English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For June 13/2023
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For
today
We bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered,
we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of
all things, to this very day.
First Letter to the Corinthians 04/09-16: “For I think that God has
exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because
we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals. We are
fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but
you are strong. You are held in honour, but we in disrepute. To the present
hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and
homeless, and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we
bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly. We have
become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very
day. I am not writing this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my
beloved children. For though you might have ten thousand guardians in
Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your
father through the gospel. I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me.”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 12-13/2023
Al-Rahi urges respect for
'dignities' after Franjieh's Baroud slur
National Moderation bloc says won't vote for Azour or Franjieh
Raad says rivals 'using' Azour to block election of 'resistance candidate'
Geagea: Hezbollah wants its candidate or to hell with presidency
Aoun: Every party has right to have candidate without being accused of
treason
Aoun slams Hezbollah over 'treason accusations, threats'
Jihad Azour's candidacy statement: Pledges for Lebanon's unity, sovereignty,
and national accord
Lebanon: Jihad Azour and Suleiman Frangieh officially declare presidential
candidacies/Jamie Prentis/The National/June 12, 2023
Lebanese government calls for UN pressure on Israel's violations of the Blue
Line
Presidential discussions: National Moderation Bloc and Change MPs seek
national consensus
Damour property reclamation at stake: Nazem Ahmad obtains license from
Public Works Minister
Caretaker Agriculture Minister affirms strategic plan for soft wheat
cultivation
Mikati to UNIFIL’S Lazaro: Lebanon committed to provisions of 1701,
coordination between Lebanese Army and UNIFIL
Mikati chairs meeting over electricity dossier in Palestinian, Syrian
refugee camps
Berri broaches developments with French Ambassador, meets South African
Ambassador
GS's Baissari meets Lebanese-Kuwaiti Businessmen Council delegation, Danish
ambassador, Karim Pakradouni
Maronite Church Synod activities kick off in Bkerki
Riad Salameh is Now the Face of Lebanon’s Corruption Problem/Alexander
Langlois/The National Interest/June 12/2023
Inside the rare 'convergence' by Lebanon's rival Christian parties over
Jihad Azour/Jamie Prentis/The National/June 12, 2023
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 12-13/2023
U.S. Denies Reports of Cash Offers to
Iran for Limited Enrichment Concessions
Iran says indirect talks with US continue via Oman
Iranian president in Caracas, kicking off regional tour
Draining reservoir from Ukraine's destroyed dam is revealing World War II
weapons
France to intensify arms delivery to help Ukraine counter-offensive -Macron
The stealth strategy giving Ukraine the edge in counter-offensive
Russian fighter killed in northern Syria -monitor, security source
Israeli opposition leader says Netanyahu tried to get him to back tax breaks
for
Sudan war traps civilians after ceasefire ends
Mikdad visits Syrian Embassy HQ in Riyadh, inspects preparations for its
reopening
Enhancing cooperation: Syrian-Saudi relations extend to the Pacific Islands
Connecting the world: Riyadh Air to link Saudi capital with 100+ global
destinations
NATO begins unprecedented air drill in 'show of strength'
US decides to rejoin UNESCO and pay back dues after Palestine row
Israel's opposition leader testifies at Netanyahu's corruption trial
Palestinian shot, four detained during Israeli raid in Nablus
Turkish shelling in north Syria kills a Russian soldier, wounds others
Iraq MPs approve budget granting Baghdad upper hand over Kurdish oil
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News &
Editorials published on June 12-13/2023
Boris Johnson's exit creates a test for Rishi Sunak/Gavin Esler/The
National/June 12/2023
The United Nations' Jihad Against Israel/Bassam Tawil/Gatestone
Institute./June 12, 2023
Egypt Renovates and Rededicates Mosque to Notorious Religious Persecutor and
Mass Slaver/Raymond Ibrahim/Coptic Solidarity./June 12, 2023
Blinken and the Diplomacy of Rebuilding Trust/Sam Menassa/Asharq Al Awsat/June
12/2023
Saving Russia and the World/Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/June 12/2023
Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 12-13/2023
Al-Rahi urges respect for 'dignities' after Franjieh's Baroud slur
Naharnet/June 12/2023
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Monday stressed that running for
president and nominating a president are “democratic and constitutional”
rights. “Respecting the dignities of candidates is an ethical and essential
right in order to live together in peace, confidence and cooperation for the
sake of our same country,” al-Rahi added. His remarks come a day after
Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh addressed an apparent slur to
ex-minister Ziad Baroud, a potential presidential candidate, using a
Lebanese term that roughly translates into “unmanly” or “soft.”Baroud
himself considered it a “personal insult,” telling Franjieh that “insulting
people does not make you a strong person.”
National Moderation bloc says won't vote for Azour or
Franjieh
Naharnet/June 12/2023
MP Walid al-Baarini of the largely-Sunni National Moderation bloc has said
that the grouping of lawmakers will attend Wednesday’s presidential election
session without voting for Suleiman Franjieh or Jihad Azour. “Amid the
current alignments, the bloc will only take part in the elections through a
consensual candidate on whom most parliamentary blocs would agree,” Baarini
told the al-Anbaa news portal of the Progressive Socialist Party. “The
election of a president amid this rift and sharp divisions will not lead the
country to the shore of safety,” the MP warned.
Raad says rivals 'using' Azour to block election of
'resistance candidate'
Naharnet/June 12/2023
The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammed Raad, on Monday
accused the rival camp of “using” ex-minister Jihad Azour to block the
election of “the candidate of the resistance,” in reference to Marada
Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh. “The people of the resistance are being
competed against by a group of Lebanese who are nominating and backing a
person whom they don’t want to be elected as president. They are only using
him to block the election of the candidate of the resistance,” Raad said.
“National partnership is to fulfill the interests of all Lebanese without
iscrimination, selectivity or persecution of anyone, but others understand
national partnership as the use of another group of Lebanese to achieve
their partisan interests at the expense of all Lebanese,” the MP added.
Geagea: Hezbollah wants its candidate or to hell with
presidency
Naharnet/June 12/2023
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has accused the Axis of Defiance of
over-reacting to the nomination of former minister Jihad Azour. "They called
him Tel Aviv's candidate and an American conspiracy between the LF and the
Free Patriotic Movement," Geagea told Nidaa al-Watan newspaper, in remarks
published Monday."It is clear that Hezbollah wants to impose its candidate
or to hell with the presidency," Geagea said. "They want to undermine the
democratic game and the national partnership," he added. Geagea said that
the "Axis of Defiance" might block the June 14 session's quorum, warning
that his rival political camp might use other ways to obstruct the
presidential election. "They might strip the session from its quorum from
the first round, not necessarily from the second," Geagea claimed.
Aoun: Every party has right to have candidate without
being accused of treason
Naharnet/June 12/2023
Ex-president and Free Patriotic Movement founder Michel Aoun has stressed
that “our system is democratic and our constitution protects freedom of
opinion.”“Accordingly, every political party has the right to have a
presidential candidate, without that drawing a rhetoric of treason
accusations and threats of biblical proportions,” Aoun tweeted. “Respecting
the other and their rights is part of the foundations of national unity and
coexistence,” he added. “Those who want the country must respect these
principles,” the former president stressed.
Aoun slams Hezbollah over 'treason accusations, threats'
Naharnet/June 12/2023
Ex-president Michel Aoun on Monday criticized Hezbollah for launching
“treason accusations and threats through newspapers.”“I did not let them
down, neither in the July War, nor in keenness on the resistance nor in the
confrontation against Daesh (Islamic State group),” Aoun said in an
interview with the journalist Sami Kleib, when asked whether a mending of
ties between Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement is possible.“I have
not said anything against them. Should my reward be treason accusations and
threats through newspapers?” Aoun wondered. Told that FPM chief Jebran
Bassil has escalated his rhetoric in recent months, the ex-president said:
“Jebran talks politics and we and (Hezbollah chief) Sayyed (Hassan)
Nasrallah have repeatedly agreed that a political dispute does not negate
the friendship.”“Is it reasonable to be accused of treason because we have
merely rejected a supposed candidate?” the ex-president added. Asked how the
“problem” can be “overcome,” Aoun said: “We did not start it and democracy
stipulates the freedom of choice. The other party must make the first step
towards the solution.”As for his recent meeting with Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad and whether Damacus is pressing for Suleiman Franjieh’s election,
Aoun said: “I did not feel any pressure and we only discussed this issue in
a swift manner.” “The Syrian president has told me more than once that they
do not interfere in the presidency and do not want to interfere,” the
president added.
Jihad Azour's candidacy statement: Pledges for
Lebanon's unity, sovereignty, and national accord
NNA/June 12/2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/119038/119038/
Former Minister Jihad Azour issued a statement on Monday in which he thanked
the political parties and blocs, the independent and Change MPs who
nominated him as a "moderate and inclusive" candidate for the presidency at
a stage that is "one of the most delicate and difficult in the history of
our beloved country." In the statement, Azour stated that "I do not want my
candidacy to be the minimum intersection between the positions and projects
of the various political forces, but rather the maximum convergence between
the dreams of the Lebanese men and women for a homeland that we all deserve,
a free, independent and prosperous master." He stated he is not "the scion
of an old political family […] Nor am I the son of a partisan experience
with full respect for the Lebanese parties without exception." He denied
being a "champion" of one sect in the face of another sect, saying that he
belongs to the Lebanese experience, affirming that "Jihad Azour is not a
challenge to anyone." Jihad Azour stated that the only challenge is
restoring this experience, with all the reforms it requires, for future
generations to meet the opportunities he had, instead of ending up with
desperate generations carried to Western and Easters countries "by one of
the most dangerous waves of migration in Lebanon's modern history." He
affirmed that his candidacy is a call for unity, breaking alignments, and
searching for common grounds to get out of the crisis.
In the statement, he revealed that the "gigantic" economic challenges
Lebanon is facing and the serious social unrest the country and its people
are experiencing are not just abstract concepts or statistics and numbers.
"They are bitter daily experiences that the Lebanese live, united by
fatigue, anxiety, and fear of the future. They are the stories of the daily
struggle to cover the minimum elements of human dignity."
He stated that they have no choice but to put aside divisions, transcend
narrow alignments and considerations, and unite on one common goal, which is
to save our country, adding that the Lebanese and the younger generation
deserve that their leaders seek to fortify the country's unity with a
comprehensive rescue project that crosses sects and alignments.
"Indeed, Lebanon's problems are not easy to solve, but they can be dealt
with. Throughout my human and practical experience, I have learned that
complex problems do not solve themselves, nor do they disappear by ignoring
or wishing. At the same time, I saw for myself the enormous capacity for
recovery and growth when there are the right strategies, the sincere will to
change, and the reliance on joint action," the statement added. Affirming,
"We are all concerned with breaking the isolation of our country as much as
possible." Azour noted that he wants his candidacy to be an
inspiration for hope, not a reason for fear, and a contribution to the
solution and not an element added to the crisis, saying that since he
belongs to the school of dialogue and convergence, "I start from here with
an outstretched hand so that the dialogue includes all components and
partner political forces in the country based on convergence to achieve a
national consensus that Lebanon needs most." Additionally, he stated that he
is here on a simple and significant mission, which is to get out of the
situation as soon as possible and to establish a prosperous future in which
Lebanon will return to being a source of radiance and leadership thanks to
the scientific and cultural capabilities of its children and youth. "The
soul and pulse of Lebanon are its people, who on every occasion expressed
their yearning for cohesion, unity, and joy in our common Lebanese identity
that transcends any regional, religious, or political affiliation," the
statement continued.
However, Jihad Azour confirmed that translating this aspiration into reality
requires a set of elements, the foremost of which is complete independence
from any external interference, protection of the land and full sovereignty,
restoration of consideration for the state and its institutions, adherence
to the constitution, and the fortification of the national accord through
its full implementation with all its components. Adding that, he will also
work, in cooperation with everyone, to reconnect what was severed with the
Arab surroundings and with other countries of the world.
"I am committed to leading this change, and I cannot do it alone. I need
every Lebanese woman and man to be part of this adventure so that we can
work hand in hand to restore Lebanon's glory and ensure a prosperous future
for all of us. And if I am lucky, I will seek to be the bridge to the
future, reconciliation, and the guarantee of coexistence based on trust,
cooperation, and openness," Jihad Azour affirmed in the statement.
Lebanon: Jihad Azour and Suleiman Frangieh
officially declare presidential candidacies
Jamie Prentis/The National/June 12, 2023
Parliament is set to reconvene on Wednesday in bid to elect next president
and end seven-month vacuum.
Jihad Azour and Suleiman Frangieh have officially declared their candidacies
to be Lebanon's next president and end the seven-month presidential vacuum.
After a five-month hiatus, presidential election sessions will resume on
Wednesday. Powerful parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri, leader of the Amal
Movement, had refused to schedule sessions until at least two serious
candidates emerged. In the 11 previous sessions, no person had come anywhere
near to reaching the required vote threshold. It was no secret that Mr Azour
and Mr Frangieh were the candidates of key factions within the 128-seat
parliament. Mr Frangieh, the scion of a prominent north Lebanon family and a
close friend of Syria's President Bashar Al Assad, has been backed by the
powerful Iran-backed armed group and political party Hezbollah and its
Shiite ally Amal. But only a small amount of Christian MPs are expected to
back him, including his son Tony. In Lebanon's confessional system, the role
of president is reserved for a Maronite Christian. Mr Azour is backed by
Lebanon's largest Christian parties, some of which are traditionally rivals.
