Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on September 03-04/2023
Al-Rahi: Dialogue should be without prejudgments and imposition
Naharnet/September 03/2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/121918/121918/
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday called for a dialogue "without prejudgments." "The dialogue that the MPs of the nation are invited to -- if it happens in spite of the bickering and the acceptance and rejection -- requires going to it without prejudgments nor the will to impose their ideas, projects and viewpoint without any consideration for others," al-Rahi said in his Sunday Mass sermon. "It secondly requires the spirit of rising above personal and partisan interests and thirdly requires endorsing the constitution and considering it the only path that should be taken," the patriarch added.

Text of Archbishop Aoudi's sermon while presiding over the Divine Liturgy today, September 03, 2023, at St. George's Cathedral
Bishop Aoudi calls for the prevention of shooting on occasions and the punishment of those who carry it out: moral decay, backwardness, and gratuitous violence
NAA/September 03/2023 (Google Translation)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/121914/121914/
Bishop Aoudi said: "St. John Chrysostom says that “the cultivators had to hasten to seek forgiveness for their sins, but they were clinging to their previous sins and wallowing in their sludge. They hide their first sins with later ones.” Isn’t this what we are seeing around us today, in all fields, morally and socially? Politically and financially... Don't we find leaders, leaders, politicians, monopolists, and traffickers with people's lives and exploiting people for their own interests? Don't we see officials making mistakes in their plans or management, and not apologizing, but rather making matters worse by making worse plans or worse management, that does not benefit anyone Do we not see those who openly profess low morals, deepening the chasm between them and God, and dragging innocent people with them to trap them, and when someone confronts them with their mistakes, they do not apologize or repent, but they turn the people in as the Pharisees and scribes did in the past against Christ.
He added, "Returning from error is a virtue. This is the secret of repentance and confession that brings the sinner back into the arms of the Lord. The saints were not born righteous, rather they were sinful human beings, but they lived true repentance and were deified and became intercessors for us and examples to follow. Everyone knows the biography of Saint Mary Magdalene or Mary." The Egyptian, St. Moses the Abyssinian, Silouan the Athonite and other saints who sinned in their lives, but they repented and were sanctified, and the Lord accepted them. Therefore, none of you is afraid to return to the arms of the Lord, no matter how great he feels that his sins are great, because the angels rejoice over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10). God is not terrifying, and the parable of today's Bible is clear from this point of view, as it shows us the many opportunities that God gives to His people to return to Him and be saved.We have only to accept salvation or reject it, and each of these two options has its consequences that we have brought upon ourselves, not God. ".
And he continued: "The innocent child Naya, who was playing in her school playground, died because a person without responsibility and morals decided to shoot, either in joy, anger, or sadness. Is this how a person expresses his joy, sadness, or anger? And does the death of an innocent person heal his anger and alleviate his suffering?" Shooting on occasions and whenever someone wishes to express a situation is an unacceptable and condemned act, and the competent authorities must take the necessary measures to prevent this phenomenon and punish whoever commits it. The child Naya is a victim of criminality and irresponsibility. She is not the first or the only victim. Many innocent people have been injured, Some of them died.When will the Lebanese stop using weapons indiscriminately?When will the parties control their elements?When will the security services assume their full role?And when will the judiciary tighten its grip on anyone who tries to save the lives of the innocent?Where is the law and the prestige of the judiciary?Where is the state from this chaos? And where is the justice in this rampant chaos? It is a moral decay that underestimates everything, even life. It is gratuitous violence that does not benefit anyone, and backwardness beyond backwardness." And he concluded: "Our call today is to return to ourselves, to be honest with ourselves, faithful to our Creator, not to contribute to the crucifixion of Christ again, but rather to live the joy of resurrection and salvation. For this, we must read the Bible, and re-read it, so that the word of God remains embedded in our hearts and souls." And our minds, so we sanctify and sanctify the creation, and not be like the venerable murderers who were blinded by their greed, lusts, and instincts, so they sank into sin and did not repent, so they received their reward.”

Geagea: We are capable of taking the country towards salvation
NNA/September 03/2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/121938/121938/
Lebanese Forces Party Chief, Samir Geagea, began his speech this evening at the memorial Mass in commemoration of the “Lebanese Resistance” martyrs held in the courtyard of the general headquarters in Maarab, by referring to the late Elias Al-Hasrouni's dossier, saying: “The incident of Al-Hasrouni’s killing is an indicator of the dialogue that the resistance axis has been promising for months...They invite you to dialogue in order to strangle you and kill you, or to stifle your principles, convictions, and freedom...and force you to do as they wish.”Geagea described the resistance team as a “criminal team par excellence,” adding, “The axis of resistance and Hezbollah in Lebanon are acting as they want outside of every law and constitution and far from the opinion of all other Lebanese...”He believed that "there is a serious attempt to change everything in our lives and our country so that it conforms to the specifications of the countries of the axis of resistance, from Syria to Iran...”Meanwhile, he underlined his party’s “support for a Lebanon that seeks to build closer relations with the Gulf and Arab countries, in the face of the Lebanon of Assad’s Syria and Iran.”He added: “We have no problem with Hezbollah or the other opposition parties, given that the first problem is related to their project for Lebanon, which is represented today by the reality in which we live. However, the biggest problem remains with the way they impose their project by force.”At the presidential level, Geagea said: “We do not want a president for our republic. We want a president for the republic that every Lebanese dreams of...The solution is not to give in and to adhere to our convictions and aspirations until the opposing axis is certain that it cannot bypass us.”“We are capable of taking the country to salvation, and we mean every word we say,” Geagea underlined, noting however, that his party is not in a position of authority at the moment, but rather in the opposition.

Geagea: "Prepared to Tolerate a Political Vacuum for Months and Years, but Never Their Corruption and Control Over Our State"
LBCI/September 03/2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/121938/121938/
Dr. Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces Party, asserted that his party is willing to endure a political vacuum for an extended period, but drew a line at accepting corruption and governance malfeasance. His remarks came during the annual Mass in Maarab, an event dedicated to honoring the martyrs of the Lebanese resistance. The Mass was presided over by Bishop Antoine Nabil Andari, who represented the Maronite Patriarch, and was attended by various political and social figures. Addressing the recent incident involving Elias Al-Husrani, Geagea described it as an "indicator of the kind of dialogue that the Axis of Resistance has been promising for months. They invite you to dialogue only to stifle and kill your convictions and your freedom," he said, labeling the Axis of Resistance as "criminal par excellence."Geagea highlighted the ideological split Lebanon is currently experiencing. "We are caught between a Lebanon that is building robust relationships with Gulf and Arab countries, and another that aligns with Assad's Syria and Iran," he said. "We clearly stand with a Lebanon that nurtures ties with the Arab nations." The party leader also questioned the sacrifices made for the country, asking, "Is this the Lebanon for which we have toiled, sacrificed, and stayed awake for nights, years, and even centuries? Is this the Lebanon for which tens of thousands have been martyred?" He noted that there is a "serious attempt to change everything in our country to match the features of countries belonging to the Axis of Resistance, like Iran and Syria." Geagea vowed that his party is committed to "confronting this reality to escape the hellish conditions Lebanon currently faces."Moreover, Geagea criticized some parties for still seeking deals with Hezbollah despite ongoing crises. "Some are still intent on striking deals with Hezbollah, as if the existing conditions were normal," he said. He mentioned several past incidents and ongoing deals, including the Mar Mikhael agreement, that have been made at the expense of broader Lebanese interests.In conclusion, Geagea emphasized that while his party is capable of leading the country towards better days, they are currently in a position of opposition rather than governance. "We are capable of taking the country to the shores of salvation, and we stand by every word we say," he asserted.

Culture Minister Mohammad Mourtada: Steering Lebanon Away from its Once-Progressive Cultural Identity
LBCI/September 03/2023
A look back at the 1971 Egyptian-Lebanese film "Cats of Hamra Street" paints a vivid picture of a once-liberal Lebanon, where freedom and culture thrived before the winds of war and sectarianism swept through its streets. As the film serves as a stark reminder of a bygone era, current Culture Minister Mohammad Mourtada seems to be steering Lebanon further away from its once-progressive cultural identity. The transformation of Lebanon's cultural scene is in stark contrast to the steps taken by other Middle Eastern nations. Saudi Arabia, for example, has moved quickly to limit the power of its religious police and promote a culture of openness under Vision 2030. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has positioned itself as a regional cultural hub. Amidst this backdrop, Minister Mourtada's preoccupations appear to be conspicuously out of touch with the needs of a country steeped in rich cultural heritage. Whether focused on the trivialities of Barbie dolls or the sexual identities of Lebanese citizens, Mourtada's tenure so far can be described as anything but culturally enriching. According to Reema Abd al-Malik, a French-Lebanese Minister who left Lebanon during its tumultuous years, the Ministry of Culture under Mourtada is failing its primary mission. "Our minister is doing everything except culture," she lamented, emphasizing that the cultural sector, crucial for Lebanon's identity and social fabric, is being grossly neglected. In 2017, Lebanon sought to be recognized by the United Nations as a permanent center for dialogue. Although the U.N. supported Lebanon’s bid, the actions taken by Mourtada since his appointment do not inspire confidence in the country's commitment to cultural or social dialogue. Rather than leveraging Lebanon's rich history and diverse society to make it a beacon of cultural enlightenment as it once was, Mourtada's leadership has thus far pushed the country deeper into a cultural quagmire. His focus, which seems to diverge from the pressing concerns of cultural development, preservation, and enrichment, marks a disturbing retreat from the values that once made Lebanon a tapestry of social and cultural pluralism. The situation provokes critical questions about the function and responsibilities of a Culture Minister in a nation where culture was once its strongest asset. Lebanon's current trajectory under Mourtada's stewardship sets a worrying precedent, particularly when contrasted with neighboring countries that have embraced cultural evolution as part of their forward-looking strategies.

