English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For March 04/2023
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
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Bible Quotations For today
Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours
Mark 11/19-25./:"And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. Then Peter remembered and said to him, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered. ’Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, "Be taken up and thrown into the sea", and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ‘Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.".

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 03-04/2023
Lebanon to Soon Beat Zimbabwe in Highest Inflation Rate
Lebanon’s international backers see ‘unsustainable’ status quo as paralysing state
Hezbollah, Shiite Council condemn Kouyoumjian's 'Mutaa' remarks
Report: Jumblat will not endorse Franjieh as KSA opposes his election
Aoun suspends investigations, says 'things positive' with Oueidat
Ibrahim begins planning for his political future
Report: Franjieh-Salam deal 'born dead' as army chief's chances plunge
Analyst: Only Iranian-Saudi agreement can break presidential deadlock
Berri-Mouawad rift triggers flurry of fiery statements
Syrian Hezbollah agent indicted for spying, terrorism after capture in Israel
Al-Abiad signs joint action plan with UNICEF
Mortada meets Iranian counterpart in Tehran
Rifi visits LF leader: We are not a charitable association to guarantee quorum to opposing camp
UN’s Wronecka pushes for people-centered reform agenda in Lebanon
Army Commander tackles developments with Industry Minister, UNIFIL Commander, Dean of Military Attaches accredited to Lebanon
Oil prices drop with global inflationary concerns
How Muqawama Digital Media Avoid Domain Seizure and Blocking
What are Gog and Magog?/Got Questions web site

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 03-04/2023
Palestinian Authority Rejects Security Cooperation with Israel
Question: “Are we living in the end times?”/GotQuestions.org?/March 02/2023
New crew from UAE, US, and Russia arrives at space station
Israel Tells Top US General It Sees Need to Cooperate against Iran
Israel-US Talks to Begin as Iran’s Nuclear Program Approaches the ‘Red Line’
EU Diplomat Demands Accountability Following Israeli Settler Rampage in West Bank
Biden, Scholz to Huddle on Ukraine War at White House
Germany Calls for Probe of Reported Iranian School Girl Poisonings
Russian Mercenary Boss Says Bakhmut Effectively Surrounded
Earthquakes Caused $5.1 Bln in Damage in Syria, World Bank Estimates
Day after Meeting, Blinken and Lavrov Exchange Diplomatic Swipes
Biden, Scholz to huddle on Ukraine war at White House
PSG And Morocco's Hakimi Charged With Rape: Prosecutors

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 03-04/2023
In Iran, Rising Demand and Falling Supply of Hard Currency Drive Rial to Record Lows/Saeed Ghasseminejad/Policy Brief/March 03/2023
Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan Grow Harsher/Mohshin Habib/Gatestone Institute/March 03/2023
The Abrahamic Family House of H. E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Promote Peace/Pete Hoekstra/ Gatestone Institute/March 03/2023
Egypt’s road to Damascus and the dangers of a frozen Ukraine war/Faisal Al Yafai/The Arab Weekly/March 03/2023

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 03-04/2023
Lebanon to Soon Beat Zimbabwe in Highest Inflation Rate
Beirut - Ali Zeinddine/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 3 March, 2023
A recent move by Lebanon’s Central Bank (BDL) to offer to sell the cash dollar through its platform at the rate of LBP 70,000 has temporarily curbed the rapid collapse of the national currency. The price margins of cash trading in the parallel markets fell to around LBP 80,000 per dollar, after touching the barrier of LBP 100,000 only minutes before the BDL decision was issued on Wednesday night. Government services and fees, which are collected based on the BDL Sayrafa platform, increased overnight by about 55 percent, especially public electricity and communications bills.
Many factors converge in Lebanon’s consumption markets, signaling unprecedented rises in inflation levels, which could put the country ahead of Zimbabwe, in terms of high food prices in particular, and the cost of living in general. Asharq Al-Awsat monitored the activity of banks, which have reprogrammed their information networks to comply with the new decision of the Central Bank and to issue the necessary instructions to branch managers and employees. However, it was noticed that many of them deliberately set special standards that impose compliance with the requirements of “Know Your Customer” and determine the source of liquidity in Lebanese pounds, to avoid exportation through currency exchange operations with money changers. Experts and analysts agree that the cumulative inflation index, which doubled from about 990 to 2,200 percent last year, will not require more than half of the time period, i.e. the middle of the current year, to achieve a new double jump, unless positive internal developments occur. Those are particularly related to the election of a president of the republic, the formation of a new government, and the issuance of a package of laws for an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is conducting a new field assessment through a team that will visit Beirut next week. Market traders and dealers told Asharq Al-Awsat that the 9 percent increase in prices, which was recorded at the end of the first month of 2023, is nothing more than the tip of the inflation iceberg, under which gloomy indicators lurk. Some of the data are likely to appear at the end of the first quarter, they remarked.
The continuous collapse of the Lebanese pound is inevitably reflected in prices, primarily those of food commodities and fuels, followed by basic expenditures, such as the supply of electricity from private generators, transportation, water and other daily life necessities. At the same time, the Ministry of Finance began collecting customs duties according to the updated pricing, which is based on calculating the dollar at a price of LBP 45,000, which is equivalent to three times the price adjusted a few months ago, i.e. LBP 15,000 per dollar. Preliminary estimates point to automatic increases, ranging between 5 and 15 percent, on the prices of goods subject to customs duties, with the exception of food commodities, medicine, medical supplies, and other basic materials. Estimates also suggest that the government, under pressure to meet wage increases, allowances, and aid for about 330,000 public sector employees, will resort to additional adjustments in calculating the costs of public services and fees, to become closer to the price of the black market. In fact, private educational and hospital institutions and telecommunications companies resorted to pricing the services in “fresh” dollars, partially or completely. This was seen in the unprecedented rise in telecommunications prices by 331 percent during the second half of 2022. Similarly, the cost of health services (medicine, hospitalization and medicines) increased by 176 percent. Education costs have also augmented by more than 191 percent, bearing in mind that social and health benefits have shrunk to minimum levels, as health coverage available from public funds now ranges between 5 and 20 percent of the real cost incurred by employees in the public and private sectors.

Lebanon’s international backers see ‘unsustainable’ status quo as paralysing state
The Arab Weekly/March 03/2023
The International Support Group for Lebanon (ISG), which includes the United Nations, European Union, Arab League and more than a half-dozen countries including the United States and France, said Thursday it was “gravely concerned about the ramifications of a prolonged presidential vacuum”.
Lebanon’s ongoing presidential vacuum is cause for grave concern, the country’s international backers said on Thursday, describing the current political situation as “unsustainable.”Lebanon is in an unprecedented crisis, with no president since Michel Aoun’s term ended on October 31, parliament struggling to pass laws and a caretaker cabinet with restricted powers. The country is facing a crippling economic meltdown that has cost the local currency more than 98% of its value since 2019. The International Support Group for Lebanon (ISG), which includes the United Nations, European Union, Arab League and more than a half-dozen countries including the United States and France, said Thursday it was “gravely concerned about the ramifications of a prolonged presidential vacuum”. It said “the status quo is unsustainable” and was “paralysing the state at all levels,” hampering its ability to address the economic crisis. The ISG pointed out that Lebanon was “yet to conclude a financial programme” and urged leaders to harmonise exchange rates and quickly adopt the laws required to restore confidence. Lebanon’s central bank on Wednesday said it would sell US dollars at a rate of 70,000 pounds per greenback but the official exchange rate, re-valued on February 1, was still 15,000. Unifying the multiple exchange rates is one of several preconditions set by the International Monetary Fund for Lebanon to clinch a $3 billion aid package. But the IMF said last year progress in implementing reforms remained “very slow”, with the bulk yet to be carried out despite the gravity of a crisis marking Lebanon’s most destabilising phase since the 1975-90 civil war. The ISG said it was “concerned” by the lack of progress in Lebanon’s probe into the deadly 2020 blast at the Beirut port, caused by dangerous chemicals stored there for years. The judge investigating the explosion tried to resume his work in January after a more than year-long suspension due to high-level political interference. However, the court system has been ordered not to process his decisions, which include charges against top current and former officials. Politicians retain significant influence over the appointment of judges and their prerogatives in Lebanon, where commercial banks also hold sway.

Hezbollah, Shiite Council condemn Kouyoumjian's 'Mutaa' remarks
Naharnet/March 03/2023
Hezbollah condemned Friday remarks by the Head of Foreign Affairs in the Lebanese Forces Party, Richard Kouyoumjian, who criticized the Shiite Mutaa marriage and the political Shiism that he described as "arrogant.""Even if religion allows it, Mutaa marriage remains an adultery that results in an illegitimate child whose mother is ashamed of, and whose actual father is different from his real father," Kouyoumjian had said in a tweet. Kouyoumjian later told local media that he meant the political marriage between the Shiite Duo and Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh, and not the religious marriage, adding that he respects all religions and sects, including the Shiite sect. Mutaa marriage, literally "pleasure marriage" is a verbal, temporary and private marriage practiced by Shiites. "The term has been used before to describe the political relation between the Shiite Duo and the Free Patriotic Movement, and between the Duo and al-Marada movement," the Former Social Affairs Minister said. He later apologized, in another tweet, stressing that his remarks were just political and not religious. On Friday, Hezbollah said in a statement that Kouyoumjian has insulted the Shiites in Lebanon and in the world, accusing "some political parties" of "deliberately" mixing up between political disagreements and religious insults. The Higher Islamic Shiite Council also condemned the former minister's remarks, urging for immediate measures against him and threatening that it will employ its full legal rights against Kouyoumjian.

