English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For May 26/2023
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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15 آذار/2023
Bible Quotations For today
To love God with all the heart & with all
the understanding, and with all the strength & to love one’s neighbour as
oneself is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices
Mark 12/28-34: “One of the scribes came near and heard
them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked
him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’Jesus answered, ‘The first is,
“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and
with all your strength.”The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as
yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’Then the scribe
said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and
besides him there is no other”;and “to love God with all the heart, and with all
the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as
oneself”, this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and
sacrifices.’When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not
far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on May 25-26/2023
Video and text: Southern Liberation Day is a heresy, a lie and a falsification
of history. It must be cancelled and erased from the memory of Lebanon and the
Lebanese./Elias Bejjani/May 25/2021
Israel shoots down drone from Lebanon, military says
Bou Saab: Presidential efforts fruitless but communication ongoing
Bassil: Alliance with Hezbollah has entered different stage
KSA daily: Lebanon to be rescued by Iran-backed Saudi-Syrian initiative
Germans hand Beirut arrest warrants for Salameh, 4 others
MP, Skaf: We are in the final stage of naming the candidate who won majority of
opposition votes
Bassil: Preserving sovereignty requires a corrupt-free state, uniting president
MP Gebran Bassil expresses concerns over presidential vacuum
Financial wake-up call: Has Lebanon officially been placed on the gray list?
Makhzoumi: Goal of our meetings with French officials is to relay viewpoint of
the inside to decision-making capitals
French judiciary's dilemma: The fate of Riad Salameh's extradition request
Makary: "Beirut document" takes us to different media according to new criteria
Financial wake-up call: Has Lebanon officially been placed on the gray list?
The immortal flame: Celebrating 100 years of Gibran Khalil Gibran's 'The
Prophet'
Flourishing season: Lebanon's summer tourism overlooks growth in 2023
Prominent Egyptian rights activist briefly detained in Lebanon
Jumblat resigns after 46 years as PSP chief
Sayyed Nasrallah to Israeli Leaders: Great War Will Lead You to Abyss, if Not
Demise
Nasrallah calls for presidential dialogue without 'preconditions'
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 25-26/2023
Iran successfully launches latest ballistic missile
Turkiye quake victims rally around Erdogan ahead of runoff
Putin’s Russia is now practically defenceless
Russian Prime Minister Gets an Awkward Reception on Trip to China
Ukraine’s Counteroffensive to Yield Results, Top Aide Says
Russia is the real threat to Saudi Arabia as Moscow targets key oil market,
veteran analyst says
Zelensky says Russia 'terrorizing' Ukraine as 36 drones downed
Russia says arrested Ukrainians planning nuke power plant strikes
French Foreign Minister in Italy to activate the détente between Paris and Rome
Navigating the Syrian file: Arab leadership in focus
Syrians abandon babies at mosques, under trees as war grinds on
Global solar investments outpace oil and gas for first time
Leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan speak of peace progress while arguing in front
of Putin
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News &
Editorials published
on May 25-26/2023
America will no longer wage wars to enforce regime change in Middle East:
US official/Ali Younes/Arab News/Updated 25 May 2023
How stability and security can be improved in Iraq/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab
News/May 25/2023
High time for a ‘Hajj Express’ for Israeli Muslims/Mark Dubowitz and Tzvi
Kahn/Arab News/May 25/2023
Biden’s booster plan for the Asia-Pacific hits a hurdle/Andrew Hammond /Arab
News/May 25/2023
Militias are a symptom, not a cure/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/ The Arab Weekly/May
25, 2023
Report from Ukraine: Why They Fight/Richard Kemp/Gatestone Institute./May 25,
2023
Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on May 25-26/2023
Video and text: Southern
Liberation Day is a heresy, a lie and a falsification of history. It must be
cancelled and erased from the memory of Lebanon and the Lebanese.
Elias Bejjani/May 25/2021
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/75168/elias-bejjani-hezbollahs-bogus-liberation-resistance-day-3/
We call on the Lebanese government, the Lebanese Parliament and on all the free
and patriotic Lebanese politicians and leaders to cancel the May 25 National
Day, because it is not national at all, and also to stop calling Hezbollah a
resistance, put an end for its mini-state, cantons and weaponry, and secure a
dignified, honorable and safe return for all the Lebanese citizens who have been
taking refuge in Israel since May 2000.
Believe it or not, on May 25 each year since 2000 Lebanon has been celebrating
the so-called “Liberation & Resistance Day.” Sadly, this celebration
commemorates a bogus event, and a phony heroism that did not actually take
place. On May 22, 2000 the Israeli Army unilaterally and for solely Israeli
domestic reasons withdrew from the security zone of South Lebanon in accordance
with UN Resolution 425.
This miscalculated and hasty withdrawal was a fatal Israeli decision that has
inspired the Hamas terrorism acts and the on-going havoc in the Palestinian Gaza
strip. Since 2000 many Israeli officials and politicians from all parties openly
and harshly criticized Barak’s Government (Barak was PM at that time) hasty and
unwise decision through which Israel’ abandoned its ally the South Lebanon Army
(SLA) and gave Hezbollah all south Lebanon and the entire Lebanon on a plate of
sliver. The unilateral Israeli withdrawal created a security vacuum in south
Lebanon.
The Syrians who were occupying Lebanon at that time and fully controlling its
government, did not allow the Lebanese Army to deploy in the south and fill this
vacuum after the Israeli withdrawal. Instead Syria helped the Hezbollah militia
to militarily control the whole southern region, and even patrol the
Israeli-Lebanese border.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army’s withdrawal was executed without
any military battles, or even minor skirmishes with Hezbollah, or the Lebanese
and Syrian armies. At the same numerous reports published in German and in other
western media facilities indicated with proves that Israel forged a secret deal
with Hezbollah and its masters, the Iranian Mullahs that mutually arranged all
details for the withdrawal.
The Syrian regime, in a bid to justify both its on going occupation of Lebanon
and the avoidance of disarming Hezbollah, came up with the “Shabaa Farms
occupation big lie” and declared Hezbollah a Liberator, alleging it had forced
Israel to withdrawal from South Lebanon. Syria, in the same camouflaging and
devious context, dictated to both its puppet Lebanese parliament and government
to declare May 25th a National Day under the tag of “Liberation & Resistance
Day”.
In reality Hezbollah did not force the Israeli withdrawal, and did not play any
role in the Liberation of the southern Lebanese region. In fact both Hezbollah
and Syria deliberately hindered and delayed the Israeli withdrawal for more than
14 years. Every time the Israelis called on the Lebanese government to engage in
a joint, serious effort under the United Nations umbrella to ensure a safe and
mutually organized withdrawal of its army from South Lebanon, the Lebanese
government refused to cooperate, did not agree to deploy its army in the south,
and accused the Israelis of plotting to divide and split the Syrian-Lebanese
joint track.
Since then, Hezbollah has been hijacking Lebanon and its people, refusing to
disarm and advocating for the annihilation of Israel. This Iranian mullahs’
terrorist army stationed in Lebanon, is viciously hiding behind labels of
resistance, liberation and religion. Hezbollah has recklessly jeopardized the
Lebanese peoples’ lives, safety, security and livelihood. It has been growing
bolder and bolder and mercilessly taking the Lebanese state and the Lebanese
people hostages through terrorism, force and organized crime.
Sadly, Hezbollah is systematically devouring Lebanon day after day, and piece by
piece, while at the same time marginalizing all its governmental institutions in
a bid to topple the Lebanese state and erect in its place a Shiite Muslim
regime, a replica of the Iranian Shiite mullahs’ fundamentalist republic.
Meanwhile the free world and Arabic countries are totally silent, indifferent,
and idly watching from far away the horrible crime unfolding without taking any
practical or tangible measures to put an end to this anti-Lebanese Syria-Iranian
scheme that is executed through their spearhead, the Hezbollah armed militia.
Who is to be blamed for Hezbollah’s current odd and bizarre status? Definitely
the Syrians who have occupied Lebanon for more than 28 years (1976-2005). During
their bloody and criminal occupation, Syria helped the Iranian Hezbollah militia
build a state within Lebanon and fully control the Lebanese Shiite community.
But also the majority of the Lebanese politicians, leaders, officials and
clergymen share the responsibility because they were subservient and acted in a
dire Dhimmitude, selfish and cowardly manner.
If these so-called Lebanese leaders had been courageous and patriotic and had
not appeased Hezbollah and turned a blind eye to all its vicious and human
rights atrocities, intimidation tactics, crimes and expansionism schemes, this
Iranian Shiite fundamentalist militia would not have been able to erect its own
mini-state in the southern suburb of Beirut, and its numerous mini-cantons in
the Bekaa Valley and the South; nor would Hezbollah have been able to build its
mighty military power, with 100 thousand militiamen, or stockpile thousand of
missiles and force the Iranian “Wilayat Al-Faqih” religious doctrine on the
Lebanese Shiite community and confiscate Lebanon's decision making process and
freedoms.
Since Hezbollah’s emergence in 1982, these politicians have been serving their
own selfish interests and not the interests of the Lebanese people and the
nation. They went along with Hezbollah’s schemes, deluding themselves that its
militia and weaponry would remain in South Lebanon and would not turn against
them. This failure to serve the people of Lebanon allowed Hezbollah to make many
Lebanese and most of the Arab-Muslim countries through its terrorism propaganda
to blindly swallow its big lie of theatrical, faked resistance and Liberation.
Hezbollah would not have been able to refuse to disarm in 1991, like all the
other Lebanese militias in accordance to the “Taef Accord,” which called for the
disarmament of all militias. Hezbollah would not have become a state inside the
Lebanese state, and a world-wide terrorism Iranian-Syrian tool which turned
against them all after its war with Israel in year 2006 and after the UN troops
were deployed on the Lebanese – Israeli borders in accordance with the UN
Resolution 1701.
On May 7, 2008 Hezbollah invaded Sunni Western Beirut killing and injuring in
cold blood hundreds of its civilian citizens, and too attempted to take over by
force Mount Lebanon. Hezbollah’s General Secretary Sheik Hassan Nasrallah called
that day (May 7, 2008) a great and glorious victory for his resistance, and
keeps on threatening the Lebanese that a replicate of that day will take place
if they do not succumb and obey his Iranian orders. Hezbollah is a deadly dragon
that the Lebanese politicians have been allowing him to feed on sacrifices from
the southern Lebanese citizens, especially on those who were living in the
“Security Zone” and who fled to Israel in May 2000 after the Israeli withdrawal
from south Lebanon. This dragon who enjoyed devouring his southern sacrifices
has now turned on all the Lebanese and if they do not stand for their rights and
dignity, he will keep on devouring them all one after the other.
We call on the Lebanese government, the Lebanese Parliament and on all the free
and patriotic Lebanese politicians and leaders to cancel the May 25 National
Day, because it is not national at all, and also to stop calling Hezbollah a
resistance, put an end for its mini-state, cantons and weaponry, and secure a
dignified, honorable and safe return for all the Lebanese citizens who have been
taking refuge in Israel since May 2000.
Israel shoots down drone from Lebanon,
military says
LBCI/May 25, 2023
Israel shot down a drone that had crossed over from Lebanon on Thursday, its
military said in a statement. "A short while ago, IDF (Israel Defense Forces)
soldiers identified and downed a drone crossing from Lebanese territory into
Israeli territory towards the town of Zar'it," the military said.
