assassinations. Meanwhile the US and
European countries are appeasing the mullahs in Tehran, just as they did with
Palestinian terrorists in the 1970s, and are on the verge of striking a deal
that will pave the path to an Iranian nuclear capability. This time, ignoring
Israeli warnings will have even more dire and far-reaching consequences.
In memory of: David Berger, Anton Fliegerbauer, Ze'ev Friedman, Yosef Gutfreund,
Eliezer Halfin, Yosef Romano, Amitzur Shapira, Kehat Shorr, Mark Slavin, Andre
Spitzer, Yakov Springer, Moshe Weinberg.
We are at present living through another example: the Iranian nuclear threat...
This time, ignoring Israeli warnings will have even more dire and far-reaching
consequences. Pictured: A burned-out German Army helicopter photographed on
September 7, 1972 at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base, after Palestinian terrorists
blew it up with hand grenades the day before, murdering nine Israeli Olympic
athletes whom they held hostage. (Photo by EPU/AFP via Getty Images)
Fifty years ago this week, 5th and 6th September 1972, the world watched in
horror as Jews were again brutally murdered on German soil, at the Olympics in
Munich. Eight Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) terrorists, using the
cover name "Black September," tortured and murdered 11 Israeli athletes,
emasculating one of them as he lay dying in front of his team-mates. They
stormed the athletes' accommodation, killed two immediately and held the
remainder hostage, demanding the release of 234 terrorist prisoners held by
Israel. Prime Minister Golda Meir — who had been a signatory to Israel's
declaration of independence in 1948 — refused to bargain with them, branding it
blackmail. She later said: "We have learnt the bitter lesson. One may save a
life immediately only to endanger more lives. Terrorism has to be wiped out."
Meanwhile Berlin offered safe passage and unlimited cash to the terrorists,
which they turned down. In the chaos of a disastrously botched German attempt to
ambush the killers at the Fürstenfeldbruck airbase near Munich on 6th September,
with hand grenades and bullets the terrorists butchered the remaining nine
athletes in the helicopters that brought them there, as well as a German
policeman. All but three of the terrorists were killed in the firefight. The IDF
special forces unit Sayeret Matkal (General Staff Reconnaissance Unit) had been
poised to mount a rescue operation, but the German government refused to allow
them into the country and hubristically rejected advice from the chiefs of
Mossad and Shin Bet who had flown in.
They were forced to stand and watch as their fellow Israelis were slaughtered.
The terrorists were armed with weapons smuggled into Germany via diplomats from
Libya, where they had been trained for their murderous mission. Libyan president
Muammar Gadaffi had funded the attack at the behest of PLO leader Yasser Arafat,
who subsequently denied any involvement and two years later was feted in a
standing ovation at the United Nations General Assembly. Mahmoud Abbas, now
president of the Palestinian Authority, was a key player in preparing the
operation. As he flaunts himself on the world stage 50 years later, Abbas still
refuses to express any remorse for the murders he helped bring about.
Even as the attack unfolded, Avery Brundage, chairman of the International
Olympic Committee (IOC), insisted that the games must go on. While two Israelis
lay dead and nine were held at gunpoint, the first athletics event of the day
began on schedule, with German precision, at 8.15 am. Brundage only agreed to a
suspension 12 hours after the assault began, and following a brief pause, the
sports proceeded as though nothing had happened. "Incredibly, they're going on
with it," the Los Angeles Times wrote at the time, "it's almost like having a
dance at Dachau" (which was just a few miles away).
Addressing a memorial service the day after the murders, Brundage, who had
successfully fought against a US boycott of the Nazi Berlin Olympics in 1936
over persecution of Jews, outrageously belittled the murder of the 11 Israelis.
A request by the German chancellor to half-mast national flags at the games was
rescinded after Arab countries refused to comply.
The chief of Mossad, Zvi Zamir, who witnessed the massacre, wrote:
"We watched the Israeli athletes, with their hands tied, flanked by the
terrorists, and all in step they marched toward the helicopters. It was an
appalling sight, especially to a Jew on German soil."
Violent action against the PLO followed swiftly. Two days after the massacre, on
8th September, Israeli warplanes bombed ten PLO bases in Syria and Lebanon,
killing up to 200 terrorists and bringing down three Syrian jets that tried to
intercept the strike force. This was followed by a ground operation, with IDF
armour entering Lebanon and killing an estimated 45 PLO terrorists.