Report: Jumblat will not endorse Franjieh as KSA opposes his election
Naharnet/March 03/2023
MP Wael Abu Faour has affirmed to Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat that Saudi Arabia will not support the election of Hezbollah's presidential candidate Suleiman Franjieh, Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported Friday.Marada leader Franjieh, a former lawmaker and minister close to Hezbollah and a personal friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has not officially announced his candidacy, but said he was interested in the position. Hezbollah and Amal back his candidacy, although Hezbollah's Christian ally the Free Patriotic Movement would not endorse him. Sources told Nidaa al-Watan that Jumblat would also not endorse any president rejected by Saudi Arabia, as he considers that the country needs Saudi support to overcome its crisis. The Shiite Duo MPs have cast blank votes during all the voting sessions, as they are trying to secure more votes to Franjieh.
Like many of Lebanon's prominent political figures, Franjieh hails from a storied dynasty. His grandfather and namesake was president when Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war broke out. In 1978, his father, politician Tony Franjieh, along with his mother and sister, were murdered by rival Christian fighters while he was elsewhere in the country.

Aoun suspends investigations, says 'things positive' with Oueidat
Naharnet/March 03/2023
Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun has suspended her investigations into suspsected violations committed by Lebanon’s banks, at the request of State Prosecutor Judge Ghassan Oueidat, ad-Diyar newspaper reported on Friday. Ouiedat had held a meeting with Aoun at her request on Thursday, during which she submitted to him a legal study conducted by her and a group of 12 lawyers from various associations. The meeting lasted for 14 minutes after which Aoun told reporters that “things with Judge Ghassan Oueidat are positive.”Oueidat had on Tuesday asked Aoun to suspend her investigations into the banks file until a ruling is issued in recusal lawsuit against her. BLOM Bank, Creditbank and Saradar Bank had recently agreed to cooperate with Aoun in her request to lift banking secrecy off several accounts to facilitate her probe into the suspected illegal transfer of funds abroad by bankers, businessmen and politicians. “These funds were withdrawn in fresh dollars from the central bank and were returned in banking dollars (lollars) whose value were equivalent to 1/5 of the black market exchange rate,” al-Akhbar newspaper said. The judge had recently filed a lawsuit against Bank Audi and asked 15 others banks to submit information and lift banking secrecy. Aoun’s decision followed a lawsuit filed by depositors against some banks. “On Nov. 11, 2009 the central bank had agreed to grant banks a large quantity of dollars on the condition that they be exclusively used in Lebanon and with an interest rate that reached 20%. It later turned out that 15 banks withdrew those funds, estimated at $8.3 billion, in the period between Nov. 2019 and March 2020,” al-Akhbar said. “The banks returned the funds to the central bank through their lollar liquidity and sent around $4 billion abroad to cover up for commitments to correspondent banks and transfers for the benefit of influential local figures, members of the boards of those banks and some top depositors,” the newspaper added.

Ibrahim begins planning for his political future
Naharnet/March 03/2023
Former General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim has started “calm planning” for the role that he will play in the coming period, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Friday. “Ibrahim will likely not take much time in readying for the new or renewed role whose features seem to be clear to him,” the daily added. The major general is “inclined to launch an office for official and diplomatic meetings and political activities, in addition to holding popular meetings,” the newspaper said, noting that “it was notable that Ibrahim’s visitors on the first day of his retirement were mostly of those who have problems and pending issues.”“They sought his help in resolving their problems, as if they feel that he has not left his post,” al-Joumhouria said. Ibrahim will also meet soon with a delegation from the Press Editors Syndicate in order to explain his supposed political future and announce his stances on some political challenges and controversies. Sources informed on what Ibrahim is planning meanwhile told the daily that he “does not want to limit his presence to the Shiite environment” and that he is seeking to give his future action a cross-confessional nature. Sources close to Hezbollah and the Amal Movement meanwhile expected a “strong push for Ibrahim’s appointment as a minister in the coming government, in addition to nominating him in the upcoming parliamentary elections.”

Report: Franjieh-Salam deal 'born dead' as army chief's chances plunge
Naharnet/March 03/2023
The so-called Franjieh-for-Salam presidential settlement proposal was “born dead,” political sources deeply involved in the presidential file have said. The proposal was not accepted by any political party and was not “seriously discussed,” the sources told ad-Diyar newspaper in remarks published Friday. The presidential chances of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun have also plunged, because “major obstacles” stand in the way of his nomination, the sources added. “This means that the circle of choices should be re-opened and new names should be nominated,” the sources went on to say. Media reports had recently said that Hezbollah and the Amal Movement had agreed to a French proposal calling for electing Suleiman Franjieh as president in return for the appointment of Lebanon’s ex-ambassador to the U.N. Nawaf Salam as prime minister.

Analyst: Only Iranian-Saudi agreement can break presidential deadlock
Naharnet/March 03/2023
Lebanon is navigating a devastating economic crisis that has plunged more than 80 percent of the population into poverty, according to the United Nations. Strikes and absenteeism have paralyzed public services, the state is barely able to provide a few hours of mains electricity a day, and the local currency has lost most of its value against the greenback since 2019. "The country is in a state of almost total disintegration," said analyst Karim Bitar. "We are seeing the collapse of all state institutions that were still holding up."Largely politically rudderless, Lebanon has been run by a caretaker government with limited powers since legislative elections in May last year. Former president Michel Aoun left office at the end of October, and sectarian leaders have been squabbling over a replacement ever since. Politicians have now failed to extend the mandate of retiring spymaster Abbas Ibrahim, head of the General Security agency, and was replaced by Brig. Gen. Elias Baissary as acting head of the agency. During more than a decade in the job, Ibrahim had to tackle numerous thorny challenges including the Syrian war's spill-over into Lebanon, and was seen by many as a political mediator between the country's divided political barons. He also successfully mediated in the release of hostages held in Syria.
'Unsustainable'
The current crisis "is probably the most serious in Lebanon's history", said Bitar of a country that endured civil conflict from 1975 to 1990 amid other shocks. "The state cannot even manage to collect taxes," Bitar said, while simple things such as vehicle registration have become almost impossible. With parliament split between supporters of Hezbollah and its opponents -- neither of which has a clear majority -- Lebanese lawmakers have made 11 unsuccessful attempts to elect a new head of state. Two independent lawmakers have been camped out in parliament since the last failed vote in mid-January, saying they will stay until a new president is elected. "The status quo is unsustainable. It is paralyzing the state at all levels," said the International Support Group for Lebanon on Thursday. The group, which includes the United States, several EU member states, Gulf countries, Russia and China, urged politicians to elect a new president "without further delay", saying it was "gravely concerned about the ramifications of a prolonged presidential vacuum" . By convention, Lebanon's presidency goes to a Maronite Christian. Bishops from Lebanon's Maronite Christian community have called for "a day of prayers" on March 10, hoping divine intervention will help elect a new president.
'Even worse'
Lebanon has also yet to enact most of the reforms needed to access billions of dollars in loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help dig itself out of the economic crisis. As part of international efforts to resolve the political impasse, France on February 6 hosted a meeting with representatives from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt. They agreed Lebanon's next president must be a unifying figure who is "capable of regaining the confidence of the international community", a Western diplomatic source told AFP on condition of anonymity due to the confidentiality of the discussions. The future head of state will also have to work with a new government that brings forward reform plans and sends "a signal of change", the source added. The most prominent candidates appear to be army chief Joseph Aoun -- who has good relations with most political parties -- and former minister and Hezbollah ally Suleiman Franjieh, other sources close to the meeting's participants said. For analyst Bitar, only "an agreement between regional powers" -- namely arch-rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia -- can unblock the situation and allow the election of a president. But as the deadlock spreads, he expressed fear of "an even worse economic deterioration that could lead to security incidents".

Berri-Mouawad rift triggers flurry of fiery statements
Naharnet/March 03/2023
Independent MP and presidential candidate Michel Mouawad said Friday that he will not accept to be insulted, after Speaker Nabih Berri described him as an “in vitro experiment” candidate. "What Berri said is not acceptable," Mouawad said. "We are not students in a classroom."After meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea, Mouawad said that he is proposing a project to "restore the state" and implement international resolutions. "This is not only our project, it is also a project for Lebanon," he went on to say. In an interview with al-Akhbar newspaper published Thursday, Berri had described the opposition's presidential candidate as an "in vitro experiment”, which infuriated Mouawad who hit back in a barb-filled statement, describing Berri as "a militiaman" and a "master of corruption."Mouawad claimed that Berri's insult also targets Zgharta and the North, asking Berri's candidate Suleiman Franjieh, born in Zgharta, whether he accepts "the insult."Al-Marada media office responded to Mouawad in a statement that supported Berri. "Berri is and will always be a man of dialogue," the statement said. "We hope that you (Mouawad) would return to Zgharta's values."The Progressive Socialist Party also supported Berri, as it stated that "it would be preferable if some people heeded Berri's call for dialogue instead of distributing absurd accusations against him." "In these difficult times, only dialogue is the way to salvation," the PSP said. The Watani civil society alliance, and the Tajaddod parliamentary bloc supported Mouawad. The bloc refused in a statement, "the imposition of a president on parliament." "Berri doesn't have the right to impose his president," the bloc said. Head of Foreign Affairs in the Lebanese Forces Party, Richard Kouyoumjian, also supported Mouawad in a controversial tweet in which he replied to Berri's in-vitro description with a criticism of the Shiite Mutaa marriage, saying it is adultery and results in illegitimate children. The remarks infuriated Hezbollah and the Higher Islamic Shiite Council, but Kouyoumjian later apologized, explaining that his remarks were political and not religious.
"I meant the political marriage between the Shiite Duo and Franjieh," Kouyoumjian said.

