English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For December 20/2024
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into
the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears
much fruit
John 12/20-28: “Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some
Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him,
‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus. ’Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip
went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man
to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the
earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much
fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this
world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where
I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.
‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say “Father, save me from this
hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify
your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will
glorify it again.
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on December
19-20/2024
US Senators Introduce Law to
Assist Lebanon
Gabriel and Schenker Call on the Lebanese to Elect a Strong President
Israeli army arrests four civilians who crossed into Lebanon
Report: Israel doesn't promise to withdraw or stop violations
Syria interim govt. says coordinating with Lebanon
Report: Fate of over 1,000 Hezbollah fighters remains unknown
Mawlawi: Beirut Airport Security Operations Not Affected
Mikati Calls for Action to Serve the Public Good at the D-8 Summit in Cairo
Except for Aoun, no serious candidates ahead of jan. session
LF official advises Hezbollah to seek Geagea's help
Palestinian Disarmament in the Context of Resolution 1701 Implementation/Bassam
Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/December 19/2024
Hezbollah Faces a Shrinking Support Base/Sonia Rizk/This is Beirut/December
19/2024
Erdogan says Turkey, Lebanon agree to act together on Syria
Türkiye, Lebanon Agree to ‘Work Together’ on Syria
Lebanon's Hezbollah Struggles with Missing Fighters Amid Community
Pressure/Caroline Akoum/Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
Operations at Beirut airport running efficiently, says Lebanon interior minister
Lebanon and the Question of Culture Before and After the Hezbollah Nakba/Hazem
Saghieh/Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
A New Era of Hezbollah Defeat/Jonathan Schanzer and David Daoud/Commentary/December
19/2024
IDF shifts forces on Lebanon and Syria borders/Seth J. Frantzman/FDD's Long War
Journal/December 19/2024
Double Standards and the Absence of Justice/Etienne Sakr – Abu Arz/December
19/2024
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on December
19-20/2024
U.S. Strikes Houthi
Command Center Amid Continuing Threats to International Shipping, Israel
Netanyahu Warns Yemen’s Houthis of ‘Heavy Price’
US Imposes Sanctions on Iran and Houthi-related Targets
Ambiguities in the Law’: Iran Pauses Implementation of Draconian Hijab
Legislation
What we know of the latest talks for a Gaza ceasefire
Blinken says ‘pressure is on Hamas’ to move forward with ceasefire in Gaza
Israel Keeps Up Gaza Bombardment as Ceasefire Talks Intensify
Human Rights Watch says Israel's restriction of water supply in Gaza amounts to
acts of genocide
Putin Denies Russian Defeat in Syria, Says He Plans to Meet Assad
Syria’s Military Operations Command Targets Warlords, Associates of Asma al-Assad
IMF Says Ready to Support Syria Reconstruction when Conditions Allow
Former Assad security forces hand in weapons to new Syrian government
Syria not a threat to world, rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa tells BBC
Hundreds in Damascus protest for democracy, women's rights
Syrian villagers near the Golan Heights say Israeli forces are banning them from
their fields
Sharaa Denies he Wants to Turn Syria into a Version of Afghanistan
Turkish Official: No Ceasefire Deal between Türkiye and US Backed SDF in
Northern Syria
Two million people are expected to leave the country in Canada's immigration
reset. What if they don't?/Naimul Karim/Financial Post/December 19, 2024
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on December
19-20/2024
Haute Qatar: Sheikha Moza’s Glamour Masks Doha’s Vices/Natalie Ecanow and
Mariam Wahba/The Algemeiner/December 19/2024
The day after in Syria: Curb your enthusiasm about new regime/Clifford D.
May/The Washington Times/December 19/2024
How Turkey Outplayed Egypt and the U.S. In The Horn Of Africa ...Ankara’s recent
geopolitical gains go beyond just Syria/Sinan Ciddi and Mariam Wahba/The
National Interest/December 19/2024
Seizing the moment: A US strategy to outmaneuver Russia in Syria/G. Alexander
Crowther and Jahara Matisek, opinion contributors/The Hill./ December 19/2024
Iran-Affiliated Venezuelan Gangs Invited Into the United States/Robert Williams/Gatestone
Institute./December 19, 2024
We Must Help Syrians Build Their Democracy/Dr. Barham Salih/Asharq Al Awsat/December
19/2024
Are Syria’s New Authorities Against the Iranian Axis?/Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq
Al Awsat/December 19/2024
A massacre, a rumored hanging and Syrians' thirst for justice and revenge/Nabih
Bulos/LA Times/December 19, 2024
West Bank settlers are reenacting King Ahab’s sin/Mark I. Pinsky, opinion
contributor/ The Hill./December 19, 2024
on December
19-20/2024
US Senators Introduce Law to Assist Lebanon
This is Beirut/December 19/2024
US Senators introduced on Wednesday the ‘Preventing the Undermining of Lebanon’s
Sovereignty and Economy (PULSE) Act’ that authorizes strong US assistance to the
Lebanese people, its army and its economy, according to a press statement by the
Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee. The PULSE Act was introduced by Senators
Ben Cardin, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen,
a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jack Reed, the
chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The Act authorizes strong U.S.
assistance to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as the legitimate
defenders of Lebanon, provides humanitarian aid to displaced people, and
supports vital state institutions, education, and investigative journalism.
Additionally, the Act supports the settlement of the impasse in the election of
a new president who would prioritize the welfare of Lebanon’s inhabitants and
offers U.S. aid to maintain the rule of law in the country. “The current
ceasefire (with Israel) offers a path to stability and prosperity for the people
of Lebanon, thanks to the diplomatic efforts of the Biden administration,” Chair
Cardin stated. He stressed that the journey “will not be simple,” and that the
United States and the international community must demonstrate “leadership and
unwavering commitment” to take advantage of this opportunity. For her part,
Senator Shaheen considered that the stability of the entire region and a safer,
more prosperous future depend on maintaining peace in Lebanon through the
ceasefire agreement mediated by the Biden administration.
She also made clear that this bill reflects the United States’ “strong support
for the Lebanese Armed Forces and continued efforts to address the dire
humanitarian situation.”“This affirms our commitment to stand with the people of
Lebanon and Lebanese democratic institutions,” she added.
On his part, Chair Reed stressed that the United States is “committed to
restoring stability and security for the Lebanese people.”“This law will
strengthen Lebanon’s capacity to defend its sovereignty and defend its
population by giving the Lebanese Armed Forces strong support and training.”
“This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to building resilience and peace
in the region,” Reed added.
Gabriel and Schenker Call on the Lebanese to Elect a Strong
President
This is Beirut/December 19/2024
Former ambassador and President of the American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL),
Edward Gabriel, expressed hope and confidence that Lebanon would have a new
president of the republic on January 9, ending a two-year presidential deadlock.
“We are excited about the dialogue taking place between the opposition parties,
and between various political groups, and we hope to achieve the election of a
president on January 9 who will be able to implement the ceasefire agreement
(with Israel) and maintain security and economic advancement,” Gabriel said on
the political program ‘Sar el Waet’ on MTV channel Thursday. Gabriel noted that
the United States “does not care about the name” of presidential hopefuls,
leaving that issue to Lebanese parliamentarians. He also stressed that Lebanon
has an opportunity at present to rebuild itself, one that only comes once in a
century. The former ambassador insisted that the Lebanese army and the legal
armed forces are the only ones entrusted with the task of enforcing the
ceasefire, and the Lebanese army must eradicate any ille. In line with the US
administration's expectations, Gabriel said that the future president and his
government would also have to implement a program of economic reform to ensure
that Lebanon benefits from international financial aid. Hosted on the same
program, former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David
Schenker, said Lebanon “has been liberated,” with the ouster of Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad and the weakening of Hezbollah, but the question remains as to
whether it will benefit from the opportunity to move forward and get rid of the
militias’ dominance and Iran’s control over its decisions?
He stressed that the next president should be courageous, strong and decisive,
as well as politicians in Lebanon now that Hezbollah’s losses have led to an
imbalance among many of those close to the Iranian-backed axis.
“Obviously there are many (politicians) who are sad,” he added.
Israeli army arrests four civilians who crossed into
Lebanon
Naharnet/December 19/2024
Four Israeli civilians who “illegally entered Lebanon” were detained on Thursday
afternoon, Israeli police said. Police said that they received reports from the
Israeli army that four suspects were detained inside Lebanon after they crossed
the border.
The suspects, from Ashdod, Beit Shemesh, and Hatzor Haglilit, were handed over
to officers for questioning. “The suspects are currently being interrogated, and
according to the findings of the investigation it will be decided on the
continuation of the legal process in their case,” police said. Police noted that
crossing the border illegally is punishable with up to four years in jail.
According to Israeli army radio, the four Jewish Israelis were attempting to
reach the tomb of Rav Ashi, the burial place of a Babylonian Jewish rabbi, which
is located on the border between Israel and Lebanon near Manara, partially
inside an Israeli army post.
Report: Israel doesn't promise to withdraw or stop violations
Naharnet/December 19/2024
The five-party commitee tasked with monitoring the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire
held its second meeting on Wednesday. "The Israeli enemy failed to present a
specific deadline for full withdrawal from south Lebanon and did not promise to
stop violating the ceasefire," informed sources told al-Akhbar newspaper in
remarks published Thursday. "Lebanese Army officers demanded the enemy's army
delegation to withdraw from some areas as a first phase, especially that more
than 20 days have passed since the agreement took effect, but the enemy officers
only recorded the Lebanese demands without offering promises about imminent
steps," al-Akhbar added. As for the complaints that the Lebanese delegation
presented regarding the daily territorial, naval and aerial attacks on Lebanon,
the Israeli delegation "promised to study them," the daily said.
Syria interim govt. says coordinating with Lebanon
Naharnet/December 19/2024
Syrian interim health minister Maher al-Sharaa said Thursday that there has been
communication with the Lebanese state "from day one.""There is coordination
between our interim government and the Lebanese government in the various
files," Sharaa told Lebanon's LBCI television."There will soon be a meeting
between me and the Lebanese health minister," he added.
Report: Fate of over 1,000 Hezbollah fighters remains unknown
Naharnet/December 19/2024
The file of the missing fighters is troubling Hezbollah after around three weeks
have passed since the ceasefire agreement took effect between Lebanon and
Israel, Saudi Arabia’s Asharq al-Awsat newspaper has reported. "The fate of more
than 1,000 fighters remains unknown, after contact was lost with them and their
bodies were not found until the moment," the daily said. While it has not been
verified whether they were killed in battles or that some of them were taken
captive by the Israeli army, Hezbollah has informed their families that "contact
has been lost with them" and that their fate will be determined in the coming
period based on the search and rubble removal operations that started after the
war, the newspaper added.
Mawlawi: Beirut Airport Security Operations Not Affected
This is Beirut/December 19/2024
Caretaker Minister of Interior Bassam Mawlawi toured Beirut International
Airport (BIA) on Thursday and examined security protocols and plans that are
being implemented ahead of the holiday season. “The airport has not been
affected by security worries,” he said, affirming that “security operations are
going on very well.”He also indicated that “the airport’s security apparatus
have reinforced security measures and making great efforts to counter any
threat,” adding that the measures are being coordinated with “all the security
forces.”
Mikati Calls for Action to Serve the Public Good at the D-8
Summit in Cairo
This is Beirut/December 19/2024
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati took part in the opening session of the
11th Summit of the Developing Eight (D-8) in Cairo on Thursday. In his speech at
the opening session, Mikati stressed the need for D-8 member states to “focus on
action” in order to work for “the public good.”
Mikati arrived in Egypt on Thursday for an official visit, at the special
invitation of President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, to take part in the work of the
summit, which will include a special session on Palestine and Lebanon.
The D-8 states — Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan
and Turkey — are also expected to discuss ways of strengthening economic
cooperation between them. Mikati affirmed Lebanon's commitment to collaborating
with the organization in order to work for “the interest of our people.”The
Lebanese delegation present at the conference includes the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Abdallah Bou Habib, the Minister of Public Works, Ali Hamiyeh, the
Minister of the Environment, Nasser Yassine, as well as the Lebanese Ambassador
to Cairo and to the Arab League, Ali Halabi. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
is expected to take part in the special session on Gaza and Lebanon. The summit
will also see Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iranian counterpart
Massoud Pezechkian meet for the first time since the ousting of Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad. Pezechkian, who arrived in Cairo on Wednesday, is the first
Iranian head of state to visit Egypt since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2013.
Except for Aoun, no serious candidates ahead of jan.
session
Naharnet/December 19/2024
The Democratic Gathering bloc was the first bloc to officially announce its
presidential candidate ahead of a president election session scheduled for
January 9. The session might end more than two years of presidential vacuum.
The Democratic Gathering bloc said Wednesday, following a meeting, that its MPs
will vote for Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun on January 9.
Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat attended the meeting,
only few days after he met with Speaker Nabih Berri and reportedly tried to
convince him of Aoun. According to MTV, Jumblat also tried to convince Free
Patriotic Movement Jebran Bassil of Aoun, but his attempts with both Berri and
Bassil failed.
The Lebanese TV channel said that Berri's objection on Aoun is not because of
his U.S. ties, but rather because of his "sharp" character and "sectarian
approach."
Who is Joseph Aoun?
Aoun, who is being touted as a possible candidate for the presidency, is a man
with a tough mission following an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire that relies heavily
on his troops deploying in the south as Hezbollah withdraw from there. But it
will be a difficult task.
Aoun, 60, was set to retire last January after heading the army since 2017, but
has had his mandate extended twice. The army, widely respected and a rare source
of unity in a country riven by sectarian and political divides, has held
together despite periodic social strife, the latest war and a crushing five-year
economic crisis.
