Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on July 23-24/2023
Lebanon is an Iranian Occupied Country
Elias Bejjani/July 23/2023
Introduction/For the majorit y of the Lebanese people, the holistic patriotic picture has become very clear. In general, they are now fully aware of the precipitating factors and perpetuating elements underlying the ongoing flagrant direct and indirect Iranian occupation of their country through  armed  militias and a bunch of traitorous, Trojan horse politicians and officials spearheaded by the terrorist – fundamentalist Hezbollah. Lebanese people both in the homeland and Diaspora are very much aware of the numerous evil, vicious Syrian-Iranian obstacles deliberately employed and imposed on them by force and murder to hinder their beloved Lebanon from fully reclaiming its independence, sovereignty, freedom, tranquility and peace. The free and patriotic Lebanese strongly reject and ridicule the fake and camouflaging slogans of hostility towards Israel, the USA and the Western Free world, as well as those of resistance, liberation, the people, government, and army triad, one people in two countries, and the many other deceitful tools of deception that Hezbollah utilizes as a pretext to maintain its ministate and hegemony on Lebanon and its people.

Video Link of the Divine Liturgy presided over by Patriarch Al-Rahi today, July 23/2023, in Al-Diman Church, with the text of his sermon.
Al-Rahi denounced the Iraqi president’s withdrawal of the republican decree from Patriarch Raphael/ Warned that Lebanon’s identity and message are threatened with distortion due to non-compliance with the constitution patriotism & renewed Lebanon’s demand for the return of Syrian refugees to their country
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/120382/120382/
NNA/LCCC /July 23, 2023
Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Beshara Boutros Al-Rai, considered that Lebanon and its message are threatened with distortion and collapse due to non-compliance with the content of the constitution and non-implementation of the Taif Agreement, in addition to obstructing the election of a president and overthrowing the constitutional institutions for the suspicious goals of the opponents. The Patriarch's words came in his homily this morning as he presided over Sunday Mass service at the Patriarchal Summer Church in Al-Diman, thanked the five-country committee for bearing Lebanon's concerns and future more than the Lebanese authorities who continue to demolish it. Finally, Al-Rahi renewed Lebanon's demand for the return of the displaced Syrians to their homeland, in order to preserve their identity and mission in their homeland on the one hand, and that they not be a cause for distorting Lebanon's identity and mission on the other hand.
He added,We have been pained by the decision taken by the President of the Republic of Iraq, Mr. Abd al-Latif Rashid, to withdraw the Republican Decree from His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael I Sako, unfairly and accusingly. This is a violation of his dignity and the dignity of the Church and Christians in Iraq. It is well known that it is the state's duty to respect the Church's regulations and laws, which limit His Holiness the Pope to hearing any criminal case involving patriarchs, cardinals, and bishops, if any.
We add our voice to all those who demand that His Excellency the President of the Iraqi Republic reverse his decision, for the sake of a healthy coexistence in the dear State of Iraq, where Christians are an integral part of its historical components and have great historical merit in its culture and civilization. The history of their patriarchs is the best witness to their struggle for the sake of their homeland, its glory and dignity. The decision of the President of the Iraqi Republic as a result does not serve his Iraqi nation.
Lebanon's identity and message are threatened with distortion and collapse due to non-compliance with the content of the constitution, non-application of the Taif Agreement (National Accord Document) in letter and spirit, and the decisions of international legitimacy; And because of deliberately obstructing the election of a president for the republic, and thus making the constitutional institutions fall one after the other for the suspicious goals of the obstructors. Thank you is the Committee of Five Countries for carrying the concern of Lebanon and its future much more than the Lebanese authorities who are devoted to destruction and sabotage.
Our demand is for the return of the displaced Syrians to their country, so that they preserve their identity and message on the one hand, and so that they are not another reason for distorting Lebanon's identity and message.
 Let us pray to God that we, as Christians, may preserve our messianic identity and message, and as Lebanese, our identity and mission, which are necessary for our Arab environment and for the world. And together we raise glory and thanks to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, Amen.

Archbishop Aoudi: It is time to reintroduce concepts into the behavior of politicians, such as respect for the constitution, transparency, honesty, and accountability
NNA/LCCC/ July 23 / 2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/120386/120386/
The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut and its Dependencies, Archbishop Elias Aoudi, presided over the mass service at St. George's Cathedral in Beirut. After the Gospel, he delivered a sermon in which he said: “The leaders of this country are like the Pharisees. They do not want the salvation of the country and the people, and they do not budge from the path of those who want to work for reform, the end of crises, and access to a state of institutions with no corruption, nepotism, or bullying. That is, in the absence of the head, and that all centers are filled and the wheel of the state turns when a president is elected and a government is formed that carries out the necessary reforms. The time has come to re-introduce concepts into the behavior of politicians such as respect for the constitution, application of laws, integrity, transparency, honesty, duty and accountability, concepts that have been lost, but they are necessary for the regularity of public life. He concluded, "Our call today is to open our eyes to see the only truth, that is, Christ, and to release our tongues with constant praise and recognition of the living God without shame, informing the whole earth of His greatness and endless love."

Report: Le Drian won't propose dialogue, Iran may join 5-nation group
Naharnet/ July 23 / 2023
French presidential envoy for Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian will arrive in Beirut on Tuesday and will amend the roadmap he had launched on his first visit, an informed source said. "He will not raise the idea of holding a dialogue table after the stance of the five-nation group, but he will stress Paris' readiness to work for helping Lebanon and aiding the Lebanese exit the current crisis and elect a president," the source told ad-Diyar newspaper in remarks published Sunday. "Political circles believe that the crisis will likely protract, in the absence of serious solution indications," the daily said.
A source close to a senior leader meanwhile told the newspaper that "the five-nation group on the Lebanese presidential file might expand to resemble the famous 5+1 format after Iran joins it in a certain manner.""There are contacts aimed at achieving this goal," the source added.

Bou Habib discusses with his Swedish counterpart additional steps to curb Islamophobia in Sweden
LBCI/ July 23 / 2023
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström expressed regret and condemnation from his government for the disrespectful acts against the Holy Quran and the insult to Islamic beliefs and symbols. This statement came during a phone call he held with Lebanon's Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib.Minister Bou Habib welcomed this position and encouraged Sweden to take further practical steps to mitigate the growing manifestations of hatred and Islamophobia. He also affirmed Lebanon's respect for international agreements, particularly the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and its commitment to taking all possible measures to ensure the safety of Swedish interests and citizens within its borders.

Feasibility check: The motives and details of BDL Governor deputies' recovery plan
LBCI/ July 23 / 2023
The plan of the Banque du Liban (BDL) Governor's deputies to correct monetary policy and initiate financial recovery has faced hurdles until now, especially during the second meeting with the Administration and Justice Committee. What are the motives behind this plan, its details, and is it feasible? Regarding the motives, the plan does not differ from the reform laws demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, the BDL Governor's deputies refuse to continue the current financial policy without reforms. They need laws that hold them accountable, especially since many decisions made in the Council of the BDL in the past were signed with reservations to protect themselves from legal repercussions. As for the provisions, unlike the previous policy of procrastination, the plan sets a specific timeline for implementation. The first step of the plan is to adopt the 2023 budget in August, but with a review of the current government's version, and correct the revenue numbers by raising it from the current $2 billion per year to $3 billion. This is based on the World Bank's request to increase tax revenues to 15% of the GDP to stimulate growth and reduce poverty. The plan also grants an additional month to reconsider and approve the Capital Control Law, pending between the government and parliament for over three years. This law is crucial to protect the remaining bank deposits and stop any discretion. Additionally, the plan obliges the government to submit bills to parliament for approval within two months, including a financial balance law that outlines the mechanism for depositors to reclaim their funds instead of the current circulars.Another critical law to be addressed is the bank restructuring law to determine which banks can survive and how to increase their capital. The most sensitive point of the plan is to start implementing the liberalization of the exchange rate by the end of September in a managed manner. This involves stopping Sayrafa to stop the depletion of reserves and replacing them with an international platform reflecting the market rate. The plan requires the parliament to pass a law allowing the BDL to lend the government from its mandatory reserves an amount not exceeding $200 million per month for six months to protect vulnerable groups affected by the exchange rate hike and to support the public sector. The government must commit to repaying these funds. The four deputies' plan has quickly drawn criticism and rejection from various parliamentary blocs, considering it unfeasible and arguing that the government should bear primary responsibility instead of shifting it to the MPs. In return, the BDL Governor's deputies call for cooperation between the BDL, the government, and the parliament until they handle their responsibilities. Otherwise, the option of resignation is on the table in the upcoming days unless actions succeed in dissuading them due to the legal and financial risks associated with such a move.

Minister Bayram: We want a country representing all Lebanese citizens
LBCI/ July 23 / 2023
The caretaker Labor Minister, Moustafa Bayram, expressed his views on the current difficult stage in Lebanon. He emphasized the importance of dialogue but noted that when they call others for dialogue, they often refuse to respond because his team has its stance and opinions. No one can dictate their views, whether from external or international parties. Bayram pointed out that the other parties lack decision-making power, which leads them to reject the dialogue process. "The decision-making authority lies outside Lebanon, particularly in the hands of the United States and other influential factors within the country who prefer to maintain temporary stability in Lebanon," he said. Despite the challenges, he mentioned that his team will not falter under external pressures. They follow the culture of Imam Hussein, advocating for solidarity and compassion and calling for a collective consciousness that transcends sectarian issues and separates politics from administration. The Minister delivered his speech amidst the presence of prominent figures and participants at the Ashoura Council event in Yahmour. Bayram concluded, "we want a country representing all Lebanese citizens." While he acknowledged some regional breakthroughs, he emphasized that the international community has yet to take the internal decision-making to relieve the situation in Lebanon. He described the current stage as crucial and requires awareness and understanding.

Milano Street's drama: Lebanese authorities on high alert after shooting
LBCI/ July 23 / 2023
In the heart of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, the streets remained calm after the recent incident on Saturday evening near Hay El-Lija in Msaytbeh. Contrary to speculations, the altercation did not involve Hezbollah and the Amal Movement as widely rumored. A stroll through the vicinities reveals citizens going about their everyday lives, participating in religious gatherings in mosques for Ashoura. The gunfire in Milano Street originated from a personal dispute on Friday evening. According to security sources, an individual from the Al-Hashem family, known to be prominent in the area, was moving a motorcycle to get his car out when he encountered another person who pointed a gun at the former, accusing him of attempting to steal his motorcycle. The situation ended there until Saturday evening when they met again with the victim's cousin, a media official from the Amal Movement, and rebuked them verbally for their behavior. In response, the latter opened fire at the media official from the Amal Movement, but fortunately, no one was injured. Tensions escalated, resulting in gunfire in the air for a few minutes, but no casualties were reported. Still, an individual broke a leg after falling off his bike while attempting to flee from the shooting area. The Lebanese Army promptly intervened, restoring order to the area and conducting a series of raids to apprehend the main culprit responsible for the gunfire involved in this incident and alleviate the apprehension and fear among citizens and pedestrians in the region.

Sheikh Daamoush: All the attempts made by the US to target the Resistance have failed
LBCI/ July 23 / 2023
In a statement, Sheikh Ali Daamoush, Deputy Head of the Executive Council of Hezbollah, emphasized that all the attempts made by the United States to target the Resistance have failed. He also asserted that efforts to steer the faithful and religious youth away from the Resistance have been unsuccessful and will not yield any results. Sheikh Daamoush stated that the generations of the Resistance, which have overcome previous challenges, will not allow them to divide the country, undermine its unity, destabilize its stability, or harm its national unity. Regarding the United States' project in Lebanon, he affirmed that it will not succeed because the people possess the required level of awareness, consciousness, and national responsibility. He declared they would not be affected by sieges, sanctions, or economic and financial pressures. Sheikh Daamoush highlighted that despite their intense pressure in previous years, they have not yielded to any outcome desired by their opponents, and they will remain committed to their responsibilities.