A resolution at the UN Security Council on 10th September calling on Israel to
halt its military operations in Syria and Lebanon, while pointedly making no
mention of the Munich massacre, was vetoed by the US against strong protests
from the Soviet Union and China. The Soviet ambassador remarked that putting the
Israeli raids on the same footing as the events in Munich "would be condoning
the aggressive policy of the Israeli maniacs". Of course the Soviet Union itself
had blood on its hands at Munich, having created the PLO and set it on the path
to terrorism in Europe, funding and supporting attacks.
US ambassador to the UN, George W. Bush, said the resolution ignored realities
and "looked to effect not cause". He went on to say its "silence on the disaster
in Munich" invited more terrorism. Addressing the wider issue of Palestinian
violence, he added: "We seek and support a world in which athletes need not fear
assassins and passengers on planes need not fear hijacking".
Bush's words in New York were well received in Israel, but words were not enough
for a traumatised nation that had just witnessed 11 coffins leaving Lod airport
in a fleet of IDF command cars, and whose distress had been heightened by the
decision to continue with the games, as though the massacre of Jews in Europe
could again be simply brushed aside. It fell to Golda Meir to convert Bush's
words into action: it was her people who were in the cross-hairs.
For that, the military raids in Syria and Lebanon were not sufficient. Dealing
with the threat from countries in the Middle East was one thing, confronting
terror in Europe something quite different. Before Munich, Israeli intelligence
had repeatedly given European governments information about terrorist cells and
attack plans in their countries. But as Meir told the Knesset foreign affairs
committee: "We inform them of it once, twice, three times or five times, and
nothing happens". [Quoted in Rise and Kill First, Ronen Bergman, 2018] European
reluctance to act on intelligence and antagonise Palestinian terrorists and
their Arab sponsors had permitted a wave of deadly attacks. In the previous
three years, 16 people had been killed and wounded in seven terrorist assaults
against Israeli and Jewish targets in West Germany alone.
Faced with inaction in Europe, the Mossad had previously proposed direct attacks
against terrorists on the continent. Meir, committed to respecting the
sovereignty of friendly countries, refused and authorised action only in Middle
Eastern nations that were hostile to Israel. That all changed with Munich. Six
days after the massacre she told the Knesset:
"At any place where a plot is being laid, where they are preparing people to
murder Jews, Israelis — Jews anywhere — it is there we are committed to striking
them". [Rise and Kill First, Ronen Bergman, 2018]
With those words, Meir launched one of the most successful counter terrorist
operations the world has ever seen.
Despite this tough stance, before putting her decision to the cabinet, Meir had
understandably agonised, both on moral and political grounds. She later said:
"There's no difference between one's killing and making decisions that will send
others to kill. It's exactly the same thing, or even worse."
She was also concerned about the young Israelis she would be sending into the
gravest physical and psychological danger. She knew that if a man can hunt, he
can also be hunted. As she put it: "They sit right in the jaws of the enemy".
The Mossad had been preparing for such an operation since 1969 and immediately
dispatched targeted killing teams, codenamed "Bayonet", into Europe. The first
of several strikes came less than two months after Munich, on 16th October in
Rome, when the PLO representative in Italy, Wael Zwaiter, a cousin of Yasser
Arafat, was gunned down. Further killings followed in France, Cyprus, Greece and
elsewhere. Executions were suspended after July 1973, when an innocent man,
mistaken for a PLO terrorist, was killed in Lillehammer, Norway. They resumed in
1978 under Prime Minister Menachem Begin.
Beyond Europe, on 9th April 1973, Operation Spring of Youth, a joint IDF-Mossad
raid in Beirut led by Ehud Barak (who later became prime minister), killed three
senior PLO leaders and around 50 other terrorists. The next day, Walter Nowak,
German ambassador in Beirut, condemned the assault. Scandalously, just six
months after Munich, he had been meeting with one of the Black September leaders
killed in the IDF raid, Abu Youssef, himself an organiser of the massacre, to
offer the prospect of creating "a new basis of trust" between the PLO and the
German government. This incident characterises the two approaches: as Germany
was appeasing the terrorists, Israel was eliminating them.