Aoun "has a reputation of personal integrity", said Karim Bitar, an
international relations expert at Beirut's Saint-Joseph University. "Within the
Lebanese army, he is perceived as someone who is dedicated... who has the
national interest at heart, and who has been trying to consolidate this
institution, which is the last non-sectarian institution still on its feet in
the country," he told AFP.
The army chief came into prominence after leading the army in a battle to drive
out the Islamic State group from a mountainous area along the Syrian border.
Aoun has good relations with groups across the political spectrum, including
with Hezbollah, as well as with various foreign countries.
The Lebanese Armed Forces are U.S.-backed and Aoun has ties to the United States
and thus is often criticized by Hezbollah-affiliated media.
Who else would vote for Aoun?
Aoun has been floated by several politicians, parties and local media as a
potential candidate for Lebanon's presidency, but no one, except the Democratic
Gathering bloc, has announced his name as an official candidate for January 9.
Opposition blocs have said they support Aoun as a third-man solution, but have
also floated other names like Michel Mouawad, ex-minister Jihad Azour, ex-MP
Salah Honein, MP Neemat Frem, and ex-minister Nassif Hitti. Their latest
official candidate was Azour while Hezbollah and Amal have always supported only
one candidate: Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh.
The opposition has not yet decided for whom its MPs will vote on January 9, but
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has reportedly contacted Berri amid many
presidential initiatives ahead of the long-awaited session. Geagea has said that
he was ready to run for president himself if he could secure enough political
support and Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel who says he supports Aoun, has said he
wouldn't mind voting for Geagea. He said that "everything is possible" and that
he might himself run for president. According to several local media reports, in
addition to Aoun, Azour, Honein, Frem, and Hitti, Lebanon's other candidates are
currently ex-ambassador to the Vatican and former army intelligence chief Brig.
Gen. George Khoury (supported by Berri and Bassil), MP Farid Haykal al-Khazen
(supported by Berri), General Security chief Maj. Gen. Elias Bayssari (supported
by Qatar, Berri and Bassil), ex-minister Ziad Baroud (supported by Bassil),
ex-minister Jean-Louis Cardahi, and banker Samir Assaf (supported by France.)
What happened to Franjieh? -
Hezbollah and Amal have only had one candidate, and although they've been
accused of being inflexible and of trying to impose their candidate, the two
parties, known as the Shiite Duo, have long called for dialogue and for a
consensual president.
Apparently Franjieh has no chances, and two years of deadlock have proved that
neither Hezbollah nor its opponents can impose a president, and that there is
need for consensus or compromise. Franjieh himself said Wednesday that he is
open for any candidate who would be a good fit for the position. "I am still
running for the presidency but I am open to anyone who would be fit for the
current phase and who is able to build a state, and I do not have any
disagreement with my friends although we have not yet reached an agreement on a
name," Franjieh said, referring to ally Hezbollah.
LF official advises Hezbollah to seek Geagea's help
Naharnet/December 19/2024
The head of the Lebanese Forces' Media and Communication Department, Charles
Jabbour, has warned Hezbollah that is has reached a "dead end" and that it is
facing "major existential threats" in light of its latest war with Israel and
the rise of a new regime in Syria. Accordingly, Jabbour advised Hezbollah chief
Sheikh Naim Qassem to seek the help of LF leader Samir Geagea to secure "three
insurance policies."The first guarantee would be for post-war reconstruction,
the second for "protection from al-Jolani and Netanyahu," and the third for
"ending Hezbollah's internal and external isolation," Jabbour said in his daily
article in the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper.It was not immediately clear whether he
was reflecting a personal or an LF opinion. "Confidence in the LF leader, who
does not give up constants and principles, represents the gateway for
reconstruction," Jabbour noted.
As for "protection," the LF official cited Geagea's international relations,
specifically with Washington and Riyadh.
Palestinian Disarmament in the Context of Resolution 1701 Implementation
Bassam Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/December 19/2024
In the context of the ceasefire agreement and the implementation of Resolution
1701, as well as previous resolutions such as 1559 and 1680, there is no mention
of Palestinian weapons in Lebanon and the need to remove them, in line with
international resolutions. And even though the National Dialogue held in March
2006 agreed on the need to dismantle Palestinian arms inside and outside refugee
camps, this decision has yet to be implemented.
Palestinian weapons are present in different locations as follows:
1. Military bases for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine –
General Command (PFLP-GC) and Fatah al-Intifada are located outside the camps.
2. Military groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad are present both inside and outside
the camps, some of their members coming from Syria.
3. Armed factions of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) are present
inside Palestinian camps.
4.Factions opposed to the PLO are also located inside the camps.
5. Extremist Palestinian Islamic groups are also present in certain camps,
particularly in Ain al-Hilweh and Beddawi.
This array of Palestinian factions, with all their weapons, can no longer claim
that their objective is to fight Israel and liberate Palestine. Their military
capabilities are in no way comparable to those of Israel. Furthermore, the
forces that once supported them, such as Hezbollah and the Syrian regime, are
either militarily incapacitated or no longer present on the regional map. More
importantly, the Lebanese territory and the border with Israel, under the
ceasefire agreement and the implementation of Resolution 1701, are no longer
open grounds for combat, whether by the Lebanese or anyone else.
In this context, the Lebanese government should request that the Palestinian
Authority instruct its affiliated factions to hand over their weapons to the
Lebanese Army and dissolve their military groups. The state’s security
apparatuses should assume exclusive responsibility for security in the camps.
These have been controlled by Palestinian armed groups, which fought each other
on different occasions, turning them into breeding grounds for extremist groups
that brought harm on Palestinians and Lebanese alike. The 1999 assassination of
four judges in Saida, the 2007 Nahr al-Bared camp war, and other incidents of
unrest and clashes, particularly in Ain al-Hilweh camp, undermined the security
of the camps as well as their entourage.
The Lebanese government should also ask Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Lebanon to
dissolve their armed wings, surrender their weapons to the Army, and stop using
Lebanese territory to launch attacks against Israel, as was the case after
Hezbollah opened its support front for Gaza on October 8, 2023.
Furthermore, the Lebanese government should close the military camps run by the
PFLP-GC and Fatah al-Intifada, in the areas of Halwa and Sultan Yaacoub in the
Western Beqaa, Qusayya in the Central Beqaa, and Naameh, south of Beirut. These
camps, built on private lands owned by Lebanese citizens, were confiscated by
factions backed by Syria’s Assad regime.
Additionally, the government should take action against members of Palestinian
armed factions who do not possess legal residency documents. These could be a
source of tension with the new Syrian authorities, as they supported the Syrian
regime and its allies and participated in the conflict against the Syrian
people.
Hezbollah Faces a Shrinking Support Base
Sonia Rizk/This is Beirut/December 19/2024
A new reality is unfolding — one that Hezbollah has not experienced in its
previous wars. These subtle changes are likely to make headlines soon, as
several surprises can be expected. Some expatriates who own homes in border
villages, which the group has transformed into weapons and missile depots, have
filed lawsuits against Hezbollah. They accuse the group of digging tunnels under
their homes, leading to Israeli strikes.
At a time when all norms in Lebanon and its surrounding regions have been
overturned, with one downfall following another — from Hamas in Gaza to
Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Assad regime in Syria — huge changes continue to
unfold, provoking reactions from the entire “Axis of resistance.” This axis has
collapsed, dragging along those who paid the high price, yet still pretended to
be victorious. The aftermath has left countless victims and widespread
destruction.
In the past, slogans supporting Hezbollah were common, especially during its
battles with Israel. Casualties mounted daily, with dozens of deaths, and the
phrase "Fida el Hezeb – For the sake of the Hezb" was uttered every time losses
occurred. But today, that phrase is heard only in Hezbollah-controlled areas.
Most of its supporters have been displaced, losing their homes and jobs. Anger
over the imposed and unjustified war lingers, with no legitimate justification
for it. The pretexts ranged from the duty to support Gaza to the unification of
battlefields, and the list goes on.
Recently, there have been noticeable shifts in the mood of Hezbollah’s
supporters, particularly in the Baalbeck region, once one of the group's
strongholds. This area, which has been unwillingly confined to a narrow
existence, is now far removed from any prospects of a peaceful life. The
consecutive wars Hezbollah has fought in Syria to defend Bashar al-Assad and his
oppressive regime have sparked widespread discontent, particularly in Northern
Beqaa, where the cost in lives and property has been steep. This discontent has
recently erupted into an uprising, especially in Baalbeck and Hermel. Calls made
by Houna Loubnan to several residents have revealed a strong desire for
expression, as silence is no longer acceptable — especially since many have lost
everything. They are left with nothing but empty promises.
The residents have expressed a desire to free themselves from Hezbollah’s grip.
New movements are emerging, rejecting Hezbollah’s monopoly over Shiite
representation and refusing to fight in regional wars on behalf of Iran, without
regard for Lebanon’s security. This sentiment was recently made clear by audio
messages posted on social media, rejecting the group’s lies and false promises.
The residents also pointed out that the results of the May 2026 parliamentary
elections will reflect their stance, signaling that the upcoming phase will be
different. As a result, the sectarian rhetoric Hezbollah has relied on will no
longer "work" because its support base is no longer accommodating it. Baalbeck’s
clans have become increasingly vocal, especially after many of their sons
perished in a futile war aimed at implementing foreign agendas. This war has
turned their areas into warehouses for weapons, missile manufacturing and hubs
for transferring Iranian arms through Syria into Lebanon, making the region a
target for daily airstrikes. The people are now seeking a new path, one that
diverges from the "jihadist" messages that Hezbollah constantly uses as a banner
for its wars. Instead, they yearn for a legitimate homeland that embraces them
as citizens. Residents have also pointed out certain well-known Shiite families
in Baalbeck and Hermel who have never supported Hezbollah. These families, along
with political figures who have remained outside the umbrella of the Shiite duo
(Hezbollah and Amal), have supported Lebanese legitimacy, participated in
government for decades and set a good example of service and success. In this
context, southerners are no different from the residents of the Beqaa. A man
from Mays al-Jabal spoke to Houna Loubnan and conveyed the views of displaced
residents who are now living with relatives and friends. They have returned to
square one after investing their life savings in building homes and establishing
livelihoods, only to lose everything. He also mentioned that a number of
expatriates who own homes in the border villages have filed lawsuits against
Hezbollah for the destruction it has caused.
Erdogan says Turkey, Lebanon agree to act together on Syria
Agence France Presse/December 19/2024
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey and Lebanon would work
together on Syria after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad by Islamist-led rebels.
"A new era has now begun in Syria. We agree that we must act together as two
important neighbors of Syria," Erdogan told a news conference Wednesday,
alongside Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. "The stability of Syria means
the stability of the region," he said, adding that reconstruction of the
war-ravaged country on their borders would be their priority. Assad fled to
Russia after a lightning offensive spearheaded by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir
al-Sham (HTS) wrested city after city from his control until the rebels reached
the Syrian capital earlier this month.
The ousting of Assad sparked celebrations around Syria and beyond, and has
prompted many refugees to begin returning home. Turkey and Lebanon are home to a
large number of Syrian refugees. To rebuild Syria, Erdogan said: "This is a
critical period in which we need to act with unity, solidarity and mutual
reconciliation."
Türkiye, Lebanon Agree to ‘Work Together’ on Syria
Ankara: Saeed Abdulrazek//Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday that Türkiye and
Lebanon have agreed to collaborate on Syria in the post-Bashar al-Assad era.
During a press conference alongside Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati,
Erdogan said: “A new chapter has begun in Syria. We agree that, as two key
neighbors of Syria, we must work together.”Mikati received an official welcome
ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. The two leaders held a bilateral
meeting followed by an expanded ministerial session. Separate working meetings
were also held between Turkish and Lebanese ministers.
During the joint press conference, Erdogan pointed to the challenges Lebanon and
Palestine faced this year due to “Israeli threats and aggression.” He emphasized
that “Lebanon’s security is inseparable from the stability of the region, just
as regional peace cannot be achieved without a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.”He
added: “Any state that believes increased killing will bring security is making
a grave mistake. Israel refuses to understand this truth.”He also praised
Mikati’s leadership and stressed the need for a ceasefire and Israel’s adherence
to it.
On Syria, Erdogan stated that a new phase has begun, emphasizing the need for
stability in the country. He said: “For 13 years, we have endured instability in
Syria, which has caused immense suffering in the region. Türkiye opened its
doors and welcomed Syrians, just as Lebanon did. Achieving stability in Syria
and returning it to normalcy are priorities for the coming phase. Establishing a
permanent and sustainable governance structure is essential for Syrians and the
region.” Erdogan reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the country’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity. He continued: “Lebanon and Türkiye will
stand by Syria to support its recovery in the coming phase. As we have done in
the past, we will act as good neighbors, promoting Syria’s stability. The
international community must also take responsibility to ensure regional
security and stability.”For his part, Mikati expressed gratitude to Erdogan,
saying: “At every critical juncture Lebanon faces, you have been a steadfast
supporter on all levels. We deeply appreciate your brotherly spirit toward our
nation and people.”Mikati highlighted the suffering Lebanon continues to endure
due to Israeli aggression, which has caused significant human, economic,
financial, social, and environmental damage in recent months. He underlined the
importance of Türkiye’s support in halting Israeli aggression, given its
extensive network of Arab and international relationships. On Syria, Mikati
acknowledged Ankara’s active role in the region and reiterated Lebanon’s
commitment to Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, expressing
hope for freedom and stability for the Syrian people. He concluded by
emphasizing the importance of strengthening Lebanon-Syria relations based on
mutual respect and good neighborly ties.