Rome Conference on Mediterranean migration: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati's speech
LBCI/ July 23 / 2023
Distinguished Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni,
Your Highnesses, Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Italian government for organizing this important meeting on development and migration. I vividly recall our first meeting in March, where we discussed how to address a common issue faced by both our countries: illegal migration in Italy and the refugee crisis in Lebanon. During that meeting, we emphasized the significance of convening a dialogue table or an international conference involving all relevant countries and international stakeholders.
I also want to stress that the "Rome Process" meeting constitutes a first step towards forging a strong strategic partnership and enhancing coordination between the European Union, Mediterranean countries, and Lebanon. Our shared goal is to effectively tackle the refugee crisis in a manner that aligns with the expectations of the region's population, safeguards peace and security in Lebanon, and assists Europe in addressing specific migration and development-related challenges, with the priority being the preservation of lives, internal stability, and security in our respective nations.
Today, I stand before you to shed light on some urgent issues that not only impact the broader Mediterranean region but also have a profound effect on my country, Lebanon. These include migration, the refugee crisis, security, peace, stability, and prosperity.
Although Lebanon has not signed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 1951 Refugee Convention, we must acknowledge the flexibility and compassion shown by Lebanon in providing shelter and assistance to Syrians during the Syrian war despite extremely limited resources and severe job opportunities in the country. Lebanese people welcomed refugees with open arms and shared all they had to support them during these challenging times.
Seventy-five years of distressing challenges, periodic conflicts and wars, fleeting hopes, missed opportunities, and inadequate development strategies... All these trials have tested the resilience of a single nation!
Distinguished Prime Minister,
Esteemed Guests,
As you are well aware, the conflict in Syria has forced millions of people to flee their homes, seeking safety and refuge in neighboring countries like Lebanon. However, the fundamental question arises: What do these refugees envision for their future? Do they see Lebanon as their permanent home, or do they aspire to reach Europe in search of better opportunities and stability?
The answer is complex and varies with individual aspirations. Therefore, we must all understand these hopes and aspirations in order to formulate appropriate policies to address this matter.
The Lebanese government's stance on this issue is as follows: Now that the conflict in Syria has ended, we need to develop a plan for the safe and secure return of all refugees to their homeland. International organizations and donor countries should redirect the funds to host refugees in Lebanon to support individuals and families who return to their home country.
Presently, the situation in Lebanon is critical, particularly considering its hosting of one of the highest numbers of refugees relative to its population in the world! This unsustainable situation grows more pressing each day. Lebanon, a relatively small country with a population of five million, now accommodates approximately two million Syrian refugees. To put this in perspective, it is as if Italy were to host and accommodate 20 million refugees.
This disproportionate burden places immense strain on the country's infrastructure, economy, and social fabric, which an unprecedented economic and financial crisis has severely impacted.
Unfortunately, the recent resolution by the European Union Parliament (RC-B9-0323-2023) appears to overlook the multifaceted complexities and challenges that Lebanon faces. Rather than recognizing Lebanon's resilience and supporting it and the Lebanese Armed Forces in addressing the refugee crisis, we find ourselves blamed or, more accurately, penalized for our hospitality and efforts.
Therefore, I must reiterate Lebanon's disappointment with the EU Parliament's recent decision. This decision is a clear violation of Lebanese sovereignty and fails to consider the concerns and aspirations of the Lebanese people. The pressure imposed by this crisis and the dire consequences of the long-term presence of Syrian refugees in Lebanon undermine the social fabric and directly threaten its model of diversity. Lebanon has borne this tremendous burden of hosting Syrian refugees for 12 years, experiencing the worst economic crisis in its history. Our resources, if any, are minimal to contain the impact of this refugee crisis on Lebanese society and overall infrastructure. Lebanon is ready to engage in dialogue, cooperation, and collaboration with all international partners to develop a joint roadmap for addressing this crisis. We are eager to enhance our cooperation with the European Union in this endeavor.
Distinguished Prime Minister,
Esteemed Guests,
Undoubtedly, the interrelated challenges of migration, development, security, and the Mediterranean refugee crisis necessitate our collective efforts to resolve them.
Let us strive together to achieve a future that embodies security, stability, cooperation, and prosperity for the peoples of the Mediterranean region.

New Poll Shows Lebanese Frustrations with Government, Iran, and Other Powers
Catherine Cleveland/Washington Institute/July 23/2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/120401/%d9%83%d8%a7%d8%ab%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%86-%d9%83%d9%84%d9%8a%d9%81%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%af-%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%87%d8%af-%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%b4%d9%86%d8%b7%d9%86-%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%b7%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%b9-%d8%ac/
New polling results from Lebanon emphasize ways in which the country’s public is frustrated domestically and at key Hezbollah ally Iran, while expressing mixed views of other powers.
This poll, commissioned by the Washington Institute and conducted in March/April 2023, emphasizes the ways in which Lebanese are out of sync with other countries polled in the region, as well as points where Lebanese views converge or diverge by sect.
Ongoing Domestic Woes
With Lebanon in a state of collapse, and the still open question of who will occupy the presidency after a months-long vacancy, Lebanese have little to be optimistic about when it comes to domestic issues. Polling over the past several years has repeatedly demonstrated that regardless of differences on other issues, Lebanese are effectively unanimous in their frustrations with their government on matters ranging from corruption to freedom of speech. And although the protests of 2019 have subsided—in part due to brutal repression—92% of respondents in this latest polling continue to reject the assertion that “it’s a good thing we don’t have mass street protests against corruption.” Such views mark the Lebanese public as an outlier in a region where many Arabs oppose large demonstrations.
Open imageiconSpring 2023 Lebanon AA Chart
Deep Frustrations with Iran
Such frustrations appear to be spilling over into views of outside actors involved in Lebanon. Of particular note is that there is by no means a unanimous view of Iran, including among Lebanon’s Shia population. Among these Shia respondents, only 58% classify Iran as primarily a friend of the country. Meanwhile, a quarter see Iran as either an enemy or a competitor. In the case of Sunni and Christian respondents, those who see Iran as an enemy jumps to 66% and 83% respectively. Notably, the proportion of Lebanese overall who see Iran as an enemy is effectively the same proportion as in Saudi Arabia or the UAE—and a larger proportion than in Egypt, Jordan, or Kuwait. Just 18% of Lebanese overall characterize Iran as first and foremost a ‘friend.’
Open imageiconSpring 2023 Lebanon Iran Chart
Many Lebanese are also looking for movement on Iran’s position in the region. On the one hand, Lebanese are by and large supportive of the restoration of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. 83% say that this is a positive development—compared to just 31% of Saudi citizens. On the other hand, over half of Lebanese Sunni (53%) agree with the provocative statement “Since Iran is now getting so close to having a nuclear bomb, it’s time for an Arab country to get one too.” Moreover, when asked whether they agree that “a major American or Israeli military strike on Iran would be too dangerous, and a bad idea for our country,” a similar percentage of Lebanese Sunni (54%) disagree—standing out from attitudes in other countries on the question.
Lebanese Sunni Muslims were likewise largely in favor of the anti-government protests in Iran when asked back in November 2022, with 69% suggesting that they would have a positive effect on the region. More in line with public opinion in other states is the view on the regional impact of Arab states restoring relations with Assad. In this case, views are split down the middle, with half of respondents viewing this normalization in a positive light. This percentage jumps to 71% among Shia respondents.
Significant Antipathy against US, Russia, China
Looking towards other outside actors would be one potential avenue for addressing the country’s political and economic challenges. Nevertheless, Lebanese of different confessions are divided on the roles of outside states. Significant percentages of Lebanese see the major global powers of the United States, Russia, and China as enemies of the country even as others describe them as friends.
Lebanon is the only county polled, for instance, where almost half (47%) view the United States as “an enemy of our country.” Such views are not limited to Shia Lebanese, likely the most directly targeted with Hezbollah messaging about Washington—about forty percent of Sunni and Christian Lebanese agree. In these latter cases, however, roughly one-third (34% and 33%, respectively) instead list the United States as “a friend of the country.” Relatively few see the United States as primarily either a security or economic partner.
Neither is there a consensus over an alternative ‘friend’ of the country. In the case of China, 30% of respondents are most likely to state that China is an enemy of Lebanon. And when asked the same of Russia, this is all the more so the case: 30% of Shia, 44% of Sunni, and 54% of Christians state that Russia is an enemy.
Such attitudes towards Russia spill into respondents’ perception of the war in Ukraine. Of the seven countries polled, Lebanese are the public most split as to their views of a Russian military victory. Whereas about three fourths of Gulf, Jordanian, and Egyptian respondents agree that “the best outcome would be a Russian victory, including the annexation of significant Ukrainian territory to Russia,” the Lebanese public is more ambivalent. Even among Shia respondents, who are the most likely subgroup to agree with the statement, only 63% agree. Moreover, just a third of Sunni and Christian Lebanese agree. About half instead disagree strongly with this view—compared to just around 10% in other countries.
Staunch opposition to Israel—with Exception of Maritime Deal
The vast majority of Lebanese remain staunchly opposed to relations with Israel, either in the case of humanitarian aid or economic ties. And in contrast to those in the Gulf, a large proportion of Lebanese (62%) believe that Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza on their southern neighbor are a positive development for the region. Nevertheless, the Israeli-Lebanon maritime deal remains popular among more than half of Lebanese respondents (58%), though the proportion of Shia Lebanese who support the deal has dropped by about ten percentage points since last November.
Methodological Note
This analysis is based on findings from a survey among a representative, random national sample of 1,000 Lebanese citizens. Sample selection followed standard geographic probability procedures, yielding a statistical margin of error of approximately 3 percent. The survey was conducted by a highly qualified, experienced, and completely apolitical regional commercial firm. Strict quality controls and assurances of confidentiality were provided throughout. Additional details, including full question wording and data set with demographic breaks, are available on our interactive polling platform.
*Catherine Cleveland is The Washington Institute's Croft-Wagner Family Fellow and managing editor of Fikra Forum. She recently received a master’s degree in Middle East Studies from the University of Chicago.

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on July 23-24/2023
Iran kicks off air force drill as US sends more fighter planes to the region
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)/Sun, July 23, 2023
Iran on Sunday began an annual air force drill in the central part of country, state media reported, as the U.S. sends more fighter planes to the region to deter the Islamic Republic from seizing commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf area.
The official IRNA news agency said 11 Iranian air force bases participated in the drill, dubbed Fadaeian Velyat-11, or Devotees of the Supreme Leader-11. It said an air base at the southern port of Bandar Abbas at the mouth of the strategic Strait of Hormuz is active in the drill. The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all crude oil passes. The report said more than 90 fighter planes, bombers and drones would participate in the drill. Air Force Chief Gen. Hamid Vahedi said the drill's message is one of friendship, peace and security in the region. “Sustainable security, improving and fostering regional ties, peaceful coexistence and defending air borders are on the agenda,” he said. From time to time Iran holds such drills and says they are designed to assess force's combat readiness and demonstrate the nation’s military capabilities. The U.S. said last week it is sending additional fighter jets and a warship to the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman to increase security in the wake of Iranian attempts to seize commercial ships there. The Pentagon said the USS Thomas Hudner, a destroyer, and a number of F-35 fighter jets will be heading to the area. The Hudner had been in the Red Sea. The U.S. move comes after Iran earlier in July tried to seize two oil tankers, the Marshall Islands-flagged TRF Moss and the Bahamian-flagged Richmond Voyager, near the strait last week, opening fire on one of them. The U.S. Navy said in both instances the Iranian naval vessels backed off when the USS McFaul, a guided-missile destroyer, arrived on the scene. The U.S. Navy says Iran has seized at least five commercial vessels in the last two years and has harassed more than a dozen others. Many of the confrontations have happened in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The West accuses Iran of using seized commercial vessels as bargaining chips. Iran denies the charge saying it seized the vessels after they collided with local vessels and polluted the waterway. Tensions have steadily risen since the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers and restored crippling sanctions. Iran has responded by ramping up its nuclear activities — which it says are purely peaceful — and also provided drones to Russia for its war against Ukraine.

Four police officers killed in south-eastern Iranian attack
AFP./July 23, 2023
Four traffic police officers were killed in a "terrorist attack" in the Sistan and Baluchestan province in southeastern Iran, as reported by state media on Sunday. According to the official news agency "IRNA," "Four traffic police officers were martyred today (Sunday) as a result of a terrorist attack on a patrol of traffic police on the Kash-Tafatan axis in Sistan and Baluchestan province." Earlier, the agency had mentioned the death of three officers, but the fourth officer succumbed to his injuries later. The province, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, is one of the poorest regions in Iran and often witnesses attacks on security forces and security incidents attributed to armed militants belonging to extremist organizations, rebels from the Baloch minority, or networks involved in drug and fuel smuggling. On July 8th, a police officer was killed in an attack on a police station in the city of Zahedan, the provincial capital. The attack involved a shootout that resulted in the killing of four assailants, according to state media. The extremist Sunni group "Jaish al-Adl," classified by Tehran as a "terrorist" organization, claimed responsibility for the attack in the province, accusing them of launching their attacks from neighboring Pakistan. In recent months, Zahedan has witnessed tensions due to protests that erupted across the country since September following the death of Mahsa Amini after she was arrested by the morality police for not complying with dress code rules.

Netanyahu gets pacemaker ahead of vote on judicial reforms
Agence France Presse./July 23, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker on Sunday, just hours before lawmakers began debate on a controversial judicial overhaul bill that has brought tens of thousands of protesters to the streets. Protests have intensified in the days leading up to the debate, which began Sunday ahead of a parliamentary vote on Monday which could see a key part of the proposals passed into law. Despite his operation, Netanyahu vowed to be there for the vote. The judicial revamp proposed by his hard-right government has split the nation and, since its unveiling in January, sparked one of the biggest protest movements in Israel's history. Opponents see the proposed revamp as a threat to Israel's democracy. "We want to continue to live in a Jewish and a democratic state," opposition leader Yair Lapid said at the start of debate. "We must stop this legislation," he said. Sheba Medical Center performed the surgery on Netanyahu, a statement from his office said, while Deputy Prime Minister Yariv Levin stood in for him. Days earlier Netanyahu, 73, had been discharged from the same facility after a night of hospitalisation following complaints of dizziness."A week ago I had a monitoring device implanted and this device beeped this evening and announced that I needed to get a pacemaker. I have to do this tonight, I feel great and I listen to my doctors," Netanyahu said in a video posted on his Facebook page.
- Hours of debate -
The hospital confirmed after the surgery that Netanyahu's condition was good. "He will remain under medical supervision in the cardiology department," it said in a statement. "The doctors tell me that I will be free and I will be released from the hospital tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) and will be able to go to the Knesset to vote," Netanyahu said prior to the surgery. Debate is expected to last hours, into Monday morning, and more than 20 lawmakers are scheduled to speak against the bill, according to a list provided by parliament. The final vote Monday will be on the "reasonability" clause through which judges can strike down government decisions. Netanyahu's government, which includes extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, plans to curb the Supreme Court's powers granted under this clause. They argue the changes are necessary to ensure a better balance of power. Critics accuse Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges he denies, of trying to use the reforms to quash possible judgements against him. He rejects the accusation. The "reasonability" clause was most recently cited by Israel's top court to force Netanyahu to remove an ultra-Orthodox cabinet member over a previous tax evasion conviction. If approved on Monday, it would be the first major component of the proposed legal overhaul to become law.Other proposed changes include giving the government a greater say in the appointment of judges.
- Prayers at Western Wall -
Protests have drawn support from across political and social strata, from both the left and the right, secular and religious groups, peace activists and military reservists, as well as blue-collar and workers in the tech sector crucial to the country's economy. Early on Sunday, hundreds of protesters prayed at the Western Wall in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, the holiest place where Jews can pray. Carrying Israeli flags, many also formed a human chain at different locations in Jerusalem including in front of Jaffa Gate in the Old City. "We have to keep the pressure, we have to guard our democracy," said protester Amir Goldstein, who spent the night in a tent near parliament. Tens of thousands like him rallied in Jerusalem on Saturday. Many had arrived from Tel Aviv after a multi-day march. More protests were planned later on Sunday in Tel Aviv, while right-wing supporters of the judicial overhaul were also scheduled to rally there. Tens of thousands had protested in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, their 29th weekly rally since the proposals were unveiled. Many wore shirts with "Democracy" printed on them. "The government is not listening to us, it means it's the beginning of a new era, a bad era," protester Idit Dekel, 55, told AFP.
"For me it is catastrophic," added Dekel, a tech employee. Protesters also got support from more than 1,100 air force reservists, including fighter pilots, who have threatened to suspend their volunteer service if the reforms become law. Late Thursday, Netanyahu said he was "still trying to reach an agreement with the opposition", mainly on the "reasonability" clause.