Syrian Hezbollah agent indicted for spying, terrorism after capture in Israel
Jerusalem Post/March 03/2023
Ayat Abdullah and another man, Abed Al-Rahman, were recruited and paid to observe and report on IDF troops along the Syrian border.
A Syrian Hezbollah agent was indicted for espionage and terrorism, the Attorney-General’s Office announced, after the suspect was caught in an IDF ambush when he infiltrated Israeli territory on January 27. Ayat Abdullah and another man, Abed al-Rahman, were recruited and paid to observe and report on troop strength, vehicle types and amount, operational hours and routes of IDF forces by a Hezbollah operative who initially posed as a Syrian state security officer. The duo would spy on IDF forces along the fence, and meet with their handler bimonthly for reports and payment. According to the announcement, Rahman was killed in an explosion in May 2022, which Hezbollah claimed was caused by an Israeli missile assassination. Rahman’s widow and family continued to receive a salary of 180,000 Syrian pounds, the same as Abdullah’s wages. The handler also gave Abdullah 4.5 million pounds to give to the widow, who was also his sister. The Attorney-General’s Office indicated that such rewards beyond death for service were intentionally made obvious to Abdullah. Abdullah continued to spy on IDF activities from Syrian territory even after his partner’s death, using a new camera to document the Israelis. The attorney-general said that during these operations, Abdullah was fully cognizant that the information would be used to harm Israel. In January, the suspect entered Israel, though the announcement didn’t elaborate on the operational reason.

Al-Abiad signs joint action plan with UNICEF
NNA/March 03/2023
Caretaker Minister of Public Health, Dr. Firas Al-Abiad, and UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, Edouard Beigbeder, on Friday signed the joint action plan between the Ministry of Public Health and UNICEF for the next three years. The plan includes details of cooperation projects, for which a budget of about $86 million has been allocated, provided that the two parties commit to implementing it within the time period specified in the agreement.

Mortada meets Iranian counterpart in Tehran
NNA/March 03/2023
Caretaker Minister of Culture, Judge Mohammad Wissam Al-Mortada, on Friday met with Iranian Minister of Culture and Guidance, Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Ismaili, during the former’s official visit to Tehran.
The pair reportedly discussed the means to deal with “media terrorism and disinformation campaigns that aim to demolish and corrupt social values.”The pair saw eye-to-eye on the pressing need for concerted efforts to curb the aforementioned attempts. Discussions further touched on “the means to strengthen cultural cooperation between the two countries for the benefit of the Lebanese and the Iranian peoples, especially since each of them has a very distinct heritage and cultural movement." Both men also agreed to hold a Lebanese cultural week in Iran soon and to partake in the implementation of cinematic works. The meeting had also been an occasion to hold a horizon tour on the political situation in each of the two countries.

Rifi visits LF leader: We are not a charitable association to guarantee quorum to opposing camp
NNA/March 03/2023
"Lebanese Forces" party leader, Samir Geagea, on Friday welcomed at his Meerab residence, MP Ashraf Rifi, who utterly rejected in the wake of the meeting any compromise over the presidential dossier. “We will only accept a sovereign and reforming president. We are not a charitable association to guarantee quorum to the opposing camp, which has been tampering with quorum over the last 11 sessions,” he said, adding that "this axis has led the country into hell over the past six years.”

UN’s Wronecka pushes for people-centered reform agenda in Lebanon
NNA/March 03/2023
United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, on Friday said via Twitter, “As Lebanon faces compounded socioeconomic challenges, expanding social safety nets, alleviating poverty and addressing food security are more urgent than ever to protect the most vulnerable segments of society. A people-centered reform agenda is what the Lebanese need and deserve.”

Army Commander tackles developments with Industry Minister, UNIFIL Commander, Dean of Military Attaches accredited to Lebanon
NNA/March 03/2023
Lebanese Armed Forces Commander, General Joseph Aoun, on Thursday welcomed at his Yarzeh office Minister of Industry, George Boujikian. The pair agreed to support productive thinking in the army institution by granting industry licenses, mainly to the Directorate of Geographical Affairs, with the aim of consolidating cooperation between the ministry and the military institution. General Aoun also received United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Commander in chief, General Aroldo Lazaro, with whom he discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the region. The Army Commander separately welcomed Dean of the Association of Arab and Foreign Military Attaches accredited to Lebanon, Romanian military attaché Colonel Stefan IOVANESCU, who praised the army's performance facing the country’s current challenges. Iovanescu praised the work of the rescue teams that participated in the humanitarian operations in Turkey and Syria. At the end of the meeting, Iovanescu presented a financial donation to the military establishment.

Oil prices drop with global inflationary concerns
NNA/March 03/2023
Oil prices fell further on Friday as inflationary concerns and global demand uncertainty weighed on prices.
International benchmark Brent crude traded at $84.52 per barrel at 09.55 a.m. local time (0655 GMT), down 0.27% from the closing price of $84.75 a barrel in the previous trading session. At the same time, American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at $77.97 per barrel, a 0.24% fall after the previous session closed at $78.16 a barrel. Uncertainty about central banks' interest rate policies fueled global recessionary fears, with high inflation rates indicating lower economic activity and an impending recession. Inflationary concerns in the world's largest oil consumer, the US, continue to weigh on oil prices. Productivity in the nonfarm business sector in the US increased by 1.7% in the fourth quarter of last year, falling short of expectations. The possibility of the US Federal Reserve raising rates again in July gained traction. Expectations that the European Central Bank will continue to raise interest rates in 2024 also weighed on prices. The European Central Bank is likely to hike rates by mid-March and further in May, Bank President Christine Lagard confirmed on Thursday. Meanwhile, investor expectations of a strong demand rebound in China, the world's largest oil importer, are lifting market sentiment. Economic recovery data in China is limiting a decline in global oil prices. In February, the Purchasing Managers' Index, an indicator of the economic health of the manufacturing sector, in China rose to 52%, the highest since April 2012.--AA

How Muqawama Digital Media Avoid Domain Seizure and Blocking
Ranw Hassan/Washington Institute/March 03/2023
Muqawama digital media outlets run by terrorist groups Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba continue to modify their domain names and social media brands in order to avoid shutdowns.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice seized 33 website domains related to the Islamic Radio and Television Union. These shutdowns also included a list of Iraqi websites that are connected to the Islamic Resistance groups and the Iraqi Radio and Television Union which are a offshoot of the Islamic Radio and Television Union. Yet many of the shut-down channels find ways back on-line, and this is also the case for social media accounts closed down by social media companies. This brief will look at three cases, two of which are the media of Harakat Al-Nujaba-affiliated Al-Nujaba TV , Kataib Hezbollah affiliated Al-Etejah TV channel, and one online Kataib Hezbollah platform called KAF media. Each of these TV or social media channels has found simple ways to change their digital footprint, such as minor alterations to branding, naming, and website URLs to avoid detection and shutdowns.
Al-Etejah TV, a media outlet affiliated with Kataib Hezbollah, relocated the domain of their TV station website after a series of shutdowns by the U.S. Department of Justice. Al-Etejah TV moved from .com domains to .iq, which are harder domains to interdict. In anticipation of social media shutdowns, Al-Etejah TV also changed its Twitter, Facebook and Instagram name from Al-Etejah TV to "ET Plus".
Al-Nujaba TV uses the same tactics and techniques to avoid shutdowns. Al-Nujaba TV changed its URL from Alnujaba.tv to Alnojaba.tv after a domain name seizure. Though their Twitter account has not changed its name or branding, they did take steps to complicate targeting of them via other social media.
Their Facebook has completely re-branded to Al-N TV, mixing their original logo with other objects to confuse detection. An interesting action taken by Al-Nujaba TV is that they advertise popular (non-Nujaba) shows on Instagram, to draw viewers and create a harmless outer layer to the casual observer.
On YouTube, they have completely changed their name to “Nwat al-Haqiqa”, meaning "the core of the truth". This measure is likely taken due to multiple shutdowns of their previous YouTube channels.
Open imageiconNujaba’s various names on different platforms. Top logo: Original Branding, middle: YouTube Channel name, bottom: Facebook page. Figure 2: Nujaba’s various names on different platforms. Top logo: Original branding. Middle: YouTube Channel name. Bottom: Facebook page.
KAF, an official Kataib Hezbollah platform also moved its domain to .iq. On YouTube and Facebook, it has a platform with 1.8 million subscribers called K-Media. On Twitter, they use a completely different brand; a media character, Muheb Shrad, that disseminates Kataib Hezbollah news and statements.
Open imageiconKAF logos and name changes. Top logo: original branding, Middle screenshot: YouTube Channel, Bottom screenshot: Facebook page. Figure 3: KAF logos and name changes. Top logo: original branding. Middle screenshot: YouTube Channel. Bottom screenshot: Facebook page.
These three cases show how muqawama media outlets have shifted to .iq domains for their websites, which can re-focus U.S. agencies and legal plaintiffs on the new hosts of these websites - the .iq domain operated by Iraq's Communications and Media Commission (CMC), which is has recently been taken over by muqawama political blocs. In social media, the muqawama rebrand themselves to potentially bypass the U.S. Department of Justice shutdowns. They use slightly different branding, and similar names with small variations, and altered URLs to stay open and reach their audience. The challenge to investigators is that uncovering these variations require monitoring their mother channels on Telegram to notice any changes to their branding on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or websites.
*Ranw Hassan is a Kurdish expert on digital media operations.
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/how-muqawama-digital-media-avoid-domain-seizure-and-blocking