Lebanon's Hezbollah
Struggles with Missing Fighters Amid Community Pressure
Caroline Akoum/Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
The issue of missing Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli war continues to cause
distress for both the group and the families awaiting news or the return of
their remains for burial. Three weeks after the ceasefire began, the fate of
more than 1,000 fighters remains unknown. Contact with them was lost, and their
bodies have not been found, leaving it unclear whether they were killed in
battle or captured by the Israeli military. The Israeli military has confirmed
capturing Hezbollah fighters, though the exact number is unclear. Some reports
suggest about 10 fighters are held, and the Israeli forces have released video
footage of two of them being interrogated. Hezbollah confirmed that prisoners
are held by Israel, with former media official Mohammed Afif acknowledging their
capture. Since the ceasefire, the group’s leaders have kept quiet about the
issue, only stating it is being monitored.
They often refer to a pledge made by former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah,
who said, “We will not leave our captives in prison.”Sources say Hezbollah
raised the prisoner issue during talks on the ceasefire agreement, but it was
not addressed. They were promised it would be discussed later. Some believe
their release could be linked to any broader resolution being worked on for
Gaza.Hezbollah has not yet revealed the number of its fighters killed during 66
days of conflict with Israel. The group stopped reporting casualties in late
September, when the count stood at 450 deaths since the war began on October 8,
2023. While estimates suggest more than 3,000 Hezbollah fighters were killed by
the end of the war, sources tell Asharq Al-Awsat that between 1,000 and 1,500
are still missing after contact was lost with them. Hezbollah has informed the
families of these missing fighters of their status, either days before or weeks
before the ceasefire took effect. They have said that their fate will be
determined through ongoing search operations. For those whose bodies were found,
families were told their loved ones were “martyrs,” a term Hezbollah uses for
fallen fighters. Most bodies have been returned, and burials have taken place.
However, many families were told their relatives are “missing in action,” as no
trace of them was found due to the destruction caused by bombings, which made it
difficult to search. Fatima, who waited 60 days to hear from her husband, was
informed two days ago that he is a “martyr, missing in action.”
Umm Hussein, the mother of another fighter, is still waiting for news of her
son, who lost contact with her over a month ago. Another woman, considered
“lucky,” received her brother’s body after losing contact with him four weeks
ago. She said: “Knowing he was martyred is better than waiting without knowing
his fate.” Zainab is still hopeful about her brother, who last contacted her 75
days ago. She was told he was in a hard-to-reach area, and search efforts would
begin once Israeli forces withdrew. Zainab remains hopeful, saying: “We haven’t
lost hope. If he’s among the martyrs, we’ll still be happy because he has
reached his goal.”
In contrast, Salma lost all hope when she learned her father had been killed.
“Although we lost contact with him about three weeks before the ceasefire,
Hezbollah contacts reassured us he was fine. When the ceasefire started, we
learned he had been martyred. It was a shock for us.”Local sources in southern
Lebanon told Asharq Al-Awsat that the issue of prisoners and missing fighters is
becoming a major crisis for Hezbollah, especially for the fighters’ families and
the community. There have been growing protests and complaints against Hezbollah
officials, who are being criticized for not doing enough for both the missing
and captured fighters. Hezbollah’s media also seems confused about how to handle
the issue, as shown by conflicting reports. On Tuesday, its news broadcast
stated that bodies of martyrs were being recovered from the rubble in the
southern town of Al-Adaisseh and would be extended to Taybeh and beyond.
However, two hours later, the report was updated, quoting a correspondent who
said that “the Lebanese Army had not entered Al-Adaisseh, and no bodies had been
recovered, nor had any similar operation been carried out in Taybeh.” It also
mentioned that “communications with UNIFIL forces on this issue had not been
successful so far.”
Operations at Beirut
airport running efficiently, says Lebanon interior minister
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/December 19, 2024
BEIRUT: Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi has said security operations
at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut are running efficiently. The
minister toured the airport on Thursday to assess security ahead of the holiday
season and said every effort was being made to address any potential threat.
Earlier, he revealed that several Syrian figures linked to Bashar Assad’s regime
had entered Lebanon from Syria and used the airport for international travel.
“Maher Al-Assad’s wife and son entered Lebanon and departed through the
airport,” he said. “Anyone who enters Lebanon legally, regardless of their
background, is allowed to exit through the airport.”Mawlawi added that Maj. Gen.
Ali Mamlouk, former presidential special security and military advisor, had not
entered Lebanon and would be arrested if he tried to do so. “His photos have
been circulated at Rafic Hariri International Airport to intercept any attempt
to pass through using forged documents,” said the minister. In 2013, the
Lebanese military judiciary issued an arrest warrant in absentia for Mamlouk for
allegedly orchestrating the transportation of explosives, intended for
detonation in Lebanon, in the car of former minister Michel Samaha. In his
indictment against Mamlouk, Lebanese investigative judge Riad Abou Ghaida later
called for the death penalty. On the southern side of the border, Israeli army
bulldozers continued demolishing homes in the towns of Naqoura, Maroun al-Ras,
Bani Hayyan, and the area between Qlyaa and Marjeyoun. The findings of the
committee overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, which
convened on Wednesday to address ongoing Israeli land and air violations, were
not disclosed. A joint statement issued by the US and French embassies in
Lebanon, along with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, said: “The committee will
meet regularly and closely coordinate its work to achieve progress in the
implementation of the ceasefire agreement and Resolution 1701.”The municipality
of Bani Haiyyan appealed to the authorities and the committee to take immediate
action to bring about the withdrawal of Israeli forces. A statement said: “The
enemy has been destroying homes and places of worship and bulldozing the
infrastructure without deterrence.” It also urged the army, the Lebanese Red
Cross and UNIFIL to “act swiftly to save the life of a sick elderly woman who
remains in the town, facing physical and psychological pressure, and (who) has
been out of contact since Wednesday.”
Lebanon and the Question of Culture Before and After the
Hezbollah Nakba
Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
In a column about the “Axis of Resistance” for "Al Majalla," my colleague
Houssam Itani asks: "Who can think of a book written by a thinker or writer
associated with the Axis that is worth reading?" To the lack of such a book, we
could add the lack of any idea, poem, novel, painting, play, film, and song...
This question would not have been posed in the first place if the "Axis" and
those who speak in its name had shown no interest in culture. Indeed, many
episodes and incidents have shown that this Axis that hasn't published a book
does have a draconian and all-encompassing rigid stance on Lebanese cultural
questions, one that can best be encapsulated by the term censorship. They oppose
anyone active in the cultural sphere who does not "denounce the enemy,serves the
enemy,takes part in a conference or festival with the enemy," or "speaks to an
enemy newspaper." The "enemy" is, by definition, Israel- each and every Israeli
with the exception of around ten anti-Zionist figures that are "on our side."
However, those encompassed by this loaded epithet can broaden to include anyone
accused of "collaborating" with the enemy, "supporting" the enemy,
"sympathizing" with the enemy, buying a product made by the enemy's "allies,"
sitting in a cafe run by the enemy's "partners," or even shaking hands with
someone who belongs to the enemy...
This censorship body is, of course, unelected and has no official authority. The
authority it has enjoyed for all these years is derived from its professed
"passionate devotion to Palestine," enabling it to ban artists from visiting
Lebanon, film screenings, events, and the translation of books. It has also had
the right to defame people arbitrarily based on those criteria, without ever
being questioned or held legally accountable.
Of course, this is not a narrative of history and the world that is used to
‘justify’ the suppression of dissent. We saw this sort of censorship, for
example, with Stalinism, which used a Marxist-Leninist yardstick to identify the
"enemies of the people." As for our censors, they mostly pounce on the banal and
daily life and practices: shaking hands, dining, visiting, buying goods, sitting
in a cafe...
In this symbolism-laden context, some of Lebanon's most iconic artists and
intellectuals have been defamed: the novelist Amin Maalouf, the filmmaker Ziad
Doueiri, and the playwright Wajdi Mouawad, among many others. At best, extremely
narrow and authoritarian interpretations of the “law” are brandished against the
targets of this defamation. Mind you, even the most justified reference to the
law can be challenged and seen with suspicion in light of Hezbollah's seizure of
the state and legal interpretation.
If these censors had a shred of respectable cultural sensitivity, they would be
appalled by the sight of mass rallies brought together by a single shared dogma,
chanting with one voice, raising their fists in synchronized motions, and
declaring their willingness to die for a single idolized leader. Ultimately, it
is a mechanical scene that brings to mind only the notorious images of crowds
gathered at fascist rallies. On top of that, however, this mass phenomenon is
coupled with efforts to drill extremely reactionary and mythical ideas inimical
to reform and cultural liberation into the minds of these masses. None of that
compels Resistance Axis censors to voice the slightest criticism or reservation.
One component of this circle of censors is a disturbing political party founded
by a racist "fuhrer" who has explained the "degradation" of Arabs in North
Africa as being a result of intermarriage with black Africans. This is a party
that continues to raise a flag reminiscent of the swastika and considers every
Jew an enemy "fighting our religion, land, and rights." It also draws a
distinction between those who have "flat skulls" and those who have "round
skulls." As for this milieu’s sympathy for the Assad regime, as well as other
similar regimes, it can only be said to reflect a strong inclination towards
censorship and fierce animosity to culture- even before we received the news of
mass graves, crushed corpses, and salt rooms in Saydnaya Prison over the past
couple of weeks.
In its Lebanese articulation, two hallmarks of anti-intellectualism are
particularly salient: First, an aversion to freedom. In the Lebanese case, this
translates to an aversion to Lebanon itself because, without freedom, the
country loses everything it stands for. The cause of freedom, at least in the
Lebanese cultural environment, should be revered above any other, with freedom
the basis for determining the significance of other causes. Second, we find
absolute enmity that has the capacity to satiate the hunger that drives cultural
pursuits and to define our identity purely through this enmity. The "enemy" will
remain our enemy forever, not related to borders, distance, time, rights, nor
interests, while enmity is the cornerstone of our human relationships. Rather,
“humanizing” our enemies is immoral, and thanks to a secularized religious
consciousness humanizing them are turned into demons or devils. Nothing
clarifies this sick worldview and its output better than the concept of a
“culture of resistance,” which has nothing but animosity and contempt for
culture. Breaking anti-intellectualism’s arbitrary authority over culture, an
extension of our subjugation by force of arms, deserves to be considered
inseparable from the pursuit of breaking that subjugation. In all likelihood,
the vast majority of the Lebanese people want to see both broken.
A New Era of Hezbollah
Defeat
by Jonathan Schanzer and David Daoud/Commentary/December 19/2024
https://www.commentary.org/jonathan-schanzer/new-era-of-hezbollah-defeat/
Nothing lasts forever. Hezbollah’s self-proclaimed “Era of Victories”—which the
group inaugurated after the May 2000 Israeli withdrawal from south
Lebanon—appears to have run its course. Its new Secretary-General Naim Qassem
just confessed in a televised address that Hezbollah’s lifeline through Syria is
now gone, thanks to the downfall of the Assad regime.
The dreaded Third Lebanon War is over. The destructive capabilities that
Hezbollah possessed before the war never came to fruition. Instead, Hezbollah
took a beating. To add insult to injury, the group watched passively as Bashar
al-Assad collapsed, bringing Hezbollah’s weapons primary smuggling routes down
with it. The group is thus battered badly, with immediate prospects of regaining
its strength significantly complicated.
That path to this place was not easy for Israel. The country endured a war of
attrition for almost a year. The pivotal moment occurred on July 27, an errant
Hezbollah rocket killed 12 Israeli children in the Druze village Majdal Shams.
Three days later, Israel killed Hezbollah’s chief of staff in the heart of the
Beirut neighborhood of Dahiyeh. The message was clear: Israel was no longer
willing to absorb the attacks Hezbollah initiated on October 8, 2023.
Unbeknownst to Hezbollah, a counteroffensive was underway.
In mid-September, beepers carried by thousands of Hezbollah operatives exploded.
The next day, so did their walkie talkies. Dozens were killed, thousands more
were wounded, and Hezbollah’s communication network was severely compromised. By
the the group’s admission, its command and control descended into chaos.
But Hezbollah’s challenges were just beginning. Israel soon eliminated the top
tier of the group’s elite Radwan force and executed an aerial blitz against a
whopping 1,600 targets to degrade the Iran-backed group’s formidable arsenal.
Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was the target of the next
spectacular strike, when the Israeli air force unleashed a barrage of 2,000
pound bombs in succession, killing him in his bunker deep underground. A week
later, the Israelis then took out his successor Hashem Saffiedine and then other
senior members of Hezbollah’s military and political leadership.
Afterwards, Israel launched a ground operation against an imbalanced Hezbollah.
The IDF systematically cleared Lebanese frontier villages of Hezbollah fighters
and infrastructure, while the air force continued to pound its assets and
arsenal deeper in Lebanon with airstrikes. The Israelis kept pressing their
advantage, despite taking relatively heavy battlefield losses.
These two bitter foes have locked horns often in the past. But the contrast
between this latest battle and Israel’s prior campaigns against Hezbollah
couldn’t be greater. During the 1985-2000 South Lebanon Conflict, Israel didn’t
devoted the time or energy necessary to understand Lebanon, let alone the
country’s Shiite population from which Hezbollah had spawned. The Israelis were
also coming off the highly domestically unpopular 1982 Lebanon War, and
therefore lacked the support at home to make the sacrifices necessary to
confront what was then perceived as a minor threat. The IDF then withdrew from
Lebanon in May 2000 under the weight of domestic pressure. As the last IDF tank
crossed back into northern Israel, Hezbollah exploited the situation and its
optics to claim victory.