Jerusalem sees thousands of protesters as Netanyahu moves forward with judicial reforms
Ken Tran, USA TODAY/July 23, 2023
Thousands of protesters trekked into Jerusalem Saturday night as the right-wing government moves to vote on the key piece of its controversial judicial reform plans that would curb how the Supreme Court can overrule government decisions. Demonstrators carrying Israeli flags marched for several days through scorching heat on a roughly 45-mile trek starting in Tel Aviv in an attempt to block the Israeli parliament from approving the legislation, which critics say could allow for greater government overreach. Opponents were camped outside the country's parliament and Israelis on both sides of the issue were praying outside the Western Wall. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would be back at work Monday after being hospitalized for an emergency heart procedure. “This extremist group has no mandate to turn Israel into a messianic and non-democratic state,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said Thursday. “The Netanyahu government is waging a war of attrition against the citizens of Israel.” Demonstrators wave Israeli national flags as they march on the highway near the town of Mevaseret Zion on Saturday, during a multiday march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to protest the government's judicial overhaul bill ahead of a vote in the parliament. Israel has been rocked by a months-long wave of protests after the government unveiled in January plans to overhaul the judicial system that opponents say threatens the country's democracy. Demonstrators wave Israeli national flags as they march on the highway near the town of Mevaseret Zion on Saturday, during a multiday march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to protest the government's judicial overhaul bill ahead of a vote in the parliament. Israel has been rocked by a months-long wave of protests after the government unveiled in January plans to overhaul the judicial system that opponents say threatens the country's democracy.
Why are Israelis protesting?
Netanyahu’s proposed reforms have incited constant intense protests across the country for seven months since the plans were unveiled in January. Protests were most intense at one point when Netanyahu fired his defense minister for publicly opposing the reforms in March with demonstrators blocking highways and rallying outside Netanyahu’s home in Jerusalem. Netanyahu later reversed his decision to fire his defense minister in April. Israel could see even more intense protests when the country’s parliament is expected to vote on a series of reforms on Monday.
What are the judicial reforms in Israel?
The judicial reforms being voted on Monday will limit Israel’s Supreme Court to block government decisions it deems “unreasonable.” Proponents of the judicial reforms contend the standard of “reasonableness” gives the Supreme Court too much broad authority over the government. The U.S., a longtime ally of Israel, has also attempted to pressure Netanyahu and his allies to halt its plans to overhaul the country’s judiciary. President Joe Biden called Netanyahu last Monday and urged him to find a “consensus” on the issue. “President Biden reiterated, in the context of the current debate in Israel about judicial reform, the need for the broadest possible consensus, and that shared democratic values have always been and must remain a hallmark of the U.S.-Israel relationship,” the White House said in a statement about the call.

New forum aims to tackle Syria-Jordan drug smuggling
AFP/July 23, 2023
AMMAN: A new forum to combat drug smuggling from war-ravaged Syria through Jordan to the wealthy Gulf states held its first meeting in Amman on Sunday, the Jordanian foreign ministry said. The forum was agreed during talks between Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus earlier this month as regional concern mounts over an influx of the banned stimulant captagon from Syria. The Syrian delegation was headed by Defense Minister General Ali Mahmud Abbas and General Intelligence Director, Major General Husam Louka. Jordan’s was led by the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Major General Yousef Huneiti, and General Intelligence director, Major General Ahmed Husni, the Jordanian ministry said. The talks “went over the issue of the parties that organize, run and carry out smuggling operations across borders to Jordan, as well as necessary measures to... confront this escalating danger to the entire region,” the ministry said. Jordanian security forces have tightened border controls in recent years and occasionally announce thwarted drugs and weapons smuggling attempts from Syria. There has been increasing regional engagement with Assad’s government since its readmission to the Arab League in May, ending more than a decade of isolation since civil war erupted in Syria in 2011.

Russia's Putin: Black Sea grain deal became meaningless
July 24 (Reuters)/Sun, July 23, 2023
Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain deal that ensured the safe export of Ukrainian grains because the agreement lost its meaning, President Vladimir Putin wrote in an article published early on Monday. "The continuation of the 'grain deal' - which did not justify its humanitarian purpose - has lost its meaning," Putin said, according to the article on the Kremlin's website. Saying that Russia's conditions for the extension had been ignored, Moscow last week quit the deal which had allowed Ukraine a year ago to export grain from its Black Sea ports, despite the war, to alleviate a global food crisis.
The key demands Putin presented last week for Moscow to return to the deal, however, did not directly refer to humanitarian purposes. After quitting the deal, Russia has been pounding Ukrainian food-exporting ports nearly on a daily basis. An attack on Sunday on the southern port of Odesa killed one person and injured scores more. Writing ahead of the second Russia-Africa summit that will take place in St. Petersburg on Thursday and Friday, Putin said that Russia expects a record harvest this year. "I want to assure that our country is able to replace Ukrainian grain both commercially and free of charge, especially since we again expect a record harvest this year," Putin said. Russia and the West have been increasingly vying for influence in Africa. Although Moscow has so far invested very little there, according to data from the United Nations, Russia has been on a diplomatic push to win the continent's support. During a U.N. vote in March 2022 to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, 28 African nations voted in favour of the resolution, but 25 either voted to abstain or did not vote at all. "Russia will continue to vigorously work on organising the supply of grain, food, fertilizers and more to Africa: we highly value and continue to dynamically develop the entire range of economic ties with Africa," Putin wrote.

Putin claims Ukrainian counteroffensive has 'failed'
Agence France Presse./July 23, 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Belarus counterpart Alexander Lukashenko Sunday that an ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive to push back Russian forces from Ukraine has "failed", according to Russian news agencies. "There is no counteroffensive," Lukashenko said, according to the TASS news agency before being interrupted by Putin: "There is one, but it has failed."

Russia and Iran's 'unprecedented' military ties worried the US, but it's starting to look like Russia can't hold up its end of the deal
Paul Iddon/Business Insider/Sun, July 23, 2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/120404/120404/
Iran has supported Russia by providing it with arms to use in Ukraine.That has worried the US, which sees it as part of a growing Russian-Iranian defense partnership.But there are signs that Moscow may not deliver on the agreements it has made with Tehran.
Less than a year ago, the White House was warning of "unprecedented" military ties between Russia and Iran, but today, there are signs of increasing friction, with Moscow proving to be an unreliable partner.
Late last year, as Russia risked depleting its missile stockpiles after months of fighting in Ukraine, Iran agreed to supply Moscow with arms, mostly Shahed-136 one-way attack drones, which Russia has used in attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
In December, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Iran and Russia were forging "a full-scale defense partnership" that would threaten the Middle East and the wider world. Kirby said "support is flowing both ways," with Moscow providing Tehran "an unprecedented level of military and technical support."
As part of this burgeoning partnership, Iran expected to receive an unspecified number of Russian Su-35 jets, along with helicopters and even advanced S-400 air-defense systems. Yet there is no indication Iran has received any equipment or will receive any of it the foreseeable future.
Analysts expected Iran would receive at least 24 Su-35s — aircraft Russia built for Egypt as part of an order that was later canceled — in the near future, but in recent statements, Iranian officials have gone from expressing optimism that the first jets would arrive in a matter of months, if not weeks, to making comments that suggest they are unsure if the jets will arrive in the coming years.
In a damning report published on July 13, Tehran-based journalist Saeed Azimi cited one current and one former Iranian diplomat who, under condition of anonymity, told him that Iran "fully paid" for 50 Su-35s during the second term of former President Hassan Rouhani, who left office in August 2021.
While the figure of 50 Su-35s had not been disclosed prior to Azimi's article, it fits with Iran's longstanding estimate that it needs 64 new fighters to modernize its aging fleet, which is mostly composed of US-made jets acquired before the 1979 revolution.
Moscow promised delivery of the Su-35s by 2023, which the diplomats quoted by Azimi doubt will happen. "Iranian officials feel embarrassment over Russia's failure to adhere to commitments," Azimi wrote.
As if to add insult to injury, in July, Moscow backed a joint statement by the Gulf Cooperation Council that supported the United Arab Emirates' claim over Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, three small but important islands in the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has controlled the islands since 1971, seizing them after the British left the region. The UAE, formed the same year, has claimed them ever since.
Iran summoned Russia's ambassador and asked Moscow to "correct its position," which Tehran no doubt views as unacceptable interference in its internal affairs.
By supporting the GCC statement, Russia is demonstrating how it still aims to balance relations with Iran and the Arab Gulf states, despite its ostensible strategic partnership with the former. Moscow has important economic ties with those Arab states that have only grown since its attacked Ukraine last year.
Interestingly, in response to Russia's move, Iranian state-run media played down their partnership, saying it was merely tactical and that Moscow is not a strategic ally.
The head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, Richard Moore, said this week that Iran was seeking cash by selling arms to Russia, which seems to bolster earlier reports that Tehran sold Moscow drone technology for $900 million, paid in US dollars, and suggests the Iranians seek a transactional relationship with the Russians rather than a strategic defense partnership.
While Iran has never armed Russia to the extent it has in recent months, Moscow has sold Tehran considerable military hardware in the past. After the Iran-Iraq war ended in August 1988, the Soviet Union gave Tehran a "blank check" to buy any conventional armaments it wanted.
At the time, the Soviets were offering 72 MiG-29 and 24 MiG-31 fighters and 36 Su-24MK tactical bomber. However, Tehran was strapped for cash after the eight-year war with its neighbor and could only afford a smaller number of MiG-29s and Su-24MKs, as well as S-200 air-defense systems. Moscow delivered the aircraft in 1990 and 1991.
Those sales were recently described as "the most important acquisition of military technology by the Islamic Republic until now and perhaps even as of now."
Russian arms sales to Iran have continued but haven't reached the level of that briefly amicable period, when Moscow and Tehran weren't even allies and had no formal alliance or partnership like they purportedly do today.
Russia sold Iran only six relatively low-tech Su-25 attack planes in the 2000s. In 2007, Iran signed an $800 million contract for Russian S-300 air-defense systems, but Moscow refused to deliver them for almost a decade, only transferring them in 2016.
The UN arms embargo on Iran officially expired in October 2020, leaving no international restrictions that Russia could use as a pretext for refusing to deliver weapons for which Iran has reportedly already paid.
With their partnership looking more and more one-sided, Iranians may ask what they are getting militarily or politically from aiding Russia. Moore and his US counterpart, CIA director William Burns, say there are already signs of that.
"Iran's decision to supply Russia with the suicide drones that mete out random destruction to Ukraine's cities has provoked internal quarrels at the highest level of the regime in Tehran," Moore said on Wednesday.
The US has also seen signs, Burns said Thursday, that "Iranian leadership has hesitated about supplying ballistic missiles to the Russians, which was also on their wish list as well, partly because they're concerned not just about our reaction but about European reaction as well."
Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history. His articles have appeared in a variety of publications focused on the region.

Russia Using 'Disinformation' To Exaggerate Small Military Gains, Says UK
Kevin Schofield/HuffPost UK/July 23, 2023
Russia is using “disinformation” to exaggerate small military gains in Ukraine, according to the UK. In their latest update on the progress of the war, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said there had been “an increase in artillery fire along the north of the front line” in recent days. “This has likely been accompanied by some increase in Russian small-unit assaults, but the situation has been obfuscated by Russian disinformation,” the MoD said. “Russia has likely only achieved marginal gains, but its renewed activity in the north highlights its importance to the Kremlin.” The MoD said that Russian strategists are trying “to create a buffer zone around Luhansk Oblast, the possession of which Russia almost certainly considers one of its fundamental objectives of the war”. It is the second time in recent days that the MoD has accused Russia of spreading disinformation. UK officials said on Thursday that the Kremlin had concealed its real reason for leaving the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Moscow chose not to renew the pivotal agreement – brokered by the UN and Turkey in July 2022 – in which it had promised to lift its wartime blockade so Ukrainian grain could safely be exported. Publicly, Moscow has claimed that the UN has not kept to its side of the bargain and helped Russia increase its own exports of grains and fertilisers. But the MoD said: “Russia likely made the decision to leave some time ago, because it decided that the deal was no longer serving its interests.”