What are Gog and Magog?
Got Questions web site
Historically speaking, Magog was a grandson of Noah (Genesis 10:2). The descendants of Magog settled to the far north of Israel, likely in Europe and northern Asia (Ezekiel 38:2). Magog seems to be used to refer to "northern barbarians" in general, but likely also has a connection to Magog the person. The people of Magog are described as skilled warriors (Ezekiel 38:15; 39:3-9).
Gog and Magog appear in Ezekiel 38—39 and in Revelation 20:7–8. While these two passages use the same names, a close study of Scripture clearly demonstrates they do not refer to the same people and events. The events are separated by at least 1,000 years. In Ezekiel’s prophecy, Gog will be the leader of a great army that attacks the land of Israel, which is “peaceful and unsuspecting” at the time (Ezekiel 38:11). Gog is described as “of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal” (Ezekiel 38:2–3). When will Ezekiel’s battle of Gog and Magog occur? There are a couple of theories:
• Before the tribulation begins. This view points to the fact that, after the battle, the people of Israel will be burning the enemy’s weapons for seven years and spend over seven months burying the dead (Ezekiel 39:9–10, 12–16). That length of time most likely requires the battle to be fought before the tribulation, and possibly even before the rapture of the church.
• During the first part of the seven-year tribulation. This view hinges on the fact that Israel is at peace when the attack begins (Ezekiel 38:8, 11). The security Israel enjoys is assumed to be the result of Israel’s covenant with the Antichrist at the beginning of the tribulation, Daniel’s 70th Week (Daniel 9:27a).
According to Ezekiel, Magog will not win. God will intervene to preserve Israel. “There shall be a great earthquake” (Ezekiel 38:19), “every man’s sword will be against his brother” (verse 21), and God “will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on [Gog] and on his troops and on the many nations with him” (verse 22). The result is that the nations will see God’s greatness and holiness (verse 23).
Gog and Magog are mentioned again in Revelation 20:7-8. The duplicated use of the names Gog and Magog in Revelation 20:8-9 is to show that these people demonstrate the same rebellion against God and antagonism toward God as those in Ezekiel 38-39. It is similar to someone today calling a person "the devil" because he or she is sinful and evil. We know that person is not really Satan, but because that person shares similar characteristics, he or she might be referred to as "the devil."
The book of Revelation uses Ezekiel’s prophecy about Magog to portray a final end-times attack on the nation of Israel (Revelation 20:8-9). The result of this battle is that all are destroyed, and Satan will find his final place in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
It is important to recognize that the Gog and Magog of Ezekiel 38-39 is quite different from the one in Revelation 20:7-8. Below are some of the more obvious reasons why these refer to different people and battles.
1. In the battle of Ezekiel 38-39, the armies come primarily from the north and involve only a few nations of the earth (Ezekiel 38:6, 15; 39:2). The battle in Revelation 20:7-9 will involve all nations, so armies will come from all directions, not just from the north.
2. There is no mention of Satan in the context of Ezekiel 38-39. In Revelation 20:7 the context clearly places the battle at the end of the millennium with Satan as the primary character.
3. Ezekiel 39:11–12 states that the dead will be buried for seven months. There would be no need to bury the dead if the battle in Ezekiel 38—39 is the one described in Revelation 20:8–9, for immediately following Revelation 20:8–9 is the Great White Throne judgment (20:11–15) and then the present heaven and earth are destroyed, replaced by a new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1). There obviously will be a need to bury the dead if the battle takes place before or in the early part of the tribulation, for the land of Israel will be occupied for another 1,000 years, the length of the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4–6).
4. The battle in Ezekiel 38-39 is used by God to bring Israel back to Him (Ezekiel 39:21-29). In Revelation 20, Israel has been faithful to God for 1,000 years (the millennial kingdom). Those in Revelation 20:7-10 who are rebellious are destroyed without any more opportunity for repentance.
https://www.gotquestions.org/Gog-Magog.html

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 03-04/2023
Palestinian Authority Rejects Security Cooperation with Israel
FDD/March 02/2023
Latest Developments
Senior Palestinian Authority (PA) official Azzam al-Ahmad said on Wednesday that President Mahmoud Abbas had instructed Palestinian security services to “confront” Israeli troops and “settlers” who enter Palestinian-controlled areas in the West Bank. In so doing, the PA is effectively turning the Palestinian security forces – a mechanism designed to promote stability – into an instrument of conflict. State Department spokesperson Ned Price responded that the PA and Israel should be “leaning into security cooperation with each other at such a time.”
Expert Analysis
“Since 2005, the Palestinian Security Forces have been bolstered by the United States and international partners as a tool for peace. The successful security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Security Forces protects Palestinian and Israeli lives and ensures the survival of the Palestinian Authority. If the PA weaponizes the security forces, the Palestinian leadership is putting its own survival in jeopardy.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network
Heightened Tensions
Al-Ahmad’s statement comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. On Sunday, a Palestinian terrorist gunned down two brothers in their car as they drove through the Palestinian town of Hawara. In response, a group of Israeli settlers rioted in the Palestinian town where the brothers were murdered, killing one Palestinian, wounding dozens, and causing extensive property damage. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called for calm after the riot, urging Israelis not take the law into their own hands.
2023 Has Witnessed a High Death Toll
In 2023, Palestinian terrorists have already killed 13 Israelis, including a dual Israeli-American citizen, and a Ukrainian national. During the same period, more than 60 Palestinians died, mostly in clashes with Israel. According to an FDD review of open-source data, more than two-thirds of the Palestinian fatalities in 2023 had participated in terror attacks or were affiliated with terror organizations.
The U.S. Role in Security Coordination
The United States has led the effort to create an effective security coordination mechanism for Israelis and Palestinians through the establishment of the Office of US Security Coordinator (USSC) in 2005. Founded in the wake of the Second Intifada, the USSC — based in Jerusalem and headed by Lieutenant General Michael R. Fenzel — has the mandate to “transform and professionalize” Palestinian armed groups, according to the State Department. Another primary objective of the USSC is to implement the security arrangements between the PA and Israel as envisioned in the Oslo Accords of the early 1990s.

Question: “Are we living in the end times?”
GotQuestions.org?/March 02/2023
Answer: At the very heart of this question lies a fundamental misunderstanding of what both the Old and New Testaments reveal about the nature of God. Another way of expressing this same basic thought is when people say, “The God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath while the God of the New Testament is a God of love.” The fact that the Bible is God’s progressive revelation of Himself to us through historical events and through His relationship with people throughout history might contribute to misconceptions about what God is like in the Old Testament as compared to the New Testament. However, when one reads both the Old and the New Testaments, it becomes evident that God is not different from one testament to another and that God’s wrath and His love are revealed in both testaments.
For example, throughout the Old Testament, God is declared to be a “compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,” (Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 4:31; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:5, 15; 108:4; 145:8; Joel 2:13). Yet in the New Testament, God’s loving-kindness and mercy are manifested even more fully through the fact that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Throughout the Old Testament, we also see God dealing with Israel the same way a loving father deals with a child. When they willfully sinned against Him and began to worship idols, God would chastise them. Yet, each time He would deliver them once they had repented of their idolatry. This is much the same way God deals with Christians in the New Testament. For example, Hebrews 12:6 tells us that “the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
In a similar way, throughout the Old Testament we see God’s judgment and wrath poured out on sin. Likewise, in the New Testament we see that the wrath of God is still “being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness” (Romans 1:18). So, clearly, God is no different in the Old Testament than He is in the New Testament. God by His very nature is immutable (unchanging). While we might see one aspect of His nature revealed in certain passages of Scripture more than other aspects, God Himself does not change.
As we read and study the Bible, it becomes clear that God is the same in the Old and New Testaments. Even though the Bible is 66 individual books written on two (or possibly three) continents, in three different languages, over a period of approximately 1500 years by more than 40 authors, it remains one unified book from beginning to end without contradiction. In it we see how a loving, merciful, and just God deals with sinful men in all kinds of situations. Truly, the Bible is God’s love letter to mankind. God’s love for His creation, especially for mankind, is evident all through Scripture. Throughout the Bible we see God lovingly and mercifully calling people into a special relationship with Himself, not because they deserve it, but because He is a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth. Yet we also see a holy and righteous God who is the Judge of all those who disobey His Word and refuse to worship Him, turning instead to worship gods of their own creation (Romans chapter 1).
Because of God’s righteous and holy character, all sin—past, present, and future—must be judged. Yet God in His infinite love has provided a payment for sin and a way of reconciliation so that sinful man can escape His wrath. We see this wonderful truth in verses like 1 John 4:10: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” In the Old Testament, God provided a sacrificial system whereby atonement could be made for sin. However, this sacrificial system was only temporary and merely looked forward to the coming of Jesus Christ who would die on the cross to make a complete substitutionary atonement for sin. The Savior who was promised in the Old Testament is fully revealed in the New Testament. Only envisioned in the Old Testament, the ultimate expression of God’s love, the sending of His Son Jesus Christ, is revealed in all its glory in the New Testament. Both the Old and the New Testaments were given “to make us wise unto salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15). When we study the Testaments closely, it is evident that God “does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
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New crew from UAE, US, and Russia arrives at space station
Associated Press/March 02/2023
A new crew arrived at the International Space Station on Friday for a six-month mission, after overcoming trouble with one of the capsule's docking hooks. The SpaceX capsule and its four astronauts had to wait 65 feet (20 meters) from the orbiting lab, as flight controllers in California scrambled to come up with a software fix. It's the same problem that cropped up shortly after Thursday's liftoff. Although all 12 hooks on the capsule appeared to be fine, the switch for one of them malfunctioned. SpaceX Mission Control urged patience, telling the astronauts they could stay in this holding pattern for up to two hours. "Teams are working to get this right, not just fast," Mission Control radioed. Minutes later, new software commands were relayed, and the astronauts received the go-ahead to proceed with the final approach and docking. In the end, the linkup occurred an hour late as the capsule and space station soared 260 miles (420 kilometers) above the coast of Somalia. It was expected to take an hour before the hatches could be open, the standard time for proper pressurization. "Now let's work toward getting this hatch open so you can go hug your crewmates," NASA Mission Control said from Houston. The new arrivals include United Arab Emirates' Sultan al-Neyadi, the first astronaut from the Arab world who will spend an extended time in space. Al-Neyadi is only the second person from the UAE to rocket into orbit. Also flying up in the capsule: NASA's Stephen Bowen, a retired Navy submariner who made three space shuttle flights, and Warren "Woody" Hoburg, a space newbie and former research scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Andrei Fedyaev, a space rookie who's retired from the Russian Air Force. SpaceX launched the four astronauts for NASA early Thursday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Their flight was delayed a few days by a clogged filter in an ignition fluid line. The UAE sent its first astronaut, Hazza al-Mansoori, to the space station in 2019 aboard a Russian rocket. It had been decades since the first Arab launched in 1985 during NASA's shuttle era. The longest spaceflight by any of them was about a week. "I'm at a loss for words to express how happy I am" for al-Neyadi, al-Mansoori tweeted after the launch. The newcomers will replace two NASA astronauts, a Japanese astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut who have been up there since October and will return in their own SpaceX capsule next week.