It did not immediately identify who had sent the drone from Lebanon and released
a photo of a UAV lying in a thicket of thorns. "The IDF will continue to prevent
any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty," the military said.
Last month, Israel said Lebanese armed group Hezbollah was behind a rare
roadside bomb attack that wounded a motorist in northern Israel in March, and in
the past has said it shot down the group's drones. Iran-backed Hezbollah and
Israel fought a month-long war in 2006 and have traded fire on several occasions
since, but have avoided a large-scale confrontation.
Bou Saab: Presidential efforts fruitless but communication
ongoing
Naharnet/May 25, 2023
Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab has lamented that the latest efforts to break the
presidential deadlock have been fruitless while noting that “communication is
still ongoing.”“I’m not carrying an initiative and I’m not promoting
presidential candidates, but as MPs we cannot continue to stand idly by and my
responsibility as deputy speaker obliges me to communicate with the rest of the
MPs to try to do something,” Boy Saab said in an interview with LBCI television.
“I have not quit the Strong Lebanon bloc and I’m communicating with all blocs to
extend bridges and find common denominators, because the solution lies in
communication,” Bou Saab added. He also voiced support for FPM chief Jebran
Bassil’s current stance on the presidential vote. “He does not support the
confrontation candidate (Michel Mouawad) nor the (Axis of) Defiance candidate
(Suleiman Franjieh) and Strong Lebanon is committed to not provoking any camp,”
Bou Saab said. And noting that “there is no trust between Bassil and (Lebanese
Forces leader Samir) Geagea,” the Deputy Speaker said he would not hesitate to
grant his vote to any candidate who might require a single vote to become
president, especially if he might be Franjieh.
Bassil: Alliance with Hezbollah has entered different stage
Naharnet/May 25, 2023
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has confirmed that “the alliance
with Hezbollah has become in a different stage.” “The country’s situation
requires leaving the current alignments in order to rebuild Lebanon,” Bassil
told Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hadath television. Noting that he does not want to run
for the presidency, Bassil said he “drew lessons from the (presidential)
experience of ex-president Michel Aoun.” Separately, Bassil lauded Progressive
Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat for “voicing responsible remarks regarding
the presidency.”“We are communicating about that with the other camp,” Bassil
added, referring to Jumblat’s remarks that the new president should not be a
“confrontation president.”
KSA daily: Lebanon to be rescued by Iran-backed
Saudi-Syrian initiative
Naharnet/May 25, 2023
The Lebanese file was a priority on the agenda of the meeting that was held in
Jeddah between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Syrian President
Bashara al-Assad, a Saudi newspaper reported on Thursday, expecting a return to
the so-called S-S (Saudi Arabia-Syria) equation in Lebanon. “The Saudi momentum
will increase in the Lebanese file, with active Syrian and Iranian
participation, based on the pivotal role that Saudi Arabia plays in the Arab
world, which will become more established in the post-Arab Summit period,”
al-Riyadh newspaper reported, quoting unnamed sources.
“The coming period will witness a Saudi-Syrian effort to resolve the Lebanese
crisis calmly and wisely,” the daily added. “The Arab- and Iranian-backed
Saudi-Syrian drive is aimed at swiftly rehabilitating Lebanon politically and
paving the way to rescue it economically,” the newspaper said.
Germans hand Beirut arrest warrants for Salameh, 4 others
Associated Press/May 25, 2023
A German delegation has visited the Lebanese’s judiciary headquarters in Beirut
and handed over five arrest warrants issued in Germany for Central Bank chief
Riad Salameh and four others over corruption charges, officials told the
Associated Press. They did not reveal the name of the four others.
A Lebanese judge has banned Salameh from traveling, days after Beirut received
an Interpol red notice following a French arrest warrant.
The judge questioned Salameh on Wednesday and "decided to release him
pending investigation, ban him from traveling, and confiscate his Lebanese and
French passports," an official told AFP. Salameh, Lebanon's long-serving central
bank chief, has been the target of a series of judicial investigations both at
home and abroad on allegations including fraud, money laundering and illicit
enrichment. The Lebanese judge also asked the French judiciary to refer
Salameh's file to Beirut in order to "determine whether the Lebanese judiciary
will prosecute him for the crimes he is accused of in France or not," the
official added. Interpol circulated the red notice last week after a French
magistrate issued a warrant for Salameh, who failed to appear for questioning in
Paris before investigators probing his sizable assets across Europe.
An Interpol red notice is not an international arrest warrant but asks
authorities worldwide to provisionally detain people pending possible
extradition or other legal actions. Lebanon does not extradite its nationals.
MP, Skaf: We are in the final stage of naming the candidate
who won majority of opposition votes
NNA/May 25, 2023
MP Ghassan Skaf confirmed today in an interview with "Radio Free Lebanon", that
"we are in the final stage of naming a presidential candidate who won the votes
of the majority of the opposition, and who will also receive the votes of every
deputy or party that has not announced any candidate."
He added: "I visited Washington and met its senior officials, and also joined
the Lebanese parliamentary delegation in Paris, and we communicated at the same
time with all the opposition parties...We are following-up on contacts and
meetings in the next two days, hoping to announce the agreed-upon name on
Saturday or Sunday." In response to a question, Skaf revealed that "the Free
Patriotic Movement is more responsive than what appears in the media," adding
that "communication will be made with the Democratic Gathering, as well as with
all parties," considering that "this positivity is based on two things: external
support for the initiative and the internal tendency of all opposition parties
to agree on a candidate's name." He also pointed out that "this initiative is
not directed against the opposition candidate, but rather aims to achieve the
elections in a democratic way."
Bassil: Preserving sovereignty requires a corrupt-free
state, uniting president
NNA/May 25, 2023
Free Patriotic Movement Chief, MP Gebran Bassil, tweeted today on "Liberation
Day", saying: "The liberation of the land cost martyrs to whose souls we pay
tribute...and wounded who inucurred sufferings, and huge losses until
sovereignty was achieved and stability prevailed in the South...But the
preservation of sovereignty and stability requires a state liberated from
corruption, a president who unites and does not challenge, a government that
implements a reform program, a parliament that approves the necessary laws, and
a people who witness accountability for what has befallen them...until Lebanon
is rid of the era of impunity!"
MP Gebran Bassil expresses concerns over presidential
vacuum
LBCI/May 25, 2023
MP Gebran Bassil, the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), took to
Twitter, expressing his concerns about a recurring issue that has been warned
about for several months. He tweeted, saying, "what we have repeatedly warned
against is happening. With limited legitimacy, constitutional and institutional,
the caretaker Prime Minister calls for a ministerial session to discuss urgent
and necessary matters."Bassil added, "this is a provocation beyond measure, a
blow to constitutionalism, partnership, and the constitution. What is worse is
that this is happening in silence from spiritual and political references that
claim to be concerned about the presidency and call for the swift election of a
president."He also indicated, "those who are truly eager to elect a president
should not remain silent about such sessions deliberately aimed at marginalizing
the position, allowing them to fill it with whomever they desire or impose. This
issue concerns all constitutional ministers in the government and those who
refuse to legislate necessity due to the absence of a legitimate parliament
because of the president's absence. Can such sessions, decisions, and decrees be
justified without the president?"
Financial wake-up call: Has Lebanon officially been placed
on the gray list?
LBCI/May 25, 2023
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global financial watchdog, classifies
countries into three lists: white, gray, and black. The white list refers to
countries that are actively combating money laundering. The gray list indicates
countries deemed ineffective and requiring international institutions'
supervision. On the other hand, the black list includes well-known countries
that do not cooperate, such as Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, and those isolated
from the global financial system.
So, has Lebanon fallen into the gray list?
According to sources following the FATF meeting in Bahrain, Lebanon will be
given a one-year grace period to improve its situation and avoid being
officially placed on this list. There are two essential points that Lebanon
needs to work on, according to the sources: Firstly, implementing measures to
regulate the cash economy, such as tightening controls on money entering banks
sources. Secondly, expediting judicial proceedings
against suspected money launderers. These are
technical aspects, but this opportunity also carries a political dimension.
According to the sources, there is pressure from US authorities to prevent the
collapse of the Lebanese banking sector and maintain the relationship between
Lebanon and US correspondent banks, which facilitate dollar transfers and
imports to and from Lebanon. This means monitoring the amount and movement of
dollars. While Lebanon may have avoided being placed on the gray list, it is a
new opportunity among many required reforms, with transparency being the most
important.
Makhzoumi: Goal of our meetings with French officials is to
relay viewpoint of the inside to decision-making capitals
NNA/May 25, 2023
MP Fouad Makhzoumi wrote today on Twitter: "The goal of the meetings that I am
holding, along with my colleagues within the delegation of opposition deputies,
with French political and economic officials in Paris is to convey the viewpoint
of the inside to the decision-making capitals so as to agree on a roadmap for
rescue, the implementation of reforms, and the agreement with the International
Monetary Fund whose support we need, alongside the international community, to
revive our country and achieve prosperity...We have detected a positive response
and consensus from the international community to adopt what we are doing as
representatives of the people to market a road map to save Lebanon from the
economic and political crisis it is suffering from."
French judiciary's dilemma: The fate of Riad Salameh's extradition request
LBCI/May 25, 2023
In accordance with Article 30 of the Lebanese Penal Code, Lebanon does not
extradite anyone, regardless of their nationality, except under a treaty that
holds the power of law.
However, in the case of the Central Bank of Lebanon Governor, Riad Salameh, he
is exempt from extradition to France for three reasons:
- He is Lebanese above anything.
- There is no concluded extradition treaty between Lebanon and France, even if
the individual in question holds French citizenship.
- Salameh has not waived his right to be tried in Lebanon; he has requested to
be tried in Beirut and not be extradited to France.
So, how can France deal with the request from the Lebanese Public Prosecutor to
recover Salameh's file?
The French judiciary has the option not to send the file, just as Japan did in
the case of Carlos Ghosn. Why is that?
It could be either because they lack confidence in the seriousness of the
Lebanese judiciary or out of fear that the punishment under Lebanese law might
be severe. If the French judiciary complies with the Lebanese request and sends
Salameh's file, Lebanon will face two possibilities:
- If, upon reviewing the French file, the judiciary finds similarities between
it and the Lebanese file regarding the crimes attributed to the governor, they
can request to combine the two files and continue the trial in Lebanon.
- If the alleged crime is different under French law, the Lebanese judiciary
will initiate a new trial.
Makary: "Beirut document" takes us to different media according to new criteria
NNA/May 25, 2023
Caretaker Minister of Information, Ziad Al-Makary, indicated that “the Beirut
document, which is the fruit of our cooperation with everyone, takes us to
different media according to new standards.”He added: “We are in constant
contact with all media institutions, and we cooperate with international
associations from whose expertise, relations and contributions we must benefit,
such as UNICEF, UNESCO and others...We also have good relations with various
media faculties and centers for graduating journalists and media professionals
in Lebanon, but these faculties must be equipped, especially the Faculty of Mass
Communication at the Lebanese University, which graduates the largest number of
media professionals."Makary hoped that the youth in Lebanon will be proud of the
great legacy of Lebanese journalists and media professionals and work to
preserve it.
However, speaking in an interview with “Radio Free Lebanon” this morning, he
regretted that we are missing the youth element in our official institutions
nowadays due to lack of employment following the decision of the Council of
Ministers. “Youth migration is the biggest problem in the country,” he
underlined. On the issue of liberties, Makary said: "Despite everything that is
happening in Lebanon, there is a large area of freedom. We have good judges, but
no judiciary...and despite the existence of more than one summons, there are no
imprisoned journalists, and this is a good thing."