Russian strike on Ukraine's Odesa leaves 1 dead, many hurt and a cathedral badly damaged
Associated Press/July 23, 2023
Russia struck the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa again on Sunday, local officials said, keeping up a barrage of attacks that has damaged critical port infrastructure in southern Ukraine in the past week. At least one person was killed and 22 others wounded in the attack in the early hours.
Regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said that four children were among those wounded in the blasts, which severely damaged the historic Transfiguration Cathedral, a landmark Orthodox cathedral in the city. Russia has been launching persistent attacks on Odesa, a key hub for exporting grain, since Moscow canceled a landmark grain deal on Monday amid Kyiv's grinding efforts to retake its occupied territories. Kiper noted that six residential buildings, including apartment buildings, were destroyed by the strikes. In one such case in downtown Odesa, some people became trapped in their apartments as a result of the damage caused by the attack, which left rubble strewn in the street and partly blocking the road, and damage to power lines. Svitlana Molcharova, 85, was rescued by emergency service workers. But after she received first medical aid, she refused to leave her destroyed apartment. "I will stay here," she said to the emergency service worker who advised her to leave.
"I woke up when the ceiling started to fall on me. I rushed into the corridor," said Ivan Kovalenko, 19, another resident of the building. He came to Odesa having fled the city of Mykolaiv in search of a safer place to live after his house was destroyed. "That's how I lost my home in Mykolaiv, and here, I lost my rented apartment. " In his home, the ceiling partially collapsed, the balcony came off the side of the building, and all the windows were blown out. The Transfiguration Cathedral, one of the most important and largest Orthodox Cathedrals in Odesa, was severely damaged. Local officials said that the icon of the patroness of the city had been retrieved from under the rubble. "The destruction is enormous, half of the cathedral is now roofless," said Archdeacon Andrii Palchuk, as cathedral workers brought documents and valuable items out of the building, the floor of which was inundated with water used by firefighters to extinguish the fire. Palchuk said the damage was caused by a direct hit from a Russian missile that penetrated the building down to the basement and caused significant damage. Two people who were inside at the time of the strike were wounded. "But with God's help, we will restore it," he said, bursting into tears.
The cathedral belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has been accused of links to Russia. The church has insisted that it's loyal to Ukraine, has denounced the Russian invasion from the start and has even declared its independence from Moscow. But Ukrainian security agencies have claimed that some in the Ukrainian church have maintained close ties with Moscow. They've raided numerous holy sites of the church and later posted photos of rubles, Russian passports and leaflets with messages from the Moscow patriarch as proof that some church officials have been loyal to Russia. Odesa's historic center was designated an endangered World Heritage Site by UNESCO earlier this year despite Russian opposition. Russia's Defense Ministry said Sunday that Russian forces had attacked sites in Odesa, "where terrorist acts against the Russian Federation were being prepared."
The ministry said in a statement that the strikes were carried out with sea- and air-based long-range high-precision weapons, and that there are "foreign mercenaries" at the targeted sites. In a later statement, the ministry denied that its attacks had struck the Transfiguration Cathedral, claiming that the destruction of the cathedral was likely due to "the fall of a Ukrainian anti-aircraft guided missile." Earlier Russian attacks this week crippled significant parts of export facilities in Odesa and nearby Chornomorsk and destroyed 60,000 tons of grain, according to Ukraine's Agriculture Ministry. The attacks come days after President Vladimir Putin pulled Russia out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a wartime deal that enabled Ukraine's exports to reach many countries facing the threat of hunger. Putin vowed to retaliate against Kyiv for an attack Monday on the crucial Kerch Bridge linking Russia with the Crimean Peninsula, which the Kremlin illegally annexed in 2014.

End of Russian-Chinese military exercises in the Sea of Japan
AFP/July 23, 2023
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that Russia and China have completed their joint military exercises in the Sea of Japan, amidst escalating tensions with Western countries. The relationship between the two neighboring nations, united in their desire to counter American dominance, has seen a military convergence since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which China refrained from condemning. In recent months, China and Russia have conducted several military exercises to enhance coordination between their armed forces. In March, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in the Kremlin, and the two leaders expressed their determination to conduct "regular joint patrols" to deepen mutual trust. The Russian army stated in a press release that the "Russian-Chinese Naval Interaction 2023" exercises concluded in the Sea of Japan. During the drills, which took place from Thursday to Sunday, approximately twenty combat training sessions were conducted, including joint artillery strikes on maritime, coastal, and aerial targets. In June, China and Russia conducted a joint military air patrol over the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan, prompting South Korea to deploy fighter jets as a precautionary measure. This marks the sixth such joint exercise conducted by Beijing and Moscow in the region since 2019. At the beginning of July, Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu called for enhancing maritime military cooperation with Russia during a meeting in Beijing with a senior Russian officer.

Right-wing preference in Spain and far-right elections hopes for a return to power
AFP/July 23, 2023
Spanish citizens cast their votes on Sunday in early legislative elections, with the right-wing appearing to have the advantage and the possibility of bringing the far-right to power for the first time since the end of Franco's dictatorship. After casting his vote in central Madrid, the leader of the People's Party (right-wing), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who could replace Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez according to opinion polls, told the press that he hopes Spain will "start a new era." Among the four main candidates, Sánchez was the first to vote and stated to journalists that these elections are "very important... for the world and for Europe."In an indication of the elections' significance, voter turnout sharply increased to 40.48% at 14:00 (12:00 GMT), compared to 37.92% in the last legislative elections in 2019. This number does not include the 2.47 million voters out of 37.5 million who cast their ballots by mail, setting a record due to the elections being held in mid-summer for the first time. These elections have also garnered exceptional attention abroad due to the possibility of a coalition between the conservative right-wing and the far-right Vox party, whose support may be necessary for the People's Party to form a government. Such a scenario could bring the far-right to power in Spain for the first time since Franco's dictatorship ended nearly half a century ago in 1975. After voting in Madrid, the leader of Vox party, Santiago Abascal, stated that he is confident the elections "will allow for a change of course in Spain."
Affirming the election's importance, the outgoing Minister of Labor Yolanda Díaz, leader of the left-wing radical Sumar party and an ally of Sánchez, announced that "these elections are the most important for my generation" and added that their outcome "will shape the features of the coming decade."
Polling stations opened at 09:00 (07:00 GMT) for these elections, in which voters are electing members of the Congress of Deputies (350 seats) and the Senate (208 seats). Voting will close at 20:00 (18:00 GMT), and preliminary results will be released approximately an hour later.
With the European elections scheduled for 2024, a right-wing victory, and possibly the inclusion of the far-right in the government in the fourth largest economy in the Eurozone, following its triumph in Italy last year, would deal a severe blow to European left-wing parties. This would carry significant symbolism, as Spain currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
Information technology expert Brian Sánchez (27 years old) who voted in Barcelona told AFP that "forming a coalition government between the People's Party and Vox would be beneficial because they would work to make Spain better."All polls published until Monday predicted the victory of the People's Party led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo (61 years old). However, the ban on publishing polls five days before the elections has made the outcome uncertain. Feijóo hopes to secure 176 seats, which would grant him an absolute majority in the Congress of Deputies, which consists of 350 seats. However, no poll has projected such a result, indicating that his party may need to form a coalition. His only potential partner is the far-right Vox party, founded in 2013 after a split from the People's Party, which currently governs three out of 17 regions in Spain. Abascal warned the People's Party that the price of Vox's support would be participation in the government. Feijóo did not disclose his intentions regarding Vox, and in an interview with "El Mundo" on Friday, he said, "Two days before the elections, the candidate should not say who he will form a coalition with." However, he acknowledged that forming a coalition government with the far-right nationalist party "is not ideal." Sánchez (51 years old), whose defeat is indicated by opinion polls following the left's loss in local elections that prompted him to call for these early elections, warned against the rise of the far-right to power as the main theme of his election campaign. In a televised debate on Wednesday, the outgoing Prime Minister argued that forming a coalition government between the People's Party and Vox "is not just a setback for Spain in terms of rights, but a serious setback for the European project."He believes that the only alternative to such a coalition government is to maintain the current left-wing coalition that was formed in 2020 between his Socialist Party and the radical left. His words resonated with teacher Brauli Monyús (53 years old) who told AFP in Barcelona that he hopes for the formation of a "progressive government between the Socialists and Sumar."

Treaty that created modern Turkey still evokes pain for some, 100 years after signing
Emma Farge and Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi/Sun, July 23, 2023
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) /The Treaty of Lausanne that formed modern Turkey is still cherished by some but remains a disappointment for others including Kurds and Armenians who hoped for autonomous regions and justice for Ottoman-era crimes. Some of those voices are included in an exhibit called "Borders" - put on by the Swiss city's history museum to look at the significance of the post-World War One deal 100 years after it was signed between Turkey and allied powers like Britain and France on July 24, 1923. Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan commemorated the anniversary in a statement last year, praising elements of it and saying that Turkey had meticulously monitored its implementation. Sevgi Koyuncu, who was born in a Kurdish village and now works in Lausanne, said her people had been "negated by a convention" in an interview filmed in the palace where it was signed. Some 6,000 Kurdish protesters joined a march through the city on Saturday, waving flags and forming human chains. For Manuschak Karnusian, a Swiss resident whose Armenian grandparents fled what is now Turkey in the early 20th century with the help of missionaries and French war ships, the treaty is like a "second genocide". She was referring to 1915 massacres and the forced deportation of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire - an event now labelled genocide by dozens of countries but denied by Turkey, which says thousands of both Turks and Armenians died in inter-ethnic violence. "You cannot forget. You must show what this (treaty) means," Karnusian told Reuters, saying that it stood for the "origin of the denial of what happened" to the Armenians. While the agreement was hailed at the time as a chance for lasting peace, some of its outcomes, like the exchange of more than 1.5 million ethnic Greeks and Turks, are now seen as a "terrible mistake", said Jonathan Conlin, a historian at a project that looks at the legacy of the treaty. "I think it (the treaty) has endured because everyone's equally unhappy about it," he said.

Sudan war enters 100th day as mediation attempts fail
Reuters)/Sun, July 23, 2023T
- Clashes flared in parts of Sudan on the 100th day of the war on Sunday as mediation attempts by regional and international powers fail to find a path out of an increasingly intractable conflict. The fighting broke out on April 15 as the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) vied for power, since when more than 3 million people have been uprooted, including more than 700,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries. Some 1,136 people have been killed, according to the health ministry, though officials believe the number is higher. Neither the army nor the RSF has been able to claim victory, with the RSF's domination on the ground in the capital Khartoum up against the army's air and artillery firepower. Infrastructure and government in the capital have fallen apart while fighting has spread westwards, particularly to the fragile Darfur region, as well as to the south, where the rebel SPLM-N group has tried to gain territory. Over the weekend, the RSF moved into villages in Gezira State directly south of Khartoum, where the army conducted air strikes against them, according to witnesses. In Nyala, one of the country's largest cities and capital of South Darfur, clashes have continued since Thursday in residential areas,‮ ‬according to witnesses. At least 20 people have been killed, medical sources say. The United Nations says 5,000 families have been displaced. Key facilities have been looted, residents say. "Bullets are flying into homes. We are terrified and no one is protecting us," said 35-year-old Salah Abdallah. The fighting gave way to ethnically targeted attacks by Arab militias and the RSF in West Darfur, from which hundreds of thousands of people have fled to Chad. Residents have also accused RSF soldiers of looting and occupying wide swathes of the capital. The RSF has said it would investigate.
While the two sides have shown openness towards mediation efforts led by regional and international actors, none has resulted in a sustained ceasefire. Both sides have sent delegations to attempt to re-start talks in Jeddah that have yielded often-violated ceasefires. But the Sudanese foreign minister said on Friday that indirect talks had not begun seriously. The leaders of the army and RSF headed a joint council since the ouster of Omar al-Bashir in 2019, and diverged over plans for a transition to democracy. Civilian political groups as well as the RSF have accused the army of turning a blind eye to appearances by wanted Bashir loyalists in recent days. The Forces of Freedom and Change, the main civilian coalition, said on Sunday it was holding meeting in Egypt, which has offered itself as a mediator in the conflict.

Plea for help as hunger stalks Khartoum
AFP/July 23, 2023
WAD MADANI, Sudan: In a war-devastated district of Sudan’s capital, Abbas Mohammed Babiker says he and his family have only been able to eat once a day. Now even that is in doubt, but on Sunday a citizens’ support group issued an urgent appeal for donations to help people like him.
“We only have enough for two more days,” Babiker said from Khartoum North, where residents said at least one person, a local musician, has already died from hunger. Since April 15, battles between Sudan’s army led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces or RSF, headed by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, have killed more than 3,900 people, according to the latest toll from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project or ACLED. More than 2.6 million people have been internally displaced, mostly from Khartoum, the International Organization for Migration said.
Thousands who remain in the capital, particularly in Khartoum North, are trapped at home without water since the local water station was damaged at the start of the war. Residents say there is only intermittent electricity and food has nearly run out. Across the country, about one-third of the population already faced hunger even before the war began, said the UN’s World Food Programme. Despite the security challenges, the agency says it has reached more than 1.4 million people with emergency food aid as needs intensify. “With the fighting, there is no market any more and anyway we have no money,” said another resident of Khartoum North, Essam Abbas. To help them, the local “resistance committee,” a pro-democracy neighborhood group, issued its emergency appeal. “We have to support each other, give food and money and distribute to those around us,” the committee wrote on Facebook.
In adjacent Omdurman, Khartoum’s other battle-scarred sister city, locally known violinist Khaled Senhouri “died from hunger” last week, his friends wrote on Facebook. In his own online posts, Senhouri had said he was unable to leave home because of the fighting and had tried to hang on with the supplies that he had. It wasn’t enough.
Lawyers and medics said on Saturday that at least 20 Sudanese civilians had been killed by rocket fire on residential areas of one of Darfur’s main cities and by shelling near hospitals in North Kordofan state. The doctors’ union said that since Friday morning shells had struck near four hospitals in the North Kordofan state capital El-Obeid, killing four civilians and wounding 45. In the South Darfur state capital Nyala, the local lawyers’ union said that rocket fire had killed 16 civilians. The Darfur region, already ravaged by brutal conflict in the early 2000s, has seen some of the worst of the violence since fighting erupted in mid-April between Sudanese rival generals vying for power. “During an exchange of rocket fire between the army and the RSF, 16 civilians were killed on Friday, according to a preliminary toll,” the lawyers’ union said. And at least one man was killed by a sniper, it added. In the West Darfur capital of El-Geneina, near Chad, snipers have reportedly been targeting residents from rooftops since fighting began, and tens of thousands have fled across the border. The war, which broke out in the capital Khartoum on April 15 and spread to Darfur later that month, has left at least 3,000 dead across Sudan, according to a conservative estimate. Fighting in Darfur, an RSF stronghold, has recently concentrated around Nyala, after brutal clashes in El-Geneina where the UN had reported atrocities. Battles have also continued in and around Khartoum. Residents reported on Saturday the first army air strikes on villages in the Al-Jazirah state, just south of the capital. The fertile land between the White Nile and Blue Nile rivers now hosts several hundred thousands of the estimated 3.3 million people the war has displaced. If fighting expands into Al-Jazirah, they may be forced to flee again. The humanitarian workers who support them would have to move as well, but fear the many bureaucratic challenges in relocating their operations. Analysts say both warring sides would like to see the battlefield expand. “The RSF has held the upper hand in Khartoum since the early days of the war, but that advantage is only growing more apparent,” the International Crisis Group think tank said. The army on July 15 launched a major offensive in North Khartoum, flattening entire suburban neighborhoods with air raids, “but it failed spectacularly,” the ICG said.
The RSF, meanwhile, are trying to seize the main Darfur-Khartoum road to ensure a constant supply of fighters and weapons.