French envoy's visit to Lebanon: A failure or a ray of hope?
LBCI/September 03/2023
Is the upcoming visit of the French envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, doomed to failure before his arrival? September 11th is the initial date set for his return, so what sets this visit apart?
Before delving into the local situation, we must consider a new dispute that Le Drian may not easily overcome. This pertains to French President Emmanuel Macron's statement a week ago, in which he alluded to Tehran's involvement, stating, "I believe that one of the 'key' elements for a political solution in Lebanon is the clarification of regional interventions in this country, including Iran's interference."Iran's response was swift, articulated by its Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who, from Beirut, denied any interference by the Islamic Republic in Lebanon's internal affairs. He also called it advice for the French President, urging him to focus on France's internal issues instead of criticizing Iran and interfering in other countries' matters. Approximately a week before Le Drian's visit, the new French Ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro, who is well-versed in Lebanese affairs, is expected to arrive in Beirut. Moreover, he will prepare the groundwork for the visit of the French Presidential envoy. Locally, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's call for dialogue, which will be followed by consecutive electoral sessions to elect a president, may be one of the proposed ideas by Le Drian that the speaker has embraced.
However, the expected rejection by the thirty-one opposition MPs has slightly hindered it without necessarily meaning its failure. The call was welcomed by the Strong Lebanon Bloc, some independents, the Hezbollah and Amal Movement, and their allies. One of the most notable expressions of support came from Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi, who called for participation in the dialogue. Furthermore, the stance of the thirty-one MPs was repeated about the pointlessness of dialogue and sitting with Hezbollah before electing a president with the criteria set in the recent Doha meeting. On another note, the Kataeb party considers that the Patriarch's call also carried a commitment to the constitution, which they adhere to. According to their sources, they stated to LBCI that they are not against dialogue if it aligns with consecutive electoral rounds with discussions and dialogues in between. However, the constitution does not mention a binding dialogue preceding the proposed electoral sessions. Moreover, September is a crucial month in the presidential race, both internally and externally, given the increased level of local, regional, and international communication. Thus, will the obstacles be overcome, and will there be an elected president before the end of the month? Or will the deadlock deepen, with its ramifications reflecting more on the economy?

MP Sagih Atieh to LBCI: Any candidate proposed for presidency must work on the Kleiat Airport project; otherwise, they will not receive our support
LBCI/September 03/2023
Member of the National Moderation Bloc, MP Sagih Atieh, revealed that "the French envoy is coming, and if a president is not elected in September, the situation will not be peaceful." On LBCI's "Nharkom Said" TV show, Atieh stated, "We must establish common ground in dialogue and then proceed to elect a president." Regarding the Kleiat Airport, Atieh noted, "There is great solidarity with us regarding the reactivation of Kleiat Airport, and Hezbollah was not against the idea. Any candidate proposed for the presidency must accept and work on this project; otherwise, they will not receive our support."

Bearing the weight of challenges: Lebanon's government and parliament
LBCI/September 03/2023
The US envoy, Amos Hochstein, confirmed that Lebanon cannot benefit from investments in the energy sector without having a sound banking sector and an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restore confidence in the country.
So what are the prospects for reform laws and their approval between the government and parliament? The Finance and Budget Committee will hold a session on Monday to follow up on proposals for a law to restore financial stability in Lebanon and a law to address the situation of banks. However, this session will occur amid shifting responsibilities between the government and parliament and amidst a dispute between Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh Al-Shami and the head of the Finance and Budget Committee, Ibrahim Kanaan. Why this dispute could hinder all discussions and solutions taking place? Deputy Kanaan accused the government of negligence for not providing official and audited figures on the assets of banks and the state for the past four years, considering this the minimum requirement for enacting the laws and describing meetings with the government as "fish in the sea."
On the other hand, Al-Shami considers Kanaan's statements reminiscent of the past, affirming that the Finance Committee can start studying the basics of the draft laws before introducing certified numbers. He then added that international auditing of bank accounts, currently being carried out by the government, may take about a year, and we cannot wait. Both sides stated their positions without reaching an agreement and refused to clarify or explain their differences. Thus, where will these discussions lead, and where will they end? So far, the situation showed that the session is in danger, especially as it is the first session after the discussions on these proposals began. Amid attempts to obstruct progress on these proposals, where do the banks stand in all this discussion? The banks' remarks are not very positive, as banking sources revealed to LBCI that if the parliament convenes, it should start by electing a president for the republic, and then a capable cabinet should be formed that can assume responsibility and start reforms, beginning with reforming the public sector. The banking sources also question whether, with the current conditions and uncertainty, any investor would inject dollars into the banks. As a result, the path ahead does not appear to be easy for the reforms required by the American side and the IMF. Moreover, no one is bearing the cost of delaying reforms except the people. The reserves of the Central Bank of Lebanon are at critical levels, deposits are losing their value, losses are increasing, and the situation is getting even more difficult.

For About $100, Syrians Can Illegally Cross the Lebanese-Syrian Border
LBCI/September 03/2023
A rising wave of migration is being observed at the Lebanon-Syria border, particularly in the north. Unlike previous movements triggered by conflict and security concerns, this recent surge is fueled by abject poverty and an extremely volatile economic situation in Syria. Smugglers are offering Syrian civilians an illicit path into Lebanon for approximately $100. Despite the risk of being caught and sent back by the Lebanese army, many are taking the chance—sometimes more than once. One Syrian woman successfully entered Lebanon illegally after being deported on her first attempt. Smugglers typically transport people by foot or motorbike, crossing through the Great River or other terrestrial borders. The journey begins deep inside Syria and ends within Lebanese territory.
Struggling to Survive
Basic necessities like bread and fuel have become increasingly unaffordable for Syrian families. Prices in the free market or even the black market often exceed their financial capabilities. Some opt for illegal maritime migration, while others get caught by the army and are sent back to Syria, only to attempt the crossing again. A few have even managed to find refuge with relatives or friends in Lebanon and start working.
The Lebanese Perspective
This influx comes at a time when the local Lebanese population is increasingly vocal about the impact and burden of Syrian migration on the country. Lebanon itself is grappling with one of the worst crises in its history. In the absence of a comprehensive solution to the refugee crisis, the Lebanese army has detained thousands in the past month alone, with some reports suggesting numbers as high as 10,000. However, some border crossings remain operational, controlled by smugglers and their contacts. These illicit pathways operate day and night, utilized by both Syrians and Lebanese. The desperation driving this new wave of migration adds another layer of complexity to an already intricate geopolitical situation, further challenging Lebanon's capability to cope with refugee inflows amid its own internal crises.

No alternative to the state, no matter how powerful or capable any party is," affirms Abu Faour
NNA /September 03/2023
Member of the “Democratic Gathering" parliamentary bloc, MP Wael Abu Faour, said that Lebanon's Mountain will be decorated on September 8 with the visit of Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi, to Al-Mukhtara, marking the anniversary of the reconciliation of the mountain, "to emphasize its meanings and positive outcome, with the return of reconstruction and the social fabric, which we hope will be an illumanating point on the path to a general and comprehensive reconciliation."Abu Faour empahsized that “there is no alternative to dialogue to elect a president of the republic,” adding that “there is no alternative to the state, no matter how powerful or capable any party of us is, and this is what the economic and social crisis has proven, especially in its health aspect.”Abu Faour’s words came during the opening of a Progressive Socialist Party center in the town of Ain Hersha in the Rashaya District on Sunday.

