Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 25-26/2023
Belarus deal to take in leader of Russian rebellion puts him in an even more repressive nation
The Associated Press/Sun, June 25, 2023
Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was notorious for unbridled and profane challenges to authority even before the attempted rebellion that he mounted Saturday. The reported agreement for him to go into exile in Belarus would place him in a country where such behavior is even less acceptable than in his homeland. Prigozhin on Sunday was uncharacteristically silent as his Wagner private army forces pulled back from Russian cities after a Kremlin announcement that he agreed to depart for Belarus; it remains unclear whether he’s actually there. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko reportedly negotiated the deal. But Prigozhin’s maverick ways are at odds with Lukashenko’s harsh repression of dissent and independent media. In power since 1994, the leader often called “Europe’s last dictator” launched a brutal crackdown on 2020 protests against his rule; hundreds were sentenced to lengthy prison terms, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. Under Lukashenko, Belarus became almost umbilically tied to neighboring Russia, agreeing to form a still-in-progress “union state.” Although Belarus' army is not known to have taken part in Russia’s war on Ukraine, the country allows Russia to base troops there that have fought in Ukraine and made a deal this year for deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons. Lukashenko is a vehement ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prigozhin’s stance toward the Kremlin leader is murkier. Even as his fighters moved swiftly toward Moscow on Saturday, Prigozhin did not criticize Putin directly and instead claimed his aim was to oust the Russian defense establishment which he has denounced as corrupt and incompetent, complaining that it undermined his forces fighting in Ukraine. The Belarus deal removes Prigozhin’s control of Wagner, but it’s unclear whether any of his fighters would follow him to Belarus, either out of a sense of loyalty or due to dismay with being absorbed into the Russian military as contract soldiers. “These personnel could potentially sign contracts with the MoD on an individual basis, demobilize in Russia … (or) travel to Belarus in some capacity,” the Institute for the Study of War think-tank said in its report on the failed rebellion. If in Belarus, there would be concerns about whether they could get access to the Russian battlefield nuclear weapons. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s security council, was worried about them gaining control of Russian weapons as the uprising roiled on Saturday. “The world will be put on the brink of destruction,” if Wagnerites obtain nuclear weapons, Medvedev warned.

Putin is at risk of losing his iron grip on power. The next 24 hours are critical
Nick Paton Walsh/CNN/June 24, 2023
‘Quite unprecedented territory’: CNN reporter details developments in RussiaScroll back up to restore default view.
This just does not happen in Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Especially in public.
The Russian president is facing the most serious threat to his hold on power in all the 23 years he’s run the nuclear state. And it is staggering to behold the veneer of total control he has maintained all that time – the ultimate selling point of his autocracy – crumble overnight. It was both inevitable and impossible. Inevitable, as the mismanagement of the war had meant only a system as homogenously closed and immune to criticism as the Kremlin could survive such a heinous misadventure. And impossible as Putin’s critics simply vanish, or fall out of windows, or are poisoned savagely. Yet now the fifth-largest army in the world is halfway through a weekend in which fratricide – the turning of their guns upon their fellow soldiers – was briefly the only thing that could save the Moscow elite from collapse. At the time of writing, 24 hours of extraordinary shark-jumping culminated with Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin agreeing to reverse his advance to within 120 miles (200 kilometers) of Moscow’s city limits and send his columns back to “field camps, according to the plan.” It is a last-minute reversal intended, he said, to avoid “bloodshed.” Shortly before this audio statement, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko apparently contacted Prigozhin, with the permission of Putin, to negotiate this remarkable climbdown, according to a statement from Belarusian officials and Russian state media reports. Much of this sudden resolution is as curious and inexplicable as the crisis it solved. Prigozhin appears – thus far – to have had none of his demands heeded. The top brass of Russia’s defense ministry is still in place. He has done incalculable damage to Putin’s control over the Russian state, and shown how easy it is to take control of the key military city of Rostov-on-Don and then move fast towards the capital. And it took the intervention of Lukashenko, an ally whom Putin treats more as a subordinate than an equal, to engineer an end to this ghastly of weekends for the Kremlin. More details of how this came to be will emerge. And the lasting damage done to Putin by this armed insurrection will be compounded by some key decisions the Kremlin head must now make. Will he pardon Prigozhin, and his fighters, or retract his statement about “inevitable punishment” for “blackmail and terrorist methods?” Does he make changes in the defense elite to placate Wagner’s head? What does all of this say to the Russian military, elite and people about who is really in charge of the country? The rage and tension that has been building for months has not suddenly been assuaged. It has instead been accentuated.
So accustomed are we to viewing Putin as a master tactician, that the opening salvos of Prigozhin’s disobedience were at times assessed as a feint – a bid by Putin to keep his generals on edge with a loyal henchman as their outspoken critic. But what we have seen – with Putin forced to admit that Rostov-on-Don, his main military hub, is out of his control – puts paid to any idea that this was managed by the Kremlin.
It is likely however Wagner’s units planned some of this for a while. The justification for this rebellion appeared urgent and spontaneous – an apparent air strike on a Wagner camp in the forest, which the Russian Ministry of Defense has denied – appeared hours after a remarkable dissection of the rationale behind the war by Prigozhin. He partially spoke the truth about the war’s disastrous beginnings: Russia was not under threat from NATO attack, and Russians were not being persecuted. The one deceit he maintained was to suggest Russia’s top brass was behind the invasion plan, and not Putin himself. Wagner’s forces have pulled themselves together very fast and moved quickly into Rostov. That’s hard to do spontaneously in one afternoon. Perhaps Prigozhin dreamt he could push Putin into a change at the top of a ministry of defense the Wagner chief has publicly berated for months. But Putin’s address on Saturday morning has eradicated that prospect. This is now an existential choice for Russia’s elite – between the president’s faltering regime, and the dark, mercenary Frankenstein it created to do its dirty work, which has turned on its masters. A fighter from the Wagner private mercenary group stands guard near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023.
It is a moment of clarity for Russia’s military too. A few years ago, Prigozhin’s mild critiques would have led to elite special forces in balaclavas walking him away. But now he roams freely, with his sights openly on marching to Moscow. Where were the FSB’s special forces during this nightmare Saturday for the Kremlin? Decimated by the war, or not eager to take on their armed and experienced comrades in Wagner? This is not the first time this spring we have seen Moscow look weak. The drone attack on the Kremlin in May must have caused the elite around Putin to question how on earth the capital’s defenses were so weak. Days later, elite country houses were targeted by yet more Ukrainian drones. Among the Russian rich, Friday’s events will remove any question about whether they should doubt Putin’s grip on power. Ukraine will likely be celebrating the disastrous timing of this insurrection inside Russia’s ranks. It will likely alter the course of the war in Kyiv’s favor. But rebellions rarely end in Russia – or anywhere – with the results they set out to achieve. The 1917 removal of Tsar Nicholas II in Russia turned into the Bolshevik Revolution, Lenin and then the Soviet Empire. As this rare Jacobean drama of Russian basic human frailty plays out, it is not inevitable that improvements will follow. Prigozhin may not prevail, and the foundations of the Kremlin’s control may not ultimately collapse. But a weakened Putin may do irrational things to prove his strength.
He may prove unable to accept the logic of defeat in the coming months on the frontlines in Ukraine. He may be unaware of the depth of discontent among his own armed forces, and lack proper control over their actions. Russia’s position as a responsible nuclear power rests on stability at the top.
A lot more can go wrong than it can go right. But it is impossible to imagine Putin’s regime will ever go back to its previous heights of control from this moment. And it is inevitable that further turmoil and change is ahead.

Putin’s ‘invincible’ hypersonic missiles could soon be intercepted
Howard Mustoe/The Telegraph/June 25, 2023
An interceptor capable of taking down Vladimir Putin’s “invincible” hypersonic missiles is being developed by an Anglo-French business, as the West races to counter new technology developed by the Kremlin. The protective system could be deployed across Europe to take down the missiles, which move at a reported 6,900mph and are meant to be unstoppable using existing defences. It is being developed by a team led by MBDA, part-owned by the UK’s BAE Systems. The company has early-stage deals with France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands to come up with a prototype in the next three years as efforts to defend against the threat heat up. Typical rockets fly at about Mach 3, while hypersonics travel at a minimum of Mach 5, about 3,800mph, or five times the speed of sound, or even faster. As well as being incredibly fast, they have an unpredictable flight path that makes them hard to track. Weapons developed by the Kremlin include the 3M22 Zircon, an anti-ship missile described by Mr Putin as “invincible” in 2018. It was tested last year by a Russian warship. China reportedly fired a hypersonic projectile around the globe in a test in 2021. Ships are thought to be particularly vulnerable to attack, especially if they face a number of the weapons at once – posing a major threat to the aircraft carriers that the West uses to project power across the world. British companies including Qinetiq and Cohort are also working on solutions to the challenge, with Qinetiq attempting to use a laser weapon dubbed “dragonfire” to shoot down the missiles. The Israeli defence firm Rafael is working on a new “Sky Sonic” system that is specifically designed for intercepting hypersonic missiles. There were hopes the missiles were not what they were cracked up to be when in May Ukraine claimed to have destroyed half a dozen KH-47M2 Kinzhal missiles – another Russian hypersonic – using anti-missile systems widely assumed to be Patriot batteries loaned to Kyiv by America. Russia said the claim was false, but the weapon is an early version and later models will be harder to dispatch. The weapons typically fall into two categories – a powered variant which uses a particularly fast type of jet engine called a scramjet, or a projectile launched from high in the sky that bounces off the atmosphere to reach its target. Either way, to develop a good defence against these weapons, a system must monitor a much larger area to detect and intercept them.
The only concession the missiles offer is that they are comparatively delicate because of the huge amounts of heat they must manage. To destroy them, they can be hit directly, which is the hardest method because of the speed of the missile; they can be hit by a missile with a blast radius, which is messier because shrapnel and debris brings the danger of more destruction; or energy weapons can be used. These can theoretically work by turning the missile into a large antenna and corrupting the electronics inside. Eric Béranger, chief executive of MBDA, said the project will “contribute to reinforcing the sovereign missile systems industry in Europe, by sustaining and developing critical expertise, technologies and materials; thus boosting European industrial competitiveness”. He added: “The technologies in the hypersonic domain are evolving, and it is a priority for MBDA to remain at the forefront of innovation, guiding Europe towards the most efficient solution to counter hypersonic threats.”