Pope’s plea over refugee plight as Saudi delegation attends Rome migration talks
Arab News/July 23, 2023
Italian PM seeks to build alliance to tackle illegal migration
Saudi delegation headed by interior minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud
ROME: Pope Francis has appealed to European and African leaders “for urgent relief” for refugees, saying that help is needed for “these brothers and sisters” suffering while trying to reach Europe.
“May the Mediterranean never again be a theater of death and inhumanity. May the Lord enlighten the minds and hearts of all, arousing feelings of fraternity, solidarity and welcome,” the pope told worshippers in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday.
The pontiff’s comments come as top representatives of European, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries gather in the Italian capital to discuss tackling illegal migration, including extending an EU-backed deal with Tunisia to curb the flow of asylum-seekers to European shores.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday inaugurated a “dialogue of equals” forum on migration and development based on joint interests between Europe and countries in the broader Mediterranean region.
The conference, which seeks to address irregular migration and promote growth in North Africa, was announced by Meloni during one of her three trips to Tunisia in the past month.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Tunisian President Kais Saied are among participants in the forum, which will be held at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs amid high security.
High-ranking representatives from North African and Middle Eastern countries include the presidents of the UAE and Mauritania, and prime ministers from Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta and Niger.
Top representatives of European, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries gathered in the Italian capital to discuss tackling illegal migration. (SPA)
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, the Saudi interior minister, represented the Kingdom at the conference.
Speaking on behalf of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Abdulaziz highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment to upholding human rights norms and advancing sustainable development.
He spoke of the Kingdom’s “unwavering firm stance in favor of international collaboration in addressing all common challenges.”
The prince also highlighted the Kingdom’s support for developing the regular and institutional structure of the national human rights system, labor systems and policies, and promoting labor rights and improving contractual relationships.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that Italy wants the Mediterranean to be a “sea of peace and progress” rather than a graveyard for those seeking safety and a better life in Europe.
“What we are inaugurating today is, above all, a dialogue between equals, based on mutual respect,” Meloni said in her opening address to the international conference attended by Arab News.
The Italian leader said that between Europe and the larger Mediterranean “there cannot be a competitive or conflictual relationship, because in reality the interests are much more convergent than we ourselves recognize.”
She added: “Mass irregular migration harms everyone except criminal organizations, which use their strength to play with the lives of the most fragile people,” and called for “joint efforts and more cooperation to fight the network of traffickers.”
Meloni said that the international “partnership in tackling illegal migration” with countries of origin “must be equal, multidimensional and long-term,” and “based on respect and not on a paternalistic approach, on solidarity, on respect for each other’s sovereignty, on shared responsibility for upholding legality.”
This “is the only serious way to strengthen our bond, to trust each other, and foster the development and prosperity of our peoples,” she said.
Sources in the prime minister’s office told Arab News that Tunisian leader Saied described the Rome conference as “the beginning of a positive path.”
Tunisia and Italy have a common future, he added.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah praised the Italian government for organizing the talks. “This is the right approach to the problem,” he said in his speech at the event. Last week, the EU signed an agreement with Tunisia that will provide €105 million ($117 million) in direct European aid to prevent the departure of migrant boats and combat people smugglers. The deal also provides for more illegal Tunisian immigrants to be repatriated and for sub-Saharan African migrants in Tunisia to be sent back to their countries of origin. The Rome conference may open the door for the EU to sign a similar agreement with Egypt and Morocco. “We want our agreement with Tunisia to be a model, a project for the future that can open the way to more partnerships with other countries in the region,” von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said. “We want to adopt a pragmatic approach based on sharing common interests and values. We want to find tailor-made solutions for local realities.”
According to the UN, more than 100,000 migrants arrived in Europe by sea from the coasts of North Africa, Turkiye and Lebanon in the first six months of 2023.
There were more than 189,000 arrivals last year, with most landing in southern Italy.

Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on July 23-24/2023
The Perfect Crime': Tech Companies Are Manipulating Our Elections and Indoctrinating Our Children — How We Can Stop Them
Robert Epstein/Gatestone Institute./July 23, 2023
Big Tech companies are deliberately manipulating the outcomes of our elections and the thinking and beliefs of our children. And they are having an enormous impact.
Consider this: The GOP currently has a slim 10-seat majority in the House of Representatives. Without Google's interference in 2022, it would likely now have a majority of between 27 and 59 seats.
If Google had not interfered in the 2022 midterm elections, the GOP would likely have ended up with a Senate majority of up to eight seats.
The Big Tech companies that exploded into existence over the past 20 years – as some of their prominent insiders have stated – have undermined our democracy, indoctrinated our children, and increasingly turned our freedom into an illusion.
The techniques we have discovered – the Search Engine Manipulation Effect, the Answer Bot Effect, the Targeted Messaging Effect, and others – can easily shift the opinions and voting preferences of undecided voters by between 20% and 80% after just one manipulation. Google can also repeat these manipulations many times over a period of months prior to an election.
Assuming the effects of these techniques are additive, Google can likely produce even larger shifts in opinions and voting preferences than the ones from a single manipulation used just once.
Google also knows exactly who is vulnerable to these manipulations – who is still undecided before Election Day, for example – so they can target and bombard just the right people on a massive scale 24 hours a day.
Our research has shown repeatedly that the manipulations used can make them invisible to people, and can often produce shifts of 40% or more in the voting preferences of undecided voters without anyone having the slightest idea they have been manipulated. They feel free, even while they are being strongly controlled. As one journalist wrote, "It really is the perfect crime."
Finally, our research measures the influence of "ephemeral experiences" -- their term -- meaning content that is seen briefly, affects the user, and then disappears forever, leaving no paper trail for authorities to trace, Most online content – search results, newsfeeds, video sequence, and so on – are ephemeral.
Can Google deliberately use ephemeral content to manipulate people? You bet. If you doubt that, read this 2018 article from the Wall Street Journal about some leaked emails from the company.
In the days leading up to the 2022 midterms, the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology... preserved overwhelming evidence of Google's manipulations on their search engine, on their video recommendations on YouTube (owned by Google), and even on their homepage on Election Day. On that day in Florida, for example, 100% of liberals received go-vote reminders on their version of Google's homepage, but only 59% of conservatives did.
If, in 2024, 158 million people cast ballots, as they did in 2020, it means Google could likely shift the votes of between 6.4 and 25.5 million people, thereby easily controlling the outcome of any election in which the projected win margin is less than 4%. No laws or regulations are in place to stop them, but our monitoring can. We are monitoring their systems and doing to them what they do to us. When the Big Tech companies know that their manipulations are being watched, they back off. It has already worked to completely shut down manipulations in one important election.
On November 5, 2020, three U.S. Senators sent a strong warning letter to the CEO of Google expressing concern about the extreme political bias our monitoring system had detected in the days leading up to the presidential election – bias sufficient to have shifted at least 6 million votes to Joe Biden.
As a result, Google immediately shut down its election manipulations in the two upcoming Senate runoff elections in Georgia.... Go-vote reminders ceased, and so did bias in Google search results.
In other words, monitoring, combined with political pressure from our leaders and our public, can and will force Google and other tech companies to stay clear of our elections and our children. It will also give legislators, regulators, and litigants the ammunition they need to challenge both the company and its executives in court.
Yes, they do mess with us. As explained in "How Google Stopped the Red Wave," whenever you see online content screaming about Democrats who have perpetrated widespread ballot harvesting or ballot box stuffing, you are being manipulated by Google-and-the-Gang. It is their algorithms – controlled very precisely by their employees – that decide what content goes viral and what content is suppressed... because Google-and-the-Gang want them to. Why? So you will not look at them – at the tech companies themselves.
The problem is: unless we can find additional major funding soon, we will have to start scaling down our effort in August and may have to shut it down completely soon after.
If this type of election interference continues unmonitored and unchallenged, could the GOP itself – and ultimately all of American democracy – become ephemeral experiences?
Big Tech companies are deliberately manipulating the outcomes of our elections. In Florida, for example, on Election Day of the 2022 midterms, 100% of liberals received go-vote reminders on their version of Google's homepage, but only 59% of conservatives did. Figure 1. A go-vote reminder on Google's home page on Election Day, 2022.
Big Tech companies are deliberately manipulating the outcomes of our elections and the thinking and beliefs of our children. And they are having an enormous impact.
If you doubt that, consider this latest snippet of data from my lab, the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology (AIBRT).
Consider this: The GOP currently has a slim 10-seat majority in the House of Representatives. Without Google's interference in 2022, it would likely now have a majority of between 27 and 59 seats.
The 2022 midterm elections that gave the Democrats a two-vote majority in the U.S. Senate had quite a bit of help from Google, and, to a lesser extent, from a couple of other major tech companies.
If Google had not interfered in the 2022 midterm elections, the GOP would likely have ended up with a Senate majority of up to eight seats.
The Big Tech companies that exploded into existence over the past 20 years -- as some of their prominent insiders have stated – have undermined our democracy, indoctrinated our children, and increasingly turned our freedom into an illusion.
Tristan Harris, a former "design ethicist" at Google, says that he was a member of a team at the company, whose job it was to influence "a billion people's attention and thoughts every day." Jaron Lanier, a computer scientist and one of the early investors in Google and Facebook, claims that Big Tech content has "morphed into continuous behavior modification on a mass basis." Another early investor in these companies, the prominent author and venture capitalist Roger McNamee, has said that he now regrets having financed them, and asserts that they constitute "a menace to public health and to democracy."
Rigorous Research
Such concerns are valid and the Senate numbers correct: we have been using rigorous, scientific methods to study Google and other tech companies for more than 10 years. During this time, we have discovered and quantified about a dozen powerful new forms of influence that the internet has made possible. We have also developed and deployed monitoring systems that track, record, and analyze the personalized content that Google and other tech companies send to voters and children 24 hours a day – in other words, we are monitoring their systems and doing to them what they do to us.
Our basic scientific, peer-reviewed studies clearly show the power that Google and other companies have to alter thinking and behavior. Our monitoring systems confirm that these companies are actually using these techniques, as confirmed by company whistleblowers, as well as by leaks of documents, emails, videos, and other materials from Google, Facebook, and Twitter.
The techniques we have discovered – the Search Engine Manipulation Effect, the Answer Bot Effect, the Targeted Messaging Effect, and others – can easily shift the opinions and voting preferences of undecided voters by between 20% and 80% after just one manipulation. Google can also repeat these manipulations many times over a period of months prior to an election.
Assuming the effects of these techniques are additive, Google can likely produce even larger shifts in opinions and voting preferences than the ones from a single manipulation used just once.
Google also knows exactly who is vulnerable to these manipulations – who is still undecided before Election Day, for example – so they can target and bombard just the right people on a massive scale 24 hours a day.
Our research has shown repeatedly that the manipulations used can make them invisible to people, and can often produce shifts of 40% or more in the voting preferences of undecided voters without anyone having the slightest idea they have been manipulated. They feel free, even while they are being strongly controlled. As one journalist wrote, "It really is the perfect crime."
Finally, our research measures the influence of "ephemeral experiences" -- their term -- meaning content that is seen briefly, affects the user, and then disappears forever, leaving no paper trail for authorities to trace, Most online content – search results, newsfeeds, video sequence, and so on – are ephemeral.
Can Google deliberately use ephemeral content to manipulate people? You bet. If you doubt that, read this 2018 article from the Wall Street Journal about some leaked emails from the company. In that email exchange, Googlers are discussing how they might use "ephemeral experiences" to change people's views about Trump's temporary 2017 travel ban on visitors from seven majority-Muslim countries.
Rapidly Growing Monitoring Capabilities
In the days leading up to the 2022 midterms, the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology monitored Big Tech content through the computers of 2,742 registered voters in 10 swing states, and preserved more than 2.5 million ephemeral experiences – data that is normally lost forever – on Google and other platforms.
We preserved overwhelming evidence of Google's manipulations on their search engine, on their video recommendations on YouTube (owned by Google), and even on their homepage on Election Day. On that day in Florida, for example, 100% of liberals received go-vote reminders on their version of Google's homepage (Figure 1), but only 59% of conservatives did (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Proportion of go-vote reminders on Google's home page, broken down by the political leaning of the recipients.
The Tried and Tested Solution: a Permanent, Self-Sustaining Monitoring System
Google can, overall, easily shift the votes of between 20-80% of undecided voters; right now, that is about 40% of the electorate. This could be enormously consequential. By mid-2024, 20% of voters will likely still not have made up their minds on who to support. At that point, Google will still be able to shift up to 80% of the votes of those individuals -- or up to 16% percent of the electorate.
If, in 2024, 158 million people cast ballots, as they did in 2020, it means Google could likely shift the votes of between 6.4 and 25.5 million people, thereby easily controlling the outcome of any election in which the projected win margin is less than 4%. No laws or regulations are in place to stop them, but our monitoring can. We are monitoring their systems and doing to them what they do to us. When the Big Tech companies know that their manipulations are being watched, they back off. It has already worked to completely shut down manipulations in one important election.
On November 5, 2020, three U.S. Senators sent a strong warning letter to the CEO of Google expressing concern about the extreme political bias our monitoring system had detected in the days leading up to the presidential election – bias sufficient to have shifted at least 6 million votes to Joe Biden.
As a result, Google immediately shut down its election manipulations in the two upcoming Senate runoff elections in Georgia.
We were monitoring Google content through the computers of a politically-balanced group of more than 1,000 registered voters in that state. Go-vote reminders ceased, and so did bias in Google search results.
In other words, monitoring, combined with political pressure from our leaders and our public, can and will force Google and other tech companies to stay clear of our elections and our children. It will also give legislators, regulators, and litigants the ammunition they need to challenge both the company and its executives in court.
Since 2016, we set up six election monitoring systems, for only the weeks leading up to each election. After the 2022 midterms – with the results being so blatant and disturbing – we decided that the time had finally come to set up a permanent monitoring system in all 50 states – a $50 million project that we were able to launch with $3 million indentations from some patriotic Americans.
Without a permanent system like this in place, we will never know the extent to which Google-and-the-Gang are messing with our elections, our kids, or even with our own heads.
Yes, they do mess with us. As explained in "How Google Stopped the Red Wave," whenever you see online content screaming about Democrats who have perpetrated widespread ballot harvesting or ballot box stuffing, you are being manipulated by Google-and-the-Gang. It is their algorithms – controlled very precisely by their employees – that decide what content goes viral and what content is suppressed. If stories about other election irregularities are spreading like wildfire online and then being echoed on the news, it is because Google-and-the-Gang want them to. Why?
So you will not look at them – at the tech companies themselves.
As of this writing, we are preserving and analyzing Big Tech content through the computers of a politically-balanced group of 9,838 registered voters in all 50 states, and we have met our minimum "representative sample" thresholds in 5 states. We are also now monitoring and preserving content – some of which is quite alarming – through the phones and mobile devices of children and teens.
Best of all, we have now preserved more than 25 million ephemeral experiences on Google and other platforms – content that is normally lost forever. Our goal is to make our findings available to the public in real time, 24 hours a day, through dashboards such as America's Digital Shield.
The problem is: unless we can find additional major funding soon, we will have to start scaling down our effort in August and may have to shut it down completely soon after.
If this type of election interference continues unmonitored and unchallenged, could the GOP itself – and ultimately all of American democracy – become ephemeral experiences?
Note from the author: If you are concerned about the dangers the Big Tech companies pose to our democracy, our children, and our autonomy, please contribute at https://MyGoogleResearch.com. All donations are fully tax-deductible.
*Robert Epstein earned his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1981. He is currently Senior Research Psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology. He has published 15 books and more than 300 articles in both mainstream media outlets and scientific journals, among them, Science, Nature, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. He is the former editor-in-chief of Psychology Today magazine and was a longtime contributing editor at Scientific American. His 2019 Congressional testimony about Google can be viewed at https://EpsteinTestimony.com. To support or learn about his work, visit https://MyGoogleResearch.com or https://TechWatchProject.org.
© 2023 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