Mansouri, Kabbara & Abu Haidar head to Riyadh to attend Arab Banking Conference
NNA/September 03/2023
Beirut Airport - The Lebanese delegation headed by the Central Bank's Acting Governor, Wassim Mansouri, and comprising Lebanon's Ambassador to the Saudi Kingdom, Fawzi Kabbara, and the General Director of Economy and Trade, Mohammad Abu Haidar, left Beirut on Sunday heading to Riyadh, in response to an official invitation to partake in the functions of the Arab Banking Conference held in the Saudi capital. The conference is organized by the Arab Union of Banks and the Central Bank of Saudi Arabia under the headline, “Arab Economic Prospects in Light of International Changes,” and is taking place under the patronage of the Saudi Central Bank Governor, Ayman bin Muhammad Al-Sayyari.

MP Raad: When it comes to Western policies affecting the Israelis, Westerners abandon all their values and commitments
NNA/September 03/2023
During a memorial ceremony held in the southern town of Zebdine, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, MP Mohammad Raad, expressed his view that Lebanon's current crisis began with the presidential vacuum and has been plagued by numerous problems that have hindered the country's progress. MP Raad stated that today, Lebanon is in a state of near-collapse, and national interest requires us to rebuild the structure that can pave the way for recovery and allow us to continue our journey in the face of lurking enemies. Raad emphasized that our fronts of confrontation are not only military against the Israeli enemy but also expand to sometimes include extremists on one side and hypocrites on the other. This is in addition to the corrupt values intended to invade our societies, destroy our families, and blur the lines, making it difficult for people to discern the right path. He said, "We bear responsibility and build our position through solidarity, coordination, and understanding with all loyal and sincere individuals in our country. We form a close alliance in our vision and path with our Amal Movement brothers to achieve presidential entitlement. This way, we can have a president who we can trust not to undermine the resistance, jeopardize your achievements and sacrifices, and collaborate with him to rebuild the structure that they want to demolish in order to preserve the trend that the West wants to maintain for the Israelis, the trend of security free from fear and threats." He pointed out that when it comes to Western policies that affect the Israelis, Westerners abandon all their claims, values, commitments, and promises to us and deliberately implement what serves the interests of the Israelis. This was evident during the vote on the extension of UNIFIL's mandate. He expressed astonishment at the positions of countries that were supposed to believe that Lebanon has the right for UNIFIL to coordinate its movements with its government and army.  However, their positions changed under the influence of some sorcery and a night's transformation. Even those who supported the amendment became against it because the Israeli situation is currently fragmented and shaky, and they want to bolster Israeli protection with more international resolutions to maintain some balance against those who are targeting it. --- LBC ENGLISH

Salam meets in Washington with representatives of 30 major American companies: Despite challenges, infrastructure, energy & water projects provide...
NNA/September 03/2023
Caretaker Minister of Economy and Trade, Amin Salam, currently on a working visit to Washington, held a meeting at the American Chamber of Commerce with representatives of the American private sector, with the participation of 30 of the largest companies operating in the energy, water, and transportation sectors. The meeting was devoted to reviewing the situation in Lebanon in light of the exceptional circumstances it is going through. Addressing the attendees, Salam said, “The difficult economic and financial conditions do not negate the existence of many areas and opportunities in which the American private sector can invest," and encouraged taking this step for the benefit of both countries. "The best example is French and other investments in the field of energy, marine facilities, and other basic sectors," he added. However, Salam regretted the absence of comprehensive legislative reforms in Lebanon, which preferably should be part of the International Monetary Fund program, due to sharp political differences and the struggle for power for narrow, non-national interests. “If political parties do not take a quick decision to save the country, Lebanon’s economic and financial future in the near and medium term will be bleak, impacting its potential as a destination for foreign investment,” cautioned Salam. He considered that the matter depends on how the long-awaited economic and governance reforms are implemented, attracting international aid and foreign investment, stabilizing the exchange rate, recapitalizing the financial sector, and restructuring the banking sector. "These are basic reforms that require seriousness and time, but they can be accompanied by huge investments in basic infrastructure such as energy, water, transportation, health, and the environment,” Salam underlined, noting that Lebanon still enjoys the legal foundations of a free market economy, a highly educated and diverse workforce, and limited restrictions on investors. Salam continued to indicate that “the most attractive sector is the energy sector, especially in terms of renewable energy production, and oil and gas exploration, despite the still-existing challenges due to corruption and lack of transparency." He also pointed to the historical attraction towards the tourism, information technology, and communications sectors in the country. Finally, Salam stressed continuous contact with international investors in an effort to maintain a positive future vision, especially with Lebanese expatriates who are considered major potential investors at the national level. Yet, he highlighted the need to address some areas of concern for investors in Lebanon, such as excessive regulation, arbitrary licenses, outdated legislation, ineffective courts, high taxes, weak infrastructure, and a deteriorating banking system. "These are reforms that can be worked on quickly to attract Lebanese expatriate investors in the first stage of the development and recovery process,” Salam asserted.

Why any Middle East reset has to start in Lebanon
Nadim Shehadi/Arab News/September 03, 2023
If the US and its allies in the Gulf states are serious about turning the page and solving the conflicts of the region, the place to start should be Lebanon. It is a barometer that can foresee both problems and their solutions.
If democracies are not supposed to go to war with each other, then how come Lebanon and Israel are on the brink of war year after year while they both claim to be the only democracy in the Middle East? Both states faced the same dilemma at their creation, but their different answers to the same questions led them toward divergent but equally turbulent paths. One of the most fundamental questions the region has to grapple with is: Can people who do not share similar ethnic origins or religious beliefs live together in a stable and democratic state? It is not easy and it is too late to ask this question now. We already have these states and we are not about to redraw all the borders. The answer, therefore, has to be yes.
However, one Israeli journalist and one Lebanese banker both found that the other country made the wrong choice. According to Uri Avnery, Lebanon was a mistake and Israel should avoid following its path at any cost. Avnery had great credentials. A prominent peace activist, he had also fought in Israel’s war of independence, so no one could question his patriotism. On July 3, 1983, he literally crossed all the lines and was the first Israeli to meet with Yasser Arafat while he was under siege in Beirut during Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. He was also a contributor to Arab News.
In 2011, Avnery wrote an article that stated that Lebanese Christians made the wrong choice when they lobbied for the creation of a Greater Lebanon in which they were no longer the absolute majority. He was obviously projecting. Looking at the map, he feared that Israel would do the same if it annexed the West Bank and Gaza, ensuring that the Jews would no longer form a majority.
For Avnery, “the Lebanese malaise started with a crucial decision made on the very day the state was set up,” when Christians chose to include people of different religions in the same state. Some Lebanese would agree with him.
But there was an equally negative view of Israel by the Lebanese banker and journalist Michel Chiha, who in many ways can be considered the main founder of the Lebanese political system. He emphatically wrote that it was the creation of Israel as a “Jewish state” that was the mistake. Chiha was one of the principal authors of the Lebanese constitution in 1926 and was credited with introducing the elements of communal power-sharing that, for Avnery, are actually the problem.
In 1947, Chiha stated that “the decision to partition Palestine with the creation of a Jewish state will prove to be the worst universal error ever committed.” He added that “an error of this magnitude committed in this century will have repercussions on our descendants in the next.”
For Chiha, Lebanese nationalism constituted a rich array of different people who were bound by the will to live together despite the differences of their religious backgrounds and who history had brought together in the same geographical setting. It is, in a way, exactly the opposite of Israel and he was thus opposed to the UN Partition Plan for Palestine. For him, “those nations who chose to support partition also chose the outrageous option of creating the most prejudiced and the most exclusively confessional state in the world. This is the fact that liberals will not face and what the so-called ‘democracies’ are recommending.” Some Israelis and diaspora Jews would also agree with him.
The Arab-Israeli conflict has all but disappeared from the rest of the Arab world but is still alive in Lebanon.
Most importantly for Chiha, the fact that you can have an assembly or parliament driven by “the will to live in common,” and where Maronites, Sunnis, Shiites, Druze, Melchites, Catholics, Orthodox and multiple other sects can debate together an outcome for the common good away from their respective affiliations means that the result can be of universal importance. This last idea is echoed by the Lebanese historian Kamal Salibi. For him, it was precisely because the Lebanese population happened to be divided, socially and politically, between equally forceful Christian and Muslim sides that disagreed on fundamental issues that the Lebanese state could only function as a democracy or, more correctly, as the “democratic management of a perennial conflict situation.”
This made Lebanon an open society, even if by default, where all issues could be debated freely. This included all the regional issues that could not be debated in the rest of the Arab world. Thus, in the 1980s, at the height of the Lebanese Civil War, the ideas that were fought over between gangs in the streets of Beirut were in fact part of broader regional disputes, such as big issues like pan-Arabism versus nationalism and Islamism versus democracy. The Iran-Iraq War also introduced the Sunni versus Shiite element, with various radical movements unleashed by the success of the 1979 Iranian revolution. Add to these the disputes between those for or against a negotiated peace with Israel and Lebanon became the test case or the battleground for all these ideas, simply because they could not be discussed or resolved anywhere else.
Because of this, whatever happens in Lebanon is of concern to everyone else in the Middle East and the outcome of very localized conflicts and debates in the country will have an effect on the broader region. This is where the neglected issues are still alive. This is also where they can blow up and spread or fizzle out and be resolved locally. This explains why the Arab-Israeli conflict has all but disappeared from the rest of the Arab world but is still alive in Lebanon, which could erupt into a war with Israel at any moment. It is also why Iranian influence, through the control of the country by Hezbollah that started in the 1980s, has been gradually spreading in the region too. My Iranian friends use the octopus as a way to describe the institutions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps because it has tentacles in every country. In 1983, one of the tentacles blew up the US Marines barracks in Beirut. The Marines were in the country as part of a multinational force tasked with keeping the peace after the Israeli invasion of 1982 and the Sabra and Shatila massacre. The same tentacles, allied with Syria, took American and other Western hostages and released them in Damascus.
The US Reagan administration found this too costly and complicated and withdrew, followed by the European forces, eventually handing the country over to Syria, which, when it came to hostages, seemed to be able to resolve problems that were often of its own creation.
Forty years after the bombings of the US Marines barracks and the US Embassy in Beirut, what was an IRGC problem in Lebanon has now spread to Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and the US is still paying for the release of hostages in Tehran.
The region has been unstable for more than half a century. It is high time for a new beginning and, for a comprehensive solution to be successful, it must start from Lebanon.
• Nadim Shehadi is a Lebanese economist.
Twitter: @Confusezeus