Blinken sees 'real cracks' in Putin regime after chaotic challenge: Ukraine live updates
John Bacon and David Jackson, USA TODAY/June 25, 2023
The Biden administration is monitoring fallout from the weekend coup attempt in Russia that could provide profound consequences for Vladimir Putin, Ukraine and Russia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday. Blinken, making the rounds on Sunday morning talk shows, said the threatened insurrection by Russian mercenaries raises "profound questions" about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and revealed "real cracks" in Putin's regime. The agreement that persuaded a popular mercenary leader to abandon a march to Moscow doesn't end Putin's leadership crisis, Blinken said.
"This is just the latest chapter in a book of failure that Putin has written for himself and for Russia," Blinken said on NBC News' "Meet the Press." "Economically, militarily, its standing in the world – all of things have plummeted. "Blinken said officials are still trying to learn the details of the agreement between Putin and Yevgeny Prigozhin. The secretary of state did not comment on the stability of Putin's regime, or even whether he is still in Moscow. Asked about the security of Russia's massive nuclear stockpile, Blinken told CNN's "State of the Union" that is "something we're looking at very, very carefully."
He also said that “It’s too soon to tell where this is going to go."
Will Vladimir Putin keep his grip on power? Coup attempt dials up pressure over Ukraine war
Developments:
∙ GOP presidential hopeful Chris Christie dismissed a recent Pew Research survey indicating 44% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say the U.S. is giving too much aid to Ukraine. "America has never been a great country and the leader of the world by filling in the moat and pulling up the drawbridge," said on ABC News' "This Week." ∙ Two more bodies were found under the rubble of a Kyiv apartment building a day after it was hit by missile debris during a Russian strike Saturday, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Sunday. The discovery raises the death toll to five.
∙ Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, apparently involved in negotiations that ended Prigozhin's march on Russia, could take part in negotiations to end the war, Ukraine Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Alexei Danilov said on his Facebook page. "Lukashenko's participation in this process is not excluded," Danilov wrote. What’s happening in Russia? Kremlin says Wagner chief to leave for Belarus after rebellion
China backs Putin's handling of rebellion
China's foreign ministry issues a statement Sunday expressing vague support of the deal struck by Putin and Prigozhin. Putin has been working for months to strengthen ties with China in the face of Russia's hostile relations with the West.
"This is Russia’s internal affair," the Chinese statement read. "As Russia’s friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner of coordination for the new era, China supports Russia in maintaining national stability and achieving development and prosperity," Revolt leader 'probably has got other arrows in the quiver'
An attempted coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin that was swiftly abandoned Saturday raised new questions about his grip on power and is expected to intensify pressure on him within Russia over the unpopular war in Ukraine. Putin had vowed a harsh penalty for Prigozhin, the head of the paramilitary force that has been fighting alongside Russia's regular army in Ukraine. But after Prigozhin abruptly ended the rebellion, the Kremlin said he would not be prosecuted and would instead leave for Belarus. Although Putin's authority has not been challenged during his more than two decades as Russia's president, a shadowy group known as the siloviki – Russia’s version of the so-called Deep State security power brokers – wields substantial power behind the scenes in Russia, said Steven Hall, a former Moscow chief of station and head of Russia operations for the CIA. If Putin loses their support, he could be forced out almost immediately, he said. "Putin and the Kremlin haven't played the last card yet," Hall said. "Neither have any of the other players here, including Prigozhin, who probably has got other arrows in the quiver."
Wagner mercenaries begin retreat from Russian territory
Wagner militants were leaving the southern Russia region of Voronezh, a day after the group abandoned its armed march toward Moscow, local governor Alexander Gusev said Sunday. "The movement of Wagner units through Voronezh Oblast is ending," Gusev said in a Telegram post,adding that travel and social restrictions in the region will be lifted once "the situation is finally resolved."
Wagner militants had reportedly seized all of the regional capital Voronezh's military facilities after Prigozhin launched his rebellion "to restore justice" after alleging that a Russian missile strike on his mercenary forces' camps in Ukraine caused substantial casualties.

Russian diplomat flies to Beijing as Putin faces heat at home
BEIJING (Reuters) /Sun, June 25, 2023
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko flew to Beijing for talks with China on "international" issues, amid a major challenge by Russian mercenaries to President Vladimir Putin's grip on power. Rudenko on Sunday exchanged views with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang in a meeting in the Chinese capital on Sunday on Sino-Russian relations as well as "international and regional issues of common concern", China's foreign ministry said in a one-line statement on its website. It was unclear when Rudenko arrived in Beijing, or whether his visit to China, a key ally of Russia, was in response to the apparent rebellion by heavily armed mercenaries on Friday. China has yet to publicly comment on the rebellion that Putin said threatened Russia's very existence. Western leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden said they were closely monitoring the situation. "China will support Russia while stressing no interference of its internal affairs," prominent Chinese military expert and TV commentator Song Zhongping told Reuters. Earlier, mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said his "march" on Moscow was intended to remove corrupt and incompetent commanders he blames for botching the war in Ukraine. Prigozhin's mercenary Wagner army has since halted its advance in a move Prigozhin said would avoid bloodshed. The rebellion has been closely followed by Chinese media which has refrained from comment ahead of any official remarks, whereas many Chinese citizens have spoken up in support of Putin on social media. "You can do it, Russia!" many Chinese citizens wrote in social media posts. China's Embassy in Russia told Chinese media outlet Southern Metropolis Daily on Saturday that the region around Moscow was calm. Hyping up the "mutiny" of Prigozhin and creating an "illusion" Russia has many internal contradictions and that "the building is collapsing" amounted to the latest attack by Western media and was another attempt to undermine Russian social unity, Chinese state-controlled Global Times said on Saturday. To Song, the rebellion has ended. "Prigozhin realises that it is difficult to achieve the desired results through this rebellion," Song said.

Putin survives Wagner revolt but forced to cut deal
Agence France Presse/Sun, June 25, 2023
The leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner has agreed to go into exile in Belarus, the Kremlin said, after President Vladimir Putin was forced to accept an amnesty deal to halt a mutiny. The agreement appears to end the immediate threat that Yevgeny Prigozhin's private army could storm Moscow, but analysts said Wagner's revolt had exposed a fragility in Putin's rule. Security measures imposed under an "anti-terrorism operation" were still in place in Moscow on Sunday, and Prigozhin's exact whereabouts were unclear, but his troops had left a military headquarters they had seized in southern Russia. The long-standing feud between Prighozin and military top brass over the conduct of the Russian operation in Ukraine boiled over on Saturday when Wagner forces seized the base in Rostov-on-Don and embarked on a long advance towards Moscow.
Putin denounced the action as treason and vowed to punish the perpetrators, accusing them of pushing Russia to the brink of civil war -- only to then accept a rapidly cobbled-together agreement to avert Russia's most serious security crisis in decades.
'Russian blood'
Within hours of Prigozhin's surprise announcement that his forces would return to base to avoid "spilling Russian blood", the Kremlin announced that Putin's former ally would leave for Belarus and that Russia would not prosecute him nor Wagner's troops. By early Sunday, Wagner had pulled out of Rostov-on-Don, the regional governor said, but before they left dozens of residents were cheering and chanting "Wagner! Wagner!" outside the military headquarters they had captured. Ukraine revelled in the chaos, stepping up its own counteroffensive against Russian forces in the country and mocking Putin's apparent humiliation. Analysts also said that the deal had exposed weakness in the Russian president's grip on power. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said he had negotiated the truce with Prigozhin. Moscow thanked him, but observers noted that an intervention by Lukashenko, usually seen as Putin's very junior partner, was itself an embarrassment. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said the criminal case against Prigozhin will be dropped and he would go to Belarus, while members of Wagner who had taken part in what authorities dubbed an "armed rebellion" would not be prosecuted.
In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky's senior aide Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted: "Prigozhin humiliated Putin/the state and showed that there is no longer a monopoly on violence."While Russia claimed the rebellion had no impact on its Ukraine campaign, Kyiv said the unrest offered a "window of opportunity" as the nation pressed its long-awaited counter-offensive. And experts said that the truce would probably not be the end of the story of Prighozin's feud with Moscow, with Putin now being obliged to take measures to restore his authority. In addition to providing some of the most successful shock troops fighting in Ukraine, Prigozhin's outfit conducts several mercenary operations in the Middle East and West Africa. These missions are seen to have the Kremlin's backing and amount to Russian influence operations to curry favour with African governments and win access to mineral resources. Independent political analyst Konstantin Kalachev told AFP: "The crisis of institutions and trust was not obvious to many in Russia and the West yesterday. Today, it is clear. "Yesterday's call for unity made by representatives of the elites only confirmed this. Behind these is a crisis of institutions and fears for themselves," he said.
He noted that Russian leaders would be concerned by the sight of civilian onlookers applauding Wagner units in Rostov. "Putin's position is weakened," he said. "Putin underestimated Prigozhin, just as he underestimated Zelensky before that ... He could have stopped this with a phone call to Prigozhin but he did not." The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, Lukashenko's direct role in negotiating the truce would be "humiliating to Putin". "The Kremlin now faces a deeply unstable equilibrium," it said. "The Lukashenko-negotiated deal is a short-term fix, not a long-term solution, and Prigozhin's rebellion exposed severe weaknesses in the Kremlin and Russian MoD." The United States and its Western allies, who back Ukraine in its battle against Russia, publicly stayed on the sidelines of the revolt amid concerns that Putin's control over the nuclear-armed country could be slipping. Security was tightened in Moscow city centre, with armed men in flak jackets guarding the parliament building and Red Square closed off to the public. "I don't know how to react. In any case it's very sad this is happening," 35-year-old Yelena told AFP, declining to give her last name.
'A blow to Russia'
On Saturday as the Wagner force headed north towards Putin on a major highway, Putin accused Prigozhin of a "stab in the back" that posed a threat to Russia's very survival. "Any internal turmoil is a deadly threat to our statehood and to us as a nation ... Extravagant ambitions and personal interests led to treason," Putin said, referring to Prigozhin, who began building his power base as a catering contractor. While Prigozhin's outfit fought at the forefront of Russia's offensive in Ukraine, he repeatedly blamed Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, for under-supplying his units.

Israel praises foiling of Iranian attack against Israeli targets in Cyprus
JERUSALEM (Reuters)/Sun, June 25, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday praised the thwarting of what he said was an Iranian attack against Israeli targets in Cyprus. A statement from Netanyahu's office did not give any more details, but Israeli news website Ynet, without disclosing its sources, said an attack had been planned against Israelis staying in the city of Limassol. Cyprus declined to comment on whether an attack had been foiled. "Israel welcomes the foiling of the Iranian terrorist attack in the territory of Cyprus against Israeli targets," Netanyahu's office said. "Israel operates everywhere in a wide variety of methods in order to protect Jews and Israelis and will continue to act to sever Iranian terrorism wherever it raises its head, including on Iranian soil," the statement said. Asked about the Israeli statement, Cyprus government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said: "We cannot comment on issues regarding national security." In 2021, Israel accused Iran of orchestrating an attempted attack against Israelis in Cyprus after police on the Mediterranean island said an armed individual had been arrested. Iran denied the accusation.

Israel's Netanyahu briefly freezes Golan wind turbine project that set off rare clashes
JERUSALEM (AP)/Sun, June 25, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a brief freeze in construction on a wind turbine project in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights that set off a rare clash between Druze residents and police. Netanyahu said late Saturday he agreed to a pause on the project during this week's Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which is meant to allow time for talks to defuse the crisis. The project is expected to resume next week. A statement from Netanyahu’s office said he made the decision based on advice from security officials. The Druze oppose the plan, which would install more than two dozen 200-meter (660-foot) tall turbines throughout their land. The landowners said the turbines will harm their agricultural output and that the energy company behind the project didn't consult with them in good faith, a claim the company denies. Last week, thousands of residents demonstrated against the project, storming a police station, throwing stones and fireworks, setting tires on fire, vandalizing police cars, blocking roads and even shooting live fire into the air, according to police. Israel captured the Golan, a strategic plateau overlooking northern Israel, from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel subsequently annexed the area in a move that was recognized by former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. But most of the international community considers the area to be occupied territory. While Druze leaders still profess allegiance to Syria, relations with Israel are normally good. The Golan is a popular vacation destination for Israelis and is filled with hotels and restaurants, and most residents speak Hebrew fluently. Violent clashes with Israeli authorities are rare.