Israel Tells Top US General It Sees Need to Cooperate against Iran
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 3 March, 2023
Israel hosted the top US military officer, Army General Mark Milley, on Friday for discussions that it said included the need for cooperation on denying Iran nuclear weaponry. Milley made the previously unannounced visit ahead of a trip to Israel by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that will also include neighboring Egypt and Jordan. "Ongoing cooperation is required in order to prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's office quoted him as telling Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley made no public remarks in Israel. His spokesperson said Milley discussed regional security issues and "coordination to defend against threats posed by Iran" in his talks with Chief of the Israeli General Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi. Amid its long-stalled negotiations with world powers on renewing a 2015 nuclear deal, Western powers say Iran has made advances with technologies that could potentially yield it a bomb. Tehran denies having any such plan. In January, the United States and Israel held what one US official described as the allies' most significant joint military exercise to date, involving thousands of forces, a dozen ships and 142 aircraft, including nuclear-capable bombers. Milley's trip also comes amid spiraling violence in the West Bank, with stepped-up Israeli military raids following a spate of Palestinian attacks. Fears of escalation ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover festival have prompted the United States, Jordan and Egypt to appeal for calm. At least 62 Palestinians, including gunmen and civilians, have been killed since the start of 2023, the Palestinian health ministry said. Thirteen Israelis and a Ukrainian tourist died in Palestinian attacks in the same period, according to official Israeli figures.

Israel-US Talks to Begin as Iran’s Nuclear Program Approaches the ‘Red Line’
London – Tel Aviv – Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 3 March, 2023
Tel Aviv and Washington have decided to kickstart deep talks on Iran’s enrichment of uranium to 84%, which is close to what is needed for developing a bomb. A senior delegation from the Israeli government will travel to the US capital next week to meet with officials from the White House, the Pentagon, and the State Department. The Israeli delegation will include Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Council chief Tzachi Hanegbi. Dermer and Hanegbi are expected to meet with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, political sources reported. According to the Tel Aviv-based Walla! News, the visit will precede a visit by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to Israel next week to continue such talks. Austin will arrive in Tel Aviv at the end of next week. He is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and President Isaac Herzog. The meetings will cover various major issues, including cooperation, regional developments, and the situation in the Palestinian arena, but the central issue will be Iran’s nuclear program, reported Walla! News. A probe by the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), into Iran’s nuclear activities found particles of 83.7%-enriched uranium, the highest level of enrichment ever achieved by the cleric-led country. The IAEA said that it will be discussing the enriched uranium with Tehran. Netanyahu spoke with several state leaders and stressed that Israel considers Iran enriching uranium to 90% a red line. The prime minister and other Israeli officials have stressed in recent weeks that presenting a credible military threat is necessary to stop Iran from threatening regional and global security.For his part, US Under Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl said Tuesday that Tehran can enrich a sufficient amount of uranium in 12 days to a level of 90 % – the level of enrichment needed to produce a crude nuclear weapon.

EU Diplomat Demands Accountability Following Israeli Settler Rampage in West Bank
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 3 March, 2023
The European Union's envoy to the Palestinians called on Friday for accountability and for perpetrators to be brought to justice after a rampage by Israeli settlers this week in the occupied West Bank in which one Palestinian was killed and dozens of houses, shops and cars were torched. Ambassador Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, heading one of the biggest EU delegations to visit the West Bank, said the officials wanted to see with their own eyes the damage left by Sunday's violence in and around the Palestinian village of Huwara. The rampage followed a Palestinian gun attack that killed two Israeli brothers.
"It is absolutely necessary for us that accountability is fully ensured, that the perpetrators be brought to justice, that those who lost property be compensated," Kuhn von Burgsdorff said. Local media reported that, in a rare move, Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday signed administrative detention orders for two suspects over the rampage, after a Jerusalem court ordered police to release all seven people who had been detained in connection with the rampage. Amnesty International condemned the release of the suspects in a statement on Friday. It also condemned the use of administrative detention, which it said was a practice that violated international law. Israeli rights group Yesh Din found that 93% of investigations into settler attacks in the West Bank between 2005 and 2022 were closed without indictment.Israeli Major General Yehuda Fuchs, who commands the Israeli military in the area, said on Tuesday that his forces had prepared for attempted settler retribution over the gun attack but had been surprised by the intensity of the violence, which he said was perpetrated by dozens of people. He called it a "pogrom carried out by outlaws". Violence in the West Bank has surged over the past year with stepped-up Israeli military raids following a spate of Palestinian attacks. The United States, Jordan and Egypt have appealed for calm, concerned about an escalation ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover festival in late March and early April.
Washington’s call to Netanyahu
The United States has demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disavow a call on Wednesday by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for the village of Huwara to be erased. On the night of the rampage, Netanyahu urged people not to take the law into their own hands, but he has not publicly addressed Smotrich's statement or responded to the unusual criticism by Washington, a close ally. The UN human rights chief on Friday criticized Smotrich for his remarks, describing them as "an unfathomable statement of incitement to violence and hostility". Volker Turk was addressing the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, where he formally presented a report on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.Late on Thursday, Palestinian officials said Israeli forces shot dead 15-year-old Mohammad Nidal Saleem in the back in the West Bank town of Azzoun. Ahmad Enaya, the town's mayor, said an Israeli military vehicle drove into town and when teens hurled rocks at the car, soldiers responded with live fire. The Israeli military said in a statement that soldiers shot at suspects who had hurled explosives at forces while they were conducting a search in the area for people who launched fireworks at Israeli vehicles passing near Azzoun. It said it was aware of reports of people being wounded but did not confirm any Palestinian fatalities. A statement by the public hospital in Qalqilya, near Azzoun, said two other people were treated for gunshot wounds. "The terrorism waged by settlers, in cooperation with the occupation government, is unprecedented," said Walid Assaf, a former Palestinian Authority official who monitored Israeli settlements, speaking at Saleem's funeral in Azzoun on Friday. At least 62 Palestinians, including gunmen and civilians, have been killed since the start of 2023, the Palestinian health ministry said. Thirteen Israelis and a Ukrainian tourist died in Palestinian attacks in the same period, according to official Israeli figures. Palestinians seek to establish a state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, areas Israel captured in a 1967 war. "We Palestinians will remain steadfast and we will defend our existence in the face of this occupation," said Assaf.

Biden, Scholz to Huddle on Ukraine War at White House
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 3 March, 2023
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is visiting the White House on Friday for a private meeting with President Joe Biden as both allies become increasingly vocal about their concerns that China may step off the sidelines and supply weapons to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Such a step could dramatically change the war’s trajectory by allowing Moscow to replenish its depleted stockpiles. China is Germany’s top trading partner, and European nations have generally been more cautious than the United States in taking a hard line with Beijing. However, there are signs that may be shifting as global rivalries grow more tense. In a speech to the German parliament on Thursday, Scholz called on China to "use your influence in Moscow to press for the withdrawal of Russian troops, and do not supply weapons to the aggressor Russia."The US and Germany have worked closely together to supply Ukraine with military and humanitarian assistance. But there has also been friction over issues such as providing tanks, and Washington has occasionally grown frustrated with Berlin's hesitance. Maintaining a steady flow of weapons to Kyiv will be critical in the war's second year, especially with both sides planning spring offensives. "We’re proud of the collective efforts that we’ve taken together," John Kirby, a White House national security spokesman, said Thursday.
He said the US has not seen any indication that China has made a decision on whether to provide weapons to Russia. Scholz last visited the White House a little more than a year ago, shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine. Very little of Friday's meeting will be open to the public, and no announcements are expected afterward. Unlike formal state visits, such as when French President Emmanuel Macron came to Washington last year, there will be no pomp and ceremony. Scholz's trip will lack the customary press conference where the two leaders take questions from reporters representing both countries.
Kirby described it as a "true working visit between these two leaders."The meeting will be intimate, according to a senior German official and a US official. Rather than being constantly flanked by advisers, the officials said, Biden and Scholz are likely to be the only people in the room for much of the time. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the confidential nature of the talks.
In an interview with German broadcaster Welt, opposition leader Friedrich Merz accused Scholz of being secretive about his trip to Washington, which will take place without the customary press pack in tow. Merz suggested that Scholz had to smooth ruffled feathers over the deal to provide tanks to Ukraine. Scholz dismissed any notion of discord between allies. Asked by The Associated Press about the circumstances of his visit, Scholz said he and Biden "want to talk directly with each other," and he described "a global situation where things have become very difficult.""It is important that such close friends can talk about all of these questions together, continually," he said. Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, hinted at some tension between the two countries on Sunday when appearing on ABC's "This Week."He said Biden originally decided against sending Abrams tanks to Ukraine, believing they wouldn't be immediately useful for Ukrainian forces. However, Sullivan said, Germany would not send its Leopard tanks "until the president also agreed to send Abrams." "So, in the interest of alliance unity and to ensure that Ukraine got what it wanted, despite the fact that the Abrams aren’t the tool they need, the president said, ‘OK, I’m going to be the leader of the free world,’" Sullivan said. "'I will send Abrams down the road if you send Leopards now.' Those Leopards are getting sent now."Scholz's government has denied there was any such demand made of the US. Max Bergmann, a former State Department official who leads the Europe Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the US has often wanted Germany, the world's fifth-largest economy, to be more forceful on the global stage. "There’s a hope that, instead of us having to push all the time, that Germany would take a leadership role," he said. Bergmann said Germany has gone a long way toward strengthening its defense, but added that there's more work to do. "The German way of seeing the world doesn’t always align with the US way of seeing the world," he said.