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on September 03-04/2023
Syria’s Assad scraps notorious military field courtsPreviousPauseNext
Arab News/September 03, 2023
JERUSALEM: Israel’s foreign minister on Sunday opened a visit to Bahrain that comes as the countries mark the third anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. It was the first visit by Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to any of the four countries that normalized ties with Israel under the 2020 US-brokered Abraham Accords. Israel’s far-right government took office in December. Cohen had been scheduled to travel to Bahrain earlier this summer but the visit was postponed. Israeli media have said the delay was due to a visit by Israel’s ultranationalist national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, to a contested holy site in Jerusalem. Cohen was greeted at the airport by his Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif Al-Zayani. On Monday, he is scheduled to meet Bahraini leaders and inaugurate Israel’s new embassy. The UAE and Bahrain signed normalization agreements with Israel in September 2020, becoming the first of four Arab countries to join the Abraham Accords, brokered by then-President Donald Trump. Israel’s ties with the Arab world have cooled under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government, in large part because of its hard-line policies toward the Palestinians.

Iran FM: Turkiye welcomes return of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia, Iran
Arab News/September 03, 2023
RIYADH: Turkiye welcomes the return of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Tehran’s foreign minister said on Sunday. Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed in March to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies following years of tensions between the two countries. During a press conference with his Turkish counterpart in Tehran, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Iran is working on holding a tripartite economic meeting with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is on a visit to Iran and it is his first official trip to the country since assuming the position of top diplomat. “The visit will render the opportunity to discuss the possibilities for further advancing our bilateral cooperation in all fields with Iran,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

US seeks de-escalation in Kurdish-held eastern Syria
AFP/September 03, 2023
BEIRUT: The US Embassy in Syria said on Sunday that senior officials had met Kurdish-led forces and community leaders in eastern Syria, discussing the need for de-escalation after days of deadly violence. Fighting erupted in the Kurdish-controlled areas of Deir Ezzor province after the US-backed, Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces or SDF detained Ahmad Al-Khabil, the head of the local Deir Ezzor Military. Council, last Sunday. The violence has killed 49 fighters from both sides and eight civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, and a curfew went into effect in the area on Saturday.
BACKGROUND
The SDF has denied any dispute with Arab tribes in the region, saying the clashes have mostly involved ‘elements of the regime and some beneficiaries’ of Ahmad Al-Khabil. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Ethan Goldrich and Maj. Gen. Joel Vowell, commander of the US-led coalition fighting Daesh in Syria and Iraq, met “in northeast Syria” with the SDF, Kurdish authorities and tribal leaders from Deir Ezzor, the American Embassy said. “They agreed on the importance of addressing the grievances” of Deir Ezzor residents, “the dangers of outsiders interfering” and “the need to avoid civilian deaths and casualties,” said an embassy statement on X, formerly Twitter. The participants also agreed on “the need for de-escalation of violence as soon as possible,” said the statement from the US Embassy, which is based outside Syria. The largely Arab-majority Deir Ezzor province is controlled by the SDF to the east of the Euphrates, while forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad and Iran-affiliated fighters are stationed on the west bank. Kurdish authorities manage areas under their control through local civilian and military councils, to avoid upsetting local Arab tribes. The US-led coalition maintains bases in the area, including at Syria’s largest gas field, Al-Omar. Goldrich and Vowell “reiterated the importance of the strong US partnership with the SDF” in efforts to defeat Daesh, the statement added. The SDF has denied any dispute with Arab tribes in the region, saying the clashes have mostly involved “elements of the regime and some beneficiaries” of Khabil. On Sunday, a day after the curfew came into effect, the SDF and the Observatory said the situation appeared to be calming down. SDF spokesman Farhad Shami said the tensions had been restricted to five villages out of 120 in the area, adding that “in one remaining village, matters are moving toward resolution.”The situation “is being handled with great sensitivity, but we hope the issues will be settled soon, whether militarily or in communication with the Arab tribes in the region,” he added. The SDF spearheaded the offensive that defeated Daesh’s self-declared caliphate in Syria in 2019. Syria’s war has killed more than half a million people since it broke out in 2011.

Clashes in Iraq over handover of police HQ to Kurds leave 1 dead, many hurt
Associated Press/September 03/2023
Demonstrations in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk over the handover of a key facility from federal to local Kurdish authorities turned violent Saturday, and one protester was killed and several were injured, witnesses and local officials said.
Clashes broke out around the planned handover of the Iraqi federal police headquarters to the Kurdish Democratic Party in the city, which is home to a mixed population of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen. Federal forces seized Kirkuk and the surrounding oil fields in October 2017 after Kurdish regional authorities organized a symbolic but controversial referendum for Kurdish independence. The KDP vacated its headquarters in the city at the time. The agreement to form the current government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, included a provision for the return of the Kurdistan Democratic Party to the province. Last week, a group of Arabs from Kirkuk closed the Kirkuk-to-Erbil highway in protest over the re-opening of the KDP headquarter in Kirkuk. On Saturday, Kurdish residents demanded the reopening of the highway, sparking tensions between the protesters and security forces. Al-Sudani issued a directive instructing security forces to impose a curfew in Kirkuk as clashes erupted Saturday between KDP supporters, Arab and Turkmen protesters and security forces. In a statement, Masoud Barzani, the former president of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, decried the violence directed against Kurdish protesters and expressed disappointment with security forces. "It's surprising that in the past few days security forces in Kirkuk did not prevent the violence and illegal behavior of some groups but today the Kurdish protesters were faced with violence and (the) blood of Kurdish youth was spilled, and it will carry a heavy price," the statement said. In the Kurdish neighborhood of Rahimawa in Kirkuk, protesters blocked roads by setting tires ablaze. Iraqi security forces were deployed to the area to maintain order. Abdallah Mafarji, a former Sunni Arab member of parliament from Kirkuk, speaking to The Associated Press, expressed concern about the rapidly evolving situation. He criticized al-Sudani's "insistence" on turning the headquarters over to the KDP "as part of a political agreement that preceded the formation of his government" despite the sensitivities around the matter. Hasan Turan, the leader of the Turkmen Front movement, requested that al-Sudani visit Kirkuk due to the prevailing security tensions. Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid called for "constructive dialogue" in a statement. "Kirkuk was and still is a symbol of Iraqi brotherhood and a gathering of all sects, and we will not allow its image to be distorted," he said. Al-Sudani ordered the formation of an investigative committee to look into the circumstances of the death of one protester and the injury of others, and said that people found culpable will be "brought to justice."

US-backed fighters push ahead in their offensive in east Syria against tribespeople
Associated Press/September 03/2023
U.S.-backed fighters brought in reinforcements into eastern Syria and pushed ahead in their offensive Saturday against local tribespeople, saying that hundreds of pro-government gunmen have joined the worst battles in the region in years. The clashes that broke out Monday after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces detained a former ally who headed an Arab-led faction in the region have left more than 50 people dead and dozens wounded. The clashes are the most intense in areas where hundreds of U.S. troops have been deployed since 2015 to help in the fight against the Islamic State group. The extremists once controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq until their defeat in March 2019. The U.S. military on Thursday called for an end to days of fighting warning it may help the resurgence of the Islamic State group. On Saturday, the SDF and local tribesman clashed in an area between the village of Dhiban and al-Omar oil field, Syria's largest oil facility and home to one of the largest U.S. bases in the war-torn country, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human rights, an opposition war monitor. Khaled Zeino, an SDF commander, told The Associated Press that his forces were moving ahead to reach the villages of Shheil and Baseera to cut the flow of supplies from the west bank of the Euphrates River, where government forces and Iran-backed militias are based. Zeino added that some 400 fully equipped fighters had crossed from the government side. He said small boats were being used to take wounded gunmen for treatment on the west bank, where government troops are deployed. On Friday evening, the SDF declared a 48-hour curfew on the east bank of the Euphrates. The Observatory said six days of fighting have left at least 54 people dead and dozens others wounded. On any day, there are at least 900 U.S. forces in eastern Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors. They partner with the SDF to work to prevent an IS comeback.

