English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For April 29/2024
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible
Quotations For today
Peter, you will deny me Three times
before the cock crows today
Luke 22/28-34:” You are those who have stood by me in my
trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a
kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you
will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ‘Simon, Simon,
listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed
for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned
back, strengthen your brothers.’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go
with you to prison and to death!’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock
will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.’
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese
Related News & Editorials published on April 28-29/2024
The student demonstrations in America are being orchestrated and funded by
nefarious groups including the Iranian lobby, the Muslim Brotherhood, and
elements of the leftist organizations/Elias Bejjani/April 27/2024
The anniversary of the Syrian army’s Withdrawal from Lebanon, scarring its
humiliation, defeat and disappointment/Elias Bejjani/April 26, 2024'
The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut, Elias Audi Blasts Lebanese Officials
for Ignoring Their Obligations
France’s foreign minister looks to prevent Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalation
in Lebanon visit
France to make proposals in Lebanon to prevent war between Hezbollah and Israel
Séjourné Kicks Off Political Meetings With Parliament Speaker
Stéphane Séjourné: Preserving Lebanon is a Priority for France
French foreign minister aims to prevent Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalation in
Lebanon visit
French FM: We will push proposals to prevent war between Hezbollah and Israel
Berri to Séjourné: Lebanon is committed to implementing Resolution 1701
UNIFIL Deeply Alarmed by Increasing Violence on Southern Front
A Funeral Leads to Infringement of State Sovereignty
Tit-for-Tat Exchanges Persist on the Lebanese Southern Front
Hezbollah fires dozens of rockets at Israel's Meron in response to attacks
Qassem: Any expansion of Israeli aggression will be met with a firm response
from Hezbollah
Lebanon, the Undeniable Victim of the Israel-Hezb Conflict
Syrian Stabbed to Death in Dora
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on
April 28-29/2024
Israel has agreed to listen to US concerns before any Rafah move, says White
House
Israel will scale up amount of aid going into Gaza, military says
Blinken to visit Israel, Jordan on new Mideast trip
Gaza aid pier ready in two to three weeks: US
Biden and Netanyahu speak as pressure on Israel’s planned Rafah attack increases
Displacement of Palestinians from embattled Gaza confronts Egypt with array of
challenges
Hamas says no ‘major’ issues, as Gaza truce effort builds
Jordanian PM, Palestinian president meet in Riyadh
Students and children in Gaza thank pro-Palestinian protesters at US college
campuses
UAE field hospital in Gaza provides prosthetics for wounded Palestinians
Houthis expecting ‘hostile’ reaction from US over Red Sea attacks, drone downing
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources on April 28-29/2024
Exodus From Bibi/Doron Weber/Time/April 28/2024
'You Have a Beautiful Daughter...': The Persecution of Christians, March
2024/ Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/April 28, 2024
Leading from the middle/Borge Brende/Arab News/April 28, 2024
The fight for justice ignites elite university campuses/Baria Alamuddin/Arab
News/April 28, 2024
Biden should take a firmer stand on protesters’ rights/Dr. Amal Mudallali/Arab
News/April 28, 2024
US should capitalize on Hamas’ offer to disarm/Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab
News/April 28, 2024
Enhanced Iraq-Jordan ties a win-win situation/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab
News/April 28, 2024
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News &
Editorials published on April 28-29/2024
The student demonstrations in America are being orchestrated and funded by
nefarious groups including the Iranian lobby, the Muslim Brotherhood, and
elements of the leftist organizations
Elias Bejjani/April 27/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/129236/129236/
The student demonstrations in America are being orchestrated and funded by
nefarious groups including the Iranian lobby, the Muslim Brotherhood, and
elements of the left. This revelation sheds light on the true nature of these
protests, which aim to undermine American values and sow discord.
A glaring example of this manipulation is evident in a widely circulated image
depicting a student protester brandishing a guitar while proudly displaying the
flag of Iranian Hezbollah—an organization designated as a terrorist group in the
United States. The irony is palpable; Iranian Hezbollah, known for its archaic
beliefs that reject music and advocate violence, stands in stark contrast to the
principles of freedom and tolerance cherished by American society.
These orchestrated demonstrations represent a clear affront to American culture
and values. They serve as a false veneer of dissent, incapable of altering the
realities of oppressive regimes like the criminal mullahs’ regime in Iran, the
jihadist activities of Hamas, the terrorist actions of Hezbollah in Lebanon, and
the pervasive influence of Iranian aggression across the Middle East.
It is imperative that Americans remain vigilant against the insidious influence
of these foreign actors and reject their attempts to subvert the democratic
principles. The true spirit of America cannot be swayed by the machinations of
those who seek to undermine it.
The anniversary of the Syrian army’s Withdrawal from Lebanon, scarring its
humiliation, defeat and disappointment
Elias Bejjani/April 26, 2024'
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/129186/129186/
April 26, 2005, marks not just a commemoration but a pivotal moment signifying
the end of a painful era that commenced in 1976 with the Syrian army's incursion
into Lebanon, orchestrated by the Syrian dictator's insidious agenda to occupy
and dominate Lebanon's decision-making processes. Today, the Lebanese people
reflect on the withdrawal of the Assad regime's oppressive army from Lebanon.
This retreat carried with it the weight of defeat, disappointment, and
humiliation, brought about by the peaceful and civilized pressure of the Cedar
Revolution and its allies, with both international and regional backing.
However, the void left by the Syrian army has been filled by the Iranian-backed
Hezbollah, a terrorist, sectarian, and expansionist group, perpetuating
occupation, suppressing freedom, and subjugating sovereign leaders and citizens.
While the Syrian occupation was executed by a foreign force, the Iranian
occupation unfortunately operates through a Lebanese entity, yet entirely
beholden to the Iranian mullahs. Hezbollah and its master in Iran and since
1982, have relentlessly sought to dismantle the Lebanese state and replace it
with one subservient to the concept of Wilayat al-Faqih. Consequently, the
Iranian occupation, facilitated through Hezbollah, poses a greater threat than
its Syrian predecessor. Every Lebanese individual committed to Lebanon's
coexistence, message, and peace must reject this occupation and tirelessly
strive to rid the nation of its shackles. Ultimately, good triumphs over evil,
and as Lebanon embodies goodness while the occupiers represent malevolence,
Lebanon will inevitably prevail, and all occupying forces are bound for defeat,
disappointment, and humiliation.
The most perilous threat among the Syrian and Iranian occupiers, in terms of
national, cultural, and future prospects, lies in those Lebanese who, in name
only, exhibit ingratitude and hatred. These individuals, reminiscent of the
Devil,
the epitome of vileness, were once among the most beautiful angels but, through
their denial of divine dignity, have fallen from grace into the abyss of hell.
Although the Syrian army withdrew on April 26, 2005, its intelligence apparatus,
collaborators, and local mercenaries, under the banner of Hezbollah, persist in
their treachery and deceit. They shamelessly contravene Lebanon and its people
through coercion, assassination, invasion, hypocrisy, and all manner of
criminal, terrorist, and mafia tactics to thwart the restoration of sovereignty,
independence, and freedom. Lebanon, with its message of peace, sanctity, and
civilization, remains an eternal flame against those who seek to harm it,
relentlessly punishing any who dare violate the dignity, freedom, and identity
of its people.
On this historic and patriotic day, let us solemnly remember the souls of our
beloved homeland's martyrs, yearning for the return of our heroic refugees,
despite their forced exile in Israel, and the release of our abducted
compatriots languishing in the dungeons of the criminal Assad regime.
In conclusion, sacred Lebanon will endure and triumph despite all tribulations,
guarded by angels and embraced by Virgin Mary, who nurtures and safeguards it
with her, prayers, intercessions, tenderness and love.
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai called on politicians to
“reexamine their Calls on Politicians to Reexamine Their Conscience
This Is Beirut/April 28, 2024
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai called on politicians to “reexamine their
conscience” to ensure the common good and restore constitutional institutions,
starting with the election of a President of the Republic. During his Sunday
sermon, Rai accused political forces of lacking faith in God and causing
suffering for the Lebanese people due to a war Lebanon has no implications in,
and which is hindering its peace and stability.
The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut, Elias Audi
Blasts Lebanese Officials for Ignoring Their Obligations
This Is Beirut/April 28, 2024
The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut, Elias Audi, lashed out at Lebanese
officials for “ignoring their constitutional obligations, the first of which is
the election of a president, pushing the Lebanese people to despair, delinquency
and emigration.” During his sermon on Palm Sunday Mass for the Greek Orthodox
confession, Audi lamented that Lebanon was being “left to its fate” and
abandoned by countries “lining up with the strongest.” He also emphasized that
concepts like truth, justice, humanity and morality have become obsolete
concepts in a materialistic and opportunistic world. Audi expressed his wish for
Lebanon’s protection “from north to south,” and its salvation from
“long-suffering, ignorance, hatred and bloodshed.”
France’s foreign minister looks to prevent
Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalation in Lebanon visit
REUTERS/April 28, 2024
BEIRUT: France’s foreign minister will push proposals to prevent further
escalation and a potential war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah during a
visit to Lebanon on Sunday as Paris seeks to refine a roadmap that both sides
could accept to ease tensions. France has historical ties with Lebanon and
earlier this year Stephane Sejourne delivered an initiative that proposed
Hezbollah’s elite unit pull back 10 km (6 miles) from the Israeli border, while
Israel would halt strikes in southern Lebanon. The two have exchanged tit for
tat strikes in recent months, but the exchanges have increased since Iran
launched a barrage of missiles on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli
attack on the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus that killed members
of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps’ overseas Quds Force. France’s proposal,
which has been discussed with partners, notably the United States, has not moved
forward, but Paris wants to keep momentum in talks and underscore to Lebanese
officials that Israeli threats of a military operation in southern Lebanon
should be taken seriously. Hezbollah has maintained it will not enter any
concrete discussion until there is a ceasefire in Gaza, where the war between
Israel and Islamist militant group Hamas has entered its sixth month.
Israel has also said it wants to ensure calm is restored on its northern border
so that thousands of displaced Israelis can return to the area without fear of
rocket attacks from across the border. “The objective is to prevent a regional
conflagration and avoid that the situation deteriorates even more on the border
between Israel and Lebanon,” foreign ministry deputy spokesperson Christophe
Lemoine said at a news conference. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Nikati and
Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun met French President Emmanuel Macron earlier
this month, where they discussed the French proposal.
In a letter addressed to the French embassy in Beirut in March, Lebanon’s
foreign ministry said Beirut believed the French initiative would be a
significant step toward peace and security in Lebanon and the broader region.
Local Lebanese media had reported the government had provided feedback to the
French on the proposal. French officials say the responses so far have been
general and lack consensus among the Lebanese. While they deem it too early for
any form of accord, they believe it is vital to engage now so that when the
moment comes both sides are ready. Paris will also underline the urgency of
breaking the political deadlock in the country. Lebanon has neither a head of
state nor a fully empowered cabinet since Michel Aoun’s term as president ended
in October 2022. Israel has remained cautious on the French initiative, although
Israeli and French officials say Israel supports efforts to defuse the
cross-border tensions. “The flames will flicker and tensions will continue,”
said a Lebanese diplomat. “We are in a situation of strategic ambiguity on both
sides.”France has 700 troops based in southern Lebanon as part of the
10,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping force. Officials say the UN troops are
unable to carry out their mandate and part of France’s proposals are aimed at
beefing up the mission by strengthening the Lebanese army. After Lebanon,
Sejourne will head to Saudi Arabia before traveling to Israel. Arab and Western
foreign ministers, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will hold
informal talks on the sidelines of a World Economic Forum event in Riyadh to
discuss the Gaza war with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
France to make proposals in Lebanon to prevent war
between Hezbollah and Israel
REUTERS/April 28, 2024
NAQOURA: France’s foreign minister said that he would make proposals to Lebanese
officials on Sunday aimed at easing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel and
preventing a war breaking out. “If I look at the situation today if there was
not a war in Gaza, we could be talking about a war in southern Lebanon given the
number of strikes and the impact on the area,” Stephane Sejourne said after
visiting the United Nations peace keeping force in Naqoura, southern Lebanon. “I
will pass messages and make proposals to the authorities here to stabilize this
zone and avoid a war.”
Séjourné Kicks Off Political Meetings With Parliament
Speaker
AFP/This Is Beirut/April 28, 2024
French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné kicked off his political meetings on
Sunday by talking to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, hours after visiting
UNIFIL’s headquarters where he called for ending the alarming escalation of
violence in south Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel.
Accompanied by French Ambassador to Lebanon Hervé Magro and Director of North
Africa and the Middle East at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anne Grillo,
Séjourné refrained from making any declaration following his meeting with Berri.
For his part, Berri conveyed Lebanon’s readiness “to receive and consider the
French proposal aimed at de-escalation, cessation of hostilities, and
implementation of UN resolution 1701.”The Parliament speaker presented evidence
of Israeli aggressions on Lebanon, particularly in border villages, using a map
prepared by the National Council for Scientific Research (NCSR). The document
highlighted the human and material losses, including damage to agricultural and
forested lands, as well as Israel’s use of internationally prohibited weapons
and violations of the rules of engagement. Berri expressed gratitude to France
and President Emmanuel Macron for their commitment to preventing war in Lebanon,
emphasizing Lebanon’s commitment to implementing Resolution 1701
comprehensively. Regarding the presidential file, Berri commended the efforts of
the Quintet committee “striving for consensus in electing a president.”
He also raised the issue of Syrian refugees, underscoring its “burdensome impact
on Lebanon and its people.” He pledged to address this matter with the head of
the European Commission and the Cypriot president during their upcoming visit to
Lebanon, urging France and Germany “to reconsider their approach to Syria on
this particular issue.”Fighting has intensified in south Lebanon in recent
weeks, with Israel striking deeper into Lebanese territory, while Hezbollah has
stepped up its missile and drone attacks on military positions in northern
Israel.
France has for months sought to de-escalate the cross-border tensions,
presenting to both Lebanon and Israel an initiative in January seeking to end
hostilities.
During his visit to the headquarters of the United Nations’ peacekeeping mission
in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL), Séjourné reiterated that Paris has been making
proposals to “avoid war in Lebanon.”“I will head to Beirut to meet political
authorities to… make proposals,” Séjourné said, adding: “Our responsibility is
to mitigate escalation, and that is also our role in UNIFIL. We have 700
soldiers here.”A French diplomatic source told AFP that the volume of
cross-border attacks had doubled since April 13. In March, Beirut submitted its
response to the French initiative, which was based on a UN resolution barring
the presence of any forces other than the Lebanese military and UNIFIL in south
Lebanon. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati had suggested that Paris was
reviewing its proposal and would submit a new one to Beirut. Sejourne’s trip —
which will also see him stop in Riyadh for a summit on Gaza — coincides with a
visit to Jerusalem by US envoy Amos Hochstein as Washington also pushes for
de-escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah has repeatedly declared
that only a ceasefire in Gaza will put an end to its attacks on Israel. Since
October 8 at least 385 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 254
Hezbollah fighters and dozens of civilians, according to an AFP tally. Tens of
thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border.
