Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on December 24-25/2023
Video/Elias Bejjani: Christmas and Ingratitude Towards Parents: Honoring Parents Intertwines with Honoring God, The Father Himself./Elias Bejjani/December 25/2023
Text & Video/Elias Bejjani: Christmas and Ingratitude Towards Parents: Honoring Parents Intertwines with Honoring God, The Father Himself./Elias Bejjani/December 25/2023
Toppling the Iranian Jihadi and Terrorism Regime Is a Peace Global Necessity/Elias Bejjani/December 23/2023
WSJ: Biden pressured Netanyahu to abandon plans for preemptive strike on Hezbollah
A season of struggle for the faithful in Lebanon
Al-Rahi urges 'Lebanon's return to its neutrality'
Bishop Aoudi: The world has become built on interests and man is guided by his lusts, desires and ego
Christians in south Lebanon prepare to celebrate a subdued Christmas
Israeli airstrikes on south as Hezbollah attacks artillery positions
Hezbollah says 'directly' targeted Israeli positions in Dishon with missile weapons
Lebanese economic growth starts with you: The power of choosing local products
Lebanon's presidential void: Conflicting atmospheres emerge amidst regional tensions
Chammas to LBCI: A sudden increase in revenues is something the economy cannot bear

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on December 24-25/2023
Pope says 'our hearts are in Bethlehem' as he presides over the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's
Macron talks with Jerusalem patriarch and expresses 'great concern' about Gaza Catholic parish
Fourteen Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza as ground operation continues
Israeli air strike kills at least 70 Palestinians in central Gaza refugee camp -Palestinian health officials
A UN aid worker was killed in Gaza along with 70 members of his family in an Israeli airstrike
Netanyahu says Gaza war exacting 'heavy price' on Israel army
Deadly Israeli raids leave Palestinians in West Bank camp reeling
UK will not allow Red Sea to become ‘no go’ area for shipping – Shapps
Putin signals desire to halt hostilities to thwart Western aid, says ISW
Iran's Khamenei calls on Muslim nations to block shipping to Israel
Iran’s navy adds sophisticated cruise missiles to its armory
Iran summons Russian envoy over statement on Persian Gulf disputed islands
Graham: ‘I would not invest 15 cents in a future Palestine if Hamas is still standing’
Palestinians recount ‘torture’ in Israeli army custody

Titles For The Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 24-25/2023
Christmas message is that innocent Palestinian lives matter/Father Majdi Seryani/Arab News/December 24, 2023
This Christmas Palestinians aspire to a life of full dignity and full freedom/Bishop Munib Younan/Arab News/December 24, 2023
Israel and Palestine’s annus horribilis/Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/December 24, 2023
If We Like, We Will Kill You, Too’: The Persecution of Christians, November 2023/Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/December 24, 2023
A Calm Letter to President Biden during a Tumultuous Time/Nabil Amr/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 24/2023

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on December 24-25/2023
Video/Elias Bejjani: Christmas and Ingratitude Towards Parents: Honoring Parents Intertwines with Honoring God, The Father Himself.
Elias Bejjani/December 25/2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpRcbw7hGSg
December 25/2023

Text & Video/Elias Bejjani: Christmas and Ingratitude Towards Parents: Honoring Parents Intertwines with Honoring God, The Father Himself.
Elias Bejjani/December 25/2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/125370/text-video-elias-bejjani-christmas-and-ingratitude-towards-parents-honoring-parents-intertwines-with-honoring-god-the-father-himself-elias-bejjani-december-25-2023/
As we celebrate Christmas, the birth of the incarnated God, the holy symbol of humility, love, and sacrifice, it is imperative to emphasize the importance of respecting parents, honoring their sacrifices, and demonstrating gratitude through practical deeds. Failure to do so would amount to a bold rebellion against moral virtues, self-respect, and Almighty God Himself, who is a father.
Ingratitude, an age-old affliction, is unfortunately becoming more prevalent in today’s society, especially among children towards their parents. From a biblical standpoint, ingratitude is sternly condemned, with numerous verses highlighting the significance of honoring and respecting parents.
The Bible, a moral compass for millions, stresses the commandment to honor one’s parents. In the Ten Commandments, the fifth directive explicitly states, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). This commandment goes beyond mere familial respect; it is a divine decree that intertwines honoring parents with honoring God Himself.
As portrayed in biblical teachings, parents make profound sacrifices for their children. The Bible extols the virtues of selfless love and parental sacrifice. Yet, the contemporary landscape often witnesses children who, in times of need, display an alarming lack of gratitude. These children benefit from the sacrifices of their parents, but when the time comes to reciprocate or express gratitude, some fall short.
Biblical Insights on Ingratitude
Proverbs 23:22 : “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” This verse emphasizes the sanctity of life given by parents and warns against disdain in their old age.
2 Timothy 3:2 : “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.” This verse poignantly notes ingratitude as a negative trait, cautioning against its prevalence.
Luke 11:11-12 : “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?” This verse underscores the natural inclination of parents to provide for their children’s needs, highlighting the disheartening nature of ingratitude.
Ingratitude disrupts the sacred fabric of familial relationships and violates the divine principle of honoring parents. Parents sacrifice sleep, personal ambitions, and countless resources for the well-being of their children, yet some offspring respond with indifference or even scorn.
The Call to Gratitude
As society grapples with the erosion of familial values, a return to biblical principles is imperative. The commandment to honor parents is not a mere suggestion; it is a foundational principle that, when upheld, fosters a society rooted in gratitude, compassion, and divine respect.
Ingratitude, though prevalent, need not be an inevitability. By embracing the biblical wisdom that honoring parents is tantamount to honoring God Himself, we can rekindle the spirit of gratitude and restore the sanctity of parent-child relationships.
Let us heed the biblical call to gratitude, recognizing and appreciating the sacrifices parents make. In doing so, we honor not only our earthly guardians but also the Heavenly Father who ordained the commandment.

Toppling the Iranian Jihadi and Terrorism Regime Is a Peace Global Necessity
إسقاط نظام إيران الجهادي والإرهابي ضرورة عالمية للسلام
Elias Bejjani/December 23/2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/125427/125427/
In the turbulent landscape of global terrorism, one nation stands out as a clear and present danger to peace and stability: Iran. The Iranian regime, under the control of the Mullahs, has been orchestrating a wave of atrocities across multiple countries, spreading its malevolent influence through assassinations, explosions, and the promotion of hatred and jihad. This ominous role extends to its armed proxies, strategically positioned in Iraq, Syria, Gaza, Yemen, West Bank, and the Red Sea, disrupting the peace in these regions and beyond.
Iran's destructive agenda is evident in its tight grip on armed proxies, unleashing chaos and undermining peace efforts in Lebanon, Yemen, Gaza, Iraq and Syria. The Iranian-backed militias have become instruments of havoc, exacerbating tensions and impeding any prospects for stability. In Gaza, the Iranian regime's support for militant groups fuels the ongoing conflict, perpetuating the cycle of violence and making a sustainable peace seem unattainable.
A particularly alarming aspect of Iran's aggressive strategy is its interference in the Red Sea through Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Houthi attacks against commercial ships pose a significant threat to international trade routes, jeopardizing the economic stability of the region. This maritime aggression not only endangers innocent lives but also disrupts the global supply chain, emphasizing the urgent need for decisive action against Iran's expansionist ambitions.
The Mullahs' anti-peace agenda is further evident in their oppressive measures against the Iranian people. Fabricated charges, arbitrary death penalties, and a regime built on oppression and dictatorship tactics have become the norm. The Iranian people endure daily hardships, their voices stifled in the face of an authoritarian regime that prioritizes its own survival over the welfare of its citizens.
Iran's anti-feminism policies add another layer to its regressive practices. Women in Iran face systemic discrimination, limiting their freedoms and opportunities. The international community must not turn a blind eye to the plight of Iranian women and the oppressive conditions they endure under the Mullahs' rule.
As the Middle East continues to grapple with unrest and conflict, it is imperative to recognize that the root cause lies in the Iranian regime's expansionist and destructive agenda. The international community must unite to support efforts to topple the Mullahs' regime and replace it with a government that prioritizes peace, stability, and the well-being of its citizens.
In conclusion, the global community must not underestimate the threat posed by Iran to global peace and security. The Mullahs' regime is not only fanning the flames of conflict in various nations but is also inflicting untold suffering upon its own people. It is high time for a collective and resolute response to dismantle the apparatus of terror that Iran has become, paving the way for a more stable and peaceful future in the Middle East and beyond.

WSJ: Biden pressured Netanyahu to abandon plans for preemptive strike on Hezbollah
Ynetnews/December 23/2023
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyxjun4vt#autoplay
Based on intelligence about imminent Hezbollah attack, Israeli warplanes were reportedly in the air awaiting orders when Biden spoke to Netanyahu on Oct. 11 and told PM to stand down; Netanyahu denies report. Israel planned to launch a preemptive strike against Hezbollah on October 11 which was narrowly averted due to intervention from U.S. President Joe Biden, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. The assault plan came on the heels of Hamas’ invasion of southern Israel and, according to the report, was based on intelligence Israel had that Hezbollah attackers were preparing to cross the border as part of a multi-pronged attack. The U.S. reportedly deemed the information unreliable.  Israeli officials told Ynet that Aryeh Deri, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party and a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, approached Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, leaders of the centrist National Unity party and then part of the opposition. He urged them to form a broad national unity government and convene the war cabinet, calling it "a matter of life and death."The cabinet convened for briefings amid alarms of widespread drone attacks across northern Israel. Cabinet members headed to the bunker, with officials sensing a potential pretext for an attack. However, it was later confirmed that there were no drones, and the alarm was false. The Journal reported that Israeli warplanes were in the air awaiting orders when Biden spoke to Netanyahu on Oct. 11 and told the prime minister to stand down and think through the consequences of such an action, according to people familiar with the call. U.S. officials reportedly first learned of Israel's intent for a preemptive strike on the morning of Oct. 11 at about 6:30 a.m. Washington time when Israeli representatives urgently informed the White House of a suspected Hezbollah assault. Acknowledging the need for assistance, Israel sought American backing for its proposed action, according to U.S. officials. On that morning, Biden's intelligence, military and national security chiefs met to discuss Israel's plans, where it was noted that U.S. intelligence did not align with Israel's. After being briefed, Biden spoke with Netanyahu and the war cabinet, urging Israel not to proceed with the strike. Netanyahu wasn't entirely convinced, while more hawkish members of the war cabinet, particularly Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, argued that a broader war was inevitable and wanted to proceed with the plans. The U.S. responded that a larger war could still be averted. Gallant continued to insist that a preemptive strike was necessary, but the majority of war cabinet members believed the focus should remain on Gaza, not the northern front. Following further discussions and meetings, six hours later - according to the report - Israel abandoned the preemptive attack and essentially accepted the American assessment that there was no evidence of an imminent Hezbollah attack. The Prime Minister's Office denied the report. "The report is incorrect. From the first day of the war, the prime minister decided that Israel would first seek a decisive victory in the south while maintaining strong deterrence in the north. This policy was adopted by the cabinet," Netanyahu’s office said in response.