The targeted killings ordered by Golda Meir were intended to stop terrorist
attacks against Israelis being conducted in and from Europe and not, as is often
supposed, in revenge for Munich — most of those killed were not directly
connected to the Olympics massacre. Mossad Chief Zvi Zamir makes clear: "We were
not engaged in vengeance". He goes on to explain: "What we did was to concretely
prevent in the future. We acted against those who thought that they would
continue to perpetrate acts of terror".
This was about pre-emption and disruption of terrorist attacks against Israeli
citizens in countries where the national authorities had shown themselves
unwilling to act. It was also about deterrence, making terrorists understand
that the price of their actions would be high — preferably too high. That
accounted for the dramatic way some of the attacks were conducted, including the
use of explosives rather than more clinical means or incidents that could be
passed off as accidents. The Mossad wanted the terrorists to have no doubt why
their comrades were being killed and who was doing it. For political reasons,
this had to be balanced against plausible deniability, a consistent principle of
many Israeli counter-terrorist operations before and since. That went badly
wrong at Lillehammer, where six Mossad operatives were arrested and put on
trial.
The imperative for Israel's targeted killings was again confirmed less than two
months after the Olympics, when a Lufthansa flight from Beirut to Frankfurt was
hijacked by Palestinians demanding the release of the three terrorists who had
survived in Munich. The German government immediately paid a $9 million ransom
and released the men, who were flown via Zagreb to Libya, where they received a
hero's welcome.
The last thing Berlin had wanted was to put these murderers on trial, with
German intelligence warning of further acts of terrorism to force their release.
This turn of events therefore was highly convenient and some experts, including
the chief of Mossad at the time, have accused the German government of paying
the PLO to stage the hijacking to give cover for release of the terrorists. That
version was also confirmed in an interview with the self-confessed leader of the
Munich massacre, Abu Daoud.
After they were freed, the head of the German foreign ministry wrote a memo to
the chancellor's office saying: "We should be pleased that the whole thing has
calmed down sufficiently." That reflected a prevalent attitude across Europe
then and later. In 1977, French authorities arrested Abu Daoud, the terrorist
leader. They asked whether Germany wanted him extradited but the Germans
declined. The French government, worried about the potential for attacks on
their own soil as a result of holding him, allowed Daoud to fly to Algeria a few
days later in the face of strong protests from Israel and the US and praise from
the Soviet Union. Until his death, he boasted about the massacre he had
organised.
As well as fear of terrorism, the appeasement of Arab terrorists by European
governments was motivated by worries that too close an alignment with Israel on
security would harm their relations with Arab countries, jeopardising oil supply
and export contracts.
American and European leaders were often critical of Israel's targeted killing
policy, sometimes affecting intelligence sharing as well as diplomatic and trade
relations, and with some accusing Israel of terrorist tactics. As Golda Meir
pointed out:
"The person who threatens with a gun and the person who defends himself in order
to ensure that the gun is not fired at him are not the same."
After Islamic terrorists started turning their guns on Western citizens, these
"principled" objections necessarily dissolved, with America and its allies
frequently forced to resort to a policy modelled on Israel's. The US and Britain
used intelligence agencies, special forces, drones and airstrikes to carry out
targeted killings of terrorists including in Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq
and Syria. Two days after the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, French armed
forces, supported by Britain, launched a wave of airstrikes against Islamic
State bases in Syria, echoing Israel's attacks in Lebanon and Syria in the days
after Munich.
Unsurprisingly, in this changed situation, whenever the Mossad provided European
countries with intelligence about terrorist plans on their soil they did not
have to be told "twice, three times or five times". With their own citizens now
in the cross-hairs, they quickly took the action they failed to take in the
1970s when Israelis were the main target.
Too often Western nations, despite earlier rejection, condemnation and sometimes
hostility, have eventually been obliged to follow the lead Israel was first
forced to take to protect its people. American and European responses to
jihadist attacks on their own territory, especially after 9/11, is an example of
that.
We are at present living through another example: the Iranian nuclear threat.
Israeli leaders have repeatedly warned that Tehran's nuclear programme not only
represents grave danger to their own country but to the entire region and to the
world. As in its response to Munich, Israel is conducting a covert campaign to
stop it, including by targeted assassinations. Meanwhile the US and European
countries are appeasing the mullahs in Tehran, just as they did with Palestinian
terrorists in the 1970s, and are on the verge of striking a deal that will pave
the path to an Iranian nuclear capability. This time, ignoring Israeli warnings
will have even more dire and far-reaching consequences.