Stéphane Séjourné: Preserving Lebanon is a Priority for
France
Samar Kadi/This Beirut/April 28/2024
In a persisting effort to prevent an open conflict between Israel and Hezbollah,
visiting French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné asserted on Sunday that Paris
is continuing its “total mobilization” to help Lebanon emerge from its
political, social and economic crisis. “It has gone on for far too long,”
Séjourné told a press conference at the end of his visit during which he held
talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati,
his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib, and Army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun.
Stressing that the Iranian attack on Israel on the night of April 13 to 14, in
retaliation to the Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, was a
highly “worrying” turning point, he said, “We refuse to accept the worst-case
scenario in southern Lebanon where the civilian population is paying the price.”
“No one has any interest that Israel and Hezbollah continue this escalation.
I’ve taken this message to the Lebanese leaders and I’ll be taking the same
message to Israel on Tuesday,” Séjourné added, calling on “all Lebanese players
to do their part and assume their responsibilities,” to preserve the country.
The top French diplomat stressed that Lebanon’s observations on the roadmap
proposed by Paris to achieve full implementation of resolution 1701 by all
parties “are fully taken into account,” and that France’s efforts to reach an
accord “will not falter as consultations continue.” However, when asked by This
is Beirut, he refrained from disclosing any modification made to the proposals
and whether they would be more acceptable for Hezbollah. “We are currently
discussing proposals with all our partners. We’ll then see what feedback we get
in that regard,” he said.
Hezbollah has repeatedly declared that only a ceasefire in Gaza will put an end
to its attacks on Israel. Since October 8, an estimated 385 people have been
killed in Lebanon, including 254 Hezbollah fighters and dozens of civilians, and
tens of thousands of people have been displaced. Underlining what he called
“UNIFIL’s decisive role” in averting a worst-case scenario in South Lebanon,
Séjourné emphasized that “all parties must allow the peacekeeping force to carry
out its mission to the full.”He reiterated France’s continuous support to the
Lebanese army, stressing that “a return to stability requires the redeployment
of the armed forces in southern Lebanon.” On the protracted vacancy of the
presidential seat, the top French diplomat was adamant that “without an elected
president and a fully functioning government, Lebanon will not be invited to the
negotiating table” on a regional settlement. When asked about how France can
help Lebanon alleviate the burden of hosting scores of displaced Syrians,
Séjourné said, “We are aware that the presence of Syrian refugees has weighed
heavily on Lebanon since the conflict in Syria, but this return must be
voluntary, dignified, safe and in compliance with international law, and at this
stage these conditions have yet to be met.”According to a Western diplomatic
source, France’s unwavering diplomatic efforts is meant “to show to the
belligerents that the diplomatic way and option is possible.” “It remains in the
calculations of each side, when weighing up war or diplomacy. This dynamic alone
will eventually delay the warlike intentions of all parties in their
calculations,” the source told This is Beirut. Séjourné will be in Israel on
Tuesday, as part of his regional tour that includes Saudi Arabia where he will
be participating in the global economic summit on Monday.
French foreign minister aims to prevent Israel-Hezbollah
conflict escalation in Lebanon visit
Reuters/April 28, 2024
France's foreign minister will push proposals to prevent further escalation and
a potential war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah during a visit to
Lebanon on Sunday as Paris seeks to refine a roadmap that both sides could
accept to ease tensions. France has historical ties with Lebanon and earlier
this year Stephane Sejourne delivered an initiative that proposed Hezbollah's
elite unit pull back 10 km (6 miles) from the Israeli border, while Israel would
halt strikes in southern Lebanon. The two have exchanged tit-for-tat strikes in
recent months, but the exchanges have increased since Iran launched a barrage of
missiles on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian
embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus that killed members of Iran's
Revolutionary Guards Corps' overseas Quds Force. France's proposal, which has
been discussed with partners, notably the United States, has not moved forward,
but Paris wants to keep momentum in talks and underscore to Lebanese officials
that Israeli threats of a military operation in southern Lebanon should be taken
seriously. Hezbollah has maintained it will not enter any concrete discussion
until there is a ceasefire in Gaza, where the war between Israel and Islamist
militant group Hamas has entered its sixth month.
Israel has also said it wants to ensure calm is restored on its northern border
so that thousands of displaced Israelis can return to the area without fear of
rocket attacks from across the border. "The objective is to prevent a regional
conflagration and avoid that the situation deteriorates even more on the border
between Israel and Lebanon," foreign ministry deputy spokesperson Christophe
Lemoine said at a news conference. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Nikati and
Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun met French President Emmanuel Macron earlier
this month, where they discussed the French proposal.
In a letter addressed to the French embassy in Beirut in March, Lebanon's
foreign ministry said Beirut believed the French initiative would be a
significant step towards peace and security in Lebanon and the broader region.
Local Lebanese media had reported the government had provided feedback to the
French on the proposal. French officials say the responses so far have been
general and lack consensus among the Lebanese. While they deem it too early for
any form of the accord, they believe it is vital to engage now so that when the
moment comes both sides are ready. Paris will also underline the urgency of
breaking the political deadlock in the country. Lebanon has neither a head of
state nor a fully empowered cabinet since Michel Aoun's term as president ended
in October 2022. Israel has remained cautious on the French initiative, although
Israeli and French officials say Israel supports efforts to defuse the
cross-border tensions. "The flames will flicker and tensions will continue,"
said a Lebanese diplomat. "We are in a situation of strategic ambiguity on both
sides."
France has 700 troops based in southern Lebanon as part of the 10,000-strong
United Nations peacekeeping force. Officials say the UN troops are unable to
carry out their mandate and part of France's proposals are aimed at beefing up
the mission by strengthening the Lebanese army. After Lebanon, Sejourne will
head to Saudi Arabia before traveling to Israel. Arab and Western foreign
ministers, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will hold informal
talks on the sidelines of a World Economic Forum event in Riyadh to discuss the
Gaza war with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
French FM: We will push proposals to prevent war between
Hezbollah and Israel
Reuters/April 28, 2024
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne stated that he will present proposals
to Lebanese officials on Sunday to ease tensions between Hezbollah and Israel
and prevent the outbreak of war. After visiting the UN peacekeeping forces in
Naqoura, southern Lebanon, he added, "If you look at the situation today... If
there is no war in Gaza, we can talk about a war in southern Lebanon,
considering the number of strikes and their impact on the region." He continued,
saying, "I will convey messages and propose initiatives to the authorities here
to push this region towards stability and avoid the outbreak of war."
Berri to Séjourné: Lebanon is committed to implementing
Resolution 1701
LBCI/April 28, 2024
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri affirmed to French Foreign Minister Stéphane
Séjourné that Lebanon is committed to implementing Resolution 1701 in all its
aspects and is awaiting receipt of the French proposal in preparation for its
consideration and response. During the visit, which lasted 45 minutes, Berri
presented to Séjourné explanations on the map of the Israeli violations being
committed against Lebanon, and the French minister left Ain al-Tineh without
making any statement.
UNIFIL Deeply Alarmed by Increasing Violence on Southern Front
This Is Beirut/April 28, 2024
The United Nations Interim Forces in South Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed deep
concern on Sunday at the sharp increase in escalation on both sides of the Blue
Line between Israel and Hezbollah. In an interview with the Voice of All
Lebanon, Candice Ardell, deputy director of the UNIFIL press office, said that
the exchange of fire since October 8 had increased sharply of late, with strikes
reaching deeper areas on both sides of the border. The UNIFIL representative
added that the peacekeeping forces are continuing to carry out their mission by
patrolling and in collaboration with the Lebanese army. “We are in contact with
the parties concerned to ease tensions and avoid misunderstandings,” Ardell
said. She gave an overview of UNIFIL’s missions, explaining that it has a
coordination mechanism supporting civilians and activities in areas close to the
Blue Line. Ardell gave as an example the assistance offered by UNIFIL to farmers
to approach the line and harvest their crops. “We also provide medical
assistance and some of our units have provided support to schools, hospitals and
civil organizations,” she added. Ardell also commented on the attack on
peacekeepers in Rmeish, pointing out that although the incident was serious, it
was members of UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organization) who were
injured, not UNIFIL. On March 30, three military observers and a Lebanese
translator were injured by a mine explosion in Rmeish. Ardell said that she
could not comment on the incident as the investigation was still underway, but
that the explosion did not appear to have been caused by direct fire.
A Funeral Leads to Infringement of State Sovereignty
This Beirut/April 28/2024
In a blatant violation of state sovereignty and its institutions, members of the
military branch of Jamaa Islamiya, a Lebanese Islamist group with close ties to
Hamas, conducted a military parade in Akkar on Sunday. The parade was part of
the funeral procession of two members of the Islamic group who were killed in an
Israeli air raid in West Bekaa on Friday. Participants fired shots in the air
and even launched an RPG rocket in Al-Abdeh square, Akkar, amidst a large crowd
gathered for the occasion. A child was injured by a stray bullet and a resident
of Bebnine was also wounded. The areas of Minieh, Halba, and Bebnine witnessed
intense gunfire from medium and heavy caliber weapons during the funeral
procession.
Tit-for-Tat Exchanges Persist on the Lebanese Southern Front
This Is Beirut/April 28, 2024
Clashes persisted in southern Lebanon between Hezbollah and the Israeli army on
Sunday, as diplomatic efforts to de-escalate violence intensified. The Israeli
army conducted a strike on the town of Aita al-Shaab in the Bint Jbeil district
near Rmeish. Throughout the night, the Israeli army bombarded the outskirts of
Tayr Harfa and Dhayra, as well as Maroun al-Ras, causing significant damage to
properties, crops and homes. Around 2 AM, the Israeli army opened fire with
heavy machine guns towards Aita Al-Shaab from their position at Birkat Risha.
Reconnaissance aircraft flew over villages in the western and central sectors,
even reaching the banks of the Litani River, dropping flare bombs over border
villages adjacent to the Blue Line. Additionally, the Israeli army reported
targeting a “Hezbollah military infrastructure in Serbine.”For its part,
Hezbollah announced that it had targeted the settlement of Meron and surrounding
settlements with Katyusha rockets on Saturday night. It also targeted the
Baghdadi site with artillery shells. The pro-Iranian group stated that the
attack on Meron was a response to Israel’s attacks on civilian homes in several
southern areas, including Kfar Kila. It also cited the incidents in Kfarchouba,
where a civilian was killed, and Serbine, where 11 people were wounded by
Israeli aircraft, according to the Lebanese National News Agency. Moreover, “The
Iron Dome air defense system successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target
crossing Lebanon towards the al-Manara region in northern Israel,” according to
a statement from the Israeli army. Additionally, the army identified numerous
anti-tank missile strikes originating from Lebanon towards the al-Manara region
and reported bombing the area where the strikes originated.
Hezbollah fires dozens of rockets at Israel's Meron in
response to attacks
Agence France Presse/April 28, 2024
Hezbollah said it fired overnight dozens of Katyusha rockets at Israel's Meron
settlement and nearby areas in response to attacks on Lebanese towns and
civilian homes, especially in Qawzah, Markaba and Srebbine. On Saturday,
Hezbollah said it targeted northern Israel with drones and guided missiles after
cross-border Israeli strikes killed three people, including two of its members.
A statement from the group said it "launched a complex attack using explosive
drones and guided missiles on the headquarters of the al-Manara military command
and a gathering of forces from the 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade." The
Israeli army said its Iron Dome air-defense system "successfully intercepted a
suspicious aerial target that crossed from Lebanon into the area of Manara in
northern Israel." The army also "struck the sources of fire" of several
anti-tank missiles launched from Lebanon into the Manara border area, it added.
Lebanon's National News Agency later reported that an Israeli airstrike on a
house in Srebbine village had wounded 11 people, one seriously. Earlier
Saturday, Israeli fighter jets "struck a Hezbollah military structure in the
area of Qawzah in southern Lebanon," the Israeli army said in a statement. The
border between Lebanon and Israel has seen near-daily exchanges of fire since
the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza began nearly seven months ago. In two separate
statements earlier Saturday, Hezbollah mourned the deaths of two fighters from
the villages of Kfar Kila and Khiam. It said they had been "martyred on the road
to Jerusalem," the phrase it uses to refer to members killed by Israeli fire.
Qassem: Any expansion of Israeli aggression will be met
with a firm response from Hezbollah
LBCI/April 28, 2024
Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, in a speech during a
commemorative event for employees of the Islamic Religious Education Association
in Beirut, stated that "Hezbollah stood in Lebanon in support of Gaza, and this
support disrupted Israel's military plans in Palestine and Lebanon, both
currently and in the future." Qassem pointed out that "those who cannot see the
future and do not understand this enemy will not be able to grasp the facts,
which suggest that our support will bring benefits that go beyond supporting
Gaza and protecting Lebanon to forming a real deterrent force that confronts
Israel and makes it aware that it cannot overstep the boundaries."He said, "The
initiatives they talk about regarding the issue of Lebanon and southern Lebanon
are not viable if they do not begin with a ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution
starts there."He continued, "If someone presents an initiative titled a
ceasefire in the south to give relief to Israel so it can continue its actions
in Gaza, it means they are inviting us to support the Israeli enemy. We stand
with Gaza and Palestine, not with Israel, so let the ceasefire start in Gaza
first, and then it will cease in Lebanon." He added, "As for the threats that
Israel might attack you or fight you, we say to them that their threats with
Israel only strengthen our conviction in the righteousness of our resistance and
harden our positions. We will see who will benefit from the threats: them or
us.""Read what the Israeli media is saying: since the beginning of the fighting
in the north, around 4,000 rockets and about 6,000 anti-tank rockets have been
launched by Hezbollah'', emphasized the Deputy Secretary-General. He further
stated, "They say that Hezbollah possesses 150,000 rockets and shells, so if we
do the math, that's 3% of our stockpile, which means we have only used 3%
according to the Israeli media during these seven months, causing significant
impact on the displacement of settlers, the substantial losses Israel has
suffered, the depletion of the Israeli army, and demonstrating great resilience
and sacrifice.''
He added, "Do you want more than that? In any case, we are ready."