The subsequent war in 2006 caught Israel off-guard. What began with a surprise
attack in Gaza gave way to the first significant coordination of fronts between
Iranian proxies. Hezbollah followed up on the Hamas kidnapping of Israeli
soldier Gilad Shalit with an offensive of its own. Suddenly, Israel had to
transition to war for which it had not been prepared—its forces had focused
primarily on policing duties in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for the previous
half-decade—squaring off against a foe that was better prepared and more
formidable since their last encounter. Hezbollah had set about upgrading its
arsenal and fighting capabilities, internalizing and implementing the lesson of
the previous conflict to create a fighting strategy that exploited Israel’s
weaknesses.
With significant Iranian assistance, the group threaded south Lebanon’s villages
with “nature reserves”—previously unknown underground tunnels that allowed
Hezbollah to transfer fighters and weapons surreptitiously to the scenes of
battle. Hezbollah perfected the use of anti-tank guided missiles as a way to bog
down and, at times, cripple the advance of Israel’s armor-heavy and cumbersome
army. Israel, meanwhile, relied heavily on its air force to strike an enemy
whose hallmark was a small battlefield footprint and elusiveness, applied
according to a doctrine that accentuated Israeli vulnerabilities. As the dust
settled, a bruised Hezbollah had survived a confrontation with the far more
conventionally powerful IDF, claiming yet another “Divine Victory.”
In the eighteen-year interwar interregnum, Israel shifted to a strategy of
preventing the outbreak of a major war. Employing its intelligence-gathering
skills to maximum effect, the Israelis struck repeatedly at Iranian weapons
transfers to Hezbollah, primarily in war-torn Syria. This became known in Israel
as the “campaign between the wars.” But the pinprick Israeli strikes, meant to
slow Hezbollah’s arms buildup—specifically precision guided munitions—never
challenged Hezbollah’s overall strength.
But in preparation for this war, the Israelis seem to have spent at least the
past decade penetrating every level of Hezbollah’s organizational apparatus.
Indeed, when the time came to fight, no Hezbollah official and no Hezbollah
asset was safe. Israel seized the initiative and crippled the group’s military
apparatus before it could even mobilize. The Israelis located and liquidated one
Hezbollah “ghost” commander after the next, including the elusive mid-level
Radwan force commanders who had invested heavily in anonymity. Israel’s campaign
this go-round even demonstrated a better understanding of the pressure points on
Hezbollah’s support base and the group’s broader Lebanese environment.
Hezbollah’s path to regeneration, while not impossible, is more complicated than
ever before.
On the Israeli home front, the Israeli public was steeled for this fight. The
October 7 horrors and Hezbollah’s ability to conduct its own identical attack
created an unprecedented recognition among Israelis that Hezbollah would need to
be defeated, no matter the price. Compounding this, Hezbollah’s strikes drove an
estimated 160,000 Israelis from their homes since October 8. According to one
Israeli official who spoke on background to us, Hezbollah has destroyed $10 to
$15 billion in Israeli insfrastructure in the countries north.
The war may not be over yet. And more damage could still be sustained. But after
nearly a year of indecision, the IDF gained the conventional upper hand, and
this time employed it to maximum effect. Israel deployed its forces according to
a combined-arms doctrine that was specifically developed over the past eighteen
years to confront Hezbollah. This included internal restructuring of the IDF to
create forces like the Oz Brigade, which brought all the IDF’s special forces
units under one umbrella, to confront an irregular actor like Hezbollah. When
Israel entered Lebanon this time, it favored powerful and agile ground maneuvers
over armor or standoff firepower.
Israel had also invested in building a multitiered missile defense array,
including the short-range Iron Dome and and mid-range David’s Sling systems.
These systems are defensive and not hermetic. They could not always neutralize
Hezbollah drones and or “sniping” attacks on northern communities. There simply
is no substitute for offensive action. Nevertheless, these systems blunted
Hezbollah’s attacks just enough to minimize the group’s impact on the Israeli
Home Front and to keep up public moralem a vital component of any democracy’s
war effort.
Predictably, Hezbollah is now attempting to claim victory. Merely surviving is
the group’s key metric in this regard. Admittedly, the group has scored several
hits against Israel, killing 56 Israeli soldiers and wounding hundreds of
others, and confounding Israeli defenses with anti-tank guided missile attacks
and swarms of loitering munitions. But as the dust settles, a stark picture of
the group’s defeat emerges: at least 2,500 members killed, many of them elite
and irreplicable leaders, a decimated arsenal, and flattened military
infrastructure. All of this will take years to rebuild.
IDF shifts forces on Lebanon and Syria borders
Seth J. Frantzman/FDD's Long War Journal/December
19/2024
https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2024/12/idf-shifts-forces-on-lebanon-and-syria-borders.php
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing to remain in several areas along
the Syrian border, including atop Mount Hermon and in a larger buffer zone
between Israel and Syria. This development comes in the wake of the fall of the
Bashar al Assad regime in Syria on December 8 and the ceasefire with Lebanon on
November 27. The ceasefire is expected to last for 60 days, by which time Israel
is supposed to withdraw troops from Lebanon unless fighting with Hezbollah
begins again.
On the Syrian front, Israeli troops have taken over the highest part of Mount
Hermon, just above 2,800 meters, previously held by Syria. Israel has held part
of the mountain since 1967 but not the highest point. Now, Israeli troops are
preparing for winter in the summit’s harsh conditions.
Mount Hermon’s uppermost part is barren and experiences biting cold, often
accompanied by heavy wind, along with light snow that usually blankets the area
for up to two months. The IDF has troops prepared for these conditions, as it
has previously maintained several fortified mountain posts. In addition, the IDF
established a Mountain Brigade in April 2024 to bolster forces on Hermon and
neighboring Mount Dov, a result of operational needs amidst threats from
Hezbollah.
On December 17, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visited Mount Hermon’s peak
with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Katz called the mountain the
“eyes” of Israel because of how much of Syria and Lebanon can be monitored from
its heights.
“The IDF is here to protect the communities of the Golan Heights and the
citizens of the State of Israel from any threat, from the most important place
where it is possible to do so,” he said. IDF Chief of the General Staff
Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the head of Israel’s Northern Command, Major
General Ori Gordin, and other key Israeli military and intelligence officials
also attended the gathering on the mountain. The event emphasized Israel’s
decision to stay in the area for the foreseeable future and increase
fortifications along the border.
Other changes are occurring below the mountain. The Israeli military said on
December 13 that it deployed engineers, armored units, paratroopers, and the
elite Egoz Unit along the Syrian border. The Egoz Unit used to be part of the
Golani Brigade but is now a specialized unit that is part of the Commando
Brigade. “The troops have been deployed to strategic positions in the Area of
Separation to strengthen defense in the area,” the IDF said. The IDF moved
forces into the buffer zone between Israel and Syria as the Assad regime
collapsed on December 8. This zone is more than 120 square miles of border along
the Golan Heights. It includes two lines for separating Israeli and Syrian
forces: Alpha, the Israeli line, and Bravo, the eastern line where Syrian forces
were once located.
Among the units now on the border is the 474th Brigade, a territorial brigade
tasked with defending the border. It is part of the 210th Division, which
protects the entire length of the Golan border. The 474th has been working to
strengthen various defenses while other IDF units operate in the buffer zone.
“During scans, IDF paratroopers located a variety of weapons, including
anti-tank missiles, military vests, ammunition, and additional military
equipment,” the IDF said, describing some of the work being done in the buffer
zone.
Israeli operations in the buffer zone and several nearby Syrian villages
included patrols and IDF troops meeting with locals and collecting weapons left
behind by the Syrian regime. For instance, Ynet reported that the 7th Armored
Brigade’s 77th Battalion arrived near Umm Batnah and met with a representative
of the village. Ynet identified this village as being 8 miles from the border,
but it is actually on the Bravo Line, around 2 miles from the Israeli border.
In another report on December 17, Ynet reported that “over the past two days,
thousands of residents from seven local villages have effectively come under the
protection of IDF troops from the Paratroopers Brigade, the 188th Armored
Brigade, the 7th Armored Brigade and the Commando Brigade.” The IDF did not
confirm the report about where its troops were present in Syria. However,
footage posted online claimed to show an Israeli tank in a Syrian village.
Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a
contributor to FDD’s Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East
correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7
War: Israel’s Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
Double Standards and the Absence of Justice
Etienne Sakr – Abu Arz/December 19/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/12/138162/
With the fall of Bashar al-Assad and his flight to Moscow, the world has been
exposed to the horrific crimes this tyrant committed in his prisons, which he
turned into human slaughterhouses of unimaginable brutality, violating even the
most basic human rights. These crimes claimed the lives of thousands of innocent
people, displaced millions, and destroyed cities, villages, and rural areas.
Despite these atrocities, which send shivers down the spine, the international
community has limited its response to imposing non-deterrent economic sanctions,
while the International Criminal Court (ICC) refrained from issuing an arrest
warrant against him. This raises serious questions about the concept of
international justice, which is supposed to be comprehensive and impartial.
At the heart of the greater axis of evil stands Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader
of the Islamic Republic of Iran, leading a project to destabilize the region.
From Iran to Iraq, through Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen, Khamenei and his
partners have committed countless crimes—from supporting terrorist militias to
destroying nations and starving their peoples. Yet, the ICC has taken no action
against him, while some Western countries merely imposed economic sanctions that
exacerbated the suffering of the Iranian people without deterring the regime
from continuing its terrorist policies.
In Lebanon, the former Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, turned
the country into a hostage to his delusional project, committing all kinds of
crimes, including murder, starvation, and displacement, stripping Lebanon of its
independence and sovereignty. Yet, he too remains unaccountable on the
international stage, with no judicial action taken against him by the ICC.
In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was the first to
confront terrorism in the region, faces unjust international accountability. He
fought terrorism with unprecedented strength and determination—from Hamas in
Gaza, to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and even contributing to the overthrow of Bashar
al-Assad’s terrorist regime in Syria. Yet, instead of being honored for his
bravery and resolve in eradicating terrorism at its roots, he was “rewarded”
with an arrest warrant issued by the ICC. This decision reflects a shocking
double standard in international norms, where true criminals are ignored while
those combating terrorism to protect their people are pursued.
This blatant contradiction in the actions of the international community reveals
a deep flaw in the international justice system, which is supposed to be a model
of integrity and impartiality. Instead, it operates with double standards that
equate those who create and practice terrorism with those who confront and fight
it—turning heroes into fugitives and criminals into free men.
In light of this disheartening reality, it has become clear that the United
Nations and its judicial institutions are suffering from a serious credibility
crisis. This crisis not only threatens the legitimacy of these institutions but
also undermines the very concept of justice. Beware.
Lebanon at your service
Etienne Sakr – Abu Arz
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on December 19-20/2024
U.S.
Strikes Houthi Command Center Amid Continuing Threats to International Shipping,
Israel
FDD/December
19, 2024
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2024/12/18/u-s-strikes-houthi-command-center-amid-continuing-threats-to-international-shipping-israel/
Latest Developments
Control Center Coordinated Houthi Operations: U.S. forces conducted an airstrike
against a command center operated by the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group in
the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on December 16. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM),
the command-and-control facility was used to coordinate Houthi operations,
including “attacks against U.S. Navy warships and merchant vessels in the
Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.”
U.S. Carrier Strike Group Arrives: The strike comes as the Houthis continue
attacking commercial ships and military vessels in the region’s international
waters as they have done for more than a year, claiming that the attacks are in
solidarity with their Hamas allies in Gaza. On December 15, CENTCOM, which has
been operating against the Houthis and providing safe passage for vessels
through the area, announced that the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, which
arrived in its area of responsibility, “deployed to ensure regional stability
and security.”
Houthis Launched Ballistic Missile at Israel: The Houthis launched a ballistic
missile toward Israel on December 16, setting off sirens throughout the central
part of the country. The IDF said that it successfully intercepted the missile
before it crossed Israel’s border, adding that the sirens were a precaution
against falling shrapnel. The attack followed an earlier interception of a
Houthi drone by the Israeli Navy. Israeli media reported later on December 16
that the military was preparing a response against Houthi targets in Yemen
following that day’s attacks.
FDD Expert Analysis
“One wonders how long the administration knew about this command-and-control
facility and why it wasn’t hit earlier. If we want the worst assault on maritime
shipping in decades to end, the United States should impose greater consequences
on the Houthis and their patron in Tehran. Too often, we see this administration
taking half-steps for fear of escalation, but those half-steps simply embolden
our enemies and extend the duration of conflicts.” — Bradley Bowman, Senior
Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power. “It’s good to see U.S.
forces hitting important Houthi targets in Yemen, but if the goal is to deter
future attacks with Iranian-supplied weapons, then the United States has to
impose costs on Iran. This means the United States needs to strike targets in
Iran — the port facilities, missile factories, intel facilities, and Iranian
ships that support the Houthi missile campaign.” — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery,
FDD Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology.
“Increased military action, including strikes on key leaders, pushed Hezbollah
into a ceasefire. The Houthis should be made to understand they will face
similar consequences as Hezbollah.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow
Netanyahu Warns
Yemen’s Houthis of ‘Heavy Price’
Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the Houthi militias on Thursday
that they “will pay a heavy price” after Israel launched strikes in Yemen in
response to a missile attack from the armed group. The Iran-backed Houthis - who
have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen since November 2023,
in solidarity with Palestinians in Israel's war with Hamas - said they had
attacked Tel Aviv overnight, launching two ballistic missiles and hitting
"precise military targets.”As Israeli jets were in the air, the Israeli military
said it intercepted a missile headed towards central Israel which destroyed a
school building in Ramat Efal in the western part of Tel Aviv with what a
military spokesperson described as falling shrapnel. “After Hamas, Hezbollah and
the Assad regime in Syria, the Houthis are nearly the last remaining arm of
Iran's axis of evil. They are learning and they will learn the hard way, that
whoever harms Israel - pays a very heavy price for it,” Netanyahu warned. Hamas
and the Lebanese Hezbollah are also allies of Iran. The Israeli attack in Yemen,
involving 14 fighter jets and other aircraft, came in two waves, with a first
series of strikes on the ports of Salif and Ras Issa and a second series hitting
the capital Sanaa, military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told
reporters. "We made extensive preparations for these operations with efforts to
refine our intelligence and to optimize the strikes," he said. Earlier on
Thursday, Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed that Israel’s “long hand” will
reach the Houthi leaders.