But they have found a "convergence" around Mr Azour, in their bid to block
Mr Frangieh's candidacy. Officially announcing his candidacy on Monday, Mr
Azour – normally a senior official at the International Monetary Fund,
although he has taken a leave of absence to avoid accusations of conflict of
interest – insisted he was not a "challenge" candidate. Supporters of Mr
Azour insist he is not a confrontational candidate, even though Hezbollah
insists he is. The IMF official said in a statement that he wanted to be a
candidate of "hope", especially given how bitterly divided Lebanon is and
the economic crisis from which it is suffering. Announcing his candidacy on
Sunday, Mr Frangieh said nothing united his rivals and all they sought to do
was boycott him. He called for dialogue and insisted he did not seek to
impose his candidacy on anyone. But Mr Frangieh also hit out at his rivals.
He said some claimed to want a candidate outside of the ruling classes of
Lebanon but instead had backed someone from the heart of the traditional
system. Mr Azour was Lebanon's finance minister from 2005-2008.
Lebanese government calls for UN pressure on
Israel's violations of the Blue Line
LBCI/June 12/2023
What has been happening recently near the southern border of Lebanon in the
towns of Kfarchouba and al-Adeisseh? While authorities agree that there is
no cause for major concern, an incident in Kfarchouba last week has raised
some fears. During a protest against encroachments on their land, Israeli
forces targeted the demonstrators with tear gas canisters, sparking concerns
about potential security risks. In order to prevent any security escalation,
the incident was promptly discussed by the Prime Minister and the Commander
of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), General Aroldo
Lázaro, during their meeting at the Grand Serail on Monday.The Lebanese
government reaffirmed its commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701
and stressed the coordination between the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL
in maintaining stability along the southern border.
In addition to these discussions, the Lebanese side called on the UN to
pressure Israel to cease its repeated violations of the Blue Line and
Lebanese sovereignty. The Lebanese government also urged Israel to halt its
encroachments within Lebanese territory, as these actions contribute to
dangerous tensions.
While the situation in Kfarchouba has calmed down, Israeli military activity
has been observed in the middle sector, particularly near the town of al-Adeisseh.
Israeli forces have deployed three Merkava tanks, a D9 bulldozer, and
excavation equipment at the B78 point. They have started excavating and
constructing earth barriers, extending from occupied Palestinian territories
into Lebanese territories under preservation. Near Markaba, 25 Israeli
soldiers crossed the gate near the fence and conducted maintenance work on
barbed wire without breaching the Blue Line.
However, Israeli tanks pointed towards Lebanese territories, prompting a
similar reaction from the Lebanese Army. Commenting on the events in al-Adeisseh
and Markaba, authorities emphasized that the situation in al-Adeisseh is
routine, and the army's presence in the area where construction works occur
is natural. They further reassured that the situation in the south remains
stable.
Presidential discussions: National Moderation Bloc and Change MPs seek
national consensus
LBCI/June 12/2023
After meeting the National Moderation Bloc and Change MPs to discuss the
presidential file, MP Mohammad Sleiman announced that they would be present
in all sessions of the first and second rounds and would not obstruct any
quorum stating that they would have a candidate. However, he emphasized that
their priority is to complete the presidential process rather than the
number of votes, saying, "we are against sharp divisions that hinder the
election of a president, and our meetings will remain open until Wednesday.
We do not favor vertical divisions but rather national consensus that
produces a president."As for MP Imad Hout, he stressed that they would not
announce a suitable candidate in order to allow room for discussion with
other parties. He stated, "our options are open, and we are still consulting
with several MPs whose stances align with ours." Furthermore, Hout added,
"we are not focused on numbers of votes but rather on the presidential
elections. We have a point of view, but we will not announce the suitable
name to allow for discussion with the other parties."
Damour property reclamation at stake: Nazem Ahmad
obtains license from Public Works Minister
LBCI/June 12/2023
In Damour, Nazem Said Ahmad has obtained a license from the Public Works
Minister to reclaim and restore properties submerged by the sea. However,
Minister Ali Hamieh confirmed that the license is based on a permit from the
Damour Municipality and authenticated maps, as the properties are privately
owned. Hamieh expressed his astonishment at how the municipality granted the
permit and then halted the work. The minister emphasizes that the license
holder must implement any regulations the Environment Ministry sets. On the
other hand, there is an opinion that asserts the duty of the Public Works
Minister to protect public property. According to Decree 1925, public
property is defined as the highest point reached by the waves and sand
dunes. These areas in Damour have become public property, and many countries
worldwide have a trend of not reclaiming them. Nevertheless, the land
reclamation operations will affect the unity and continuity of the beach.
Caretaker Agriculture Minister affirms strategic plan
for soft wheat cultivation
LBCI/June 12/2023
Caretaker Agriculture Minister, Abbas Al Hajj Hassan, emphasized that the
strategic plan for cultivating soft wheat is a national plan that must be
maintained. It is considered a top priority for the current government and
will be one of the critical elements in the agricultural work strategy for
the upcoming government. The Cabinet and the Economy Ministry have called
for expediting the process of purchasing soft wheat, durum wheat, and barley
from Lebanese farmers in accordance with previous decisions made by the
Cabinet. This comes as the harvest season has already begun in areas such as
Akkar and will soon commence in the Bekaa region.
Mikati to UNIFIL’S Lazaro: Lebanon committed to
provisions of 1701, coordination between Lebanese Army and UNIFIL
NNA/June 12/2023
Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Monday reaffirmed "Lebanon's
commitment to the provisions of International Resolution 1701 and
coordination between the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL forces to maintain
stability in the south and along the Lebanese borders." Moreover, the
Premiere called on the United Nations to "pressure Israel to stop its
repeated violations of the Blue Line and of Lebanese sovereignty and to stop
activities within Lebanese territories because this matter sparks serious
tensions." "Lebanon adheres to its right to recover its occupied lands and
not to abandon them,” Mikati added. The Prime Minister’s words came before
UNIFIL Commander-in-Chief, General Aroldo Lazaro, who visited him in the
company of UNIFIL Deputy Head of Mission, Herve Lecoq. The meeting, which
also took place in the presence of Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Emigrants, Abdallah Bou Habib, also touched on the security situation in
South Lebanon.
Mikati chairs meeting over electricity dossier in
Palestinian, Syrian refugee camps
NNA/June 12/2023
Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Monday chaired a meeting at the
Grand Serail to discuss the electricity dossier in Palestinian and Syrian
refugee camps, in the presence of Caretaker Energy and Water Minister, Walid
Fayyad, United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian Aid, Imran Reza, UNRWA
Affairs Director in Lebanon, Dorothee Klaus, Electricité du Liban chairman,
Kamal Hayek, and others. Following the meeting, Minister Fayyad announced
that "electricity bills must be paid with the cost of production,
distribution, maintenance, and salaries.”
"The Lebanese are not required to cover the cost of power consumption by
Syrians and Palestinians. Each party must cover the cost of its own
consumption," he added. Fayyad went on to explain that there would be two
technical committees; the first dealing Syrian camps, and the second dealing
with Palestinian camps. “Electricité du Liban has finished setting up about
900 meters in Syrian camps,” he added. In response to a question about the
UN and UNRWA agreement to cover the costs, Fayyad said, "They have expressed
their willingness to address this issue and seek solutions, and I found it
very necessary to draw their attention to this pressing issue.”
Berri broaches developments with French Ambassador,
meets South African Ambassador
NNA/June 12/2023
House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Monday welcomed at the Second Presidency in
Ain El-Tineh, South Africa’s Ambassador to Lebanon and Syria Barry Philip
Gilder, and they discussed the current general situation in Lebanon and the
region, and the bilateral relations between the two countries. Speaker Berri
also met in Ain El-Tineh, with French Ambassador to Lebanon, Anne Grillo,
with whom he discussed the latest political developments and the general
situation, especially the presidential election entitlement. Ambassador
Grillo made no statement on emerging.
GS's Baissari meets Lebanese-Kuwaiti Businessmen
Council delegation, Danish ambassador, Karim Pakradouni
NNA/June 12/2023
Acting Director General of General Security, Brigadier General Elias
Baissari, on Monday received in his office, a delegation from the
Lebanese-Kuwaiti Businessmen Council, headed by Asaad Al-Saqqal, with talks
reportedly touching on the Council’s activities. Brigadier General Baissari
also met with the Danish Ambassador to Lebanon, Christoffer Vivike, and
discussed with him matters of common interest.
Baissari then received former President of the Kataeb Party, Karim
Pakradouni, with whom he discussed the general situation.
Maronite Church Synod activities kick off in Bkerki
NNA/June 12/2023
The Patriarchal edifice in Bkerki on Monday kicked off the activities of the
Maronite Church’s Synod headed by Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Beshara
Boutros Al-Rahi, in the presence of bishops representing sects in Lebanon
and abroad. “The Patriarchate is at an equal distance from all the
presidential candidates and supports the accomplishment of the presidential
election with a consensual and democratic spirit,” Al-Rahi stressed in his
opening speech.
Riad Salameh is Now the Face of Lebanon’s Corruption Problem
Alexander Langlois/The National Interest/June 12/2023
The recently-issued arrest warrants for the country’s central banker
represent an ever-growing skepticism amongst the international community of
Lebanon’s elites and its capacity to govern in a technocratic and effective
manner.
The unfortunate narrative that has defined Lebanon for much of its existence
is one of corruption and conflict, culminating in the country’s current (and
worst) economic and political crisis. France’s May 16 decision to issue an
arrest warrant, followed by a similar May 23 German arrest warrant, for the
embattled Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and two associates offers no
exception to this dynamic—hitting the small eastern Mediterranean country’s
former financial paragon with money laundering and fraud charges just months
before he steps down after nearly thirty years at the helm of the Banque Du
Liban.
Yet Paris and Berlin’s decision is hardly the end of the road for Salameh or
Beirut’s deeply rooted corruption problem. Rather, the move represents an
ever-growing skepticism amongst the international community of Lebanon’s
elites and its capacity to govern in a technocratic and effective manner.
France and Germany are only two of many other states currently investigating
the central bank chief. Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg are also
investigating Salameh for similar concerns related to money laundering and
fraud. Each case focuses on some or all aspects of roughly $300 million in
transfers to European banks from Lebanon via the central bank, which was
used to buy various properties and other assets. Investigators and other
anti-corruption experts assert the funds likely belong to the Lebanese
people. In line with these investigations, France, Germany, and Luxembourg
seized assets worth $130 million in early March 2022. Swiss media has
reported up to $300 to $500 million in assets embezzled into twelve Swiss
banks.
Lebanon is also actively investigating Salameh in spite of strong political
resistance from the country’s thoroughly co-opted judicial system. Led for
some time by Judge Ghada Aoun—who has become renowned within anti-corruption
circles for her brave attempts to hold Lebanon’s banking sector
accountable—charged Salameh with illicit enrichment in early 2022. Following
a year of back-and-forth questioning and obstruction, the Lebanese
judiciary’s disciplinary council removed Aoun from office. She is currently
appealing the decision, allowing her to remain in office today.
Salameh continues to deny all charges against him, both in Lebanon and
abroad. His brother Raja and a former assistant also deny charges that they
aided the governor in efforts to transfer and hide funds in Europe. While
all three of these individuals have attended rounds of questioning in Europe
and Lebanon with investigators, they have actively delayed the investigation
numerous times with the help of Lebanese officials. For example, Lebanon’s
Court of Cassation granted Salameh and every central bank employee sweeping
legal immunities in September 2022, protecting them from Lebanon’s already
poorly enforced banking regulations.
Salameh and associates have also regularly cited health problems or
violations of Lebanese sovereignty to avoid hearings and depositions,
culminating in his refusal to attend a May 15 hearing or recognize the
rights of the investigators that led to the French and German arrest
warrants. Rather than cooperate with the Interpol red notice released,
however, Lebanese officials instituted a travel ban on Salameh.
Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati has previously defended the bank chief,
recently arguing alongside Salameh that he will complete his term that ends
in July, given there is no serious replacement. It should be noted that
Mikati and his brother, Taha, have deep ties to Lebanon’s banking system and
connections to specific bank transfers facilitated by Raja Salameh between
Lebanon and Europe—a point of investigation by the government of Monaco.
That said, others in Lebanon—such as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah—have
openly called for his resignation. Critically, Lebanese law makes it illegal
to extradite Lebanese citizens. Thus, Salameh finds himself in a bind but is
still largely protected by Lebanon’s ruling class. For figures like
Nasrallah, the central bank governor represents low-hanging fruit and is
easy to criticize publicly—especially to distract from Hezbollah’s corrupt
actions and participation in a government that is increasingly understood to
sit at the core of the country’s rot. Other politicians may increasingly
concur that Salameh represents an easy target and scapegoat. The question is
whether this effectively distracts from the Beirut government’s broader
failures inside the country, especially as the international community
already understands the country’s elites to be the root cause of Lebanon’s
slow collapse.