Israel reboots fiercely opposed judicial campaign
JERUSALEM (Reuters)/Sun, June 25, 2023
Israeli lawmakers on Sunday began debating a bill that would limit the Supreme Court's powers, rebooting a fiercely opposed judicial overhaul instigated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition. Anti-government demonstrations had prompted Netanyahu to suspend his judicial drive in March to allow compromise talks with opposition parties. He declared those talks fruitless last week and ordered some of the legislation to be revived. The proposed changes, which included curbs on the court's ability to rule against the government, had sparked frequent street protests before the March suspension and on Saturday night anti-overhaul activists blocked a major Tel Aviv highway. Coalition lawmakers have indicated that the new bill would be a far softer version of previous proposals that had sought to almost totally roll back the Supreme Court's power to rule against the executive. The opposition, however, says the new bill would still open the door to corruption. "You are renewing a legislation blitz meant to destroy the justice system's independence and badly hurt Israeli democracy's delicate checks and balances," Labour lawmaker Gilad Kariv said as the debate began. Opposition leader Yair Lapid on Twitter urged Netanyahu to stop the legislation and revive negotiations "until we reach agreements that will safeguard democracy and prevent a national disaster". The proposed judicial overhaul has also stirred Western concern over Israel's democratic health and spooked investors. Critics see it as an attempt to curb court independence by Netanyahu, who is on trial on graft charges that he denies. The coalition says its goal is to balance the powers of the government, legislature and judiciary by reining in a Supreme Court they see as too interventionist.

Frankly Speaking: Will the Assad regime kick its drug habits?
Arab News/June 25, 2023
On International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, expert doubts Syria’s intention to change despite Arab League readmission
Caroline Rose of New Lines Institute says killing of kingpin Al-Ramthan was significant for curtailing trafficking, not production
Arab News documentary probes Captagon trade sources, shines light on Kingdom’s battle against drug smuggling and consumption
DUBAI: As the world marks the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, leading Captagon trade researcher Caroline Rose says she is doubtful the Bashar Assad regime would relinquish its lucrative drug business income, despite apparent support and commitments to Arab countries during the Jeddah Arab League Summit last month. Appearing on Frankly Speaking, Arab News’ current affairs talk show, the director of New Lines Institute pointed out that not only does Captagon production in Syria provide the regime with “a large source of revenue,” but “it also upholds a very delicate system of power in patronage inside of regime-held areas that the Assad regime has relied on throughout the civil war.”She explained that many of the “big players” deeply involved in the Captagon trade, “such as Maher Assad,” are “relatives of Bashar Assad himself, or members of Syria’s very deep and very influential security apparatus,” and “they all have a role to play in continuing and keeping up the Syrian regime’s hold on power and territorial control across the country. Asked about the impact of the Saudi-Jordanian-Egyptian airstrike that killed Captagon kingpin Merhi Al-Ramthan inside Syria on May 8, Rose replied that although Al-Ramthan was an “influential trafficker and smuggler in the south (of Syria),” he was not a key actor in production, making him a “smaller fish … that the regime could give up as a show of goodwill.”She noted that “while Al-Ramthan was given up, a number of other key individuals were not,” meaning the move was “an opportunity for the Syrian regime to … show it was genuine about cracking down on the Captagon trade.”The joint airstrike came a week after Syria committed to assisting in ending drug trafficking along its borders with Jordan and Iraq. The foreign ministers of Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan met in Amman in early May and discussed developing a roadmap to reach a political settlement for the 12-year war.
Elaborating on the significance of Al-Ramthan’s killing, Rose pointed out that in southern Syria, which “has grown in importance in the Captagon trade,” the deceased kingpin “operated a very large network of traffickers that would be enlisted and recruited — many of them were local tribes or traffickers that had been participating in illicit trades for decades.”She added that Al-Ramthan “was responsible for trying to export the Captagon trade out of Syria,” emphasizing that traffickers in south Syria attempted to find new routes “that could serve as a pathway to Arab Gulf destination markets.”
Rose believes Al-Ramthan’s killing has “served a message to a number of traffickers” that “if you are not in close, close coordination with the Syrian regime, then you have a target on your back.”For this reason, she believes the world is braced for “much more creative and sophisticated ways of smuggling and Captagon production as a result,” but not necessarily comparable to the opioid epidemic, which “coincided with a huge uptick in deaths and fatality,” particularly in the US. With Captagon, “we have not necessarily seen the fatality rate that we have seen with the opioid epidemic, so I do not want to put that on the same plane,” she said. In 2017, the US Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency. It was reported that from 1999 to 2019, there were more than 760,000 deaths due to overdoses, and in 2020, opioids were involved in approximately 75 percent of all overdose fatalities. However, citing the diverse and broad Captagon smuggling capacity, Rose added that “in terms of the sophisticated and advanced smuggling techniques, I think that Captagon is definitely competitive in that aspect.”
She added: “We have seen fruit and vegetables used (and) machinery. We have seen designer bags, school desks, sometimes even drone technology used to smuggle Captagon — and this counts for not only Captagon shipments that are being sent to maritime ports, but also Captagon that is being seized along overland border crossings as well. “These smugglers are closely monitoring the different shifts in trade, but also interdiction capacity amongst law-enforcement entities, and they are very much calculating new ways that they can traffic Captagon to reach new destination markets and carve out new transit markets in the process.”
Last month, the Biden administration said it would release a congressional-approved strategy to curb the flow of Captagon from Syria. This has prompted the question of why it took the US almost a decade to act when Syria’s narco-trade began after the war erupted in 2011.
Rose said that the strategy to stem Syria’s Captagon trade was “originally an NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) amendment in the previous year,” and “it took two years to get it passed.”
She added that “the recognition (of) Captagon as an issue and as a crisis in the region … took quite a while. It took a while to also compound and compile evidence of the regime’s participation in the trade, and for the United States to really wake up to the fact that this was not necessarily just any illicit economy that was in the region, but it was something that had real security and geopolitical implications. “I think also … just typical bureaucracy as well. It takes very, very long, especially in the US legislative system, to get initiatives like these passed.”
On the prevalence of Captagon in the Middle East and its expanding global reach, Rose said the drug, which is sold at relatively low prices, has become extremely popular primarily due to its “variety of different uses” — it can suppress trauma, improve productivity, and induce a euphoric feeling.
She pointed out that the drug is popular among different demographics in the Gulf, with some people using it recreationally, “but also amongst university students studying for exams to increase productivity. We have seen it across the region used by taxi drivers, by lorry drivers and truck drivers … as well as workers that are looking to work a second shift.”“The biggest piece of information about Captagon that really should be better communicated to the public, particularly in destination markets like Saudi Arabia, is the fact that we do not know what is inside of Captagon pills anymore,” Rose said.
Elaborating on the point, she said: “It used to be ethylene in the 1960s to the 1980s … but really since the early 2000s, we have seen a variety of different Captagon formulas pop up through one of the very few chemical analyses that have been conducted.”
“And because of this lack of uniformity, producers can make Captagon whatever they want it to be, and that causes and should spark serious, serious public health concerns.” Saudi Arabia, according to Rose, is a “lucrative” market for Captagon-trafficking networks mainly due to wealth and demographic composition, including “a considerable population of youth with a lot of cash to spend.” A new documentary by Arab News, titled “Abu Hilalain: Inside the Kingdom’s crackdown on Captagon,” delves into Saudi Arabia’s battle against Captagon, examining the origins, methods of production, and trafficking of the drug while investigating its consumption within the country.

Ambassador Ala presents credentials to Secretary-General of Arab League
SANA - Cairo,/June 25, 2023
Syrian Ambassador Hussam Eddin Ala, presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit as a permanent representative of Syria to the League. Following the meeting, Ambassador Ala made a remark, stressing the importance of cooperation and coordination between Syria and the Arab countries to address the challenges facing the Arab nation and its countries. He pointed out the resumption of Syria’s participation in the meetings of the Arab League will contribute to strengthening this cooperation to serve the higher Arab issues and the interests of the member states.
Ala indicated that the repeated Zionist attacks on the occupied Palestinian territories and in the occupied Syrian Golan constitute one of the most prominent issues that require the strengthening of joint Arab cooperation and coordination. President Bashar al-Assad issued the Decree No. 126 for the year 2023, which stipulates naming Ambassador Hussam Eddin Ala, as permanent representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the League of Arab States (LAS). ---

Syria: 4 policemen were killed in a terrorist ambush in Daraa countryside
NNAJune 25, 2023
Four members of the Internal Security Forces were killed and another seriously wounded in an armed ambush set up by terrorists near the Al-Jamal roundabout in the town of Al-Muzayrib in the western countryside of Daraa, southern Syria, "Russia Today" reported.
The Daraa Police Command stated that the terrorist attack took place at around 7:30 am, while police officers were heading from Daraa to Tafas to secure examination centers.

Washington and Tokyo are discussing the situation in Russia in wake of Wagner events
NNAJune 25, 2023
The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced that the Secretary of the Japanese National Security Council, Takeo Akiba, and the US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, discussed the situation in Russia against the backdrop of the "Wagner" events.
In its statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that the two sides confirmed, during a phone call today, their intention to continue intensive cooperation. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also listened to the report of the leadership of the Japanese Foreign Ministry on the situation in Russia.

The French are outraged by Macron's statement about Putin
NNAJune 25, 2023
Readers of Le Figaro newspaper strongly criticized the statement of French President Emmanuel Macron, in which he saw that "the Ukrainian counterattack aims to force President Putin to make concessions and return to the negotiating table," according to "Russia Today". The newspaper's readers also urged President Macron to "try to settle the conflict, not to oppose Russia."

Withdrawal of Wagner Group from Voronezh, return of life to Rostov
NNA/June 25, 2023
Wagner forces withdrew from the Voronezh region after the end of the armed rebellion, while lifting all restrictions on the movement of transportation in the Rostov region, as reported by "Sky News". Today, the governor of the Voronezh region, in southern Russia, announced that the Wagner Group had completed its withdrawal from it, following an agreement that ended the armed rebellion against the military leadership. Governor Alexander Gusev said, "The movement of Wagner units in the Voronezh region is in the process of being completed ... the matter is taking place naturally and without incident," noting that the restrictions imposed on Saturday on movement will be lifted as soon as the situation is "finally resolved." In the Rostov region, Russian news agencies today quoted local officials as saying that the authorities have lifted all restrictions on the movement of transportation in the Rostov region, including restrictions on highways. "The bus and railway stations are operating normally. Tickets are on sale, and flights to all destinations are on time," the reports quoted Sergey Tyurin, deputy minister of regional policy and information in the Rostov region, as saying.