Israel's vigorous campaign after Munich was a success. It persuaded the Arab
world that the Mossad could strike wherever and whenever it liked, instilling
fear into the terrorists and forcing them to run and hide in places where they
had previously operated with impunity, and some moderate Arab governments even
pressured the PLO to halt their attacks. The offensive did not end all Arab
terrorism in Europe against Israelis, and as with counter-terrorist activities
everywhere, there were some seriously adverse consequences. But the Mossad's
actions on the continent and Operation Spring of Youth in Beirut convinced PLO
leader Yasser Arafat to order an end to Black September attacks on targets
outside Israel by the end of 1973. As Meir said:
"We don't thrive on military acts. We do them because we have to, and thank God
we are efficient".
Munich is sometimes thought of as Israel's 9/11. Fifty years on, the trauma of
the 1972 massacre remains etched deep into the minds of every Israeli and of
many beyond who had watched it unfold with heart-breaking anguish. No doubt the
11 Israelis who perished at Munich were uppermost in the minds of those brave
men and women who played their individual parts in the campaign that aimed to
prevent a repetition of the horrors the athletes had faced. In Golda Meir's
words at the time:
"Perhaps the day will come when the stories of heroism and resourcefulness,
sacrifice and devotion, of these warriors will be told in Israel, and
generations will recount them to those who follow them with admiration and
pride, as yet another chapter in the heritage of heroism of our nation".
In memory of:
David Berger
Anton Fliegerbauer
Ze'ev Friedman
Yosef Gutfreund
Eliezer Halfin
Yosef Romano
Amitzur Shapira
Kehat Shorr
Mark Slavin
Andre Spitzer
Yakov Springer
Moshe Weinberg
Colonel Richard Kemp is a former British Army Commander. He was also head of the
international terrorism team in the U.K. Cabinet Office and is now a writer and
speaker on international and military affairs. He is a Jack Roth Charitable
Foundation Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
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Nuclear Blackmail and European Terror from Zaporizhzhia
to Natanz
Raghida Dergham/The National/Published on September 04/2022
From Iran to Ukraine via Kaliningrad and Transnistria, nuclear blackmail is
eliciting terror in Europe, which is already holding its breath due to crisis in
oil and gas supplies. Europe is caught between the prospect of an incomplete
deal with Iran and a decreasing likelihood of any agreement with Russia on the
eve of winter.In the Middle East, attention in the US and Europe to the recent
escalation in Iraq lasted mere hours, focused almost exclusively on energy
concerns and the implications for the nuclear negotiations, given the Iranian
involvement in Iraq’s events. In Syria, there was also concern in the US and
Europe for the fate of the nuclear deal with Iran, as Israel stepped up its
attacks on IRGC targets, in Aleppo and Damascus, targeting alleged Iranian arms
supplies to pro-Tehran militias. So, towards what trajectory do these
developments point?
Starting with Russia’s war in Ukraine: there are signs NATO could intervene to
prevent a nuclear disaster at the Zaporizhzhia reactor and curtail Russian
forces in the battle for Kharkov, which NATO considers a dangerous inlet into
the capital Kyiv.
There is no evidence that Russian President Putin is ready to accept compromises
or mediations as discussed behind closed doors to stop the war. Clearly, Mr
Putin is convinced of the possibility of military victory. While this is
theoretically possible in the view of experts, winter could prove very difficult
for Russian forces that will need resupplying. Making gains would be very costly
at all levels.
According to experts, winter would favor Ukraine in the war with Russia, which
would need additional forces if they were to take cities like Kharkiv. There are
around 110,000 Russian troops in Ukraine alongside 35,000 separatist pro-Russian
forces in Donbas and elsewhere, and 12,000 Wagner private military operatives.
Russian casualties in 6 months of fighting in Ukraine have matched Soviet losses
in Afghanistan in 10 years of fighting, which exceeded 15,000. Ukrainian losses
are four times as much, according to estimates by experts.
Europe is looking for an exit from the Russian crisis and its growing costs to
its economy and its escalating menace. Europe is feeling a nuclear terror that
goes beyond Zaporizhzhia, just one of Ukraine’s 15 nuclear plants of varying
complexity. Europe fears NATO may be forced to directly intervene in Ukraine,
which could also lead to nuclear disaster. Europe could be damned if it
intervenes and damned if it doesn’t, with implications in both cases for the
European public opinion as well.