Germany Calls for Probe of Reported Iranian School Girl Poisonings
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 3 March, 2023
Reports of poison attacks on school girls in Iran are shocking and must be investigated fully, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Friday, joining the United States in expressing her concern. Hundreds of Iranian girls in different schools have suffered "mild poison" attacks over recent months, according to the country's health minister, with some politicians suggesting they could have been targeted by hardline groups opposed to girls' education. "Girls must be able to go to school without fear," Baerbock said on Twitter. "This is nothing less than their human right. All cases must be fully investigated."

Russian Mercenary Boss Says Bakhmut Effectively Surrounded
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 3 March, 2023
Russian troops and mercenaries were closing off the last access routes to the besieged Ukrainian city of Bakhmut on Friday, on the cusp of Moscow's first major victory in half a year after the bloodiest fighting of the war. The head of Russia's Wagner private army said the city, which has been blasted to ruins, was now almost completely surrounded, with only one route out left open for Ukraine's troops. Reuters journalists west of the city saw Ukrainians digging new trenches for defensive positions there, while the commander of a Ukrainian drone unit inside the city for months said he had been ordered to withdraw.
Victory in Bakhmut, with a pre-war population of about 70,000, would give Russia the first major prize of a costly winter offensive after it called up hundreds of thousands of reservists last year. It says it would be a stepping stone to capturing the surrounding Donbas region, a major war aim.
Ukraine, which recaptured swathes of territory in the second half of 2022 but whose forces have been on the defensive for three months, says the city has little strategic value but that the huge losses there could determine the course of the war. In a video filmed on a rooftop in an undisclosed location, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, dressed in a combat uniform, said he was calling on President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to order the evacuation of Bakhmut to save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. "Units of the private military company Wagner have practically surrounded Bakhmut. Only one route (out) is left," he said. "The pincers are closing."The camera then panned to show three captured Ukrainians - an older man and two young boys - who looked frightened and asked to be allowed to go home, in what appeared to be a choreographed appearance under extreme stress. Both sides say they have inflicted devastating losses in Bakhmut. Kyiv has insisted its forces are still holding out there, while acknowledging that the situation has deteriorated this week. Volodymyr Nazarenko, a deputy commander in the National Guard of Ukraine, told Ukrainian NV Radio the situation was "critical", with fighting going on "round the clock". "They take no account of their losses in trying to take the city by assault. The task of our forces in Bakhmut is to inflict as many losses on the enemy as possible. Every meter of Ukrainian land costs hundreds of lives to the enemy," he said. "We need as much ammunition as possible. There are many more Russians here than we have ammunition to destroy them."The commander of a Ukrainian drone unit active in Bakhmut, Robert Brovdi who goes by the name "Madyar", said in a video posted on social media that his unit had been ordered by the military to withdraw immediately from the city. He said he had been fighting there for 110 days, and gave no reason for the order to leave.
Scholz in Washington
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was due to meet US President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss additional military aid to Ukraine. Germany makes the Leopard tanks that are expected to be the core of a new Ukrainian armored force when they arrive later this year.
Scholz has been criticized by some Western allies for taking a cautious public stance towards arming Ukraine, although he has overseen a dramatic shift in policy from a country that was Russia's biggest energy customer on the eve of the war. Washington will announce its latest military aid package worth $400 million, mainly comprising ammunition and armored vehicles. The United States has provided nearly $32 billion in weaponry to Ukraine since the invasion. Biden and Scholz could also touch on concerns that China may provide lethal aid to Russia, a senior administration official said. The Biden administration is sounding out close allies about the possibility of imposing new sanctions on China if Beijing provides military support to Russia, US officials and other sources said. China has denied considering such assistance, and US officials have not publicly provided evidence for their suspicions.
Asked by reporters whether potential sanctions against China would be a topic for Biden and Scholz, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said "the issue of a third party support to Russia could come up." Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers on both sides are believed to have been killed since Russia invaded its pro-Western neighbor a year ago. Moscow, which claims to have annexed nearly a fifth of Ukraine, says Kyiv posed a security threat. Ukraine and its allies say the invasion was an unprovoked war to conquer land. On the sidelines of a G20 foreign ministers meeting in India, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken briefly met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov face to face for the first time since the invasion. Blinken told Lavrov to end the war, and urged Moscow to reverse its suspension - announced last week - of the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement, US officials said. Speaking at a forum in the Indian capital on Friday, Blinken said Russia cannot be allowed to wage war with impunity, otherwise it would send "a message to would-be aggressors everywhere that they may be able to get away with it too."

Earthquakes Caused $5.1 Bln in Damage in Syria, World Bank Estimates
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 3 March, 2023
The deadly earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria last month caused about $5.1 billion in direct physical damage in Syria, the World Bank said on Friday, furthering destruction in a country already devastated by years of civil war. The current value of damaged and destroyed buildings and infrastructure is estimated at some 10% of Syria's gross domestic product, the bank said in a statement after releasing what it described as a broad but preliminary damage estimate. Damaged buildings include cultural heritage sites in historic areas of Syria, it said. "These losses compound years of destruction, suffering and hardship the people of Syria have been enduring over the past years," said Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank country director for the Middle East. "The disaster will cause a decline in economic activity that will further weigh on Syria's growth prospects," Carret added. The Feb. 6 earthquakes struck a swathe of northwest Syria, a region partitioned by the 11-year-long war, including opposition-held territory at the Turkish border and government areas controlled by President Bashar al-Assad. The province of Aleppo, which was a major front line in the war, suffered an estimated 45% of total damages from the quakes, the bank said. Some 37% of the damage was in Idlib province, with 11% in the coastal Latakia province, the bank added. Reflecting a degree of uncertainty around the preliminary assessment, estimates for total direct damages range between $2.7 billion and $7.9 billion, the bank said. Its assessment does not cover broader economic impacts and losses for the Syrian economy, it said. The bank said in a Feb. 27 report that the earthquakes caused $34.2 billion in direct physical damage in Türkiye, where at least 45,000 people have died due to the quakes. The death toll in Syria is over 5,900, authorities say.

Day after Meeting, Blinken and Lavrov Exchange Diplomatic Swipes
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 3 March, 2023
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the United States of hypocrisy after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia cannot be allowed to wage war in Ukraine with impunity, during a security forum they attended in New Delhi on Friday. The top diplomats from Moscow and Washington had both attended the Group of 20 foreign ministers gathering in the Indian capital earlier this week, and met in person for the first time since Russian forces invaded Ukraine a year ago. "If we allow with impunity Russia to do what it's doing in Ukraine, then that’s a message to would-be aggressors everywhere that they may be able to get away with it too," Blinken told the Raisina Dialogue strategic affairs forum. Speaking at the same strategic affairs forum after Blinken, Lavrov said it was "double standards" to question Russia's action in Ukraine when the United States cited a "threat to its national interest" to justify military intervention in various parts of the world, including the war in Iraq, air strikes on Libya, and the bombing of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo conflict in 1999. Lavrov also said the question of when Russia will negotiate an end to the war should be put to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Everybody is asking when Russia is going to negotiate...the West is continuously saying that it is not time to negotiate yet because Ukraine must win in the battlefield before any negotiations," he said. At the G20, the United States and its allies called on member countries to keep pressuring Russia to end the conflict, but the G20 was unable to agree on a joint statement on the war due to opposition from China and Russia, which calls its actions a "special military operation" aimed at removing what it says is a threat to its own security. The Russian minister went on to accuse Washington of "trying to militarize" the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a partnership between the United States, Australia, India and Japan that focuses on strategic issues in the Indo-Pacific region. Earlier in the day Blinken had met with his counterparts from the Quad, as the grouping is informally called, and they issued a statement saying "the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible". Late last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended a landmark nuclear arms control treaty and threatened to resume nuclear tests. During their brief exchange on the sidelines of the G20 meeting on Thursday, Blinken told Lavrov to end the war and urged Moscow to reverse its suspension of the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) on nuclear weapons. The Quad statement also took a barely disguised swipe at China by denouncing actions that increase tensions in the South China Sea, and the "militarization" of disputed territories in the area. China has denounced the Quad as a Cold War construct and a clique "targeting other countries".

Biden, Scholz to huddle on Ukraine war at White House
Associated Press/March 03/2023
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is visiting the White House on Friday for a private meeting with President Joe Biden as both allies become increasingly vocal about their concerns that China may step off the sidelines and supply weapons to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Such a step could dramatically change the war's trajectory by allowing Moscow to replenish its depleted stockpiles. China is Germany's top trading partner, and European nations have generally been more cautious than the United States in taking a hard line with Beijing. However, there are signs that may be shifting as global rivalries grow more tense. In a speech to the German parliament on Thursday, Scholz called on China to "use your influence in Moscow to press for the withdrawal of Russian troops, and do not supply weapons to the aggressor Russia."The U.S. and Germany have worked closely together to supply Ukraine with military and humanitarian assistance. But there has also been friction over issues such as providing tanks, and Washington has occasionally grown frustrated with Berlin's hesitance. Maintaining a steady flow of weapons to Kyiv will be critical in the war's second year, especially with both sides planning spring offensives. "We're proud of the collective efforts that we've taken together," John Kirby, a White House national security spokesman, said Thursday. He said the U.S. has not seen any indication that China has made a decision on whether to provide weapons to Russia. Scholz last visited the White House a little more than a year ago, shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine. Very little of Friday's meeting will be open to the public, and no announcements are expected afterward. Unlike formal state visits, such as when French President Emmanuel Macron came to Washington last year, there will be no pomp and ceremony. Scholz's trip will lack the customary press conference where the two leaders take questions from reporters representing both countries. Kirby described it as a "true working visit between these two leaders."The meeting will be intimate, according to a senior German official and a U.S. official. Rather than being constantly flanked by advisers, the officials said, Biden and Scholz are likely to be the only people in the room for much of the time. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the confidential nature of the talks. In an interview with German broadcaster Welt, opposition leader Friedrich Merz accused Scholz of being secretive about his trip to Washington, which will take place without the customary press pack in tow. Merz suggested that Scholz had to smooth ruffled feathers over the deal to provide tanks to Ukraine. Scholz dismissed any notion of discord between allies. Asked by The Associated Press about the circumstances of his visit, Scholz said he and Biden "want to talk directly with each other," and he described "a global situation where things have become very difficult.""It is important that such close friends can talk about all of these questions together, continually," he said. Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, hinted at some tension between the two countries on Sunday when appearing on ABC's "This Week."He said Biden originally decided against sending Abrams tanks to Ukraine, believing they wouldn't be immediately useful for Ukrainian forces. However, Sullivan said, Germany would not send its Leopard tanks "until the president also agreed to send Abrams.""So, in the interest of alliance unity and to insure that Ukraine got what it wanted, despite the fact that the Abrams aren't the tool they need, the president said, 'OK, I'm going to be the leader of the free world,'" Sullivan said. "'I will send Abrams down the road if you send Leopards now.' Those Leopards are getting sent now."Scholz's government has denied there was any such demand made of the U.S. Max Bergmann, a former State Department official who leads the Europe Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the U.S. has often wanted Germany, the world's fifth-largest economy, to be more forceful on the global stage."There's a hope that, instead of us having to push all the time, that Germany would take a leadership role," he said. Bergmann said Germany has gone a long way toward strengthening its defense, but added that there's more work to do. "The German way of seeing the world doesn't always align with the U.S. way of seeing the world," he said.