He noted herein that "Lebanon advanced 11 points this year to occupy the 118th
place, as no journalist has been arrested and complaints were transferred to the
Publications Court.” “The Ministry of Information contributed to this, in
addition to the media law that is being studied with UNESCO and will be sent to
Parliament,” he added. Makary revealed that he met with Public Prosecutor Judge
Ghassan Oweidat “to organize matters and resort to the Publications Court when a
lawsuit is filed against any journalist,” adding, “We began from the existing
media law and introduced new international standards, such as separating social
media from the media law.”He continued to indicate that “complaints must be
regulated, provided that we resort to the Penal Code in the event of treason,
harm to the country, offense to dignities, or defamation. Otherwise, it is
possible to resort to the regulatory body, so that fines are imposed or points
are withdrawn from the license, similar to what is in force in Europe, and this
has nothing to do with limiting freedoms.”Makary called on media organizations
to "secure the needs of their employees and pay the taxes and fees due on their
behalf."
Touching on the changes in the region, the Information Minister said: "We are in
a time of Arab-Arab and Arab-Iranian openness, the return of Syria to the Arab
League, and the return of diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Lebanon, and
the media has a major role in this openness."
Financial wake-up call: Has Lebanon officially been placed
on the gray list?
LBCI/May 25, 2023
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global financial watchdog, classifies
countries into three lists: white, gray, and black. The white list refers to
countries that are actively combating money laundering. The gray list indicates
countries deemed ineffective and requiring international institutions'
supervision. On the other hand, the black list includes well-known countries
that do not cooperate, such as Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, and those isolated
from the global financial system.
So, has Lebanon fallen into the gray list?
According to sources following the FATF meeting in Bahrain, Lebanon will be
given a one-year grace period to improve its situation and avoid being
officially placed on this list. There are two essential points that Lebanon
needs to work on, according to the sources: Firstly, implementing measures to
regulate the cash economy, such as tightening controls on money entering banks
sources. Secondly, expediting judicial proceedings against suspected money
launderers. These are technical aspects, but this
opportunity also carries a political dimension. According to the sources, there
is pressure from US authorities to prevent the collapse of the Lebanese banking
sector and maintain the relationship between Lebanon and US correspondent banks,
which facilitate dollar transfers and imports to and from Lebanon. This means
monitoring the amount and movement of dollars. While Lebanon may have avoided
being placed on the gray list, it is a new opportunity among many required
reforms, with transparency being the most important.
The immortal flame: Celebrating 100 years of Gibran Khalil
Gibran's 'The Prophet'
LBCI/May 25, 2023
When we say "Gibran Khalil Gibran," everyone's thoughts go to Bsharri, the
museum, books, paintings, manuscripts, burial, trips with the family, the
picture, the cup of coffee. Yet, what you don't know is that the one we come to
see his creations, he didn't come from here. Instead, he came from one of the
countries farthest from Lebanon, New York: Greenwich Village, a very nice area
in NY with a distinguished history. Here, there used to live a large number of
writers, poets, artists, and philosophers from around the world in studios,
including Gibran.
From the heart of a small studio in New York, to which he moved from Boston in
1912, Gibran Khalil Gibran painted the future of a young man who might not have
thought that he would enter history through literature, poetry, and prose.
Ninety-two years separate us from the date of Gibran's death, and today we are
again in Greenwich Village. The studio no longer
exists. Instead, a building was built. Gibran indeed used to describe himself as
a painter, but the imprint he left in his writings left a great impact on
American, Arab, and international literature without ever forgetting his
Lebanese roots. The book that entered the "son of Bsharri" in the history of
literature is "The Prophet," which we are celebrating its centenary this year,
and which is considered today one of the best-selling books in the world, as it
has been translated into more than 125 languages, and it forms a link between
Gibran's generations and today's generation all over the world. The proof is
that as soon as you walk through New York, you discover that many people grew up
on Gibran's literature.
As for those who do not know, we tried to introduce them to it. Gibran's
generation, who lived in New York, was able to enjoy not only the book but also
the discussion with him, in a church, the Saint Mark's Church in New York, which
is one of the oldest churches in America, specifically in New York. Here, in
this place, and for the first time, excerpts from Gibran's book "The Prophet"
were read. At that time, Gibran was invited from time to time to this church by
Corinne Roosevelt, the sister of former US President Theodore Roosevelt, to read
excerpts from the book with the people. Here, people would gather around him and
read with him from "The Prophet" book, and he would be patient in discussions
about it. Today, a hundred years after the publication of "The Prophet,"
Gibran's fans, especially the Lebanese expatriates, decided to repeat the
experiment. Because the first readings of "The Prophet" took place in the
church, it provided a land on which they will build "The Flame of Life" statue,
which was inspired by a painting by Gibran, and other paintings where Gibran
used to sit and paint them. Gibran's drawings and writings, which returned for
the first time in 92 years to New York, that is, since his death, and after
being transferred to Bsharri through an exhibition that the United Nations
organized by the University of Balamand, The National Committee, the Museum of
Gibran in Lebanon, and The World Lebanese Cultural Union-US Council, proved once
again that Gibran Khalil Gibran never made a mistake when he said: "Love in many
languages." An exhibition that was the beginning of "Gibran's year," which will
be full of activities in the world, celebrating the centenary of "The Prophet,"
as evidence that Gibran is between us and he will remain.
Flourishing season: Lebanon's summer tourism overlooks
growth in 2023
LBCI/May 25, 2023
In just four months in 2023, an increase in the number of arrivals to Lebanon
was recorded by 32.50 percent compared to the same period in 2022. These figures
are built on by the tourism sector to double what it witnessed last year during
the summer season. Alone, reservations in the coastal area so far range between
60 and 70 percent, an increase of 20 percent over last year. In the interior and
mountainous areas, the same percentage and the level of bookings for foreign
groups are greater. According to the observations of the sector owners, it is
noteworthy that this year, our summer will extend to September and October. The
demand is very high by groups of tourists from Europe and Arab countries,
especially Egypt, and even expatriates are organizing trips to Lebanon.
Why in these two months?
Because we would have entered the low season, prices would be lower, and the
most important thing is that Lebanon's weather would still be nice and warm, and
all tourist facilities would still be operating. If we want to talk about travel
reservations to Lebanon, then we can say that Lebanon's sky is "full" until the
end of September, 100 percent, according to the numbers of travel agencies and
according to the airport, which registered by monitoring the reservations of
travel agencies more than one million and 500 thousand arrivals to Lebanon
during the summer season that extends to late October, i.e., a 50 percent
increase over last year. All these figures herald a great return on the economy.
But the numbers of these revenues remain hidden until after the end of the
season, according to those concerned, because we are relying on the cash economy
in the absence of the banking sector, which alone determines the size of what we
have brought into our economy and the revenues we have achieved from any sector.
Prominent Egyptian rights activist briefly
detained in Lebanon
AP/May 24, 2023
BEIRUT: Lebanese authorities Wednesday briefly detained a prominent Egyptian
blogger and human rights activist, his lawyer and sister said, but the reason
for his arrest was not immediately clear. The first word about the arrest of
Abdul-Rahman Tarek, also known by his nickname Moka, came from his sister, Sara
Tarek. She posted on her Facebook page that her brother was detained by
plainclothes policemen Wednesday afternoon from his apartment. She called for
his release saying he had spent seven years in jail in Egypt until his release
last year. Tarek was taken to police intelligence headquarters in Beirut where
he spent about five hours and was later released, his lawyer, Farouk Moghrabi.
The reason behind the arrest was not immediately clear, Moghrabi said. Sara
Tarek later wrote that her brother was released, and he is at home. Security
officials did not immediately confirm Tarek’s arrest and later release. Mary
Lawlor, the UN’s independent expert on human rights defenders, tweeted: “I hear
extremely disturbing news" that an Egyptian human rights defender in exile in
Lebanon was arrested today "with no warrant.” She tagged Lebanon’s foreign
ministry in her tweet. A group of Lebanese activists had planned to hold a
protest outside police headquarters to demand Tarek’s release, but it was called
off after he was set free.
Jumblat resigns after 46 years as PSP chief
Naharnet/May 25, 2023
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Thursday announced his
resignation as PSP chief, a post he has held since the 1977 assassination of his
father Kamal Jumblat. Jumblat also resigned from the PSP’s leadership council
and called for an electoral convention on June 25 as per the party’s
constitution and bylaws, the PSP’s al-Anbaa news portal reported. “He has tasked
the general secretariat with finalizing the necessary preparations according to
the norms and the applicable mechanisms, and to issue the relevant memos related
to the dates for accepting nomination requests, withdrawal deadlines and the
conditions related to the electoral process,” al-Anbaa added. Jumblat, 73, quit
his parliamentary career in 2018, passing the torch to his son and political
heir Taymour Jumblat, who was elected as MP in the 2018 and 2022 legislative
elections.
Sayyed Nasrallah to Israeli Leaders: Great War
Will Lead You to Abyss, if Not Demise
Mohammad Salami/Al-Manar English Website/May 25, 2023
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah responded on Thursday to the
recent threats made by the Zionist officials, including PM Benjamin Netanyhau,
Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, against Lebanon and the entire axis of resistance,
stressing that the Great War will lead the Israelis to their abyss, if not
demise. Delivering a televised speech on Resistance and Liberation Day, Sayyed
Nasrallah called on the Zionist officials to shun miscalculations in Lebanon,
Gaza, West Bank, Palestine, Syria and Iran. “Your follies, not ours, may lead to
the Great War in the region.” Sayyed Nasrallah indicated that hundreds of
thousands of quality fighters will fill the battlefields in face of the Zionist
enemy if it wages an all-out war, citing a humanitarian supremacy over the
Israelis in this regard. Sayyed Nasrallah indicated that the Zionist officials
withdrew their intimidation after realizing that it has troubled the Zionist
settlers, caused a dollar price hike, and threatened the touristic activities.
Nasrallah calls for presidential dialogue without
'preconditions'
Naharnet/May 25, 2023
Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday noted that “further dialogue
and contacts” are required in the presidential file. “We are not boycotting
anyone and we call for discussing the presidential choices without preconditions
or elimination,” Nasrallah said, in a televised address marking Liberation Day.
“The developments in the region call for optimism,” he added. As for the
lawsuits in Lebanon and abroad against Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and
the latest Interpol red notice that was issued for him, Nasrallah said Salameh
“should either resign or the judiciary must shoulder its responsibilities,
seeing as we have a caretaker cabinet that does not have the jurisdiction to
sack him.”Commenting on the latest Israeli threats against Hezbollah, Lebanon,
Iran and the Palestinians, Nasrallah said: “The Israelis must retract their
threats and give up their arrogance.”“Any mistake might blow up the entire
region,” he warned. “I tell the enemy's premier, war minister and army chief to
be careful and not to make wrong calculations,” Nasrallah added, noting that
Israel resorted to escalating its rhetoric after the failure of its latest
military campaign in Gaza. “Netanyahu has failed to restore deterrence through
the latest Gaza confrontation,” Nasrallah said, noting that “the deterrence
equation is what's protecting Lebanon.”“You are not the ones to threaten a grand
war; we are the ones who rather threaten you with it,” Nasrallah went on to
say.“A grand war would involve hundreds of thousands of fighters,” he added, in
a warning to Israel.
Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And
News published on May 25-26/2023
Iran successfully launches latest ballistic missile
Reuters/May 25, 2023
DUBAI: Iran successfully tested a 2,000km-range ballistic missile on Thursday,
Iranian state media said, two days after the chief of Israel’s armed forces
raised the prospect of “action” against Tehran over its nuclear program. Iran,
which has one of the biggest missile programs in the Middle East, says its
weapons are capable of reaching Israel and US bases in the region. Despite
opposition from the United States and European countries, Tehran has said it
would further develop its “defensive” missile program. “Our message to Iran’s
enemies is that we will defend the country and its achievements. Our message to
our friends is that we want to help regional stability,” said Iranian defense
minister Mohammadreza Ashtiani. State TV broadcast what it said was footage of
an upgraded version of Iran’s Khoramshahr 4 ballistic missile with a range of
2,000km that can carry a 1,500kg warhead. State News agency IRNA said the
missile was called Kheibar, a reference to a Jewish castle overrun by Muslim
warriors in the early days of Islam. Israel, which the Islamic Republic does not
recognize, sees Iran as an existential threat. Iran says its ballistic missiles
are an important deterrent and retaliatory force against the United States,
Israel and other potential regional adversaries. On Tuesday, the top Israeli
general raised the prospect of “action” against Iran as efforts by six world
powers to revive Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal have stalled since last September
amid growing Western fears about Tehran’s accelerating nuclear advances. The
nuclear agreement, which Washington ditched in 2018, imposed restrictions on
Iran’s nuclear activities that extended the time Tehran would need to produce
enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb, if it chose to. Iran denies seeking
nuclear weapons.
Turkiye quake victims rally around Erdogan ahead of
runoff
AFP/May 25, 2023
ANTAKYA, Turkiye: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stares down from a
campaign poster at the earthquake ruins of Antakya, inspiring confidence in
Ahmet Gulyildizoglu ahead of Sunday’s election runoff. Millions across the
ravaged region defied expectation and voted for the man who has ruled Turkiye
for two decades and fell just short of securing another five-year term on May
14. Erdogan’s secular rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, “does not fill you with hope,”
Gulyildizoglu said in front of a debris-strewn expanse once occupied by his
six-floor apartment building. “On the other hand, you have an alliance that
keeps their promises,” the pensioner added, referring to Erdogan’s
Islamic-rooted party and its far-right allies. Erdogan’s ability to maintain
support across Turkiye’s southeastern disaster zone contributed to
Kilicdaroglu’s disappointing showing in the first round, which he ended trailing
by nearly five points.
The Turkish leader is now the strong favorite, capping a remarkable turnaround.
Seething anger at the government’s stuttering response to the February disaster,
in which more than 50,000 died, put Erdogan in the unfamiliar position of
issuing public apologies. But Berk Esen, an associate professor at Istanbul’s
Sabanci University, called Erdogan’s election rebound “not very surprising.”
Esen argued that the region is filled with pious voters who trusted Erdogan’s
explanation that the massive toll resulted from an unavoidable act of nature —
not state negligence over lax building standards. In addition, “the opposition
did not campaign heavily in the area and could not offer an alternative,
credible message,” Esen said. Instead of giving up, Kilicdaroglu is radically
changing course. Ditching his embracing vows to heal Turkiye’s social divisions,
Kilicdaroglu has struck a stridently nationalist tone, pledging to expel
millions of Syrians and other migrants. The message resonates in Syria-border
cities such as Antakya, a mountain-rimmed cradle of civilizations once known as
Antioch.
Kilicdaroglu has plastered Antakya with posters declaring: “The Syrians will
go.”“We will not turn Turkiye into a depot for migrants,” the 74-year-old said
on a visit to Antakya on Tuesday. The tough talk pleased Mehmet Aynaci, 20, who
blames Syrians for local housing problems. “Before the earthquake, if you looked
for a flat, there were a lot of Syrians,” Aynaci said. “Of course they must go,”
added Atilla Celtik, who like Aynaci is one of the few who has not left the
almost completely deserted city. “They will be asking for our land in the
future,” he said. “We are worried.”
The historically liberal lean of Antakya’s Hatay province gave Kilicdaroglu a
slight edge here over Erdogan in the first round. It was one of just three of
the 11 quake-hit provinces to vote against the incumbent. Kilicdaroglu’s future
success will depend in part on how many people who left the disaster zone are
willing to make a second trip back for the runoff. Nearly 1.7 million of the
displaced failed to change their registration address by an April 2 deadline,
meaning they must come back to vote. Sema Sicek, whose anger at Erdogan is just
as strong as the days when thousands slowly died under the debris while the
government unwound its response, thinks they simply must. “Walk if you have to
but don’t give up on your land,” the 65-year-old said, accusing Erdogan of
“burying us alive.”Some of that fury has spilled over onto social media, where
survivors were targeted for backing Erdogan. The Turkish leader mentions these
messages often on the campaign trail, trying to blame them on Kilicdaroglu.
Gulyildizoglu’s daughter Hatice said the attacks stung. “This really offended
us,” she said. “Our grief is immense. You have to live it to understand.”
Erdogan has won votes with pledges to build victims new homes by early next year
— “maybe a little later” for those in Antakya. Kilicdaroglu is trying to do the
same, telling Tuesday’s rally that “nobody should ever doubt” his ability to
rebuild the region. But Hakan Tiryaki, the provincial head of Kilicdaroglu’s
leftist party, is sensitive to complaints that the opposition did not make its
voice heard enough before the first round. Campaigning any harder might have
given the impression that the opposition was trying to profit from people’s
grief, Tiryaki said. It might also have failed to change the mind of voters such
as Omer Edip Aslantas, 51, who remembers chatting with other leftists about
developing Turkiye in the 1970s.“The Turkish left is no longer the same,” he
said in Kirikhan, a northern Hatay district that backed Erdogan. “They have
become anti-Turk, anti-Muslim.”
Putin’s Russia is now practically defenceless
The Telegraph/Con Coughlin/ May 25, 2023
One of the primary justifications Vladimir Putin gave for launching his
so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine was to secure the borders of
Mother Russia. According to the Russian president’s twisted worldview, the
country was at risk from Nato’s insatiable appetite to expand its influence into
territories Moscow historically regarded as falling under its own sphere of
influence.
In this context, Ukraine was seen as being especially problematic, as its
pro-Western government openly espoused its desire for membership of Nato and the
European Union. Putin was so outraged that a democratically elected government
should seek to pursue its own political destiny that he sought to overthrow the
Ukrainian government and install a pro-Kremlin puppet regime in its place. It
will, therefore, be a matter of grave concern for the Russian dictator that,
having failed miserably to achieve his military goals in Ukraine, he now finds
himself in the invidious position where his own country is the target of a
special military operation of a different sort – one where a group of well-armed
insurgents seems to have succeeded in attacking the Belgorod border region.
Accounts vary as to who was responsible for the most serious border incursion
Putin has suffered since he invaded Ukraine in February last year. Images of
burnt-out American Humvees used in the attack, however, suggest the perpetrators
had access to Western military equipment, although some consider the pictures to
have been staged. Whether, as Moscow claims, the attack was undertaken by
Ukrainian forces or, as seems more likely, anti-Putin Russian partisans, the
fact Russian border towns now find themselves vulnerable to attack will be a
bitter pill for the Kremlin to swallow. Given that – according to Putin – Russia
is supposed to be a military superpower, the country should at the very least be
able to secure its own borders. For much of the opening phase of the Ukraine
conflict, Russia was generally immune from attack by Ukraine, not least because
the Biden administration, as the recent leak of sensitive Pentagon files
revealed, pressured Kyiv not to conduct operations in Putin’s territory for fear
of provoking a wider escalation in the conflict. More recently, though, the
Ukrainians have demonstrated a willingness to take the fight directly into
Russia’s heartlands. Apart from last month’s drone attack against the Kremlin,
there have been attacks against key Russian targets, such as ammunition dumps
and energy supplies.
The mounting unpopularity of the war within Russia itself, with Russian
battlefield casualties estimated now to be in excess of 200,000 killed and
wounded, has inevitably raised questions about Putin’s own survival, questions
that will become even more acute the more the Russian homeland comes under
attack. Putin is paranoid at the best of times, as can be seen from the network
of underground bunkers he has constructed at his Black Sea palace to enable him
to survive a national revolt. Nor can such a possibility be ruled out so long as
Russian partisan groups, such as the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian
Volunteer Corps – both of which have been linked to this week’s Belgorod attack
– remain committed to their goal of overthrowing Putin’s autocratic regime. The
prospect of an armed uprising against Putin might appear far-fetched given the
all-pervasive reach of Russia’s security establishment. But that could quickly
change if Ukraine succeeds in inflicting a humiliating defeat against the
Kremlin, an outcome that is perfectly feasible if Kyiv’s Western allies are
willing to provide the weapons it needs to prevail on the battlefield. Many of
the anti-Russian partisan groups have links to the Ukrainian military, and could
form part of an anti-Putin uprising in the event of a Ukrainian victory. If
nothing else, the ease with which the attackers managed to breach Russia’s
border security during the Belgorod attack highlights the weakness of Russia’s
defences, a condition that is not solely limited to Russia’s border with
Ukraine. The need to bolster its depleted fighting units has seen Moscow
withdraw substantial numbers of its forces from border regions in the north and
east: no longer should Estonians have sleepless nights at the prospect of
Russian tanks advancing on Tallinn. The withdrawal of Russian forces in the east
is potentially even more problematic, as it opens the way for China to revise
its long-held territorial ambitions, especially concerning Siberia’s mighty
forests. Residents of Siberia’s Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk regions have protested
against the activities of Chinese timber firms, which rely heavily on Russia to
meet the demands of China’s rapidly expanding market for wood. Xi Jinping might
have positioned Beijing as a key Russian ally in the Ukraine conflict, but his
real interest may lie in reasserting Chinese control over disputed territory
with Russia.
Not so long ago, Russia and China went to war over a land dispute in eastern
Russia. But there would be no need for Xi to become involved in a military
conflict with Moscow if, as happened with Ukraine, Moscow no longer has control
over its borders. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism.
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Russian Prime Minister Gets an Awkward Reception on Trip to China
The Daily Beast/Shannon Vavra/May 25, 2023
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and a delegation of his colleagues went
to China this week with the hopes of further enhancing economic ties with
Beijing. But Mishustin’s counterpart, the Chairman of the State Council Li Qiang,
who invited him on the visit, reportedly refused to meet with him at the
China-Russia Business Forum on Tuesday, according to Russian newspaper Vedomosti.
Other top officials and managers of major Chinese companies also declined to
meet with him and his colleagues, many of whom are sanctioned in the West due to
Russia’s war in Ukraine, Vedomosti reported. Instead, Li sent a letter to the
forum expressing interest in building cooperation with Russia and bolstering
Russia-China trade, according to Global Times. Mishustin is the highest-ranking
Russian official to visit Beijing since Russia launched its invasion in 2022.