A season of struggle for the faithful in Lebanon
Arab News/December 24, 2023
BEIRUT: In Lebanon, the Christmas spirit is subdued this year, with Christian citizens grappling with a sense of unease about celebrating amidst the growing regional turmoil and the nation’s economic challenges — but who are still determined to mark the occasion with prayer and family gatherings. Since Oct. 8, Israel has exchanged fire with armed groups in southern Lebanon on a near-daily basis, resulting in the death and injury of journalists, combatants and civilians. Tony Bajani, from the Beirut Badro Business Association, told Arab News that “all the signs of joy seem artificial this year. It’s a way of proving our existence and trying to confirm that despite all the crises, we are still alive. What is happening in Gaza is unacceptable to both reason and logic. And perhaps the act of praying on Christmas Eve is the best expression of our need for the Savior to guide humanity.” Bajani, a pub owner, reflects a general apathy toward celebrations. Since the initiation of conflict on the southern front of Lebanon by Hezbollah on Oct. 8, fears have heightened of a spillover and a repeat of previous devastating conflicts in the country. Beirut’s economic woes are evident in the scaled-back holiday decorations, focused on commercial areas including hotels, restaurants and malls. (Shutterstock)
The situation is particularly tense in areas such as Kahala, where Bajani is from, due to recent clashes with Hezbollah. “The country was making progress before Oct. 7, but now it has regressed ... Despite the ongoing events, people will try to separate their emotions to feel alive and continue. However, this doesn’t mean that they are not affected.” Beirut’s economic woes are evident in the scaled-back holiday decorations, focused on commercial areas including hotels, restaurants and malls. The intention is to draw customers despite the year’s losses, and to maintain some semblance of joy.
Even in Beirut’s markets, once bustling with activity, the festive decorations have been overshadowed by the decline in commercial life. However, some events are going ahead, including Solidere Corporate’s “Beirut Sings.”The mood is somber in southern regions and the Bekaa, extending to Christian towns including Rmeish and Alma Al-Shaab. Zahle in the Bekaa Valley is making modest efforts to celebrate. Rita Saad from Al-Farzal said: “I have to be optimistic and celebrate Eid ... On Eid, we will forget, even for a while, what is happening around us.”In northern towns including Jounieh, Jbeil and Batroun, there is a facade of celebrations for commercial purposes, and the mood remains somber. Father George Sadaqa, former head of the Antonine Order, said: “We stand in solidarity with justice ... Our celebration of Christmas is an attempt to honor God.” Civil society organizations are focusing on children’s events, church songs, and handicraft exhibitions. The head of the Halim Al-Hawat Charitable Foundation in Jbeil, Zeina Hawat Kinaan, said: “The celebration is an attempt to keep smiles on the faces of children.”In Tyre, the ongoing bombings near the border has dampened Christmas preparations, affecting the displaced Lebanese from border villages. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sidon’s Christmas activities reflect the regional pain. The Roman Catholic bishop of Sidon, Elie Bechara Haddad, said: “There is a painful atmosphere in the entire region ... We decided not to accept congratulations this year.”A displaced person, preferring anonymity, said: “We feel a lump in our hearts. Celebrating the holiday at a time when victims are falling is unethical.”UNICEF reports indicate high levels of anxiety and depression among families in southern Lebanon and Palestinian refugee children. Tony Al-Rami, head of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, reflected on the decline in tourism. “Lebanon needs peace and security for reservations in its restaurants and nightclubs to increase.” While Christmas in Lebanon this year has been marred by regional unrest and economic hardships, there remain a somewhat steely determination to have some form of celebration.

Al-Rahi urges 'Lebanon's return to its neutrality'
Naharnet/December 24, 2023
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday condemned “the genocidal and brutal war that is ongoing in Gaza,” while rejecting “its spread to the southern villages” in Lebanon.“Lebanon is not a land of war but rather a land of dialogue and peace,” al-Rahi said in his Sunday Mass sermon. “The spread of the war to Lebanon comes in violation of Resolution 1701 and it is necessary for Lebanon to return to its neutrality as a defender, through diplomacy, of any usurped rights,” the patriarch added. He also noted that “Lebanon’s neutrality is not something new, but is rather part of the core of Lebanon’s identity since 1860.” Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, Hezbollah and Israeli forces have engaged in near-daily clashes on the border that have killed around 150 people on the Lebanese side -- most of them fighters with Hezbollah and allied groups, but also at least 17 civilians. Some 72,437 people in Lebanon are displaced, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Bishop Aoudi: The world has become built on interests and man is guided by his lusts, desires and ego
LCCC/NNA/December 24, 2023
The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut and its dependencies, Bishop Elias Aoudi, presided over the Divine Liturgy service in St. George's Cathedral, in the presence of a crowd of believers. After the Gospel, he gave a sermon in which he said: Today's human being deals with his fellow human being based on his “lineage and lineage,” that is, he respects the rich, the feudal lord, and the bourgeoisie, and despises the poor, the needy, and the weak. The world has become built on interests, and man has become governed by his lusts, desires and ego. He accepts what suits his interests, even at the expense of his fellow man, and rejects what is not in line with his aspirations. Even countries, especially those with a long history and legacy in defending human rights, freedom, and dignity, are guided by their interests. Otherwise, how do you explain their positions on violence, wars, conflicts, the arms race, nuclear tests, the arms trade, and disparities in the distribution of wealth? He concluded: “Therefore, today’s Gospel comes to tell us that Christ came as a human being from a lineage that included kings, shepherds, tribal leaders, and sinners, in order to teach us that blessing can come from the midst of darkness and sin, because God’s grace is the one that saves and purifies. For this reason, our call today is to accept everyone.” Our acceptance of Christ, because everyone, poor and rich, men and women, old and young, are created in the divine image and likeness, and all are redeemed with pure blood and called to repentance and sonship to God.

Christians in south Lebanon prepare to celebrate a subdued Christmas
Associated Press/December 24, 2023
Christians in the border villages of south Lebanon prepared for a subdued Christmas under the shadow of the ongoing war in Gaza and its spillover in Lebanon. While in Beirut restaurants were packed and hundreds flocked to Christmas markets in the days leading up to the holiday, in the border towns houses were empty and businesses shuttered. The residents have fled to stay with relatives or in rented apartments in Beirut or other areas farther from the conflict. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, Hezbollah and Israeli forces have engaged in near-daily clashes on the border that have killed around 150 people on the Lebanese side -- most of them fighters with Hezbollah and allied groups, but also at least 17 civilians, according to a tally by The Associated Press. Some 72,437 people in Lebanon are displaced, according to the International Organization for Migration. In the majority-Christian village of Ain Ebel, U.N. peacekeepers handed out toys at a private school on Saturday to some 250 children whose families have remained there and in the nearby villages of Rmeish and Debel. Saint-Joseph des Saints-Cœurs School, like most in the area, has been closed amid the fighting, which has killed three of their students.The three sisters -- Rimas Shour, 14; Talin Shour, 12; and Layan Shour, 10 -- were killed along with their grandmother, Samira Abdul Hussein Ayoub, by an Israeli strike that hit the car they were riding in on Nov. 5.
"We've been living war in every sense of the word," said Sister Maya Beaino, the head of the school. "Three quarters of the village has fled. The people who stayed are in a state of sadness and no one has put up decorations or even a tree in their house."Still, Beaino said she hoped the small celebration of the holy day would help to keep people's spirits strong. "As soon as there is a ceasefire, we will reopen the school," she said.
Charbel Louka, 12, came to the toy distribution with his family, who have remained in the nearby village of Debel. At first, Louka said he was afraid of the sounds of shelling, "but after a while, we got used to it." Adding a further grim note in the runup to the holiday, heavy storms flooded roads throughout the country on Saturday, setting cars adrift and killing four Syrian refugee children in northern Lebanon when the ceiling of their home collapsed and the building flooded. In the southern village of Rmeish, about 2 kilometers from the border, where smoke rises daily from the surrounding hills from shelling and airstrikes, Mayor Milad Alam said there is "no holiday atmosphere at all."The local church has canceled its usual Christmas Eve nighttime Mass due to security concerns but will hold it on the morning of Christmas Day. Santa Claus will hand out gifts on Sunday afternoon to the few children remaining in the village. "It's not a celebration, it's just to let the children enjoy themselves a bit," Alam said. In the town of Rashaya al-Fukhar, the municipality set up a Christmas tree decorated with red balls and lights in the largely deserted town square. "The people who have children took them out of here, first of all because of their safety and secondly so they don't miss out on school," said municipal council member Wassim al-Khalil. "The ones who remained are older, like me." Marwan Abdullah, a resident of the village, said his family is "separated and scattered in different places.""It's possible if the situation is stable that we'll get together for the holidays," he said. "I hope there will be peace and quiet, especially on this day of celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, who gave peace and goodwill to the earth."

Israeli airstrikes on south as Hezbollah attacks artillery positions
Naharnet/December 24, 2023
Israel carried out several airstrikes on southern Lebanese border towns on Sunday, as Hezbollah announced a fresh attack on Israeli posts. Hezbollah’s al-Manar televisions said an Israeli warplane fired three missiles at a house in Rab Tlatine as an Israeli drone bombed a school in al-Taybeh. Israeli warplanes also carried out five strikes on the al-Labbouneh area south of Naqoura. Artillery shells meanwhile targeted the outskirts of Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras and Aitaroun. Hezbollah meanwhile announced targeting Israeli artillery positions in Dishon with missiles. The Israeli army for its part said that several shells had landed in the occupied Shebaa Farms. An Israeli airstrike had overnight targeted a house in Aitaroun, killing Hezbollah member Hussein Salameh, who hails from the town. Hezbollah had carried out four attacks on Israeli posts on Saturday. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, Hezbollah and Israeli forces have engaged in near-daily clashes on the border that have killed around 150 people on the Lebanese side -- most of them fighters with Hezbollah and allied groups, but also at least 17 civilians. On the Israeli side, at least four civilians and eight soldiers have been killed, according to Israeli officials.

Hezbollah says 'directly' targeted Israeli positions in Dishon with missile weapons
LBCI/December 24, 2023
On Sunday, Hezbollah announced that: "We targeted [Israeli] enemy positions in Dishon with missile weapons." It added that the positions "were directly hit."

Lebanese economic growth starts with you: The power of choosing local products
LBCI/December 24, 2023
In a collection of imported goods and another one of the same items but 100% Lebanese-made, which one is better? The first point to consider is the quality, knowing that many Lebanese products rival foreign brands. The second point is the price. However, which should be chosen if the price of the Lebanese and foreign products is the same?
Let's examine each case:
When buying a foreign product:
- We are paying for the raw materials, all of which are imported.
- The cost of labor and other expenses also goes abroad.
- The profit from the purchase goes to the merchant or the Lebanese importer.
However, when buying a Lebanese product:
- Part of the raw materials may come from abroad.
- But the cost of labor and other operational costs remain in the country.
- The profit goes to the Lebanese factory, helping it grow and create more job opportunities.
Therefore, remember that every time you buy a product made in Lebanon, you contribute to keeping a more significant portion of the money in the country, supporting local factories and the families they employ.