What's at stake when Erdogan meets Putin in bid to reestablish Black Sea grain deal
Associated Press/September 03/2023
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with Vladimir Putin on Monday, hoping to persuade the Russian leader to rejoin the Black Sea grain deal that Moscow broke off from in July. Here are some key things to know and what's at stake:
WHERE WILL THE TALKS BE HELD?
The meeting in Sochi on Russia's southern coast comes after weeks of speculation about when and where the two leaders might meet. Erdogan previously said that Putin would travel to Turkey in August.
WHY DID RUSSIA LEAVE THE GRAIN DEAL?
The Kremlin refused to renew the grain agreement six weeks ago. The deal — brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022 — had allowed nearly 33 million metric tons (36 million tons) of grain and other commodities to leave three Ukrainian ports safely despite Russia's war. However, Russia pulled out after claiming that a parallel deal promising to remove obstacles to Russian exports of food and fertilizer hadn't been honored. Moscow complained that restrictions on shipping and insurance hampered its agricultural trade, even though it has shipped record amounts of wheat since last year.
WHY IS TURKEY A BROKER?
Since Putin withdrew from the initiative, Erdogan has repeatedly pledged to renew arrangements that helped avoid a food crisis in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Ukraine and Russia are major suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other goods that developing nations rely on. The Turkish president has maintained close ties to Putin during the 18-month war in Ukraine. Turkey hasn't joined Western sanctions against Russia following its invasion, emerging as a main trading partner and logistical hub for Russia's overseas trade.
NATO member Turkey, however, has also supported Ukraine, sending arms, meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and backing Kyiv's bid to join NATO.
RUSSIA-TURKEY TIES HAVEN'T ALWAYS BEEN ROSY
Erdogan angered Moscow in July when he allowed five Ukrainian commanders to return home. The soldiers had been captured by Russia and handed over to Turkey on condition they remain there for the duration of the war. Putin and Erdogan — both authoritarian leaders who have been in power for more than two decades — are said to have a close rapport, fostered in the wake of a failed coup against Erdogan in 2016 when Putin was the first major leader to offer his support. Traditional rivals Turkey and Russia grew closer over the following years as trade levels rose and they embarked on joint projects such as the Turkstream gas pipeline and Turkey's first nuclear power plant. Ankara's relations with Moscow have frequently alarmed its Western allies. The 2019 acquisition of Russian-made air defense missiles led to Washington kicking Turkey off the U.S.-led F-35 stealth fighter program. Russia-Turkey relations in fields such as energy, defense, diplomacy, tourism and trade have flourished despite the countries being on opposing sides in conflicts in Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh. Since Erdogan's reelection in May, Putin has faced domestic challenges that may make him appear a less reliable partner, most notably the short-lived armed rebellion declared by late mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in June.
WHAT ARE RUSSIA'S DEMANDS?
The Sochi summit follows talks between the Russian and Turkish foreign ministers on Thursday, during which Russia handed over a list of actions that the West would have to take in order for Ukraine's Black Sea exports to resume. Erdogan has indicated sympathy with Putin's position. In July, he said Putin had "certain expectations from Western countries" over the Black Sea deal and that it was "crucial for these countries to take action in this regard."U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres recently sent Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov "concrete proposals" aimed at getting Russian exports to global markets and allowing the resumption of the Black Sea initiative. But Lavrov said Moscow wasn't satisfied with the letter. Describing Turkey's "intense" efforts to revive the agreement, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said it was a "process that tries to better understand Russia's position and requests, and to meet them."He added: "There are many issues ranging from financial transactions to insurance."

Saudi foreign minister meets Tunisian counterpart
Arab News/September 03, 2023/September 03, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Sunday met with Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Nabil Ammar in Riyadh. During the meeting, the ministers reviewed the strong fraternal relations between their countries and ways to strengthen them across various fields. They also discussed the most prominent developments in regional and international arenas of mutual concern. After the meeting, the Saudi foreign minister and his Tunisian counterpart chaired the third meeting of the political consultation committee between the two countries, during which both sides stressed the importance of strengthening coordination on issues of common interest. The committee’s meeting was also attended by Dr. Sami Abdullah Al-Saleh, the assistant minister of state for African affairs, and Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ali Al-Saqr, the Kingdom’s ambassador to Tunisia.

Dialogue with China is not a sign of weakness: US Secretary of Commerce
LBCI/September 03, 2023
United States Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo affirmed that dialogue with Beijing is not a sign of weakness on the part of Washington; rather, it is quite the opposite. She considered that the absence of dialogue leads to escalation. Raimondo emphasized that she does not accept the idea that dialogue and communication are signs of weakness on Washington's part towards Beijing. She viewed that "not talking leads to escalation, to miscalculations, and to misunderstandings, and these are bad things for Americans."

Ukraine: Russian bombing with drones of industrial sites in the Danube
NNA/September 03/2023
Ukraine announced today that Russian drones bombed "civilian industrial" sites in the Danube region in the southwest of the country near Romania, according to "Russia Today." The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office said on Telegram: “The enemy attacked civilian industrial facilities in the Danube region. Two people were injured as a result of the attack and taken to the hospital.”

Curfew was lifted in Kirkuk after a turbulent night
NNA/September 03/2023
On Sunday, Iraqi security forces began lifting the curfew in Kirkuk, after calm returned to the governorate, which witnessed a turbulent night yesterday, Saturday, as reported by "Russia Today". A security source stated, "The security forces began ending the curfew in Kirkuk and returning calm to the governorate," noting that there were reports that the number of victims had risen to 4. On Saturday evening, the security authorities imposed a curfew in the disputed Kirkuk governorate between the governments of Baghdad and Erbil, following security tension during demonstrations regarding the opening of the Erbil-Kirkuk road, which was closed some time ago.

Sudanese army bombs the 'Rapid Support Forces' on the outskirts of Khartoum
NNA/September 03/2023
The Sudanese army bombed with heavy artillery targets and gatherings of the Rapid Support Forces south of Omdurman, on the outskirts of Khartoum, according to "Russia Today". Eyewitnesses reported that a fighter carried out a raid targeting the Rapid Support Forces in the Al-Baqir area, south of Khartoum, adjacent to Al-Jazeera State in central Sudan.

President al-Assad issues Legislative Decree No. 32 that ends work in military field courts
NNA/September 03/2023
Damascus, SANA- President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday issued decree No. 32 for 2023 to end the effect of Legislative Decree No. 109 dated 17/8/1968 and its amendments on the establishment of military field courts. According to the decree, all cases referred to the military field courts will be transferred to the military justice to make the pursuit according to the rules of punishment law and military trials issued by legislative decree No. 61 for 1950. ---- SANA

Netanyahu calls for the expulsion of Eritreans involved in the Tel Aviv clashes
NNA/September 03/2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated on Sunday that he wants to immediately deport Eritrean immigrants involved in violent clashes in Tel Aviv. Agence France-Presse quoted Netanyahu as saying: “We demand that strict measures be taken against the rioters, including the immediate deportation of those who participated in them,” asking the ministers to present to him plans “to get rid of all other illegal infiltrators.”He also noted that he "does not believe that deporting supporters of the Eritrean government will be a problem." These statements came a day after hundreds of supporters and opponents of the Eritrean government clashed with each other and with the Israeli enemy police, resulting in dozens being injured in one of the most violent street confrontations between asylum seekers and African immigrants in Tel Aviv in recent times. Among the injured were 30 policemen and 3 demonstrators who were wounded by police gunfire, and Eritreans constitute the majority of more than 30,000 African asylum seekers in Israel. According to Sky News Arabia, Israel recognizes a very small number of asylum seekers, considers them overwhelmingly as economic migrants, and says it has no legal obligation to keep them.