دراساة مطولة بالإنكليزية تتناول التطورات الأخيرة على الحدود اللبنانية والإسرائيلية من مركز مايير اميت للمعلومات الإستخباراية والإرهابية تحت عنوان: أضواء على الإرهاب، حزب الله ولبنان وسوريا
Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria
The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center/July 23/2023
https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/app/uploads/2023/07/E_137_23.pdf
Overview
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/120390/120390/
This past week the tension along the Israeli-Lebanese border continued: Hezbollah and its affiliates continued provocative actions along the border (the Blue Line), including on the Israeli side. In an exceptional incident, IDF surveillance cameras installed along the border fence were ripped out. A correspondent for al-Manar TV issued a video showing three figures, apparently Hezbollah operatives, climb a communications tower while waving the organization’s flag and steal the cameras. The IDF acknowledged the malfunction and installed new surveillance cameras. UNIFIL and the United States made attempts to defuse the situation. A Hezbollah-affiliated correspondent published a video allegedly showing the IDF Chief of Staff and other senior officers visiting the northern border.
Hezbollah issued a video of its operatives simulating an attack on an Israeli post.
Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah secretary general, gave a speech about Hezbollah’s ideology, rife with anti-Semitic motifs and propaganda.
The Lebanese government demanded Israel withdraw to the 1923 borders (agreed upon by the British and French mandates).
The Lebanese government withdrew its conditions for renewing UNIFIL’s mandate, after seeking to reduce the agency’s powers in a way that would serve Hezbollah. The about-face was most likely the result of international pressure.
Lebanon’s presidential crisis continues, and so far no candidate has a majority.
Lebanon harshly criticized the EU Parliament for its statement regarding the Syrian refugees in Lebanon and their return to Syria.
Lebanon-Israel
Continued tension on the Israeli-Lebanese border
This past week tensions remained high along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Hezbollah operatives and affiliates continued provocations along the border (the Blue Line), including crossing over into Israeli territory. Some of the provocations were carried out or accompanied by Lebanese media personnel, led by correspondents from al-Manar TV, al-Mayadeen and al-Jadeed, all affiliated with the organization and who may also have engaged in gathering intelligence on Israel. The events were the following:
On July 14, 2023, IDF surveillance cameras along the border fence were ripped out by three Hezbollah operatives or local residents acting for the organization. Documented by Ali Shoeib, an al-Manar TV correspondent, the event circulated on social media and was widely covered by the Lebanese media outlets. The reporter, who took a photo holding one of the cameras, claimed the Israeli cameras violated the privacy of Lebanese civilians and dismantling them solved the problem (Twitter account @alishoeib1970, July 14, 2023).
The IDF spokesman called it a “mishap,” adding that the incident was under investigation and changes would be made according to the results. Major General Uri Gordin, commander of the Northern Command, admitted the fence had been damaged and the cameras destroyed, and the amount of time that passed before the incident was discovered was a technical fault (IDF spokesman and the Israeli media, July 16, 2023). According to later reports, new cameras were installed at the site (Lebanese TV, July 18, 2023) and the IDF continued fortifying the border (photojournalist Ali Shoeib’s Twitter account, July 18, 2023)
On July 14 and 16, 2023, Lebanese residents went to the border near Metulla and threw rocks at IDF soldiers. The soldiers used riot dispersal measures and fired shots into the air to deter them (al-Manar, July 16, 2023). On July 16, 2023, Qassem Hashem, a member of the Lebanese Parliament, was superficially injured by IDF riot dispersal measures while being interviewed near the village of Bustarah[1] in the Har Dov area, where he claimed the Shebaa Farms were “in Lebanese territory” (al-Jadeed, July 16, 2023).
On July 18, 2023, Ali Shoeib ​​reported that the IDF attacked local residents [sic] with smoke grenades near Kafr Shuba (according to Shoeib, one Lebanese farmer from the village). He claimed the incident occurred when UNIFIL forces were examining the route of the IDF border security fence (@alishoeib1970 Twitter account, July 19, 2023).
On July 20, 2023, Ali Shoeib released a video he claimed showed the Chief of Staff and other senior IDF officers on the northern border on July 18, 2023 (@alishoeib1970 Twitter account, July 20, 2023).
assem al-Qadri, mayor of Kafr Shuba, said that the municipality had begun paving a road near the fence in front of the village. The objective was to facilitate the movement of civilians and provide a response to Israeli excavations and clearings which had changed the routes of local roads (al-Akhbar, July 20, 2023). He claimed the territory was Lebanese according to UN Security Council Resolution 425 (al-Mayadeen, July 20, 2023). A correspondent for the Lebanese daily newspaper al-Akhbar claimed that according to information he had received, the Lebanese army was on standby and would respond with gunfire if Israel attacked civilians or the bulldozers paving the road (Abdallah Kamah’s Twitter account, July 20, 2023).
Attempts to defuse the tension
International actors mainly UNIFIL and the United States, tried to defuse the situation. Candice Ardell, deputy director of UNIFIL’s information bureau, called on both sides to exercise restraint (al-Nashra, July 16, 2023). UNIFIL also tried to convene a meeting on July 17, 2023, chaired by the UNIFIL commander and with the participation of representatives of the Lebanese army, the IDF and UNIFIL, to discuss the issue of Israel’s activity along the border. However, UNIFIL sources reported that Israel canceled its participation (Israeli TV Kan 11, July 15, 2023).
Dorothy C. Shea, the US ambassador to Lebanon, informed Najib Mikati the prime minister for the Lebanese interim government, that the American government did not want tension in south Lebanon, and conveyed a message from Israeli stating clearly that it had no interest whatsoever in escalation. She stressed that UNIFIL had to coordinate with the Lebanese army regarding all points of tension (Israeli media, July 14, 2023).
Dispute over the delineation of the Israel-Lebanon land border
Reporting on government action taken by the Lebanese foreign ministry to delineate the border between Israel and Lebanon, the Hezbollah-affiliated al-Akhbar wrote that Lebanese officials had informed American administration officials and UN representatives that Lebanon had no interest in negotiating the country’s southern border. Lebanon, according to al-Akhbar, demanded Israel vacate all the points it had “invaded,” and Lebanon demanded a return to the international borders established in 1923[2] (al-Akhbar, July 14, 2023)
Hezbollah propaganda video simulates an attack on an IDF post
To exacerbate the tension on the ground, Hezbollah’s combat propaganda unit issued a video of Hezbollah’s al-Radwan force, the organization’s elite unit, simulating the takeover of an Israeli post. According to the video, the simulation began with “softening” the post by firing anti-tank missiles and mortar shells. Then dozens of Hezbollah operatives on motorcycles and driving ATVs launched the attack. After the takeover’s “successful completion,” a Hezbollah flag was raised over the post. The operatives used UAVs, land mines and IEDs to breach its fortifications, then entrenched their positions in the area and searched the post’s “bunker” (al-Manar, July 17, 2023)
Renewing UNIFIL’s mandate
According to reports, in preparation for renewing UNIFIL’s mandate, the Lebanese government withdrew its condition regarding the limitation of the force’s activity (Nidaa al-Watan, July 15, 2023). In the meantime, the Lebanese foreign ministry stated that it continued working to extend UNIFIL’s mandate, which would ensure the agency’s freedom of action to coordinate with the Lebanese government and the Lebanese army (Lebanese foreign ministry Twitter account, July 15, 2023).
Hezbollah
Hassan Nasrallah’s speech for the Ashura[3]
On July 18, 2023, Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah secretary general, gave a speech to mark the Ashura. He spoke about the meaning of the Battle of Karbala and the religious importance of honoring the memory of the martyrs (the shuhadaa). Nasrallah emphasized the importance of inculcating the Battle of Karbala, its significance, values and instructions as a living memory, a model for fashioning perception and a course for present and future action. He claimed the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 was “the greatest event of the last century” and that Ayatollah Khomeini, who declared the Islamic Revolution, said that “everything [the Shi’ites] have is from the Ashura.” According to Nasrallah, the Ashura represented sacrifice, heroism, enthusiasm and determination, which was how the “resistance” operated in Lebanon.
Nasrallah’s speech was rife with anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli motifs and propaganda. For example, he said that in the Qur’an Allah warned the Muslims about the “Children of Israel” [the Jews], and to this day they posed the greatest challenge to the Muslims and “all humanity”. Allah, he claimed, taught the Muslims about the “Children of Israel,” their psychology and their fears, and from the Qur’an Hezbollah learned about them and about their “invincible army.” He also claimed the Qur’an referred to the Jews as hedonists because they loved life and as cowards who attacked when protected by fences. He pointed out that Allah taught the Muslims not to be hedonists and Hezbollah benefited greatly from [the system of sacrifice in this life for eternal life in paradise]. He added that the Jews were not “the Chosen People” but rather murdered the prophets and distorted Allah’s messages.
He concluded by claiming that this year the Ashura was celebrated with the slogan, “Karbala, our way to the Mahdi” [the Muslim Messiah who is supposed to appear before Judgment Day], and said the Battle of Karbala was a symbol which taught many values, including, altruism, honesty, sacrifice, honesty, standing firm and dealing with injustice, insult and humiliation. He said, “Karbala teaches us not to collapse when faced with a multitude of enemies, despite their strength, and paves the way for future generations until the end of time and for the establishment of justice and the abolition of oppression and tyranny” (al-Manar, July 18, 2023).
Hezbollah control of the border crossings
On July 12, 2023, a new scanner was installed on the Lebanese side of the al-Masnaa Crossing, the main border crossing between Syria and Lebanon, and will be used to scan trucks and other vehicles. Ali Hamia, Lebanon’s minister of transportation and public works, and a member of Hezbollah, said it increased border safety because it would now be possible to track incoming merchandise. He said that in the near future similar scanners would be installed in Beirut’s airport and seaports. Hezbollah also has considerable influence and control over inspections conducted at the various border crossings, so that “merchandise” marked for Hezbollah will continue to enter by land, air and sea without inspection (The Alma Research and Education Center, July 16, 2023; alraiionline.com, July 12, 2023).
Lebanon
The presidential crisis
The presidential crisis in Lebanon continues as no camp has been able to obtain a majority for an agreed-on candidate. Hezbollah is still determined to support the candidacy of Suleiman Frangieh, who is affiliated with organization and close to the Syrian regime. An “unidentified political source” reported a Qatari envoy would visit Lebanon in the near future to discuss the issue. The source also claimed Qatar had been active behind the scenes for some time. According to al-Diyar, four candidates will be discussed: Suleiman Frangieh, Lebanese army Chief, Joseph Aoun, and two others whose names were not mentioned (naharnet.com, July 16, 2023; al-Diyar, July 16, 2023).
The five-member committee for Lebanon, which includes representatives from the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, met on July 17, 2023 in Doha, the capital of Qatar. According to initial reports, they decided what measures would be used against those who tried to prevent a successful presidential election. Later, reports were published from Western sources claiming the committee preferred to focus on the post-election phase. The French envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, proposed Frangieh as a presidential candidate; his was the only name mentioned. The sources added that electing the president from one political party and appointing prime minister from another had not been discussed. Furthermore, the sources said the committee would probably meet again in France in September and discuss the possibility of instituting “harsh measures” against anyone who tried to keep the electoral process from advancing (al-Sharq al-Awsat, July 17 and 18, 2023).
Joint naval exercise held by the armies of Lebanon, the United States and other countries
On July 9 and 18, 2023, the Lebanese Army held a naval exercise in the Hannouch[4] area, (where the Lebanese army has training facilities), about 45 kilometers (about 28 miles) north of the Beirut. It was a joint exercise held in cooperation with training teams from the United States, Great Britain and France as well as units from Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. The exercise was conducted by the command of the Lebanese navy in cooperation with the air force, military medical unit, military engineering force and naval commando force. Joseph Aoun, Chief of Staff of the Lebanese army, was present at the naval maneuver concluding the exercise (Lebanon army website, July 18, 2023).
The American mediator visits Lebanon
Amos Hochstein, the senior advisor to the President of the United States who mediated the issue of the Israel-Lebanon maritime border, will visit Lebanon next month (August 2023). His visit will coincide with the beginning of offshore drilling in Lebanon’s southern economic waters (Block 9). Hochstein is expected to be present at the start of the drilling and may discuss additional issues with Lebanese officials (agenzianova.com, July 14, 2023).
On July 15, 2023, the Transocean Barents drilling rig sailed from the coast of Norway, en route to Lebanon to begin initial drillings for oil and gas reservoirs. The rig is expected to anchor in the Straits of Gibraltar for several days to refuel before resuming its journey to Lebanon, which will take about a month. The first ship, which brought the pipes to be used by the rig, has already arrived at the port of Beirut (This is Beirut, July 19, 2023).
Syrian refugees in Lebanon
On July 11, 2023, the European Parliament, the EU’s legislative body, passed a resolution calling on Lebanon not to expel Syrian refugees from its territory. The resolution called on Lebanon to refrain from deportations, discrimination and encouraging hatred towards the Syrian refugees. Senior Lebanese officials insist that Syrian refugees return to their homeland in light of Lebanon’s economic hardships and shaky internal security (Xinhua, July 13, 2023). The Lebanese government estimates there are about 1.5 million Syrian refugees in its territory, but according to higher estimates there are 2 million or even 2.5 million people.
Abdullah Bou Habib, Lebanese foreign minister, sent a letter to Joseph Borrell, the deputy chairman of the European Commission for Foreign Affairs, in which he harshly criticized the European Parliament’s decision. Habib called for a Lebanese-EU dialogue to discuss several issues, the Syrian refugees in particular. He claimed the refugees had begun to pose a threat not only to Lebanon’s social fabric and economic stability, but to the country’s very existence. He promised that Lebanon would be responsible for facilitating the refugees’ safe and dignified return to their homes in accordance with international law and in a manner that did not conflict with the Lebanese constitution, which states that Lebanon is not a country of refuge. He called on the international community to address the reasons for the Syrian refugee presence in Lebanon and to ensure the existence of infrastructure and social services in Syria to facilitate their return (al-Nashra, July 19, 2023).
Other senior Lebanese officials also reacted to the EU resolution:
Issam Charafeddine, the minister of immigration, claimed the EU’s objective was to put pressure on Lebanon not to advance a mechanism in conjunction with Syria for the safe return of the displaced to their homes. He called for an urgent cabinet meeting to condemn the “unfair” decision because Lebanon already suffered from profound socio-economic and security challenges (Xinhua, July 13, 2023).
Amin Salam, the minister of economy and trade, also objected to the resolution and pointed out that the European Parliament had neither the right nor the authority to decide the issue because it was an internal Lebanese matter, and the European countries themselves were reluctant to accept refugees (Xinhua, July 13, 2023).
Nabil Qaouq, a senior Hezbollah official, called the resolution “crude, provocative and tyrannical,” an attack on Lebanese sovereignty and Lebanese honor, and a genuine threat to national stability and unity. He emphasized that Lebanon was not obligated to follow European recommendations and had to act in accordance with its own best interests by coordinating with the Syrian government to resolve the refugee crisis (al-Manar, July 16, 2023).
Samir Geagea, the leader of the Lebanese Forces Party, said it was a sovereign Lebanese decision and the EU Parliament resolution was merely a recommendation which Lebanon was not in any way bound to follow (al-Nashra, July 16, 2023).
Syria
Aerial attack against Hezbollah targets south of Damascus attributed to Israel
On the night of July 18, 2023, an aerial attack attributed to Israel was carried out against Hezbollah and pro-Iranian militia targets near the al-Dimas airport, close to the Syria-Lebanon border. Reportedly, a Syrian army soldier or fighter in its auxiliary forces and at least two foreign (non-Syrian) pro-Iranian militia operatives were killed and four were wounded. The destruction of large quantities of military and logistical equipment was also reported (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, July 19, 2023).
The Syrian opposition website, Syria TV, reported that one of the sites attacked served as a training center for Hezbollah fighters, and had been recently established within the nearby al-Ahrar training base. According to Syria TV, also attacked was a site belonging to Hezbollah near ​​the town of al-Sabourah, about 8 kilometers (about 5 miles) west of Damascus (Syria TV, July 19, 2023).
[1] https://youtu.be/sMnU3ich0hM?t=2 ↑
[2] The 1923 border was delineated between the British Mandate in Eretz Israel and the French Mandate in Lebanon and was also the ceasefire line of 1948 when the State of Israel was established. ↑
[3] The Ashura marks the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE (the year 61 according to the Muslim calendar) which ended with the defeat of the camp of Husayn ibn Ali. He was killed, as well as many members of the family of Ali ibn Abu Taleb, who according to Shi'a was supposed to inherit the leadership of the Muslim nation from the Prophet Muhammad. For Shi'ites, the battle turned into a symbol of sacrifice and martyrdom, and was a source of frustration and rage against the Sunnis, who took the birthright from Ali and his descendants, and deprived and persecuted them. ↑
[4]https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hannouch+beach/@34.3057969,35.7493561,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x1521e3b60488ed3b:0x85b77948060d63af!8m2!3d34.3058195!4d35.6755344!16s%2Fg%2F11gbm1shh1?hl=iw&entry=ttu ↑
https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en/spotlight-on-terrorism-hezbollah-lebanon-and-syria-july-14-20-2023/