Lebanon's presidential void: Conflicting atmospheres emerge amidst regional tensions
LBCI/December 24, 2023
Lebanon is currently experiencing "conflicting" atmospheres, with the presidential electoral climate in its flexibility, allowing optimism after the Parliament's extension of the term of the Army Commander. This article is originally published in, translated from Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anbaa. Simultaneously, there is a tense situation in the southern region, where prospects remain closed, and there is no international or regional effort to end the Israeli "onslaught" on Gaza and its inevitable repercussions on southern Lebanon. On the presidential front, there seems to be harmony among internal parties, particularly among Christian and reformist leaders, and the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, who may represent the "Amal-Hezbollah duo" within this framework. This direction received a new endorsement from the Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi in his message on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year's on Saturday. He stated, "Our political officials in the Parliament, government, parties, and parliamentary blocs need the light of God's word to emerge freely from the darkness of their personal and factional interests and to lead the country out of the presidential void at the most critical and dangerous stage in Lebanon's history! "We say to them: You are committing a crime against the presidency, constitutional institutions, and the Lebanese people while persisting in holding the election of the president hostage to a person, project, or hidden agenda. The victim is the state with its entity and the people with their dormant rights."Al-Rahi added, "The internal and external public opinion welcomed the decision to extend the term of the army commander and the leaders of the security agencies based on the general rule: 'The salvation of the nation is the supreme law.'"
"How much more important is the election of a president, protecting the state from the disintegration of its institutions, the dispersion of its people, and its absence from the talks taking place in capitals about this turbulent Middle Eastern region, with Lebanon at its forefront."He questioned, "Why do you want to ruin the state by not electing its president? You well know that there is no state without a president! They talk about consensus on the president's qualities; this consensus is achieved during successive election cycles according to the rule of democracy. The evidence is a year and three months of vacancy, to no avail?"He continued, "Who protects the constitution in the president's absence when he alone swears to protect it? In his absence, who heads the two constitutional institutions, the Parliament and the government, in terms of coordinating their work, as they are the 'wings' of the state, and the president must ensure their 'harmony' under the banner of respecting the constitution! ""In his absence, who requests a review of laws and their signing in conformity with the constitution and to avoid any injustice that may occur?"Meanwhile, Hashem Safieddine, the head of Hezbollah's Executive Council, said during a tribute event for martyrs on the "Road to Jerusalem:" "We are not the resistance waiting for the American and Israeli determination of its fate. We are here in southern Lebanon and Jabal Amel, and in the great and model experience we presented at the level of our nation." He added: "We cannot wait for Biden, Netanyahu, or any international society claiming to be concerned about peoples' future to determine our destiny. We are the ones who determine the fate of the south, the borders, and the future of this country in the face of the enemy, whom we will not allow to dominate Gaza or our resistance in the coming days."
On another note, Major General Abbas Ibrahim received the US Ambassador, Dorothy Shea, in his office on a farewell visit. Ibrahim thanked Shea for her measures and the efforts of the United States in supporting Lebanese institutions.
He emphasized that "Lebanon faces the danger of an Israeli aggression that may expand and lead to unforeseen results, especially in light of the destruction witnessed in Gaza."

Chammas to LBCI: A sudden increase in revenues is something the economy cannot bear
LBCI/December 24, 2023
The Head of the Beirut Traders Association and General Secretary of the Lebanese Economic Organizations, Nicolas Chammas, announced that the first nine months of this year marked the beginning of an economic recovery, with tourists and expatriates contributing to halting the downward trend. Lebanon is still "standing on its feet."On LBCI's "Nharkom Said" TV show, he pointed out that the daily business volume in the commercial sector was $250 million, compared to $150 million last year, and estimates for this year are approaching $100 million. He explained that "the state needs to rationalize spending, and there must be a balance between state revenues and expenditures. A sudden increase in revenues cannot be borne by the economy." Chammas mentioned several factors affecting the economic decline, such as psychological factors, what remains of "white money for black days," and the second-largest cost due to the impact of the Gaza war, paid by Lebanon. He said, "If the war extends from the south to the Lebanese interior, the economic cost will be high, and it could be the end of Lebanon. Fear may drive citizens to buy and hoard US dollars."He also highlighted the role of banks as intermediaries, converting deposits into loans, and in the absence of banks, circulation is absent, leading to disparities in economic sectors. Chammas addressed the high energy cost that industrialists suffer from, and during holidays, there is a significant cost for decorations. He spoke about the fear of some merchants in bringing quantities that may not be sold while others "are brave."He emphasized that the absence of a president harms the economy, and the government is just managing affairs, in addition to problems in parliament. The closure of real estate and Vehicle Registration Center departments is also harming the economy and not helping it get back on track. He affirmed that the "Lebanonization" cannot be imposed, saying, "Our system is 'dollarized,' and we value the liberal system, and capital controls could have been adopted quickly."As for the Syrian refugee issue, he pointed out that "one economy does not feed two peoples."

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on December 24-25/2023
Pope says 'our hearts are in Bethlehem' as he presides over the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's
VATICAN CITY (AP)/December 24, 2023
Recalling Jesus’ birth in a stable in Bethlehem, Pope Francis in a Christmas Eve homily said that “the clash of arms even today" prevents Jesus “from finding room in the world.”The pontiff presided Sunday over the evening Mass attended by about 6,500 faithful who took their place amid the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica behind rows of white-clad prelates. “Our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, ” the pope said, referring to the war sparked by Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 rampage and hostage-taking in Israel.
As Mass began, a statuette of the Christ child was unveiled before the altar bedecked in greenery and white flowers, and children representing all corners of the globe placed flowers around a gilded throne. Francis, draped in white robes, led the Mass standing at the foot of one of St. Peter’s grand columns.
Recalling that Jesus was born during a census meant to reinforce King David’s power, Francis warned against “the quest for worldly power and might, fame and glory, which measures everything in terms of success, results, numbers and figures, a world obsessed with achievement.” By contrast, Jesus entered the world humbly, taking human flesh. “Here, we see not a god of wrath and chastisement, but the God of mercy, who takes flesh and enters the world in weakness,’’ the pope said. A pagan deity is linked to “power, worldly success and idolatry of consumerism,” the pope said. “God, on the other hand, waves no magic want; he is no god of commerce who promises everything all at once. He does not save us by pushing a button, but draws near us, in order to change our world from within.”When the Christmas Eve Mass ended, the pope, pushed in a wheelchair, moved down the basilica with the life-sized statue of Baby Jesus on his lap and flanked by children carrying bouquets. The statue was placed in a manger in a nativity scene in the basilica. Francis, 87, has been using a wheelchair to navigate long distances due to a painful knee ligament and a cane for shorter distances. During the traditional Angelus blessing overlooking St. Peter’s Square at midday, the pontiff remembered those suffering from war, recalling specific fighting in Ukraine and Israel’s bombardment and siege of the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas’ attack.
“We are close to our brothers and sisters suffering from war. We think of Palestine, Israel, Ukraine. We also think of those who suffer from misery, hunger, slavery,’’ Francis said. “May the God who took a human heart for himself infuse humanity into the hearts of men,” he added. Speaking from the window of his studio to the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus prayer, the pontiff also invited the faithful “not to confuse celebration with consumerism. One can and, as a Christian, must celebrate in simplicity without waste and by sharing with those who lack necessities or lack companionship.”Traditionally, Catholics mark Christmas Eve by attending Mass at midnight. But over the years, the starting time at the Vatican has crept earlier, reflecting the health or stamina of popes and then the pandemic. The Vatican has kept a 7:30 p.m. time originally set during a pandemic curfew. On Christmas Day, tens of thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims were expected to crowd into St. Peter’s Square to hear Pope Francis deliver an address on world issues and give his blessing. The speech, known in Latin as “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and to the world), is traditionally an occasion to review crises including war, persecution and hunger, in many parts of the globe.

Macron talks with Jerusalem patriarch and expresses 'great concern' about Gaza Catholic parish
RFI/December 24, 2023
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed "great concern" about a Catholic parish in war-torn Gaza with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, his office said on Sunday Macron spoke with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa by telephone on Saturday to discuss the "tragic situation" there since the outbreak of war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants on October 7. "Hundreds of civilians of all confessions... have been living under bombs and bullets for more than two months while worshippers and nuns take care of the sick, elderly or disabled," Macron was quoted as saying in a press release by the Elysée palace. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said on December 16 that an Israeli soldier shot dead "in cold blood" a Christian mother and daughter on the grounds of the Gaza Strip's only Catholic church. Macron offered his condolences for the parishioners who he said were killed "shamefully", a week after Pope Francis deplored their deaths. The Israeli army told AFP that a review supported findings that no church was hit and that civilians were not injured or killed. Mother, daughter killed by Israel army in Gaza church grounds: patriarchate It said it "does not target civilians, no matter their religion".As Christmas approaches, Macron asked Pizzaballa to "send a message of peace and solidarity to all Christians in the Holy Land and assure them France is by their side". (With newswires)

Fourteen Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza as ground operation continues
Sky News/December 24, 2023
Fourteen Israeli soldiers have been killed fighting in Gaza over the weekend, the Israeli military has said. The deaths take the number of Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) killed to 152 since its ground operation began on 20 October. Some 480 IDF personnel have died since Hamas launched its incursion on 7 October. The Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry said on Sunday at least 60 Palestinians were killed following an Israeli air strike that hit central Gaza's Maghazi refugee camp. This weekend's deaths represent some of the bloodiest days of the conflict so far - and suggest Hamas is still as committed to its cause as it was when it started. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement on Sunday the war was extracting a heavy price but added: "We are doing everything to safeguard the lives of our warriors." He said his country's forces are going deeper into the Gaza Strip and that they will fight on until "total victory" over Hamas. The IDF released further details of an operation to dismantle a network of Hamas tunnels, where the bodies of five hostages - Warrant Officer Ziv Dado, Sergeant Ron Sherman, Corporal Nik Beizer, Eden Zacharia, and Elia Toledano - were recovered.
Many Hamas fighters were killed and hundreds of weapons found, the IDF said, in what it said was the group's northern headquarters in Gaza. The tunnel network, which included two levels, passed beneath a school and a hospital and was connected to a shaft leading to the residence of the Commander of Hamas' Northern Brigade, Ahmad Andur, the IDF said. Hamas said on Saturday it had lost contact with a group responsible for five Israeli hostages being held captive in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli bombardment. It comes after the UN fell short of calling for a humanitarian ceasefire on Friday, instead passing a resolution for increased aid to be transported into Gaza.
The US abstained from the vote, as Israel's most powerful ally. The resolution sparked criticism from both Israel and Hamas. According to the Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry, 20,424 people have been killed in Gaza since 7 October, including 166 this weekend. Figures from the World Programme recently revealed that a quarter of Gaza's population is starving, with the vast majority also displaced. In Israel, 1,200 people have been killed and 240 were taken hostage by Hamas and other militant groups. The Israeli military is still fighting for the release of 129 remaining captives. In Bethlehem, the devastation caused by the conflict has been reflected in the traditional Nativity scene in Manger Square, with characters surrounded by barbed wire and rubble. A UN official criticised Israel on Saturday after it issued another evacuation order, telling people in Gaza to move towards Deir al Balah, despite it being hit this week. Israeli forces have said they are expanding their offensive in the north and south, and troops are fighting in "complex areas" in Khan Younis, the territory's second-largest city, where Israel believes Hamas leaders are hiding. Heavy Israeli bombardment and gunfire were reported on Sunday morning in the town of Jabaliya, an area north of Gaza City that Israel had previously claimed to control. Meanwhile, the IDF said on Sunday it responded to "numerous launches toward the area of Keren Naftali, northern Israel". The conflict has spread to the Red Sea this month with Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacking Israeli-affiliated commercial ships. Vessels have been forced to re-route away from the Suez Canal, adding an average 10 days to their journeys to Europe. On Saturday, Israel continued to target Hezbollah targets inside Lebanon, where one of the 14 IDF soldiers was killed over the weekend.