While unlikely, it would be a mistake for the international community to
view Salameh as the sole source of Lebanon’s corruption problem or an easy
win to push addressing root issues to the future. While he likely is a key
architect of Beirut’s currency exchange Ponzi scheme, his removal from the
central bank will not cure the country’s vast corruption problems as he is
simply one actor amongst many robbing the Lebanese people. Ultimately,
broader political issues—namely banking secrecy, capital controls, and
judicial independence reforms—will play a much more transformative role in
solving Lebanon’s long-running issues. That being said, accountability
measures must be implemented in parallel with such reforms.
For this reason, Salameh can and should be made an example of Lebanon’s
near-term future—namely, one that holds corrupt officials to account for
crimes that plunder the country at the expense of the average Lebanese
citizen. But Salameh cannot be the beginning and end of such efforts. World
leaders can support such efforts if they give the Lebanon file a higher
priority. This includes supporting the International Monetary Fund’s reform
plan through a combination of carrots and sticks that entice Beirut’s
leaders and empower the independent opposition. More important, although
less realistic anytime soon, should be a broader effort to combat the
international kleptocracy that has come to define the neoliberal order and
bolstered corrupt actors across the globe.
*Alexander Langlois is a foreign policy analyst focused on the Middle East
and North Africa. He holds an M.A. in International Affairs from American
University’s School of International Service. Follow him at @langloisajl.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/lebanon-watch/riad-salameh-now-face-lebanon%E2%80%99s-corruption-problem-206546
Inside the rare 'convergence' by Lebanon's rival
Christian parties over Jihad Azour
Jamie Prentis/The National/June 12, 2023
Exclusive: Parties traditionally at odds tell The National why they have
gathered behind the candidacy of the IMF official.
All concerned insist it is a “convergence”, not an agreement.
Lebanon's largest Christian parties, traditionally rivals, have come
together in a rare, informal understanding to vote for International
Monetary Fund official Jihad Azour to end a seven-month presidential vacuum.
This coming together of some of the country's largest and oldest Christian
parties, as well as Christian and Muslim independents, resulted in key
players announcing their backing for Mr Azour before parliament convenes for
the 12th time to elect a president on Wednesday. And while they normally
might be at each other's throats in and outside parliament, they hold common
ground on one thing – they do not want Suleiman Frangieh, who is supported
by Iran-backed armed group and political party Hezbollah and its Shiite ally
the Amal Movement, to succeed Michel Aoun as Lebanon's head of state.
“Nobody can succeed alone. So, they had to talk with us. Our political
adversaries, who refused to talk, [then] accepted to talk. And on the
contrary, they were proactive from their side, addressing us and talking to
us,” said Gebran Bassil, the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement Christian
party.
“They realised that nothing can be done without us, and we cannot do
anything without the others,” he told The National.
The FPM, one Lebanon's largest political parties, is presenting itself as a
third bloc, in between a grouping that includes two other Christian parties
– the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb Party – and the Shiite duo of Hezbollah and
Amal.
Mr Bassil says his support for Mr Azour did not mean the FPM was entrenched
in its position, and that the priority should be on attaining parliamentary
consensus.
“It's not an agreement. There was a convergence over the name of Mr Azour,”
said a source from the LF, parliament's largest party and historically an
opponent of the FPM.
“We don't have an agreement, because an agreement would be based on a
working plan,” the source said, adding that the only agreement the sides had
was on the phrase “convergence”. Samy Gemayel, the leader of the Kataeb
Party, which typically aligns with the LF, and a strident critic of
Hezbollah, said: “It doesn't mean that this is an alliance. We are not on
the same page politically with [the FPM] and I don't think in the near
future we will be.
“But on the presidential issue, they found a common interest in joining the
opposition to block Frangieh and we are happy to see this. And this is
weakening Hezbollah,” he said.
However, this rare understanding between the FPM and LF, the two largest
parties in parliament, is unlikely to get Mr Azour enough votes to be
elected in the first round of voting on Wednesday.
But it redraws the battle lines in the presidential race in Lebanon's
bitterly divided legislature, where no side holds a majority.
Michel Moawad won about a third of votes in previous electoral sessions,
through support from opponents of Hezbollah and a handful of independents.
He withdrew in favour of Mr Azour last Sunday.
The support for Mr Azour followed months of negotiations behind the scenes
over a possible new name.
“It was not easy. Getting parties, groups and MPs that are in total
opposition to each for years to agree on one candidate is not an easy task,”
said Mr Gemayel.
“So, you have to do all the mediation to make sure that everyone understands
that there's a common interest here.” Although extended presidential vacuums
are not uncommon in Lebanon, the latest one comes with the country in a
precarious state, entrenched in an economic crisis that has been described
as one of the worst in modern history.
It was two and a half years before Mr Aoun, the FPM's founder and a former
army general, was elected to the post in 2016 with the backing of Hezbollah,
his party's traditional ally, and after reaching an agreement with
traditional foes including LF leader Samir Geagea – an opponent in the
1975-1990 civil war.
The LF increased its share of seats in elections last year while the FPM
lost seats, but no bloc holds a majority in parliament. The presidency is
reserved for a Maronite Christian in Lebanon's confessional political
system, which also reserves half of the seats of the 128-seat legislature
for Christians.
Some see the Christian “convergence” as an indicator that the FPM-Hezbollah
relationship is not as strong as it once was.
But Mr Bassil believes the FPM's support for Mr Azour, rather than
Hezbollah's choice of Mr Frangieh, will not damage the relationship.
“I don't think it should, because they did this first. They had their choice
for the president, regardless of our known position of refusing it. And
still with that, they kept supporting him, knowing that we are a big bloc of
the Christian community and their choice was for the small one,” said Mr
Bassil, referring to the fact that hardly any Christian MPs are expected to
vote for Mr Frangieh next Wednesday.
“They did not respect our sensitivity and they went with that choice. And
despite this, we didn't say 'we break with [Hezbollah], we don't talk to
them'.”
Mr Gemayel claimed that while the FPM and opposition blocs agreed on Mr
Azour, their motivations were different.
“It's not us who went to Hezbollah, [Mr Bassil] defected from Hezbollah. I
think that the main reason was that there is a jealousy between the two
persons, between him and the candidate of Hezbollah. He didn't agree with
Hezbollah on the nomination of Suleiman Frangieh. “We are blocking Frangieh
because of his political position. He is blocking Frangieh from a personal
or partisan perspective. But it doesn't change anything for us as long as he
is taking a stand, as long as he is accepting a candidate that is accepted
by us. Why not?”
Mr Frangieh, the scion of a north Lebanon political dynasty, has long had
good ties with Hezbollah and is childhood friends with Syria's Bashar Al
Assad.
The LF source said that many uncertainties remained and repeated that Mr
Azour had not been the party's first choice, but insisted that the IMF
official was “a million times” better than Mr Frangieh.
“Now, of course, we still favour Michel Moawad, Dr Samir Geagea, Samy
Gemayel, anyone within this camp. But we are pragmatic enough to know that
right now, the only thing that will help us break this deadlock that was
imposed on the Lebanese people [is] going to be a candidate who can
represent a common space for several groups.”
The pro-Azour bloc insist his nomination was not “confrontational”, even if
representatives of Hezbollah have described him as such and insisted he will
not become president.
“We refused all the names that are considered confrontational or provocative
by [Parliament Speaker and Amal Movement leader] Nabih Berri's side,
Hezbollah's side, Frangieh's side, etc,” said Mr Bassil.
Mr Gemayel concurred that Mr Azour should not be seen as a confrontation
candidate. “Whoever we would have nominated, the reaction would have been
the same.”
https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2023/06/12/inside-the-rare-convergence-by-lebanons-rival-christian-parties-over-jihad-azour/
Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published on June 12-13/2023
U.S. Denies Reports of Cash Offers to Iran for
Limited Enrichment Concessions
FDD/June 12/2023
Latest Developments
Multiple reports this week suggest the United States is offering financial
incentives to the Islamic Republic of Iran in exchange for Tehran slowing
its production of enriched uranium. On June 7, Haaretz reported that the
United States was offering to release $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds —
currently held by South Korea, Iraq, and the International Monetary Fund —
in exchange for Iran limiting further production of high-enriched uranium.
Another report on June 8 by Middle East Eye (MEE) echoed much of Haaretz’s
reporting but added that the administration would allow Iran to export an
additional one million barrels of oil per day, which would likely require
the president to issue a national security waiver. The National Security
Council called the MEE report “false and misleading.” However, questions
remain about whether an agreement may proceed without official text or
notification to Congress, as required under existing law.
Expert Analysis
“The Biden administration hopes that Tehran will be more amenable to a
‘longer and stronger’ deal after getting major nuclear and economic
concessions in exchange for a ‘shorter and weaker’ arrangement. This is an
illusion. Iranian leaders understand power and leverage better than
President Biden and his team do. The emerging ‘less for more’ deal is the
worst deal of all.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO
“The administration may be looking to evade congressional review by trading
billions of dollars to Iran in exchange for a temporary halt to higher
levels of enrichment, all without a written agreement or public
acknowledgment. Paying Iran to sit patiently on the nuclear threshold won’t
stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, but it will subsidize attacks
against Americans, Israelis, Ukrainians, and Iranians.” — Richard Goldberg,
FDD Senior Advisor
Biden Administration May Sidestep Congress
The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (INARA) requires the president
to notify Congress of an agreement or waiver of congressional sanctions on
Iran. Congress then has 30 days following notification to review the
agreement and potentially vote to reject it.
Given mounting bipartisan political opposition to lifting sanctions on Iran
while Tehran provides drones to Russia and cracks down on women and
protestors, there is suspicion that the administration is searching for ways
to sidestep INARA’s requirements in order to provide economic relief to Iran
in exchange for a temporary arrangement on Iran’s enrichment.
Israel Opposes Agreement, Reserves Right to Defend Itself
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Secretary of State Antony
Blinken spoke by phone on June 8. According to a statement from the prime
minister’s office, Netanyahu told Blinken that Israel’s position remains
consistent in that a return to a “nuclear agreement with Iran would not stop
the Iranian nuclear program and that no arrangement with Iran will obligate
Israel, which will do everything to defend itself.”
Iran says indirect talks with US continue via Oman
Agence France Presse/June 12/2023
Iran on Monday said it has continued indirect negotiations with the Unites
States through the Sultanate of Oman over its nuclear deal and a possible
prisoner swap. Iran's nuclear program has long been the subject of scrutiny
from Western powers, resulting in sanctions that have crippled the country's
economy. A 2015 deal granted Tehran much-needed sanctions relief in exchange
for curbs on its nuclear program before it was torpedoed by the United
States' unilateral pullout in 2018. In recent days, the two capitals have
denied media reports that they were close to reaching an interim deal to
replace the 2015 accord. "We welcome the efforts of Omani officials and we
exchanged messages with the other party through this mediator" over the
lifting of US sanctions, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani
said Monday. "We have never stopped the diplomatic processes," he added
during his weekly press conference, emphasizing that the talks "were not
secret".Diplomatic ties between Tehran and Washington soured in 1980
following the 1979 Islamic revolution led by Iran's first supreme leader
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal have so
far failed to yield results. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on
Sunday reiterated the denial of moves towards acquiring a nuclear weapon. He
also said deals could be reached, provided they do not change "the existing
infrastructure of the nuclear industry". Iran and its arch-nemesis the
United States have also been involved in Oman-mediated talks over a possible
prisoner swap. Kanani on Monday said a prisoner exchange could be agreed "in
the near future", provided that Washington exhibits "the same level of
seriousness" as Tehran. At least three Iranian-Americans are being held in
Iran, including businessman Siamak Namazi, arrested in October 2015 and
sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage. In the last few weeks, Iran
has released six European citizens and recovered an Iranian diplomat,
Assadollah Assadi, who was convicted of terrorism and imprisoned in Belgium.
Kanani also denied that Iran had provided Russia with equipment to "build a
drone factory".White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Friday
warned that Russia was receiving materials from Iran to build a drone
factory on its territory. "We deny any accusations regarding the export of
arms to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine," Kanani said.
Iranian president in Caracas, kicking off regional
tour
CARACAS (Reuters)/Mon, June 12, 2023
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was in Caracas on Monday meeting with
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during his first stop on a Latin
American tour which will also include Cuba and Nicaragua, Venezuelan state
television showed. Raisi is expected to sign documents to expand bilateral
cooperation during the visit, Iran's state news agency said last week,
without providing further detail. State television images showed Raisi's
arrival at an airport near Caracas and then his entrance to the presidential
palace, where he greeted Maduro and both leaders stood for their countries'
national anthems.
Iran and Venezuela, both under U.S. sanction, signed a 20-year cooperation
plan in Tehran last year, pledging partnership on oil, defense and other
issues. That deal includes repairs to oil refineries in Venezuela, which has
the world's largest crude reserves but has struggled to produce enough
gasoline and diesel, leading to intermittent shortages that have forced
drivers to queue for hours to fill up their tanks. Iran has provided fuel
and diluents to convert Venezuela's extra-heavy crude into exportable
varieties and since 2020 has supplied parts for repairs to the refining
circuit.
A unit of Iran's state-owned refiner NIORDC signed a 110 million Euro
contract in May 2022 to make repairs at Venezuela's smallest refinery, El
Palito, which has a 146,000 barrels per day capacity. Iran is also set to be
involved in a modernization project at Venezuela's largest refinery complex,
which includes the Amuay and Cardon refineries, partly to restore distilling
capacity.