US Imposes
Sanctions on Iran and Houthi-related Targets
Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on Iran and Houthi-related
entities, according to the Treasury Department website which listed a number of
individuals, companies and vessels that had been targeted. The sanctions target
three vessels involved in the trade of Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals,
which generate billions of dollars for Iran's leaders, the Treasury said,
supporting its nuclear program, development of ballistic missiles and financing
of proxies including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the
Houthis in Yemen. “The United States is committed to targeting Iran’s key
revenue streams that fund its destabilizing activities,” Bradley Smith, acting
under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a release.
Smith said Iran relies on a shadowy network of vessels, companies, and
facilitators for those activities. The vessels targeted were the
Djibouti-flagged crude oil tanker MS ENOLA, owned by Journey Investment company,
the San Marino-flagged MS ANGIA, and the Panama-flagged MS MELENIA. The last two
tankers are managed and operated by Liberia- and Greece-registered Rose Shipping
Limited, Treasury said. The Treasury also sanctioned a dozen individuals,
including the head of the Houthi-aligned Central Bank of Yemen branch in Sanaa,
for their roles in trafficking arms, laundering money, and shipping illicit
Iranian petroleum for the benefit of the Houthi militias. It said that among the
persons designated are key smuggling operatives, arms traffickers, and shipping
and financial facilitators who have enabled the Houthis to acquire and transport
an array of dual-use and weapons components, as well as generate revenue to
support their destabilizing regional activities. The sanctions block all
property and interests in the United States of the designated parties and US
persons and entities dealing with them could be exposed to sanctions or
enforcement actions including fines.
Ambiguities in the Law’: Iran
Pauses Implementation of Draconian Hijab Legislation
FDD/December
19, 2024
Latest Developments
Law Would Have Imposed Severe Penalties: Iran’s National Security Council on
December 16 paused the implementation of a controversial “Hijab and Chastity”
law that would harshen the penalties against women who fail to comply with the
Islamic regime’s draconian laws on wearing the hijab, or headscarf. The law,
which Iran’s parliament approved in September 2023, would have carried an $800
fine for the first offense, $1,500 for the second offense, and up to 15 years in
prison for a third offense.
President Opposed the Law: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was critical of
the law, saying, “There are ambiguities about this law, which would not be easy
to enforce,” and arguing as well that it “would undermine national solidarity.”
The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police in
September 2022 — after being detained for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly
— sparked nationwide protests and a government crackdown. The Iranian
authorities have killed at least 645 protesters and arrested some 25,000 others
since protests began.
Singer Arrested and Released: On December 15, 27-year-old Iranian singer
Parastoo Ahmadi was arrested in her hometown of Sari in northern Iran, along
with two male band members, after posting a virtual concert streamed on YouTube.
In the video, she eschewed her hijab and wore a sleeveless dress that exposed
her shoulders. In Iran, women are required to wear a hijab in public and are not
allowed to sing in front of men unless they are part of a backing group.
Parastoo was interrogated and released at 3 a.m. the following day after her
arrest caused widespread outrage.
FDD Expert Analysis
“The regime is under pressure on multiple fronts. It views the hijab law as a
tool to consolidate its hardcore Islamist base while diverting attention from
the worsening economic hardships and regional setbacks. However, the regime has
effectively lost the hijab battle to Iranian society. Its latest retreat
reflects concerns among some regime insiders that waging a war against the
people over this issue will further destabilize the regime instead of
consolidating its base.” — Saeed Ghasseminejad, Senior Iran and Financial
Economics Advisor
“Iran’s arrest of Parastoo Ahmadi reflects its radical Islamism: Even harmless
entertainment is subject to state control. The Islamic Republic seeks not merely
to secure absolute power over Iran but also to indoctrinate the population in
accordance with its theology. However, as protests across the country have long
demonstrated, the Iranian people have little patience for the regime’s brutal
creed and want meaningful democratic change.” — Tzvi Kahn, Research Fellow and
Senior Editor
What we know of
the latest talks for a Gaza ceasefire
Agence France Presse/December 19/2024
Efforts to strike a Gaza truce and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas
have repeatedly failed over key stumbling blocks, but recent negotiations have
raised hope of an agreement. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said
Wednesday he remained hopeful of reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
in Gaza, after Washington expressed Tuesday "cautious optimism" on the
possibility of an "imminent deal". This comes following reported indirect
negotiations in Qatar, mediated by the gas-rich Gulf state along with Egypt and
the United States.
Why the sudden optimism?
Diplomatic sources told AFP that US President-elect Donald Trump's recent
declaration that a deal should be struck before his return to office on January
20 had an impact on the latest round of talks. One diplomatic source said that
Hamas, isolated after the weakening of its Lebanese ally Hezbollah and the
overthrow of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad, is keen to reach a deal before
the end of the year. "A lot of people see (a deal) as the perfect Christmas
gift," the source said.
Another noted that since Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar's death, Hamas leaders abroad,
known as more pragmatic than the mastermind of the October 7, 2023 attack that
sparked the war, have been conducting negotiations. A high-ranking Hamas
official told AFP on Tuesday that the talks were at the "final details" stage
and that Qatar and Egypt would announce the agreement once negotiations end.
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer declined to comment on the proposed
deal at a media briefing on Wednesday, stating "the less said the better".
What would the deal look like?
During their attack on Israel on October 7 last year, Palestinian militants led
by Hamas seized 251 hostages. Ninety-six of them are still held in Gaza,
including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Hamas officials told AFP that
the current framework for a deal would see the implementation of a ceasefire and
the gradual release of hostages over three phases. In the first, six-week phase,
Israeli civilian hostages and female soldiers would be released in exchange for
"hundreds of Palestinian prisoners".
The source close to Hamas said that during this phase, Israel would withdraw its
forces "from west of the Rafah crossing" on the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of
land cleared and controlled by Israel along Gaza's border with Egypt. Israeli
forces would also "partly withdraw" from the Netzarim Corridor, another, wider
strip of land cleared and controlled by Israel that splits the territory in two
just south of Gaza City, and gradually leave Palestinian refugee camps. Lastly,
the first phase would see the gradual return of displaced residents to Gaza City
and the north via the coastal highway under Israeli army monitoring. The second
phase would see the release of Israeli male soldiers in exchange for "a number"
of Palestinian prisoners, "including at least 100 with long-term
sentences".During this phase, Israel would complete its military withdrawal but
would maintain forces on the eastern and northern border areas with Israel.
Under the last phase of the proposed deal, "the war will be officially declared
over" and reconstruction efforts will begin in the territory where the U.N.
satellite agency said that 66 percent of all structures have been damaged.
Lastly, the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border would be jointly managed by
the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, in coordination with Egypt and the
European Union.
Sticking points
Despite numerous rounds of indirect talks, Israel and Hamas have agreed just one
week-long truce at the end of 2023. Negotiations between Hamas and Israel have
faced multiple challenges since then, with the primary point of contention being
the establishment of a lasting ceasefire. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has
also repeatedly stated that he does not want to withdraw Israeli troops from the
Philadelphi Corridor. One of the diplomatic sources AFP spoke to said Israel
would "never" exit the border strip, and at most would leave the small border
crossing for others to manage. Another unresolved issue is the governance of
post-war Gaza. It remains a highly contentious issue, including within the
Palestinian leadership. Israel has said repeatedly that it will not allow Hamas
to run the territory ever again. And while a Hamas official told AFP on
Wednesday that "Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, the United Nations and the United States
will guarantee the implementation of the agreement," none of them have confirmed
that.
Blinken says
‘pressure is on Hamas’ to move forward with ceasefire in Gaza
Filip Timotija/The Hill/December 19, 2024
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the pressure is on the Palestinian
militant group Hamas to move forward with the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,
arguing the group’s support from its allies in the region has dwindled in recent
months. “Well look, we are encouraged because this should happen, and it should
happen because Hamas is at a point where the cavalry it thought might come to
the rescue isn’t coming to the rescue, Hezbollah not coming to the rescue, Iran
not coming to the rescue,” Blinken said during his Thursday morning appearance
on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “It sought to have a wider war from Day 1.”Blinken
expressed optimism that a halt in fighting between Hamas and Israel could occur
but cautioned that previous attempts to forge peace in the region have failed.
“In the absence of that, I think the pressure is on Hamas to finally get to yes.
So we should be able to get there, but look, I think we also have to be very
realistic. We’ve had these Lucy and the football moments several times over the
last months where we thought we were there, and the football gets pulled away,”
he said on Thursday. Officials on all sides, including Israel’s defense
minister, Israel Katz, have said the deal is closer than in prior instances. The
ceasefire would be played out in multiple phases, including the exchange of
Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, a pause in fighting and an influx of
aid to Gaza, The Associated Press reported, citing Egyptian and Hamas officials.
The secretary of State showed similar optimism about reaching the deal Wednesday
and stated he would use the remaining time in his post to facilitate an end to a
conflict that has been ongoing for over 14 months. “Look, I’m hopeful. You have
to be. We’re going to use every minute of every day of every week that we have
left to try to get this done,” Blinken said Wednesday at the Council on Foreign
Relations. “But I don’t want to hazard a guess as to what the probability is,”
he added. On Thursday, Blinken, who recently came back from his 12th trip to the
Middle East since the war broke out, said President Biden’s administration is
cooperating with partners in the region to get Hamas to agree to a ceasefire
agreement and reiterated the desire to bring back the hostages held in the
enclave. “So the real question is: is Hamas capable of making a decision and
getting to yes? We’ve been fanning out with every possible partner on this to
try to get the necessary pressure exerted on Hamas to say yes,” Blinken said on
MSNBC. “I was in Turkey meeting with President Erdoğan. We have Bill Burns who’s
headed — is already there in the region right now, Jake Sullivan, Brett McGurk,”
he added. “Everyone is pushing on this. We want to get it over the finish line.
We want to get the hostages home. We want to get a ceasefire so that people can
finally have relief in Gaza.”The war broke out when Hamas attacked Israel on
Oct. 7, 2023, killing nearly 1,200 Israelis and taking some 250 hostage.
Israel’s military responded with an offensive that has killed more than 45,000
Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which does not differentiate
between civilians and combatants. The bombing has displaced around 90 percent of
Gaza’s population, according to the U.N.
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published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Israel Keeps Up Gaza
Bombardment as Ceasefire Talks Intensify
Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
US and Arab mediators are working round-the-clock to hammer out a ceasefire deal
between Israel and Hamas, sources close to the talks said, while in the Gaza
Strip medics said Israeli strikes had killed 13 Palestinians on Thursday.
The mediators, at talks in Egypt and Qatar, seek to forge a deal to pause the
14-month-old war in the Hamas-ruled enclave that would include a release of
hostages seized from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, along with Palestinian prisoners
held by Israel, Reuters said. Mediators had managed to narrow some gaps on
previous sticking points but differences remained, the sources said. In Gaza,
medics said at least 13 Palestinians were killed overnight in separate Israeli
airstrikes, including on two houses in Gaza City and a central camp. Residents
of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, where the army has operated since
October, said forces blew up clusters of houses overnight. "The longer those
talks last, the more destruction and death takes place in Gaza. Jabalia, Beit
Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya are being wiped out, Rafah too," said Adel, 60, a
resident of Jabalia, who is now displaced in Gaza City. Palestinians accuse
Israel of ethnic cleansing in those areas by depopulating residents to create
buffer zones. Israel denies this and says its campaign aims to wipe out Hamas, a
militant group, and to prevent it from regrouping. Israel accuses Hamas of
exploiting civilian infrastructure and the population as a human shield for its
activities. Hamas denies it and accuses Israel of trying to justify the
indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians.
PHASED OR COMPREHENSIVE?
Sources close to the mediation efforts said Hamas had pushed for a one-package
deal but Israel wanted a phased one. Talks are focused on a first-phase release
of hostages, dead or alive, as well as a number of Palestinians jailed by
Israel.
On Tuesday, the sides discussed the numbers and categories of those to be
released, but things have yet to be finalized, said a source who spoke
anonymously because of the sensitivity of the talks. The source said one issue
was Israel's demand to retain the right to act against any possible military
threat from Gaza and the stationing of Israeli forces during phases of the deal.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday Israel will have security
control over Gaza with full freedom of action after defeating Hamas in the
enclave. Israel launched its air and ground assault on Gaza after Hamas-led
fighters attacked Israeli communities 14 months ago, killing 1,200 people and
taking over 250 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel says
about 100 hostages are still being held, but it is unclear how many are alive.
Israel's campaign has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, displaced most of
the 2.3 million population and reduced much of the coastal enclave to ruins. On
Thursday, Human Rights Watch said Israel had killed thousands of Palestinians in
Gaza by denying them clean water which it says legally amounts to acts of
genocide and extermination.
Israel's foreign ministry accused the rights group of lying, writing on X that
Israel had facilitated the continuous flow of water and humanitarian aid into
Gaza since the start of the war despite constant attacks by Hamas.