Israeli air strike kills at least 70 Palestinians in central Gaza refugee camp -Palestinian health officials
CAIRO (Reuters)/December 24, 2023
An Israeli air strike that hit central Gaza's Maghazi refugee camp has killed 70 people, Palestinian health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said on Sunday, and he said the death toll was likely to climb. "What is happening at the Maghazi camp is a massacre that is being committed on a crowded residential square," al-Qidra said. The Israeli military said it was reviewing the incident. "Despite the challenges posed by Hamas terrorists operating within civilian areas in Gaza, the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) is committed to international law including taking feasible steps to minimize harm to civilians," an Israeli army spokesperson said in a statement. The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which runs Gaza, issued a statement calling the air strike "a horrific massacre" and said it was "a new war crime."

Israel says five Gaza hostages died in tunnel, circumstances being probed
REUTERS/December 25, 2023
JERUSALEM: Five Israeli hostages killed in Hamas captivity were recovered from an underground tunnel network in the northern Gaza Strip, the military said on Sunday, showing footage of a white-tiled bathroom and work room linked by dark concrete-lined passages. The publication left open the question of how they had died, with chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari saying post-mortems were pending. “We will brief the families and then, depending on what they approve, the public,” he said. The three soldiers and two civilians were among 240 people dragged back to the Gaza Strip by Hamas gunmen during the cross-border rampage of Oct. 7 that sparked the war. The military announced the repatriation of their bodies earlier this month. Hamas last week published video showing three of the hostages alive in what appeared to be a narrow, white-tiled and windowless bedroom with an electric wall socket. In a Hebrew chyron directed at Israel, the Iranian-backed Islamist group said: “Your military weapons killed the three.” Hamas has previously said some hostages died in Israel’s shelling of Gaza. It has also threatened to execute hostages. Sunday’s military publication came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would deepen operations in an almost 12-week-old war whose toll on Gaza civilians has alarmed Western powers also worried about the 129 remaining hostages. Video released by the military showed its engineers in a dark and dusty tunnel network which, it said, had two storys — one 10 meters down and the other “dozens of meters” deeper. One tunnel ran to the home of Ahmad Al Ghandour, chief of Hamas’ North Gaza brigade, the Israeli military said. Hamas declared him and several other commanders killed in action on Nov. 26. Israel said they were targets of one of its air strikes. The video showed a section of tunnel lined with white tiles, as well as a similarly designed bathroom with a basic shower, toilet and sink, and a work room with a corner table and bench. One tunnel had a drinking water dispenser and a pile of bullets. The military video did not include images corresponding to the hostages’ bedroom shown in the Hamas video, whose ceiling appeared differently designed though also tiled in white.

A UN aid worker was killed in Gaza along with 70 members of his family in an Israeli airstrike
Alia Shoaib/Business Insider/December 24, 2023
A UN aid worker was killed in Gaza along with 70 members of his family in an Israeli airstrike. Israel's aerial bombardment campaign has killed around 20,000 people, the Gazan health ministry said. About 70% of those killed have been women and children, UN agencies have said. A veteran UN aid worker was killed in Gaza along with 70 members of his extended family in an Israeli airstrike, a UN representative said. Issam Al-Mughrabi, 56, was killed along with his wife and five children in Gaza City on Friday, United Nations Development Programme administrator Achim Steiner said in a statement. "The airstrike also reportedly killed more than 70 members of his extended family," it said. Al-Mughrabi had worked with UNDP for almost 30 years and was a "beloved member" of the team, Steiner said. "The loss of Issam and his family has deeply affected us all. The UN and civilians in Gaza are not a target," Steiner said. "This war must end. No more families should endure the pain and suffering that Issam's family and countless others are experiencing." Israel's aerial bombardment campaign of Gaza in response to the October 7 Hamas terror attacks has devastated the enclave, with the Gaza health ministry reporting about 20,000 people have been killed. UN agencies have said that nearly 70% of those killed in Gaza are estimated to be women and children. Israel's use of powerful, heavy bombs on the densely populated enclave has been criticized by war analysts, who say they cause greater damage and civilian casualties. The Gaza Strip is just 141 square miles with a population of around two million people, making it one of the most densely populated places in the world.Researchers mapping the damage in Gaza say more than a third of the buildings in the strip have been destroyed. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Saturday that 136 UN workers had been killed in Gaza in 75 days, something that they have "never seen" in UN history, in a post on X. On Friday, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for more aid for Gaza, but fell short of calling for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
The resolution was passed after days of negotiations to avoid a veto by the US, a key ally of Israel and a permanent member of the Security Council. The US abstained in the resolution passed on Friday.

Netanyahu says Gaza war exacting 'heavy price' on Israel army
Agence France Presse/December 24, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the Gaza war was exacting a "very heavy price" as the toll of soldiers killed in fighting with Hamas mounted. "This is a difficult morning, after a very difficult day of fighting in Gaza," he said after the army announced 14 soldiers had been killed in the Palestinian territory since Friday. "The war is exacting a very heavy price... but we have no choice but to keep fighting," he added in a statement. "We are continuing with full force until the end, until victory, until we achieve all of our goals: the destruction of Hamas, the return of our hostages and ensuring that Gaza will never again constitute a threat to the State of Israel." He added: "Let it be clear: This will be a long war... (until) Hamas is eliminated and we restore security in both the north and the south." Since Israel's ground assault began on October 27, the military has lost 153 soldiers in the Palestinian territory, including 10 on Saturday, making it one of the deadliest days for the army, which is also facing Hezbollah militants across its northern border with Lebanon.

Deadly Israeli raids leave Palestinians in West Bank camp reeling
AFP/December 24, 2023
JENIN: Palestinian Mawaheb Marei is mourning a double tragedy — her relatives suffering and dying in Gaza, and the killing of her teenage son, a victim of Israel’s frequent raids in the occupied West Bank. “I wish I could wrap him in a coat,” Marei told AFP, like she had done every winter to keep her son, Eid, warm. The 15-year-old was killed on October 25 in an Israeli raid on Jenin refugee camp where the family live in the northern West Bank, said the mother. “Now, it doesn’t matter if I live or die in the raids.”Marei said she had also lost six relatives in the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli army carries out regular raids on the Jenin camp and adjacent city, often triggering gunbattles between troops and Palestinian militants. The army says it is targeting “terrorists” in its raids, but the Palestinian health ministry says many civilians are among the dead.
When Marei heard that her son had been hit, she frantically searched local hospitals, and eventually found him intubated and dying from shrapnel wounds. “So many innocent children have been killed,” she said. The camp, a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups, was originally built to house Palestinians displaced during the Arab-Israeli war that coincided with Israel’s creation in 1948. It is now home to more than 23,000 people. AFP correspondents in Jenin saw houses in the camp sprayed with bullets, and children’s clothes lying strewn in the wreckage.
Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank have killed more than 300 Palestinians since the Israel-Hamas war erupted, Palestinian health officials say. Standing in a bombed-out Jenin mosque strewn with shattered tiles, Hani Al-Damaj, an elderly Palestinian who lived next door, said he and his relatives were lucky to escape alive when it was hit. An Israeli air strike tore through the Al-Ansar mosque in October, leaving the lower floors a skeleton. Staircases rise into the sky, leading nowhere. The Palestinian health ministry said the strike had killed two men, while the Israeli army said it targeted and killed “terror operatives” who used the mosque’s basement as a command center. In Damaj’s bedroom, within touching distance of the mosque, chunks of concrete ripped through the wall, showering the mattress with rubble. Other camp residents told AFP that some people had been killed in their beds by stray bullets during Israeli operations. In a multi-day raid earlier this month, Israeli forces killed 11 people and a sick 13-year-old boy died after he had been prevented from reaching hospital, Palestinian health authorities said. Among the wounded was a 27-year-old woman shot in the chest, said the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
The military said at the time that troops had seized dozens of weapons and dismantled multiple bomb-making laboratories. Last month, the Israeli army killed 14 people in the deadliest single raid in the West Bank since 2005, the Palestinian health ministry said. Israel has occupied the Palestinian territory since the Six-Day War of 1967. Earlier this month footage showed Israeli soldiers inside another mosque in the camp reciting a Jewish prayer through the loudspeakers, in what the Palestinian presidency called a “shameful desecration.” The army said the soldiers had been taken off duty.Soldiers were also accused of breaking into the nearby Freedom Theatre, where an AFP correspondent saw a trail of damage. “What is this kind of behavior from a soldier?” said the theater’s artistic director Ahmed Tobasi.“Our life, our future, our sleeping, our breathing — it’s in Israeli hands.”

UK will not allow Red Sea to become ‘no go’ area for shipping – Shapps
David Hughes, PA Political Editor/December 24, 2023
The UK and allies will not allow the Red Sea to become a “no go” zone for shipping and will step up efforts to tackle Iran’s “malign influence”, Cabinet ministers have said. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the UK was committed to “repelling” the attacks on ships using the vital trade route by an Iranian-backed group in Yemen. And Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said Tehran must be sent an “incredibly clear message” that its activities would not be tolerated. Mr Shapps told the Sunday Times: “We are committed to protecting British interests – vessels sailing under a UK flag, or with British sailors or carrying goods destined for our shores. “We have seen the disruption the terrorist attacks have caused – with major operators including Maersk and BP avoiding the region. “We can’t allow any maritime area to become a no-go area, particularly such a vital route. But wider than that, we need to promote a safer world. “The spate of illegal attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. “The rules-based world order means we have to remain committed to repelling these attacks to protect the free flow of global trade, and I am determined the UK will remain a major player in that.”
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have targeted cargo vessels using the busy trade route, were just one of the groups backed by Iran, including Hamas. The attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by the Houthis began in response to the conflict in Gaza, with the group claiming it was targeting vessels with Israeli links. Further incidents involving ships being targeted by drones in the Red Sea were reported on Saturday. Lord Cameron said: “Iran is a thoroughly malign influence in the region and in the world – there’s no doubt about that. “You’ve got the Houthis, you’ve got Hezbollah, you’ve got the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq that have actually been attacking British and American bases, troops.
“And, of course, Hamas. So you’ve got all of these proxies, and I think it’s incredibly important that, first of all, Iran receives an incredibly clear message that this escalation will not be tolerated. “Second of all, we need to work with our allies to develop a really strong set of deterrent measures against Iran, and it’s important that we do that. “The level of danger and insecurity in the world is at an extremely high level compared with previous years and decades, and the Iran threat is a part of that picture.”The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a Royal Navy initiative which provides information on security incidents to shipping operators, highlighted a series of attacks on Saturday. There were multiple reports of a drone flying low above a vessel before exploding around 1.5 nautical miles away from it, with the incident taking place around 50 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast.
Another drone attack was reported in the Red Sea around 45 nautical miles from Saleef, Yemen. A further incident on Saturday took place around 200 miles south west of Veraval, India – well beyond the Red Sea which has been the focus of attacks on shipping – with the US claiming a kamikaze drone launched from Iran hit a chemical tanker. Lord Cameron’s comments followed a visit to the Middle East which saw him discuss the situation in the Red Sea with his Egyptian counterpart. Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond has already joined an international operation to protect cargo vessels and Lord Cameron hinted at potentially greater British involvement in the coalition. If the Red Sea is too dangerous for shipping, vessels travelling between Asia and Europe will be forced to detour around the southern tip of Africa rather than use the Suez Canal, adding costs. Some shipping companies and oil giant BP have already rerouted vessels away from the area.