Draining reservoir from Ukraine's destroyed dam is
revealing World War II weapons
Sam Fellman/Business Insider/Mon, June 12, 2023
The lurking dangers are also a reminder of the heavy fighting Ukraine saw in
World War II. Explosive techs are destroying mines and other weapons found.
Authorities ordered civilians to stay away. As the waters of the vast
Kakhovka reservoir recede, the emerging mud flats are showing scars from
Ukraine's wars. The muddy banks left after the destruction of the Kakhovka
dam have yielded remnants of modern air-defense missiles of the kind that
Russia and Ukraine fire at each other's aircraft and much older weapons that
date back to World War II, when Soviet and Nazi forces clashed across
Ukraine.
"Ammunition, in particular, even from the time of the Second World War, is
found in the areas of the Kakhovsky Reservoir," Ukraine's Ministry of
Internal Affairs announced Sunday as it ordered civilians to stay out of the
receding reservoir. "The water area of the reservoir is contaminated with
ammunition. On June 10, explosives technicians carried out 5 controlled
explosions." Oleksandr Chechko, the head of the Ukrainian demining team, was
quoted by Reuters saying, "We often recover remnants of S-300 rockets,
remnants of Smerch rockets, and after the water (level) fell we are finding
munitions from World War Two." S-300s are Russian-made surface-to-air
missiles, and Smerch rockets are heavy rockets fired from mobile launchers.
The older dangers lurking in the area are a reminder of the heavy fighting
Ukraine saw in World War II. Determined to regain its former territory after
it fell to the Germans, the Soviets drove back the Nazi Wehrmacht in the
nearly four-month Battle of the Dneiper with a force of over 2.5 million Red
Army troops that suffered massive loses. Some social media users have shared
striking, but unverified, videos and images of skulls found in mud. This
area is made dangerous by unexploded ordnance and Russian shelling, both of
which are complicating any efforts by officials and journalists to verify
them. The Guardian's Julian Borger reports that the bodies could be those of
German soldiers who were left to rot after the 1943 battle.
France to intensify arms delivery to help Ukraine counter-offensive -Macron
PARIS (Reuters)/Mon, June 12, 2023
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said that a long-anticipated
Ukrainian counter-offensive against occupying Russian forces had started,
and he promised more military aid to the Kyiv government. At a press
conference after a meeting with Polish and German leaders, the so-called
Weimar Triangle, Macron said: "We have done everything to help it." "We have
intensified the delivery of ammunitions, weapons and armed vehicles ...
We'll continue in coming days and weeks," said Macron, who in recent days
said he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirming
the start of the counter-offensive. Asked whether Germany agreed Ukraine
needed to be given security guarantees at a NATO summit in July, German
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: "It's clear we need this and we need it in a
very concrete way," he said. Ukraine on Monday claimed new gains in the
early phase of the counter-offensive, saying its forces recaptured seven
villages from Russian troops along an approximately 100-km (60-mile) front
in southeastern Ukraine. The three-way meeting in Paris was meant to send a
signal of unity between eastern and western Europe, after Warsaw took on a
major logistical and diplomatic role in helping Ukraine, while often
castigating German and French leaders for being too slow. Macron said the
meeting was proof that there was no division between "old" and "new" Europe,
a distinction once made by the United States when eastern European countries
refused to back France and Germany over the war in Iraq 20 years ago.
However, divisions emerged during the short question-and-answer session with
journalists. Both Macron and Scholz said they supported the migration deal
agreed by EU ministers last week, in which EU countries unwilling to take in
refugees at home would be asked to give a financial contribution to their
hosting peers. But Polish President Andrzej Duda said he was "skeptical".
"We took in those who needed help in Poland ... we helped, to be honest, we
did not receive any particular help especially from EU institutions," he
said. "I hope that no institution in the EU will come up with an idea to
punish us for the fact that while still having the perspective of more
Ukrainian refugees arriving, we are skeptical about accepting migrants from
other directions as well."
The stealth strategy giving Ukraine the edge in counter-offensive
Roland Oliphant/The Telegraph/Mon, June 12, 2023
Ukrainian forces are taking advantage of Western-supplied night-vision
equipment to attack under the cover of darkness, seizing villages and
territory. Kyiv has launched repeated night-time assaults since its
counter-offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region began a week ago, triggering
alarm among Russian war correspondents reporting the losses. On Monday
morning, Ukraine claimed to have captured Storozhov, a village near Velyka
Novosilka. It came a day after it claimed to have liberated the villages of
Neskuchny and Blahodatne and Makarivka, in the same area.
Later on Monday Ukraine said it has retaken seven villages in total from
Russian forces. Meanwhile, a Russian train carrying fuel to the front lines
appeared to have been blown up in a possible attack by partisans working
behind enemy lines. The Ukrainian military has refused to discuss tactics
for the assaults, but the timing of the attacks on the villages suggests
they have a tactical advantage after dark. “Why is the war conducted at
night? It’s as clear as day! ” Vladimir Sladkov, a Russian war
correspondent, wrote on Telegram on Saturday. “Imported equipment has
amazing night optics. It can move, observe, and target, and correct the
accuracy of fire. That’s why the enemy is choosing the night.” Vladimir
Rogov, a Russian-installed official in the Zaporizhzhia region, suggested
that the Ukrainian offensives came after dark to frustrate Russian air power
and drones and “maximise the advantage from Western-supplied equipment and
instruments”. Leopard 2 tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles, which have both
played a prominent role in the offensive so far, are known to have
cutting-edge night sights. Most Russian and Ukrainian tanks and armoured
vehicles also have night-vision capabilities. However, some older
Soviet-pattern systems operated by both sides, like unmodernised BMP
infantry fighting vehicles and Strela-10 air defence systems, often have no
night-vision capability at all. The US began supplying Ukraine special
forces with night-vision goggles (NVGs), including $40,000 GPNVG goggles, as
early as 2018. Nato countries, including the US and Norway, have included
night-vision devices in military aid packages since the full-scale invasion
began last year, but have not specified the number or particular models
provided. But they have remained relatively scarce on the battlefield, with
those available concentrated in a handful of select units in both the
Russian and Ukrainian armies. Ukraine’s apparent preference for night
fighting in the Zaporizhzhia area may reflect the broader move to Nato
equipment and tactics.
As a result, the military alliance’s training exercises are designed to
reflect the fact that most combat missions are undertaken under the cover of
darkness.
Teachings have been passed on to Ukraine’s troops through various training
programmes, such as Britain’s Operation Interflex. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon,
a former commander of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment, said: “From an attacker’s
perspective, you get the great advantage that you can move unseen. From a
defender’s perspective, you get the fear of hearing tanks moving around in
the dark and you just can’t see them.”The cover of darkness also diminishes
one of Russia’s most potent defensive weapons – its superior artillery and
deep-fire capabilities. While Moscow has an array of military-grade drones,
its forces have relied largely on commercial unmanned aerial vehicles, such
as the Chinese-made DJI Mavric, for reconnaissance. Such drones are not
fitted with night-vision capabilities, rendering them useless at night.
“This offers more opportunity to build surprise, with vehicles then pulling
back and going to ground during the daytime to avoid an artillery response,”
Justin Crump, of Sibylline, an intelligence and geopolitical risk firm,
said. However, according to some Ukrainian soldiers, the equipment is still
a rarity on both sides. “One group we worked with had a thermal scope,
that’s it,” said a soldier in a special forces unit who has been involved in
patrols behind Russian lines.
Some volunteers have tried to plug the gap by crowdfunding. Come Back Alive,
a Ukrainian crowdfunding charity, says it has provided 9,000 thermal and
night-vision optics for the armed forces since 2014. ATN, a Florida-based
company that provides night scopes for hunters and law enforcement, said
last year it had gained clearance to ship 9,000 optics including binoculars
and goggles to Ukraine. Some volunteers have even procured expensive thermal
imaging drones usually used by firefighters to locate people in burning
buildings. Commercial equipment comes with its own hazards, however. While
modern military NVGs use expensive “image intensifier tubes” to make the
most of what ambient light is available, the most affordable commercial
products use an infrared LED to illuminate the target. That’s the same
technology behind the very early night-vision systems used by some tanks in
the Second World War. It also happens to be “very visible to enemy night
vision users” and “incredibly dangerous”, according to Night Fox, a UK-based
producer that has warned customers not to buy its products for the war. And
while Ukraine might have a slight edge in night fighting, it certainly
cannot claim absolute dominance. Russia’s armed forces also field
night-vision devices for vehicles, reconnaissance drones, and special
forces, including the Catherine FC optic produced by the French company
Thales. The T80BV tank in particular has a competitive night vision.
Accounts of the Wagner mercenary group’s tactics during the battle of
Bakhmut emphasise groups of experienced mercenaries equipped with
night-vision devices following behind the more poorly equipped assault
units. Last month, MOO Veche, a cultural heritage organisation that now
fundraises for the war, thanked supporters for helping fund thermal imagers
for various Russian units. It posted videos of night attacks on Ukrainian
positions that it said were made possible by the donations, and appealed for
more. Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said he expected the
offensive to last “weeks or even months”. Broaden your horizons with
award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then
enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Russian fighter killed in northern Syria -monitor, security source
QAMISHLI, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters)/Mon, June 12, 2023
A Russian fighter was killed and several others wounded in Syria's northern
province of Aleppo on Monday, a war monitor and a Kurdish security source
said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors conflict in
Syria, said the Russian casualties occurred when their convoy was hit by
Turkish shelling. The security source said the attack came from an area
where Turkish troops are deployed and that the wounded were treated in a
hospital in a nearby area controlled by Kurdish forces. The Russian defence
ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Russia intervened in Syria's conflict in 2015, using air strikes and
deploying advisers as well as military police to help Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad retake territory from rebels, some of them backed by Turkey.
A Turkish defence ministry official said on Monday reports that Turkish
forces had shelled positions in Aleppo's northern countryside and hit
Russian armoured vehicle were "untrue."The Syrian National Army, an
opposition faction backed by Turkey which controls the area near where the
attack took place, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. A video
published by Ronahi TV, a station affiliated with the Kurdish-led autonomous
administration in northeast Syria, showed men in fatigues transporting at
least two men on stretchers into a Russian helicopter. The helicopter is
then seen taking off. It was not immediately clear where the helicopter was
flying to, who the apparently wounded men were or what was being said in the
video. Syria's 12-year conflict has carved the country into complex zones of
control where outside actors - including government allies Russia and Iran,
as well as Turkey and the United States - hold significant sway. In 2015,
Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border but Ankara and
Moscow have since mended relations. They coordinate joint patrols in
northern Syria and Russia is trying to mediate between the governments of
Turkey and Syria.
Israeli opposition leader says Netanyahu tried to get
him to back tax breaks for
JERUSALEM (AP)/Mon, June 12, 2023
Israel's opposition leader testified Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu apparently tried to persuade him — twice — to back legislation
that would have given a Hollywood mogul millions in tax breaks.But Yair
Lapid, a former prime minister himself and a major Netanyahu rival, said he
was not convinced. Lapid made the statements as he testified in Jerusalem in
one of three corruption cases against Netanyahu. The indictment claims
Netanyahu used his position of power to further Hollywood mogul Arnon
Milchan’s interests in exhange for gifts, representing a conflict between
the premier's public duties and personal friendship. Netanyahu did personal
favors for Milchan, including asking U.S. officials to extend Milchan’s U.S.
resident’s permit and extending Israeli regulations exempting Israeli
returnees from declaring foreign income, according to the indictment. Lapid
testified Monday that Milchan and his attorneys had tried first without
success to persuade him that extending the tax breaks for a decade would be
good for Israel, Israeli media reported. Then Netanyahu broached the matter
twice with Lapid, he testified — once at the prime minister's residence and
once outside a Cabinet meeting, according to the reports. Lapid said he told
Netanyahu that it wasn't going to happen, and the prime minister responded
that it was “a good law.” Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, denies
claims of wrongdoing, saying he was not acting in Milchan’s personal
interests and even occasionally acted against them. He says the exchanges of
gifts were just friendly gestures. Milchan is expected to testify in the
case in a video call from London, where he resides, sometime later this
month. Haaretz newspaper has reported that in 2013 Lapid, then finance
minister, sought legal advice on the possibility of promoting the
legislation that would have benefitted Milchan. Earlier, Lapid had
reportedly said he replied, “no way,” to Netanyahu and Milchan about the
prospects for the legislation. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of
trust and accepting bribes in three separate scandals involving powerful
media moguls and wealthy associates. He denies wrongdoing. Critics say that
Netanyahu is driven to weaken the courts and change the judicial system as a
way to open an escape route from his trial, claims he dismisses as untrue.
The corruption charges also have been at the center of a protracted
political crisis that sent Israelis to the polls five times in less than
four years — each vote essentially a referendum on Netanyahu’s fitness to
rule. After losing power in 2021 to a coalition of opponents, Netanyahu
returned as prime minister late last year, despite his legal problems. Under
Israeli law, the prime minister has no obligation to step aside while on
trial. The trial, which began in May 2020, has featured more than 40
prosecution witnesses, including some of Netanyahu’s closest former
confidants who turned against the premier. Witness accounts have shed light
not only on the three cases but also revealed sensational details about
Netanyahu’s character and his family’s reputation for living off the
largesse of taxpayers and wealthy supporters.