PSG And Morocco's Hakimi Charged With Rape: Prosecutors
NNA/March 03/2023
Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi has been charged with rape, French prosecutors told AFP on Friday. Hakimi, 24, was questioned by prosecutors Thursday about accusations made by a 24-year-old woman, and subsequently charged. The Madrid-born player, who was a key part of Morocco's historic run to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar last year, trained with his PSG teammates on Friday morning. Contacted by AFP, the club made no comment about the charge. Hakimi allegedly paid for his accuser to travel to his home in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt last Saturday while his wife and children were away on holiday. The woman went to a police station on Sunday and was questioned by prosecutors on Wednesday, according to sources close to the case. On Monday, Hakimi appeared at the FIFA Best awards ceremony in Paris, where he was named in the FIFPro men's world team of the year. The player's lawyer Fanny Colin could not immediately be contacted but on Tuesday she had said the accusations against Hakimi were "false".Rachel Flore Pardo, the lawyer for the alleged victim, told AFP: "My client maintains everything that she said. She made the choice to speak exclusively to prosecutors and does not want the affair to become a media issue, mainly to protect her safety."Under French law, being charged does not necessarily mean the case will go to trial. Reigning French champions PSG are top of Ligue 1 and face Nantes on Saturday before travelling to Germany where they play Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday. The French side trail 1-0 from the first leg. It was not immediately clear if Hakimi would play any part in either match, but he is permitted to leave French soil despite the charge against him. Hakimi came through the youth system at Real Madrid before joining Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in 2018. He went on to make 73 appearances for the German club. He moved to Inter Milan in 2020 and then on to PSG in 2021 where he has established himself as an integral part of the team and has struck up a close friendship with star forward Kylian Mbappe. In Qatar, he was a cornerstone of the Morocco team that became the first nation from the Arab world to reach the last four of a World Cup. -- AFP

The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on March 03-04/2023
In Iran, Rising Demand and Falling Supply of Hard Currency Drive Rial to Record Lows
Saeed Ghasseminejad/Policy Brief/March 03/2023
The value of Iran’s rial hit a historic low last week, likely spelling further discontent and civil unrest in the coming months. The trend of massive depreciation since nationwide protests began last September will put upward pressure on the country’s inflation rate, which is already at an annual average of 47.7 percent.
Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran’s currency market has suffered from serious structural problems. Unable to prevent the dollar’s value in unregulated markets from exceeding the official exchange rate — and scared of giving control of exchange rates to the market — the clerical regime created a maze of segmented markets for different players and tried hard to keep them separate via state coercion. This created multiple rates along with inefficiencies, corruption, and confusion.
This week, the rial fell as low as 601,500 to the dollar in unregulated markets, beating records of 575,000 and 545,000 set just days earlier. The price of the dollar is now 12 times what it was in March 2018 and more than 5,000 times what it was in 1978.
A dwindling supply of hard currency amid rising demands has contributed to the tightening of a noose around the rial’s neck. Tough U.S. sanctions levied against Tehran in 2018 limited the regime’s access to hard currency to well below the country’s needs. Despite the Biden administration not fully enforcing these sanctions, they have taken a toll.
Meanwhile, the West’s economic war against Russia in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine has forced Iran to compete with Russia over customers — especially in Asia — willing to buy sanctioned oil and petrochemical products. With oil prices sliding, a price war between Tehran and Moscow to sell their oil means less revenue for the clerical regime.
This, in addition to U.S. pressure on Iraq to crack down on the illicit transfer of dollars to Iran, has created a negative supply shock and left Iran’s economy lacking hard currency. However, increased demand for dollars is what seems to be driving the rial down to the latest lows.
Years of double-digit inflation have led ordinary Iranians, as well as insiders, to buy foreign currency and gold as a hedge against the rial’s depreciation. The demand has increased in recent months as more Iranians anticipate political instability following the reemergence of the revolutionary movement in September. Fears have only grown as the prospects of an economic bailout from a renegotiated nuclear deal fade and the chance of military confrontation increases.
Iran’s new central bank head, Mohammad Reza Farzin — who replaced a predecessor unable to control inflation — has been unsuccessful in his efforts to suppress the demand for foreign currency. Farzin’s policy changes, such as consolidating foreign currency trading in a newly formed platform and banning any outside transactions, have only led to more confusion and chaos.
The clerical regime faces a dire situation as it urgently needs to suppress demand and increase the supply of hard currency. Those who want to see the theocracy’s collapse should not assist Tehran in trying to resolve the supply and demand crises it is facing.
On the supply side, the United States and its allies should limit Tehran’s export revenue and access to foreign currency. That includes pressuring countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Turkey, and India not to bypass U.S. sanctions.
On the demand side, it is important to signal to the Iranian people that the nuclear deal is dead, the regime has no future, and that the West is looking forward to the day after. This maximum pressure on the regime should be paired with maximum support for the Iranian people — a policy that could perhaps yield results fairly quickly.
**Saeed Ghasseminejad is a senior advisor on Iran and financial economics at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he contributes to FDD’s Iran Program and Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP). Follow Saeed on Twitter @SGhasseminejad. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, non-partisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.

محسن حبيب/معهد جايتستون: ازدياد قساوة قوانين التجديف في باكستان
Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan Grow Harsher
Mohshin Habib/Gatestone Institute/March 03/2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/116262/116262/
Between 1987 and 2017, blasphemy charges were brought against 1,549 people. Among these, 829 people were non-Muslims. Since 1990, more than 70 people have been brutally murdered by mobs over allegations of insulting Islam. Critics say the fact that minorities figure so prominently in these cases shows how the laws are unfairly applied.
Until 1947, the time of Indian liberation and separation, there had been only seven blasphemy cases. Between 1927 and 1985 (58 years) only ten cases were heard in Pakistan's courts. Since then, however, there have been more than 4,000 cases.
The International Journal of Science and Research stated in 2019: "In Pakistan, many people are on death row or serving life sentences for blasphemy in Pakistan then in any other country in the world."
These laws urgently need to be repealed.
Pakistan's blasphemy laws have once again been made even more stringent by the country's lawmakers. Pakistan's blasphemy laws are mostly used against religious minorities. Pictured: Islamists demand imposition of the death penalty for blasphemy, at a protest in Karachi, Pakistan on October 12, 2018. (Photo by Asif Hassan/AFP via Getty Images)
Pakistan's blasphemy laws have once again been made even more stringent by the country's lawmakers. Amid a long-running international outcry against the notorious blasphemy laws, the National Assembly of Pakistan on January 17 unanimously passed "The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2023," which increased the minimum punishment for those found guilty of insulting the Islamic Prophet Mohammad's companions, wives and family members from three years to 10 years' imprisonment, along with a fine of 1 million Pakistani rupees ($4,122).
The bill was brought forth by National Assembly Member Abdul Akbar Chtrali, a leader of the Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami. Chtrali, on May 17, 2021, had also called for the use of nuclear weapons against India and Israel. The statement of "object and reasons" for the bill by Chitrali says:
"The fact may be observed that disrespecting to the Companion of Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and other sacred personalities not only promotes terrorism and disruption in the country but it also hurts the people from all walks of life..."
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) last month expressed its deep concern about the law:
"While the stated aim of this bill is to curb sectarianism, HRCP believes it is likely to exacerbate the persecution of Pakistan's beleaguered religious minorities and minority sects."
HRCP also stated that given Pakistan's troubled record of the misuse of such laws, these amendments are likely to be weaponized disproportionately against religious minorities and sects, resulting in false police reports, harassment and persecution. While Chtrali and the National Assembly thought it necessary to make the laws harsher, human rights activists in Pakistan and abroad are seeing the danger ahead for the minorities, including Christians, Ahmadiyya Muslims (whom Pakistan does not recognize as Muslim), and Hindus.
Peter Jacob, a leader of Pakistan's Catholic community and executive director of the Lahore-based Centre for Social Justice, labeled the amendment as an unfortunate development. "Our demands have been ignored again. Sadly there is no history of any debates on such laws in our assemblies," he said, addressing a January 17 gathering of activists and lawyers in Lahore.
The blasphemy laws are mostly used against religious minorities. According to the Pakistani National Commission For Justice and Peace, Christians, Hindus and Ahmadiyya Muslims constitute the accused in almost half of the blasphemy cases in the country, even though together they make up less than 5% of the whole population. Between 1987 and 2017, blasphemy charges were brought against 1,549 people. Among these, 829 people were non-Muslims. Since 1990, more than 70 people have been brutally murdered by mobs over allegations of insulting Islam. Critics say the fact that minorities figure so prominently in these cases shows how the laws are unfairly applied.
Most importantly, blasphemy is considered a non-bailable offense, which means that bail may be granted at the discretion of the court but cannot be claimed as a matter of right. Moreover, once an individual is charged with violating blasphemy laws, he or she can be arrested without a warrant.
In 1860, the British colonial authority in India introduced the Indian Penal Code, containing three blasphemy provisions. They were Sections 295, 296 and 298, with a fourth blasphemy provision, Section 295-A, enacted in 1927. However, these laws were almost unenforced under British rule. Until 1947, the time of Indian liberation and separation, there had been only seven blasphemy cases. Between 1927 and 1985 (58 years) only ten cases were heard in Pakistan's courts. Since then, however, there have been more than 4,000 cases. During the tenure of military dictator Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, who ruled the country from 1978 to 1988, the laws in Pakistan became harsher. Numbers of clauses were added to the laws to appease the Islamists, to Islamize the country, and to isolate the Ahmadiyya community, who were declared non-Muslim in 1973.
The International Journal of Science and Research stated in 2019:
"In Pakistan, many people are on death row or serving life sentences for blasphemy in Pakistan then in any other country in the world."
In an editorial titled "Wrong Approach," Pakistan's leading English language newspaper, Dawn, wrote:
"Pakistan has for the past several decades been battling sectarianism. While targeted killings and sectarian acts of terrorism may currently be down, in the past the nation has witnessed grotesque massacres of innocent people carried out by sectarian death squads... It is hard to understand why such a sensitive law was passed 'unanimously' without quorum.... Moreover, there is concern that this law will be open to misuse, much as the blasphemy laws are."
These laws urgently need to be repealed.
*Mohshin Habib, a Bangladeshi author, columnist and journalist, is Executive Editor of The Daily Asian Age.
© 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/19403/blasphemy-laws-pakistan