Whispers of Putin’s Secret Lifeline Threaten Rebound in Russia’s War. “Even
those big businessmen who wanted and were ready to speak publicly were not
allowed to meet by the authorities—they don’t want to take even the smallest
risk,” one source told Vedomosti. Other inconveniences reportedly cropped up
during the trip as well. One Chinese currency exchange post refused to convert
$100 for yuan for one of the Russian officials on the trip, since he shares the
name of someone sanctioned. In spite of the trip-ups during the visit, Mishustin
was able to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping upon his arrival in Shanghai and
work on economic deals, The Moscow Times reported. Xi, who met with Mishustin in
Beijing as well, said in a statement that China would continue to work with
Russia where mutual interests align. “China is ready to continue to stand firmly
with Russia on issues that concern the fundamental interests of both sides,” Xi
said. Li received Mishustin in Beijing as well. The visit culminated in Russia’s
prime minister signing off on a series of accords with China, according to
Reuters. The apparently mixed reception comes as China has worked to balance a
strategically significant relationship with Russia while Moscow wages war in
Ukraine. Xi was caught off-guard by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war
effort in early 2022, according to U.S. intelligence analysis. But China has
benefited in some ways, taking advantage of discounted Russian oil and allowing
its imports of Russian energy products to grow to $88 billion, according to
numbers tallied through February, Bloomberg reported. China has avoided publicly
condemning the war in Ukraine, recently stepping in to offer to broker peace
between Ukraine and Russia, albeit on conditions more agreeable to Russia.
Ukraine’s Counteroffensive to Yield Results,
Top Aide Says
Maria Tadeo and Aliaksandr Kudrytski/Bloomberg/May 25, 2023
A top advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he’s confident an
anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces will yield results – and
will begin as soon as the country receives the necessary weaponry from allies.
“We will further be preparing the counteroffensive,” Ihor Zhovkva, Zelenskiy’s
deputy chief of staff focused on foreign affairs, told Bloomberg Television from
Kyiv on Thursday. He cited deliveries of long-range artillery, ammunition and
battle tanks. Russian forces are dug in across a frontline of some 1,500
kilometer (932 miles) in eastern and southern Ukraine, even as the Russian
military touted its capture of the embattled city of Bakhmut — after a nearly
yearlong battle that imposed heavy costs on both sides. The Kremlin intensified
a missile and drone attack across Ukraine, as Zelenskiy warned that Moscow may
be switching to so-called mixed strikes with varying types of drones and
missiles. Kyiv’s air defense said it intercepted 36 loitering drones launched
overnight Thursday. While allies have spent tens of billions of dollars to arm
Ukraine for the coming offensive, Ukraine has sent mixed messages on the timing
and nature of the counterstrike. Another Zelenskiy aide, Mykhailo Podolyak,
clarified remarks he made earlier to Italy’s Rai television that the campaign
had already begun. The counteroffensive won’t be a “single event” but consist of
“dozens of different actions,” Podolyak, an advisor to Zelenskiy’s chief of
staff, said on Twitter. European allies meanwhile will finalize plans as soon as
June to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, Denmark’s defense
minister said. Zhovkva said the training will start soon and “won’t take much
time.” The presidential aide ridiculed comments by Hungarian Prime Minister
Viktor Orban, who told Bloomberg this week that Ukraine won’t be able to defeat
Russia’s military in the war. “Maybe I missed something, but maybe the prime
minister became a very good military expert,” Zhovkva said.
Russia is the real threat to Saudi Arabia as Moscow targets key
oil market, veteran analyst says
Filip De Mott/Business Insider/May 25, 2023
Russian oil exports to Asia are a real threat to Saudi Arabia, said veteran
analyst Paul Sankey. That's despite Saudi Arabia's recent focus on short sellers
in the oil market. "The real issue is can the Saudis corral Russia?" Sankey told
Bloomberg TV. Russian oil exports to Asian markets are a real threat to Saudi
Arabia, which is seeing its price premiums eroded by competition, according to
long-time industry analyst Paul Sankey. Meanwhile, he gave little credence to
Saudi Arabia's claims that market short sellers were behind underwhelming oil
prices. "Frankly, I don't know why they're so obsessed with speculators. I mean,
you can squeeze speculators on a short-term basis. But the real problem is the
overall oil balance," Sankey told Bloomberg TV on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Saudi
Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman cautioned short-sellers to beware of
economic pain just days ahead of an OPEC+ meeting, though he did not outline
specific actions. The warning helped oil prices rally. But to Sankey, Saudi
Arabia should be more focused on Russia than short-sellers. "The real issue is
can the Saudis corral Russia? Russia is a threat to Saudi, because what Russia
is doing is it's sending its oil to Asia, and it's cutting the traditional
long-term Saudi premium for selling oil to Asia," he said. "That's a much bigger
deal than people appreciate between Russia and Saudi in terms of market share
and competition." And while Russian President Vladimir Putin and de facto Saudi
ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appear to have good relations, it's not
clear the same can be said about their respective oil ministers, Sankey added.
Potential tensions between the two oil giants, who have coordinated production
in recent years, comes as Russia has had to find alternatives for its energy
exports after sanctions largely shut Moscow out of European markets. Earlier
this year, Russia's oil exports surpassed the volumes hit before its invasion of
Ukraine, with China and India accounting for roughly 90% of its seaborne crude
shipments. And there's little sign that Russia will lessen its reliance on Asia.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak indicated this week that Moscow
could supply 40% of China's energy needs.
Zelensky says Russia 'terrorizing' Ukraine as
36 drones downed
Agence France Presse/May 25, 2023
President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of terrorising Ukrainians on
Thursday, as his military announced it had shot down 36 Iranian-made attack
drones deployed by Moscow's forces. "The enemy continued to terrorise Ukraine by
launching 36 Shaheds. None reached their target," Zelensky said in a social
media post, after the Ukrainian military said it had downed more than two dozen
drones.
Russia says arrested Ukrainians planning nuke power
plant strikes
Agence France Presse/May 25, 2023
Russia's security service on Thursday announced the arrest of two Ukrainians who
it said had planned to target nuclear power plants in the country.
"A sabotage group from the Ukrainian foreign intelligence service...
tried to blow up some 30 power lines of nuclear power plants in Leningrad and
Kalinin" in early May with the aim of stopping the nuclear reactors at the
plants, Russian news agencies quoted the FSB as saying in a statement.
French Foreign Minister in Italy to activate the détente between Paris and Rome
NNA/May 25, 2023
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna visited Rome today to hold talks with
her Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, with the aim of activating the détente
between the two countries after differences over immigration, according to "Agence
France-Presse". Colonna will meet Italy's foreign minister, deputy prime
minister and second-in-command of the right-wing "Forza Italia" party, junior
partner in the ultra-conservative coalition led by Giorgia Meloni.
Ahead of her visit, Colonna, who served as ambassador to Rome from 2014
to 2017, said France was "definitely" not facing a crisis with neighboring
Italy.
However, sharp reactions were issued on the peninsula to statements made by
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanan, who said on May 4 that Meloni was
"incapable of solving the immigration problems on which she was elected."
Navigating the Syrian file: Arab leadership in focus
LBCI/May 25, 2023
The recent Arab diplomatic efforts to address the Syrian crisis have raised
questions about their effectiveness and potential for positive change.
Following the consultative meetings in Jeddah and Amman, as well as the
Arab League Summit, there was an agreement to activate Arab leadership roles in
dealing with the Syrian file and its humanitarian, security, and political
implications. Recently, there has been an intensive Arab movement regarding the
Syrian file. One significant development was the meeting between Egyptian
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria,
Geir Pedersen, in Geneva. Egypt is not the only country playing a role in
finding a solution to the Syrian crisis; Jordan is also actively involved.
Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi held talks with UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Geneva, discussing the efforts to achieve
a political resolution to the Syrian crisis and focusing on the issue of
refugees. These discussions were also addressed during Safadi's recent meeting
with UN Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief
Coordinator Martin Griffiths and Pedersen. This
diplomatic activity is particularly significant considering its timing, as it
precedes the upcoming meeting of the ministerial committee composed of Jordan,
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, and the Arab League.
According to a source from the Arab League speaking to LBCI, this
committee will meet soon. Its mission will be to directly engage with the Syrian
government to find a comprehensive solution to the crisis, in line with the
step-by-step approach and UN Security Council Resolution 2254 provisions. The
resolution emphasizes supporting a Syrian-led, UN-facilitated political process,
conducting fair elections, and drafting a new constitution.
With these recent developments, the Syrian file appears to be gaining
momentum. Will we soon witness tangible changes in reality?
Syrians abandon babies at mosques, under trees as
war grinds on
AFP/May 25, 2023
HAZANO, Syria: One cold winter night, Syrian Ibrahim Othman went out to pray and
came home cradling a baby girl, abandoned at the doorstep of the village mosque
just hours after she was born. “I took her home and told my wife, ‘I brought you
a gift’,” said the 59-year-old resident of Hazano, in rebel-held northwest
Syria. He named the baby Hibatullah, meaning “gift of God,” and decided to raise
her as one of the family. Officials say babies are being left outside mosques,
hospitals and even under olive trees in war-torn Syria as more than 12 years of
grinding conflict fuel poverty and desperation. “Only a few cases of child
abandonment” were officially documented before the war broke out in 2011,
according to the Washington-based group Syrians for Truth and Justice, which
records human rights abuses in the country. But between early 2021 and late
2022, more than 100 children — 62 of them girls — were found abandoned across
the country, it said in a March report, estimating the real figure to be much
higher. “The numbers have increased dramatically” since the start of the
conflict along with “the social and economic repercussions of the war” affecting
both government-controlled and rebel-held areas, the group said. It pointed to
factors including poverty, instability, insecurity and child marriage, along
with sexual abuse and pregnancy out of wedlock. While adoption is forbidden
across Syria, Othman has asked the local authorities for permission to raise
Hibatullah. “I told my children that if I die, she should have part of my
inheritance,” even though she can never officially be part of the family, he
said, breaking into tears. The three-year-old, her hair pulled back loosely into
pigtails and tottering around in shiny pink sandals, now calls him “grandpa.”“She
is just an innocent child,” Othman said.
Widespread death and destruction
Syria’s war has killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions and ravaged
the country’s infrastructure. Health department official Zaher Hajjo told AFP
that 53 abandoned newborn babies had been registered in government-controlled
areas in the first 10 months of last year — 28 boys and 25 girls. Syrian
President Bashar Assad this year issued a decree creating dedicated facilities
for the children, who would be automatically registered as Arab, Syrian and
Muslim, with the place of birth as the location they were found. In rebel-held
Idlib province, social workers at the main center for abandoned children tended
to tiny babies wrapped tightly in blankets in basic cradles, some spruced up
with purple paint or ribbons.
Caption
In the bare-walled room with a brown-and-beige carpet, one woman rocked a baby
to sleep with one hand while feeding another milk with the other. Faisal Al-Hammoud,
head of programs at the center, said one baby girl they took in was found under
an olive tree after being mauled by a cat. “Blood was dripping down her face,”
he said, adding that the orphanage had since entrusted her to a family. Workers
follow up to make sure such babies are well treated and “that there is no child
trafficking,” Hammoud added. The center has taken in 26 babies — 14 girls and 12
boys — since it opened in 2019, and nine this year alone, said Abdullah
Abdullah, a civil affairs official with Idlib’s rebel authorities. More than
four million people live in areas controlled by jihadists and Turkish-backed
groups in Syria’s north and northwest, 90 percent of whom depend on aid to
survive. “The war is to blame and families too” for child abandonments, Abdullah
said. “These children are victims,” he added.