Qassem explained: "Let Gallant, the enemy's Defense Minister, know who
threatened and said that the main goal is to return the residents of the north
to their homes and that the coming period will be decisive. I tell him that war
cannot return the residents of the north; rather, this war will drive them
further away and may permanently prevent their return.''He remarked: "Continuing
the aggression does not bring back the settlers of the north, and expanding the
aggression in Lebanon complicates their lives further. We call for the world to
wake up and stop the war on Gaza, as this is more realistic." He further pointed
out that "Hezbollah has decided to respond to Israeli aggression proportionally,
ensuring that any expansion of Israeli attacks will be met with increased
response, resistance, and confrontation from Hezbollah and the resistance in
Lebanon. This is a firm decision." "When Israel attacked one of our brothers in
Sarafand, a response was carried out on Tuesday with an attack using three
assault drones that targeted the command headquarters of the Golani Brigade and
the Unit Egoz in the Shraga base north of Acre," Qassem said. He noted,
"According to the Israeli army radio, during this strike, 200,000 Israeli
settlers in the north sought shelter. This was all due to just three drones, so
you can imagine the outcomes if they cross the borders further."
Lebanon, the Undeniable Victim of the Israel-Hezb Conflict
Christiane Tager/This Beirut/April 28/2024
Ten billion dollars. This is the staggering figure of losses in Lebanon put
forward by the Caretaker Minister of Economy, Amine Salam, as a result of the
Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Beyond the human and material losses, there is an
economic dimension that can no longer be ignored. For a country already at the
bottom of the pit, this is one war too many. Conflicts indeed have a significant
humanitarian impact, but they also carry a heavy economic cost that cannot be
overlooked. On average, a war annihilates 15% of a country’s GDP. In this
context, beyond its humanitarian consequences, war slows down economic growth
and intensifies inflation. Overall, the economic risks are multiplied.
Additionally, citizens tend to spend less money on their daily consumption and
save more. They also refrain from purchasing durable goods. Consequently, the
entire economic cycle is disrupted. According to economist Fouad Zmokhol, there
are no exact figures. He points out that the figure of $10 billion put forward
by the Caretaker Minister of Economy, Amine Salam, is entirely plausible. “The
destruction and loss of income in the southern economy, especially in the
agriculture and livestock sectors, are dramatic and will persist in the years to
come due to phosphorus bombings, not to mention the losses in terms of
investment and growth,” he explains.
Devastated Agriculture in the South
Fires have reignited in southern Lebanon since last Wednesday, and seven
villages have been attacked again with phosphorus, according to sources in the
Ministry of Agriculture. “Since the beginning of the war, 55 villages have been
bombed 737 times with phosphorus. 6,000 dunums have caught fire, of which 2,200
have completely burned. These include forests, olive groves, oaks, and fruit
trees,” the aforementioned sources specify. More than 60,000 olive trees and
between 4,000 and 5,000 trees of various species (oaks and pines) have been
destroyed. 55% of woods have been burned, 35% of fruit trees, and 10% of herbs
(parsley, mint, coriander) have been damaged. Tobacco growers will also not be
able to plant this year as they cannot access their land (production represents
about 2 million kilograms, which accounts for 55% of the country’s total
production and generates more than 10 million dollars in revenue). As for fruits
and citrus fruits, on a cultivated area of 7,500 hectares, the South alone
generates 72% of the income from this sector (16.25 million dollars out of a
total of 22.5 million dollars). The South produces 22% of Lebanon’s fruits and
citrus fruits and 38% of the country’s olives, supplying 5,000 out of the 25,000
tons of olive oil produced annually in Lebanon. Thus, the losses suffered during
the bombings can affect up to a fifth of the profits from Lebanese olive
production, which amounts to nearly 23 million dollars.
All these crops generate vital income for the residents of the South, especially
in border villages. Interviewed by This is Beirut, an agricultural expert
explains that it is possible to replant the lands, but first, they need to be
cleaned and checked for soil and water contamination, which is very likely with
the use of white phosphorus. Additionally, significant financial and technical
investments are required to restore full productivity. The ministry has not yet
conducted the required analyses; therefore, it is still impossible to determine
when farmers will be able to resume cultivation of their lands. It should be
noted that 65% of the population in the South works in the agricultural sector,
given that this region benefits from favorable agro-climatic conditions. It is a
highly productive area for a wide variety of products and represents about 80%
of the GDP of southern Lebanon. The Caretaker Minister of Agriculture, Abbas
Hajj Hassan, estimated the losses in the agricultural sector alone to be
“several billion dollars,” emphasizing, however, that this is an estimate as the
war has not yet ended.
A Blow to Hotels
It is also a blow to the tourism industry, which accounts for 20% of the
country’s gross domestic product (GDP). While Lebanese expatriates return to the
country despite tensions at the border, foreign tourists are no longer coming.
Therefore, “the hotel industry is severely affected, with the majority of
Lebanese expatriates owning residences in Lebanon,” said the president of the
Federation of Tourist Syndicates and the Hoteliers Syndicate, Pierre Achkar. He
also mentioned that small mountain hotels, which are not large establishments,
have closed their doors, but they do not formally declare it. They open randomly
for three to four days when they have customers. He emphasized that the real
survival challenge for hotels lies in the exorbitant costs of electricity and
water, expressing despair at any potential state aid. Achkar stated that despite
everything, the situation is not completely bleak, as some establishments like
the Four Seasons or Le Gray are reopening. However, he is convinced that true
hope will only come when the war is over.
Syrian Stabbed to Death in Dora
This Beirut/April 28/2024
A Syrian national was stabbed in the chest and killed by an unknown Lebanese in
front of the “Big Sale” stores in Dora, east of Beirut. The motives behind the
attack are still unknown. As a result, he was taken to St. Joseph Hospital in
Dora, but he soon succumbed to his injuries. The security services rushed to the
scene and started an investigation to identify and track down the killer. The
area is witnessing a state of tension as a number of Syrians gathered in the
street in Dora to protest against the assault amid heavy deployment of the
security services and the Lebanese army.
Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News
published on April 28-29/2024
Israel has agreed to listen to US concerns before any Rafah move, says
White House
(Reuters)/April 28, 2024
Israel has agreed to listen to U.S. concerns and thoughts before it launches an
invasion of the border city of Rafah in Gaza, White House national security
spokesperson John Kirby said on Sunday. Israel's military is poised to evacuate
Palestinian civilians from Rafah and assault Hamas hold-outs there, a senior
Israeli defence official said on Wednesday, despite international warnings of a
humanitarian catastrophe. Washington has said it could not support a Rafah
operation without an appropriate and credible humanitarian plan. "They've
assured us that they won't go into Rafah until we've had a chance to really
share our perspectives and our concerns with them," Kirby told ABC. U.S.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to visit the region next week and Kirby
said he would continue pressing for a temporary ceasefire that Washington wants
to last for at least six weeks. A Hamas delegation will visit Cairo on Monday
for talks aimed at securing a ceasefire, a Hamas official told Reuters. "What
we're hoping is that after six weeks of a temporary ceasefire, we can maybe get
something more enduring in place," said Kirby, who also noted that the number of
aid trucks into the north of Gaza was starting to increase."The Israelis have
started to meet the commitments that (U.S.) President (Joe) Biden asked them to
meet," he said. Earlier this month Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
to protect Palestinian civilians and foreign aid workers in Gaza or Washington
could rein in support for Israel in its war against Hamas militants.
Israel will scale up amount of aid going into Gaza, military says
JERUSALEM (Reuters)/Sun, April 28, 2024The amount of humanitarian
aid going into the Gaza Strip will be ramped up in coming days, Israel's
military said on Sunday, citing new corridors that use an Israeli seaport and
border crossings into the Palestinian enclave.
After closing off access to Gaza following the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that set
off the war, Israel has since allowed in aid convoys amid growing international
pressure to boost the amount of supplies to feed Gaza's 2.3 million people. A
spiraling humanitarian crisis has prompted calls from Israel's Western and Arab
partners to do more to facilitate the entry of aid to the enclave, where most
are homeless, many face famine, and where civilian infrastructure is devastated
and disease widespread. The United States said earlier this month it welcomed
Israel's latest efforts to allow in more humanitarian aid, but success would be
measured in results in improving the situation on the ground. "Over the last few
weeks, the amount of humanitarian aid going into Gaza has significantly
increased. In the coming days, the amount of aid going into Gaza will continue
to scale up even more," spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a
statement. "Food, water, medical supplies, shelter equipment and other aid -
more of it is going into Gaza than ever before," Hagari said. Separately,
U.S.-based charity World Central Kitchen said it would resume operations in the
Gaza Strip on Monday, a month after seven of its workers were killed in an
Israeli air strike.Hagari said the aid increase is a result of using Israel's
Ashdod port, as well as a new crossing into northern Gaza and increased aid from
Jordan entering through the Kerem Shalom border crossing at the southern tip of
Gaza. Israel is also working with U.S. Central Command to construct a "temporary
maritime pier," which will allow ship-to-shore distribution, Hagari said.
"Getting aid to the people of Gaza is a top priority —because our war is against
Hamas, not against the people of Gaza," he added.
Blinken to visit Israel, Jordan on new Mideast trip
AFP/April 28, 2024
SHANNON, Ireland: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel and
Jordan on a trip through Wednesday, the State Department announced, after the US
and Israeli leaders discussed hostage-release talks. Blinken will travel to both
countries, a State Department official confirmed as the top US diplomat refueled
Sunday in Ireland. The trip was announced after President Joe Biden and Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone about ongoing talks to halt
Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip in return for the release of hostages.
Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been trying to mediate a new truce
between Israel and Hamas for months, as public pressure mounts for a deal. Biden
also reiterated concerns about Israel launching an operation in Rafah, the
southern Gaza city where more than one million Palestinians have taken shelter.
The State Department did not immediately announce details of the two stops.
Gaza aid pier ready in two to three weeks: US
AFP/REUTERS/April 28, 2024
WASHINGTON: The White House said on Sunday that a US-made pier meant to boost
aid to Gaza would become operational in a few weeks but cannot replace land
routes with trucks as the best way to feed people in the territory. Israel’s
more than six-month war against Hamas in Gaza has triggered a humanitarian
crisis, and it faces growing pressure to enable more aid deliveries as the UN
warns famine is imminent. The Pentagon said last week that the US military had
begun building a pier to speed up aid deliveries. “It will take probably two to
three weeks before we can see an operation,” White House national security
spokesman John Kirby said Sunday on ABC News. Kirby said the floating platform
to bring more food and other essentials to Gaza will help, but it has limits.
“Nothing can replace, quite frankly, the ground routes and the trucks that are
getting in,” Kirby said. After the killing of seven aid workers in an Israel
strike on April 1, which drew international outrage, President Joe Biden bluntly
told Israel to change the way it is waging the war. He said it was imperative
that Israel let in more aid and take more pains to avoid Palestinian civilian
casualties. Biden said continued US aid to Israel would depend on such changes
being made. Kirby said Israel is now, in fact, letting in more trucks, including
in the particularly hard-hit north of Gaza. “The Israelis have started to meet
the commitments President Biden asked them to meet,” he said. Plans for the pier
were first announced by President Biden in early March, as Israel was being
accused of holding up aid deliveries on land. Kirby also said Israel had agreed
to listen to US concerns and thoughts before it launched an invasion of the
border city of Rafah in Gaza. “They’ve assured us that they won’t go into Rafah
until we’ve had a chance to really share our perspectives and concerns with
them,” Kirby told ABC. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to visit the
region next week and Kirby said he would continue pressing for a temporary
ceasefire that Washington wants to last for at least six weeks. A Hamas official
said a delegation will visit Cairo on Monday for talks to secure a ceasefire.
Biden and Netanyahu speak as pressure on Israel’s
planned Rafah attack increases
AP/April 28, 2024
TEL AVIV, Israel: The White House on Sunday said US President Joe Biden had
again spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as pressure builds
on Israel and Hamas to reach a deal that would free some Israeli hostages and
bring a ceasefire in the nearly seven-month-long war in Gaza.
The White House said that Biden reiterated his “clear position” as Israel plans
to invade Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah despite global concern for more than
1 million Palestinians sheltering there. The US opposes the invasion on
humanitarian grounds, straining relations between the allies. Israel is among
the countries US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit as he returns to
the Middle East on Monday. Biden also stressed that progress in delivery of
humanitarian aid to Gaza be “sustained and enhanced,” according to the
statement. The call lasted just under an hour, and they agreed the onus remains
on Hamas to accept the latest offer in negotiations, according to a US official
who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official wasn’t authorized to
comment publicly. There was no comment from Netanyahu’s office. A senior
official from key intermediary Qatar, meanwhile, urged Israel and Hamas to show
“more commitment and more seriousness” in negotiations. Qatar, which hosts Hamas’
headquarters in Doha, was instrumental along with the US and Egypt in helping
negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of
dozens of hostages. But in a sign of frustration, Qatar this month said that it
was reassessing its role.An Israeli delegation is expected in Egypt in the
coming days to discuss the latest proposals in negotiations, and senior Hamas
official Basem Naim said in a message to The Associated Press that a delegation
from the militant group will also head to Cairo. Egypt’s state-owned Al Qahera
News satellite television channel said that the delegation would arrive on
Monday.
The comments by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari in
interviews with the liberal daily Haaretz and Israeli public broadcaster Kan
were published and aired Saturday evening. Al-Ansari expressed disappointment
with Hamas and Israel, saying each side has made decisions based on political
interests and not with civilians’ welfare in mind. He didn’t reveal details on
the talks other than to say they have “effectively stopped,” with “both sides
entrenched in their positions.”Al-Ansari’s remarks came after an Egyptian
delegation discussed with Israeli officials a “new vision” for a prolonged
ceasefire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of
anonymity to freely discuss developments. The Egyptian official said that
Israeli officials are open to discussing establishing a permanent ceasefire in
Gaza as part of the second phase of a deal. Israel has refused to end the war
until it defeats Hamas. The second phase would start after the release of
civilian and sick hostages, and would include negotiating the release of
soldiers, the official added. Senior Palestinian prisoners would be released and
a reconstruction process launched. Negotiations earlier this month centered on a
six-week ceasefire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages
held by Hamas in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in
Israeli jails.A letter written by Biden and 17 other world leaders urged Hamas
to release their citizens immediately. In recent days, Hamas has released new
videos of three hostages, an apparent push for Israel to make concessions.
The growing pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach a ceasefire deal is also
meant to avert an Israeli attack on Rafah, the city on the border with Egypt
where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population is seeking shelter. Israel
has massed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles. The planned incursion has
raised global alarm. “Only a small strike is all it takes to force everyone to
leave Palestine,” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asserted to the opening
session of the World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia, adding that he believed an
invasion would happen within days.
But White House national security spokesman John Kirby told ABC that Israel
“assured us they won’t go into Rafah until we’ve had a chance to really share
our perspectives and concerns with them. So, we’ll see where that goes.”The
Israeli troop buildup may also be a pressure tactic on Hamas in talks. Israel
sees Rafah as Hamas’ last major stronghold. It vows to destroy the group’s
military and governing capabilities. Aid groups have warned that an invasion of
Rafah would worsen the already desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza, where
hunger is widespread. About 400 tons of aid arrived Sunday at the Israeli port
of Ashdod — the largest shipment yet by sea via Cyprus — according to the United
Arab Emirates. It wasn’t immediately clear how or when it would be delivered
into Gaza.