Putin signals desire to halt hostilities to thwart Western aid, says ISW
The New Voice of Ukraine/December 24, 2023
Reports indicating Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s interest in ending the war are in fact a ploy to impede and disrupt further military aid to Ukraine from Western allies, the U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Dec. 23. Putin is only interested in ending the war if it results in a complete victory for Russia, stressed the ISW. Analysts pointed to past Kremlin attempts to mislead Western policymakers and pressure them into urging Ukraine to resume negotiations with Russia in the winter of 2022-2023. Washington says. This suggests Russia’s aim to divert attention to hypothetical negotiations rather than allowing Ukraine to accumulate sufficient material resources and weaponry before the anticipated spring-summer counteroffensive. ISW suggests the Kremlin is likely employing covert channels to achieve a similar effect amid Western debates on further military aid to Ukraine. The New York Times (NYT) reported on Dec. 23, citing former and current high-ranking Russian, American, and other officials, that Putin uses covert channels and intermediaries to express interest in a ceasefire, despite recent public statements to the contrary. NYT reported that Western officials have received signals since September 2023 indicating Putin’s interest in a ceasefire and freezing the front. The publication cautioned that messages through covert channels might not reflect the “true desire” to engage in negotiations. NYT journalists presented several theories for Putin’s hints at a desire to end the war, including upcoming presidential elections in Russia in March 2024, the desire to “keep options open” for resolving the conflict, taking advantage of the expected decrease in Western support for Ukraine, and “diversion” due to the war in Israel and Hamas. However, ISW analysts are convinced that all these motives represent only temporary reasons why Putin may seek a ceasefire, providing time for Russia to prepare for renewed aggression against Ukraine. In its report, NYT mentioned that Putin’s private hints at a desire to “declare victory and move on” contradict his public rhetoric. In recent speeches, he asserted Russia’s maximalist goals of “denazification” and “demilitarization” of Ukraine, claiming they remain unchanged. Analysts noted that neither NYT nor its sources provided any grounds to believe that Putin’s communications through covert channels reflect his intentions more than his public statements. From the NYT material, it is also unclear whether Putin is interested in a ceasefire for a temporary pause or the definitive conclusion of the war. “Russia is ready (for negotiations), but exclusively to achieve its own goals,” Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said in a comment to NYT. We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Iran's Khamenei calls on Muslim nations to block shipping to Israel
Dec. 23 (UPI)/Don Jacobson/December 24/2023
Iran's supreme leader on Saturday urged Muslim countries to prevent vital supplies from reaching Israel as the United States accused his country of "deep involvement" in attacks by Yemeni rebels against international shipping. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a meeting in Tehran with people from the Iranian provinces of Kerman and Khuzestan, denounced Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza as "bloodthirsty and cruel" and called on Islamic governments to take action against materiel heading to Israel. It is the duty of Muslim nations "to prevent goods, oil and fuel from reaching the Zionist regime, the regime which itself has blocked off water access to the people of Gaza," Khamenei said, according to official news accounts. At the same time, the supreme leader "denounced some Islamic states for their criminal act of assistance towards the Zionist regime," official media said. The Iranian leader's comments came hours after a U.S. National Security Council official released declassified information purporting to closely link Tehran with recent attacks against civilian shipping in the Red Sea carried out pro-Iranian Houthi rebels. Iran has been "deeply involved in planning the operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea," NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement issued to CNN late Friday. Watson said the the newly declassified intelligence suggests that Iranian support "throughout the Gaza crisis has enabled the Houthis to launch attacks against Israel and maritime targets, though Iran has often deferred operational decision-making authority to the Houthis." She added indications also point to Iran providing "tactical intelligence" to the Yemeni rebels since the assaults on international commercial shipping began last month. The attacks have created chaos in the region of the Red Sea and Suez Canal, which funnels 12% of global maritime trade, according to Bloomberg. Major container and oil shippers such as Danish giant Maersk have rerouted vessels away from the Red Sea as Houthi militias seek to respond to Israel's war with Hamas. Earlier this week the United States unveiled a new multinational military initiative to counter the Houthi attacks, saying they will do whatever it takes to stop the threats. "Operation Prosperity Guardian" was launched with ships and aircraft "from multiple nations" conducting maritime surveillance and set to take defensive action to protect commercial ships from Houthi threats, U.S. officials said.

Iran’s navy adds sophisticated cruise missiles to its armory
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)/December 24, 2023
Iran’s navy on Sunday added domestically produced sophisticated cruise missiles to its arsenal, state TV reported. The TV said both Talaeieh and Nasir cruise missiles have arrived at a naval base near the Indian Ocean in the southern Iranian port of Konarak, some 1,400 kilometers (850 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran. Navy chief Adm. Shahram Irani said the Talaeieh has a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and called it "fully smart.” Irani said the cruise missile is capable of changing targets during travel. He said the Nasi has a range of 100 kilometers (62 miles) and can be installed on warships. Last month, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack from a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean, as Israel wages war on Iran-backed Hamas in the Gaza Strip. From time to time Iran announces the test firing, production and commissioning of new military equipment that cannot be independently verified. The country says it has a stock of various kinds of missiles with ranges up to 2,000 kilometers (1250 miles), capable of reaching its archenemy Israel and U.S. bases in the region.

Iran summons Russian envoy over statement on Persian Gulf disputed islands
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)/December 24, 2023
Iran summoned Russia's charge d’affaires after Moscow and Arab countries released a joint statement earlier this week challenging Iran’s claim to disputed islands in the Persian Gulf, state media reported Sunday. Iran's official IRNA news agency said the Russian envoy was summoned on Saturday and handed a note to deliver to Moscow in which Tehran protested the statement the 6th Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum issued in Morocco that called for a peaceful solution to resolve the conflict between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the islands. Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told his Russian counterpart over the phone that "respecting countries’ sovereignty and integrity is among basic principles in the ties between nations,” IRNA said in a separate report. This marked the second time this year that Iran has called for a Russian envoy in protest over comments on the disputed islands. Tehran summoned the Russian ambassador in July over a similar statement. The diplomatic spat is a rare occurrence between the two countries that have deepened their ties since Moscow invaded Ukraine, with Iran supplying Russia with killer drones that have been used to devastating effect there. Both countries have also been strong backers of President Bashar Assad in Syria’s civil war. In 2022, Iran summoned China’s envoy over a similar joint statement with Arab nations. Iran took control of the three islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb after British forces withdrew in 1971. It considers them an “inseparable” part of its territory. The UAE also claims the three islands and has long pressed for a negotiated solution. The three islands dominate the approach to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Iran says the islands have been part of Persian states from antiquity up until they were occupied by the British in the early 20th century. It also says an agreement reached with Sharjah, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, gives it the right to administer Abu Musa and station troops there. There is no such agreement on the other two islands. The UAE says they belonged to the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah until Iran seized them by force days before the Emirati federation was formed.

Graham: ‘I would not invest 15 cents in a future Palestine if Hamas is still standing’
Miranda Nazzaro/The Hill/December 24, 2023
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday said he would not support funding towards a future Palestinian state that would be run in part by either the militant group Hamas or the Palestinian Authority after Israel’s war with Hamas ends. “Here’s what I want the world to know — If Hamas is still standing when this is over, we have failed as a world community,” Graham said on ABC News’s “This Week.” “I would not invest 15 cents in a future Palestine if Hamas is still standing.”“And I wouldn’t invest 15 cents into the Palestinian Authority (PA),” Graham continued. “Regarding a new Palestine, [Palestinian Authority Mahmoud] Abbas’s Palestinian Authority is dead to me,” adding later the PA is “corrupt in the eyes of its own people.”Adding the destruction of Hamas is “non-negotiable,” Graham said one would be “insane to invest in the Palestinian people if Hamas is still standing.”“I will not send one dime of American aid if Hamas is still standing if you put the PA in charge of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, no money coming from me,” he continued. The U.S. has expressed support for reformation of the PA to allow it to take over Gaza once fighting between Israel and Hamas ends. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to block any attempt to install the PA in Gaza in a post-war setting. Graham has been a vocal supporter of Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas following the militant group’s Oct. 7 deadly incursion into Israel that killed about 1,200 people. Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has included air strikes, bombings and ramped up ground attacks that have left over 20,000 people dead, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. Asked if he is concerned over if Israel is doing enough to mitigate civilian casualties, Graham said, “Well, you’ve got to remember Hamas wants to up the casualties of their own people. They’re using the Palestinian people as human shields.” “So I blame the death of all these Palestinians on Hamas, but Israel is trying to mitigate casualties,” Graham said, adding more humanitarian aid is needed for Gaza as long as it “doesn’t go into the hands of Hamas.”

Palestinians recount ‘torture’ in Israeli army custody
AFP/December 25, 2023
Nayef Ali, 22, said he was detained in Gaza City’s eastern Zaitun suburb and later taken to an Israeli detention facility, and showed cuts on his wrists and other parts of his body
RAFAH, Palestinian Territories: Palestinians held by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip had suffered torture, two freed detainees and a medic said Sunday, a charged denied by the military. The two men were among hundreds detained by Israeli forces over alleged links with armed group Hamas during Israel’s ongoing ground offensive in the besieged Hamas-run territory. Israel vowed to defeat Hamas after a deadly attack by militants on October 7, launching a relentless military campaign in Gaza. About 20 men released from Israeli custody “have bruises and marks of blows on their bodies,” Marwan Al-Hams, hospital director in the southern city of Rafah, told AFP.Hams said the freed Palestinians were admitted to Al-Najjar hospital upon their release.The Israeli army rejected the claims, saying detainees are “treated in accordance with international law.”“While detained, the suspects are given sufficient food and water and treated according to protocol,” the army told AFP in a statement. Nayef Ali, 22, said he was detained in Gaza City’s eastern Zaitun suburb and later taken to an Israeli detention facility, and showed cuts on his wrists and other parts of his body. “They (Israeli troops) tied our hands behind our backs for two days,” he said. “We were not allowed to eat or drink, neither were we allowed to use the toilet,” he added. “There were only beatings and beatings.” Ali said the detainees were put in an area along the border with Israel where it was “freezing cold.” “They threw cold water on us before transferring us to a prison, where it was again torture and beatings.” Khamis Al-Bardini, 55, also alleged torture by Israeli soldiers, saying they poured “cold water on our heads through the night” along with “beatings during the day.”In recent weeks, the army has faced international criticism after viral footage of detainees stripped down to their underwear and blindfolded with their hands tied behind the backs.The army has said it was investigating the deaths of “terrorists in military detention centers” after Israeli media reported that several detainees had died in custody.

Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 24-25/2023
Christmas message is that innocent Palestinian lives matter
Father Majdi Seryani/Arab News/December 24, 2023
Serving our Lord in Jerusalem has been the privilege and pride of my priestly order. I cherish working with our Palestinian Christian community in what the late Pope John Paul II called “the mother of Churches” in Jerusalem and the center of the Christian world. This Holy Land has always been proud of its role of re-living Christ and Christianity. But this year is different, hugely different. The home of the nativity is not lit this year. Bethlehem is not singing its carols, and thousands of pilgrims are not filling its streets and churches. Instead, we are reliving the cries as immortalized in the Bible: “Rachel cries for her children. And she cannot be comforted because her children are dead!”It is unbelievably strange how today’s Christmas story is like that of 2,000 years ago. Mary and Joseph were forced to run away and seek refuge in Egypt to avoid the wrath of Herod.
Instead of the Christmas tree and the grotto, one church in Bethlehem has placed the baby child among rubble as a way of reflecting the situation facing those in Gaza. Mothers running in fear with their children to an unknown future is the image of Mary running with the baby Jesus. We see in those eyes the eyes of the Virgin Mary, and in their faces we see the baby Jesus.
Nothing is more revolting about this horrific war than the killing of the innocent. There is no way to re-live the birth of Christ and to unite around it with a dispassionate approach.  Oct. 7 was an unabashed hell. Our thoughts and prayers cannot but mourn the innocent lives on both sides, brutalized and murdered. We need to remember, at midnight prayers, that innocent blood is shed in sorrow and misery, and our prayer will be that of the prophet Isaiah: “Oh radiance of eternal light, Oh sun of justice: come, illuminate those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.”Any moral approach to understanding the hell that has broken loose must be seen only through the perspective of 75 years of exile and military occupation. Since Oct. 7, the real victims of this sheer brutality on both Israeli and Palestinian sides are innocent civilians. Each of them is a dear and beloved soul to someone. Tens of thousands have been killed and injured, hundreds of thousands displaced and made refugees for the third or fourth time in their lives; hunger and thirst, loss and sorrow — no one needs to wait for the day after the war to do something. At the same time, we witness the utterly dishonest, biased media coverage that fails to shed any light on the reality of those innocent deaths, while sometimes, at best, making a casual remark about those calamities.
Any moral approach to understanding the hell that has broken loose must be seen only through the perspective of 75 years of exile and military occupation.
This brutal eruption of fatal violence is the result of decades of injustice and neglect. Peace for both sides cannot be brought about except through the justice outlined and articulated time and time again by dozens of UN resolutions. Antisemitism apartheid, racism and many other moral issues are defying an international value system. Today we hope Palestine, through Gaza, will have its place among these issues. Today what is taking place in Gaza must put all of us to a moral and faith test, whether as individuals, communities or states. The proclamation of the Glory of God in Heaven and Peace on Earth has been brutally silenced and all we hear is the sound of the weeping of Gaza’s mothers bidding farewell to their assassinated children. They have become the target of this unprecedented diabolic aggression. In Gaza, there are three churches, three schools and multiple humanitarian projects in the Gaza Strip. But our organizations and our people are currently fighting for their very existence amid the unlawful Israeli assault that has spared no one.
As for Palestinian Christians, the war has devasted the tiny community, which will inevitably lead to mass emigration. We need to know that it is this dire situation created by an illegal and brutal occupation that deprives locals, Muslims and Christians alike, of any political stability and is causing this exodus.
Instability and the lack of every facet needed — jobs, education, sanitary services, you name it — is the real cause of this emigration. Our role in Gaza as the Lord has ordered us is to be the salt of the earth among our people. Before taking my current job, as chief justice of the Latin Ecclesiastical Appeal Courts, I was a few times asked to accompany the late PLO leader Yasser Arafat to various local and international meetings. At one time in Gaza I accompanied Latin Patriarch Michel Sabah and Anglican Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal on a peace-making mission with the founder of the Hamas movement, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin. Directing his words to us, the paraplegic leader repeated what we already knew about the depth of relations between Palestinian Christians and Muslims. He praised the public service of Christians and insisted on the importance of strengthening the Palestinian Christian presence in Palestine. But the one line that has since resonated with me was: “You need to be a bridge between Palestinians and the Western world.”As we enter the holy Christmas season, we mourn those who have lost their lives and properties on both sides. We pray for the healing of the physically injured but we believe that what is most needed is to heal hearts and those emotionally ruined by an aggressive war machine.
* Father Majdi Seryani is the chief justice of the Latin Appeal Court in Jerusalem and Jordan.

This Christmas Palestinians aspire to a life of full dignity and full freedom
Bishop Munib Younan/Arab News/December 24, 2023
Amid the ongoing war and violence in Gaza, Christ reveals to us the sanctity of every life, regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, political, or denominational affiliation. War turns precious human lives into mere numbers. Jesus, even from the manger, emphatically assures us that every human has the image of God imprinted upon them. Every human therefore has equal worth and deserves equal dignity. God loves each one of us equally, as it is written, “for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,” (John 3:16), and “I have come that you may have life, and life abundant,” (John 10:10). It is God’s will that all may live with full dignity and full freedom. No one has the right to take away another’s God-given humanity, whether they are friend or foe, whether they share the same or different political or religious beliefs, whether they speak the same language or live on opposite sides of a border. This is a reminder that even in the lowest places on Earth, even the most troubled places, even amid rubble, there must be sanctity of life. The war in Gaza has opened Pandora’s box. Some mistakenly consider the war a religious conflict. I want to assure you that this is not a religious war. Religious people have known for a long time how to live together in harmony in our Holy Land. We want the world leaders to know that peace with justice is still possible in the Holy Land.
Others have interpreted the Bible to see this war as eschatological and even apocalyptic. Those that hold this view, even if they call themselves Christians, have failed to see the light from the manger in Bethlehem. The birth of Jesus has revealed again and again that God is love, and this God would never use human life or human suffering for evil. Jesus himself is the fulfillment of prophecy, not some imaginary apocalyptic nightmare. Still others are calling the war in Gaza a “just war.” Frankly, I don’t believe there is a war that is just. We in the Holy Land do not need a just war, we need a just peace. We need no more weapons, oppression, hostilities, attacks, statements, or denial of human rights. Justice and only justice is our desire and our demand, so that the light of life we know through Christ will be for all people. These words challenge Christians and churches all around the world. How can we carry the light of love and justice in our world, especially here in this place, at this time? And so, from the Holy Land, we call on Christians everywhere to actively work for the immediate cessation of war. On Dec. 15, Pope Francis said: “May the killing of children touch the hearts of those who can stop the war.”
We ask for more humanitarian aid and we want the world leaders to know that peace with justice is still possible in the Holy Land. In fact, if the war could cease now, this could be a kairos moment when serious peace talks can finally happen. This is a time to realize the end game for the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. From Jerusalem we light a candle for the victims, the bereaved, the injured, the traumatized, the prisoners of war, the displaced, those whose homes have been destroyed, for the Palestinian Christian community, and especially for the children.
* Bishop Munib Younan is a former bishop of Palestine and Jordan and former president of the Lutheran World Federation.