NATO’s clear pledge as endorsed by both the US and Europe is not to allow Russia
to destroy Ukraine or end its existence as a sovereign nation. But the White
House this week reiterated its position that no US troops would be deployed to
Ukraine even to establish a demilitarized zone around Zaporizhzhia. The US
continues to insist on not fighting a war using its own forces and to limit
itself to funding and arming others’ forces. The European powers are following
in the US footsteps, but they may not be able to sustain this position because
ultimately, the Ukraine war is being fought on European soil.
Mr Putin persists in the belief that he will prevail militarily in the war and
teach a lesson to the Baltic States and Poland. His visit to Kaliningrad this
week amid rising tensions with the West is a sign of his confidence that Russia
will not be defeated, as long as it has means to spread nuclear terror.
Kaliningrad, located on the shores of the Baltic Sea between NATO members Poland
and Latvia, is one of the largest Russian military hubs in existence. Meanwhile,
Russian FM Sergei Lavrov issued a warning to Moldova regarding Transnistria and
endangering the Russian peacekeeping force in the pro-Russian separatist region.
Russia’s posture in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon is less escalatory, but is
profoundly supportive of Iran and the IRGC’s activities there. These days,
Moscow is trying to mediate between Iran and Israel, to reach an agreement to
mutually refrain from escalating along Israel’s borders. These efforts seem to
have failed so far in Syria but may have better odds in Lebanon.
Israel’s strikes against IRGC and its weapons shipments in Syria suggest it is
seeking to dismember Iran’s original project of extending a land bridge to the
Mediterranean via Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon then the borders of Israel. The Biden
administration stopped monitoring this project, turning a blind eye to its
expansion because of its full investment in ensuring the success of the nuclear
deal with Iran, pursuant to the Malley Initiative of US envoy for Iran Robert
Malley to revive the 2015 JCPOA.
Israel has carried out up to 22 strikes so far on pro-Iran militias in Syria,
bearing in mind that the IRGC knows Russia has outsourced its mission in Syria
to Iran, and thus has given itself and Hezbollah a free hand there. Iran’s
recent attack on US positions in Syria risked killing American soldiers, a move
that did not benefit Iran or the Biden administration, which found itself
cornered. The developments in Iraq then put further pressure on the Biden
administration, given Iran’s obvious fingerprints in Iraqi affairs and its
support for the Popular Mobilization militias that undermine the project to
build up the Iraqi state.
Iran’s behavior is posing challenges to the hopes held by President Biden and
the Europeans that a nuclear deal with Iran would temper its regional behavior
and curtail the ideology of its regime seeking to impose Iranian dominance over
Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
Lebanon is anxiously watching the developments in Iraq and Syria, alarmed by the
actions of the two key players Iran and Israel in them, especially after Israel
launched direct military attacks on the IRGC and its proxies, led by Hezbollah.
But if Israel has decided to destroy Iranian military shipments to and through
Syria, is it sparing shipments of Iranian rockets to Hezbollah in Lebanon? This
would be odd unless there is an agreement between Iran and Israel, stemming from
the nuclear deal, to stand down Hezbollah along the Lebanese-Israeli border. Or
is Israel preparing to stage similar attacks on Iranian assets in Lebanon, which
are under the command of the IRGC and Hezbollah?
Unless the features and fate of the nuclear deal with Iran become clear, it will
not be easy to read what Israel has in mind for Lebanon especially. The
Syrian-Israeli front appears always under control despite Israel’s military
strikes on Iranian positions in Syria. The Lebanese-Israeli front, in turn, has
remained calm for years since UN Resolution 1701, with mostly rhetorical
‘resistance’. Hezbollah’s weapons have instead become a militia’s weapons aimed
at undermining the national state. Perhaps there will be nothing new along the
Lebanese and Syrian front with Israel, regardless of what happens to the nuclear
deal with Iran, and perhaps all the threats and warnings are part of the
equations of accord. We simply do not know.
What of the fate of the nuclear deal, amid US-Iranian talks and mutual comments,
conditions, and red lines? We may find out the answer in a matter of days,
according to reports.