Abdollahian calls for resolving the problems between Turkey & Syria through dialogue, respect for the borders of both countries
NNA/September 03/2023
On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian received his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Tehran, where they held a press conference following the meeting, according to "Russia Today". In his press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Abdollahian said: “We discussed the implementation of a long road map that was agreed upon between the presidents of the two countries months ago,” noting that “it was emphasized to remove obstacles from the path of bilateral cooperation.”He added: “With regard to Syria, we believe in the necessity of resolving the problems between Ankara and Damascus through dialogue and respect for the borders of the two countries,” adding: “We received good proposals from Brother Fidan.”The Iranian Foreign Minister continued: “We discussed Ukraine and Afghanistan, in addition to a tripartite meeting between Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to enhance trade and economic exchanges.”Hakan Fidan, who was visiting Tehran for the first time after assuming this position following the recent Turkish presidential elections, received an official reception by Abdollahian, and following the welcome ceremony, official talks took place between the foreign ministers of the two countries.

Niger: Deadline to end French presence is today
NNA/September 03/2023
The deadline set by the ruling military junta in Niger for French forces to leave the country expires today, Sunday, according to Sky News Arabia. A state of anticipation prevails as the deadline approaches today, which was set by the ruling military junta for Paris to end its diplomatic and military presence in the country. Yesterday, members of the military junta participated in demonstrations in front of the French military base in the capital, Niamey, to demand the withdrawal of French forces from Niger. This comes amid continuing popular demonstrations in front of the French military base, demanding the departure of French forces.

Palestinian prisoners announce an open hunger strike to protest Israeli measures
NNA/September 03/2023
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli enemy prisons announced an open hunger strike starting September 14, in wake of extremist Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s decision to reduce visits by prisoners’ families, according to "Russia Today". In an issued statement, the Prisoners' Committee called for ceasing all decisions and policies that impose restrictions on prisoners and their living conditions, as well as the return of all rights that were taken away during the past period.

Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on September 03-04/2023
Food and water insecurity increasing due to climate change
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/September 03, 2023
One of the critical global issues that currently poses a threat to humanity is food and water insecurity, which has been rising in spite of many remarkable technological advances.
When it comes to the food system, it is important to point out that the relationship between food production and climate change is bidirectional, as they are intertwined. The global food system contributes more than a third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, which is one of the main causes of global warming and climate change.
But how can the food system alone contribute more than a third of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions? This is largely related to the way that food is produced, processed, stored, packaged, distributed, consumed and even disposed of.
Food production processes, including the use of fertilizers, are the leading contributor to “overall food-system emissions, or 39 percent of the total. Land use accounts for 38 percent and distribution contributes 29 percent, which is expected to continue growing. Methane from livestock raising and rice cultivation accounts for 35 percent of food system greenhouse gas emissions … In industrialized countries, emissions from fluorinated greenhouse gases, used in refrigeration, for example, have had a ‘turbocharged effect on global warming,’” according to the UN.
This is why we should pay attention to other interconnected issues, which are exacerbating this problem. The first one is food waste. Nearly a third of total global food is wasted every year. This wasted food could feed nearly half of the world’s population.
China, India and the US are the three countries that have the highest amount of food waste, with their gross amount of food waste exceeding 91, 68 and 19 million tons, respectively. It has been reported that if food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest country in the world when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Other issues that contribute to climate change in the food production system include the unsustainable and inefficient techniques used in farming and the agriculture industry. As the population of the world has grown, food production has become a more and more profitable enterprise. As a result, some corporations have focused on producing more food at a lower price, even though that may have a long-term damaging impact on farmland, soil, animals, biodiversity, the ecosystem and, ultimately, the climate.
The Middle East and North Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions when it comes to climate change.
On the other hand, as the food system contributes to climate change, the rapidly changing climate and global warming are, in return, having a negative impact on the agriculture industry, decimating forests and land, causing more droughts and making it more difficult to produce food. The world is now increasingly facing water stress or scarcity, with demand frequently being higher than supply in some areas.
This cycle also has a ripple effect. When a certain industry or sector in society is negatively impacted by climate change, it also affects other areas, since the various sectors are interconnected and intertwined. For example, long periods of drought in some regions have a negative impact on food production and water supply, which will subsequently affect people’s health. This will likely put more pressure and strain on the healthcare system.
But climate change is not just linked to longer periods of drought — it also causes more frequent and disastrous floods, as warmer air temperatures lead to the melting of more glacier ice, warmer oceans and rising sea levels. Additionally, climate change causes harm to livestock, causes more wildfires, reduces biodiversity, increases the frequency and severity of heat waves, storms and tropical cyclones, and increases soil degradation, to name just a few of the problems.
As a result, at some point, we need to take action and halt or slow down this human-made crisis and the self-destructive processes because the damage can become irreversible. In the long term, if some of the damage, such as water scarcity and a lack of agricultural resources, continues to increase to the extent that freshwater resources are depleted in some countries, this will have an impact on national security and political stability. It is alarming that the UN estimated in 2016 that half of the world’s population could be living in areas facing water scarcity by 2025. This will also negatively impact the overall ecosystem.
It should be noted that the Middle East and North Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions when it comes to climate change. This is due to the dry or semi-dry environment of the region. Temperatures in MENA are rising almost twice as quickly as in other parts of the world, according to a 2022 report by the Cyprus Institute’s Climate and Atmosphere Research Center and the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry. Countries such as Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Iran have witnessed significant desertification. Water scarcity is another critical factor for the Middle East because of its rising population growth. The MENA region is already characterized as the most water-scarce in the world.
Tackling this crisis requires that all food and beverage companies, as well as governments, especially those in developed countries, take action in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water and adopt more sustainable strategies.
In a nutshell, there is a direct relationship between climate change and the world’s rising food and water insecurity. This human-made crisis can be resolved if we pursue and implement greener policies in order to reduce global warming; adopt efficient and more sustainable techniques when it comes to food production and distribution; and reduce or eliminate food waste.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist. Twitter: @Dr_Rafizadeh

Iranian drones over Kyiv are an omen of new global threats
Baria Alamuddin/Arab News/September 03, 2023
The world is scrambling to respond to manifestations of increasingly symbiotic Russian-Iranian coordination that flout the full spectrum of international norms and fundamentally undermine global security. Iran rushed to support Russia in its Ukrainian hour of need after years of Moscow proffering lifelines to its southern ally: Russia repeatedly used its Security Council veto to shield Iran, it provided Tehran with defense and sanctions-evasion assistance, and crucially came to its rescue in Syria.
Tehran has reciprocally reinvigorated Russia’s floundering war efforts with the provision of hundreds of cut-price kamikaze drones and other munitions. This multibillion-dollar deal includes Iran assisting Moscow in establishing its own domestic war drone industry, aspiring to manufacture 6,000 drones by mid-2025. Moscow has sought to manufacture a variant of Iran’s Shahed 136 attack drone with a range of over 1,600 kilometers. Because of its noisy, primitive lawnmower-like engine, Ukrainians nicknamed the Shahed 136 “the flying moped," but the weapon nevertheless had a devastating impact on Kyiv’s civilian infrastructure and grain silos holding thousands of tons of essential food supplies for the developing world.
Russian technicians aspire to overcome Iran’s outdated manufacturing techniques and poor quality control. Around 25 percent of drones shipped from Iran were inoperable. The Washington Post reported that Russia wanted to advance from current limited Shahed launches to mass strikes using hundreds of kamikaze drones, with technology enabling drones to swarm and autonomously coordinate targeted strikes. The likes of Hezbollah, North Korea and Daesh will be watching such innovations closely and learning lessons of their own. Agreements are in place for sharing such innovations back with Tehran, in an unvirtuous cycle of mutual cooperation that would elevate the military capabilities of both these aggressors to entirely new levels. Iran furthermore hopes to secure future access to Russia’s advanced S-400 air defense systems and Su-35 fighter aircraft.
Moscow and Tehran achieved all this despite heavy international sanctions. This is particularly remarkable, given that 90 percent of these drone systems’ electronic components were manufactured by Western companies. Major efforts are meanwhile afoot to harmonize the Russian and Iranian banking systems with the goal of sanctions evasion. Hundreds of banks are thought to be involved, with the possibility of further link-ups with Chinese and Asian banking systems. The two nations are building a 3,200-kilometer sanctions-defying transcontinental trade route from eastern Europe to the Indian Ocean. This includes upgrades on Caspian Sea ports, a rail link via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, and a Russian-built 164km railway through Iran down to the Bandar Abbas port.Drone strikes against Kyiv power stations are merely the tip of the iceberg of this emerging transcontinental system ... putting Europe, the GCC and Southeast Asia under threat of military aggression. Plans are also in place for the Revolutionary Guard’s Khatam Al-Anbiya conglomerate to build a rail route linking Iran to Iraq’s Faw port, with connections through into Syria and the Mediterranean, thereby seamlessly connecting up Tehran’s “Axis of Evil” allies. When China’s Belt and Road initiative is factored in, it is easy to see how trans-Asian transport and banking connections render Western sanctions an irrelevance.
American negotiations with Tehran aim to halt further nuclear enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. With commendable optimism, Washington seeks commitments for halting drone shipments and Iran-Russia military cooperation. Given their geographic proximity, any such understandings would be near impossible to police, particularly as Iran and Russia routinely deny such cooperation exists in the first place.
Alongside drones, Iran possesses by far the region’s largest ballistic missiles program — although not necessarily the most effective. Iran, Russia, China and North Korea are meanwhile among the foremost proponents of cyberwarfare, another means of waging war on the cheap. The critical infrastructure of Arab Gulf states and European nations has already endured thousands of cyberattacks. Iran generously shares its drone, missile and cyber expertise with proxy militias in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon, and has staged repeated strikes throughout the GCC, including the 2019 attack on Saudi oil processing facilities.
However, it is perfectly possible that these rogue regimes will be the death of each other. This mutual shielding, locally and on the international stage, lulls leaderships into a false sense of security that they can massacre their civilians and menace their neighbors with impunity. Yet last year’s mass uprising by Iranian schoolgirls and defiant women, and the botched coup by one of Vladimir Putin’s closest warlord allies, highlighted how fragile and unpopular these tinpot juntas really are. Some day soon these brawling regimes will lurch into a fight they can’t win. Iran’s recent incorporation into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICs grouping also gives rise to two bodies through which Russia, Iran and China can project their anti-democratic agendas. The agreement with China to invest up to $400 billion in Iran’s economy over the next 25 years has meanwhile seen a major upgrade in this bilateral relationship, with a similar agenda for undermining Western global supremacy. Drone strikes against Kyiv power stations are merely the tip of the iceberg of this emerging transcontinental system, specifically established to subvert international norms and facilitate the proliferation of dirty money, nuclear technology and heavy weaponry — putting Europe, the GCC and Southeast Asia under threat of military aggression. Dirt-cheap production costs of armed drones and cyberwarfare have profound implications for the manner in which future conflicts are waged, raising the prospect that Tehran-backed paramilitary and terrorist groups could stage asymmetric attacks against cities using swarms of UAVs and missiles. While primitive drones and rockets are no match for the missile defense systems of Israel and America, this threat of military “overmatch” keeps the generals awake at night worrying about Iran, North Korea, or Hezbollah simultaneously launching such large numbers of munitions that they overwhelm the ability of defense systems to neutralize the onslaught.
With Ukraine now also staging indiscriminate drone attacks across Russia and stepping up its own production of such munitions, this is a reminder to Putin that the ability to wage war on the cheap cuts both ways. It is meanwhile simply a matter of time before a whole spectrum of other minor players join this arms race. We should not be simply trying to appease or ignore major producers of bargain basement munitions, such as Iran. This threat of mass carnage weapons so cheap they can be purchased by someone on an average income should be confronted head on, with rigorously enforced international conventions restricting their manufacture, sale, and use, and the export of key components if we are to avoid a scenario in which wildcat strikes on critical infrastructure or terrorists menacing entire cities become the norm.
• Baria Alamuddin is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in the Middle East and the UK. She is editor of the Media Services Syndicate and has interviewed numerous heads of state.