Human Rights Watch says Israel's restriction of water supply in Gaza amounts to
acts of genocide
Adam Geller/NEW YORK (AP)/December
19, 2024
Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Israel of causing the deaths of thousands
of Palestinians by systematically restricting and targeting Gaza’s water supply
in a campaign that amounted to “acts of genocide.”The rights group was the
latest among a growing number of critics to accuse Israel of genocidal acts in
its war in Gaza. Israel vehemently denies the allegations, saying its war is
directed at Hamas militants, not Gaza's civilians. In Thursday's report, HRW
alleged that countless infants, children and adults have died from malnutrition,
dehydration and illness as a result of actions by Israeli authorities over more
than a year of war to deliberately cut the flow of water and electricity to
Gaza, destroy infrastructure and prevent the distribution of critical supplies.
“As a state policy, these acts constitute a widespread or systematic attack
directed against a civilian population. Israeli officials are therefore
committing the crime against humanity of extermination,” the New York-based
group said. The rights group said that the “pattern of conduct” outlined in its
report and statements from Israeli officials “may indicate" genocidal intent,
but it did not come down definitively on one side. Under international law,
proving intent is key in concluding whether the crime of genocide has been
committed. Israel, founded as a refuge for Jews in the wake of the Nazi
Holocaust, strenuously denies such allegations. It says Hamas is responsible for
the destruction in Gaza because the group hides and operates in schools,
hospitals and residential areas. It says the October 2023 Hamas attack that
triggered the war — the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust — amounts
to genocide. “Human Rights Watch is once more spreading its blood libels in
order to promote its anti-Israel propaganda,” Israel's Foreign Ministry said. It
claimed Israel has worked to facilitate the flow of water and humanitarian aid
into Gaza throughout the war. “Israel will continue to ensure humanitarian aid
enters Gaza, in full compliance with international law,” the statement said.
The new report by Human Rights Watch outlined what the organization described as
an extended, methodical campaign by Israeli officials to deprive Palestinians in
Gaza of water. That has drastically reduced the water supply in Gaza, from about
83 liters (21 gallons) per person each day before the war began to between two
and nine liters in the months since, the human rights group says. The World
Health Organization says people require 50 to 100 liters per day to meet basic
needs and keep sickness in check. Human Rights Watch said Israeli forces
deliberately razed the solar panels that powered four of Gaza’s six wastewater
treatment plants and destroyed a key reservoir. The group alleged Israel also
cut off electricity required to run desalination plants and other infrastructure
and restricted fuel for backup generators.
When the International Court of Justice issued orders in January that Israel
provide Palestinians with basic services and assistance, officials ignored them,
the group alleged. Human Rights Watch said its findings were based on interviews
with more than 60 Palestinians, accounts from utility employees, doctors and
other healthcare workers and aid workers, and analysis of satellite images,
photos and video.
“Doctors and nurses told Human Rights Watch that they had seen numerous infants,
children, and adults die from a combination of malnutrition, dehydration, and
disease,” the group said. In its statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said it
has continued the operation of four water pipelines as well as water pumping and
desalination facilities, and allowed international aid groups to deliver water
in tankers. The Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas killed some 1,200 people in
Israel, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. Israel's 14-month
offensive has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, over half of them women and
children, according to local health officials who do not distinguish between
civilians and combatants. The offensive has caused widespread destruction and
displaced roughly 90% of Gaza's population, according to U.N. estimates,
plunging the territory into a humanitarian crisis.
The U.N. and international aid groups say Israel has repeatedly restricted aid
shipments into Gaza and done little to provide security inside Gaza to allow
deliveries to reach their destinations. They say only a fraction of the amount
of aid necessary to sustain life in Gaza is reaching Palestinians. The war has
led to a breakdown in law and order, with armed gangs repeatedly stealing
truckloads of aid. HRW's report came two weeks after Amnesty International
accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel dismissed the allegation
as as “entirely false and based on lies.” Israel has previously refuted charges
lodged by South Africa in the International Court of Justice that its forces
have carried out inhumane acts in the embattled enclave. Meanwhile, the
International Criminal Court is seeking the arrests of Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for allegedly committing war
crimes.
Putin Denies
Russian Defeat in Syria, Says He Plans to Meet Assad
Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia had not been
defeated in Syria and that Moscow had made proposals to the new rulers in
Damascus to maintain Russia's military bases there. In his first public comments
on the subject, Putin said he had not yet met former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad
since was overthrown and forced to flee to Moscow earlier this month, but that
he planned to do so. In response to a question on the subject from a US
journalist, Putin said he would ask Assad about the fate of US reporter Austin
Tice, who is missing in Syria, and was ready to ask Syria's new rulers about
Tice's whereabouts too. "I will tell you frankly, I have not yet seen President
Assad since he came to Moscow. But I plan to do so. I will definitely talk to
him," said Putin. He said most people in Syria with whom Russia had been in
contact about the future of its two main military bases in Syria were supportive
of them staying, but that talks were ongoing, Reuters said. Russia, which
intervened in Syria in 2015 and turned the tide of the civil war there in
Assad's favor, had also told other countries that they could use its airbase and
naval base to bring in humanitarian aid for Syria, he said.
"You want to portray everything that is happening in Syria as some kind of
failure, a defeat for Russia. I assure you, it is not. And I'll tell you why. We
came to Syria 10 years ago to prevent a terrorist enclave from being created
there," said Putin. "On the whole, we have achieved our goal. It is not for
nothing that today many European countries and the United States want to
establish relations with them (Syria's new rulers). If they are terrorist
organizations, why are you (the West) going there? So that means they have
changed."
Syria’s Military Operations Command Targets Warlords,
Associates of Asma al-Assad
Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
Detainees at Hama Central Prison, who surrendered or were captured during
battles that toppled Assad regime positions, will face trial on Thursday, a
UK-based war monitor reported. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights (SOHR), trials will be held in batches. A judicial committee linked to
the Justice Ministry of the interim government formed by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
will handle the cases, SOHR director Rami Abdul Rahman told Asharq Al-Awsat. The
“Military Command Administration” is carrying out raids in Syria’s coastal
regions, Hama, and Homs to arrest warlords accused of profiting from the
conflict, the SOHR reported. The campaign targets figures tied to regime
leaders, including associates of Asma al-Assad, the ousted president’s wife, and
former officials accused of war crimes.The campaign is targeting officers,
militias, and informants accused of crimes against Syrians, according to the
SOHR. After the regime’s collapse and intensified fighting, hundreds of officers
and fighters surrendered, with many now detained as prisoners of war.The SOHR
has urged treating detainees according to international laws, allowing them to
contact their families, and ensuring fair trials before independent courts.
The organization also called for convicted individuals to be informed of legal
procedures and the timelines for each step. The White Helmets have uncovered
around 20 unidentified bodies and skeletal remains in a drug warehouse near the
Sayyida Zainab area in Damascus, Syrian Civil Defense official Ammar Al-Salmo
said on Wednesday. Sayyida Zainab, a southern Damascus district, was a Hezbollah
and Iranian-backed militia stronghold since 2012. These groups claimed to defend
the site during Syria’s uprising. According to AFP, they have now been replaced
by local armed groups.
Al-Salmo, speaking near the shrine, said, “We received reports of foul odors and
remains in the warehouse.”A small refrigerator held about 10 decomposed bodies,
with bones and skulls scattered across the room. The remains, believed to be 1-2
years old, were collected for DNA testing. Bashar al-Assad fled Syria on
December 8 after opposition forces led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham launched a rapid
offensive, ending 13 years of his regime’s oppression of opposition protests.The
SOHR reported that military authorities are prosecuting individuals linked to
war crimes under public pressure for justice and to prevent acts of personal
retribution. Accountability for crimes remains a core demand of the Syrian
revolution.
IMF Says Ready to
Support Syria Reconstruction when Conditions Allow
Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
The International Monetary Fund stands ready to assist Syria's reconstruction
alongside the international community, but the situation on the ground remains
fluid, IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said on Thursday. Kozack told a regular
press briefing that the IMF has had no meaningful contact with Syrian
authorities since an economic consultation in 2009, Reuters reported. "It's too
early to make an economic assessment. We are closely monitoring the situation,
and we stand ready to support the international community's efforts to assist
serious reconstruction as needed and when conditions allow," Kozack said. Less
than two weeks after Syrian opposition fighters toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime
and seized control of the capital Damascus, Kozack said that the emerging Syrian
authorities face many difficulties after 13 years of civil war. "The Syrian
people have suffered for far too long. We hope that the country can now begin to
address its deep humanitarian, social and economic challenges, and to begin the
rehabilitation of the Syrian economy," Kozack said. Kozack also said that the
IMF Executive Board will meet on Friday to consider approval of a $1.1 billion
disbursement to Ukraine from the IMF's $15.6 billion loan program to the war
torn country. The disbursement, part of the sixth review of the four-year
Ukraine loan, would bring total program disbursements to $9.8 billion, with
about $2.7 billion available for 2025, Kozack added.
Former Assad security forces hand in weapons to new Syrian government
Pauline Lockwood, Mostafa Salem and Lauren Kent, CNN/ Financial Post/December
19, 2024
Former Syrian regime security forces have been handing in their weapons to the
rebel-linked transitional government in the southern Syrian city of Latakia,
according to video filmed by Agence France-Presse.
The footage, filmed earlier this week, shows long lines of men dressed in plain
clothes as they wait to hand in their personal firearms to officials with the
new Syrian government’s Ministry of Interior. Officials are seen informally
interviewing the men and taking their mugshots as they hand their weapons in,
the AFP footage shows. Hundreds of various handguns and ammo can be seen piled
high in the corners of the government office. It comes as Syria’s new
leadership, led by the group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), has been working to
transfer power peacefully and gain international legitimacy. A Syrian
rebel-linked government leader, Mohammad Al-Bashir, has been appointed as the
country’s caretaker prime minister for the next three months, during which his
government will oversee Syria’s transition to a new government, he announced in
a televised address last week.
Ministers of the former HTS-linked Salvation Government, as well as Assad-era
civil servants, will continue to serve as ministers in the caretaker government
until March 1, 2025, Al-Bashir said. Meanwhile, HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani
– the de facto leader of the country – said on Thursday that Syria is not a
threat to the world and called for the lifting of international sanctions. In an
interview with the BBC in Damascus, Jolani said the “sanctions must be lifted
because they were targeted at the old regime. The victim and the oppressor
should not be treated in the same way.” Jolani, who now goes by his real name
Ahmad al-Sharaa, is an internationally sanctioned former jihadist, and HTS is
designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the United Nations
and other governments. “We have not committed any crimes that justify calling us
a terrorist group. in the last 14 years, we haven’t targeted any civilians, or
civilian areas, or civilian targets.” Jolani claimed in the BBC interview. “I
understand some countries will be worried by that designation, but it’s not
true.”Jolani also sought to alleviate concerns that Syria’s new government could
replicate the Taliban’s model in Afghanistan. He highlighted the differences
between the culture and societies of Afghanistan and Syria, and he stressed that
the new government in Damascus would respect Syrian culture. He pointed to his
support of women in education and stressed the importance to “have dialogues and
make sure everyone is represented.”
Earlier this week, Jolani secured a meeting in Damascus with Geir Otto Pedersen,
the UN special envoy for Syria, who said the international community will
“hopefully see a quick end to sanctions, so that we can see really a rallying
around building up Syria again.”The US, the European Union and the UK have also
established contact with the rebel groups ruling the country, along with Qatar
and Turkey.
Syrian state media has reported that other cities in Syria, such as Daraa, have
implemented similar schemes for returning weapons. Upon receiving the firearms,
the new authorities issued former Syrian regime forces a temporary card that
will give them freedom to circulate in Syria’s “liberated” areas, while their
“legal proceedings are completed,” according to a notice posted outside the
government office, which can be seen in the AFP video. The notice gave no
further details about the “legal proceedings.” The Assad regime, and the Syrian
forces that served his government, were responsible for many atrocities as it
cracked down on political dissent, including torture and ill-treatment of
prisoners. Assad infamously used chemical weapons in rebel areas, killing dozens
of civilians, to the horror of the international community. More than 306,000
civilians in Syria were killed between the outbreak of the civil war in 2011 and
March 2021, according to the most recent estimate by UN Human Rights.
Syria not a threat to world, rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa tells BBC
Jeremy Bowen - International Editor,
BBC News/December 18, 2024
The de facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has said the country is exhausted
by war and is not a threat to its neighbours or to the West. In an interview
with the BBC in Damascus, he called for sanctions on Syria to be lifted. "Now,
after all that has happened, sanctions must be lifted because they were targeted
at the old regime. The victim and the oppressor should not be treated in the
same way," he said. Sharaa led the lightning offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad's
regime less than two weeks ago. He is the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS),
the dominant group in the rebel alliance, and was previously known by his nom de
guerre of Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. He said HTS should be de-listed as a terrorist
organisation. It is designated as one by the UN, US, EU and UK, among many
others, as it started as a splinter group of al-Qaeda, which it broke away from
in 2016. Sharaa said HTS was not a terrorist group. They did not target
civilians or civilian areas, he said. In fact, they considered themselves to be
victim of the crimes of the Assad regime. He denied that he wanted to turn Syria
into a version of Afghanistan. Sharaa said the countries were very different,
with different traditions. Afghanistan was a tribal society. In Syria, he said,
there was a different mindset. He said he believed in education for women.
"We've had universities in Idlib for more than eight years," Sharaa said,
referring to Syria's north-western province that has been held by rebels since
2011."I think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60%."And when
asked whether the consumption of alcohol would be allowed, Sharaa said: "There
are many things I just don't have the right to talk about because they are legal
issues."He added that there would be a "Syrian committee of legal experts to
write a constitution. They will decide. And any ruler or president will have to
follow the law". Sharaa was relaxed throughout the interview, wearing civilian
clothes, and tried to offer reassurance to all those who believe his group has
not broken with its extremist past. Many Syrians do not believe him. The actions
of Syria's new rulers in the next few months will indicate the kind of country
they want Syria to be - and the way they want to rule it.