Russian FM Lavrov Discusses Wagner Spat With Iranian Counterpart
RT/June 25, 2023
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has spoken by phone with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who voiced support for Moscow following the insurrection by the Wagner private military company (PMC), the Russian Foreign Ministry has said. The ministry said the conversation took place late on Saturday, on the initiative of Tehran, after the crisis had already been resolved.  “The Iranian side expressed support for the actions of the Russian leadership to ensure constitutional order,” the statement read. ---

United States Knew Of Wagner Insurrection Plans In Advance — NYT
NNA/June 25, 2023
US intelligence agencies strongly suspected that Evgeny Prigozhin was planning a significant protest against the Russian government days before the Wagner chief ordered his troops to march on Moscow, The New York Times reported on Saturday, citing sources. According to unnamed US officials interviewed by the paper, the administration of US President Joe Biden and military commanders were briefed on the Wagner preparations as early as Wednesday. As additional details came in, another briefing attended by a narrow group of congressional leaders was reportedly held on Thursday.
The situation escalated on Friday night when Prigozhin accused the Russian Defense Ministry of launching a deadly missile strike on a Wagner camp and vowed retaliation. The ministry denied the allegation, accusing him of an “informational provocation.” RT

Russian mercenary group revolt against Moscow fizzles but exposes vulnerabilities
AP/NNA/June 25, 2023
The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat. The brief revolt, though, exposed vulnerabilities among Russian government forces, with Wagner Group soldiers under the command of Yevgeny Prigozhin able to move unimpeded into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advance hundreds of kilometers (miles) toward Moscow. The Russian military scrambled to defend Russia’s capital. Under the deal announced Saturday by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will go to neighboring Belarus, which has supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped.
The government also said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part, while those who did not join in were to be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers.
Putin had vowed earlier to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege. In a televised speech to the nation, he called the rebellion a “betrayal” and “treason.” In allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Peskov said, Putin’s “highest goal” was “to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results.” Some observers said Putin’s strongman image has taken a hit. “Putin has been diminished for all time by this affair,” former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst said on CNN.
Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city’s southern edge. About 3,000 Chechen soldiers were pulled from fighting in Ukraine and rushed there early Saturday, state television in Chechnya reported. Russian troops armed with machine guns put up checkpoints on Moscow’s southern outskirts. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march. Wagner troops advanced to just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, according to Prigozhin. But after the deal was struck, Prigozhin announced that he had decided to retreat to avoid “shedding Russian blood.”  Prigozhin had demanded the ouster of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, whom Prigohzhin has long criticized in withering terms for his conduct of the 16-month-long war in Ukraine. On Friday, he accused forces under Shoigu’s command of attacking Wagner camps and killing “a huge number of our comrades.”  If Putin were to agree to Shoigu’s ouster, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor.
The U.S. had intelligence that Prigozhin had been building up his forces near the border with Russia for some time. That conflicts with Prigozhin’s claim that his rebellion was a response to an attack on his camps in Ukraine on Friday by the Russian military.
In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of attacking the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu in which they decided to destroy the military contractor.
The Defense Ministry denied attacking the camps.
Congressional leaders were briefed on the Wagner buildup earlier last week, a person familiar with the matter said. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The U.S. intelligence briefing was first reported by CNN. Early Saturday, Prigozhin’s private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometers) south of Moscow, which runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said.
Russian media reported that several helicopters and a military communications plane were downed by Wagner troops. Russia’s Defense Ministry has not commented. After the agreement de-escalated tensions, video from Rostov-on-Don posted on Russian messaging app channels showed people cheering Wagner troops as they departed. Prigozhin was riding in an SUV followed by a large truck, and people greeted him and some ran to shake his hand. The regional governor later said that all of the troops had left the city. Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin declared Monday a non-working day for most residents as part of the heightened security, a measure that remained in effect even after the retreat. Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. “These events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military,” said Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He said that even with a deal, Putin’s position has probably been weakened. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Saturday, shortly before Prigozhin announced his retreat, that the march exposed weakness in the Kremlin and “showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs” that it is easy to capture Russian cities “and, probably, arsenals.” Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions.
The 62-year-old Prigozhin, a former convict, has longstanding ties to Putin and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname “Putin’s chef.”He and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged in the United States with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential election victory. Wagner has sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries and eventually Ukraine.

Hollywood producer to testify at Netanyahu corruption trial as prosecution witness
Associated Press/Sun, June 25, 2023
Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan will testify Sunday at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial to answer questions about an alleged "supply line" of champagne and cigars funneled to the Israeli leader and his wife said to have been in exchange for help with Milchan's personal and business needs. Milchan, who will appear by videoconference from Brighton, England, near where he is based, is a key witness whose testimony is essential for prosecutors who are trying to prove that Netanyahu committed fraud and breach of trust in one of three cases brought against him. Prosecutors hope Milchan's testimony, which extends through this week and next, will paint a picture of plush favors granted to Netanyahu and his wife that allegedly spurred the Israeli leader to use his position of power to advance Milchan's interests. The defense will try to lay out their case that Netanyahu wasn't acting in Milchan's personal interests and that the gifts were just friendly gestures. Prosecution and defense lawyers will question Milchan from a hotel conference room in Brighton. While no journalists are allowed to attend, Netanyahu's wife Sara, on a private visit to Britain, will sit in on Milchan's testimony. His testimony will be aired in a Jerusalem courtroom for the judges, journalists and other attendees. According to the indictment, Milchan, whose production credits include such hits as "Pretty Woman" and "12 Years a Slave," gave Netanyahu and his wife boxes of cigars and crates of champagne over a period of several years that, along with jewelry, amounted to a value of nearly $200,000 — what the indictment describes as a "supply line" of lavish gifts. The indictment accuses Netanyahu of using his influential perch to assist Milchan to secure a U.S. visa extension by drawing on his diplomatic contacts, among them former Secretary of State John Kerry. Prosecutors also accuse Netanyahu of working to push legislation that would have granted Milchan millions in tax breaks. "Considering the many links between the defendant Netanyahu and Milchan, the defendant Netanyahu should have entirely avoided dealing with Milchan's affairs," the indictment says. Milchan is testifying in one of three cases being brought against Netanyahu. The other two, for which he is charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust, accuse Netanyahu of exchanging regulatory favors with powerful media moguls for more positive coverage. Netanyahu, who is expected to attend some of Milchan's hearings, denies wrongdoing, claiming he is the victim of a witch hunt orchestrated by a liberal media and a biased justice system. Netanyahu's legal woes have dogged him politically, putting his fitness to rule while on trial at the center of a political crisis that sent Israelis to the polls for five times in under four years. They also have fueled accusations by critics that Netanyahu is pushing a contentious government plan to overhaul Israel's judiciary as a way to escape the charges. Netanyahu denies those charges. The trial, which began in 2020 and has still not heard from Netanyahu himself, 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. Milchan's aide, Hadas Klein, testified last year that the family "loves gifts." The idea of a plea bargain has repeatedly surfaced, but prosecutors for now appear determined to see through the trial, despite reports last week that the judges warned them that the more serious crime of bribery will be hard to prove.

Fighting surges in Sudan's capital and Darfur as war enters 11th week
DUBAI (Reuters)/Sun, June 25, 2023
Clashes, artillery fire and air strikes surged in Sudan's capital on Sunday, witnesses said, as a war between rival military factions that has displaced 2.5 million people and caused a humanitarian crisis entered its 11th week. Witnesses also reported a sharp increase in violence in recent days in Nyala, the largest city in the western Darfur region. The U.N. raised the alarm on Saturday over ethnic targeting and the killing of people from the Masalit community in El Geneina in West Darfur. Khartoum, the capital, and El Geneina have been worst affected by the war that broke out on April 15 between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), though last week tensions and clashes escalated in other parts of Darfur and in Kordofan, in the south. Fighting has intensified since a series of ceasefire deals agreed at talks led by the United States and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah failed to stick. The talks were adjourned last week. Residents in the three cities that make up the wider capital - Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman - reported fierce fighting from Saturday evening, continuing into Sunday morning. The army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has been using air strikes and heavy artillery to try to dislodge the RSF led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, from neighbourhoods across the capital. "Since the early morning in north Omdurman we've had air strikes and artillery bombardment and RSF anti-aircraft fire," 47-year-old resident Mohamed al-Samani told Reuters by phone. "Where are the Jeddah talks, why did the world leave us to die alone in Burhan and Hemedti's war?" In Nyala, a city that grew rapidly as people were displaced during the earlier conflict that spread in Darfur after 2003, witnesses reported a marked deterioration in the security situation over the past few days, with violent clashes in residential neighbourhoods.
There was also fighting between the army and the RSF last week around El Fashir, capital of North Darfur, which the U.N. says is inaccessible to humanitarian workers.
In El Geneina, which has been almost entirely cut off from communications networks and aid supplies in recent weeks, attacks by Arab militias and the RSF have sent tens of thousands fleeing over the border to Chad. On Saturday, U.N. Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani called for safe passage for people fleeing El Geneina and access for aid workers following reports of summary executions between the city and the border and "persistent hate speech" including calls to kill the Masalit or expel them. Of those uprooted by Sudan's conflict, nearly 2 million have been displaced internally and almost 600,000 have fled to neighbouring countries, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Trudeau off to Iceland to meet Nordic leaders ahead of NATO, amid Arctic uncertainty
OTTAWA/The Canadian Press/June 25, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to depart this morning to meet with Nordic leaders ahead of an upcoming NATO summit and as uncertainty looms over the future of the Arctic. Trudeau is slated to travel to Iceland, which will host leaders from Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway over the next two days for an annual gathering of Nordic prime ministers. Leaders from Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Åland Islands are also attending. Iceland's government says "societal resilience" will be discussed at the meeting, which is being staged on a group of islands known as Vestmannaeyjar and coincides with the 50th anniversary of a volcanic eruption there. Trudeau is to appear as a guest, and his office says it is a chance to advance common interests with the Nordic nations, which range from protecting the environment and developing clean energy to tackling security challenges.
The talks come a little more than two weeks before leaders travel to Lithuania to meet with NATO allies and discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. World leaders also kept a watchful eye on internal strife in Russia this weekend after mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin led troops from his private Wagner Group in an armed rebellion as he called for the ouster of the country's defence minister. The move seemed poised to threaten President Vladimir Putin's decades-long hold on power, but tensions de-escalated quickly on Saturday after the Kremlin announced a deal that halted Prigozhin's march on the capital city of Moscow. The arrangement will see Putin's one-time protege move to Belarus and avoid prosecution for his role in the short-lived rebellion, while Wagner Group troops will return to Ukraine where they've been fighting alongside soldiers from the Russian army.
Trudeau said Saturday that Canada would be monitoring the situation closely, and foreign affairs ministers from the G7 held a call to discuss the situation before the deal was announced. "There's ongoing co-operation among these countries," Roland Paris, a former senior adviser to Trudeau and director of the University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, said of the leaders gathering in Iceland. "The Arctic has become a strategically more important part of the world as the ice melts.
"Each of these northern countries has a very clear interest in ensuring the security and sovereignty of their territory."Nordic countries, including Canada and the United States, hit pause on working with Russia through the Arctic Council after its invasion of Ukraine.
That has thrown what co-operation looks like in the region into serious question, Paris said. Observatory for Arctic Policy and Security director Mathieu Landriault said the issue remains "fragile," adding that without co-operation with Russia — which has a huge Arctic coastline — the council does not have data related to how climate change is affecting a major part of the region.
Landriault suggested that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused Canada to "reassess" its position in the Arctic. NATO has also been paying increasing attention to the Arctic in light of aggression from both Russia and China, Paris added.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned of such threats during a visit to a military base in northern Alberta last summer, noting China has declared itself a "near Arctic" state and climate change was opening up access to the region.
Trudeau, who accompanied Stoltenberg on that visit, touted plans to spend billions on bolstering Canada's military, including modernizing the aging Canada-U.S. Norad system which monitors Arctic aerospace. Paris said he expects Trudeau may draw attention to those same commitments during his visit to Iceland. "The fact is we are far behind where we need to be in order to secure the Arctic in a world where it will increasingly be an area of geopolitical competition."
Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway have all voiced support for Ukraine since Russia launched its attack. All belong to NATO, save for Sweden, which is trying to join. Canada was the first country to ratify its request. It also backed Finland's membership, which was officially recognized in April. Landriault said the meeting in Iceland serves as a chance for Canada and the Nordic countries to demonstrate support for Sweden's entry into NATO, which Turkey and Hungary have not endorsed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with the Nordic leaders in May, and Trudeau made a surprise visit to Kyiv earlier this month. Besides a shared interest in security, the Canadian government also has trade interests with the five Nordic countries, with two-way trade totalling roughly $13 billion last year. Canada is also home to the largest number of Icelandic immigrants and descendants outside that country. The two countries view each other as like-minded and share interests on a range of issues, including the development of carbon capture and storage technology and ocean protection. Trudeau's visit follows Iceland President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson's recent visit to Canada, where the pair discussed expanding co-operation in green energy, ocean technology and aquaculture. That trip, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon's visit to Finland earlier this year and a 2022 Canada-Denmark agreement to resolve the border dispute over Hans Island were all signs that Canada was looking to enhance its diplomatic focus on Nordic countries, said Landriault. "It's likely to increase," he said.