Also on Sunday, World Central Kitchen said that it would resume operations in
Gaza on Monday, ending a four-week suspension after Israeli military drones
killed seven of its aid workers. The organization has 276 trucks ready to enter
through the Rafah crossing and will also send trucks into Gaza from Jordan, a
statement said. It’s also examining if the Ashdod port can be used to offload
supplies. The war was sparked by Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 into southern Israel,
which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities,
who say another 250 people were taken hostage. Hamas and other groups are
holding about 130 people, including the remains of about 30, Israeli authorities
say. Israel’s retaliatory assault on Hamas has killed more than 34,000 people,
most of them women and children, according to health authorities in Gaza, who do
not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their tally.
The Israeli military blames Hamas for civilian casualties, accusing it of
embedding in residential and public areas. It says it has killed at least 12,000
militants, without providing evidence.
Displacement of Palestinians from embattled Gaza
confronts Egypt with array of challenges
NADIA AL-FAOUR/Arab News/April 28, 2024
CAIRO: More than 1 million Palestinian refugees have found their last refuge in
Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city on the Egyptian border, where they grimly await
a widely expected Israeli offensive against Hamas holdouts in the area.
Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians, many of them with the help of family
members already outside Gaza, have managed to cross the border into Egypt, where
they remain in a state of limbo, wondering if they will ever return home. For
its part, the Egyptian government faces the prospect of a mass influx of
Palestinians from Gaza into Sinai should Israel ignore international appeals to
drop its plan to strike Hamas commanders in Rafah. Although the Egyptian public
is sympathetic to the Palestinian plight, shouldering the responsibility of
hosting refugees from Gaza is fraught with security implications and economic
costs, thereby posing a difficult dilemma. Furthermore, despite taking in
refugees from Sudan, Yemen and Syria, the Egyptian government has been cautious
about permitting an influx of Palestinians, as officials fear the expulsion of
Gazans would destroy any possibility of a future Palestinian state. “Egypt has
reaffirmed and is reiterating its vehement rejection of the forced displacement
of the Palestinians and their transfer to Egyptian lands in Sinai,” Abdel Fattah
El-Sisi, the Egyptian president, told a peace summit in Cairo last November.
Such a plan would “mark the last gasp in the liquidation of the Palestinian
cause, shatter the dream of an independent Palestinian state, and squander the
struggle of the Palestinian people and that of the Arab and Islamic peoples over
the course of the Palestinian cause that has endured for 75 years,” he added.
Additionally, if Palestinians now living in Rafah are uprooted by an Israeli
military offensive, Egypt would be left to carry the burden of a massive
humanitarian crisis, at a time when the country is confronting daunting economic
challenges. Although Egypt earlier this year landed its largest foreign
investment from the UAE, totaling some $35 billion, experts believe that the
economic crisis is far from over, with public debt in 2023 totaling more than 90
percent of gross domestic product and the local currency falling 38 percent
against the dollar.
Salma Hussein, a senior researcher in economy and public policies in Egypt,
believes Egypt is not in the clear yet. “We are slightly covered but we will
need more money flowing in and bigger investments,” she told Arab News. “We also
have large sums of debt we need to pay back. The IMF pretty much recycled our
debt and we have interest rates to cover. “In times of political instability, we
see a lot of dollars leaving the country in both legal and illegal ways. This
happened in 2022 and it also happened during the last presidential elections in
2023. “I think the same thing will happen again now due to what’s happening in
the region. This is all a loss of capital which can affect us.” She is confident
foreign assistance will be offered. And although the cost of hosting refugees
will be high, there are many economic benefits to be had from absorbing another
population — even for the Arab world’s most populous country. “Egypt is too big
to fail,” said Hussein. “There will be a bailout of its economy when it’s in
deep trouble. And while investments and loans might not turn into prosperity,
they will at least keep the country afloat. This is where we are now. “As for
the presence of a growing number of Palestinian refugees, I don’t think any
country in the world had its economy damaged by accepting refugees. On the
contrary, it might actually benefit from a new workforce, from educated young
people, and from wealthy people who are able to relocate their money to their
country of residence.”
FASTFACTS
• 1.1 million+ Palestinians who have sought refuge in Rafah from fighting
elsewhere in Gaza.
• 14 Children among 18 killed in Israeli strikes on Rafah on April 20.
• 34,000 Total death toll of Palestinians in Israel-Hamas war since Oct. 7,
2023.
However, it is not just the economic consequences of a Palestinians influx that
is unnerving Egyptian officials. This wave of refugees would likely include a
substantial number of Hamas members, who might go on to fuel local support for
the Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas shares strong ideological links with the Muslim
Brotherhood, which briefly controlled Egypt under the presidency of Mohamed
Morsi in 2012-13 and has since been outlawed. Since Morsi was forced from power,
the country has been targeted by Islamist groups, which have launched attacks on
Egyptian military bases in the Sinai Peninsula. The government is concerned that
these Islamist groups could recruit among displaced Palestinians. The decision
might be out of Egypt’s hands, however. Several members of Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition government have publicly
called for the displacement and transfer of Palestinians in Gaza into
neighboring countries. Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, previously
said that the departure of the Palestinians would make way for “Israelis to make
the desert bloom” — meaning the land’s reoccupation by Israeli settlers.Itamar
Ben-Gvir, Israel’s minister of security, also said: “We yelled and we warned, if
we don’t want another Oct. 7, we need to return home and control the land.”Up to
100,000 Palestinians live in Egypt, many of them survivors of the Nakba of 1948
and their descendants. Their numbers steadily rose when Gamal Abdel Nasser came
into power in 1954 and permitted Palestinians to live and work in the country.
However, matters changed after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Palestinians became
foreign nationals, excluded from state services and no longer granted the
automatic right to residency. The precise number of Palestinians who have
arrived in Egypt since the Gaza war began after Oct. 7 has not been officially
recorded. Those who have made it to Egypt, where they are hosted by sympathetic
Egyptian families, fear they will be permanently displaced if Israel does not
allow them back into Gaza. Many now struggle financially, having lost their
homes and livelihoods during the war. For host families, this act of charity is
an additional burden on their own stretched finances. “We feel for the
Palestinians but our hands are tied,” one Egyptian host in Cairo, who asked to
remain anonymous, told Arab News.
“I am struggling financially myself, but I cannot bring myself to ask for rent
from a man who lost his entire family and now lives with his sole surviving
daughters.”
On the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, trucks carrying aid and
consumer goods are idling in queues stretching for miles, waiting for Israeli
forces to permit entry and the distribution of vital cargo. Israel has been
limiting the flow of aid into Gaza since the war began, leading to shortages of
essentials in the embattled enclave. Although Israel and Washington say the
amount of aid permitted to enter has increased, UN agencies claim it is still
well below what is needed. Meanwhile, the truck drivers are forced to wait, many
of them sleeping in their cabs or carrying makeshift beds with them. “I’d do
this with or without a salary,” the trucker said. “Those are our brothers and
sisters who are starving and dying.”With events in Gaza out of their control,
all Egyptians feel they can do is help in whatever small way they can — and hope
that the war ends soon without a Palestinian exodus. “It is unfathomable to me
that we are carrying life-saving equipment and food literally just hours away
from a people subjected to a genocide, and there are yet no orders to enter Gaza
through the border,” the truck driver said. “It shames me. I park here and I
wait, and continue to wait. I will not leave until I unburden this load, which
has become a moral duty now more than anything.”
Hamas says no ‘major’ issues, as Gaza truce effort
builds
AFP/April 28, 2024
JERUSALEM: Hamas said Sunday it had no “major issues” after reviewing Israel’s
latest proposal for a long-sought truce and hostage-release deal in the Gaza
Strip after almost seven months of war. A delegation from the Islamist movement
will arrive in Egypt on Monday to deliver the group’s response to Israel’s
counterproposal, a senior Hamas official told AFP. “The atmosphere is positive
unless there are new Israeli obstacles,” said the official, speaking on
condition of anonymity. “There are no major issues in the observations and
inquiries submitted by Hamas regarding the contents” of the proposal, the
official added. Israel’s government has come under intense pressure from global
allies to reach a ceasefire in the war that humanitarians say has brought Gaza
to the brink of famine, reduced much of it to rubble, and raised fears of
broader conflict. Protesters within Israel are demanding that the government
secure freedom for hostages seized by militants during their October 7 attack
that triggered the war. Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been trying to
mediate a new truce ever since a one-week halt to the fighting in November saw
80 Israeli hostages exchanged for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Hamas’s unprecedented October attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,170
people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli
official figures. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,454
people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in
the Hamas-run territory. Israel estimates that 129 hostages are still being held
in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead. Hamas has previously insisted
on a permanent ceasefire — a condition Israel has rejected. However, the Axios
news website, citing two Israeli officials, reported that Israel’s latest
proposal includes a willingness to discuss the “restoration of sustainable calm”
in Gaza after hostages are released.
It is the first time that Israeli leaders have suggested they are open to
discussing an end to the war, Axios said. A Hamas source close to the
negotiations had told AFP the group “is open to discussing the new proposal
positively” and is “keen to reach an agreement that guarantees a permanent
ceasefire, the free return of displaced people, an acceptable deal for
(prisoner) exchange and ensuring an end to the siege” in Gaza. As diplomatic
efforts intensified, US President Joe Biden spoke with Israel’s Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu by phone Sunday and reviewed the ongoing talks, the White
House said.
Countries hoping to broker a ceasefire are among those at a summit in Saudi
Arabia, whose Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the international
community has failed Gaza. “The situation in Gaza obviously is a catastrophe by
every measure — humanitarian, but also a complete failing of the existing
political system to deal with that crisis,” Prince Faisal told the World
Economic Forum (WEF) special meeting in Riyadh. He reiterated that only “a
credible, irreversible path to a Palestinian state” will prevent the world from
confronting “this same situation two, three, four years down the line.”
Netanyahu’s hard-right government rejects calls for a Palestinian state.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, whose Palestinian Authority has partial
administrative control in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, appealed at the WEF
meeting for the United States to stop Israel from invading Rafah, which he said
would be “the biggest disaster in the history of the Palestinian people.”Israel
vows to go after Hamas battalions in the southern Gaza city on the border with
Egypt, but the prospect has raised global alarm because much of Gaza’s
population has sought shelter there. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who
backs steps toward a Palestinian state, is among the high-ranking global
officials due in Riyadh. He will also visit Israel and Jordan on a trip through
Wednesday, the State Department announced. Gaza’s health ministry on Sunday
reported at least 66 deaths in the previous 24 hours, down from a peak this
month of at least 153 deaths on April 9. Israel’s military said its jets had
struck dozens of targets.
Israeli demonstrators have intensified protests for their government to reach a
deal that would free the captives, accusing Netanyahu of prolonging the war.
Netanyahu, on trial for corruption charges he denies, leads a coalition
including religious and ultra-nationalist parties. On Sunday two of his
ministers opposed a truce deal. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich
wrote on X that if Netanyahu does not proceed with the Rafah operation his
government “will have no right to exist.”War cabinet member Benny Gantz,
Netanyahu’s main rival who has called for early elections, said Rafah “is
important in the long struggle against Hamas.”In February Netanyahu said any
truce deal would not prevent a Rafah operation. UN humanitarian agency OCHA has
warned that “famine thresholds in Gaza will be breached within the next six
weeks” if massive food aid does not arrive. At a Rafah market, shoppers said
prices of fresh vegetables have escalated. Mohammed Sarhan, 48, said 100 shekels
used to buy enough for a week, but now they “are not enough for one meal for my
family.”The White House said Sunday that a US-made pier meant to boost aid to
Gaza will become operational in two to three weeks but cannot replace land
routes. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on ABC News that
Israel is letting in more trucks, in line with “commitments that President Biden
asked them to meet.”A cargo ship, the Jennifer, which left Cyprus carrying aid
from the United Arab Emirates, was off Israel’s Ashdod port on Sunday night, the
vesselfinder.com tracker showed. The Gaza war has led to increased violence
between Israel and Iran’s proxies and allies, in particular the Iran-backed
militant group Hezbollah along the border with Lebanon. French Foreign Minister
Stephane Sejourne, in Beirut Sunday, said “no one has an interest in Israel and
Hezbollah continuing this escalation.”
Jordanian PM, Palestinian president meet in Riyadh
ARAB NEWS/April 28, 2024
RIYADH: Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh met with Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas during a special session of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh on
Monday, Jordan News Agency reported. Khasawneh reaffirmed Jordan’s support for
the Palestinian cause and its commitment to providing assistance to Palestinians
in their pursuit of legitimate rights on their national soil. He said that
lasting peace and stability in the region depend on a political resolution
within the framework of a two-state solution. Khasawneh said that such a
solution should lead to the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign
Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the lines of
June 4, 1967. He underlined Jordan's efforts to halt the war in Gaza and ensure
sustained humanitarian aid flow. Jordan remains committed to delivering aid to
Gaza through both land crossings and airdrops conducted by the Jordanian army,
Khasawneh said. In a CNN interview earlier this month, Jordan’s Queen Rania
explained the reason for the airdrops in an area where the UN has reported a
widespread food crisis. “We found that after trying so hard in vain to persuade
Israel to open the land access points, that we had to do something. We couldn’t
just sit idle and watch people starving,” she said. Khasawneh also warned
against any Israeli military assault on the Palestinian city of Rafah. Both
parties agreed to convene meetings of the Jordanian-Palestinian Joint Higher
Committee in Amman in early June, led by the respective prime ministers.