Sudan war traps civilians after ceasefire ends
KHARTOUM (Reuters)/Mon, June 12, 2023
Air strikes, artillery and gunfire rocked several areas of Sudan's capital
on Monday as fighting between warring factions intensified for a second day,
trapping civilians in a worsening humanitarian crisis. The war between the
country's army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has raged for
almost two months, forcing almost 2 million to flee and wrecking the
economy, causing frequent electricity and water outages. Talks in Jeddah
have failed to permanently end fighting and clashes intensified as soon as a
ceasefire ended on Sunday. While the RSF has spread out across most of the
capital, controlling main streets and setting up camp inside some homes, the
army has the advantage of air and artillery weaponry. Residents of eastern
Khartoum reported being hit by air strikes, while in southern Khartoum as
well as northern Omdurman reported being hit by artillery fighting.
Eyewitnesses reported clashes in central Khartoum as well. "Since yesterday,
the war has come back and there's strikes from all direction," said Awatif
Sidahmed, 43, living in Sharq el-Nil across the Nile from Khartoum. "Our
neighbourhood is a war zone so leaving is difficult and staying home is
difficult. We don't know what to do."Those who stay also struggle with
dwindling funds as the government has stopped paying salaries and pensions.
More than 200,000 of the 1.9 million Sudanese who have managed to flee their
homes have gone to Egypt, which this week imposed a visa requirement for
children, women and the elderly who had previously been exempt. Hundreds of
Sudanese were turned back at Cairo airport and sent back on return flights,
according to Cairo airport sources, after a similar exemption for those with
residencies in western and Gulf states was removed.
DARFUR FIGHTING
No side has made clear progress, and the fighting has spread to several
cities to the west in the Kordofan and Darfur regions. In the westernmost
city of El Geneina, militias backed by the RSF have launched attacks on the
city, which has now lost access to power and running water. Tens of
thousands have fled to Chad. Activist Kamal Alzein told Reuters that he had
heard from three activists in the city that has been largely cut off from
telecom networks that 1,100 people had been killed and 3,000 injured since
attacks began in April. Reuters could not immediately verify the numbers.
The highest official death toll from the Sudanese health ministry was 510,
reported in late May. The Darfur Bar Association, which monitors the
conflict in the region, said that 17 people had been killed on Monday as a
result of shelling, while 100 had died over the past five days. “Geneina
remains under siege,” it said. In a statement on Sunday's intense fighting
in Bahri, the army says that while they were able to make gains against the
RSF and claim to have killed hundreds, it had also lost several soldiers. It
blamed the RSF for deadly air strikes on civilians in southern Khartoum.The
RSF in turn said that the army had used the 24-hour ceasefire on Saturday to
reposition troops and attack immediately after. Kenyan President William
Ruto said on Monday that East African countries would conduct face-to-face
meetings with the heads of the army and RSF within 10 days to discuss
stopping the war and humanitarian corridors.The U.N. Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Monday agencies had been able
to deliver supplies for 2 million people including 57 cross-line movements.
That included medical supplies to 42,000 people living on the island of Tuti
on the Nile, where residents have said their single bridge to the mainland
was blocked by the RSF, cutting off food and medicine supplies.
Mikdad visits Syrian Embassy HQ in Riyadh, inspects
preparations for its reopening
SANA/June 12/2023
Within the framework of his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Syrian
Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Dr. Fayssal Mikdad, and his accompanying
delegation were briefed on the ongoing preparations at the headquarters of
the Syrian Embassy in the capital, Riyadh, for reopening it.
“Minister Mikdad and his accompanying delegation visited the headquarters of
the Syrian embassy in Riyadh to inspect the readiness of the building and
the ongoing preparations for reopening the embassy, especially in terms of
resuming the provision of consular services to the Syrian community in Saudi
Arabia as soon as possible,” Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said in a
tweet on Monday. Minister Mikdad and his accompanying delegation arrived on
Sunday in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, at the invitation of his Saudi
counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, where he was received by
senior officials at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mikdad is
participating in the 2nd ministerial meeting of the Arab states with the
countries of the Pacific islands, which began its work yesterday at the
level of experts.--
Enhancing cooperation: Syrian-Saudi relations extend
to the Pacific Islands
LBCI/June 12/2023
The doors opened by Arab normalization, especially Saudi Arabia's, with
Damascus have expanded effects, reaching the countries of the Pacific
Islands. Among the meetings that paved the way for the resumption of
bilateral relations and the reopening of embassies, to the decision of
Syria's return to the Arab League, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad
attended the second joint ministerial meeting between Arab countries and
Pacific Island states at the foreign ministers level, with the invitation of
his Saudi counterpart. Through this conference, Saudi Arabia seeks to
promote shared interests with Pacific Island countries and enhance
cooperation in security, energy, trade, investment, and logistical services.
Saudi Arabia also aims to join the Pacific Islands Forum as a dialogue
partner, according to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
During the meeting, Mekdad emphasized the importance of cooperation and
coordination between countries and regional blocs to confront the challenges
whose negative repercussions affect all countries indiscriminately,
requiring a comprehensive and coordinated response to overcome their adverse
effects and address their causes. As part of his third visit to the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia since the normalization of relations, Mekdad met with bin
Farhan on the sidelines of the ministerial conference. Moreover, Mekdad also
reviewed the ongoing preparations for reopening the Syrian embassy in
Riyadh.
Connecting the world: Riyadh Air to link Saudi capital with 100+ global
destinations
LBCI/June 12/2023
The lilac color that blankets the Kingdom's deserts during spring made its
first appearance in the skies of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. In 30 minutes,
the highly anticipated Saudi carrier displayed its new brand identity in the
Kingdom's sky as one of its aircraft flying at a low altitude above Riyadh,
passing by prominent landmarks such as Boulevard Riyadh City, King Saud
University, King Khalid Grand Mosque, Al Faisaliah Tower, and Al Murabba.
The flight concluded with a Riyadh Airplane landing at King Khalid
International Airport. This flight witnessed and captured through photos and
videos by Saudis, serves as a glimpse of what will be available to
passengers starting from 2025. Riyadh Air plans to connect the Saudi capital
to over 100 destinations worldwide, aiming to facilitate 100 million visits
to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by 2030, welcoming travelers worldwide. The
establishment of "Riyadh Air" aligns with the strategy of the Public
Investment Fund to unlock the potential of promising local sectors,
supporting the diversification and non-oil economic growth of the Kingdom
with investments of up to 75 billion riyals and creating over 200,000 direct
and indirect job opportunities. Moreover, the new carrier aims to rely on
innovation in providing air transportation services and to become an
integral part of the National Transportation Plan and National Tourism Plan.
The goal is for Riyadh to become a gateway to the world, a global
destination for transportation, business, and tourism.
NATO begins unprecedented air drill in 'show of strength'
Agence France Presse/June 12/2023
NATO began its largest ever air force deployment exercise in Europe on
Monday, in a display of unity toward partners and potential threats such as
Russia. The German-led "Air Defender 23" will include some 250 military
aircraft from 25 NATO and partner countries including Japan and Sweden,
which is bidding to join the alliance. It will run until June 23. Up to
10,000 service members are to participate in the drills intended to boost
interoperability and preparedness to protect against drones and cruise
missiles in the case of an attack within NATO territory. "The significant
message we're sending is that we can defend ourselves," Lieutenant General
Ingo Gerhartz of the German Luftwaffe told public television. "Air Defender"
was conceived in 2018 in part as a response to the Russian annexation of
Crimea from Ukraine four years before, though Gerhartz insisted it was "not
targeted at anyone".He said the exercise would not "send any flights, for
example, in the direction of Kaliningrad," the Russian enclave bordering
alliance member states Poland and Lithuania. "We are a defensive alliance
and that is how this exercise is planned," he said. The first flights began
in the late morning at the Wunstorf, Jagel and Lechfeld air bases, a
Luftwaffe spokesman confirmed to AFP. Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered
at Wunstorf in northern Germany on Saturday against the drills, under the
banner "Practice peace -- not war". Protesters called for a "diplomatic
solution" to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire. US
Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann said the exercise would show "beyond a
shadow of a doubt the agility and the swiftness of our allied force" and was
intended to send a message to countries including Russia. "I would be pretty
surprised if any world leader was not taking note of what this shows in
terms of the spirit of this alliance, which means the strength of this
alliance, and that includes Mr Putin," she told reporters, referring to the
Russian president. "By synchronizing together, we multiply our
force."Russia's war on Ukraine has galvanized the Western military alliance
set up almost 75 years ago to face off against the Soviet Union. Finland and
Sweden, which long kept an official veneer of neutrality to avoid conflict
with Moscow, both sought membership in NATO after Russia's February 2022
invasion.Under NATO's Article Five, an attack on one member is considered an
attack on all.
- 'Great power competition' -
The exercise includes operational and tactical-level training, primarily in
Germany, but also in the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia, with a total of
around 2,000 flights. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit pilots based
at the Jagel airfield in northern Germany on Friday. General Michael Loh,
director of the US Air National Guard, said NATO's duties were at an
"inflection point". "A great deal has changed on the strategic landscape
throughout the world, especially here in Europe," he said. The exercise will
focus on "supplementing the permanent United States presence in Europe" as
well as providing training "on a larger scale than what was usually
accomplished on the continent", Loh added. He said many of the alliance
pilots were working together for the first time. "It's about fostering the
old relationships that we have but also building new ones with this younger
generation of airmen," he said. "And so this is about now establishing what
it means to go against a great power in a great power competition." Gutmann
said that while there were no plans to make "Air Defender" a recurring
exercise, she added: "We have no desire for this to be the last." Asked
about potential disruption to civilian air transport during the exercise,
Gerhartz said the planners would do "everything in our power" to limit
flight delays or cancellations. German authorities and industry groups have
warned that flight schedules could be impacted, particularly at major hubs
such as Frankfurt and Berlin-Brandenburg due to their proximity to drill
zones.
US decides to rejoin UNESCO and pay back dues after Palestine row
Associated Press/June 12/2023
U.N. cultural and scientific agency UNESCO announced Monday that the United
States plans to rejoin — and pay more than $600 million in back dues — after
a decade-long dispute sparked by the organization's move to include
Palestine as a member. U.S. officials say the decision to return was
motivated by concern that China is filling the gap left by the U.S. in
UNESCO policymaking, notably in setting standards for artificial
intelligence and technology education around the world. The U.S. and Israel
stopped funding UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state
in 2011, and the Trump administration decided in 2017 to withdraw from the
agency altogether the following year, citing long-running anti-Israel bias
and management problems. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and
Resources Richard Verma submitted a letter last week to UNESCO Director
General Audrey Azoulay formalizing the plan to rejoin. Verma noted progress
in depoliticizing debate about the Middle East at UNESCO and reforming the
agency's management, according to the hand-delivered letter, obtained by AP.
Applause rang out in the solemn UNESCO auditorium as Azoulay announced the
plan to ambassadors at a special meeting Monday, and delegate after delegate
stood up to welcome the news. The return of the U.S., once the agency's
biggest funder, is expected to face a vote by its 193 member states next
month, according to a UNESCO diplomat. The decision is a big financial boost
to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
known for its World Heritage program as well as projects to fight climate
change and teach girls to read. China's ambassador to UNESCO, Jin Yang, said
his country "appreciates" UNESCO's efforts to bring the U.S. back, saying
its absence had a "negative impact" on the agency's work. "Being a member of
an international organization is a serious issue, and we hope that the
return of the U.S. this time means it acknowledges the mission and the goals
of the organization," the ambassador said. Since her election in 2017,
Azoulay has worked to address the reasons the U.S. left, through budget
reforms and building consensus among Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli
diplomats around sensitive UNESCO resolutions. Azoulay — who is Jewish — won
broad praise by UNESCO ambassadors for her personal efforts to address U.S.
concerns around Israel in particular. The U.S. decision to come back "is the
result of five years of work, during which we calmed tensions, notably on
the Middle East, improved our response to contemporary challenges, resumed
major initiatives on the ground and modernized the functioning of the
organization," Azoulay told The Associated Press. She met with Democrats and
Republicans in Washington to explain those efforts, according to a UNESCO
diplomat. Thanks to those bipartisan negotiations, UNESCO diplomats
expressed confidence that the U.S. decision to return is for the long term,
regardless of who wins next year's presidential election.
The diplomats were not authorized to be publicly named discussing the
behind-the-scenes work that led to the U.S. decision. Under the plan, the
U.S. government would pay its 2023 dues plus $10 million in bonus
contributions this year earmarked for Holocaust education, preserving
cultural heritage in Ukraine, journalist safety, and science and technology
education in Africa, Verma's letter says.
The Biden administration has already requested $150 million for the 2024
budget to go toward UNESCO dues and arrears. The plan foresees similar
requests for the ensuing years until the full debt of $619 million is paid
off. That makes up a big chunk of UNESCO's $534 million annual operating
budget. Before leaving, the U.S. contributed 22% of the agency's overall
funding. Undersecretary of State for Management John Bass said in March that
the U.S. absence from UNESCO has strengthened China, and ''undercuts our
ability to be as effective in promoting our vision of a free world."
He said UNESCO is key in setting and shaping standards for technology and
science teaching around the world, "so if we're really serious about the
digital-age competition with China … we can't afford to be absent any
longer."