Egypt and India bolster ties as Modi makes first trip to Cairo
CAIRO (Reuters)/Sun, June 25, 2023
Egypt and India discussed strengthening ties in areas including trade, food security and defence during a state visit to Cairo by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two countries said on Sunday. On his first trip to Egypt, Modi met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Egyptian ministers appointed to an "India unit" after a state visit by Sisi to India in January during which a "strategic partnership" was announced. Both sides said talks on Sunday covered areas including trade and investment, renewable energy, information technology and pharmaceuticals. "Prime Minister (Modi) and President Sisi also discussed further cooperation in G-20, highlighting the issues of food and energy insecurity, climate change and the need for Global South to have a concerted voice," a statement from Modi's office said, adding that the talks had also addressed defence and security ties. India has been weighing a proposal to allow Egypt, which is facing a severe foreign currency shortage and has been struggling to attract foreign investment, to make purchases in rupees and to barter goods such as fertiliser and gas, sources told Reuters earlier this month. There was no mention of the proposal in statements on Sunday. India is seen as keen to boost ties with Egypt partly to secure trade through the Suez Canal. It exported $4.11 billion of goods to Egypt in the last fiscal year, while importing $1.95 billion. During his two-day visit to Cairo, Modi also visited the 11th Century Al Hakim mosque, which was renovated by Bohra Muslims, a Shi'ite offshoot with a large presence in Modi's home state of Gujarat. Modi, a Hindu nationalist, has rarely made public visits to mosques as prime minister.

The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on June 25-26/2023
The Myth of End of Oil and Regime Change
Amir Taheri/Gatestone Institute/June 25, 2023
The world isn't running out of oil and alternative energies remain more of a promise....
The latest use of oil as a political weapon has come with the embargo imposed by Western powers on Russia. This time, too, the politicization of oil has led to unintended, but no less political, consequences. Russia is forced to sell its oil to China at a sweetheart price that helps the Chinese economy avoid the recession that pundits predicted. India, too, is benefiting from cheap Russian oil by cutting its energy costs while also making a killing by selling part of that same oil to Europeans at real market prices.
The current leadership elite in Western democracies, most notably in the United States, is made of mediocre individuals who lord it over the nation thanks to prosperity secured by cheap oil and innovations made by gifted people operating on their own. Thus, there is a disconnect between the few that control the government, and thanks to their power, a big chunk of the national economy, and the many who end up paying the price of errors made by the few.
"Let's not politicize oil!" How many times have you heard that admonition?
It was first coined in the late 19th century, when oil was beginning to emerge as the key lubricant of a modern industrial society. Having started as a new venture by private entrepreneurs, what took shape as the oil industry soon attracted the attention of all major industrial nations. By the early 20th century most of them had set up their national, that is to say state-owned, oil companies, thus making oil political while insisting that it shouldn't be politicized. (The US alone didn't and still doesn't have a state-owned oil company.) From the start, the biography of oil has included another theme: fear of the world running out of oil. In the 1930s a report prepared for the British admiralty warned that oil may become "a scarce resource" within a couple of decades.
The Nazi regime in Germany was gripped by fear of running out of oil and having seized the Romanian oilfields, tried to capture those of Transcaucasia in an operation that led to the Stalingrad disaster for the Reich.
In 1970, the Club of Rome, bringing together Europe's "top brains", prophesized that the world will run out of oil by the year 2000. World consumption of oil at that time was around 46 million barrels a day. In 2023, global oil consumption is slated to top 100 million bpd.
In 1995, the then Saudi Oil Minister, Ali al-Naimi, told me in an interview that oil could lose its dominant position within three decades not because of dwindling reserves but as a result of alternative energies being developed.
In 2018, Patrick Deneen of Georgetown University in Washington DC wrote a whole book, Why Liberalism Failed, claiming that, as the world was running out of oil, Western liberal societies faced an existential threat.
Another cliché current in big chancelleries was that the ideal oil-producing country is one with a small population and big reserves of oil.
Needless to say, none of those shibboleths has been proven right. Oil was and remains political, or at least geopolitical.
The world isn't running out of oil and alternative energies remain more of a promise than the basis for what Deneen says should be "a post-liberal system." The balance between an oil-producing nation's population and its oil exports has also seen radical change.
Iran started exporting oil in 1908, when it had a population of nine million, but now has a population of 90 million. Other oil-producing nations such as Mexico, Indonesia, Venezuela and Nigeria have quadrupled their populations.
In 2021, the world's largest producers of oil were the United States and Russia, neither of which could be regarded as demographic midgets.
That oil is a tool of international politics has been illustrated on a number of occasions.
In 1951, Iran nationalized its oil but refused to offer compensation to the British company that exploited it, triggering four years of crisis, the consequences of which haunted Iranians for seven decades.
Then there was the "oil shock" of 1973, followed by attempts at bringing Apartheid South Africa to its knees by denying it oil.
The sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump on the Iranian oil trade was also a clearly political move and succeeded in briefly restraining the Islamic Republic's adventurist fantasies. President Joe Biden's decision to ignore those sanctions and allow the Islamic Republic to sell as much oil as it could produce, mostly to China and India but also on the so-called "brown market," was also political and aimed at reviving the Obama "nuclear deal" with Tehran.
The latest use of oil as a political weapon has come with the embargo imposed by Western powers on Russia. This time, too, the politicization of oil has led to unintended, but no less political, consequences. Russia is forced to sell its oil to China at a sweetheart price that helps the Chinese economy avoid the recession that pundits predicted. India, too, is benefiting from cheap Russian oil by cutting its energy costs while also making a killing by selling part of that same oil to Europeans at real market prices.
At one point during the 1990s, in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Empire and with Pollyannaish talks about "peace dividends", the World Economic Forum crowd in Davos mused about treating oil as "something that belongs to all humanity as is the air we breathe."
That, too, was political talk -- albeit empty talk.
The latest attempt at using oil, or its "impending end", for political reasons comes again from the theorist Deneen in a new book entitled Regime Change: Towards a Postliberal Future.
The implied assumption is that liberal systems cannot prosper, or even survive, without cheap oil. The current leadership elite in Western democracies, most notably in the United States, is made of mediocre individuals who lord it over the nation thanks to prosperity secured by cheap oil and innovations made by gifted people operating on their own. Thus, there is a disconnect between the few that control the government, and thanks to their power, a big chunk of the national economy, and the many who end up paying the price of errors made by the few.
The question of the relations between the few and the many has been a hot topic in political thought since Plato, who advocated a system in which philosophers, that is to say, the few by definition, would hold power. Political theorists in the Roman Empire developed a similar argument to show that patricians must lord it over plebeians.
In Leninism, the proletariat represented by its "party of the vanguard" acts as the few that lead the many. In Khomeinism, the ideology of the current system in Iran, the few is further summed up in the person of the "Supreme Guide". In a recent speech, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that "ordinary people", that is to say the common man, cannot decide important issues.
Deneen suggests the "creation of a new self-conscious elite" whom he calls the "aristoi" to shepherd the "ordinary people" who, lacking in knowledge and imagination, want nothing but stability and the assurance of relying on a strong authority.
In other words, we need authoritarian, if not autocratic, governments that can do away with the trials and tribulations of democracy and ensure good living standards for their people -- especially if we run out of oil.
Amir Taheri was the executive editor-in-chief of the daily Kayhan in Iran from 1972 to 1979. He has worked at or written for innumerable publications, published eleven books, and has been a columnist for Asharq Al-Awsat since 1987. He is the Chairman of Gatestone Europe.