Students and children in Gaza thank pro-Palestinian protesters at US college
campuses
Tareq Alhelou, Kareem Khadder, Abeer Salman and Zeena Saifi, CNN/April 28, 2024
Dozens of Palestinian students and children staged a display of solidarity at a
demonstration in southern Gaza on Sunday to express gratitude for the support
seen on US college campuses in recent weeks. Video from the Shaboura refugee
camp in Rafah shows children holding banners with messages that read: “Students
of Columbia University, continue to stand by us” and, “Violating our right to
education and life is a war crime.” The students gathered around makeshift tents
near a school that now serves as a shelter for Palestinians displaced from
northern Gaza. Footage shows people spray-painting messages of gratitude on the
fabric of the tents. “Thank you, students in solidarity with Gaza. Your message
has reached (us),” says one of the messages. Takfeer Abu-Yousuf, a displaced
student from Beit Hanoun in Northern Gaza, told CNN from the camp he felt it was
necessary to thank the students in the US who “supported us with their
humanity.”“Those are thank you messages on our tents, those tents that don’t
protect us from the heat or cold. The least we can do is thank them. We can’t
write these thank you messages on the walls of our homes because we have no
homes. They have been destroyed on top of our children, elders, and women,” he
said. Eighteen-year-old Rana Al-Taher pointed to the school in the camp, telling
CNN that what should have been a place for learning and education has become a
place for sheltering. “That means that we have lost our education. We have lost
our only hope in Gaza and we want it back. We’re here to ask for it back. It’s
our right to have it back… that’s why we’re here,” she said. According to the
UN, there have been “direct hits” on more than 200 schools in Gaza since
Israel’s bombardment began. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has
said that “no education is happening in Gaza at all for nearly six months.”In a
recent report, UN experts decried the “systemic obliteration” of Gaza’s
education system. “The persistent, callous attacks on educational infrastructure
in Gaza have a devastating long-term impact on the fundamental rights of people
to learn and freely express themselves, depriving yet another generation of
Palestinians of their future,” the experts said. First-year university student
Bayan Al-Fiqhi told CNN she has not been able to attend her classes at her
university in Cairo since the war in Gaza began and was very appreciative to
students in the US for “staging their solidarity protest.” “We hope they add
pressure on Israel and the US to stop the bloodbath that is taking place in the
Gaza Strip and to prevent the invasion of Rafah,” she added. The fate of Rafah
has been hanging over the 1.3 million Palestinians displaced there. There have
been weeks of speculation around when Israel might begin its anticipated
military operation in the city. The UN has repeatedly warned against an Israeli
ground invasion, saying an offensive “could lead to slaughter” in the southern
region. Twenty-one-year-old Nowar Diab told CNN she lamented the impact Israel’s
bombardment of Gaza has had on her academic pursuits. “I was supposed to be a
graduate this year. I studied English and French literature at Al-Azhar
university, but Al-Azhar university got bombarded… this war stood like a border
between me and my dreams and the beginning of my career,” she said. “Today I am
standing here to tell the whole world that we, Gazan students, go through pain
and we suffer every single day,” she added. Diab said despite the brutality of
Israel’s war, the resilience and determination of Gazan students to persevere
was clear for the world to see.
UAE field hospital in Gaza provides prosthetics for wounded
Palestinians
ARAB NEWS/April 28, 2024
RIYADH: The UAE field hospital in Gaza has begun the process of fitting
prosthetics for individuals who lost limbs during Israel’s war on the encalve,
Emirates News Agency reported on Sunday. The hospital revealed plans to
distribute 61 prosthetics to wounded people over several phases, with each phase
accommodating 10 individuals for the fitting process, coupled with physical and
psychological rehabilitation support. Established last December, the UAE field
hospital in Gaza boasts a capacity of 200 beds and operates with a medical team
comprising 98 volunteers from 23 different countries, including 73 men and 25
women. Since then, the hospital has conducted a total of 1,517 major and minor
surgeries, catering to over 18,000 cases necessitating medical intervention.
Their services range from initial first aid to life-saving surgeries, provision
of essential treatments and medications, intensive care, and ongoing medical
consultations and support.
Houthis expecting ‘hostile’ reaction from US over Red Sea attacks, drone downing
SAEED AL-BATATI/Arab News/April 28, 2024
AL-MUKALLA: The Houthis claim the US is planning a new round of strikes on Yemen
in response to its attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the downing of an
American drone. In a post on X on Saturday afternoon, Hussein Al-Ezzi, the
militia’s deputy foreign minister, said: “Now America and its mercenaries are
considering new hostile plans, and we tell them the same thing: you will
fail.”In a separate message, posted on X on Saturday morning, Al-Ezzi said the
Houthis were aware that the US was plotting a fresh military campaign against
them and pledged to strike back against US interests wherever they may be.
That warning came after military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the militia
launched missiles at the British-owned and Panamanian-flagged Andromeda Star oil
tanker in the Red Sea and shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone above its stronghold
in the northern province of Saada. US Defense Department spokesperson Lt. Col.
Bryon J. McGarry told The Associated Press on Saturday that an MQ-9 drone had
crashed in Yemen and that an inquiry was underway. The US Central Command said
on Saturday morning that the Andromeda Star received minor damage after being
hit by missiles launched by the Houthis on Friday afternoon. Shipping website
Marinetraffic.com said the tanker was traveling from the Port of Sudan to an
unnamed destination. Houthi missiles on Friday also fell near the MV MAISHA, an
oil tanker controlled by Liberia and traveling under the flag of Antigua and
Barbuda, the Central Command said. Since November, the Houthis have seized one
commercial ship, sunk another and launched hundreds of missiles and drones at
commercial and navy vessels in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of
Aden. The group claims it targets vessels bound for or with links to Israel in a
bid to force it to break its blockade on the Gaza Strip. On Wednesday, the
Houthis ended a nearly two-week break in their attacks by claiming credit for
hitting a US-owned ship, a US Navy destroyer and an Israeli vessel in the Gulf
of Aden and Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the Yemeni government and the Houthis
swapped accusations on Saturday after a drone laden with explosives killed five
women in the Maqbanah district of Taiz province. The government said the Houthis
launched the drone at women gathering water from a well and also fired artillery
rounds and heavy machine guns into civilian areas and military sites southeast
of Taiz. The Houthi Ministry of Health said three women and two children were
killed after a drone launched by Yemeni government soldiers cut through a crowd
of villagers getting water from a well in Al-Shajeen village in Maqbanah.
Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources
published on April 28-29/2024
Exodus From Bibi
Doron Weber/Time/April 28/2024
As we mark Passover, when Jews celebrate their founding liberation from a
tyrannical Pharaoh who enslaved them, the sages remind us Pharaohs come in all
guises and liberation is not a one-time event. It must be re-enacted in each
generation and in each heart.
Today,16 million Jews in a world of eight billion face rising external threats.
The indigenous home of the Jewish people and the lone Jewish state among 195
countries is encircled by Iranian-armed proxies committed to its annihilation
and by increasing global delegitimization.
Yet it’s hard to find a graver internal challenge to both Israel and world Jewry
than Benjamin Netanyahu.
Yes, echad mishelanu, one of ours. Democratically elected by a sovereign Jewish
nation in whose affairs, American Jews are repeatedly warned, it is wrong to
interfere or even criticize.
But just as any Jew in America may speak out against a foreign potentate such as
Vladimir Putin or Victor Orban, we are free to criticize any world leader.
Especially a distracted, criminally indicted Prime Minister who failed to
protect the Jewish homeland from its worst-ever, mass-casualty attack and whose
reactionary ultra-nationalism tests our values and identity as Jews.
Netanyahu did not just fail Israelis on 10/7 and in the mismanaged war since,
his actions directly imperil our own status and safety in America. Our
children’s, too.
We must also decry a grandiose, divisive figure whose small country depends on
our support and our votes in Congress but who provincially smashed U.S.
pro-Israel bipartisanship and even endangers America’s standing and stability.
If dual loyalty is an anti-Semitic trope, so is dual disloyalty.
On this Passover, we must call out Benjamin Netanyahu’s rap sheet of multiple
misdeeds and catastrophic failures. He is incontrovertibly Israel’s longest
serving and worst Prime Minister. A once-blessed-seeming and accomplished figure
who still holds parts of his nation in thrall—for all their hardheadedness, the
children of Israel remain susceptible to false idols—Netanyahu has turned into a
corrupt and destructive autocrat, an Israeli Pharaoh.
Having decimated albeit not eradicated the terrorist army he long bolstered,
Netanyahu could end the Gaza war and rescue every Israeli hostage while offering
Palestinians, absent Hamas, a pathway to govern a demilitarized Gaza under an
international force. But instead, he’s scheming to stay in power by pandering to
the messianic Israeli right (whom he elevated) and avoiding elections until his
battered reputation recovers. He’s prolonging the war and dire humanitarian
crisis and risking new conflicts while squandering a historic opportunity for a
US-Saudi-Israel pact and Israeli-Palestinian progress.
Appallingly, he’s reverting to the same inflammatory language that launched him
as the anti-Rabin, anti-Oslo rabble rouser in 1995 but whose repeated failure as
policy—suppressing moderate Palestinians, thus granting extremists a
foothold—contributed to the unprecedented catastrophe of October 7.
It is a bitter, tragic but underappreciated irony that amid all its fall-out,
the cataclysm of 10/7 proved the far-reaching, extra-legal veracity of the three
criminal charges against Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial: "fraud,
bribery and breach of trust.” This was far worse than trading political favors
and regulatory benefits for lavish gifts and flattering coverage from moguls.
Netanyahu’s greatest, long-term “fraud” (the Palestinians are a sideshow and can
be safely marginalized) and his systematic policy of “bribery” to perpetuate
that fraud (paying off the violently Islamist Hamas to buy quiet and undermine
the Oslo-abiding Palestinian Authority) were fatally implicated on 10/7. The
upshot? Netanyahu’s seismic and ignominious “breach of trust” with the Israeli
public: his failure to protect the nation, his most sacred obligation, leading
to Israel’s worst one-day death toll and the greatest loss of Jewish lives since
the Holocaust.
It's hard to overstate how 10/7 was a total refutation of Netanyahu’s 30-year
policy regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ensuring Israel’s
security. He was completely, cataclysmically, wrong. Thousands of abandoned
Israel civilians paid the price in blood and trauma and will continue to pay for
a generation. (Notwithstanding 200,000 internally displaced Israelis.)
Yet now Netanyahu outrageously tries to dodge and spin his colossal failure. He
pretends Israel’s most racist, anti-Palestinian, ultra-right government that he
assembled and led did not bring about this disaster. Or that he wasn’t
repeatedly warned his judicial overreach was undermining Israel’s military and
inviting attack.
Like the son who murders both parents, then demands mercy as an orphan,
Netanyahu now claims only he can defend Israel from the same Jihadist group he
propped up for years to avoid negotiating with its secular, more moderate
alternative. Can you really trust this compromised, ineffective man to protect
the Jewish state? Or to conduct a strategic war with accountability for Israeli
hostages, Palestinian non-combatants and a coherent post-war plan?
Underneath his political brilliance and wily rhetoric, Netanyahu is a repeat
failure. And one-man wrecking crew. He has strengthened Israel’s greatest enemy,
enhancing Iran’s nuclear, ballistic and proxy capability while cementing its
alliance with Russia and China. Simultaneously, he weakened Israel’s crucial
U.S. alliance, damaged Israel’s international reputation and provoked
anti-Semitism globally. He’s even stealthily continuing the judicial coup that
led to extraordinary nationwide protests against his corruption and
illiberalism.
We should urge Netanyahu’s replacement now despite the ongoing war in Gaza,
knowing every decision he makes is tainted by self-interest, not always Israel’s
best interest.
The generals in the War Cabinet don’t need him and any of his rivals from the
non-extremist right, center or left could do a better job tomorrow.
If this Pharoah won’t let his people go, they need to let him go!
I propose a new song of liberation for this year's Haggadah. It draws on a
popular Seder song about gratitude that lists all the great deeds God performed
for the Jewish people, answered by “Dayenu,” meaning “it would have been enough”
(had he only done this one thing for us). But in the contrarian spirit of this
new song for change, celebrants compile a list of many awful things Netanyahu
has done and declare our ingratitude to him. And we remind ourselves each bad
act alone should have been enough to eject him. The list culminatesin
theunmitigated disaster of October 7 and the equally disastrous war since.
How many of Bibi’s iniquities can you list for this year’s Seder?
But Israel’s haters and anti-Semites beware. This new song aims to strengthen
the Jewish state and the Jewish people, not weaken them.
It’s a song for Jews who celebrate freedom and reject oppression. Palestinians
and faithful Muslims must do their own reckoning with the despotism, debauchery,
and fanaticism of Hamas. If the Jews need a new Moses to show them a more
tolerant, transformative vision of the Promised Land, Palestinians need a new
Mohammed who can free them from the bondage of Hamas and promote the Islamic
virtues of peace and reconciliation.
There has been too much suffering and death on all sides. Israel must replace
Netanyahu and re-establish its long-term security and its moral standing while
moving beyond the 57-year occupation of the West Bank and the siege of Gaza.
Palestinians must replace Hamas and choose new leadership that upholds both
their struggle for autonomy and their ethical values.
No progress is possible without both internal and external liberation.
Dayenu. Enough already!
Contact us at [email protected].
'You Have a Beautiful Daughter...': The Persecution of
Christians, March 2024
Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/April 28, 2024
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https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/129259/129259/
[O]n March 25, the Lahore High Court in Pakistan awarded custody of a
13-year-old Christian girl to her Muslim kidnapper.
Charges were filed, "but instead of arresting the two suspects, police tipped
them off .... Since that time, they have been threatening me and my mother to
withdraw the case or face the consequences." – Morning Star News, March 8,
2024, Pakistan.
"Christians are obviously a despised minority [in Yemen]... Christians are often
last in line as it relates to being able to receive the care and attention there
as war and as these things continue to escalate. That has a ripple effect ...
while Christians were already last [in] line, that line becomes even further
elongated." — Open Doors USA CEO Ryan Brown, Christian Broadcasting Network,
March 8, 2024.
"I thought it only happened elsewhere." — Mayor of Clermont d'Excideuil, France,
March 11, 2024.
The Muslim Slaughter of Christians
Russia: On March 22, Muslim terrorists armed with automatic weapons launched an
attack on Crocus City Hall near Moscow, massacring at least 139 people and
wounding more. Boasting of "killing Christians," ISIS quickly claimed the attack
in a statement that said the assault was intentionally designed to target
"thousands of Christians." Two months earlier, ISIS issued a communique to the
"Lions of Islam" — presumably Muslim "avengers" around the world — to terrorize
and slaughter Christians and Jews, including by targeting churches and
synagogues. An excerpt follows:
"Chase your preys whether Jewish, Christian or their allies, on the streets and
roads of America, Europe, and the world. Break into their homes, kill them and
steal their peace of mind by any means you can lay hands on..... [S]hoot them
with bullets, cut their throats with sharp knives, and run them over with
vehicles. A sincere person will not lack the means to draw blood from the hearts
of the Jews, the Christians, and their allies, and thus ease the suffering in
the hearts of the believers. Come at them from every door, kill them by the
worst of means, turn their gatherings and celebrations into bloody massacres, do
not distinguish between a civilian kaffir, and a military one, for they are all
kuffar and the ruling against them is one.... Intentionally seek easy targets
before hard ones, civilian targets before military one, religious targets like
synagogues and churches before others, for this will satisfy the soul."
Uganda: On March 30, Muslims hacked a Christian man to death for leading
Muslims—all of whom immediately went into hiding—to Christ. Ronald Twinomugisha
was 32. According to his neighbor, an eyewitness, men dressed in Islamic attire
entered into Ronald's home around 7 p.m.:
"At around 8 p.m. I heard an alarm and a call for help then followed by a loud
bang like that of splitting firewood. It was a loud wailing saying, 'Please
don't kill me! Please don't kill me! I am working for Jesus Christ! Please,
Jesus is the one who sent me!' I feared to come out of my house, but shortly the
voice stopped."
Ronald's body was later found in a pool of his own blood:
"The attackers left a note saying, 'We learned what you have been teaching, and
misleading Muslims and leading them to a wrong religion from the course and path
of Allah.'"