Hundreds in Damascus
protest for democracy, women's rights
Agence France Presse/December 19/2024
Hundreds of Syrians protested Thursday in central Damascus calling for democracy
and women's rights, more than a week after an Islamist-led rebel alliance ousted
president Bashar al-Assad, AFP correspondents said. "We want a democracy, not a
religious state," men and women demonstrators chanted in central Damascus's
Ummayad Square, as well as "Free, civil Syria" and "the Syrian people are one",
while some protesters held signs including "No free nation without free women".
Syrian villagers near the Golan Heights say Israeli forces are banning them from
their fields
Ghaith Alsayed And Hussein Malla/The
Associated Press/ December 19, 2024
Israeli forces have set up a position in an abandoned Syrian army base in the
village of Maariyah and prevented local farmers from accessing their fields,
residents said Thursday. Associated Press journalists who visited the area saw
the Israeli troops from a distance and watched a local resident waving a white
flag approach to speak with them. The village, on the western edge of Syria's
southern Daraa province, is near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, but outside
of a buffer zone in the Golan established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement between
Syria and Israel. Abdel Raouf Issa, a resident of Maariyah, said the Israeli
military had penetrated about 1 kilometer (two-thirds of a mile) into the
village and “is demanding that we hand over all weapons to the occupation. We
told them that we have no weapons at all.”“They prevented us from farming. They
prevented us from moving,” he said. “We call on the United Nations to remove the
occupation as soon as possible.” Kamal Saleh Damara, a local official in the
village, said, “Thank God, we were happy that HTS came,” referring to Hayat
Tahrir al-Sham, the main insurgent group in the coalition that unseated Assad.
“But then Israel came, and it is preventing people from coming and going and
moving.”The Israeli military said in a statement that it is “operating within
the buffer zone and in several additional locations in its proximity to ensure
the security of Israel's northern border.” It declined to comment on specific
locations where its troops are deployed. Israel seized a swath of southern Syria
along the border with the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights shortly after Syrian
President Bashar Assad was ousted by rebels on Dec. 8. The capture of the buffer
zone, a roughly 400-square-kilometer (155-square-mile) demilitarized area in
Syrian territory, has sparked condemnation, with critics accusing Israel of
violating a 1974 ceasefire and exploiting the chaos in Syria in the wake of
Assad’s ouster to make a land grab. Israel seized control of the Golan Heights
from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it — a move not recognized
by most of the international community On Wednesday, a group of residents and
dignitaries from the buffer zone in Quneitra province put out a statement
complaining that the Israeli forces had forcibly displaced the residents of some
villages although they "showed restraint toward the advancing forces and did not
resist them.” However, they said some residents were later allowed to return The
statement called for Israeli forces to withdraw “especially from vital
facilities such as the Quneitra provincial government building, the main roads
and the water wells and tanks serving the area.” Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israeli forces will stay there until another
arrangement is in place “that ensures Israel’s security.” Netanyahu made the
comments from the summit of Mount Hermon — the highest peak in the area — inside
Syria, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Golan Heights.
Sharaa Denies he Wants to Turn Syria into a Version of Afghanistan
Washington/Asharq Al Awsat/December
19/2024
The de facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has said the country is exhausted
by war and is not a threat to its neighbors or to the West, denying that he
wanted to turn Syria into a version of Afghanistan. In an interview with the BBC
in Damascus, he called for sanctions on Syria to be lifted. "Now, after all that
has happened, sanctions must be lifted because they were targeted at the old
regime. The victim and the oppressor should not be treated in the same way," he
said.
Sharaa led the lightning offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime less
than two weeks ago. He is the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant
group in the opposition alliance, and was previously known by his nom de guerre
of Abu Mohammed al-Golani. He said HTS should be de-listed as a terrorist
organization. It is designated as one by the UN, US, EU and UK. Sharaa denied
that he wanted to turn Syria into a version of Afghanistan, saying the two
countries were very different, with different traditions. Afghanistan was a
tribal society. In Syria, he said, there was a different mindset. He also told
the BCC that he believed in education for women. "We've had universities in
Idlib for more than eight years," Sharaa said, referring to Syria's northwestern
province that has been held by opposition fighters since 2011. "I think the
percentage of women in universities is more than 60%." The United States on
Thursday imposed sanctions on Iran and Houthi-related entities, according to the
Treasury Department website which listed a number of individuals, companies and
vessels that had been targeted. The sanctions target three vessels involved in
the trade of Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals, which generate billions of
dollars for Iran's leaders, the Treasury said, supporting its nuclear program,
development of ballistic missiles and financing of proxies including Lebanon’s
Hezbollah, Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the Houthis in Yemen. “The United States
is committed to targeting Iran’s key revenue streams that fund its destabilizing
activities,” Bradley Smith, acting under secretary for terrorism and financial
intelligence, said in a release. Smith said Iran relies on a shadowy network of
vessels, companies, and facilitators for those activities.
The vessels targeted were the Djibouti-flagged crude oil tanker MS ENOLA, owned
by Journey Investment company, the San Marino-flagged MS ANGIA, and the
Panama-flagged MS MELENIA. The last two tankers are managed and operated by
Liberia- and Greece-registered Rose Shipping Limited, Treasury said. The
Treasury also sanctioned a dozen individuals, including the head of the Houthi-aligned
Central Bank of Yemen branch in Sanaa, for their roles in trafficking arms,
laundering money, and shipping illicit Iranian petroleum for the benefit of the
Houthi militias. It said that among the persons designated are key smuggling
operatives, arms traffickers, and shipping and financial facilitators who have
enabled the Houthis to acquire and transport an array of dual-use and weapons
components, as well as generate revenue to support their destabilizing regional
activities. The sanctions block all property and interests in the United States
of the designated parties and US persons and entities dealing with them could be
exposed to sanctions or enforcement actions including fines.
Turkish Official: No Ceasefire Deal between Türkiye and US Backed SDF in
Northern Syria
Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
There is no ceasefire deal between Türkiye and the US-backed Syrian Democratic
Forces (SDF) in northern Syria, contrary to a US announcement on the issue, a
Turkish defense ministry official said on Thursday. Türkiye believes that the
Türkiye-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) forces will "liberate" areas occupied
by the Kurdish PKK/YPG militia in northern Syria, the official also said. The
SDF is an ally in the US coalition against ISIS militants. It is spearheaded by
the YPG, a group that Ankara sees as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK), whose militant fighters have battled the Turkish state for
40 years.
Two million people are expected to leave the country in Canada's immigration
reset. What if they don't?
Naimul Karim/Financial Post/December
19, 2024
Despite moving to Canada from India in 2018 as an international student and
receiving a work permit upon graduating two years later, Dinesh* lives in
Ontario today as a visitor even though that was obviously not the original plan.
But with no other way to extend his stay in Canada after the expiry of his work
permit in July, the 25-year-old decided to “convert” his status by applying for
a visitor visa.
“I did that to stay a little bit longer with hopes of qualifying for an
immigration draw,” he said. “I am doing my best to learn French and improve my
immigration points so that I can somehow, someway, be saved and can stay here
rather than going back.”
More than two million newcomers such as Dinesh are expected to leave Canada in
the next two years as their permits expire, which is part of the federal
government’s plan to reduce the overall number of temporary residents and cut
the population growth of the past few years. But economists and immigration
lawyers don’t think it’s realistic to expect such a large volume of
international students and temporary foreign workers to leave in such a short
time. They expect many to convert their residential permits, like Dinesh did, to
prolong their stay.
Being classified a visitor, though, comes with its own set of problems, as
Dinesh has learned in the past six months. He can’t work on a visitor’s permit,
so he has had to cut down on his spending and now lives in a shared apartment,
as opposed to living on his own previously. Many others are in the same boat,
raising concerns about both their welfare and whether the government’s
immigration cutbacks will have any real effect. Dinesh, a former service
technician who used to fix computers and printers for a living, didn’t want to
share how he was making ends meet, just that he was “somehow surviving.” But
immigration consultants say it is common for people without a work permit to
earn cash under the table. “Legally not being able to work (doesn’t) mean that
the bills (stop) coming,” he said. “It’s not going to stop; it’s not going to
take a break from you. It’s going to chew you up, eat you up.”Despite all the
troubles, Dinesh still wants to stay in Canada and make it work. A key reason
for that, aside from how hard he has worked to build a life here, is that he
took out a big loan in India to sponsor his diploma. Moving back to India would
mean earning in rupees, which could make it more difficult to pay off his loan.
“If I have to go back, I will gladly go back. In fact, at this point I would say
the situation is better in India than here,” said Dinesh, whose visitor permit
expires in mid-2025. “But I have already invested a lot here, so I am going to
try all the avenues. I haven’t completely lost hope yet.”
Tricked by agents
While Dinesh is already on a visitor’s permit, Shreya*, who moved to Canada from
South Asia in 2018, is planning to apply for one since her work permit expires
at the end of the year. The 35-year-old can’t pinpoint the exact reason she
moved here, but she remembers that “everybody was trying to go to Canada,” and
she wanted to experience the “beautiful future,” which supposedly included a
decent job and a house, that her immigration agent had constantly gone on about.
But six years after quitting a reliable marketing job and taking two loans
amounting to about $50,000 to study at a college in Ontario, Shreya will soon
lose her work permit and, therefore, the means to live in Canada. “I take
responsibility for my decisions, but looking back, I feel like I was brainwashed
by immigration agents,” she said. “I had never been to Canada and I didn’t know
the environment or anybody here. I had to rely on what they said.”
Shreya feels tricked because her journey as a newcomer has been a painful one,
and it began with hurdles on the job front. With two years of work experience in
her home country, she expected to find a job that paid more than minimum wage
upon her arrival. Instead, she had to wear a costume for her first job and stand
outside in the cold during her first Canadian winter. That was the first time
she realized her life wasn’t going to be as straightforward as her immigration
agents had described. Still, she stuck to her goals and eventually got a better
job in the food industry and graduated from college.
Her original goal was to become a permanent resident, but that was out of reach
by the time she graduated in 2021 because meeting the required points in
Canada’s skilled immigration system had suddenly become a lot tougher owing to
certain changes. With a huge loan to pay back in her home country and
uncertainty about her future in Canada, Shreya said she fell into depression.
During this period, one of her friends, who was going through a similar phase,
returned to his home country and killed himself. “I could have been next,” she
said. “But, fortunately, I was surrounded by good friends who helped me, and I
managed to come out of there.”Shreya still hasn’t decided what to do after her
work permit expires, but she said there’s a good chance that, like Dinesh, she
may apply for a visitor visa. She still hopes for a last-minute immigration draw
that can help her over the line.
“All I can do is pray,” she said. “I came here to have a good future. I thought
I could be a person who is successful in helping others. But I feel like I’m a
big zero.”
Unrealistic expectations
The federal government’s decision to reduce the number of temporary residents
comes after a two-year period when the number of temporary residents increased
manyfold compared to previous years in an effort to fill a record number of job
vacancies coming out of the pandemic. But with job vacancies declining and the
unemployment rate rising during the past few quarters, Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau’s government decided to tighten its immigration policies. As a result of
these reductions, the government expects Canada’s overall population numbers to
decrease in 2025 and 2026 after abnormally high increases in recent years.
Zeynab Ziaie Moayyed, a Toronto-based immigration consultant, expects many
temporary residents to leave, but doesn’t expect the goal of a million of them
departing each year to be realistic. “Not all those people are going to leave
and it’s not only causing chaos and confusion now; it’s going to continue to
cause chaos and confusion for a number of years as the current applicants work
their way through the system,” she said. “We are going to have a lot more people
who are going to be out of status. We have never had that problem before.”The
“reset that’s happening” isn’t being done in the “most fair way,” Ziaie Moayyed
said, since a lot of people are getting caught in the middle who are essentially
“diligent applicants” who were following the immigration rules. For some
cultures, returning home after spending thousands of dollars to move to Canada
can be seen as embarrassing, Stephen Green, managing partner at Green and
Spiegel LLP, an immigration law firm, said. A lot of consultants and lawyers
expect many temporary residents to extend their stay here by trying to change
their status from student or worker to visitor or seek asylum, Steven Meurrens,
a partner at Vancouver-based law firm Larlee Rosenberg LLP, said. “A lot of
temporary residents are, from what I can tell, just hunkering down, hoping that
there’s some sort of policy change again,” he said. If the government isn’t able
to meet its goal of reducing the number of temporary residents, it could also
potentially lead to a decrease in the number of new international students and
temporary foreign workers that it plans to admit during the next two years,
Meurrens said. He points out that the government’s immigration levels plan calls
for an outflow of 1.2 million and 1.1 million non-permanent residents (NPRs) in
2025 and 2026, respectively. At the same time, it expects an inflow of about
816,000 and 660,000, respectively. This would lead to a net reduction of about
900,000 in the next two years. “What is the plan if these people don’t leave?”
Meurrens said. “How drastic will they have to cut future student and work permit
programs in order to still hit their target percentage of temporary residents in
Canada?”But Immigration Minister Marc Miller has said that he expects the vast
majority of NPRs to voluntarily leave. “In some cases, increasingly many, I will
concede, people decide to choose. They are in a situation of irregularity in
that case,” he said during a parliamentary committee meeting last month. “Once
they have exhausted their remedies, they are removed by the CBSA (Canada Border
Services Agency).”He also said there are an increasing number of international
students making asylum claims with “very little hope” given their conditions.