Ukraine Slams Israel for 'pro-Russian Position,' 'Blatant Disregard for Moral Boundaries'
Sam Sokol/Haaretz/June 25/2023
In Kyiv’s harshest criticism of Israel to date, the embassy in Tel Aviv said in a statement that the Netanyahu government had 'opted for a path of close cooperation with the Russian federation'
The Ukrainian embassy in Tel Aviv charged on Sunday that Jerusalem has evinced a “blatant disregard for moral boundaries” when it comes to Russia, remaining “dead silent” in the face of senior officials’ blatant antisemitism and professing “a clear pro-Russian position” despite protestations of neutrality.
Following more than a year of efforts to enlist greater Israeli aid in its war against Moscow, the statement was Kyiv’s harshest criticism of Israel to date.
In a lengthy statement posted on social media, the embassy stated that it regretted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had “opted for a path of close cooperation with the Russian federation.”
Rather than impose sanctions on a “terrorist country that commits war crimes on a daily basis,” Israel has increased its bilateral trade with Moscow in the aftermath of last February’s invasion of Ukraine — while Netanyahu has repeatedly attempted to justify his “complete inaction in providing Ukraine with defensive assistance over the past 1.5 years,” the embassy stated.
Putin’s top propagandist attacks Israel for betraying memory of the Holocaust
Israel's refusal to arm Ukraine has never been more embarrassing
Israel's Ukraine debacle: alienating both sides and disappointing Biden
Israel’s blindness toward Russia will prove to be a poor choice
It went on to decry Netanyahu’s recent assertion that any weapons systems provided to Ukraine could end up in the hands of Israel’s enemies, calling such arguments “entirely fictional and speculative assumptions.”
“While the people of Ukraine, including its substantial Jewish community, are bleeding under the onslaught of Russian missiles and Iranian drones, the Israeli leadership, hiding behind verbal demagoguery about their neutrality (albeit no longer concealing it) actively forges relations with the Russian federation,” the embassy stated.
“In reality, on the ground, the so called ‘neutrality’ of Israel government is considered as a clear pro-Russian position.”
Kyiv has been harshly critical of Jerusalem since the beginning of the invasion, with Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk telling reporters last year that the Israeli government had failed to live up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s expectations.
“We appreciate everything Israel has done for us,” he said, but “you can’t imagine how difficult it is for me to be ambassador to Israel if my president is a Jew – because he has much higher expectations of Israel than Israel can deliver,” Korniychuk told reporters during a briefing at the Ukrainian Embassy in Tel Aviv shortly after Russian forces entered his country.
Speaking at the Haaretz Democracy Conference last October, Zelenskyy asserted that Moscow’s military cooperation with Tehran, which is providing Russian forces with suicide drones, will likely result in Russia assisting Iran with the development of its nuclear program — a development which Israel could have prevented.
Israel has refrained from sending Ukraine lethal aid out of fear of angering Russia and potentially endangering the Israel Defense Forces’ freedom of action in Syria, although its Defense Ministry has reportedly approved the export of anti-drone systems to Ukraine.
In its statement on Sunday, the Ukrainian embassy also slammed Israel for a recent deal to establish a branch office of the Russian consulate in Jerusalem and condemned what it described as “the blatant disregard for moral boundaries demonstrated by numerous senior Israeli officials who attended a diplomatic reception hosted by the Russian Embassy in Jerusalem just a week ago.”
“Furthermore,” it continued, “the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been dead silent regarding the regular anti-Semitic statements made by Putin and his minions.”
Asked why the embassy had chosen to issue such a wide-ranging critique of Israeli policy at this time, Ambassador Korniychuk told Haaretz that Kyiv had been taken aback by Netanyahu’s recent interview, in which the prime minister charged that “any systems that we give to Ukraine would be used against us because they could fall into Iranian hands and be used against us.”
Such a position is “complete nonsense,” Korniychuk said, pushing back on Netanyahu’s assertion that this had happened with American anti-tank weapons.
“Javelins have been produced for the last 30 years you can get them anywhere on the black market,” he said.
Israel has been largely silent regarding Russian attacks on Jewish sites in Ukraine, prompting Korniychuk to accuse the Netanyahu government of valuing Russian Jews over their Ukrainian counterparts.
Jerusalem was silent in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent statement that Zelenskyy is “a disgrace to the Jewish people,” although it did condemn Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after he claimed last year that the Ukrainian president’s religious identity did not negate his country’s alleged Nazi elements.
Putin has long used allegations of Nazism and antisemitism to legitimize his actions against Ukraine. In 2014, following his invasion of Crimea, the Russian president cited an alleged “rampage” of reactionary, nationalistic and antisemitic forces across the country – and over the next several years, Russian state media featured a steady stream of false reports about Ukrainian attacks on local Jews.
Netanyahu has long cultivated close ties with the Russian leader, going so far as to feature an image of the two leaders shaking hands on a billboard during Netanyahu’s 2019 reelection bid.
Despite Jerusalem’s reluctance to criticize Moscow, last week Russian state media launched a harsh attack on Israel, accusing the Jewish state of betraying the memory of the Holocaust in order to support a Ukrainian government allegedly intent on destroying all of Ukraine’s Jews.
Israel's Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Horror of Being Christian in Muslim Pakistan: Just One Month
Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute./June 25, 2023
الرعب في أن تكون مسيحيا في باكستان المسلمة: جدول أحداث شهر واحد فقط
ريمون إبراهيم / معهد جيتستون/ 25 حزيران 2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/119446/119446/
(ترجمة موقع غوغل)
"[T]here was absolutely no case. There was no proof against Noman, and none of the witnesses produced by police could corroborate the blasphemy allegation against him.... This is murder of justice." — Lazar Allah Rakha, lawyer for Norman Masih, a 22-year-old Christian man, sentenced to death for "blasphemy", Morning Star News, May 31, 2023,
"Several people have been lynched over false accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan. At least 57 cases of alleged blasphemy were reported in Pakistan between Jan. 1 and May 10 [2023], while four blasphemy suspects were lynched or extrajudicially killed during the same period..." — Morning Star News, May 22, 2023
"The blasphemy laws have been consistently misused to settle personal disputes, persecute minority groups, and incite mob violence and hatred. We demand prompt action and a collective effort by the government to address these human rights violations." — Retired Justice Nasira Javaid Iqbal, Morning Star News, May 22, 2023.
[A] Muslim policeman, hired to protect a Catholic school run by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, instead attacked the school and murdered two young girls. — British Asian Christian Association, May 16, 2023.
"[T]he incident [murder] has been officially blamed on the 'mental health' of the man, without investigating his possible relations with Muslim extremist groups." — bitterwinter.org, June 1, 2023.
"[W]hy this horrific terrorist event occurred at the missionary school is due to a hatred of education for women, in radicalised Pakistan." — British Asian Christian Association, May 16, 2023.
In yet another incident... a Muslim family — with the aid of police — beat, tortured, and illegally confined a Christian house-cleaner, soon after she tried to resign due to pregnancy.... When her husband, rickshaw driver Gulfam Masih, went to police to report her missing, officers arrested him instead.... Asma [the cleaner] reported her illegal confinement and beating to police, but officers dismissed her complaint without even bothering to question her. Angered that she had the temerity to report them, the Muslim family registered a theft charge against Asma and her husband, which police did take very seriously. — Morning Star News, May 26, 2023.
"Many poor Christians are victimized through false allegations, including blasphemy, if they choose to discontinue working for their Muslim employers. The pattern is quite similar when you examine such cases.... The Muslim family used its influence to discharge Asma's complaint against her torture and then registered a false [report] against the couple to 'teach them a lesson.'" — Imran Sahotra, the Christian Awakening Movement, Morning Star News, May 26, 2023.
"Eventually the mob disappeared... shouting threats of death and the rape of Christian boys and girls if they continued to pursue the police...." — British Asian Christian Association, May 26, 2023.
"It must be terrifying... to have suffered such a brazen attack, knowing the next one is days away and the authorities meant to protect you have no desire to help...." — Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, May 26, 2023.
"The mindset of a whole nation must be changed—empowered Muslims must be taught to respect the minorities living amongst them." — Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, May 26, 2023.
Last month, a Muslim family in Pakistan — with the aid of police — beat, tortured, and illegally confined a Christian house-cleaner for eight days, soon after she tried to resign due to pregnancy. (Image source: iStock. Image is illustrative and does not represent any person in the article.)
The persecution of Christians in Pakistan — whether at the hands of judges and police, or mobs and rapist gangs — continues to worsen, as evidenced by one fully documented month, that of May 2023.
On May 30, for instance, a Pakistani court sentenced Noman Masih, a 22-year-old Christian man, to death for "blasphemy" (in keeping with Pakistan's blasphemy statutes, Section 295-C of the Penal Code, which calls for the death penalty for anyone convicted of insulting Muhammad, the prophet of Islam).
Immediately after the sentencing, the accused's lawyer, Lazar Allah Rakha, said:
"I'm extremely disappointed by the conviction, because there was absolutely no case. There was no proof against Noman, and none of the witnesses produced by police could corroborate the blasphemy allegation against him... Despite so many contradictions in the case, I'm at a loss to understand why Bahawalpur Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Hafeez Ur Rehman sentenced Noman instead of acquitting him. This is murder of justice."
Noman was initially arrested four years earlier, in 2019, on "secret information" by police that he had printed insulting images of Muhammad and was randomly showing them to people. However, according to his father, sanitation worker Asghar Masih,
"The allegations... are baseless. Noman was sleeping in the house when he was arrested, but the police have alleged that he was in a park showing blasphemous images to 9-10 people at 3:30 a.m."
The past four years, the father added, have been very draining for the family, both emotionally and financially:
"Noman's mother and I yearn for him every day... Our hearts broke today when our counsel informed us about the death verdict. But our faith in Christ has not waivered [sic], and we trust God that He will rescue us from this suffering."
In another case, on May 18, a few days before that death sentencing, Zahid Sohail, a Muslim police constable on his way to mosque prayers claims that he overheard his neighbors, two teenage Christian boys, Simon Nadeem Masih, 14, and Adil Masih, 18, joking with the name of Muhammad, so he began thrashing the boys.
According to Adil's father, Babar,
"Sohail initially alleged that he was walking past the two boys when he overheard them 'disrespecting' prophet Muhammad and then laughing over it. He started beating Simon, and when Adil tried to save him, Sohail attacked him too."
Neighbors and passersby soon gathered around. Continues Babar:
"Both boys flatly denied Sohail's allegation and said they had said nothing that involved a mention of the Muslim prophet. When local elders of the neighborhood asked Sohail to substantiate his accusation, he failed to satisfy them and left."
Later that evening, however, police officers raided Babar's house and arrested his son, Adil, as well as Simon, who were then jailed on the charge of insulting Muhammad, again under the blasphemy statutes of the Penal Code, calling for the death penalty.
"We were shocked to learn the contents of the First Information Report [FIR] in which Sohail alleged that Simon had called a puppy 'Muhammad Ali,' and both boys then joked about it," said Babar, adding that the allegation is "completely baseless." Apparently, Sohail had made no mention of a puppy when he first raised the issue:
"No one in our street has dogs, and neither was there a puppy in the street when this incident took place. Sohail cooked up a false accusation against our children after failing to convince the locals about his earlier allegation."
On May 19, when police brought Adil to court:
"Both boys were in a state of shock and fear and are still unable to understand why Sohail had gotten them arrested."
At last report, Babar Masih had not told his wife, who has a weak heart and already suffered two strokes:
"She doesn't know yet that Adil has been arrested on such a serious charge, and I don't know how long I'll be able to withhold this news from her. She'll be devastated.... [W]e don't know how long our children will be made to suffer in prison due to this false charge—this is sheer injustice."
The report stated further:
"Several people have been lynched over false accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan. At least 57 cases of alleged blasphemy were reported in Pakistan between Jan. 1 and May 10 [2023], while four blasphemy suspects were lynched or extrajudicially killed during the same period..."
Responding to this spike in numbers, retired Justice Nasira Javaid Iqbal urged the government to reconsider the draconian blasphemy laws:
"The blasphemy laws have been consistently misused to settle personal disputes, persecute minority groups, and incite mob violence and hatred. We demand prompt action and a collective effort by the government to address these human rights violations."
In yet another case, on May 16, two days before the two Christian teenagers were arrested, a Muslim policeman, hired to protect a Catholic school run by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, instead attacked the school and murdered two young girls. According to the initial report,
"[Officer Alam] Khan who was on duty at the main gate, indiscriminately opened fire at the girls in the school-bus, as they were returning home [from attending school]. During the carnage, Ayesha (5 yrs), was killed and six other girls were left injured... [These girls] sustained a mix of minor and major injuries such as a broken arm to a bullet to the head."
A later report confirmed that two girls -- the other girl was aged 9 -- were killed in the hail of bullets that Khan sprayed on their van.
Although Khan, who is known to have a violent past, was arrested, officials already appear committed to exonerating him — on the claim that he acted out of "mental illness." In the words of one report:
"[R]elatives of the victims and supporters of the school are protesting, as the incident has been officially blamed on the 'mental health' of the man, without investigating his possible relations with Muslim extremist groups."
One report offered an additional motive:
"One of the possible answers to why this horrific terrorist event occurred at the missionary school is due to a hatred of education for women, in radicalised Pakistan. Swat has faced several anti-women's education movements in the past, when it was under the stronghold of the Taliban."
Discussing this incident, Hannah Chowdhry, a Pakistani law student in the UK, said:
"This police officer was in position to protect these girls yet harboured extremely radical views. It beggars belief that safeguarding measures failed to pick up how inappropriate his deployment at a school was. The man was known to have mental illness and had two previous violent episodes—I'm sure an investigation will reveal a more sinister extremist background."
In yet another incident reported in May, a Muslim family — with the aid of police — beat, tortured, and illegally confined a Christian house-cleaner, soon after she tried to resign due to pregnancy.
Over the previous five years, Asma Gulfam, a 28-year-old Catholic maid and mother of four, had worked for Huda Adnan. In early April, Asma notified Huda that she was five months pregnant and could not continue working due to a medical condition. Huda, however, refused to consent. A few days later, on Apr. 18, Huda accused the pregnant Christian woman of stealing 1 million rupees (USD $3,490) which had supposedly been forgotten in a bathroom. When she denied it, Huda dragged Asma into a room where four policemen were waiting.
"As soon as they saw me [said Asma], the policemen led by Ijaz [Ahmed, police assistant sub-inspector] started hurling abuses and curses at me. They threatened to tear my clothes if I did not admit to the alleged theft, but when I refused, they pulled my hair and started beating me up mercilessly. During the torture, Ijaz also tried to pull my nails."
During this assault, the pregnant women "began bleeding from the uterus due to the blows to her abdominal area, but the policemen and her employer's husband continued hitting her":
"I cried and screamed for help, but no one came to rescue me. I have worked in that house for so many years, and not once had the couple accused me of any wrongdoing. I worked very hard and honestly, because for me this was a good testimony of my Christian faith. I was held hostage in Huda's house all this time [eight days] during which I was repeatedly tortured. My assailants rebuked me for being a Christian and said no one could save me from them ..."
When her husband, rickshaw driver Gulfam Masih, went to police to report her missing, officers arrested him instead.
"They kept him in illegal confinement for a week and released him on April 26, only after my health worsened."
He rushed her to a hospital, where a medical examination confirmed that she "had been physically abused.... My unborn child's life was at serious risk due to internal hemorrhaging, but doctors managed to save it."
As soon as she was able to, Asma reported her illegal confinement and beating to police, but officers dismissed her complaint without even bothering to question her. Angered that she had the temerity to report them, the Muslim family registered a theft charge against Asma and her husband, which police did take very seriously.
"I can now only appeal to our community leaders and government high-ups to save us and our children from this persecution," Asma was quoted as saying.
Discussing Asma's treatment, Imran Sahotra of the Christian Awakening Movement, said:
"Many poor Christians are victimized through false allegations, including blasphemy, if they choose to discontinue working for their Muslim employers. The pattern is quite similar when you examine such cases.... The Muslim family used its influence to discharge Asma's complaint against her torture and then registered a false FIR [police report] against the couple to 'teach them a lesson.' The case shows how the vulnerable Christian community does not have access to justice in Pakistan.... The police officer must be punished, because the poor woman could have lost her unborn child or even died herself due to his torture."
If this is how Muslim authorities in Pakistan behave, it should be no surprise to learn that the general populace also persecutes and preys on Christians with impunity. Consider two similar stories, also from May:
A group of 17 Muslim men, including known child molesters, according to the report, broke into a church compound on May 13 during a Christian wedding.
"The Muslim men harassed young women and minor boys forcing Naeem Masih and his relatives who were hosting the [wedding] ceremony to ask the paedophiles to leave. The intruders refused to leave, however, and began physically assaulting women and boys; one of them chased a 14 year old boy, Hanook Masih, and bit his bottom. Hanook then slapped the Muslim sexual predator and began to get beaten by several of the Muslim men. At this point it became too much to bear and the Christian men in attendance forcibly removed the Muslim sexual predators from the Church. Some of the men even chose to miss the service to guard the entrance preventing the re-entry of the sexual perverts."
Discussing these intruders — especially their two ringleaders, both of whom are named Muhammad — Naeem Masih, said:
"[They] ruined my daughter's wedding and intimidated our guests in such a perverted way—they should be arrested!"
The family -- citing the "harassment and sexual assault of minors attending the marriage of his daughter" -- filed a complaint with police. The following day, according to Naeem,
"Muhammad Awais arrived at the main corner of our street and began shouting out death threats for any Christian that dared file an application against the paedophile-gang. He abused Christians again using the word choora to insult them with many vulgar expletives."
Even though the Christian family had not cancelled their complaint, thereby risking their lives, police were extremely slow to move and appear to have been sharing information with the perpetrators. When police finally did register the complaint,
"Muslim families became... enraged. During the early morning of 17th May around 2:30 am, the culprit Muhammad Awais with other armed supporters came ... and started firing guns in the air while shouting abuse at local Christians. Hearing the noise, members of the Christian community ... arrived at the square and asked Muhammad Awais to stop... The Muslim mob opened fire at the Christians who fortunately succeeded in hiding themselves behind the walls of local buildings. The culprits then aimed their shots at a cross on the main gate of Awami Church and vandalized their security cameras. While this happened Christians hid in their homes terrified that they would be shot and killed if they ventured out. Eventually the mob disappeared, hurling abuse and shouting threats of death and the rape of Christian boys and girls if they continued to pursue the police for an investigation."
"We were extremely terrified when the Muslim men fired at our men and the church," continued Naeem. "They intended to kill us!"
Although the Christians again turned to police, this time adding the gunshots to their charges, police, as of last reporting, had not arrested "any of the culprits."
Discussing this situation, Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, said:
"This is a particularly alarming incident. A Muslim gang of sexual perverts with many of them exhibiting bisexual paedophilic behaviour have harassed and sexually assaulted children and women at a public event. I am quite certain that their behaviour would not occur in a mosque or Muslim marriage ceremony. Worryingly, Christians are increasingly being targeted by sex attacks because of their vulnerability. It beggars belief that the local Muslim community are seeking a compromise deal when the perpetrators are known sex offenders ... [M]ore must be done by Pak-authorities to prosecute sex-offenders so that such brazen attacks are ended."
Finally, on May 3, as some young Christian girls were exiting church after a prayer meeting, "several Muslim men starting circling the women on their bikes, catcalling and hooting at them," notes a report.
"This had been going on for a while and on many occasions Christians from the church requested the men to stop harassing the girls."
On this particular occasion, a nearby Christian shopkeeper, Akash Masih, intervened on behalf of the girls. He told "the men to not come before the church gates, especially after the church service ends, as the women were scared and uncomfortable."
The gang responded by calling for more Muslim men to add to their numbers before they jumped and "brutally beat" Akash as well as two other Christian men who had come to his aid.
"Yaqoob Masih (61 yrs) the father Ashan and other elders from the community attempted to stop the beating of the young Christian men, however, the violent Muslim gang could not be stopped and they continued to beat and abuse the Christians."
Suffering from multiple injuries, 26-year-old Akash Masih later said:
"Over a long period of time, these boys have been harassing our girls, catcalling them and hooting using inappropriate gestures. Enough was enough, it became unbearable. How could we allow them to disrespect our women like this? We contacted local police but they did nothing."
Although contacting police was ineffective as usual, there was a "price" to pay for doing it. The report states:
"Incensed by the refusal of Christians to back down from their pursuit of justice [by refusing to withdraw their First Information Report], the culprits fomented hatred against local Christians and formed a mob that attacked the houses and businesses of the Christian community on 22nd May. The mob smashed doors and windows, destroyed stalls outside shops, damaged produce and beat Christians. Around 7:30pm Yaqoob Masih [father of Akash] was sitting peacefully in his small grocery shop, when suddenly the violent mob attacked him, his nephew and his wife [graphic video of attack here]. They repeatedly and brutally struck Yaqoob and his nephew with large planks. They continued their destruction by vandalising a shop counter, and then destroyed a monitor and ruined fruit and vegetables. Parveen Bibi (55 yrs), Yaqoob's wife, was slapped with extreme force and suffered other physical and verbal abuse."
Yaqoob, his wife and nephew were all hospitalized and left with injuries.
"The injuries have left Yaqoob incapacitated and he has not been back to his shop. He is also suffering from PTSD and anxiety."
As of the latest report, "police have not yet arrested any of the culprits."
Discussing their plight, Abid Masih, another local Christian, said:
"This situation will not deter us no matter what happens we will pursue justice. We cannot leave our women vulnerable to the predatory instincts of local Muslims."
Juliet Chowdhry added:
"This has been an abysmal attack on a vulnerable Christian community. It must be terrifying if not soul-sapping to have suffered such a brazen attack, knowing the next one is days away and the authorities meant to protect you have no desire to help. The men in this community have been brave enough and will continue to defend the women from the harassment of local Muslims. However, with an insouciant local police force it is inevitable that further attacks will occur.... The mindset of a whole nation must be changed —empowered Muslims must be taught to respect the minorities living amongst them."
*Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West and Sword and Scimitar, is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
© 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.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/19750/christian-in-muslim-pakistan