The Abrahamic Family House of H. E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Promote Peace
Pete Hoekstra/ Gatestone Institute/March 03/2023
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/19448/abrahamic-family-house
Beyond the economic gains, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has multiplied these achievements to consolidate the constructive spirit of peace, of which his country is one of the world's leading promoters.
The Abrahamic Family House is a center for learning, dialogue and practicing one's faith. It includes a mosque, named for Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb, a church bearing the name of His Holiness Pope Francis, and a synagogue carrying the name of Moses Ben Maimon (Maimonides).
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are inaugurating a new, unique multicultural center to promote peace.
The UAE are known for their commitment to advancing peace in the world. It was in this spirit that the country signed the Abraham Accords with Israel in 2020, under the auspices of the United States. These agreements were also signed with the Jewish state by Bahrain and Morocco as well as, recently, Sudan.
As a tool for peace, these agreements would have generated "$2.85 billion in trade in 2022 while making a significant contribution to regional security and stability." This was stated by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, in one of his first appearances since being appointed top diplomat in Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
Beyond the economic gains, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has multiplied these achievements to consolidate the constructive spirit of peace, of which his country is one of the world's leading promoters.
It is in this same spirit that the Abrahamic Family House was officially inaugurated in Abu Dhabi on February 16, as an exemplary place to promote the culture of mutual understanding, living together and fraternal coexistence among religions.
It is a center for learning, dialogue and practicing one's faith. It includes a mosque, named for Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb, a church bearing the name of His Holiness Pope Francis, and a synagogue carrying the name of Moses Ben Maimon (Maimonides). These three places of worship are cubic in shape (30 meters deep, 90 feet wide and 90 feet high) and share the same stature and exterior dimensions. They were designed by the prominent Ghanaian-British architect, Sir David Adjaye, in strict accordance with the architectural codes and particularities of each religion.
Adjacent communal spaces were built to provide a place for meetings and dialogue in the service of mutual understanding.
Located in the Saadiyat cultural district of Abu Dhabi, the Abrahamic Family House opened to the public on March 1. The official inauguration ceremony was attended by Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.
Designed on the site of the signing of "Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together" by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed El-Tayyeb in Abu Dhabi in 2019, this new and unique achievement is in keeping with the spirit of interfaith brotherhood promoted by President Al-Nahyan. It is also a tribute to the multicultural nature of the UAE, which is home to some 200 different and cultures and faiths.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, president of the Abrahamic Family House, describes it as "symbolic of the UAE's longstanding values of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence -- values embodied by our founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed." He added: "We hope that this House will inspire young people around the world, highlighting our common humanity and working to create a more peaceful world for generations to come.
Mohammed Al Mahrasawi, co-chair of the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity and former President of Egypt's Al-Azhar University, said:
"The Abrahamic Family House is a true reflection of the provisions of Document on Human Fraternity, which calls for ensuring peaceful coexistence. It is a testament to the vision of UAE and its leaders toward promoting interfaith dialogue and peace among all. The Abrahamic Family House is a model of coexistence, reconciliation, and mutual respect for the sake of mankind."
Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See, said:
"The Abrahamic Family House is a concrete example for people of different religions, cultures, traditions, and beliefs to return to the essential: love neighbor. This will be a place that fosters dialogue and mutual respect, and acts in the service of human fraternity as we walk the paths of peace together."
Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, said:
"From today onwards, let us use this extraordinary sacred site to promote harmony and peace. In a world in which differences can separate us, let us say here that our shared values must exist for the sake of our universal aspirations."
Gatestone InstitutePeter Hoekstra was US Ambassador to the Netherlands during the Trump administration. He served 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the second district of Michigan and served as Chairman and Ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee.
© 2023 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Egypt’s road to Damascus and the dangers of a frozen Ukraine war
Faisal Al Yafai/The Arab Weekly/March 03/2023
The worst thing for the rest of the world would be for Ukraine’s conflict to be frozen.
The gentle footsteps of normalisation with the Assad regime have become considerably faster since the devastating earthquakes at the start of this month. Bashar Assad, for so long diplomatically confined to Damascus, first visited Oman. This week, there was a giant leap, as Egypt’s foreign minister landed in Damascus for further post-earthquake diplomacy. It is not exactly that too much water has passed under the bridge between the two countries; more that simply too much politics has happened for too long.
The February earthquakes that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria were something of a turning point for relations between the Middle East and Damascus.
To get a sense of how long it has been that Assad has been outside of the Middle Eastern fold, consider that his phone call on February 7, the day after the earthquakes, with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi was his first ever conversation with Sisi. Since Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s short-lived Islamist president, formally cut diplomatic ties with the Assad regime in 2013, the country has had two further presidents, neither of whom had spoken to Assad. (For those wondering, Morsi’s successor was Adly Mansour, interim president before the 2014 election.)
This growing wave of normalisation so many years after the region froze out Assad over his widespread crackdown on Arab Spring protests also has lessons for other parts of the world. In particular it has lessons for the Ukraine war, a year into the invasion, as the West and major countries including China and India begin to grapple with the reality that Ukraine might become a forever war.
As policymakers and analysts wrestle with the consequences and potential direction of the Ukrainian conflict, they should look closely at what is happening with the Syrian regime and its neighbours. Because the normalisation is really a reflection of the length of time that the Syrian conflict has continued unresolved.
A conflict on the scale of the Syrian war has vast external consequences. Mass movements of people, disruption to trade, armed militias, to name just a few, have immense knock-on impacts on the politics, economics and social order of countries far beyond the conflict. Because of the sheer scale of the war and the problems it generates, it can be tempting to freeze the conflict, to deal only with the externalities like refugees or border skirmishes, then leave the rest to a future date.
But these conflicts are forever at the mercy of events, both political and, as we have seen with the earthquake, natural. The longer conflicts on this scale continue, the more likely it is that something happens which changes the calculations of politicians in countries in the region and beyond.
This is exactly what is likely to happen with the Ukraine conflict, which, a year on, is in danger of becoming a forever war.
Both sides appear determined to escalate: The Russians are in the midst of the new offensive and the West is preparing to supply Ukraine with new weaponry including tanks and perhaps even fighter jets. All of which means there is unlikely to be any way out of this conflict soon. The possibility that either side might achieve a comprehensive victory is slim; what both Kyiv and Moscow are seeking, as Putin himself suggested in his anniversary speech, is the “strategic defeat” of the other.
From Russia’s perspective, a forever, frozen war in Ukraine is a solution that Moscow can live with. The conflict in Crimea was essentially frozen for years until last year and its 2008 invasion of Georgia similarly stuck.
These frozen conflicts benefit the aggressor, because they remove the momentum from their opponents and rely heavily on other political events to distract supporters. Eventually, unexpected events show up, all of which pressure other countries to find a solution, however imperfect.
This is how the march towards normalisation began in Syria. Unexpected consequences gradually began to appear: the immense stress to which neighbouring countries including Jordan and Lebanon were subjected; the combination of a worsening Turkish economy and a social backlash against so many Syrian immigrants; the opportunity that Iran seized to interfere further in Syria. All of these convinced Syria’s neighbours that normalisation was better than an endless, frozen conflict.
The same thing is happening in Ukraine, where calculations have gradually shifted in a year of conflict. And not solely against Russia. China is an example of how unexpected events can change perceptions. A year ago, Beijing may have been content with a lightning Russian victory or even a Ukrainian pushback that left Russia weakened and more dependent on China. But now Beijing’s calculations have shifted. So tenacious has Ukrainian resistance been that China is now concerned what message a Russian loss may send to Taiwan. Might the Taiwanese look across the strait and think that they, too, might have a chance against the much larger and better armed People’s Liberation Army?
The worst thing for the rest of the world would be for Ukraine’s conflict to be frozen. All the momentum and Western support would fade away. As happened in Syria, politics would continue elsewhere until something, a war, an earthquake, something unexpected, pierced the ice. Then, just as earthquake diplomacy is causing a rethink throughout the Middle East, the Ukraine conflict would need to be rapidly and suddenly unfrozen.
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