Global solar investments outpace oil and gas
for first time
NNA/ EDIE/May 25, 2023
Research published in a new IEA report has found that around $2.8trn looks set
to be invested in global energy this year, of which more than $1.7trn will be
spent on clean energy technologies – including renewables, electric vehicles (EVs),
nuclear power, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency improvements and
heat pumps. During this time global investments into solar look set to eclipse
spending on fossil fuels for the first time. The IEA cites the global energy
crisis as the primary driver for clean energy spending.
Spending on upstream oil and gas is expected to rise this year, rebounding to
pre-pandemic levels. Most spending will come from national oil companies in the
Middle East. The IEA also noted that record profits from oil firms because of
higher costs are not going back into supplies, but instead being paid out as
dividends to shareholders. The IEA warns that fossil fuel investment in 2023
will be more than double the levels need in 2030, under the Agency’s net-zero
emissions scenario for 2050. With global coal demand meeting an all-time high in
2022, investment this year will reach nearly six times the levels envisaged in
2030 in the Net Zero Scenario. “Clean energy is moving fast – faster than many
people realise. This is clear in the investment trends, where clean technologies
are pulling away from fossil fuels,” IEA’s executive Fatih Birol said.
“For every dollar invested in fossil fuels, about 1.7 dollars are now going into
clean energy. Five years ago, this ratio was one-to-one. One shining example is
investment in solar, which is set to overtake the amount of investment going
into oil production for the first time.”
National divides
Alongside the global energy cost crisis, enabling policies like the US Inflation
Reduction Act and the European Commission’s Net-Zero Industry Act have helped
drive clean energy investment.
In total, clean energy investment will rise by 24% compared to 2021 levels,
compared to a 15% increase in fossil fuel spending over the same period.
However, more than 90% of this increase in clean energy comes from advanced
economies and China. The IEA warns that investments in other nations, namely the
Global South are being held back by higher interest rates, poor policy
frameworks and markets and weak grid infrastructure.
Commenting on the need to increase clean energy uptake in developing nations,
Simon Harford from Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet said: “Clean
energy prices have fallen by over 90% in the past decade, making it the cheapest
long-term path to electricity in much of the world. Yet, emerging economies
continue to face much higher costs than OECD countries. That’s important because
without scaled renewables the emerging economies of the world could produce 75%
of global carbon emissions by 2050.
“The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet is committed to driving down
the cost of clean energy technologies and mobilising much-needed finance to
achieve universal affordable access to energy, drive inclusive economic growth
and meet critical climate goals during the next decade. If we act now to
accelerate a green energy transition, we can reduce emissions by 58%; that’s an
opportunity we should grasp with both hands.” --- EDIE
Leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan speak of peace progress
while arguing in front of Putin
LBCI/May 25, 2023
The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia on Thursday both spoke of progress towards
ending their decades-old conflict over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, even
as they argued openly in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-populated enclave inside Azerbaijan, has been a
source of conflict between the two Caucasus neighbors since the years leading up
to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and between ethnic Armenians and
Turkic Azeris for well over a century. In 2020,
Azerbaijan seized control of areas that had been controlled by ethnic Armenians
in and around the mountain enclave, and since then it has periodically
restricted access to the only access road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia,
on which the enclave relies for financial and military support.
At a meeting in Moscow, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused
Azerbaijan of causing a humanitarian crisis by blocking the only land route from
Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. He called it a "direct
violation" of a 2020 ceasefire that ended the six-week war between the two
countries, and called for an international mission to be sent to evaluate the
situation. Azeri activists in mid-December began obstructing the road known as
the Lachin corridor, which Pashinyan noted should be under the control of
Russian peacekeepers, and Baku last month erected a checkpoint along it.
Azerbaijan says it took that step because Armenia was using the route to send
weapons to Nagorno-Karabakh, something Armenia denies.
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev responded to Pashinyan: "Azerbaijan did not block
any corridor... There is no need to use this platform for unfounded
accusations." The two leaders continued arguing for
several minutes in Russian before Putin - who is mounting a new effort to broker
a deal - closed off the conversation, which took place at an economic meeting of
former Soviet republics in Moscow. Despite their testy exchange, both Pashinyan
and Aliyev said there had been progress lately towards a settlement based on
mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity. Putin was later due to
host three-way talks with Aliyev and Pashinyan, where he said they would have
the chance "to talk about everything calmly in a businesslike manner".
Russia has traditionally been the main power broker between the two
countries on the southwest edge of the former Soviet Union which have fought two
major wars in the three decades since the collapse of the former superpower.
Distracted by the war in Ukraine, Russia faces a challenge to maintain
that role as the United States and European Union have mounted their own efforts
to bring the sides together. Russian Defence Minister
Sergei Shoigu was quoted by the RIA news agency earlier on Thursday as saying
the West was trying to interfere in the conflict and discredit Russian
peacekeeping policy. Outstanding issues between the
two sides include the rights and security of some 120,000 ethnic Armenians
living in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is internationally recognized as part of
Azerbaijan.
The Latest LCCC English analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on May 25-26/2023
America will no longer wage wars to enforce regime
change in Middle East: US official
Ali Younes/Arab News/Updated 25 May 2023
WASHINGTON: The new US National Defense Strategy in the Middle East is moving
away from waging unilateral wars to change regimes through military means and
instead will invest in building coalitions and partnerships with allied regional
states, according to Mara Karlin, US assistant secretary of defense for
strategy, plans and capabilities. Karlin said during a keynote address at the
Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C on Wednesday and attended by Arab News
that the new US National Defense Strategy would prioritize “partnerships,
integration and interoperability” when dealing with regional threats in the
Middle East. She said that the Middle East region fell under the US National
Security Strategy, which included “partnerships, deterrence diplomacy,
integration and values.”Karlin described the new NDS strategy for the Middle
East as a “paradigm shift” that was moving away from basing hundreds of
thousands of static US troops in the region. Instead, the new paradigm would
depend on working with regional partners through partnerships, complex military
exercises, and interoperability of weapons systems.
“This is a paradigm shift in our approach to the region, one that is
de-emphasizing the unrealistic aims of transformation that are often pursed
through unilateral military means,” she said. “Instead, this paradigm is focused
on our competitive advantages and partnerships and the fundamentals of sound
policy,” Karlin said. She said that the new NDS described the basing of hundreds
of thousands of troops in the region as “ineffective deterrence.”
However, Karlin said that the shift did not mean that the US was less committed
to the Middle East. “The NDS is very clear. The US will remain engaged in the
Middle East,” she said. Karlin said that the Middle East region was part of US
global strategy and considered an integral part of it. “Frankly, our national
security interests are interwoven in this region,” she said. Karlin said that US
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had articulated the US strategy in the region
during a recent trip to the Middle East as that of supporting “diplomacy” and
“conflict deterrence.”
However, Austin had added: “But if we were forced to turn back aggression, we
will win and win decisively.” Karlin said: “Let’s be clear, America’s commitment
to security in the Middle East is strong and sure.”
She said that the strength of the new strategy stemmed from its working in
multilateral formations and partnerships, and the US military agility that
enabled it to direct forces where they were needed swiftly and effectively.
Karlin said that Iran’s “reckless behavior” in the region would be addressed
through a multilateral approach of military integration and the interoperability
of arms and forces in the region. “Integration and interoperability are key to
address Iran’s reckless activities across all domains,” she said.
Karlin pointed out as an example of this strategy the US Central Command’s work
to establish “the combined maritime forces,” a 34-member security and military
maritime force to address drug smuggling and piracy on the high seas and deter
“state-sponsored maligned activities and ensure commercial shipping.”
She also mentioned the ongoing military exercise “Eagle Resolve,” in which the
US Central Command and the Saudi Armed Forces were conducting a multilateral
exercise in combination with armed forces of the Arab nations of the Gulf
Cooperation Council. Karlin said that the new US strategy in the Middle East was
already paying dividends, citing Yemen and Iraq as examples.
She said that Yemen was now witnessing the longest truce between the warring
sides, while Iraq was currently being accepted and integrated back into the
region. She also mentioned the defeat of extremist groups such as “Al-Qaeda and
the Islamic State” in Iraq and Syria through coalition with Arab states.
Globally, Karlin said that the NDS highlighted China as the single biggest
threat the US was facing in the future. She said that the main US national
defense strategy was to sustain and strengthen the deterrent against China.
China was currently the only country in the world that had the intent and the
increasing capability to systematically challenge the US across the board,
diplomatically economically and technologically, she said.
The NDS also describes Russia as an “acute” threat. It also mentions a range of
other threats including Iran, North Korea, and terrorist organizations.
Released last year, the National Defense Strategy was issued for the first time
in an integrated way by including the national nuclear posture review and the
missile defense review simultaneously.
How stability and security can be improved in Iraq
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/May 25/2023
Throughout the two decades since the US invasion of 2003, Iraq has experienced
instability and significant challenges. Although domestic armed conflicts have
been reduced in recent years, the country still encounters other critical
issues, which need to be resolved for the good of the stability and security of
the country. Increasing cooperation between the Iraqi government and the Gulf
nations is key.
One of the issues that Baghdad faces is the country’s security, since some
groups may still seek to use a sectarian agenda as a means to divide the nation
and ultimately gain power. It is worth noting that Iraq has a multiethnic and
multireligious society that comprises Shiite Arabs, Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen,
Christians, Assyrians, Yazidis and Armenians. In such a vibrant society, it is
crucial for the political establishment to promote inclusive governance and a
system of government that rejects any project or plan that is anchored in a
sectarian agenda or a divide and rule philosophy.
In addition, it is important for the Iraqi government to promote programs that
aim to increase interfaith dialogue in order to help reduce tensions and the
potential for conflict. The more the government attempts to set up such
programs, the more peace and stability it will likely bring.
There are several countries in the region that Iraq can take lessons from and
replicate their projects on a domestic level. One is Saudi Arabia. Over the past
few years, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has placed significant emphasis on
interfaith dialogue, playing a key role in advancing and promoting his mission.
Under his leadership, Saudi Arabia has been assertively embarking on outreach to
other religious groups and faiths.
It is important for the Iraqi government to promote programs that aim to
increase interfaith dialogue
For example, in 2020, Saudi Arabia presided over an interfaith forum with the
participation of Muslim clerics, Jewish rabbis, Christian priests and other
religious leaders. And a multifaith conference was held in Riyadh in 2022, with
the title “Common Values Among the Followers of Religions.” The conference was
the first of its kind and about 100 religious leaders, including more than 15
rabbis, attended.
Another example in the region is the UAE, which in March opened the Abrahamic
Family House in Abu Dhabi to bring together the three Abrahamic religions:
Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
At the same time, extremist ideologies, which aim to sow division and tension in
Iraq, as well as recruit young people, must be confronted. The Iraqi government
can advance and set up more organizations to track and monitor extremists’
activities online, including via social media platforms, blogs and websites. It
is also critical to establish institutions that will promote an alternative and
moderate ideology, while educating people and raising awareness of extremist
ideologies.
Again, Iraq can follow in the footsteps of some Gulf nations. For example, Saudi
Arabia’s model has proven to be successful in fighting extremist ideologies. The
Kingdom has established several organizations for this goal, including the
Ideological Warfare Center, the Digital Extremism Observatory, the King
Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue, and the Global Center for Combating
Extremist Ideology. The Iraqi government can challenge the messages of extremist
groups by pursuing similar initiatives.
It should be noted that the Iraqi government has recently taken several
important steps. One move was the recent action plan signed by Iraq’s Ministry
of Labor and Social Affairs and the UN, which aims to prevent the recruitment
and use of children by extremist groups and armed forces.