Modi in Washington: A Fitting Reception for a Mature Nation, not an Emerging One
Raghida Dergham/The National/June 25, 2023
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's successful visit to Washington this week was a good example of the Biden administration's readiness to adapt to, instead of challenging its partners, to nudge them softly to positions desired by Washington. The significance of the US-Indian strategic partnership is evident, as are the considerations of the US presidential elections. It is noteworthy that the United States has accepted India's positions on Russia and the Ukrainian war as they are for now, with the hope that they may evolve in the future. Moreover, the US administration has refrained from criticizing Modi's government's human rights record and seemed satisfied with India's existing stance towards China, without seeking to further inflame it. India boasts vast economic and technological capabilities that position it as a formidable competitor to China, and its flexible policies have the potential to establish it as a global economic powerhouse, surpassing even China. Modi's visit to Washington marks a pivotal moment in India's future position and status in bilateral relations with the United States, expanding beyond the focus of countering China's challenge.
It was evident that the priority for the US President and the Indian Prime Minister was strengthening their countries’ economic, security, and military relations to support their strategic relationship. Washington recognizes that India, economically and technologically, is transforming into the next China, and its influence should not be underestimated. Both sides have decided that it is time to secure the US-India relationship and to move forward within a framework for military and security cooperation, yet without pressure to change positions on which the two parties diverge.
Regarding Ukraine, the joint statement underscored respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, signalling a change in India's positions, as New Delhi had previously sought to avoid taking a stance on the Ukrainian issue.
In the context of the extensive economic and energy relations between India and Russia, Washington abstained from criticizing these trade arrangements, which encompassed $40 billion in Russian oil sales to India. The primary objective of the Biden administration now is for the United States to supplant Russia in securing military contracts that hold significant financial and security importance within the strategic relationship.
The former Trump administration had adopted a strict approach and pressured India to distance itself from Russia. But the Biden administration has chosen a step-by-step approach coupled with a larger American engagement with India, while maintaining a strong commitment to pursuing arms deals. Therefore, the Biden administration is avoiding embarrassing the Modi government regarding human rights. The Biden administration has adopted a policy of smooth involvement with India, rather than working to force India away from Russia or into confronting China.
Modi is comfortable with this approach because while he sees the benefit in India's continued participation in groupings aimed at countering China, especially the "Quad” – the strategic security dialogue among Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, which Beijing views as an anti-China axis – this is as far as Modi is willing to go. Indeed, Modi would like to avoid getting entangled in an outright conflict with China.
At the beginning of last week, Biden described Chinese President Xi Jinping as a dictator, which seemed like a gaffe during an election campaign rally. During the joint press conference with Modi, Biden did not back down from describing Xi as a dictator, perhaps because that could deepen the impression of his serial gaffes, which is not in his electoral interest. The US president attempted to soften his words by stating that he did not seek to complicate or undermine the relationship with China. He expressed his expectation of a future meeting with the Chinese president and mentioned that there would be no implications on the US-China relationship due to such opinions.
China thinks otherwise. Beijing officially protested in a letter submitted by the Chinese ambassador to the United States, demanding a retraction of those statements, or else face consequences. However, China, in turn, does not currently want to escalate with the United States. It is highly probable that Chinese and American diplomats will navigate a path out of this awkward situation, especially considering the recent visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing, which coincided with the US president's remarks. This visit was marked by a conciliatory tone and a concerted effort to strengthen channels of communication, as emphasized by Blinken, so that "competition…does not veer into conflict."
President Joe Biden's foreign policy remarks have been marked by a series of slip-ups and gaffes, causing ripples of controversy. In 2020, he went so far as to label the Chinese president a "butcher." Similarly, he made a bold statement asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power," prompting swift qualification from White House aides that this did not indicate a policy of regime change. However, one of President Biden's ‘problems’ here lies in his tendency to candidly voice his opinions and emotions, which often diverges from diplomatic norms, yet this means his gaffes are not merely a slip of the tongue but could rather be an authentic reflection of the true sentiments held by the US administration.
The predicament lies in the fact that it is the United States that is seeking to demystify the US-China relationship. China, on the other hand, shows no urgency in doing so, and even if it did, it would not openly express it, as ambiguity is ingrained in its mindset and policy. Consequently, while the relationship may tolerate occasional slips and missteps, it will undoubtedly be impacted in a manner contrary to the goals of the Biden administration. Both the United States and China are averse to confrontation, and American diplomats are effectively conveying to their Chinese counterparts that verbal missteps do not define the policy. Instead, they say, the true essence of the policy is found only in precise official statements, which shape the contours and finer nuances of US foreign policy.
The message conveyed by the United States to India holds significant weight, not only in terms of its content but also in its delivery. President Biden characterized the relationship with India as vibrant and thriving, extending a warm welcome to Prime Minister Modi as an esteemed guest. The reception accorded to him was exceptional, an elaborate state banquet hosted at the White House and an opportunity to address both the House and Senate. Prime Minister Modi became only the third foreign dignitary to receive such honors during President Biden's tenure, after French President Emmanuel Macron in December and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April.
In addition to bolstering and broadening trade, security, military, energy, technology, and space relations, Biden's unwavering belief in the United States and India as "two great nations, two great friends, two great powers that can define the course of the 21st century" and their potential to serve as role models in tackling the challenges of this era is not mere rhetoric or a mere verbal misstep on the part of Biden. Rather, it is a language reflecting utmost respect for a nation that has emerged in the recent past and has now matured, asserting itself in the scales and manifestations of great power status.
Raghida Dergham/Founder and Executive Chairman at Beirut Institute