Separately, on March 8, Muslims murdered another Christian man for similarly
leading other Muslims to Christ. Earlier that day, Kiisa Masolo, 45, had been
preaching in the streets, and returned home around 7 p.m., at which point seven
masked men dressed in Islamic attire broke into his house and abducted him.
According to his mother, Norah,
"After whisking him away, three men remained behind and told me that, 'Allah is
very displeased with your son, and we're out to punish him.' Then the three men
left."
Her son's slain body was later found with deep cuts to the head and neck, and a
note in Arabic pinned to it.
"A person fluent in Arabic was called to read the script which stated, 'We had
warned you not to convert our Muslim brothers and sisters to Christianity, but
you failed to heed to our warning. This has finally cost your life.'... I tried
to advise my son to be very cautious with his life, but he used to tell me that
his life was in the hands of God and that he was called to carry out the
preaching of the gospel of Christ. Since then, I knew that the life of my son
was in danger, and he might not live for long due to the many threatening
messages of Allah who was out to kill him."
Finally, on March 29, a Muslim man murdered his 19-year-old sister after he
discovered that she had become Christian. Earlier that day, Namukuve's father
had called her and her six siblings to a family meeting devoted to inquiring why
she was not attending Muslim prayers. According to a relative,
"Namukuve kept quiet for a while and later replied that she had converted to
Prophet Issa [Jesus Christ]. This angered her elder brother, Abdul Rahim Munaabi,
and he got hold of a wooden chair and hit her on the head. She cried out once,
saying, 'Oh Mum,' [who was away] and then stopped breathing.... Namukuve's body
was removed from the house and dumped in a swamp near the River Naigombwa."
Somalia: On Good Friday, March 29, Muslims connected to the Islamic terror group
Al Shabaab slaughtered six Christians from bordering Kenya for spreading
Christianity.
Kenya: On March 8, Muslims ambushed and slaughtered an evangelist and seriously
wounded three other Christians. On first trapping the four men, the large group
of Muslims complained "that they were not happy about the conversion of their
fellow Muslims, especially their relatives during their door-to door mission
outreach," Masaba, one of the injured, said:
"This led the discussion getting more tense, and there and then one of the
Muslims got hold of Ismail Wafula and pierced him with a sharp knife on the
neck, chest and in the stomach, and he sustained terrible wounds on the head. He
then fell down bleeding."
The other Muslims began assaulting the three remaining men and tearing their
Bibles:
"We started screaming, wailing and calling for help. Thank God there came an
approaching vehicle that arrived as well as some people living close by."
Nigeria: Some March headlines from the ongoing Muslim genocide of Christians in
the African nation follow:
March 26: "Herdsmen Kill Pastor, Five other Christians in Central Nigeria"
March 27: "Pastor, His Family and Other Christians Killed in Nigeria"
March 28: "Herdsmen Kill Seven Christians in Central Nigeria"
Pakistan: The Abduction, Rape, and Forced Conversion of Christian Girls
A 13-year-old Christian girl, Mariyam Masih, disappeared while shopping for
groceries. Her family immediately searched the region but discovered no leads as
to her whereabouts of the girl. According to Yunish Masih, her father, an
impoverished rickshaw driver,
"I am tirelessly scouring the streets from dawn till dusk on my rickshaw in
search of Mariyam. There are no leads to her whereabouts, but we live in a very
busy neighbourhood and someone must know something. My family and I are caught
up in such deep despair, our grief knows no end, we believe our daughter is
still alive but every day she is missing our fear grows. I don't know what local
police are doing but they have not even put up missing posters, how can they
find Mariyam without reaching out to the community? I pray daily that God will
return our beautiful daughter home."
The family's fears are heightened by another Christian girl also having
disappeared—on Christmas Eve, no less—only to be later discovered slain in a
field. As documented here, many Christian girls—and boys—have similarly
disappeared in Pakistan only to be later found raped and murdered. Discussing
this latest incident, Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian
Association, said:
"[Mariyam's] parents are enduring unimaginable anguish. It's a heartbreaking
reality that Christian girls in Pakistan are often targeted by sexual predators
or traffickers, leaving them vulnerable to unspeakable fates such as murder,
forced marriage, or exploitation in the sex trade. The family's desperation
grows with each passing moment, clinging to hope for any information that might
reveal Mariyam's whereabouts. Yet, as time elapses, the window of opportunity
narrows."
Separately, on March 25, the Lahore High Court in Pakistan awarded custody of a
13-year-old Christian girl to her Muslim kidnapper. Two months earlier, the
girl, Roshni Shakeel, had in no uncertain terms spurned the advances of her
future kidnapper, Muazzam Mazhar, 28. But then Muazzam's father, Abbas, began
calling (from Saudi Arabia) and pressuring Roshni's father to relent and
surrender the girl to his unemployed son, saying in one call:
"You have a beautiful daughter and it would be better for you to give her to my
son yourself—there's nothing you Chuhras [pejorative term for Christians] can do
to stop us from taking her."
According to the kidnapped girl's father, Shakeel, who is only five years older
than his daughter's would-be suitor:
"I stopped taking Abbas's phone calls after that, and this offended him to the
extent that he encouraged his son to abduct Roshni and forcibly marry her."
Accordingly, on March 13, the girl disappeared while her parents were away from
home. They immediately went to local authorities who eventually informed them
that the 13-year-old girl had married and converted to Islam of her own "free
will," and that there was nothing they could do. The parents' took the case to
court, but the judge ruled in favor of the kidnapper. Discussing the ruling, her
father said:
"My wife and I were hoping that the judge would consider it a clear case of
child marriage and order action against the accused, but we were utterly
disappointed when he completely ignored our pleas for justice."
The judge also ignored all the case documents and birth certificate and posed
only one question to the 13-year-old girl—whether she had married of her own
free will. When she replied in the affirmative, "the judge congratulated her on
the marriage and said she was free to live with her husband," Shakeel said.
"My wife and I pleaded the judge to at least consider her age and the fact that
the child was under the influence of the accused for over two weeks, and she
could have been easily coerced into giving that statement. Instead of listening
to us and our lawyer, the judge hushed us with a hand gesture and announced his
decision."
Her parents were not even allowed to meet with and ask Roshni about her
wellbeing:
"In fact, the police and family members of the accused blocked her view during
the entire time she was in the courtroom. They then took her away in front of
our eyes, and there was nothing I could do to stop them."
Although he sold many of his meagre possessions to hire a lawyer and take the
case to court, last reported, her father remained adamant to recover her:
"Roshni is just a child, how can I let that criminal exploit her and then God
forbid, sell her into slavery? I will not stop till I rescue my daughter."
In another Pakistani case, according to a March 8 report:
"Police in Pakistan are pressuring a young Christian woman to withdraw charges
against two Muslims who raped, blackmailed, and tried to forcibly convert her to
Islam."
The 26-year-old woman, a resident of Islamabad, whose name is withheld as a rape
victim, said one of the men, Hussain, had originally borrowed a large sum of
money from her mother. A month later, he told the Christian woman to follow him
to a colleague's house, who would pay her back. "When we reached the house," the
woman said, "Hussain left me in a room on the pretext of making a phone call."
Soon thereafter, his friend, Waleed barged into the room brandishing an AK-47
rifle:
"He fired a bullet on the wall to scare me and then sexually assaulted me,
disregarding my cries for mercy. I cannot express the horror I suffered in those
moments as my mind and body went completely numb. After assaulting me, Waleed
made videos of me with his cell phone and threatened that he would share them on
social media if I reported the incident to the police and did not surrender to
his demands."
"The nightmare was only beginning," the report adds, "as Waleed continued to
blackmail her with videos, compelling her to repeatedly meet with him
repeatedly." She eventually confessed everything to her widowed mother:
"My mother broke down when she heard about my suffering, but she told me not to
worry. She then took me to the police station where I narrated my story, showed
evidence of the blackmailing and filed a rape case against Waleed and Hussain. I
also appealed to the police to recover the blackmail content from their phones."
Charges were filed, "but instead of arresting the two suspects, police tipped
them off, and they obtained pre-arrest bails.... Since that time, they have been
threatening me and my mother to withdraw the case or face the consequences."
Muslim Attacks on Apostates and Blasphemers
Uganda: On March 25, a Muslim man beat his wife and 10-year-old daughter and
scorched them with boiling water after he returned home early and discovered
them praying in Jesus's name. "I had put water on for preparing millet bread
that was at the boiling point," said the wife, Zafara Nagudi, 32: "Suddenly I
saw my husband at the door of the kitchen, and immediately we stopped praying."
He repeatedly questioned her as to what they were doing:
"I eventually told him the truth, that we were praying to Jesus Christ to help
our family. He became very furious and said, 'I heard everything but am
surprised! Are you a Christian or Muslim?'... From there he slapped me and
kicked me while boxing me. Since he was in the doorway, we couldn't run away. He
grabbed the saucepan of hot water and poured it on me and the child."
He then stormed out of the house "thinking he had killed them." She managed to
call her nearby sister who rushed them to a hospital. It took a week before they
were discharged.
Pakistan: On March 6, police arrested Ashbeel Ghauri, an 18-year-old Christian
youth, on the accusation that he had blasphemed against Islam. His accusers, a
group of Muslim classmates had long been pressuring him to convert to Islam, but
Ashbeel, described as a "devout Christian," refused "to renounce his faith in
Christ," his father, Babar, said, adding:
"Ashbeel has categorically denied making any derogatory remarks about Islam. He
always asked academic questions about the Islamic faith whenever he was forcibly
dragged into such [a] conversation. As Christians living in Pakistan, we are all
well aware of the sensitivities involving religious discussion, and our children
are taught from day one to avoid getting into such arguments."
According to lawyer Nadeem Hassan, Ashbeel's accusers claim that
"the Christian had allegedly said that Islam was a false religion, and its
teachings were also false. [In fact] Ashbeel merely stated that he believed in
the God of the Bible and said his Christian faith did not allow four marriages
contrary to Islamic teachings. The complainant's allegation that Ashbeel called
Islam a false religion during a phone call has not been substantiated with any
evidence."
As the eldest of three children, Ashbeel's impoverished family had long placed
their hopes for a better future on him. Now he is facing up to ten years'
imprisonment:
"It's a crucial time for my family, especially for Ashbeel, but we know God will
walk us through this test, and he will emerge victorious in faith. His mother
and I met him in prison on March 8, and though he is concerned about his
condition, Ashbeel told us not to worry because he knows Christ will not forsake
him."
Yemen: The plight of Christians has worsened due to the rise of Iranian-backed
Houthi rebels and their attacks on infrastructure, according to a March
8 report with quotes from Open Doors USA CEO Ryan Brown:
"The Christians in this area are folks that were formerly Muslim–Muslim
background believers that have converted to Christianity. Christians are
obviously a despised minority... Christians are often last in line as it relates
to being able to receive the care and attention there as war and as these things
continue to escalate. That has a ripple effect ... It can disrupt supply chains,
and so, while Christians were already last [in] line, that line becomes even
further elongated. And so Christians are very much impacted by what's going on
currently."
Because most Christians in Yemen come from Muslim backgrounds,
"they keep their new faith secret to avoid severe persecution and possibly death
at the hands of their clan or family members. And if they are not killed for
their faith, they are often blamed for their connections to the West.... They
become easy targets... Christians are seen as enemies on all fronts there."
Muslim Attacks on Christian Churches
Pakistan: After a local Muslim vowed to prevent Christians from celebrating
Easter in their church, the building went up in flames hours before Resurrection
Day. According to one report,
"On the morning of March 30th, 2024, the Presbyterian Church in Gujar Khan,
Rawalpindi, became a scene of devastation as flames engulfed its sacred halls.
What should have been a place of solace and prayer was instead reduced to ashes,
leaving behind a community reeling in shock and fear. Reports indicate that the
blaze, ignited by unknown individuals around 3:00 am, tore through the church
with merciless intensity. By the time the fire brigade arrived, the damage was
extensive, with the roof, furniture, and cherished Biblical literature,
including Bibles and hymn books, all consumed by the inferno."
The church's pastor, Rev. Adeem Alphonse, said,
"The huge fire burned everything inside the church, including holy books, the
sound system, furniture and curtains, etc. We strongly suspect that it's a case
of arson, but the police and administration are trying to hush up the matter by
terming it an outcome of a short-circuit in the electricity wiring."
Egypt: On Sunday, March 24, a fire broke out in the Church of St. George in
Akhmim. With the help of church youth and locals, civil authorities managed to
extinguish the blaze. Mass had been held in the church earlier that day, but
when the conflagration, began the building was empty, so no one was hurt. The
fire did, however, destroy much of the second floor. Initial reporting said the
cause of fire was "unknown." That said, arson attacks on churches in Egypt are
commonplace. According to Egyptian researcher Magdi Khalil, "close to one
thousand churches have been attacked or torched by mobs in the last five decades
[since the 1970s] in Egypt." In recent years, however, virtually all church
fires—including those in 11 separate churches that were torched in just one
month alone (Aug. 2022) — are nowadays presented as an "accident." Meanwhile,
truly accidental fires in mosques in Egypt — which outnumber churches by a ratio
of 40 to 1 — are almost unheard of.
Indonesia: On Sunday, March 8, local Muslims surrounded the home of a Christian
because she was using it to hold a worship service. Police arrived before
violence ensued and made the pastor sign an agreement promising never again to
use her home for worship. Discussing this incident, Bonar Tigor Naipospos,
deputy chairman of the Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy, said holding
worship at a house is explicitly permitted in Indonesia's Join Ministerial
Decree of 2006, which requires a permit only for a venue constructed as a
permanent worship site:
"The problem is that those who are intolerant always think that when Christians
gather to worship, it is something that violates the rules – that worshiping
together must be in a house of worship or church."
Germany: On March 15, two churches were defiled with excrement. In one of them,
the feces were found near the altar. (As documented here, "fecal attacks" on
churches are growing in Western European regions with large Muslim populations.)
Another church was set on fire, another pelted with eggs, and another had
its altar desecrated.
Italy: On March 5, a church in Brindisi was smeared with red paint, including
the word "Palestine." Even so, according to the report, "police excluded a
political motive." At least two other churches were desecrated and robbed.
France: Attacks on Churches and Christian Symbols
Although anti-Christian activities are very common in France, the month of March
was more dramatic than usual. Some incidents follow:
On March 5, police foiled an Islamic plot to bomb Notre Dame Cathedral (much of
which "inexplicably" went up in flames in 2019). A Muslim man of Egyptian
origin, 62, was arrested. The report notes that this was just the latest terror
attack to be foiled in the previous three weeks. Discussing it, France's
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said:
"We have never foiled so many attacks in France. The Islamic State is the author
of the last eight foiled attacks in France. We foil a lot of [such terror]
attacks, one every two months."