Israel and Palestine’s annus horribilis
Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/December 24, 2023
One would struggle to find anyone in Israel or Palestine who would not like to see the back of 2023 or who will not be wishing that the new year will usher in a much better future. And who could blame them? It has been a year that everyone would like to forget and, although no one will be able to just yet, it should serve as a watershed for moving on from what has brought about the current domestic crises in both societies and the horrendous war in Gaza. A year that started with the formation of the most extreme right-wing government in Israel’s history is ending in the worst ever outbreak of bloodshed and destruction between Israelis and Palestinians, while leaving the world wondering whether one of the most protracted conflicts of the post-Second World War era will linger on, continue to inflict death and misery and remain a source of regional and international instability and even violence.
By the end of this annus horribilis, it will be impossible to divorce what is taking place within both political systems and how this has all but destroyed the relations between them. One noticeable factor is the presence of leaderships that have not only passed their sell by dates but which also, by clinging to power, have become the main instigators of the current bleak situation. When the results of last November’s general election in Israel were announced, the grim writing was already on the wall: Israel was about to be ruled by the most extreme right-wing government in the country’s history. Things might have been different had it not been for the unscrupulous approach taken by Benjamin Netanyahu, who led the opposition to the previous administration of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. He was the one who worked tirelessly in the run-up to the election not only to ensure that his own Likud party did well, but also cynically legitimized and encouraged support for the messianic-religious ultra-right party Religious Zionism.
This was to ensure that he would be able to form a ruling coalition, since all other parties, both Zionist and Palestinian, refused in advance to join a government led by someone indicted on three cases of corruption — for fraud, bribery and breach of trust — that are still being deliberated in court. The result of the general election left the field open not only for the formation of the most far-right and corrupt government in the country’s history, but also the most incompetent one. From the outset, the formation of a government that included elements that were antidemocratic and racist, not to mention convicted criminals, left all more measured Israelis with only one hope: that it would not last long. It is actually staggering that, despite the low expectations, this government still managed to exceed people’s worst fears, from its assault on Israel’s liberal-democratic system to increasing the friction with Palestinians in the West Bank. Then there is its disastrous failure to foresee or prevent Hamas’ deadly terrorist attack of Oct. 7 and its conduct in the subsequent war, including setting objectives that will probably be impossible to achieve and have already tarnished the country’s reputation. It would be foolish not to link the formation of the sixth Netanyahu government with the war Israel is currently waging with Hamas in Gaza. The prime minister has been prepared to sacrifice not only Israel’s liberal democracy, but also the unity of the country and its military preparedness, all for the sake of derailing his corruption trial, which has become his top, if not his only, priority. He has seen staying in power as his only salvation from a potential conviction and jail term and, to achieve this, he considered it necessary to subject the judiciary to the will of politicians, not the law, and, in particular, to destroy the independence of the Supreme Court.
Netanyahu’s divide and rule approach to Hamas and the PA has backfired in the most horrendous manner.
If one aspect of his controversial administration was the compromising of the democratic system, the other was handing out key ministries to well-known agitators of the Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit parties. Perhaps most notorious was Netanyahu’s appointment of Itamar Ben-Gvir as minister of national security. This is a man with multiple convictions for incitement to racism, interfering with a police officer performing his duty and supporting a terrorist organization. Ben-Gvir also lacks the necessary skill set to run a ministry, let alone such a complex one that is in charge of national security.
This was a dysfunctional government by design, which prioritized the allocation of resources to ensure the health of the coalition, not of the country. Worse, it diverted attention from the growing danger signals emanating from Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu fueled Hamas with money while weakening the Palestinian Authority in his drive to derail any chance of a two-state solution ever materializing. Hamas was watching and preparing for its terrorist attack while Netanyahu’s government was tearing its own society apart. It is too early to assess the full impact of Hamas’ inexcusable attacks on the towns and kibbutzim bordering Gaza that killed about 1,200 and saw some 240 hostages taken. It was followed by a totally disproportionate and unprecedented Israeli military response that not only claimed the lives of many Hamas militants, but also of many thousands of innocent civilians — men, women and children — and sowed immense destruction and a humanitarian disaster previously unseen in this tiny territory. For the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict to explode as a consequence was hardly a surprise and, in the West Bank, violent clashes between Israeli security forces and newly emerged armed groups have become daily occurrences that have already claimed the lives of hundreds of Palestinians. Attacks on Israelis are on the rise and settler violence has increased exponentially, while settlements are expanding and tensions revolving around the holy places in Al-Haram Al-Sharif had become a constant source of flashpoints even before Oct. 7. All in all, the response has proved a recipe for prolonging and escalating the conflict instead of defusing and resolving it.
However, it is the attack of Oct. 7 and the ensuing war that will dictate much of the relations between Israelis and the Palestinians — and also with the region — in the foreseeable future. If on the eve of this latest war in Gaza, normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel was a real prospect, it has been shelved for the time being, while the strains in Tel Aviv’s relations with Egypt and Jordan are showing as the war drags on, along with the ever-mounting death toll among Palestinians. Much of the world was obviously shocked at Hamas’ October atrocity, and the US and Europe were quick to support Israel in any possible way, but this was misinterpreted by the Israeli government as a blank check for using indiscriminate military force against both militants and civilians in Gaza; hence criticism is mounting of the methods it is using there.
As the year ends, it must occur to Israelis and Palestinians, as well as to everyone who wants to see a resolution to the conflict and/or is affected by it, that leaving it to further fester will only lead to worse bloodshed and atrocities and will threaten regional stability. It has also, dangerously, entered the domestic political discourse in countries beyond the region. Netanyahu’s divide and rule approach to Hamas and the PA has backfired in the most horrendous manner. To prevent a two-state solution by weakening the PA and strengthening Hamas was one of the most colossal strategic mistakes that any leader could have made and led to disastrous consequences. There is no question that the Israeli prime minister should leave politics — and the sooner the better — and then face his corruption trial as an ordinary citizen, while his party should be sent to the opposition benches. However, it is also for the Palestinians to look for leadership beyond the current one that has failed them for so long and for new leaders to emerge who will eventually be able to unite the West Bank and Gaza under one governing body. Ideally, they will then be able to hold talks with a new government in Israel that has a vision of ending the occupation and of peaceful relations with the Palestinians as equals in every sense of the word. Both Israelis and Palestinians deserve a much better future than what they have endured in the course of this horrific year.
• Yossi Mekelberg is a professor of international relations and an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House.X: @YMekelberg