Afghan Taliban Government's Persecution Of Musicians
Mantasha Ansari/MEMRI/July 23/2023
Music is a powerful means of expression, allowing individuals to convey their deepest emotions and life experiences. This art form goes beyond language, culture, and politics, but it clashes with the interpretation of Islam by the Afghan Taliban government. In Afghanistan, where things are chaotic, this beautiful way of expressing one's soul is being violently crushed.
The Taliban, who took control in August 2021, regularly attack musicians and destroy their instruments, often depriving them and their families of their livelihoods. It is outrageous to see the Taliban rulers silencing the voices of so many talented Afghan artists who simply want to share their music with the world.
Jawid Shawqi, once a singer who performed on television and at weddings for a living, has seen his life drastically change since August 2021. Due to the Taliban's control of Afghanistan and their ban on music, Shawqi now spends his days sitting on the side of the road, wearing a handkerchief around his head, polishing boots from morning till evening.
the Taliban regime deems singing and musical instruments to be "un-Islamic," and possessing such instruments is considered a crime according to shari'a. "The Taliban are enemies of happiness and music, and life has become hell for the people," Jawid Shawqi said.
Abdul Qadeer, a former professional folk singer in Afghanistan, was forced to abandon his musical career and open a roadside electric motor repair shack in Kabul after the Taliban took control and implemented shari'a. "I am a vocalist, and I used to earn by singing at different functions," he said in an interview with Anadolu Agency.
"Due To The Taliban Government's Persecution, Afghan Musicians Are Fleeing Kabul To Remote Areas Or Abroad To Save Their Lives Or Simply Hide"
Ahmad Gholami, a skilled 25-year-old musician from Afghanistan, dedicated his life to playing the tanbur, a musical instrument. Due to the Taliban's strict implementation of Islamic law regarding music, Gholami and fellow musicians in Bamiyan province have been silenced. "I feel like a dead fish out of the water. If I do what the Taliban says, my life will be wasted," Ahmad Gholami stated. He further said, "I do not think I can go on without music. I am really confused."
According to a report published by Afghan news website Tolo News, a disturbing video has gone viral on social media platforms, depicting a distressing scene involving musicians in Kunar province. The video shows two local musicians being forced to walk while carrying their instruments, specifically tablas or drums, around their necks by their straps, and with their hands restrained behind their backs. The perpetrators behind this act are the Afghan Taliban.
Nasir Sakhi, a local singer, expressed his helplessness: "We are very disappointed. We are weak now and get weakened by seeing such videos. Now we do not know what to do. What should we do when we are being insulted? Where should we go? Are we not from this country?" The distressing sentiments expressed by Nasir Sakhi highlight a deep sense of disappointment, hopelessness, and vulnerability. It is disturbing to see singers scared and questioning their place in their own homeland.
Due to the Taliban government's persecution, Afghan musicians are fleeing Kabul to remote areas or abroad to save their lives or simply hide. They are concerned about the future of art under Taliban rule. As the Taliban gain more control in Afghanistan, patrons of Afghan music in neighboring Pakistan are also closing their offices and terminating licenses with Afghan musicians.
After the Taliban's takeover, the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) has been closed, and the students and staff face an uncertain future. Dr. Ahmad Sarmast – the school's founder and director – expressed concerns for the students' safety and explained that some had returned their instruments to the school to prevent them from being discovered by the Taliban. Dr. Sarmast said: "It is a time of devastation for our dreams and hope..."
The Taliban, based on shari'a, have also enforced a ban on playing music at wedding halls. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice issued instructions to the owners of wedding halls to prohibit music at wedding parties because they consider music to be against Islamic teachings. A manager of a wedding hall wondered: "If there is no music at a wedding, then what is the difference between a wedding ceremony and a funeral ceremony?"
"Afghanistan's Only Women-Run Radio Station, Sadai Banowan, Which Means 'Women's Voice,' Has Been Closed Down For Playing Music During Ramadan And For Violating The Afghan Taliban's Laws"
Ahmad Fanoos, a renowned singer and former judge of "Afghan Star" – the equivalent of American Idol – faced threats throughout his career in Afghanistan. After receiving a note calling him an unbeliever, he decided to leave the country after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.
Afghanistan's only women-run radio station, Sadai Banowan, which means "women's voice," has been closed down for playing music during Ramadan and for violating the Afghan Taliban's laws. The radio station had been broadcasting for ten years and employed six female staff members, who are now jobless.
Music is forbidden and not broadcast on national radio and television in Afghanistan, but the Taliban promote their own songs voiced only by men, which honor their leaders and jihad. These songs serve as a source of entertainment for the Taliban, who listen to them on their phones, in their cars, and elsewhere.
Taliban members destroy musical instruments with an axe (image: Etilaat Roz)
Although the Taliban fighters use music for their own entertainment, the Taliban government does not realize – or at least does not acknowledge – that music can be a powerful source of healing for their wounded Afghan nation. Janan Mama, a resident of Ghazni province in Afghanistan, has found peace in playing the flute after the killing of his two sons on the same day, who were members of the Afghan army under the former government.
Janan Mama said that playing the flute helps him reduce the sorrows in his heart. He said, "When the pain crushes me, I start playing the flute. Not only in tragic moments – I play in happy times as well," adding "I have no wish except peace and calmness in the nation; I wish for a comfortable life for Muslims (Afghan nation) to breathe comfortably."
The International Music Council (IMC) expressed "grave concern" that Afghan people and musicians are "denied their music rights, just as Afghan girls and women have been deprived of their basic human rights." The council said, "Today, as during the first reign [1996-2001] of the Taliban, the group has once again turned Afghanistan into a silent nation and denied the Afghan people, children, and adults the right to enjoy access to music, to learn, experience, create, perform, and express themselves through music freely."
* Mantasha Ansari is a Research Assistant at MEMRI's South Asia Studies Project. This article was originally published by Afghan news website Hasht-e-Subh on July 13, 2023.