On March 5, another 62-year-old man "clearly committed to jihadist ideology,"
was arrested and indicted on March 8 for terrorist conspiracy as well as for
planning "violent action in a Catholic religious building," to quote from court
documents.
On Easter Eve, March 30, an illegal Muslim migrant from Senegal with a previous
crime record was "arrested for advocating terrorism and for threatening to burn
down the Notre Dame de la Voie church, in Athis Mons, in Essonne." According to
a report:
"Shortly before 7 p.m., he entered the church, addressed a parishioner by
calling himself a Muslim, telling her he had visions and warning her that the
religious building would burn within three months, before leaving."
On being arrested near another church, the Muslim man said he was only
"kidding."
On March 28, a Muslim man of Albanian origin entered a church while mass was in
progress and began shouting "Allahu akbar" ["Allah is greatest"].
On Sunday, March 10, the Notre Dame de Partout chapel in Saint-Mesin was
discovered spray painted with several Islamic slogans, including "convert,"
"Last warning," and "the cross will be broken." The cross opposite the chapel
was also vandalized. On the following day, more acts of desecration against
churches, crosses, and a cemetery were discovered in the nearby commune of
Clermont d'Excideuil, home to just a few hundred people. According to
one report;
"Inscriptions with Islamic references were found on graves, the war memorial,
the church door, a calvary memorial, and a fountain. Some of the tags read
'France is already Allah's,' 'Isa [Jesus] will break the cross,' and 'Submit to
Islam.' Altogether, more than 50 graves were smeared. On two tombs the letters 'GWER'
were written with a paint spray. The term 'gwer' refers to a white person, a
Westerner, or a non-Muslim. Another grave was marked with the term 'Kouffar,'
which designates disbelievers. The desecration occurred on the eve of Ramadan."
A local resident said the threatening messages "make me cold in the back... When
I read this, it freezes me. It's a trauma for the municipality."
At least five other large, public crosses (or calvaries) were tagged with
similar Islamic warnings and threats since the start of the year in France.
"It's weird in a small town like that," said the mayor of Clermont d'Excideuil,
the most recent region to be attacked: "I thought it only happened elsewhere."
On March 1, about 40 tombstones in another cemetery in Fresselines
were desecrated and vandalized.
On March 26, an important public cross which had stood for many generations in
the village of Lias—of which the mayor said "was more than a religious symbol,
was the soul of our village"—was found broken up into four pieces.
"Leila, 21," begins a March 15 report, "was planning to attack the faithful of a
church in Béziers on Easter Day with a sword when she was arrested. She is on
trial in Paris for conspiracy to commit terrorist crimes." The report adds that
police discovered photos of decapitated bodies and videos of beheadings and how
to make acid bombs in her home. In her spiral notebook, she writes of:
"[my] increasingly intense desire to go out into the street to slit the throat
of the first passer-by, drag his corpse into the forest and smash his skull with
an iron bar or a hammer then return to look for someone else... I have learned
to cut throats so there will probably be no problem."
On March 12, another unidentified woman, aged 39, barged into a church during
morning mass, where she made threats while waving a knife around. She was
diagnosed as schizophrenic and hospitalized. The church has already suffered an
arson attack, and stands near an area where three teenagers once violently
attacked two other teens with tear gas while calling them "dirty Christians," a
term regularly employed by Muslims.
There were many other attacks on churches—two of which were suspected arson—in
France.
Generic Muslim Abuse of Christians
Pakistan: On March 23, Muslim employers beat and shot Waqas Masih, a 42-year-old
Christian laborer for requesting the wages owed him to buy clothes for his two
children for Easter celebrations. According to his brother, Akash:
"The two men [the employers] first brutally tortured Waqas with the iron rods,
and then Luqman pulled out a pistol and opened fire on him, resulting in a
bullet injury on his right thigh. We were able to take him to the Allied
Hospital in Faisalabad on time, otherwise he could have died due to excessive
bleeding.... We are very poor, and a majority of the nearly 300 Christian
families living in the village work as laborers for Muslim landowners. We are
often subjected to cruelty and torture because we are weak and helpless."
In fact, Akash said, this is the second such attack:
"In December, my father, brother, Waqas, and his wife were attacked in our home
when he requested his employers to pay his wages for Christmas."
In a separate incident, Muslims savagely beat their Christian coworker for
receiving a promotion. According to the March 18 report:
"Noel is a father of four and has been working as a driver for the last five
years. Because of his hard work, honesty, and punctuality, he was promoted to
supervisor. However, his Muslim co-workers refused to work under a Christian
supervisor... When he left the workplace, about half a dozen Muslim coworkers
stopped him on the road and they dragged him and thrashed him with clubs and
iron rods. They left Noel unconscious on the road where he was found by Good
Samaritans and sent him to the local hospital. The mob broke two ribs and two
bones in his legs. His face was badly scratched as well."
Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West, Sword and Scimitar, Crucified
Again, and The Al Qaeda Reader, is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at
the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East
Forum.
About this Series
While not all, or even most, Muslims are involved, persecution of Christians by
extremists is growing. The report posits that such persecution is not random but
rather systematic, and takes place irrespective of language, ethnicity, or
location. It includes incidents that take place during, or are reported on, any
given month.
© 2024 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/20605/persecution-of-christians-march
Leading from the middle
Borge Brende/Arab News/April 28, 2024
Today’s most pressing challenges — as well as the future’s most promising
opportunities — are not bound by borders. Strengthening our economies, improving
our collective security, addressing climate change, and unlocking the benefits
of frontier technologies all depend on cooperative approaches. Yet, the world is
at risk of drifting toward a perilous state in which collaborative agendas are
replaced by confrontational mindsets.
A more contentious geopolitical climate is of such concern that in September
2023, at the opening of the UN General Assembly in New York, Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres warned: “Global challenges are mounting. And we seem incapable
of coming together to respond.”
Indeed, alarm bells abound; for instance, just 12 percent of the UN’s 17
Sustainable Development Goals are on target to be met by the 2030 deadline.
Thankfully, though, there are some bright spots.
At the G20 summit last December, India made it a priority to include
representation from the Global South in the dialogue and steered leaders of the
world’s largest economies to agreement on a joint declaration on climate
financing, global debt and other issues — this despite predictions that
agreement would be impossible to achieve.
At November’s UN climate conference, COP28, in Dubai, the UAE committed to
leading an “inclusive and safe space for all participants,” and parties agreed
for the first time to transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable sources
of energy.
From April 28 to April 29, Saudi Arabia and the World Economic Forum will
convene leaders from around the world for a special meeting in Riyadh on
strengthening cooperation, particularly between the Global North and South.
What these instances have in common is that the successes are due in large
measure to an inclusive approach and to the leadership of so-called “middle
powers” — countries such as India, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE that are not global
superpowers but are playing an outsized role in moving the global agenda
forward.
Leadership from Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, will be vital in
forging paths in two of the most urgent crises: Ukraine and Gaza.
Today, at a time of geopolitical turbulence, middle-power leadership —
particularly from the Middle East — will determine whether the world makes
progress on critical security, environmental, and technological priorities. This
is because the solutions to several of the world’s most pressing challenges not
only run through the region but require the type of collaborative approaches
that middle powers have championed.
On global security, leadership from Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia,
will be vital in forging paths in two of the most urgent crises: Ukraine and
Gaza. In August 2023, Jeddah hosted peace talks for Ukraine that were vital in
bringing to the table key parties from the Global North and South. In a meeting
between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman in Riyadh earlier this year, the two discussed ways to operationalize
the Ukrainian peace plan.
Riyadh has also been a critical player in working to bring parties together to
negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza. At the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in
Davos in January, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan reiterated the
Kingdom’s commitment to formally recognizing Israel if it takes steps toward a
two-state solution with Palestinians.
On climate change, the success of a green energy transition that is equitable
and fosters growth can only happen if capitals in the Middle East help move it
forward. This is because while the region produces about 30 percent of the
world’s oil and 23 percent of its natural gas, many countries are poised to
become green power leaders of the future. Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince
Abdulaziz bin Salman recently said that the Kingdom was committed to being the
“centerpiece” in the renewable market. Through its Vision 2030 plan, Saudi
Arabia is diversifying non-oil exports and aiming to increase its share of
non-oil GDP from 16 percent to 50 percent by the end of the decade.
And on unlocking new technology opportunities ahead, generative AI has the
potential to add between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion in economic benefits
annually, according to McKinsey & Company. But this can only happen if
stakeholders worldwide work together. Here, Saudi Arabia has been building
partnerships with countries around the world and has committed to an annual
investment of 2.5 percent of GDP in the research, development, and innovation
sector by 2040.
At a complex geopolitical moment, when challenges demand collective approaches,
if middle powers continue to shape solutions, and do so in a collaborative way,
we will be on course toward a stronger future.
**Borge Brende is president of the World Economic Forum, which is convening the
Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development from
April 28 to April 29, 2024, in Riyadh.
The fight for justice ignites elite university campuses
Baria Alamuddin/Arab News/April 28, 2024
Long running pro-Palestine demonstrations at some of the most prestigious
universities in the US, including Yale, Columbia and Princeton, have given way
to mass sit-ins and demands for a halt to investments in Israel and in arms
manufacture. Protesters at Columbia declared: “We will not rest until Columbia
divests from apartheid Israel, Palestinians are free, and liberation is achieved
for all oppressed people worldwide.”
Hundreds of students and academics have been arrested at campuses throughout the
US for peacefully exercising their democratic freedoms. State troopers in riot
gear swarmed through the University of Texas, arresting dozens on the orders of
far-right Governor Greg Abbott, who declared: “These protesters belong in jail.”
A police purge against Columbia University’s “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on
April 18 inspired a host of copycat sit-ins elsewhere. “The irony is that in
trying to quiet things down and assert control over the encampment, the
administration unleashed this firestorm,” one professor remarked. Parallel
protests are springing up in France, Britain, Germany, Austria, Canada and
elsewhere.
These students’ passion and the impact of their demostrations prompted an
unnerved Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take a brief break away
from plotting mass murder and angrily denounce the protests as “reminiscent of
what happened in German universities in the 1930s”. US Senator Bernie Sanders,
who is Jewish, forcefully hit back: “Do not insult the intelligence of the
American people by attempting to distract us from the immoral and illegal
policies of your extremist and racist government … it is not antisemitic to hold
you accountable for your actions.”
Media commentators have patronisingly derided students as naive and misled, with
political views shaped by TikTok. Others glibly portrayed demonstrations as
fronts for “radical Islamists.” But these Ivy League students are defined by
disproportionate intelligence, with attitudes toward Palestine shaped by
intense, conscientious debate. With the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza
heading toward 40,000, the real question is why anybody is NOT out protesting.
When I was a high-school and university student in Beirut, many of the defining
and empowering moments of my adolescence were spent in protesting about the full
spectrum of global causes: I probably spent more time marching in the streets
than in my classes. Participation in these events cemented my views on the
importance of freedom of speech, assertively putting ourselves on the right side
of history. Students may have an evolving comprehension of global politics, but
they habitually possess an enviably precise moral compass in defining right from
wrong. Students’ ability to exploit technology and social media to mobilize and
disseminate their message confounds the reactionaries who seek to silence them.
Demonstrations are denounced by right wingers as antisemitic, but this ignores
the substantial Jewish contingent within these protest movements. Intimidation
of both Jewish and Muslim students has been regrettably frequent, but there are
countless examples of students banishing those using antisemitic slogans,
counterpointed with countless examples of pro-Israel agitators provoking
violence and disruption. At Boston’s Northeastern University the media widely
reported a chant of “kill the Jews” — until video evidence showed that the
offensive chant emanated from pro-Israel provocateurs seeking to rile up the
crowd.
What we are witnessing around the world is nothing short of a battle of good vs.
evil, and justice vs. injustice, as students, workers, lawyers, educators and
civil servants rediscover political engagement.
Observers carp that student activism is unlikely to improve anything in Gaza,
but historians say these protests are among the most consequential of modern
times, comparable to the civil rights movement and student activism of the
1960s. Student-led protests shook the planet, from Tiananmen Square to the Arab
world, from Latin America to apartheid-era South Africa. Nobody should be
writing off these protests as irrelevant.
Yale, Harvard and Columbia are a conveyor belt into the top levels of US
politics, the civil service, business and the legal profession, and campaigners
from these top-ranking global universities are the elites of tomorrow. If these
elites were previously defined by kneejerk pro-Israel sentiments, what should we
expect when veterans of the 2024 pro-Palestine protest movement swarm into the
top levels of leadership, in a wider society horrified by Israel’s brazen
flouting of the rules of war? The Democratic Party’s Progressive wing is defined
by its pro-Palestine tenor, with outspoken figures such as Pramila Jayapal,
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib. In an increasingly
diverse America, they are the future of US politics.
Seven months into the Gaza conflict, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators
continue to turn out on the streets of London, Paris, New York and elsewhere.
Despite constitutionally enshrined freedoms being a central tenet of European
democracies, right-wing politicians have sought action against what they
demonize as “hate marches.” But the right to debate and protest must be
protected for all, including pro-Israel voices. Nancy Pelosi last week remarked
that campus protests were a way of life in the US and that there was complete
justification for objecting to the Gaza slaughter: “What's happening in Gaza
challenges the consciousness of the world,” she said. Vested interests, partisan
voices and entrenched elites have always hated student protests, because they
relate directly to what is right and what is wrong — impassioned young people
acting upon their consciences, short-circuiting convenient desires to stifle the
cries of oppressed peoples. Justice and human rights are universal, they cannot
be monopolized by one party in a conflict.
What we are witnessing around the world is nothing short of a battle of good vs.
evil, and justice vs. injustice, as students, workers, lawyers, educators and
civil servants rediscover political engagement. After decades in which students
were routinely accused of being apathetic and apolitical, we can be deeply proud
of this generation — our leaders of tomorrow — as they risk arrest, blacklisting
and expulsion from academia in order to stand up for the rights and common
humanity of those facing genocide, oppression and injustice.
• 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.
Biden should take a firmer stand on protesters’ rights
Dr. Amal Mudallali/Arab News/April 28, 2024
The semester may be winding down on university campuses around the US, but the
anti-Gaza war protests are not. It has been a turbulent month of protests and of
administration and police crackdowns on students and faculty members
demonstrating in support of the Palestinians and a ceasefire, and against
Israel’s war in Gaza.
On the one hand, there have been accusations of antisemitism and, on the other,
warnings of attempts to silence free speech and trample the First Amendment have
become rife on campuses and on social media. Universities’ reactions to the
protests have varied. Some jumped the gun and called the police on their
students, while others resorted to dialogue. Politicians have inserted
themselves into the battle, taking sides and turning campuses into political
arenas.
After weeks of turmoil, one cannot help but assign a failing grade to all the
officials handling the issue, from university leaderships and administrators to
the White House and Congress.
It all started at Columbia University. Had this issue been handled well from the
start at Columbia, things may have turned out differently for everybody,
academics say.