Baghdad should prioritize attracting foreign investments in order to process gas
from its reserves
Labor and Social Affairs Minister Ahmed Jassim Al-Asadi pointed out: “The
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, as representatives of the government of
Iraq, along with the National Committee for the Monitoring and Reporting
Mechanism, would like to express its commitment to implement the plan to serve
children exposed to recruitment in armed conflict, in order to ensure Iraq’s
compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as with the
protocols signed by the Iraqi government. While we continue to work on
implementing the national child protection policy as part of the government
program, we are also supporting the Child Protection Law, pending parliament
ratification.”
It is also important to point out that stability and security relies on a
healthy and stable economy. Iraq, OPEC’s second-largest producer after Saudi
Arabia, unfortunately heavily relies on oil exports for its revenues. Oil
exports account for nearly 95 percent of Iraq’s federal budget revenue. Such
dependence on oil puts the country at great risk when oil prices plummet, such
as occurred in 2020. According to the International Monetary Fund, “Iraq’s
economy remains in the grip of a self-perpetuating cycle of fragility … The
absence of meaningful reforms, in turn, has held back economic development and
reinforced dependence on oil — a critical vulnerability in a world that is
fighting climate change.”
Iraq also heavily relies on imported gas, particularly from Iran, in order to
meet the demands of its population. Baghdad this month agreed to repay $1.6
billion of debt to the Iranian government in order to ensure a steady gas supply
through the summer. Iraq itself holds about 111 trillion cubic feet of proven
gas reserves, ranking it 12th in the world. However, years of conflict have
prevented the Arab country from investing in its gas industry. Baghdad should
prioritize attracting foreign investments in order to process gas from its
reserves.
This is why it is vital for the Iraqi government to diversify its economy. This
can be done by strengthening the private sector, investing in infrastructure and
other industries, investing in renewable energy and promoting tourism.
In a nutshell, Iraq faces several challenges, but these can be partially
addressed by diversifying the country’s economy, promoting an inclusive system
of governance and further cooperating with the Gulf nations.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist.
Twitter: @Dr_Rafizadeh
High time for a ‘Hajj Express’ for Israeli Muslims
Mark Dubowitz and Tzvi Kahn/Arab News/May 25/2023
With the Hajj being only a month away, Saudi Arabia has a chance to take the
high road with Israeli Muslims and sidestep the obstacles in their efforts to
normalize relations. Riyadh is hereby called upon, for the first time, to allow
direct flights for Muslim pilgrims from Israel.
The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is an annual pilgrimage to Makkah,
Islam’s holiest city, that Muslims must conduct at least once in their lifetime
if they are physically and financially able. The centerpiece of the trip is the
circumambulation of the cube-shaped Kaaba, a black stone structure that,
according to the Qur’an, Abraham built as the metaphorical house of God.
More than 2 million Muslims — some 6,000 of whom are Israelis — make the journey
each year, though Riyadh significantly restricted such visits during the first
three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kingdom now says it has dropped limits
on visiting this year.
Yet, until now, pilgrims from Israel, as from the Palestinian territories, have
had to travel to Makkah through third countries, incurring surcharges and
hassle. With Donald Trump and Joe Biden being the latest US presidents to have
flown directly between Israel and Saudi Arabia in recent years, and the Kingdom
now routinely allowing Israeli airliners to overfly its territory en route to
other destinations, a “Hajj Express” is timely and solutions need to be found
for Israeli Muslims to make it easily implementable.
After all, Qatar admitted direct flights from Tel Aviv for World Cup fans.
Surely Saudi Arabia can be no less accommodating for the Muslims who make up 18
percent of Israel’s population.
Yair Lapid, who served as Israel’s prime minister from July to December of 2022,
is on record as saying he secured an understanding for future direct Hajj
flights during his term. When Saudi Arabia opened its airspace for Israeli
flights to other countries last summer, Lapid said it was the “first official
step in normalization with Saudi Arabia.”But unlike Lapid, Riyadh has never
given an on-the-record confirmation to allow direct flights, which by default
raises questions on the hope for normalization. “This issue is under
discussion,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in early May. “I cannot
tell you if there is any progress. But with that, I am optimistic that we can
advance peace with Saudi Arabia.”
Obstacles remain, however. The Kingdom’s China-brokered renewal of ties with
Iran has strained its relations with Israel and may have weakened Riyadh’s
appetite for normalization.
Qatar admitted direct flights from Tel Aviv for World Cup fans. Surely Saudi
Arabia can be no less accommodating for the Muslims who make up 18 percent of
Israel’s population.
The right-wing policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have also
angered the Kingdom. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told the Arab League
Summit last week that he remains committed to “establishing an independent state
on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.” Such territorial
concessions constitute a nonstarter for the Israeli government.
Recent unconfirmed American media reports, and Israeli ones months before them,
have suggested that, on top of finding a solution for Palestinians, Saudi Arabia
has requested that the Biden administration greenlight the domestic enrichment
of uranium on Saudi soil as part of a civilian nuclear program in exchange for
normalization with Israel. Washington is loath to take such a step because
enriched uranium could also be used for a nuclear weapons program. Riyadh also
wants the Biden administration to guarantee the sale of American offensive
weapons systems to the Saudis — a demand that faces stiff resistance in
Congress. So, if the Kingdom now withholds consent for direct flights from
Israel to Saudi Arabia, it would be a setback for those normalization efforts,
not merely a continuation of the status quo. It is hard to see what the Saudis
would gain from that.
One way to support the arrangement would be to include Palestinians in the deal.
Israel might also consider earmarking its southern Ramon Airport for the
flights. After all, Ramon is significantly closer to the Kingdom than Ben Gurion
Airport, making for cheaper routes. Its seclusion from Israeli population
centers would also help Israeli efforts to monitor outgoing passengers and
incoming flights for security purposes.
A pilot program that ran between August and October proved promising, with
dozens of Palestinians from the West Bank traveling back and forth from Ramon to
Cyprus and Turkey. This program proceeded over the objections of the Palestinian
Authority, which fears being sidelined by such accommodations. Jordan, too, has
reason to be concerned about the loss of Palestinian passenger dinars at Amman’s
airports.
But Palestinians deserve easier travel. Since Israel is willing to be
magnanimous in this regard, Saudi Arabia can certainly follow suit by allowing
Ramon to be the springboard for direct Hajj flights for Palestinian and Israeli
Muslims alike. And that would be a net positive for efforts to normalize ties
between Tel Aviv and Riyadh. Which airline gets to fly the route, how frequent
flights would be and what happens for Muslims who wish to perform Umrah —
outside of Hajj season — are also questions worth looking into.
Mark Dubowitz is the chief executive of the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies. Twitter: @mdubowitz. Tzvi Kahn is a research fellow and senior
editor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Twitter: @TzviKahn. FDD is
a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focused on national
security and foreign policy.
Biden’s booster plan for the Asia-Pacific hits a hurdle
Andrew Hammond /Arab News/May 25/2023
Joe Biden began his presidency with the Asia-Pacific region as the focal point
of his foreign policy. Yet, almost two and a half years later, the continuing
conflict in Ukraine has dramatically recast his international priorities.
With the war in Europe now more than 450 days old, the biggest international
legacy that Biden will leave as president — especially if he fails to win a
second term — will probably be his determined defense of Ukraine. There is also
his wider statecraft, which has seen the rebuilding of the fragile Western
alliance after the Trump presidency.
However, he has not lost sight of a longer-term ambition to intensify the US
“pivot” to Asia. For, while Russia remains the major immediate threat to
Washington’s security interests, this conflict has done little to alter the
administration’s view that China remains the paramount longer-term challenge.
And this is why the curtailing last Sunday of his trip to Asia-Pacific — which
was headlined by the G7 Summit hosted by Japan but no longer included his
planned trip to Australia — has been so galling for him. It has also badly
disappointed the US’ regional allies, which perceive it as giving a fillip to
China.
His trip was cut short because of continuing US domestic political brinkmanship
over the so-called debt ceiling. This closed, at least temporarily, a precious
window of opportunity to reset the regional balance in US foreign policy. And it
is unclear whether Biden will have a chance to reschedule his Australia trip
before next year’s presidential election.
The Ukraine conflict has done little to alter the administration’s view that
China remains the paramount longer-term challenge
The president’s big Asia-Pacific trip had been intended to see a determined
effort to double down on US attention on the region. This would reemphasize the
US pivot, which is primarily focused on balancing China’s rise to power,
including by increasing America’s military presence and forming security
alliances.
However, this goal was set back by the cancellation of Biden’s attendance at the
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue Summit in Australia. This is a blow for him for
multiple reasons, including his hope of serenading Indian President Narendra
Modi, whose government may well be reelected for a third term early next year.
Washington remains concerned that Modi continues to play a diplomatic balancing
act between the West and Russia, having refused to condemn the invasion of
Ukraine.
While the Quad — made up of the US, Australia, India and Japan — was initiated
in 2007, it has come into much greater focus in the last few years. Some have
dismissed the importance of the group, but its relevance as an emerging
anti-China alliance has been buttressed by the formation of the UK-US-Australia
trilateral security partnership to defend “shared interests in the
Indo-Pacific,” with Beijing again the unmentioned key focal point.
The main goal of the Quad meeting was to advance a shared vision for a free and
open Asia-Pacific, with all four nations in agreement about China. The emerging
fault lines in this growing challenge are often cited as being Taiwan and the
continuing tensions in the South China Sea, where it is not just Japan and the
US, but also other countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and
Brunei, that are in dispute with China regarding these waters, through which
some $5 trillion of shipborne trade passes each year.
Disappointed as Biden will be by the cancellation of the Australia and Papua New
Guinea legs of his trip, he put extra emphasis on the G7 in Japan
However, the problem for the US and its allies is broader, as was to be shown by
Biden’s now-canceled visit to Papua New Guinea, in between the Japan and
Australia legs of his trip, where he was scheduled to meet 18 Pacific Island
leaders. Biden was expected to sign defense and surveillance agreements with
Papua New Guinea to renew the strategic importance of the nation, which is the
South Pacific’s most populous nation. The US goal is to deter Pacific Island
nations — which span 40 million sq. km of ocean — from forming deeper security
ties with China.
Disappointed as Biden will be by the cancellation of the Australia and Papua New
Guinea legs of his trip, he put extra emphasis on the G7 in Japan. At the summit
on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there was a broad range of measures announced
regarding China. Indeed, one of the most striking elements of the final
communique was the focus on economic coercion, which, it argued, “undermines the
policies and positions of G7 members as well as partners around the world.” For
instance, when Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in the
capital Vilnius in 2021, many of the Eastern European nation’s goods were banned
from entering China.
The G7 announced a new toolkit to “increase collective assessment, preparedness,
deterrence and response.” This includes a “coordination platform” to help
nations assist each other by increasing trade or funding to any country that is
in dispute with China.
Meanwhile, the Japanese hosts also discussed with Biden whether he might look to
reconsider US participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for
Trans-Pacific Partnership. This is the trade and investment deal originally
intended to lock Washington into a deeper partnership with its allies in the
Asia-Pacific region.
It is plausible that Biden may eventually seek to bring the US into this pact,
whose members account for about 13 percent of global gross domestic product and
have a combined population of about 500 million. However, any such move would
very likely need to wait until his second term of office, given the political
unpopularity of international trade in some key US states, which he will be
conscious of before his reelection campaign in 2024.
*Andrew Hammond is an Associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.