If We Like, We Will Kill You, Too’: The Persecution of Christians, November 2023
Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/December 24, 2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/125472/125472/
A few November headlines from the ongoing jihadist-genocide of Christians in Nigeria follow...
Coptic Christians suffer the double injustice of living under systematic discrimination by the Egyptian government, and also from regular members of Egyptian society who attack Copts and their property with impunity. The reality for Copts in Egypt is one of life as second-class citizens.
"Most of the native population converted to Islam over six centuries to escape the jizya [protection tax] and humiliations of dhimmi status. The term 'Copt' came to define the native Christian population that had not converted to Islam..." — Coptic Solidarity, a human rights organization, in a report titled, "Advocacy of Hatred Based on Religion or Belief."
On November 23, a Muslim man of Algerian origin stabbed a group of preschool children attending Saint Mary's Catholic primary school in Dublin, as the children were leaving school. Three children — two girls and a boy aged between 5 and 6 — and a care assistant who tried to defend them, were stabbed in the assault. In response to the stabbing, angry Irish citizens took to the streets and rioted (pictured) that evening. (Photo by Peter Murphy/AFP via Getty Images)
The following are among the abuses and murders inflicted on Christians by Muslims throughout the month of November 2023.
The Muslim Slaughter of Christians
Pakistan: A Muslim man murdered a young Christian because he was "driven by a strong hatred for Christians and Jews." On Nov. 9, around 3 a.m., Muhammad Zubair broke into a Christian household while everyone was asleep. After opening fire on Farhan Qamar, 20, the youngest of four siblings, the intruder held the entire family hostage at gunpoint for nearly 40 minutes, preventing them from going near the fatally injured youth. According to the slain man's father, Ul Qamar:
"My son was struggling for his life, bleeding profusely from the bullet wounds, but his murderer, Muhammad Zubair, did not allow us to even give him some water, let alone comfort him. He repeatedly called us 'Jews' as he cursed and waved his weapon at us. We all watched helplessly, pleading with him to leave, but he wouldn't go.... [Finally, before Muhammad left the murder scene, he] pointed the gun towards my wife and ordered her to unlock the main gate. He sat on his motorcycle that was parked outside, fired three shots in the air with his pistol, and shouted, 'Allahu Akbar ['Allah is greatest'] two-three times before speeding away."
Once Muhammad left, the family gathered around their blood-soaked son and brother and started crying for help, but "None of our neighbors intervened even after they heard the first three shots fired on Farhan by Zubair." Farhan died on the way to the hospital; doctors confirmed that had he been brought to them even a few minutes earlier, they could have saved him. According to the report:
"[Muhammad] Zubair had never hidden his hatred for Christians, but his behavior worsened after the Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted into war in Gaza last month... Several Christian families fled the village after Muslims beat two Christian brothers, Aqib Javed and Asher Javed, for reportedly expressing support for Israel."
When the murder was first reported, the family withheld the religious element because the father said they "feared backlash from local Muslims":
"We have been keeping quiet because we did not want the religious leaders to think that we are giving our son's murder a 'religious color,' but this is the truth... We want to see Farhan's killer punished in accordance with the law. If we are unable to find good legal representation, I fear the murderer will be let off, and then no Christian will be safe in this village. Please help us."
Mozambique: Muslim terrorists raided a Christian village in the terrorism-plagued Cabo Delgado region, and killed four. The Islamic State later took credit for the attack. According to one report:
"Through propaganda channels, the group assumed that the attack on the 'Christian village' took place on Friday November 10, using machine guns by 'soldiers of the caliphate.' The attack took place during a ceremony in preparation for a female initiation ritual that was scheduled for Sunday November 12, with the terrorists entering the camp, firing bursts of gunfire."
Nigeria: A few November headlines from the ongoing jihadist-genocide of Christians in the African nation follow:
At Least 10 Christians Slain in Taraba State
Kidnapped Pastor Killed in Nigeria after Ransom Payment
Terrorists Kill Christian, Kidnap 25 Others in Northern Nigeria
Pastor Slain, Wife Kidnapped in Kaduna State
Pastor's Wife Shot Dead in Taraba State
General Muslim Violence and Hostility against Christians
Ireland: On Nov. 23, a Muslim man of Algerian origin stabbed a group of preschool children attending Saint Mary's, a private Catholic primary school in Dublin, as the children were leaving school around 1:30 pm. Three children — two girls and a boy aged between 5 and 6 — and a care assistant who tried to defend them, were stabbed in the assault. Stabbed near the heart, a 5-year-old girl was critically injured and, as of the last reporting from December, remains hospitalized in critical condition. According to one report:
"The motivation behind the attack remains unclear; however, considering the assailant's background and the specific target being children leaving from a well-known Irish Catholic primary school, an anti-Christian motive seems not unlikely."
Although the Algerian attacker had a prior criminal record, his order of deportation was revoked and in 2014 he was granted Irish citizenship. In response to the stabbing, angry Irish citizens took to the streets and rioted that evening.
Greece: On Nov. 11 in the town of Colonos, a 38-year-old Muslim man of Afghan origin knifed a 56-year-old Egyptian because the Egyptian had converted to Christianity. He was stabbed in the head and in one of his hands. He told police, who arrived on the scene and arrested the Afghan, that he was attacked "because he was a Muslim and was baptized a Christian."
Nigeria: "Islamic police (Hisbah) responsible for enforcing Sharia law in northwest Nigeria," a Nov. 24 report relates, "recently harassed, and stopped five Christian girls from going to church in Kano State":
"The Christian girls were walking to Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) when Hisbah Police stopped the girls and asked them to dress like Muslims. When the girls refused, one of the officers told them they would be punished if they went to the church. The girls were released after standing in the sun for three hours, and after the church service ended."
One of the five girls, Mary, said that the Muslim officers told them that they were being targeted because "Israel is killing our sisters in Gaza. If we like, we will kill you, too."
Uganda: A Muslim man set his wife on fire for becoming Christian. Although Hajara Namwase, a 32-year-old mother of three children, had embraced Christ back in May, she kept it secret from her husband, Musa Kalele, 42. On Oct. 17, however, he returned unexpectedly from South Sudan, while she was still away at church. She rushed home. "I got scared upon seeing him," Namwase said "because I had some gospel tracts and a small New Testament Bible which I could not hide." On seeing the Christian items, her husband
"became furious, left the room and returned with a container of gas... He took some bedsheets, covered them around my body and then removed me out of the house. He forced me to lie down. He took the petrol, then poured it on me and thereafter took a matchbox, lit it, and the fire began burning me up."
Her daughter alerted neighbors who managed to rescue and take her to a hospital. Her husband has since fled to South Sudan. According to the report:
"Namwase said she is worried about where she will stay after her release [from hospital], as all her relatives are Muslims, and what will become of her children, ages 4, 6 and 9, who have come under the care of their paternal grandmother. Still hospitalized in Kampala, Namwase has third-degree burns on much of her body, with nerve damage and multiple red spots on her skin..."
Separately, in Uganda, on Nov. 13, a gang of Muslims severely beat two Christians, after their presentation during an interfaith debate between Muslims and Christians held at a church. During their presentation, the two Christians, Musa, 32, and Swidiki, 27, quoted from both the Bible and the Koran to argue that Muhammad was a false prophet and that Christ was the truth. Before they had even finished, Muslims forced the Christians to flee to a nearby Christian's house. Two hours later, when the coast seemed clear, the two Christians emerged from hiding and began returning home on a motorcycle. Before long, a group of Muslims emerged from the darkness and stopped them. According to Swidiki, the Muslims began yelling:
"Allah Akbar, these are the enemies of our prophet, Muhammad, as well as our religion. Kafir [Infidels]! Kafir!"
The Muslims broke their motorcycle "to pieces and tore up" their Bibles and other Christian literature.
"Thereafter they started beating us badly with blunt objects that led to the fracturing of Musa's right leg. Two of the attackers held me tightly and beat me with sticks as four others were beating Musa and stepping on him while he was lying down in the middle of the road."
Before the beating had reached a lethal level, a taxi arrived; its flashing headlights prompted the terrorists to flee. Christians, including a pastor who recognized one of the men, rushed them to a hospital.
Egypt: On Nov. 6, Coptic Solidarity, a human rights organization based in Washington, D.C., submitted a report to Ms. Nazila Ghanea, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Titled, "Advocacy of Hatred Based on Religion or Belief," it traces the history and origin of the hatred and discrimination for Egypt's indigenous Christians, the Copts, and how this hatred has even made its way into Egypt's Constitution and classrooms:
"The status of Egypt's indigenous Copts has been one of subservience and systematic discrimination for centuries. Copts suffer the double injustice of living under systematic discrimination by the Egyptian government, and also from regular members of Egyptian society who attack Copts and their properties with impunity. The reality for Copts in Egypt is one of life as second-class citizens.
"The Coptic people are an ethnoreligious population that identifies as the descendants of ancient Egyptians and civilization. Since the Arab invasion in mid seventh century, rulers have treated the Coptic population with various degrees of discrimination and persecution that ranged from radical increase in taxes to full-scale massacres. Most of the native population converted to Islam over six centuries to escape the jizya [protection tax] and humiliations of dhimmi status. The term 'Copt' came to define the native Christian population that had not converted to Islam....
"The primary vehicle for instilling hatred based in legal and policy frameworks that results in intolerance, discrimination, and violence based on religion is through the establishment of religion. In Egypt, the Constitution includes articles guaranteeing freedom of religion and criminalizing discrimination based on religion. Yet, the second article of the Constitution states that 'Islam is the religion of the state...and the principles of Islamic shari'a are the main sources of legislation.'
"These statements are antithetical since shari'a repudiates religious freedom. Additionally, it is founded on non-equality—the superiority of the Believer (a Muslim) over a Non-believer (and also the superiority of men over women), and it actually proscribes discrimination and persecution of minority faiths. All the constitutional articles are to be interpreted in light of and in submission to Article 2. In short, the Egyptian government cannot implement contradictory principles.... [Even] Egypt's educational curricula and schooling system are permeated with discriminatory teachings."
Muslim Attacks on Christian Churches
Austria: On Friday, Nov. 24, a 29-year-old Muslim refugee of Syrian background wreaked havoc inside Kepler Church in Vienna and violently tearing a Madonna statue from its anchorage. According to one report:
"The refugee also took a wooden cross from the church. Through witness statements and analysis of video surveillance, the migrant was found in the immediate vicinity of the church and temporarily arrested. He was released on the orders of the Vienna public prosecutor's office. The stolen wooden cross was brought back to the church by a woman. According to police, there is uncertainty about the Syrian's motive, but they can supposedly rule out a political or religious motive."
Two days later, on Sunday, Nov. 26, the same Muslim man (though most reports fail to make this connection) disrupted mass inside Vienna's most celebrated place of worship, Saint Stephen's Cathedral. He repeatedly shouted and jumped over the barrier surrounding the main altar. The following day, Nov. 27, he returned to the cathedral. After he was discovered by two security guards, the Muslim "went crazy and threatened to slit the two employees' throats with a screwdriver..."
According to another report:
"After one of the two called the police, the 29-year-old fled. Police arrested the man on Stephansplatz and confiscated the screwdriver. The motive is still unclear. An interrogation has not yet been possible due to the accused's aggressive behavior. He was taken to a prison by order of the Vienna public prosecutor's office."
Germany: On Nov. 27, "unknown persons" vandalized the Saint John Basilica in Saarbrücken. Among other acts of desecration, they severed one of the hands of a large Mary statue, and decapitated the baby Jesus held to her bosom. They also damaged the altar and destroyed two of its large candles. The beloved statues are approximately 300 years old. After confirming that, "The figure of Mary was badly damaged, the head of baby Jesus was cut off," the cantor of the basilica, Bernhard Leonardy, said he was "completely shocked at how people could come up with such thoughts," adding "This is not normal vandalism, but also has a very special symbolic meaning."
Koran 8:12 comes to mind:
"I [Allah] will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off their fingertips."
According to the report:
"Many were horrified in comments on the post [by the cantor]: 'Unbelievable ...,' 'That leaves me speechless!' or 'Who does something like that? I can't understand that!'"
Separately, in Germany, two teenage Muslims, aged 15 and 16, were arrested before launching a massive terror attack designed to "set fire to the infidels at the Christmas market." According to one report,
"In a video published on Telegram, two young people are said to have called for a 'holy war' against the West and at the same time announced a terrorist attack in Germany for December 1st.... The young people are said to have arranged to meet to discuss an Islamist attack. Accordingly, they wanted to use incendiary devices or a small truck to attack a Christmas market or a synagogue in Cologne. They are also believed to have discussed a specific date for their plans... Both young people are considered sympathizers of the 'Islamic State' (IS). The older man is classified by the security authorities in Brandenburg as a 'relevant person' in the Islamist scene and is said to have attracted attention in the past by spreading jihadist propaganda."
France: On Sunday, Nov. 5, a Muslim man disrupted mass in Dunkirk's Saint Éloi Church by twice shouting "Allahu akbar" ("Allah is greatest"), once during the Lord's Prayer and once at the end of mass. The priest said the Muslim seemed "disturbed."
Italy: A young Muslim man, identified as a Moroccan, appeared in a surveillance video inside a church, as he was kicking down and stomping on large crucifixes. In the words of Radio Genoa, which published the video on Nov.10, "Moroccan Muslim destroys 3 crucifixes in a church in Italy and threatens police officers. They hate us." Earlier, on Nov. 4, a fire was started at the Church of Santa Maria in Vado. Although the arsonist was captured, no information about his or her identity was released.
Switzerland: Muslim migrants appropriated the Saint Laurent Church in Lausanne for their own use, including as a toilet. "Churches must remain open to everyone, but a minimum [level] of respect is required," responded the Christian caretaker. "If you behaved like this in a mosque," he added, "they would throw you out—and rightfully so."
Armenia/Azerbaijan: According to a Nov. 10 report:
"Azerbaijan demolished an Armenian church in Nagorno-Karabakh, thereby violating the interim decision of the International Court of Justice..."
Sudan: At least two Christian buildings were bombed and severely damaged amid fighting between rival military factions of the Muslim nation. First on Nov. 1, a Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Omdurman "came under heavy shelling from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) at about 9 p.m. that left its worship structure in ruins." Although several people were in the church, which includes an orphanage, no one was hurt. Most of the church structure was devastated from the three strikes it suffered, and "everything inside was destroyed, including Bibles and hymnbooks." Two days later, on Nov. 3, a Roman Catholic mission house in Khartoum was also bombed. A nun, as well as a mother and her two children, ages 4 and 7, were injured in the blast. Although these strikes are connected to the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April, it appears that Christian sites are intentionally being targeted in the chaos of war. According to the report:
"Christian sites have been targeted since the conflict began in April. On May 14 unidentified gunmen attacked the Coptic Orthodox Church of Mar Girgis (St. George) in the Masalma area of Omdurman... The RSF on May 15 seized a central Khartoum cathedral after having evacuated the Coptic Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary near the presidential palace on May 14, converting the latter into a military headquarters... RSF had reportedly been intimidating and harassing those in the church for a week before forcing them to leave. The RSF reportedly stormed buildings of the Episcopal church on Khartoum's First Street on May 16 to use as a strategic base ... [and] a vehicle belonging to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Khartoum was stolen at gunpoint. On May 3, a Coptic Church in Khartoum North (Bahri) was attacked, after the Evangelical Church in the same area was bombed and partially burned in April...On April 28, the Gerief Bible School in the Gerief West area of Khartoum was bombed. Its worship auditorium, halls and student dorms were destroyed... On April 17, gunmen raided the compound of the Anglican cathedral in Khartoum..."
*Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West, Sword and Scimitar, Crucified Again, and The Al Qaeda Reader, is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
About this Series
While not all, or even most, Muslims are involved, persecution of Christians by extremists is growing. The report posits that such persecution is not random but rather systematic, and takes place irrespective of language, ethnicity, or location. It includes incidents that take place during, or are reported on, any given month.
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A Calm Letter to President Biden during a Tumultuous Time
Nabil Amr/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 24/2023
Do you know, Mr. President, how many people were killed by Israel in Gaza and who they were? Just to remind you... 20,000 so far... and there is no end in sight. Seven thousand children have gone, not counting the fetuses who died in their mothers' wombs. Young people, adults, elderly people, men and women, writers, historians, poets, journalists, engineers, doctors, nurses, skilled workers, craftsmen, farmers, teachers, artists, builders, drivers, and athletes who were excelling in all sports.
Such people, Mr. President, built civilizations when they had been afforded the means needed for life. Sadly, Mr. President, you have covered up their killing and equipped those responsible with the latest US-made deadly weapons.
Maybe you do not know that these people are siblings of scientists who contributed to the building of the United States, relatives of thousands of professors who teach children in your schools and universities, and cousins of Palestinians who voted for you and helped you get to the White House in the hope that you would turn your attention their cause and their legitimate aspirations for freedom and independence and address it with some degree of justice.
This is a categorization of those killed by your planes and your “smart” or rather “dumb” bombs.
Mr. President, you commendably support the two-state solution, however, what is actually happening is the killing of the citizens of this prospective state. If things keep going as they are now, the state will exist only on paper, or it will become home to the highest concentration of orphans, widows, disabled, and traumatized children in the world. Their memories would forever be haunted by the sounds of explosions and the buzzing sound of aircraft, as well as the mass burials for those who were fortunate enough to receive a prayer, while those still under the rubble do not even receive any prayer at all.
President Biden, you do not just support Israel, nor are you merely providing it with the means it needs to defend itself. You are encouraging it to continue the murder of Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza and the West Bank, the narrowest battlefields in the entire universe.
Mr. President, you have used your veto power, which seems to have been invented only for the American administrations to prevent the Palestinians from having a glimmer of hope for justice. This veto, Mr. President, is ultimately responsible for the ongoing death and destruction. It is responsible for drowning the Israel you love in the burning sea of Gaza. It is the reason that America is hemorrhaging to sustain a war whose objectives there is no hope of achieving, even if it might seem like there is to those leading the war effort.
Mr. President, this is a message for you... for your administration... for the hand that raises the veto in the Security Council, and for the airlift that sends the material needed for the perpetuation of this madness from the US to Israel.
Mr. President, this letter represents a people who, despite all the current horror, still yearn for freedom and a sustained and fair peace. A people you are very familiar with but keep at a distance, over 15 million humans, the only nation in the world without a state. Our poet Mahmoud Darwish said in his wisdom: “The state is tiny, and the idea is great!” And about his people, he said: “When we have the means to live it, we love life.”
When you visited us in Palestine, you said that we have a right to a state. Sadly, however, it will not see the light of day, neither in the near nor distant future. Have you not noticed, Mr. President, that a genocidal war is being waged to prevent its birth in the first place?