The U.S. absence plunged the agency into financial uncertainty. UNESCO
diplomats described belt-squeezing across agency programs and aggressive
efforts by Azoulay to boost voluntary financing from other countries to fill
gaps. One diplomat expressed hope that the return of the U.S. would bring
"more ambition, and more serenity" — and energize programs to regulate
artificial intelligence, educate girls in Afghanistan and chronicle victims
of slavery in the Caribbean. The diplomat said that the agency would also
"welcome" Israel back if it wanted to rejoin. There was no immediate
response from the Israeli government. Israel has long accused the United
Nations of anti-Israel bias. In 2012, over Israeli objections, the state of
Palestine was recognized as a nonmember observer state by the U.N. General
Assembly. The Palestinians claim the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza
Strip — territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war — for an
independent state. Israel says the Palestinians' efforts to win recognition
at the U.N. are aimed at circumventing a negotiated settlement and meant to
pressure Israel into concessions. The United States previously pulled out of
UNESCO under the Reagan administration in 1984 because it viewed the agency
as mismanaged, corrupt and used to advance Soviet interests. It rejoined in
2003.
Israel's opposition leader testifies at Netanyahu's corruption trial
Associated Press/June 12/2023 Israel's opposition leader testified for the
prosecution on Monday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his
corruption trial in Jerusalem. Yair Lapid, a former prime minister himself
and a major Netanyahu rival, is testifying in one of three cases against
Netanyahu. The indictment claims Netanyahu used his position of power to
further Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan's interests in exhange for gifts,
representing a conflict between the premier's public duties and personal
friendship. Netanyahu did personal favors for Milchan, including asking U.S.
officials to extend Milchan's U.S. resident's permit and extending Israeli
regulations exempting Israeli returnees from declaring foreign income,
according to the indictment. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader,
denies claims of wrongdoing, saying he was not acting in Milchan's personal
interests and even occasionally acted against them. He says the exchanges of
gifts were just friendly gestures. Milchan is expected to testify in the
case in a video call from London, where he resides, sometime later this
month. Haaretz newspaper has reported that in 2013 Lapid, then finance
minister, sought legal advice on the possibility of promoting the
legislation that would have benefitted Milchan. Earlier, Lapid had
reportedly said he replied, "no way," to Netanyahu and Milchan about the
prospects for the legislation. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of
trust and accepting bribes in three separate scandals involving powerful
media moguls and wealthy associates. He denies wrongdoing. Critics say that
Netanyahu is driven to weaken the courts and change the judicial system as a
way to open an escape route from his trial, claims he dismisses as untrue.
The corruption charges also have been at the center of a protracted
political crisis that sent Israelis to the polls five times in less than
four years — each vote essentially a referendum on Netanyahu's fitness to
rule. After losing power in 2021 to a coalition of opponents, Netanyahu
returned as prime minister late last year, despite his legal problems. Under
Israeli law, the prime minister has no obligation to step aside while on
trial. The trial, which began in May 2020, has featured more than 40
prosecution witnesses, including some of Netanyahu's closest former
confidants who turned against the premier. Witness accounts have shed light
not only on the three cases but also revealed sensational details about
Netanyahu's character and his family's reputation for living off the
largesse of taxpayers and wealthy supporters.
Palestinian shot, four detained during Israeli raid
in Nablus
WAFA/June 12/2023
A Palestinian youth was Monday shot by Israeli gunfire, while four others
were detained, during an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank
city of Nablus. Security sources told WAFA that the Israeli army raided
several neighborhoods in the city, broke into a slain Palestinian’s house
and ransacked a coffee shop before firing live bullets and toxic gas,
injuring a youth with a live bullet in his foot. The sources added that the
soldiers raided several villages and towns south of Nablus, and detained
four Palestinians, including a minor.-
Turkish shelling in north Syria kills a Russian
soldier, wounds others
Associated Press/June 12/2023
Turkish shelling in northern Syria early Monday hit a vehicle killing one
Russian soldier and injuring several others, Syrian Kurdish media and an
opposition war monitor reported. Monday's shelling came after a day of
violence between U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters and Turkish troops in northern
Syria left several dead on the Kurdish side. There was no immediate comment
from the Russian military, the Syrian government or Turkish officials on the
reported shelling. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an
opposition war monitor, reported that one Russian soldier was killed and
four others were wounded when Turkish troops shelled a road linking the
villages of Herbel with Um Hawsh in Aleppo province. The news agency for the
semiautonomous Kurdish areas in Syria, Hawar News, reported that a Russian
vehicle was hit, adding that there were casualties, but did not give a
breakdown. Another Kurdish news agency, North press agency, said one Russian
soldier was killed and three wounded. Turkey's defense ministry said Monday
that at least 12 suspected members of the main Syrian Kurdish militia known
as the People's Protection Units, or YPG, were killed after Turkish forces
retaliated to a mortar attack on Turkish targets. The ministry said on
Twitter that Kurdish militants struck the Jibreen base area in northern
Syria as well as the Oncupinar region in southern Turkey on Sunday. There
was no damage to the base or Turkish soldiers. Turkey's military killed at
least seven suspected militants in retaliatory strikes on Sunday and five
others on Monday, according to the ministry. The Observatory reported that a
Turkish drone attack late Saturday killed three YPG fighters and wounded two
others leading to the shelling the next day. Siamand Ali, a spokesman for
the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, told The Associated Press that
Turkish troops have intensified their attacks on Kurdish-held areas in
northern Syria since this month's presidential elections in Turkey. He had
no comment on Monday's attack. Russia joined the war in Syria in 2015,
launching an aerial campaign against Syria's armed opposition and has since
helped Syrian government forces gain control of much of the country. Syria's
12-year conflict has left nearly half a million people dead and displaced
half the country's pre-war population of 23 million.
Iraq MPs approve budget granting Baghdad upper hand
over Kurdish oil
Agence France Presse/June 12/2023
Iraq's parliament on Monday approved a budget that boosts public spending in
the war-scarred nation and grants the federal government the upper hand over
oil exports from the autonomous Kurdistan region. The 198.9 trillion dinar
($153 billion) budget -- valid for three years though subject to future
amendments -- also sets out record spending on public wages, investments and
development projects. Lawmakers approved the bill after days of voting and
months of wrangling over its articles in a country long accustomed to budget
delays. The new bill allocates 12.7 percent of the budget to the oil-rich
autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. It follows long-standing
tensions with Kurdish leaders who had previously denounced amendments
relating to oil in the budget, resulting in repeated delays to the vote. In
April, a deal was reached between the authorities in Baghdad and the Kurdish
regional government in Arbil, granting the federal government control over
Kurdish crude exports to Turkey. The Kurdish regional government had for
years earned billions of dollars in revenues exporting oil to Turkey without
the Iraqi federal government's approval. But operations ceased in late March
after international arbitrators recognised Baghdad's exclusive right to
manage exports of Iraqi crude via Turkey. Under the budget, 400,000 barrels
per day of oil will be shipped from the Kurdistan region to Baghdad, with
revenues going to a central bank account overseen by Baghdad. The new budget
sets total revenues at $103.4 billion, based on a three-year projection of
oil prices at $70 per barrel, with oil accounting for 90 percent of income.
Iraq has been previously warned to wean itself off its overdependence on
oil. The International Monetary Fund said last month that "a significantly
tighter fiscal policy is needed to strengthen resilience and reduce the
government's dependence on oil revenues while safeguarding critical social
spending needs". The new budget also sets aside $37.9 billion for
investments, with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani noting that his
"priority" is to develop infrastructure in a country where basic services
have long been sorely lacking. The oil-rich country has long been wracked by
rampant corruption even as it struggles to emerge from decades of war that
ravaged its infrastructure.
The Latest LCCC English analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published on June 12-13/2023
Boris Johnson's exit creates a test for Rishi Sunak
Gavin Esler/The National/June 12/2023
Johnson's resignation over the rule-breaking parties means there will be
by-elections in autumn.
One of the popular tunes from the 1960s film The Sound of Music is about the
tricky character played by Julie Andrews, a nun called Maria. She is constantly
getting into scrapes. The song asks “How do you solve a problem like Maria? /
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak might think of adapting the words and singing
the same song about his former leader Boris Johnson. How do you solve a problem
like Boris Johnson? Isn’t he, as The Sound of Music lyrics continue, “A
flibbertigibbet! A will-o’-the-wisp! A clown!” (A flibbertigibbet is – according
to the dictionary definition – a frivolous, flighty or excessively talkative
person.)
You can understand Mr Sunak’s irritation. He goes off to the US, is treated
graciously by the Biden White House, returns to London in the hope of finally
shaking off the past seven years of Conservative party in-fighting, and then?
Boom! Another performance of the Boris Johnson All-About-Me-Show, as the former
prime minister quits parliament in a huff. It comes after an investigation into
Mr Johnson’s attendance at rule-breaking parties during the coronavirus lockdown
that he himself imposed on Britain. Two Johnson allies, including the former
culture secretary Nadine Dorries, are also quitting parliament.
That means there will be by-elections this autumn. And that is unwelcome news
for Mr Sunak. His popularity – or lack of it – will be put to the test. So,
let’s be blunt. Since 2016, the Conservative party has been riven by feuds,
plots and disloyalty. They appear to loathe each other. Four prime ministers –
David Cameron, Theresa May, Mr Johnson and Liz Truss – have come and gone.
Various factions, including the so-called European Research Group, act like
parties within the party. Mr Johnson, despite his serious policy and personal
failures, remains a hero to one faction within the party. And yet an inquiry by
a cross-party group of MPs – a majority of whom are Conservatives – has decided
to sanction Mr Johnson over his conduct, and to do so in a way that would open
up the possibility of him personally facing a by-election and losing his
parliamentary seat.
Rather than risking the voters wrath, Mr Johnson has quit, leading to charges of
cowardice. Some newspapers see his resignation as a “declaration of war” on the
Conservative government of Mr Sunak.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson-supporting newspapers parrot Mr Johnson’s own view that he
is a victim of a "Kangaroo Court" and a "witch-hunt".
All this seems ridiculous until you look across the ocean and digest the news
about Donald Trump.
The former US president is facing extremely serious charges over his handling of
classified documents. And he also claims there is a witch-hunt against him,
while using his many scandals and legal battles to his own advantage,
fundraising and bolstering his anti-establishment image.
Although the allegations against Mr Johnson are not of the same magnitude, he
also employs the same “I am the victim here” strategy as Mr Trump. Both men seem
to believe that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Anything which puts
them in the public view seems to burnish their image among supporters as “mould
breakers” prepared to smash up “politics as usual” and victims of “the
Establishment".
For an American billionaire and an Old Etonian to make claims of being
“outsider” takes considerable chutzpah. These brazen techniques have worked at
least with some sections of the electorate. But can these two extraordinary
survivors continue to survive and thrive? Can Mr Trump really regain the US
presidency in 2024? Can he end up in the White House – or in jail? Can Mr
Johnson really be plotting a political comeback? After helping to unseat his
predecessors, Mr Cameron and Ms May, can he do the same with Mr Sunak? All this
seems unlikely. But not impossible. I’ve just finished reading Anthony Seldon’s
new book, Johnson at 10, the inside story of Mr Johnson’s time in Downing
Street. It ends with Seldon going through all the reasons Mr Johnson says he has
been cast aside and concludes that he was not unseated by his enemies. He was
undone by himself, his incompetence, careless, and inability to deliver. Will he
be back? Personally, I doubt that the traditionally ruthless Conservative party
will ever again want to turn their fortunes over to the man who has divided the
party for years. The flibbertigibbet, the will-o’-the-wisp and the clown,
however, may yet have the last laugh. Mr Johnson will make millions on the
international speaking circuit, entertaining wealthy business audiences with
tales of his many battles and wicked enemies. The trouble is that his record of
achievement, beyond personal advancement, is meagre.
Mr Johnson has no ideology. He has very few political convictions. What he does
have is an astonishing ego and self-belief. He has been a disaster for his party
and his country, and yet I can confidently predict one version of history will
be kind to him, for he will write it. A self-justifying book will undoubtedly
follow.
The United Nations' Jihad Against Israel
Bassam Tawil/Gatestone Institute./June 12, 2023
The UN, ostensibly dedicated to protecting human rights, and has, in fact,
devolved into hurling bogus, tabloid-style allegations as it joins other
blood-libel false charges by considering the addition of Israel to its list of
blacklisted entities in its 2023 Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) Report.
The UN resolution draft bizarrely, with no evidence, "accuses Israel of
recruiting three Palestinian minors as human shields and combatants," among
other offenses....
One of the leaders, in the zeal unjustly to add Israel to the UN blacklist, is
World Vision International. It circulated an open letter -- with 18 co-signatory
NGOs -- addressed to UN Secretary General António Guterres, repeating the phony
and libelous charges against Israel regarding child recruitment.
In addition to this evangelical missionary organization's own anti-Israel
history -- which features comparing Israel to Hitler's army and falsely accuses
it of funding Hamas -- World Vision International's list of co-signers features
a "Who's Who" of anti-Israel organizations, including Human Rights Watch,
authors of the notorious report accusing Israel of "apartheid" and "crimes
against humanity".