Politicians should not exploit fear to win votes
Dalia Al-Aqidi/Arab News/September 03, 2023
As the US approaches the end of 2023, familiar challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and its related restrictions are once again coming to the forefront of the American public discourse.
The resurgence of these issues — with New Yorkers being told on Friday to consider wearing face masks in crowded areas due to the rapid spread of a new strain of the virus that causes COVID-19 — has understandably triggered a sense of apprehension among a significant portion of the American populace, giving rise to concerns about the potential implications for the nation’s political landscape. In light of recent events, many citizens are drawing parallels to the circumstances leading up to the 2020 general elections, prompting contemplation about the intentions and strategies of the Democratic Party.
The US, like much of the global community, has been navigating the intricate terrain of public health, socioeconomic stability and individual freedoms in its response to the disease. As the nation grapples with these challenges, it is natural that citizens are reminded of the pivotal role pandemic-related issues played in shaping public sentiment during the preceding election cycle.
Amid these reflections, a palpable sense of uncertainty has emerged, particularly among those who harbor reservations about the handling of the 2020 elections. Voters have the right to express concerns that the Democratic Party might be considering a strategy reminiscent of that election year, evoking memories of the heightened reliance on mail-in ballots, adjustments to voting procedures and debates about the legitimacy of the electoral process. Isn’t that how President Joe Biden managed to win from the basement of his house in 2020?
Such concerns are rooted in skepticism and reflect the deep-seated desire for transparency, fairness and the safeguarding of democratic principles. As we navigate these sensitive waters, it is essential to approach these concerns with a balanced perspective. The Democratic Party, like any political entity, is driven by a multitude of motivations and objectives. At the same time, public apprehensions stemming from past experiences are a testament to the American people’s commitment to upholding the integrity of their democratic institutions.
It is becoming apparent that a chapter in recent history is repeating itself. This observation prompts an examination of the manner in which the COVID-19 pandemic was handled from a political standpoint, specifically within the context of the Democratic Party’s actions. It is imperative to explore how the pandemic was, at times, utilized for political ends, potentially contributing to widespread fear and a sense of confinement within the population.
During the pandemic’s early phases, how certain narratives were presented to the public warrants careful scrutiny. The utilization of messaging to evoke fear and concern is a recognized tactic within political communication. However, when such messaging exacerbates anxieties to the extent of influencing social behaviors and mental states, it warrants ethical and moral contemplation. Reports of individuals passing away in solitude in hospital settings, isolated from loved ones, provide a stark representation of the deeply emotional toll that such an approach can engender.
The pandemic was, at times, utilized for political ends, potentially contributing to widespread fear and a sense of confinement.
Amid this atmosphere, the pandemic seemed to unfold as a prolonged and distressing narrative, akin to a suspenseful horror movie. The imagery of individuals facing their final moments without the presence of loved ones, coupled with the overarching atmosphere of uncertainty, contributed to a collective sense of vulnerability and trepidation. This atmosphere was fueled, in part, by the political messaging that accompanied it. As we find ourselves in a situation where such dynamics could potentially recur, it is essential to reflect on the lessons learned from the past. It is worth acknowledging that political motivations can intertwine with crisis responses, raising questions about prioritizing public health and safety versus partisan gains.
I distinctly recall observing individuals driving alone in their vehicles while wearing masks, as well as witnessing people donning masks while spending time in their own backyards soaking up the sun.
In moving forward, an informed and engaged citizenry plays an integral role in maintaining transparency and accountability within the political sphere. Rather than falling into polarizing narratives, fostering open dialogue and the critical analysis of political messaging can help mitigate the negative impacts of crisis politicization. This approach enables citizens to actively shape policies and responses that reflect their concerns and broader societal well-being.
The reason I have opted to address this subject at this moment is due to the growing recognition among Americans that there exists a juncture where questioning both the pandemic’s implications and the government’s stringent actions, such as the closures of schools, businesses and dining establishments, becomes increasingly challenging. A significant number of conservative doctors, writers and individuals found themselves subject to censorship by those aligned with the left solely for expressing reservations about the impact of COVID-19 vaccines. Their concerns, grounded in the vaccines’ relatively short presence in the medical landscape, drew attention to the parallels drawn with the introduction of novel medicines. Adding to this complex landscape, the imperative of vaccination resulted in situations whereby individuals faced the potential loss of their job if they chose not to comply. This scenario was reminiscent of Iraq under the regime of Saddam Hussein. Back then, we were not allowed to think or question, let alone reject. It is imperative for President Biden, his political party and his presidential campaign to acknowledge that a significant portion of the American populace has grown weary of adhering to progressive agendas and the trends associated with cancel culture. Convincing the public to resume mask-wearing, even amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, may prove to be a formidable challenge. The populace has reached a point where further vaccine mandates and closures will be met with strong resistance. It is crucial to recognize that, while such measures may be employed to win elections, the propagation of fear and apprehension by the liberal media should not be the preferred path to victory.
Instead, the focus should be on addressing the American people’s concerns, desires and aspirations, fostering unity, and promoting policies that resonate with a broad cross-section of society. Only by truly understanding and addressing the collective sentiment can leaders chart a course that reflects the will and the well-being of the nation.
• Dalia Al-Aqidi is Senior Fellow at the Center for Security Policy.