How the world can help Sudanese refugees and their host countries
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/June 25, 2023
A refugee crisis is one of the negative consequences of armed domestic conflict. The ongoing clashes between Sudan’s military and a rival paramilitary force have severe implications and repercussions not only for the people of Sudan, but also for the countries that are receiving the refugees fleeing the violence.
People in an affected country tend to escape their homeland not only due to the violence and destruction, but also because of the shortage of basic necessities that the war creates. The situation is exacerbated when the country is already suffering from infrastructure underdevelopment, a poor healthcare system, water scarcity and environmental issues.
For example, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has made Sudan’s humanitarian situation much worse, leading to shortages of food, water and fuel, higher inflation and rising prices, as well as limited electricity.
Thousands of people have been killed and many others have been forced to flee their homes in order to find safety and shelter, either in other parts of Sudan or in neighboring countries. According to the International Organization for Migration’s June 20 Displacement Tracking Matrix report, about 2.5 million people have been “displaced within and outside Sudan since the onset of the conflict on April 15. Nearly 2 million people are internally displaced, mostly in Northern (18 percent), West Darfur (15 percent), River Nile (14 percent) and White Nile (12.5 percent) states.” In addition to the internally displaced, more than 520,000 people had crossed into neighboring countries as of June 18, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
As the conflict continues, the refugee crisis is getting worse, affecting several other countries in particular. Sudan shares borders with seven countries — Libya, Egypt, Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
One of the main issues is that the countries receiving the Sudanese refugees are generally not fully prepared for such an influx and are already struggling with their own challenges.
A primary destination for refugees from Sudan is Egypt. More than 170,000 refugees have arrived in Egypt so far and it is expected that hundreds of thousands more will arrive over the coming months.
It is worth noting that Sudan and Egypt enjoy deep ties and local charities and volunteers have been going out of their way to help the refugees arriving from Sudan. However, Egypt is struggling with its own economic problems.
Another destination for the Sudanese is Chad, which is one of the poorest countries in the world. Chad was already hosting more than half a million refugees from Sudan before the conflict erupted in April. The refugees in Chad were mainly Sudanese who had fled the conflict in Darfur.
It is important to recognize that peace, stability and security are vital and necessary for the sustainable return of Sudanese refugees.
Most of the Sudanese refugees in Chad are living in refugee camps and host communities. The level of underdevelopment in the country is alarming, which makes the situation much worse. As the US Agency for International Development has pointed out: “Only about 6 percent of the population has access to electricity, and only 8 percent has access to basic sanitation. Adult literacy is 22 percent. Life expectancy is only 53 years. Around three-quarters of all births take place without the attendance of a skilled health professional.”
It is worth noting that refugees can have a significant impact not only on the economy of the host nation, but also on its social, political and even environmental landscapes. The hosts tend to face more political and economic strain if they are not prepared for the situation.
There are two different approaches the international community can take to assist the Sudanese refugees and the destination countries.
First of all, the international community ought to increase its attempts to help the host countries that are lacking resources so that they can provide the required social services to refugees. And if the host countries have the capability to cover the needs of the refugees and help them integrate into society, this initial investment can have several benefits for them in the long term.
Secondly, the most effective approach over the long term is to continue employing diplomacy and dialogue in order to reach a resolution between the warring factions in Sudan, which would facilitate the safe return of refugees who want to return to their home country. It is important to recognize that peace, stability and security are vital and necessary for the sustainable return of Sudanese refugees.
In conclusion, it is incumbent on the international community to provide assistance to the countries that are receiving refugees from Sudan. Sudanese refugees continue to pour into countries that do not have the resources to deal with this tragic situation. The escalation of the conflict in Sudan is having severe repercussions not only for the Sudanese people, but also for neighboring countries.
• Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist.
Twitter: @Dr_Rafizadeh

Turkiye fights to overcome its structural economic problems
Yasar Yakis/Arab News/June 25, 2023
In the aftermath of last month’s general elections in Turkiye, all attention was naturally focused on the political outcome, but an equally important subject is how the economy will be managed as a result of the elections.
This month’s appointment of Hafize Gaye Erkan as the governor of the central bank served as a turning point in the country’s fiscal policy. She has a brilliant educational and professional background. She completed her doctorate studies at Princeton University. She worked for Goldman Sachs in the US for nine years. While she was working in the First Republic Bank, she was promoted to the post of CEO. On June 8, she became governor of the central bank of Turkiye. If President Recep Tayyip Erdogan does not interfere with the rules of a transparent market economy, the new team may improve Turkiye’s economy, even if some bitter pills may have to be swallowed.
The first concrete step taken by Erdogan’s new government was in the field of interest rates, with the central bank last week almost doubling the country’s key interest rate from 8.5 percent to 15 percent. Paradoxically, this was a subject that Erdogan was previously furiously opposed to. He had developed a theory that stated: “The interest rate is the cause and inflation is the result.” Few economists believe in this theory. Rising and falling interest rates are the result of complicated interactions in the free market, but Erdogan persistently continues to back his thinking.
On his way back from Baku, Azerbaijan, this month, Erdogan said: “We accepted that Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, together with Mrs. Hafize Gaye Erkan, the newly appointed governor of the central bank, would quickly implement the required measures.” He carefully avoided giving a carte blanche to Simsek because he does not want to legitimize interest rate rises.
Last Thursday, the new team of Simsek and Erkan announced the official interest rate increase. The real interest rates are still higher than the 15 percent figure. However, Simsek said the difference between the real and the official interest rates would be reduced as time goes by.
Even this figure is far from being realistic. The real figure must be somewhere around 25 percent, but the new team of decision-makers seems to be determined to bring the real rate closer to the political figure with frequent adjustments.
The interest rates float according to the rules of a free market economy. Finance Minister Simsek said during his first public statement that Turkiye had no choice but to return to “rational ground” to ensure predictability in the economy, which means stability, trust and sustainability.
Despite unpromising predictions, the Turkish economy has proven in the past to be resilient to a very large extent. With better management, it has the potential to be revitalized.
The minimum monthly salary in Turkiye is €520 ($568). Only three countries in Europe have lower minimum salaries than this, namely Serbia (€460), Bulgaria (€398) and Albania (€297). Turkiye also has a relatively skilled labor force. Therefore, if the country’s economy is properly managed, it has the potential to overcome some of its economic problems. Erdogan is a leader who is capable of persuading his people to swallow bitter pills from time to time.
The Turkish economy has proven in the past to be resilient. With better management, it has the potential to be revitalized.
Four deputy ministers have been appointed during the last week. One of them is a political appointee, or a party commissary, who will act as a watchdog and supervise the recruitment and transfer of personnel from one department to another. The three others are professionals in the economic field with various backgrounds. In the last five years, four finance ministers have been replaced, while three governors of the central bank have been dismissed in the last two years. Such practices discourage bureaucrats who want a challenge from accepting important posts. They also fail to provide the business community with the trust that is essential for a stable economy. Because of Erdogan’s insistence on his questionable theory on interest rates, the Turkish economy suffered an enormous transfer of money from petty capital holders to big capital holders. When the interest rate was fixed by the central bank at 8.5 percent, the economic operators who needed money had to pay the difference between the political and the market rate.
The outgoing governor of the central bank coined the epithet “heterodox” for the practices of the central bank, without the economic actors understanding exactly what it meant. In encyclopedic terms, heterodox means “not conforming with the accepted standards.” Therefore, the former governor must have meant that an amalgam of various rules would be utilized to guide the country’s economy. One of the major vices of democracy is that it forces political leaders to promise the moon. With the forthcoming local elections in Turkiye to be held in March 2024, political leaders on both the government and the opposition sides are almost bound to promise high salaries, while the economic decision-makers will try to dissuade them from making unrealistic promises.
If Simsek remains in his post for a few years, Turkiye may overcome some of its economic plights. However, miracles should not be expected.
• Yasar Yakis is a former foreign minister of Turkiye and founding member of the ruling AK Party.
Twitter: @yakis_yasar

Iran’s Interest Hinges on it Changing its Behavior
Sawsan al-Shaer/Asharq Al Awsat/June 25/2023
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated on Tuesday that Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al-Saeed had informed him that Egypt wants to restore relations with Tehran. Raisi informed Sultan Haitham that Tehran welcomes the position.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry, however, has not commented on the statements that were reported by Iranian media. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri had last month said bilateral ties with Iran were “as they are. When there’s an interest to change the approach, then we will certainly always seek interests.”Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah paid a visit to Iran last week. Iran has yet to offer any realistic initiatives beyond rushing to reopen embassies and consulates. On the contrary, hardliners in the regime attempted to undermine the visit by obstructing the name change of a street where the Saudi embassy is located. The street is called “Nimr al-Nimr" and they claimed that the municipality was hindering the change. Moreover, a portrait of Qassem Soleimani was placed in the hall where the Saudi minister was supposed to meet Iranian officials. The Saudi officials insisted on changing the location of the meeting, which would not have been held were it not for the wisdom of the Kingdom’s delegation.
Iran must realize that advancing Arab-Iranian ties, whether with the Gulf countries or Egypt, hinges on Iran’s commitment to abandoning its expansionist agenda in the region. The agenda is at the heart of the matter, and it remains to be seen whether Tehran will offer any initiatives to that end.
Calls and statements by Iran will remain unanswered as long as its proxy militias continue to operate in the region, including in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip and Yemen. They will continue to be unanswered as long as it does nothing to curb drug smuggling, which has become a real threat to Gulf security. Iran’s statements will continue to be useless and have no impact as long as it doesn’t take action on the ground to contain its malign activity. The change in the Iranian position lies in Iran itself. The country is divided between two camps: One that still insists on pursuing its wild dreams that are based on the belief that its stability and security can only be guaranteed by expanding in the region, destabilizing it and threatening and extorting its countries. The other camp believes that the time of the revolution is over and that a viable state needs to be established in Iran.
A decisive position needs to be taken with the camp that believes that arming groups in Arab countries grants it power at no cost. The camp eventually realized that it cannot keep financing these groups indefinitely, given the deterioration of the economy in Iran and the sanctions imposed on it, so it allowed them to finance themselves through the drug trade. At the end of the day, the Iranian regime has not achieved the security and stability that it craves. All the loud statements that its regime officials are making stem from a constant sense of being threatened and insecure.
Had the regime made the right calculations, it would have realized the benefits of improving relations with the Gulf. The rewards would have been reaped by Iran, its people and even the regime itself. Had it made the realization, the regime would have immediately cut off relations with the armed groups and instead, bolstered relations with the countries of the region. On the security level, the countries on either side of the Arab Gulf could fortify their waters as long as mutual trust is there. On the economic level, mutual investments can revive the Iranian people, who are yearning for life. This will in turn stabilize the regime and strengthen its internal security. The Iranian regime has a once in a lifetime opportunity to benefit from the dramatic change spearheaded by Saudi Arabia. It would be committing a grave and idiotic error should it exploit these changes to only catch its breath and regroup.