Importantly, Israel is recommended for blacklisting while Palestinian and
Iranian armed groups are distinctly not.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) disassociates itself, when it is convenient, from
its armed wing, Fatah, and other terror groups while "unofficially" inciting
them to violence and even genocide. This is the PA we are talking about --
dominated by the ruling Fatah faction headed by Mahmoud Abbas -- not Hamas or
Islamic Jihad,
"In response to threat that this posed to IDF forces, the IDF repeatedly
conveyed warnings to the hospital staff, Palestinian officials, and
international aid organizations, including the World Health Organization,
requesting that they act in order to stop the hospital from being used for
military purposes." — Mission of Israel to the UN in Geneva, July 27, 2104.
[T]he early childhood indoctrination to terrorism by Hamas and Palestinian
Islamic Jihad is so well documented that it is beyond dispute. The same
brainwashing administered by Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian Authority is only
slightly more discreet, but has consistently been presented as the supposedly
"moderate" face of the Palestinian struggle, as if the organization concerns
itself more with legal and diplomatic warfare.
Unfortunately, Abbas's statements to his constituents on official PA television
as opposed to the general English-speaking media -- leave a dramatically
different impression: "We salute every drop of blood spilled for the sake of
Jerusalem... shed for the sake of Allah, Allah willing. Every martyr will be
placed in Paradise, and all the wounded will be rewarded by Allah."
With the astronomical sum of pooled international donations that flood into
Palestinian control every year through countless NGOs and humanitarian
organizations, it is inconceivable that the poverty among so many Palestinians,
especially in the refugee camps, is anything but a desired and designed effect:
the result of, shall we say, "questionable" governance. The combination of
intense early childhood indoctrination to hatred and terror with hopeless
deprivation are a deliberate recipe for terrorism.
Photos of these dead children fuel sympathy donations, funds flow in the
billions, and Palestinian officials, their families, and their friends enjoy the
high-life at the expense of their own people – all in the name of "the
Palestinian cause" and the fight against Israel.
The website of Defense of Children International – Palestine regularly features
standard-looking photos of adolescents such as 17-year-old Mahmoud Majed al-Aydi
and claim them as victims of Israeli aggression. Eventually, the not-so-innocent
photos emerge of this same teen toting an automatic rifle.
None of these supposed child-welfare organizations seriously takes Palestinian
groups to task for terrorizing children in Israel, for rocket strikes on
kindergartens. None of them gives aid to expand the availability of rocket
shelters in Israeli playgrounds or barricades at bus stops to defend against
car-rammings, or to offer trauma counseling to children terrorized across Israel
by both rocket and terror attacks.
The question needs to be asked: Is it actually "child welfare" that is at issue
here, or is it the demonization of Israel, the only democratic country in the
region, and one that actually respects human rights, thereby threatening the
repressive dictatorships around it that is at the heart of the matter?
"One cannot consider the cynical exploitation of Palestinian children by the
Palestinian nationalist movement without recognizing that international NGOs
that claim to act on the behalf of the welfare of children often encourage this
exploitation by refusing to criticize this practice." — Ahron Shapiro, senior
policy analyst, AIJAC, May 30, 2018.
"Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of the NGO Defence of Children
International-Palestine, which has been identified by NGO Monitor as having
close ties with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.... and their
responsibility to supervise children and prevent them from engaging in violent
activity, must be addressed with the same vigour as allegations of mistreatment
at the hands of Israelis." — Ahron Shapiro, AIJAC, May 30, 2018.
Instead of waging Jihad (holy war) on Israel, the UN might start paying
attention to the human rights violations and massive child abuse committed by
Palestinian and Arab leaders against their own people as well as against Jews.
The United Nations has adopted the nasty habit of many Palestinians: throwing
everything at Israel but the kitchen sink. The UN, ostensibly dedicated to
protecting human rights, and has, in fact, devolved into hurling bogus,
tabloid-style allegations as it joins other blood-libel false charges by
considering the addition of Israel to its list of blacklisted entities.
Pictured: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the United
Nations General Assembly in New York on September 23, 2022. (Photo by Bryan R.
Smith/AFP via Getty Images)
The United Nations has adopted the nasty habit of many Palestinians: throwing
everything at Israel but the kitchen sink. Accusations against Israel have
ranged from fabricated claims not merely of "apartheid," but climate apartheid,
water apartheid, violating women's rights (the only country accused of that in
the midst of a sea of crushing Islamic fundamentalist regimes!), to kidnapping
and murdering Palestinian children to harvest their organs.
The UN, ostensibly dedicated to protecting human rights, and has, in fact,
devolved into hurling bogus, tabloid-style allegations as it joins other
blood-libel false charges by considering the addition of Israel to its list of
blacklisted entities in its 2023 Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) Report.
The UN resolution draft bizarrely, with no evidence, "accuses Israel of
recruiting three Palestinian minors as human shields and combatants," among
other offenses, which the Israeli Embassy to the UN has called, "strange" and
"extreme and unusual allegations," asserting that, "no such cases took place...
and that the claims are false."
One of the leaders, in the zeal unjustly to add Israel to the UN blacklist, is
World Vision International. It circulated an open letter -- with 18 co-signatory
NGOs -- addressed to UN Secretary General António Guterres, repeating the phony
and libelous charges against Israel regarding child recruitment.
In addition to this evangelical missionary organization's own anti-Israel
history -- which features comparing Israel to Hitler's army and falsely accuses
it of funding Hamas -- World Vision International's list of co-signers features
a "Who's Who" of anti-Israel organizations, including Human Rights Watch,
authors of the notorious report accusing Israel of "apartheid" and "crimes
against humanity".
The open letter also complains that the "Israeli government forces have never
been listed in the annexes [aka blacklist]" and says that both Palestinian armed
groups and Israeli government forces should be added to the list.
Importantly, Israel is recommended for blacklisting while Palestinian and
Iranian armed groups are distinctly not.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) disassociates itself, when it is convenient, from
its armed wing, Fatah, and other terror groups while "unofficially" inciting
them to violence and even genocide. This is the PA we are talking about --
dominated by the ruling Fatah faction headed by Mahmoud Abbas -- not Hamas or
Islamic Jihad,
All the NGOs that signed this petition to the UN Secretary General cite a
document titled "A Credible List: Recommendations for the Secretary-General's
2023 Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict," which was published by the
NGO Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict ("Watchlist").
It is uncertain as to how Watchlist acquired this influential position with the
UN, but apparently the other NGOs are all grinning triumphantly at Israel's
nomination to this year's child-rapist and junta-laden top-ten list of shame.
Watchlist explains that it reached its conclusions solely via "a desk review of
various publicly available reports... to inform the recommendations included in
this policy note." This means that Watchlist did not send independent experts to
verify the claims of the highly anti-Israel biased NGOs who provided the reports
and whose livelihoods are linked to perpetuating the crisis. The official
allegation reads: "Israel / Occupied Palestinian Territory: Israeli Government
Forces for killing and maiming and attacks on schools and hospitals."
There seems to have been a lot of concentrated work trying to fit Israel into
some of these definitions. As NGO Monitor notes:
"In the report, the primary cause of 'maiming of children by Israeli forces' is
tear gas (more than 50% of incidents)... Indeed, tear gas uniquely appeared in
the Israel section in the 2019 report, as well. However, in that year, the
Secretary-General's report listed tear gas inhalation as 'injuries' distinct
from 'maiming.' In a July 2019 press conference, UN Special Representative for
Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba acknowledged this distinction and
indicated that her office was going to examine expanding the definition of
'maiming' to include tear gas."
Addressing the allegation of Israel's "attacks on schools and hospitals," it is
well-substantiated with verbal and video confirmation that this has not been
considered in the context that, "In Hamas' world, hospitals are command centers,
ambulances are transport vehicles, and medics are human shields, in flagrant
violation of international law."
"In response to threat that this posed to IDF forces, the IDF repeatedly
conveyed warnings to the hospital staff, Palestinian officials, and
international aid organizations, including the World Health Organization,
requesting that they act in order to stop the hospital from being used for
military purposes. On July 23, after confirming that no civilians were present,
the IDF attacked the compound and the terrorists within the hospital grounds, in
order to remove the threat posed to IDF forces."
Israel has been lauded by many for taking unprecedented pains to avoid civilian
casualties and any unavoidable deaths, even of terrorists and combatants, and
has even prosecuted its own soldiers for violations.
By contrast, the early childhood indoctrination to terrorism by Hamas and
Palestinian Islamic Jihad is so well documented that it is beyond dispute. The
same brainwashing administered by Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian Authority is only
slightly more discreet, but has consistently been presented as the supposedly
"moderate" face of the Palestinian struggle, as if the organization concerns
itself more with legal and diplomatic warfare.
Unfortunately, Abbas's statements to his constituents on official PA television
as opposed to the general English-speaking media -- leave a dramatically
different impression:
"We salute every drop of blood spilled for the sake of Jerusalem... shed for the
sake of Allah, Allah willing. Every martyr will be placed in Paradise, and all
the wounded will be rewarded by Allah."
With the astronomical sum of pooled international donations that flood into
Palestinian control every year through countless NGOs and humanitarian
organizations, it is inconceivable that the poverty among so many Palestinians,
especially in the refugee camps, is anything but a desired and designed effect:
the result of, shall we say, "questionable" governance. The combination of
intense early childhood indoctrination to hatred and terror with hopeless
deprivation are a deliberate recipe for terrorism.
In the PA-controlled refugee camps, teens give in to the engineered combination
of hopelessness with the promoted hero-worship of martyrs:
"Unemployment and frustration are high here.... we want to become... martyrs for
God, to the grave, nothing else. We don't want to get married or work. To the
grave directly, nothing else."
Photos of these dead children fuel sympathy donations, funds flow in the
billions, and Palestinian officials, their families, and their friends enjoy the
high-life at the expense of their own people – all in the name of "the
Palestinian cause" and the fight against Israel.
On the list supporting Israel's addition to the UN's Children and Armed Conflict
report is the NGO Defense of Children International – Palestine, which
misleadingly lays the blame on Israel for the death of underage terrorists.
The organization's website regularly features standard-looking photos of
adolescents such as 17-year-old Mahmoud Majed al-Aydi and claim them as victims
of Israeli aggression. Eventually, the not-so-innocent photos emerge of this
same teen toting an automatic rifle.
Nikki Haley, as US ambassador to the UN, lamented the fate of Palestinian
children:
"Anyone who truly cares about children in Gaza should insist that Hamas
immediately stop using children as cannon fodder in its conflict with Israel...
It is quite simply an issue of decency. Humanity itself loses when the barbaric
practice of human shields is tolerated and unanswered."
Virtually all of the child welfare NGOs that support the UN's latest
Israel-slamming resolution declare their unwavering support for the
"psychosocial wellbeing" and all other conceivable needs of Palestinian
children, while completely ignoring those of terror-traumatized Israeli
children.
None of these supposed child-welfare organizations seriously takes Palestinian
groups to task for terrorizing children in Israel, for rocket strikes on
kindergartens. None of them gives aid to expand the availability of rocket
shelters in Israeli playgrounds or barricades at bus stops to defend against
car-rammings, or to offer trauma counseling to children terrorized across Israel
by both rocket and terror attacks.
The question needs to be asked: Is it actually "child welfare" that is at issue
here, or is it the demonization of Israel, the only democratic country in the
region, and one that actually respects human rights, thereby threatening the
repressive dictatorships around it that is at the heart of the matter?
Australian senior policy analyst Ahron Shapiro encapsulates much of the issue:
"One cannot consider the cynical exploitation of Palestinian children by the
Palestinian nationalist movement without recognizing that international NGOs
that claim to act on the behalf of the welfare of children often encourage this
exploitation by refusing to criticize this practice.
"Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of the NGO Defence of Children
International-Palestine, which has been identified by NGO Monitor as having
close ties with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
"If Palestinian children's rights are protected in the same way as children
anywhere – as they should be – then the politicisation of the issue must end.
Palestinian parental and governmental responsibility for raising and educating
children in an environment free from incitement and hate, and their
responsibility to supervise children and prevent them from engaging in violent
activity, must be addressed with the same vigour as allegations of mistreatment
at the hands of Israelis."
This bullying and agenda-mongering during the most current blacklisting
resolution by the UN, the signatory NGOs, and the entire Israel-demonizing,
Palestinian-promoting agenda in the crocodile-tears guise of legitimate concern
for the welfare of children, is not only sickening, it also serves to further
delegitimize the UN and other organizations that perpetrate such fraud.
Instead of waging Jihad (holy war) on Israel, the UN might start paying
attention to the human rights violations and massive child abuse committed by
Palestinian and Arab leaders against their own people as well as against Jews.
*Bassam Tawil is a Muslim Arab based in the Middle East.
© 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.
Egypt Renovates and Rededicates Mosque to Notorious
Religious Persecutor and Mass Slaver
Raymond Ibrahim/Coptic Solidarity./June 12, 2023
While statues, monuments, and buildings dedicated to and/or named after heroes
of American history—including Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln—get vandalized,
toppled, removed, and/or renamed, a terrorist, religious persecutor, and
mass-slaver was lavishly honored in Egypt earlier this week.
On Sunday, June 3, 2023, the thirteenth century Sultan al-Zahir Baibars Mosque
was reopened in Cairo following 16 years of restoration work commissioned by
Egypt and Kazakhstan and costing more than 181 million Egyptian pounds.