The crux of the matter remains Iran’s nuclear blackmail. Either the Biden
administration and the Europeans yield to Iran’s insistence on restricting the
involvement of the IAEA, allowing Tehran to continue its nuclear program without
serious restrictions, rewarding it with billions of dollars in sanctions relief,
and enabling it to export its oil to the thirsty European markets. Or the
nuclear deal fails, and Europe’s terror grows as it loses out on the oil and gas
imports that are supposed to help offset the lost Russian energy supplies.
Herein lies Iran’s nuclear and oil and gas blackmail.
Perhaps nothing at all will happen if the deal fails. Perhaps Iran and Israel
will decide that a military confrontation will not be in their interests, and
Iran continues its nuclear program without US and European funds to fuel it.
Iran would then content itself with the US turning a bling eye to its sanctions-busing
oil exports to China, and the Biden administration would content itself with
continuing to talk with the Iranians, without imposing additional sanctions and
entering a military confrontation.
This assessment may sound confusing, but that is because the situation is
confusing. According to a friend who served in previous US administrations in
Washington, two sources in the Biden administration he spoke to said opposing
things: One said the deal will be ready in days, and another said there was no
hope to revive the nuclear deal. What the friend himself said is noteworthy,
namely that the continuation of the status quo without a culmination or total
suspension of US-Iranian talks is an okay outcome.
This all suggests the compass is broken, amid a growing nuclear clamour and a
countdown to the unknown.
On Violated Syria
Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al-Awsat/September 04/2022
The number of Israeli attacks targeting Iran and its militias in Syria is
difficult to count. There may be a strike between the time of writing and the
day this article is published; beyond a doubt, however, that Israel is
continuing and escalating its attacks, and there is no indication that it will
stop soon. If anything, it seems it may go further.
I don’t believe that any other country in the world is being targeted the way
that Israel is violating Syria’s territory- so clearly and amid radio silence
suggesting that the international community welcomes these attacks.
Israel has been insisting that it is not concerned with the deal. Whether or not
an agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program is reached, Israel will continue
to strike the head of the Iranian octopus and its tentacles in the region.
Israel has been doing this since what was falsely dubbed the Arab Spring. While
the Syrian revolution is the most righteous and credible of those that broke in
2011, Israel is now escalating its attacks, targeting Iranian officials and
ammunition depots, besides continuing to target Hezbollah leaders there and arms
caches belonging to the party.
The escalation in these attacks does not embarrass the regime in Damascus alone,
especially since the foreign ministry of the Assad regime has been calling on
the Security Council to put an end to these attacks, a far-fetched prospect
given that the Security Council did not protect the Syrian people from Assad’s
crimes in the first place.
It is thus not only the Assad regime that finds itself in an awkward position
but Iran itself as well. Indeed, it has been dealt painful Israeli blows
targeting Tehran itself, from assassinating IRGC officials to conducting taped
interrogations with them inside Iran.
Despite the party’s stale media and that of the Assad regime before it, both of
which are trying to paint a misleading picture of fantasized victories, just as
the nationalist and leftist Arab media used to promote the idea that “there can
be no war without Syria,” which of courses has had its territorial integrity
desecrated. Because of the embarrassing position the Assad regime, Iran, and
Hezbollah are not in, their media outlets have been attacking Russia, blaming it
for being lenient with Israel instead of raising skepticism about the lies on
“resistance” that Iran’s aides have been echoing for decades.
On Friday, for instance, our newspaper quoted an anonymous source associated
with the Assad regime as saying that the Russians had advised the Iranians to
withdraw from their military base “to avoid Israeli air strikes and safeguard
stability in western Syria.”
According to the same source, three Russian officers told their Iranian
counterparts on Wednesday, at the Hama Military Airport, that they should not
give the Israelis an excuse or pretext to keep launching airstrikes by
maintaining a presence in this important area of Syria.
This leak makes it obvious that the Assad regime wants to imply that Russia is
not fully committed to protecting it and is facilitating Israeli attacks on the
country. The truth is that Russia itself is now embroiled in an open-ended
battle not with the Ukrainians but with the West as a whole. It is only natural
that it re-evaluate its positions and interests, even in Syria, from which
Moscow is said to have withdrawn its S-300 missiles...
For these reasons, it seems that the Assad regime, Iran, and its groups in the
region, particularly Hezbollah, are now extremely concerned with the awkward,
embarrassing position Israel has put them in. All of this also means that the
Israelis have no red lines in Syria, and each of its attacks serves as a
reminder that their “resistance” is nothing but a lie.