Shared American values crucial amid alarming political polarization
Dalia Al-Aqidi /Arab News/July 23, 2023
In this age of global interconnectedness, the polarization of US politics has reached alarming heights, rendering genuine dialogue and cooperation seemingly impossible. Political opponents are viewed as adversaries and the mere act of finding common ground is considered treasonous. Such division poses a significant threat to the very essence of US-led Western values of freedom and democracy, particularly when confronting the rise of totalitarian regimes led by erratic and authoritarian leaders.
As the standard-bearer of Western values, the US has long been admired for its democratic principles, respect for human rights and commitment to individual freedoms. However, the increasing animosity between political factions has weakened the nation’s ability to uphold these cherished values in recent years. A house divided cannot stand united against external threats, and that is where the peril lies.
America has stood as a beacon of liberty and democracy, championing Western values that have inspired nations across the globe. These values, courtesy of the toils of generations past, are a testament to the power of unity, resilience and open discourse.
History has repeatedly shown that united democracies possess a far greater capacity to confront tyrannical regimes. Today, the threat of a totalitarian state governed by a despot is a stark reminder of this historical reality. The alarming polarization of US politics, where agreeing with one’s political opponent is perceived as treason, poses a grave danger to the vital defense of our Western values against the encroachments of totalitarianism.
At the core of the American experiment lies the belief that a diversity of ideas, perspectives and visions are not only welcome but necessary for a thriving democracy. Within this diverse tapestry of views, the US has woven a fabric of resilience, capable of enduring the most turbulent times. Yet, today, the threads of dialogue that should connect our society have frayed and the resulting divisions have given birth to a toxic atmosphere, in which mutual understanding is scarce and dissent is met with hostility.
We must not mistake principled disagreement for treachery. History has shown that societies grow and evolve through constructive dialogue and the exchange of diverse ideas. Embracing this ethos is crucial, especially when faced with adversaries who seek to undermine the American values of freedom and democracy. Shunning the very values that make the country strong inadvertently weakens the collective defense against external threats.
The stark polarization of US politics has nurtured an “us versus them” mentality, turning fellow citizens into ideological enemies. This paradigm stifles progress and weakens the capacity to address shared challenges effectively. In order to safeguard Western values against the encroachments of totalitarianism, Americans must recognize that genuine strength lies in unity, where the bonds of common purpose transcend political affiliations.
Shunning the very values that make the country strong inadvertently weakens the collective defense against external threats.
It is essential to confront the underlying causes of this divisive climate. The advent of social media and the information age has facilitated the spread of echo chambers, where individuals are insulated from diverse perspectives and presented with a skewed version of reality. Additionally, political actors have increasingly exploited these divisions for short-term gains, prioritizing party loyalty over the nation’s well-being.
A culture of active listening, empathy and humility must be cultivated to overcome this polarization. The people of the free world must engage in debates with an open mind, not to change the minds of others but to understand their viewpoints better. Constructive discussions help identify common ground and build bridges of cooperation, even with those who may strongly disagree on certain issues. This is not an act of appeasement but rather a strategic move to fortify the country’s defenses against those who seek to exploit the internal discord. Moreover, fostering media literacy is paramount. Citizens must be equipped with the tools to discern fact from fiction and sensationalism from credible journalism. A well-informed populace is essential for a robust democracy, enabling citizens to make decisions based on accurate information rather than biased narratives.
Another pivotal factor in combating polarization is nurturing leaderships that exemplify statesmanship over partisanship. Leaders who prioritize national interests over party affiliations and who seek to bridge the gap between opposing sides can set a precedent for constructive dialogue and compromise.
The challenge is immense, but it is not insurmountable. Society must reaffirm its commitment to democratic principles, cherishing the inherent strength in our diversity. Disagreement should be embraced not as a weakness but as a testament to the vibrancy of the democratic culture. By uniting around shared values, Americans can reaffirm the resilience of Western ideals and defend them against the predations of any totalitarian state, regardless of its leadership.
Let us remember that the genius of the US-led Western values lies not in their perfection but in their adaptability and capacity for improvement. The short history of America is testament to the power of transformation, from abolishing slavery to extending civil rights. In this journey, citizens discovered that their strength lay in recognizing the humanity in one another, transcending differences of race, creed and political persuasion.
The path forward is arduous, but it begins with acknowledging that agreeing with political opponents does not equate to treason. To safeguard the principles of freedom and democracy, Americans must embrace open dialogue, prioritize national unity and foster leadership that transcends partisan interests.
In doing so, the power of Western values demonstrates that shared humanity will always be more formidable than the darkest designs of any tyrant. Only then can the US be a shining light to the world, inspiring future generations.
• Dalia Al-Aqidi is a senior fellow at the Center for Security Policy.
Twitter: @DaliaAlAqidi

How China became an ideal partner in the Middle East
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/July 23, 2023
It is important to examine China’s policy toward the Middle East, which has been shown to be successful and productive for several key reasons.
First of all, China’s Middle East policy is multidimensional, with its first facet composed of putting a significant emphasis on diplomacy. This policy is strengthening Beijing’s soft power in the region and increasing its engagement and footprints in the Middle East, specifically in the Gulf region, and first and foremost toward Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
A core pillar of China’s diplomatic role in the Middle East is maintaining and promoting peace and stability by preventing conflicts and tensions from spiraling out of control and leading to full-fledged war.
China is also attempting to project itself as a global peacemaker, which will definitely enhance its legitimacy, prestige and status on the international level. Foreign Minister Qin Gang in April declared that China is prepared to broker peace talks between Israel and Palestine with the aim of finding a resolution to their long-standing conflict. “China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Palestine to promote an early, comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestine issue,” Chinese President Xi Jinping told Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas during the latter’s visit to China in June.
Beijing has also become one of the first countries to be engaged in the reconstruction of Syria. It hopes to bring peace and stability to the Arab state after a memorandum of understanding was signed last year between the Chinese ambassador and the head of the Syrian National Council. Syria is another Middle Eastern nation that recently joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
China’s emphasis on soft power, rather than employing coercion and hard power, is part of its broader Belt and Road Initiative, which is a global investment strategy that is improving the infrastructure of more than 150 countries. This critical project was incorporated into the Constitution of the Chinese Communist Party in 2017.
The Belt and Road Initiative has two parts: the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The key objective of the initiative is to construct “a unified large market and make full use of both international and domestic markets, through cultural exchange and integration, to enhance mutual understanding and trust of member nations, ending up in an innovative pattern with capital inflows, talent pool, and technology database.”
Any conflict between countries in the Middle East has the potential to ignite a regional conflagration, which will not serve the interests of China or the nations of the region.
China is attempting to project itself as a global peacemaker, which will definitely enhance its legitimacy.
Another prominent recent example of Beijing employing diplomacy is the historic deal it brokered between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which was announced in March and was seen by some experts, scholars and policy analysts as a sign of China’s increasing influence in the Middle East. The agreement was a key development not only in terms of restoring ties between two Middle Eastern powers — Saudi Arabia and Iran — but also in reducing tensions and enhancing peace and security in the region. Improved ties between Riyadh and Tehran could have a significant impact on the region’s geopolitical and economic landscapes as well.
The second pillar of China’s policy toward the Middle East is anchored in not only the traditional oil and gas trade, but also in long-term investments in other areas, including in some Middle Eastern nations’ infrastructure, clean energy and information technology.
For instance, Beijing has committed itself to a significant investment in Iran via various fields. In 2021, China and the Iranian government signed a 25-year strategic partnership deal, which is now in the early stages of implementation. According to the Tehran Times: “The Chinese foreign minister approved of his Iranian counterpart’s views expounded in his op-ed published in China’s Global Times. Wang (Yi) said the Iranian foreign minister’s views show the promising horizon in relations between Tehran and Beijing. The top Chinese diplomat underlined his country’s readiness to expand cooperation with Iran in financing, energy, banking and cultural sectors.”
Positive partnerships between China and Middle Eastern nations can also be found in other areas, including addressing climate change, renewable energy and the solar industry. For example, during a state visit by Xi to Riyadh last December, Saudi Arabia and China signed a memorandum of understanding on hydrogen energy.
Beyond gaining enhanced global legitimacy and status, it is worth noting that Beijing has a vested financial interest in stressing diplomacy and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. China has strong trade and economic relationships with Saudi Arabia and other regional countries beyond its oil imports. According to Deutsche Welle, China “has cultivated strong economic and political ties with both Riyadh and Tehran in recent years. Saudi Arabia is China’s largest oil supplier, with trade between the two countries amounting to $87 billion in 2021. Commerce between Iran and China, meanwhile, was worth more than $16 billion in the same year, with Tehran depending on the Asian giant for as much as 30 percent of its foreign trade.”
In a nutshell, China’s engagement with the Middle East has been efficient, well-informed and successful due to the fact that it uses a multidimensional policy focusing on employing soft power, playing the key role of peacemaker and mediator, and carrying out long-term investments not only in the oil and gas sectors, but also in clean energy, renewable energy, infrastructure and technology.
• Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist.
Twitter: @Dr_Rafizadeh

New mediator may be needed to rescue Black Sea grain deal
Dr. Diana Galeeva/Arab News/July 23, 2023
Russia last week suspended its participation in the deal that offered Ukraine the ability to export its grain by sea. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, originally mediated by the UN and Turkiye in July 2022 and extended by 60 days in May, officially expired at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday.
The agreement had meant that Ukrainian ships could deliver grain from the Black Sea ports of Yuzhny, Odesa and Chornomorsk through the Bosphorus without being attacked. However, Russia stated that it would not renew the deal, arguing that it was being prohibited by Western sanctions from sufficiently exporting its own products. The importance of the grain deal to global food security is obvious, so this development is of great concern.
However, some parallels can be made with October last year, when Russia similarly suspended its participation in the deal. It is worth considering how the situation this time is different, the internal and external drivers of the strategy, and how this decision fits into the broader picture of the Ukraine war.
The most obvious outcome of this decision is a steep rise in grain prices. When it began last July, the Black Sea Grain Initiative produced an immediate drop in the price of wheat of up to 35 percent due to the restarting of supplies. Before the deal came into effect, in March 2022, the price had reached a historic high of $444 per ton. Within two days of Moscow announcing its decision to end the deal, the market had seen a 9 percent rise in the price of wheat.
The situation is different in the local markets of Russia, understanding which can help to see the domestic motivations for the decision. Russian farmers reportedly saw record harvests in 2022. In March, however, the beginning of a slow sowing campaign was accompanied by alarming signals — last year’s record growth turned into low grain prices and a sharp increase in stocks, which put pressure on the market.
According to Rosstat, the stocks of wheat in the agricultural organizations of the Russian Federation in February amounted to 17.3 million tons, which is almost 1.6 times more than the year before. A year ago, exporters bought wheat of the fourth class from producers at 17,800 rubles ($195) per ton; in March, it was 12,300 rubles.
For exporters, the problem is both the volatility of currencies and the adjustment of export duties, which occurs on a weekly basis. Demand is constrained by export quotas, as well as the disparity in export prices and the grain sales price expected by agricultural producers. Exporters, due to the prevailing conditions and the current situation, cannot offer purchase prices for farmers that are even close to fair. Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative can plausibly be linked to efforts to predict and control future pricing, making exports both more sustainable and more competitive.
Another reason is external: Russia’s deteriorating relations with Turkiye. With less incentive to consider relations with Ankara — for whom the Black Sea export route is hugely important — Moscow may feel less constrained in conducting policy based solely on its own vision and goals.
In his latest analysis for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Ruslan Suleymanov, of the Institute for Development and Diplomacy at ADA University in Azerbaijan, argues that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has, since May’s election victory, been gradually shifting the country’s interests toward the West — and consequently to Kyiv. Erdogan’s interests are linked with the West as potential investors and his tour of the Gulf last week only confirmed this policy. Turkish support for Ukraine’s entry into NATO is also part of this calculation.
Russia’s decision to withdraw can plausibly be linked to efforts to predict and control future pricing.
Both Turkiye and Russia have raised the stakes in their relationship since the grain deal lapsed. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned that shipping grain out of Ukrainian Black Sea ports could now be risky, given the lack of Russian security assurances, while there have been suggestions that Turkiye could step in to protect shipments.
The possible outcomes of Russia’s decision have worldwide implications. Among the most-affected regions will be the Middle East, Africa and Asia, as they are key importers of grain. Within the original period of the humanitarian initiative known as Grain from Ukraine, from November 2022 to March 2023, Ukraine delivered more than 140,000 tons of wheat to African nations. These donations were funded by Norway, Italy, Belgium, the Czech Republic and the UK. This helped to further develop relations with the recipient countries from many sides — the donors, Ukraine, and even Russia for permitting the trade to continue.
Ukraine and Russia are both among the biggest wheat suppliers to the Middle East. In recent times, Ukraine has actively aimed to build strong links with the Arab world, and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s presence at the Arab League meeting in May only confirmed the strategic importance of the region, both as an economic outlet and a policy influencer in multiple spheres.
Therefore, questions can be raised about the extent to which Ukraine will be able to deal with the Middle East and North Africa region and specifically offer it grain. The Arab League may have to weigh up the potential cost, in terms of deteriorating relations with Moscow, of greater cooperation with Ukraine or, alternatively, what policies Moscow might pursue to further strengthen its links with the region, including as an exporter of grain.
Finally, the expiration of the deal happened on the same day that Ukraine proclaimed an attack on the bridge linking the annexed Crimean Peninsula to the Russian mainland, known as the Kerch Bridge, which has both strategic and symbolic importance for Moscow. A previous attack on the bridge was conducted last October, when a fuel tanker exploded. Peskov, while commenting on Russia’s decision concerning the grain deal, stated: “These are absolutely unrelated events.”
Whatever the truth of this, some parallels can be offered, as the grain deal was also on the brink of breaking down in October and early November. It also thereafter coincided with Moscow suspending its involvement in drone attacks on the city of Sevastopol. Whether Russia will return to the negotiating table, amid doubts over who could mediate the talks given the damaged Moscow-Ankara relations, is another question. Perhaps this is an opening for the Gulf states to show their neutrality and persuasiveness.
In the meantime, the only certainties are that there are many voices pressing for the deal to be reinstated and that many ordinary people around the world will feel the effects until a new agreement can be reached.
• Dr. Diana Galeeva is a former academic visitor to St. Antony’s College, Oxford University (2019-2022).
Twitter: @Dr_GaleevaDiana