Militias are a symptom, not a cure
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/ The Arab Weekly/May 25, 2023
Armed militias, wherever they operate, break existing systems, but like ruling
regimes before them, typically fail to offer anything new or better.
With global attention focused on deadly clashes between the paramilitary Rapid
Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces in Khartoum, another militia
halfway around the world was locked in battle against its own national military:
the Wagner Group, which tussled with the Russian army in Ukraine’s Luhansk
Oblast. It was just one of many operations recently waged by violent non-state
actors in failing states.
Militias clash with armies, as in Sudan; co-opt the state, like in Iran and
Lebanon or coexist intermittently with the state and its army, Iraq, Yemen and
Syria come to mind, raising the spectre of civil war.
Militias defend their actions by arguing that government failure let corruption
suck up national resources, creating poverty and injustice. Because the system
is not responsive to change or reform through peaceful means, they claim, the
only option left is armed rebellion.
But positive change requires two steps: breaking the old and replacing it with
something new and preferably better. Armed militias, wherever they operate,
break existing systems, but like the ruling regimes before them, typically fail
to offer anything new or better. Rulers of all stripes are typically cut from
the same cloth, rendering progress impossible. The United States initiated
change in predominantly Arab countries when it toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Since then, Iraqis have yet to produce a state as competent as that of their
brutal dictator, without whom Iraq has splintered into competing security
agencies and militias, all of them abusing state resources, just like the
deposed president and his regime once did.
Second to eject their dictator was Lebanon, whose population took to the streets
in 2005, forcing Syrian President Bashar Al Assad to withdraw his troops after a
29-year occupation. What followed was a series of assassinations, bombings, a
war with Israel and a quick round of civil war. Hezbollah emerged on top and,
starting in 2008, its chief, Hassan Nasrallah, became Lebanon’s de facto leader.
Today, Lebanon effectively mirrors the Iranian model, where Supreme Leader Ali
Khamenei and his Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps militia dominate a failing
state, which they blame for their own failure in governance.
As more Arab regimes collapsed after 2011, remnants of national armies started
battling newer militias in Libya, Yemen and Sudan. Stalemate ensued. In Libya
and Yemen, war fatigue has forced a truce that is depicted as a process for
peace and the rebuilding of the state. But these processes have rarely resulted
in better governments. At best, power-sharing deals have seen old armies and
militias tenuously coexisting while nourishing their killing machines and
patronage networks as they await future match-ups.
A late comer to the Arab Spring, Sudan’s competing factions have just begun
battling it out. The fluid military situation suggests that neither side can
finish off the other. Sudan’s war will likely grind on for some time, at least
until the warring sides become too exhausted to fight. Whenever a truce is
reached, the two sides will be governing two or more destroyed zones that live
in poverty and suffer crime. The Sudanese, who have started fleeing the war,
will continue emigrating to more stable countries, even when the killing stops.
What militias and proponents of violent change fail to understand is that
victimhood cannot be a licence to practice violence, and that power alone cannot
be the answer. Without proper checks, power, even in the hands of
victims-turned-militias, is a corrupting force, thus doubling national misery
from the days of dictatorship. Change must be incremental and has to trust
existing governments, even if inefficient and corrupt. These governments will
come under immense domestic and foreign pressure if they fail to develop their
economies and offer their citizens decent living.
Central authority is the cornerstone of statehood, without which a homeland
becomes a piece of land upon which warring tribes fight it out. Perhaps it took
the Iraq war and the Arab Spring to realise that many Arab countries are not
ready to switch to non-autocratic forms of government.
South Korea might be a good example here. Today, the vibrant Korean economy
looks like a stable democracy, but that did not come overnight, despite US
sponsorship and presence since the end of war on the peninsula in 1953. It took
the South Korean military junta some 25 years to abandon autocracy and even
then, the country still finds itself, from time to time, embroiled in
presidential corruption and political gridlock.
Iran and Arab countries with militias are suffering from endless tension between
state and parallel statelets. Allowing the state to absorb militias seems like
the best course of action. An efficient central government has a better chance
of developing the economy and human resources. Once developed enough, any of
these countries can think of transforming to less centralized governments that
can better serve the needs and interests of their peoples.
*Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow at the Foundation for Defence of
Democracies (FDD), a Washington, DC-based, non-partisan research institute
focusing on national security and foreign policy. Follow him on Twitter: @hahussain.
Report from Ukraine: Why They Fight
Richard Kemp/Gatestone Institute./May 25, 2023
I asked what they now needed most from our countries. Of course more guns, more
ammo, more tanks, more rockets plus combat planes always featured. But another
consistent answer was striking even if not surprising: please do not try to
force our country to make peace with the invaders.
The government in Kyiv has so far documented 19,393 kidnapped children, and
there are most likely many more that are as yet unidentified.
Like the torture and murder of civilians in Izium and elsewhere, and the summary
execution of prisoners of war, these kidnappings are war crimes. It is for these
abductions that the International Criminal Court in March issued arrest warrants
against Vladimir Putin and his so-called Children's Rights Commissioner, Maria
Lvova-Belova.
Putin's forces and civilian bureaucrats have seized children from orphanages and
children's homes, removed them directly from their parents or taken them into
"care" after killing their families. Some have been forcibly fostered or adopted
in cities including Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Rostov. Names and dates of
birth are sometimes changed to render them untraceable.
While torture and murder cannot be undone, Russia's child kidnapping can, and it
is inexplicable that so far there has been no large scale international outrage.
[K]nowledge of these wicked depredations is why they fight; and why they and the
fighting men on Ukraine's other battlefields remain determined to keep
attacking, holding the invaders from their families' doors until they drive them
back beyond their borders, no matter what the personal cost might be.
Russian forces and civilian bureaucrats have seized nearly 20,000 Ukrainian
children from orphanages and children's homes, removed them directly from their
parents or taken them into "care" after killing their families. Knowledge of
these wicked depredations is why Ukrainians fight on the battlefield, determined
to keep attacking, holding the invaders from their families' doors. Pictured: A
Ukrainian soldier in Bakhmut, Ukraine, on April 23, 2023. (Photo by Anatolii
Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images)
This week, near Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, I spent time with commanders and
soldiers who have been fighting the Russian invaders in the shattered city,
sometimes for months on end. This has been one of the longest battles anywhere
in the world since 1945 and by far the most brutal in this war, with Russians
and Ukrainians often fighting at close quarters, artillery hammering the city
into Stalingrad-like rubble and a level of slaughter unequalled anywhere else in
Putin's vicious war.
Talking to these battle-worn men, their gratitude for the arms, ammunition and
equipment supplied by the West was palpable and sometimes emotional. They
credited us with keeping them alive and keeping them fighting. I asked what they
now needed most from our countries. Of course more guns, more ammo, more tanks,
more rockets plus combat planes always featured. But another consistent answer
was striking even if not surprising: please do not try to force our country to
make peace with the invaders.
This from men who have seen their brothers-in-arms cut down by bullets, bomb
blasts and scything shell splinters; have battled to prevent the life ebb from
their comrades' mangled bodies; have endured the mind-numbing percussion of
unending artillery bombardments and have risked their very lives with every hour
spent in the ruined city. At one point the deadly reality of life in Bakhmut was
driven home by fleets of laden ambulances hurtling past us, heading away from
the battle zone.
With their blunt rejection of peace negotiations, were these fighting men
disproving the words of US General Douglas MacArthur in his famous Duty, Honor,
Country speech at West Point: "The soldier above all others prays for peace, for
it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war"?
I did not ask them that question because I immediately understood what lay
behind their grim determination to keep fighting despite the horror of it all.
Earlier I had visited nearby Izium, where the Russian occupation is marked not
only by rubbleised and bullet-pocked schools, hospitals, houses and apartment
blocks but also by shallow graves in the middle of the woods, now empty and each
marked by a rough-hewn timber cross.
After the Russians had been driven out by the Ukrainian army's counter offensive
last September, 447 bodies were exhumed here, mostly civilian men, women and
children, almost all showing signs of violent death, many executed, some
mutilated and some with hands bound. The surrounding woodland is scarred with
tank scrapes, large holes in the ground where Russian armour had been dug in to
provide added protection against artillery and anti-tank fire and to aid
concealment from ground and air. One of these scrapes had contained the corpses
of 17 Ukrainian soldiers. Before they piled earth on top of them, the Russians
had, for good measure, dumped an anti-tank mine on the bodies, intended to kill
and maim those tasked with digging them out.
Some of the dead civilians had been brought to these woods from the town of
Izium and from Balakliia, a few miles away. In both places I walked around
police stations containing squalid cells and lightless basements where the
Russians had jammed in their captives, men, women and children; and terrorised,
tortured, sexually abused and murdered them.
I saw the same baleful sites at Bucha near Kyiv a few days later. Places like
this are to be found in many towns and villages the Russians occupied. They are
horribly reminiscent of Nazi torture and killing centres I've visited in Poland,
France and on the Channel Island of Alderney. Like them, these sites deserve to
be preserved, both as a reminder of the evil men do and as a memorial to the
poor souls who suffered so terribly under the Russian jackboot.
From areas of the country that Putin's army occupied since the invasion last
February, they have also abducted Ukrainian children, including babies, on an
industrial scale. The government in Kyiv has so far documented 19,393 kidnapped
children, and there are most likely many more that are as yet unidentified.
Some are still held in areas of Ukraine the Russian army continues to occupy,
and others have been transported to Russian territory. Like the torture and
murder of civilians in Izium and elsewhere, and the summary execution of
prisoners of war, these kidnappings are war crimes. It is for these abductions
that the International Criminal Court in March issued arrest warrants against
Vladimir Putin and his so-called Children's Rights Commissioner, Maria
Lvova-Belova.
Putin's forces and civilian bureaucrats have seized children from orphanages and
children's homes, removed them directly from their parents or taken them into
"care" after killing their families. Some have been forcibly fostered or adopted
in cities including Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Rostov. Names and dates of
birth are sometimes changed to render them untraceable. Those children who speak
up for their native land, sing the national anthem or speak ill of Putin are
"re-educated" by Russian authorities, a process that has included extended
periods of detention and solitary confinement as well as bullying and savage
beatings. Some children have been enlisted into a Russian "youth army" where
they are trained and prepared to fight one day against their own people.
In Kyiv I met the red-eyed mothers of some of these children, every one of them
going through a living hell that will never end until their sons and daughters
are returned to them. The Ukrainian government and the NGO Save Ukraine, as well
as individual parents that are able to, are making efforts to retrieve these
children but so far only very small numbers have been brought home. While
torture and murder cannot be undone, Russia's child kidnapping can, and it is
inexplicable that so far there has been no large-scale international outrage.
The kidnapping of Ukrainian children has grotesque echoes of the Third Reich,
which forcibly removed at least 20,000 Polish children from their families and
transported them to Germany — the same number as the children that we know have
been kidnapped by Putin so far. Many of them faced an almost identical fate as
the abducted Ukrainian children today.
Returning to the defenders of Bakhmut, knowledge of these wicked depredations is
why they fight; and why they and the fighting men on Ukraine's other
battlefields remain determined to keep attacking, holding the invaders from
their families' doors until they drive them back beyond their borders, no matter
what the personal cost might be.
*Colonel Richard Kemp is a former British Army Commander. He was also head of
the international terrorism team in the U.K. Cabinet Office and is now a writer
and speaker on international and military affairs. He is a Shillman Fellow at
Gatestone Institute.
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