Columbia was the first test. The testimony of Columbia’s President Minouche
Shafik in front of Congress this month was pregnant with dread and expectation
in universities across the country, especially at Columbia.
Columbia’s president took a tough stance against antisemitism but still faced
harsh criticism from Republican members of Congress, who said she was not doing
enough to protect Jewish students. Some called for her resignation. Shafik
focused on fighting antisemitism on campus, but what upset her university’s
senate, faculty and students is that she told the committee she would remove
professors from their posts. This came after Rep. Elise Stefanik, the New York
Republican who was the driving force behind the events that led to the ousting
of the presidents at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania earlier this
year, asked about statements made by two professors who are accused of
expressing support for Hamas.
The reaction to Shafik’s statements in Congress was immediate on the university
campus, with students and faculty criticizing her performance, especially her
revealing of information about internal investigations into professors even
before they had been informed. The president doubled down, either badly advised
or acting out of panic. She ordered the police to remove the demonstrators from
their encampment the next day and a number of students were suspended.
Even during the Columbia protests against the Vietnam War in 1968, the
university waited a week to call in the police after students occupied five
buildings, including the president’s office, and one dean was held in his office
for a day. This time, the protesters are mostly peaceful and have kept their
encampment in the quad. The accusation of widespread antisemitism on campus was
denied by the protesters, a Jewish group and the Jewish students among the
demonstration, who celebrated the Passover Seder meal together on Columbia’s
campus.
After the police crackdown at Columbia and the arrest of 100 people, all hell
broke loose and the snowball of protests grew larger, spreading to universities
across the country in solidarity with Columbia’s students. Encampments sprung up
on campuses, with students calling for a ceasefire and for their universities to
divest from businesses linked to Israel or that supply Israel with arms.
But university administrators called the police to stop the protests. The
police’s harsh and violent arrests of students and professors at some
universities, the Universities of Texas and Emory in particular, went viral on
social media. Hundreds of students were suspended or arrested at dozens of
universities, including the University of Southern California, Yale, New York
University and the University of Texas. The violent arrest of Emory economics
professor Caroline Fohlin sent shock waves through campuses and brought the
debate about police brutality back to the forefront.
The White House should not view what is happening on university campuses only
through the lens of the campaign.
The Columbia University Senate criticized Shafik and said her administration had
undermined academic freedom and disregarded the privacy and due process rights
of students and faculty members by calling in the police. Faculty members told
the press that, had the president taken the advice of her senate and handled the
issue calmly with meetings and dialogue with all the stakeholders, from the
administration to the faculty and the students, maybe things would have been
different for Columbia and the other universities.
Politicians did not fare any better. They used the Columbia crisis to further
their political agendas. Members of Congress, mostly Republicans and led by
House Speaker Mike Johnson, descended on Columbia. Johnson called on Shafik to
resign and suggested deploying the National Guard at the university, whose
traditions, he claimed, “are being overtaken right now by radical and extreme
ideologies.”
The students’ leadership should also have done a better job at preventing
extreme external elements from infiltrating their camp, as the universities
claim, and stopping those extremists in their ranks from making inflammatory
statements, which the schools and Jewish students considered antisemitic and
threatening.
All eyes were on the White House to see how President Joe Biden would handle the
issue in an election year and when the young voters’ voice will be critical if
he is to win in November. The president condemned the “antisemitic protests,” as
well as “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while visiting China, considered the protests
to be “a hallmark of American democracy.” He said: “Our citizens make known
their views, their concerns, their anger, at any given time, and I think that
reflects the strength of the country.”
Democrats say these words would have had more impact had the president said them
from the White House, instead of a spokeswoman saying that the president “will
always support and believes in free speech and nondiscrimination.” But the White
House calibrates every word to make sure it does not affect Biden’s election
campaign. In its drive not to hurt the president’s chances of reelection,
officials are doing exactly what they set out to prevent. Through their caution,
they are alienating the very people that Democrats depend on to win elections:
liberals, university professors and young voters, including students.
The president could have addressed the nation about this crisis and counseled
both sides to calm down, stressing the American principles of freedom of speech
and assembly and encouraging dialogue, while at the same time condemning hate
speech, intimidation and antisemitism.
Biden will give two commencement speeches next month. The first will be on May
19 at Morehouse College in Georgia, a crucial battleground state, where he will
try to appeal to young Black voters. The second will be at the US Military
Academy at West Point on May 25. This is a month from now and, by then, it might
be too late for the president’s message to reach students.
However, it seems that the president’s campaign is not worried that the
university protests will hurt him. Campaign officials reportedly told Politico
that these young voters are “a subset of a subset of the electorate, one that’s
drawn a disproportionate amount of media coverage compared to its actual
political clout.” They cited a Harvard Youth Poll, which showed that just 2
percent of respondents said the “Israel/Palestine” conflict was the issue that
concerned them the most.
The White House should not view what is happening on university campuses only
through the lens of the campaign. America’s standing in the world as a beacon
for freedom, especially the freedoms of speech and assembly, is being tarnished
by the images of professors and students being violently arrested and by the
prevention of protests in some universities. The sooner the Biden administration
addresses this issue, the better for the country and for the president.
• Dr. Amal Mudallali is a consultant on global issues. She is a former Lebanese
ambassador to the UN.
US should capitalize on Hamas’ offer to disarm
Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/April 28, 2024
A high-ranking Hamas official last week announced that the group would dissolve
its military wing and turn into a political party if Israel accepted a
Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders. Khalil Al-Hayya shocked the world
with this statement, which comes as Israel is readying to invade Rafah. Israel
is not taking this unexpected overture by Hamas seriously and is instead adamant
about its move on Rafah. It is time for the US to put pressure on Israel to stop
the war and start political negotiations.
There are three stages to ending the war. The first is to end military
operations, the second is to have a change in the Israeli position and the third
is to enter into political negotiations and devise a plan for the day after. The
main hurdle in ending the war is the Israeli position. Israel has still not
changed its position. It still refuses to abide by UN resolutions and allow for
the establishment of a Palestinian state. Hence its refusal of any settlement
that includes a Palestinian state.
The US should take advantage of the overture by Hamas to end the war. Hamas is
highly damaged, according to Israel. It says 20 brigades are dysfunctional and
only four remain operational. They are in Rafah. So, Israel can somehow claim
victory, save face and announce it has achieved its objective of incapacitating
Hamas.
However, Israel should recognize that it cannot totally eliminate Hamas. On the
other hand, Israel itself was successful in turning armed factions into
political parties. And the Palestine Liberation Organization ended its armed
resistance once it was offered a political alternative. The same can be done
with Hamas.
But Israel insists on going into Rafah. This will greatly increase the number of
Palestinian civilian casualties, as many displaced Gazans are concentrated in
Rafah. Tel Aviv is adamant about decapitating the Hamas leadership. However, the
Israeli hostages’ lives are at stake. What if Hamas killed the hostages? Would
that not be a failure, given that one of the declared objectives of the military
campaign was to free the hostages?
The problem in the American position is that, despite its occasional criticism
of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, Washington is still
unconditionally supporting Israel and supplying it with weapons and money. On
top of the staggering human toll, the war has created internal divisions in
American society. The authorities are cracking down on peaceful protesters in
universities. This is happening when the country is just a few months away from
the November presidential election.
If the war continues, it might very much turn into a regional war, especially
if, after Rafah, Israel heads to Lebanon. A regional war would have major
repercussions on the US. As Gen. David Petraeus, who led the American troop
surge in Iraq, once said, what happens in the Middle East does not stay in the
Middle East.
The US should explain to the Israeli public that Netanyahu’s maximalist
objectives will have a boomerang effect.
It is in America’s interest to grab the opportunity and push Israel to change
its position in order to move to a political settlement. Here, President Joe
Biden can address the Israeli people by tackling the issue of the hostages. The
question that he should ask the Israeli public is: What takes priority, revenge
against Hamas or saving the hostages and bringing them home?
Experience has shown that insurgencies cannot be totally eliminated. They
reconstitute themselves whenever the grievances that led to their creation are
not properly addressed. The US should take the Hamas proposal and present it to
the Israeli public as an opportunity to save the hostages and secure Israel. The
US can convince the Israeli public by proposing a comprehensive peacekeeping
mission that will make sure the country will not be the target of any operation
coming out of Gaza.
This is an opportunity the US should not squander. In fact, ending the war,
dismantling Hamas’ military wing and starting a political process could be a
huge win for the Biden administration. It would be a major foreign policy
achievement that boosts Biden in the polls. On the other hand, if the Rafah
operation were to be conducted, the opposite would likely happen. Thousands of
Palestinian civilians would die, hostages would probably be executed, the war
could expand and chaos would spread across the region. If Israel does not stop
at Rafah, it will probably continue by attacking Lebanon and attacking Iran.
This would be highly destabilizing. It would also be a killer for the Biden
administration in the upcoming elections. It is time for the US to tell Israel
to stop.
Biden needs to bypass Netanyahu and engage with the Israeli public. Netanyahu
has been a burden for the US. He is responsible for the intelligence and
security failures of Oct. 7. The US should make that clear to the Israeli
public. The US should also explain to them that the Netanyahu government’s
maximalist objectives will have a boomerang effect. They will not result in a
secure Israel and will only lead to the demise of the hostages. Biden should
explain to them that this might lead to a regional war, which Israel will
probably lose.
The US should capitalize on the opportunity presented by the willingness of
Hamas to dissolve its military wing and embrace a political solution. Wartime
presents few windows to make peace. This is one of them and it should not be
squandered. It is time to apply pressure on Israel and dissuade it from going
into Rafah. Most importantly, Israel should be pressured to change its position
regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders.
• Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on
lobbying. She is co-founder of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace
Building, a Lebanese nongovernmental organization focused on Track II.
Enhanced Iraq-Jordan ties a win-win situation
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/April 28, 2024
The latest developments in Iraqi-Jordanian relations, including the meeting
between Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and King Abdullah of Jordan
in Munich in February, appear to signal a critical development toward bolstering
relations between the two nations.
Against the backdrop of regional challenges, Iraq and Jordan can deepen their
ties, particularly in the realms of economic cooperation and development
initiatives. By embracing avenues for partnership, such as trade agreements and
joint infrastructure projects, these two countries can unlock many opportunities
not only for themselves but also for fostering stability and progress in the
Middle East. At the heart of this burgeoning relationship lies the potential for
economic synergy. Iraq and Jordan boast diverse economies, with complementary
strengths, making them natural partners. Iraq, with its abundant oil resources
and burgeoning infrastructure needs, stands to benefit from Jordan’s expertise
in sectors such as construction and transport.
Conversely, Jordan can tap into Iraq’s vast market potential and consumer base,
presenting lucrative opportunities for Jordanian businesses to expand their
reach. By fostering greater economic integration, both nations can diversify
their economies, reduce dependency on volatile sectors and create a more
conducive environment for investment and innovation.
Energy cooperation holds immense potential for Iraq and Jordan, particularly in
light of recent developments like last month’s activation of the Jordanian-Iraqi
electrical connection. Jordan’s ambitious vision to emerge as a regional energy
hub aligns closely with Iraq’s vast energy resources and production
capabilities. The activation of the electrical connection signifies a
significant step toward realizing this vision, facilitating the exchange of
power between the two countries and paving the way for greater energy
integration in the region. Leveraging Jordan’s strategic geographic position,
the connection enables the kingdom to serve as a conduit for energy transit
between Iraq and neighboring Arab states, enhancing energy security and
diversification efforts.
The operationalization of the Jordanian-Iraqi electrical connection on March 30
represents a tangible manifestation of the long-standing partnership between the
two countries in the energy sector. By strengthening infrastructure linkages and
promoting cross-border energy trade, Iraq and Jordan can harness their
respective strengths to meet growing energy demands, enhance grid stability and
promote sustainable development. Moreover, collaborative ventures in renewable
energy, such as solar and wind power projects, can further diversify the energy
mix and contribute to environmental sustainability goals.
In addition to economic and energy cooperation, Iraq and Jordan can also join
forces to address common security challenges. The volatile geopolitical
landscape of the Middle East underscores the importance of collaboration in
tackling issues such as terrorism, extremism and cross-border threats. Through
enhanced intelligence sharing, joint military exercises and border security
initiatives, Iraq and Jordan can strengthen their defenses and mitigate security
risks. By fostering a robust security partnership, both nations can contribute
to regional stability, safeguarding their citizens and interests against
emerging threats.
Security cooperation between Iraq and Jordan is paramount in the face of shared
security challenges.
Economically, the two countries possess significant potential for collaboration
across various sectors. One area ripe for cooperation is trade and investment.
By fostering an environment conducive to cross-border trade, they can capitalize
on their geographic proximity and strategic location as gateways to regional
markets. Facilitating trade through streamlined customs procedures,
infrastructure development and trade promotion initiatives can spur economic
growth and job creation on both sides. Moreover, joint ventures in sectors such
as energy, agriculture and manufacturing can further enhance economic ties,
diversify revenue streams and foster innovation and technology transfer.
Infrastructure development presents another avenue for collaboration. Both Iraq
and Jordan grapple with infrastructure deficits in areas such as transport,
energy and water resources. By pooling resources and expertise, the two nations
can embark on joint infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing connectivity,
promoting regional integration and improving the quality of life for their
citizens. Projects such as cross-border pipelines, highways and railways can
facilitate the movement of goods, people and services, unlocking new trade
corridors and stimulating economic activity along the way.
Finally, security cooperation between Iraq and Jordan is paramount in the face
of shared security challenges. Both countries confront threats from terrorist
organizations, insurgent groups and transnational criminal networks operating in
the region. Collaborative efforts in intelligence sharing, counterterrorism
operations and border security measures are essential to combat these threats
effectively. By coordinating patrols along their shared borders, exchanging
information on extremist activities and conducting joint training exercises,
Iraq and Jordan can improve their capacity to detect, deter and proactively
respond to security threats. Additionally, cooperation in cybersecurity and
counter-radicalization initiatives can further bolster their collective
resilience against evolving security risks. For instance, cooperation in defense
and military affairs can strengthen bilateral ties and contribute to regional
stability. Joint military exercises, training programs and defense equipment
procurement initiatives can enhance interoperability and readiness, enabling
both nations to respond more effectively to emerging security challenges. By
fostering a culture of cooperation and coordination in security matters, Iraq
and Jordan can build trust and confidence, laying the groundwork for enduring
partnerships in safeguarding their shared interests and promoting peace and
stability in the region.
In summary, the latest developments between Jordan and Iraq can set the stage
for a new chapter of cooperation and partnership between the two nations.
Through concerted efforts in economic, security and energy cooperation, they can
unlock many opportunities for mutual benefit and regional stability. By
harnessing their collective strengths and resources, both countries can also
chart a course toward a future characterized by enhanced security and shared
prosperity for their citizens.
• Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political
scientist.
X: @Dr_Rafizadeh