Reality check on Saudi-Israel normalisation
James J. Zogby/The Arab Weekly/03September/2023
Can any form of Saudi-Israel normalisation even happen given current Israeli and American politics?
Too much of the commentary about a possible US-engineered Saudi-Israel normalisation has been based more on hyperbole rather than reality. Such an agreement would, no doubt, be consequential, but let us look realistically at some exaggerated claims being made. 
It will end the Arab-Israeli conflict.
It most decidedly will not. Arabs have long made clear that the conflict is not existential. The central issue has always been Palestinian rights. Even in countries that have made peace with Israel, public opinion is supportive, believing it may give their governments more leverage to end the violence and advance Palestinian rights. Despite regional weariness, Arab publics are outraged when Israel commits new atrocities or violates Muslim rights in Jerusalem. 
This will change the map of the Middle East.
It is already changed. The once powerful military-led Arab “Republics” have lost their regional dominance, with leadership shifting to the Arab Gulf. 
Saudi Arabia and UAE are deepening economic ties with China, remaining neutral on Ukraine and reopening diplomatic ties with Iran. Pursuing ambitious economic development and societal goals, they seek regional stability and calm. 
Israel and the US want to offset China’s growing role, returning Saudi Arabia and the UAE to an exclusive US orbit and challenging Iran as a united front.  
This is a disaster for the Palestinians. 
It would have no consequential impact on the Palestinians’ plight. Arab states have limited leverage over Israeli behaviour. Agreements made in the lead-up to the Madrid Conference, Oslo Accords, Arab Peace Initiative and Abrahamic Accords made no difference. Israel continues to gobble up Palestinian land, build new settlements and brutally violate Palestinian rights. If the US wanted to make Arab-Israeli peace a reality, it would use its diplomatic and political capital to do so. 
If Saudi Arabia holds out for terms including a real end to the occupation and the US pushes this process forward, it might have a positive impact on Palestinians’ future. If, however, normalisation moves forward without anything positive for Palestinians, it would not be a disaster, just same old, same old. 
This spells the end of the two-state solution.
That ship has already sailed. No conceivable government can be formed in Israel, now or in the foreseeable future, that would allow for the minimum requirements of an independent, sovereign, viable Palestinian state. 
Those calling for a Palestinian “state” refuse to recognise the realities created by Israel’s massive settlement and Jewish-only infrastructure making Palestinian independence and sovereignty impossible.  With Palestinian Arabs comprising slightly more than one-half of the population between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea and increasingly integrated into the Israeli economy, with Israeli settlements, infrastructure, “security zones,” checkpoints,and Israeli Apartheid policies, we are in a one-state reality. It will be a long hard slog to end Israeli repression and secure Palestinian equal rights, a reality that must be addressed.  This will give Biden a much-needed victory before the 2024 elections. 
While the Saudi-Israel normalisation being touted in the press is doubtful, any agreement will not add five votes to the Biden column in 2024. Democrats and Republicans are deeply polarised, and independent swing voters will not be moved foreign policy issues, except for Ukraine. Jewish voters will overwhelmingly support the Democratic nominee because of the GOP’s domestic policies. And while Jewish voters may be concerned with Israel’s future, their growing unease with the current Israeli government means they will not be impressed with any White House celebration that puts Netanyahu centre stage.  Can any form of Saudi-Israel normalisation even happen given current Israeli and American politics? Leaders in Netanyahu’s coalition and the opposition are clearly unwilling to agree to Saudi Arabia’s insistence to process nuclear materials and desire to purchase advanced US military equipment. Nor will they entertain even modest concessions regarding Palestinian rights. 
While Republicans would be loath to support an agreement that would enhance Biden’s election year standing, the President will find limited support among Democrats for concessions to Saudi Arabia on nuclear or military hardware. 
Bottom line: it is time to end the hyperventilating over the prospects of a Saudi-Israel normalisation agreement. The US should embrace the new realities of a changing Middle East in which Israel is an outlier and should accept its responsibility as the enabler of the Israeli occupation and its Apartheid system. 
*Dr James J. Zogby is President of the Washington-based Arab American Institute.

The Rise and Immediate Fall of Israel-Libya Relations
Ben Fishman/The Washington Institute/September 03/2023
The scandal surrounding a surprise meeting between their foreign ministers has cratered any hope of upgraded ties with Israel—though it could cause a political shake-up in Libya.
On August 27, Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen revealed that he had met with his Libyan counterpart Najla al-Mangoush in Rome, sparking an imbroglio in both of their countries and further abroad. Protests erupted immediately across Libya, including at the Foreign Ministry and the residence of Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dabaiba, who likely authorized the meeting. Dabaiba tried to calm the situation by suspending Mangoush and naming an interim foreign minister, while his Government of National Unity (GNU) called the incident a chance encounter alongside Italy’s foreign minister rather than a planned meeting. As protests continued on August 28, Dabaiba appeared at the Palestinian embassy in Tripoli, where he donned a scarf depicting the Dome of the Rock, announced that he had officially dismissed Mangoush, and reiterated Libya’s dedication to the Palestinian cause. Fearing further backlash and potential violence, Mangoush fled to Istanbul.
Unlike her predecessors, who were experienced diplomats familiar with Libya’s byzantine Foreign Ministry, Mangoush had no diplomatic background. Dabaiba appointed her in March 2021 only after another female candidate drew criticism, and she faced a unique challenge as a woman among exclusively male foreign ministers across the region. She lacked a power base of her own and wielded narrow influence outside of what Dabaiba and his circle granted her. Yet she was resilient during her first two years in office, surviving calls for her resignation over controversial statements criticizing Turkey’s military presence in Libya, praising Russia’s positive relationship with the GNU, and cooperating with the United States on the extradition of a Pan Am 103 bombing suspect (see below). The State Department named her an International Woman of Courage in 2022, citing her work with civil society organizations and her expertise in conflict resolution (gained in part from PhD work at George Mason University).
Libya’s Stalemate
The Rome meeting occurred during a sensitive time for Dabaiba. He was appointed in February 2021 to serve as interim prime minister until elections scheduled for later that year, but after voting was delayed indefinitely, he retained his post largely through legitimate and illegitimate spending of the state’s substantial oil revenue. This included increasing payments to his eastern Libyan rivals in July 2022 when the warlord Khalifa Haftar blockaded oil fields.
These funding arrangements have sustained Dabaiba’s premiership even as negotiations over setting an elections timetable recently renewed his rivals’ push to remove him. Although he has parried that effort so far, international support may be pivoting away from him. During an August 22 Security Council meeting in New York, UN Special Representative for Libya Abdoulaye Bathily noted that it was the “political and moral responsibility of all leaders to close the open-ended interim arrangements,” while U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated, “We are open to supporting the formation of a technocratic caretaker government whose sole task would be to bring the country to free and fair elections.” The latter remark could be viewed as a warning against Dabaiba’s intransigence, though he is just one of several political elites who have stymied progress toward elections.
In that context, Dabaiba likely viewed outreach to Cohen as a signal to the United States that he is forward-leaning on engagement with Israel, despite his country being historically supportive of the Palestinian cause. Similarly, when he faced political pressure at home late last year, he answered Washington’s long-desired request to arrest and extradite Pan Am 103 suspect Abu Agila Masud, after which he endured protests and accusations of legal overreach.
In the current case, however, Dabaiba, Mangoush, and Cohen all made miscalculations that negated the potential value of the Rome meeting. For one, Cohen immediately violated the obvious requirement of secrecy by making a public statement about the talks. Israel’s Foreign Ministry later blamed leaks for Cohen’s decision to go public, though any such leaks could have been easily denied by Dabaiba and the GNU. Moreover, Mangoush and Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani should have set clearer ground rules for the discussion, which could have prevented Cohen from killing any near-term prospects for a serious Israel-Libya track—the only real outcome of his apparent bid to burnish his diplomatic credentials.
Is Washington Partly to Blame?
Two factors suggest the Biden administration may have been aware of a potential encounter but did not orchestrate the Rome meeting. First, Israel’s Arab normalization portfolio is closely held by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), not the Foreign Ministry (the Mossad is occasionally involved as well). Cohen and his director-general have (unsuccessfully) attempted to work on normalization in Africa, but the PMO remains Washington’s primary interlocutor on these issues. Hence, it is doubtful that U.S. officials would have set up such a sensitive meeting with Cohen—all the more so because of concerns over leaks.
Second, despite commentary highlighting regional normalization as an overarching goal for the Biden administration, prioritizing Libya in this process would be putting the cart before the horse. It is difficult enough to coordinate diplomatic engagement with a well-established Arab government, let alone with a politically indeterminate and deeply pro-Palestinian country—never mind the fact that Israel is now led by its most right-wing government in history, with officials who regularly make inflammatory statements against Palestinians. Haftar’s circle reportedly extended private feelers to Israel over the past two years in search of arms or political support, and that approach may be palatable in Libya, particularly because Haftar controls the information space in the east. But an official meeting between foreign ministers was clearly a bridge too far and may prove unrecoverable for Dabaiba.
One thing is clear: the clumsy episode will set back Israel-Libya rapprochement for years, if it was ever in the cards. The question now is how long Dabaiba can survive, and whether this controversy will prompt a renewed push for elections.
**Ben Fishman is a senior fellow at The Washington Institute and former director for North Africa on the National Security Council.