The reopening ceremony in Cairo was attended by several dignitaries, including
the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb. During that event, Maulen
Ashimbaev, chairman of the Kazakh senate, said:
President Tokayev [of Kazakhstan] conveys warm greetings to all participants in
the events dedicated to the 800th anniversary of Sultan Baibars [b.1223]. Over
600 events were organized as part of the anniversary, including some held in
Egypt…. Sultan Baibars, a renowned commander, also dedicated himself to the
construction of mosques and madrasas, as well as the advancement of science and
education. The reopening of the Sultan al-Zahir Baibars Mosque, after
restoration, rightfully recognizes it as a unique object of world cultural
heritage. Therefore, today’s event holds great importance on an international
scale.
Actually, if “Western standards” were used to evaluate this event, it would
indeed “hold great importance on an international scale”—but in a very
scandalous way. After all, for all of Baibars’ achievements—including playing a
pivotal role in halting the Mongols destructive advance into the Middle East at
the Battle of Ayn Jalut, 1260—he was everything (and then some) that Western
progressives claim to detest in the heroes of history.
Bronze bust of Baibars in Cairo
For starters, this former slave-soldier (mamluk) assassinated, poisoned, and
killed his way to the sultanate. A “radical” Muslim, once in power, Baibars
ushered in one of the most horrific persecutions of Coptic Christians since
Islam’s invasion of Egypt six centuries earlier: churches and monasteries were
desecrated, burned or transformed into mosques; Christians were randomly
executed in brutal ways, including by being sawn in half or thrown into pits and
burned alive; the Coptic Orthodox Church was regularly extorted into paying
exorbitant bribes. At one point, Baibars decreed that all Christian and Jewish
scribes—who then formed the majority of the government (or diwan)—either convert
to Islam or be beheaded. Some converted; others were martyred. (For more on the
persecution of Copts at the hands of both Baibars and the Mamluk sultanate he
ushered in, see Adel Guindy’s A Sword Over the Nile.)
In Syria, which also fell under his sway, Baibars, in 1263, “gave orders,” his
biographer, Ibn Abdul Zahir approvingly writes, “that the church of Nazareth
should be demolished, this being the most important place of worship for them;
it is said that the religion of the Christians had its origin there.”
Having ravished the Christians under his authority, Baibars next turned to the
much weakened coastal Crusader kingdoms. In 1265, he conquered Caesarea and
Haifa and massacred every Christian who could not flee. He then besieged Arsuf,
which was staunchly defended by 260 Knights Hospitaller. So outnumbered and
eventually pushed to and holed in the city’s citadel, they eventually accepted
Baibars’ terms of surrender, which included allowing them all to go free. Once
they opened their gates, the Muslim sultan reneged on his word and ordered them
all shackled and enslaved and sent to march through the streets of Cairo—to
jeers, slaps, and spits—wearing heavy wooden crosses around their necks.
In 1266 Baibars besieged the great Templar castle at Safed. When the Christian
defenders had reached their final extremity, Baibars offered them surrender
terms to withdraw unmolested to Acre. Unaware of his betrayal of the
Hospitallers, they accepted, and again he broke his word, ordering them all
beheaded. Then he turned to the undefended Christian village of Qara, massacring
all the adults and enslaving their women and children.
Of especial note is Baibars sack of the Christian kingdom of Antioch in 1268.
After the sultan’s men had breached the city, which was swollen with Christian
fugitives, especially women and children, Baibars ordered its gates shut behind
them. An orgiastic bloodbath—also known as the “single greatest massacre of the
entire crusading era,” to quote Thomas Madden—followed. In a letter to Bohemond
VI, who was not present at Antioch’s fall, Baibars gloated over what took place
in explicitly jihadist terms:
You would have seen your knights prostrated beneath the horses’ hooves, your
houses stormed by pillagers and ransacked by looters…your women sold four at a
time and bought for a dinar of your [own] money! You would have seen the crosses
in your churches smashed, the pages of the false Testaments scattered, the
Patriarchs’ tombs overturned. You would have seen your Muslim enemy trampling on
the place where you celebrate the mass, cutting the throats of monks, priests,
and deacons upon the altars, bringing sudden death to the Patriarchs and slavery
to the royal princes. You would have seen fire running through your palaces,
your dead burned,…your palace lying unrecognizable, the church of St. Paul and
that of Qusyan [Cathedral of Saint Peter] pulled down and destroyed.
Such is the man that Egypt has spent millions in order to rededicate a mosque
to, even as “progressive” Americans fall over themselves trying to “cancel” the
heroes of U.S. history—including abolitionists who died fighting slavery—on the
charge that they were no saints.
Blinken and the Diplomacy of Rebuilding Trust
Sam Menassa/Asharq Al Awsat/June 12/2023
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit to Saudi Arabia, where he held
meetings with high-ranking officials and made several pledges, is another
promising indication that Washington has reconsidered its policy choices.
Indeed, coming just a few weeks after President Joe Biden’s National Security
Adviser Jake Sullivan made his trip, Blinken’s visit affirmed that Washington is
keen on addressing the region’s concerns and helping it find solutions to
problems. His discussions with Saudi officials addressed a long list of issues:
Iran, the efforts to end the Yemen war, and how to expand and diversify US-Saudi
cooperation in non-energy and non-defense sectors. Blinken also met with the
foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council and discussed consolidating
the coalition against ISIS.
This diplomatic overture towards Riyadh comes with the framework of the US
response to the Saudi-Iranian agreement signed under the auspices of China.
Indeed, the first sign that the US has changed its posture since the agreement
was its reported attempts to resume negotiations with Iran regarding the
latter’s nuclear program. However, leaks indicate that Iran is not enthusiastic
about the prospect. Moreover, a statement released by France, Germany, and
Britain last week expressed concerns about Iran’s enrichment of Uranium. Another
indicator is that it is playing a more active role in ensuring maritime security
in the Gulf. Although Washington’s foreign policy remains ambiguous, these steps
seem geared towards achieving three objectives: the first attempts to reproduce
and coopt China’s success in facilitating Saudi Arabia and Iran’s agreement to
normalize relations. The second intends to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear
weapons through negotiations on a deal that remains vague and to prevent Israel
from taking military action to end this program. As for the third, it confronts
Iran’s actions in Gulf waters and fortifies America’s role in safeguarding this
region’s security in general. The pursuit of three tracks could be read as a
reaction to the course of changes in the region that were anchored by the recent
agreement between Riyadh and Tehran and its results.
The US must overcome several difficult hurdles to achieve these goals. This
includes what we hope to achieve regarding Iran’s nuclear program, which also
continues to worry the Gulf states and other countries in the region. An
agreement with Tehran could alleviate these concerns, but it would not dispel
them. The ultimate question is whether Washington will manage to resolve this
matter in a manner that does not threaten the security and stability of the Gulf
and involve them in the negotiation process. The answer could well determine the
future of Washington’s relations with the countries of the region.
As for fortifying Washington’s role in safeguarding the security of the Gulf
region in general, its trajectory hinges on the long-term impact of the
Iranian-Saudi rapprochement, which is still in its infancy and cannot be
assessed yet.
Nonetheless, the traditional US approach to ties with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
states is certainly now a thing of the past. The US should recalibrate in
response to these countries’ attempts to reformulate their economic and social
domestic agenda and their ties with the rest of the world. The current US
administration has yet to properly understand that Saudi Arabia, like the Gulf
countries in general, now prioritizes its national interests and the aspirations
of its people. It is trying to balance its relations between East and West,
pursuing a policy of “zero problems.” The reconciliation of Saudi Arabia and
Iran should be seen from this lens.
Will the US strategy for the region revolve around these objectives? The answer
is no because it has no comprehensive economic and political strategy and is
almost exclusively focused on combating terrorism. Moreover, it is dealing with
issues “piecemeal.” Meanwhile, human rights questions do not generally speak to
what Washington wants or what the region expects from it. Despite its recent
push, the US administration’s efforts are weak when compared to China’s
openness, which is nonetheless confined to facilitating political settlements
and resolving economic and security disputes.
Whatever Blinken achieves from this visit, which is part of the US effort to
“not leave a vacuum for our strategic competitors in the region,” as President
Biden put it during his visit to Jeddah last summer, the US will remain weak. It
has not done enough in the face of the threats presented by the tensions in
Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and other conflict zones, most notably the region’s most
recent civil war in Sudan. We have the broad challenges posed by the tensions
between Iran and Israel, which may explode unless progress is made through
negotiation and audacious steps are taken to curb greater enrichment and Iran’s
support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Last but not least, we have the Israeli government’s brutal treatment of
Palestinians, which destabilizes the region as a whole.
Indeed, the main requisite for saving itself is finding a just and comprehensive
peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that accounts for the
rights of the Palestinians, thereby avoiding the pitfalls that folded John
Kerry’s initiative during Barack Obama’s second term and Jared Kushner’s
initiative during Donald Trump’s term. Only Washington can revitalize the
Israeli-Palestinian peace process and diffuse this time bomb hindering its
return to the region. The US should cooperate with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
in particular and the countries of the region in general to forge new bilateral
relationships through which to address shared concerns and seize new
opportunities... If it does, the US will ride back to the region on a white
horse.
Saving Russia and the World
Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/June 12/2023
The strong Russia is in a crisis. It is like a strong boxer who has chosen to
fight a smaller one and yet, cannot deal the knockout blow. The West is also in
a crisis. Russia’s victory would be too much for it to bear, while Russia’s
defeat will be too much for the world to bear.
A defeated Russia in Ukraine is more dangerous than a victorious one. Russian
President Vladimir Putin’s defeat may force him to expand the war or bring it
closer to nuclear war. Sometimes you need to save your rival after depriving
them of victory.
I recall statements from a man who knows the international game and its players.
He said the United States is a massive empire, and yet, it can be ruled by an
ordinary, weak or moody man.
It can also lose a war. It can launch a probe and conclude that changes are
needed: a new president, administration and perhaps even a new majority at
Congress. It boasts institutions that can absorb shocks and blows.
The institution in the US is more powerful than the man. It grants him wide
authority, but it can rein him in if he takes risks or violates the basic rules.
Russia is another story. It can only feel reassured when a strong man is in
power. The weak man makes it feel that it is being surrounded and under threat.
It is standing at an important crossroads where all choices are costly. The
strong man relieves it of its concerns, fears of others and of the forces within
its maps.
The Soviet experience is rife with lessons. Russia is a continent that boasts
ethnic, religious and cultural wealth. Its stability is necessary for the
security or Europe and Asian and international balances. That is why Russia must
be helped in getting out of the Ukraine crisis.
It won’t bode well if we witness advanced western jets fighting Russian jets
over Ukraine. No one can guarantee that the war will remain contained within its
current boundaries. And yet, the world cannot withstand the consequences of the
war becoming open-ended and stretching on for years.
The crisis of the current war runs deep. The West cannot agree on giving Russia
what it wants because Russia will only view this as a victory. On the other
hand, Putin’s Russia cannot leave Ukraine defeated. The defeat of the master of
the Kremlin may threaten the Russian federation itself.
Delivering the knockout blow in Ukraine is not on the cards. Ukraine has no
other choice than to resist the invading Russians even if it seems like a
suicide mission that has cost it massive human and economic losses. Even if its
counteroffensive fails, Ukraine will not surrender. It will seek more support
from the West and pledge before its people to carry out another
counteroffensive.
Russia is unable to deal the knockout blow, but it can afford the cost of a
lengthy war. This does not deny the truth that Russia has upended international
equations by waging the war and weakened its position in the club of major
powers.
Ukraine and Russia have no choice but to keep going in the war. However, the
prolongation of the conflict will pose many dangers to countries near and far.
For nearby countries, they fear the war may expand to them, while distant ones
are suffering the consequences of rising energy and grain prices. The world
cannot withstand more years of war.
A real will to stop the war must be formed. China must play the role of some
sort of savior, especially if Europe begins searching for a solution and the US
starts to believe that Russia has not received a reward for its “aggression”.
It is not impossible to put conflicts on the right path towards a solution. The
feeling that the knockout blow is out of reach must not mean that war should go
on indefinitely. Rather, it should pave the way for an equation of semi-victory
and semi-defeat, where small gains are distributed, and major disappointments
are shared.
Has Putin’s long stay in power affected his convictions? Those who knew him have
said that in his early years in office, he had sent positive messages to the
West. He was prepared for Russia to join the rules and institutions that ran the
world. He was ready to establish balanced or semi-balanced relations with the US
and normal and strong relations with Europe.
He then realized that the West had never forgiven Russia for its Soviet journey.
It still approached it as a danger that should be contained. The speed at which
former Soviet republics threw themselves in the European Union or NATO laps
reawakened old Russian fears in him. That is why he began to believe that his
country would make its own security, borders and roles by bringing its neighbors
to heel.
He even came to believe that he must stage a major revolt against the world that
was born out of the Soviet rubble. This explains his annexation of Crimea, his
military intervention in Syria, need to avenge NATO’s intervention in Serbia and
Kosovo, and confront the colored revolutions that erupted near Russia’s borders.
The US can live under the rule of a weak man, but Russia cannot. The world will
pay the price of Putin’s victory and will pay a higher one for his defeat. Will
the potential failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive make the decision-makers
in the West realize that it is time to search for a solution where both sides
are semi-defeated and semi-victorious?
Is it time to save Russia and the world? Does the Kremlin feel like it needs
someone to help it end the costly conflict in Ukraine? It is evident that Putin
made an error in launching the war. The master of reports was fooled by reports.