That crashing feeling
Anya*, a 27-year-old who came to Canada from Russia as a student in 2018,
doesn’t want to apply for asylum, but she might have to go that route if she
doesn’t meet the immigration requirements before her work permit expires in
July.
Going back to Russia is not an option for the Toronto-based woman due to the
ongoing conflict with Ukraine. She fears imprisonment if she returns after
living in the West for a long time. There have been cases where people returning
from the United States were imprisoned, she said. Anya, who works at an
insurance company, still has half a year to decide what she wants to do to
extend her stay in Canada, but she feels uncertain and stressed almost every
day. “There are days when I cry the whole day because it’s like you have this
feeling of uncertainty, and it’s always in the background,” she said. “Even
though you can have a good day, in the background, that feeling is always there
and then eventually it comes crashing.”The reason why Anya, Dinesh and others
are looking for different ways to extend their stay in Canada is because they
haven’t been able to get the required number of points — which drastically
increased in recent years — to convert their temporary status into permanent
residency. There are many immigration programs, but most temporary residents and
foreigners living outside Canada try to immigrate as skilled workers. These
programs are managed by an online system called Express Entry, which started
about a decade ago and provides prospective immigrants with points for their
education levels, work experience, English and French language proficiency, age
and other factors. The higher the applicants score — out of a total of 1,200 —
the higher the chance they have of becoming permanent residents, which
eventually leads to citizenship. The system is designed in a way to attract
young, skilled people from around the world. For example, applicants under 30
receive the highest possible number of points in the age category. Applicants
also receive points for Canadian educational degrees and work experience.
International students spend thousands of dollars on tuition and invest three to
six years of their lives in Canada — while they study and earn a post-graduate
work permit — with the hopes of receiving those additional points to make the
cut and become permanent residents.
Temporary residents aren’t promised a permanent stay, but they are influenced by
the system’s stakeholders, such as foreign brokers, or even comments made by
politicians in the past decade, and often assume they are going to make the cut.
But the hike in cut-off scores seems to send a message that Canada is going to
be more selective in its immigration plans. One reason why the cut-off scores
are so high now is that there are a lot more people annually competing for a
limited number of permanent residency spots due to a record increase in the
number of temporary workers and students in Canada in recent years, immigration
consultants say. A policy introduced last year that allows the government to
bypass the existing immigration ranking system and set lower cut-off scores for
certain groups, such as engineers, health-care workers and French speakers, has
also played a role in raising the scores, analysts say. The result is that the
policy leaves fewer spots for thousands of general applicants who don’t fit into
those groups.
Some economists have also warned that the steep increase in cut-off scores could
force many temporary residents with specialized skill sets to leave Canada,
thereby hurting the country’s struggling labour productivity levels.
For example, 30-year-old Chandra* worked as a cybersecurity analyst when he had
his work permit and helped his clients save hundreds of thousands of dollars.
But he has been on a visitor visa ever since his work permit ended in March and
hasn’t been able to get a job despite decent demand for his skill set.
Nevertheless, he keeps attending cybersecurity conferences in Toronto with the
hope of landing a job at a company willing to sponsor his work permit, but he
has been unlucky so far.
Chandra hopes he can find something before his visitor’s permit ends in January.
If not, he will try to apply for another extension. If the extension is
rejected, he is happy to return to India, he said, but he wants to ensure that
he has tried all the avenues to stay since he invested a lot of money to study
here in the first place. “It’s odd,” he said. “Despite living in Canada for five
years (as a student and on a work permit), I am still just a visitor today.”
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on December
19-20/2024
Haute Qatar: Sheikha
Moza’s Glamour Masks Doha’s Vices
Natalie Ecanow and Mariam Wahba/The Algemeiner/December
19/2024
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/12/18/haute-qatar-sheikha-mozas-glamour-masks-dohas-vices/
Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser is revered as a champion of education, sustainability,
fashion, and art. The glamorous female face of the Qatar regime — and the mother
of its current emir — presents herself as a modern face of a traditional,
conservative Gulf state.
Yet behind her polished exterior lies a much darker reality: Sheikha Moza
exemplifies Qatar’s strategy of using progressive initiatives to obscure its
role in regional instability. Unfortunately, First Lady Jill Biden succumbed to
this ruse on Saturday during a trip to Qatar, where she praised Sheikha Moza.
After thanking Qatar for its “leadership” and “vital role” in the world at the
Doha Forum, an annual gathering of world leaders in Qatar, Jill Biden said, “I
appreciate Her Highness Sheikha Moza’s leadership in an area we both deeply care
about: education.”
What Biden may not realize, however, is that Qatar and the United States invest
in education for dramatically different reasons.
Sheikha Moza is the co-founder and chairwoman of the Qatar Foundation, a
non-profit that the Qatari royal family established in 1995. The foundation’s
flagship initiative is Education City, a sprawling academic campus in Doha that
houses satellite branches of six American universities. The Qatar Foundation
promotes Education City as a hub for learning and innovation. Yet the campus
contributes to the foundation’s deeper role in Qatar’s global influence
campaign. Often, that influence comes in the form of promoting radical Islamist
rhetoric and ideology.
Take the case of Georgetown University. Georgetown opened a campus in Education
City (GU-Q) in 2005. Last year, GU-Q launched a conference series to convene
“scholars, policymakers, diplomats, and government officials” to ponder “a wide
range of global and regional issues.” But the latest installment of the
so-called Hiwaraat (“Dialogues”) conference series, which took place in
September 2024, featured the likes of Wadah Khanfar, the former managing
director of Al Jazeera. In May 2024, Khanfar praised Hamas’ massacre of October
7, 2023, and, according to unverified reports, also served as a local Hamas
operative in Africa during the 1990s.
And Qatar isn’t reaping only political influence from its partnerships with
American universities. Texas A&M’s contract with the Qatar Foundation states
that the foundation “own[s]the entire right, title, and interest in all
Technology and Intellectual property developed at TAMUQ,” which includes
projects involving cutting-edge scientific research. In February 2024, Texas A&M
announced that it will close its Qatar campus by 2028, stating that “the core
mission of Texas A&M should be advanced primarily within Texas and the United
States.”
For Doha, championing education is not simply an act of altruism. It is a
strategic weapon that corrupts American institutions while whitewashing Qatar’s
image. Qatar also exercises this strategy outside the realm of education,
sinking its wealth into global causes that enhance Doha’s reputation,
particularly through Sheikha Moza’s various roles at the United Nations.
Since the late 1990s, Sheikha Moza has held several UN positions, including
UNESCO’s special envoy for basic and higher education, and ambassador to the
UN’S Alliance of Civilizations. These appointments have helped her bolster
Doha’s international reputation while shielding the emirate from critique for
its controversial and problematic activities.
For example, Sheikha Moza eulogized Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar — the architect of
Hamas’ October 7 slaughter — in a little-noticed tweet days after his death.
Under the leadership of her son, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Tamim Al-Thani,
Qatar has pumped more than one-billion dollars into Hamas run-Gaza since 2012,
all while sheltering the terror group’s senior leaders.
Meanwhile, Qatar has perpetuated human rights abuses at home. The US State
Department’s 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Qatar noted
“credible reports of: enforced disappearance; arbitrary arrest; political
prisoners; serious restrictions on free expression,” and “extensive gender-based
violence.”Sheikha Moza’s patronage of the arts and fashion is another facet of
her deceptive public persona. She is often seen wearing haute couture — with
specific alterations to meet Qatar’s modesty rules, of course. She is also the
honorary chair of Fashion Trust Arabia, which describes itself as “a non-profit
organization that provides financial support, guidance and mentorships to
emerging designers from across the MENA.”
At the royal wedding of Jordan’s Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II in June 2023,
Sheikha Moza wore a vintage Valentino evening coat paired with satin Valentino
pumps. In September 2023, she donned a sleek, haute couture Valentino gown while
meeting with the first lady of Turkey. These outfits elicited adulation in
acclaimed fashion magazines. What the glamorous photos don’t show, however, is
that Mayhoola, a Qatari investment firm tied to the royal family, is the
majority owner of Valentino.
Indeed, as with education, luxury fashion is an outlet for Qatari economic
largesse. Mayhoola also owns French fashion house Balmain. Qatar’s sovereign
wealth fund — the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) — purchased British luxury
retailer Harrod’s in 2010 for 1.5 billion pounds, and once owned approximately
10 percent of luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. QIA sold its Tiffany shares in 2021
to Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) — the French fashion conglomerate in which
Qatar holds a 1.03 percent stake.
Sheikha Moza’s curated image is a masterclass in public relations. Through her
efforts, Sheikha Moza serves as a Trojan horse for Doha’s adversarial and
hostile agenda. The contrast between a nation presenting itself as a beacon of
progress and reform while engaging in corruption, perpetuating regressive
policies, and embracing terrorism is stark. Washington should regard the Qatari
government accordingly.
**Natalie Ecanow and Mariam Wahba are research analysts at the Foundation for
Defense of Democracies. Follow them on X @NatalieEcanow and @themariamwahba.
The day after in Syria: Curb your enthusiasm about new regime
Clifford D. May/The Washington Times/December 19/2024
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/dec/17/day-syria-curb-enthusiasm-new-regime/
Following revolutions, we Americans have a touching inclination to ask:
“Are the new leaders like us? Are they moderates who believe in tolerance and
peaceful coexistence?”
Generally, the answer is no.
Take the revolution that just occurred in Syria. It was led by Ahmad al-Sharaa,
better known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. He runs Hayat Tahrir
al-Sham (HTS), a rebel group with roots in both al Qaeda and the Islamic State
(also known as ISIS). He and HTS have been officially designated as terrorists
by the U.S. government. Mr. Jolani is no moderate. Could he be a pragmatist?
It’s not impossible that, at this very moment, he’s asking himself: “Should I
climb into a Toyota pickup with a few of my jihadi buddies, drive up to the
Golan Heights and kill some Jews? Or would I rather take a long, hot bath in the
presidential palace?”If I were in his shoes, I know what my answer would be. But
my ideology, theology, and psychology likely differ from his. Inclining him
toward pragmatism, however, could be the fact that, over recent days, the
Israelis have carried out more than 450 aerial strikes against Syrian fighter
jets, combat helicopters, ballistic missiles, precision-guided missiles,
warships, air defense systems, and – importantly – chemical weapons stockpiles.
Those weapons, mostly supplied by Moscow and Tehran, had belonged to Bashar al-Assad,
the mass-murdering dictator overthrown by Mr. Jolani and associates. So, he and
HTS inherit none of that hardware. Mr. Jolani’s most important backer is Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, the president – presumably for life – of Turkey. Though Turkey
is a member of NATO, Mr. Erdogan is neither moderate nor tolerant. He is a
supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. He despises Israel. He also
despises the Kurds, an ancient people of the Middle East whose historic homeland
spans southeastern Turkey, northern Syria, northern Iraq, and northwestern Iran.
The Kurds have never had their own nation-state, and no one on American campuses
is demonstrating for their right to self-determination. In the Kurdish regions
of Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have long partnered with the
American military. That was key to depriving ISIS of the caliphate it declared
in 2014, and killing Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the terrorist organization’s founder
and leader, in 2019.
Since then, American and SDF cooperation has prevented ISIS from reviving in the
region. The SDF also guards detention centers holding tens of thousands of ISIS
fighters. Rebel groups backed by Mr. Erdogan – particularly the Syrian National
Army – have been attacking the SDF. The Biden administration should be exerting
whatever pressure is necessary to halt these assaults on an American ally
participating in a vital mission. President Trump has pledged to pursue “peace
through strength.” I’m hopeful that he also recognizes that for America to be
great again, its reputation must again become: “No better friend, no worse
enemy.” The fall of the Assad regime represents a huge loss for Russian dictator
Vladimir Putin who intervened militarily to prop up Mr. Assad in 2015 and, in
exchange, was given naval and air bases in Syria. From these bases, Mr. Putin
has been projecting power into Africa where the Wagner Group, a barbarous proxy
military force, protects local strongmen and exploits natural resources – the
worst forms of imperialism.
An even bigger loser in this game of thrones is Ali Khamenei, longtime dictator
of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Mr. Khamenei had utilized Hezbollah, his
foreign legion, to defend Mr. Assad, his dutiful client. He maintained military
bases in Syria and shipped arms across Iraq and through Syria to Hezbollah in
Lebanon, Mr. Khamenei has spent billions of dollars on Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas,
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen – a “ring of fire”
that was intended to incinerate Israel. Over the past year, however, following
Hamas’ invasion of Israel and the pogrom it carried out there, the Israelis have
– to an extent few thought possible – reduced most of those fires to embers. The
danger, of course, is that Mr. Khamenei may now be more determined than ever to
produce nuclear warheads and affix them to his missiles.
I expect Mr. Biden to do nothing about that. President-elect Trump, by
contrast, is devising what his transition team calls a “Maximum Pressure 2.0”
economic strategy. He’s also been discussing with his transition team the
possibility of surgical military strikes to prevent Mr. Khamenei’s Islamic
Republic from becoming a nuclear-armed enemy in increasingly close alliance with
nuclear-armed Moscow, Beijing, and Pyongyang. The Israelis – who recently
wiped out Tehran’s air defenses – would undoubtedly be pleased to contribute to
such a mission. I’m going to conclude with a few words about the day after in
Syria. As noted above, though it would be naïve to expect Mr. Jolani to be a
moderate, he could prove to be pragmatic. If so, he will avoid provoking the
Israelis, protect Syria’s minorities, and not forget the terrible crimes that
the rulers of Iran and Russia have committed against the country’s peoples. He
will need aid – especially as millions of Syrian refugees stream back from
Turkey. Good behavior could result in the removal of his terrorist designation
and an end to U.S. sanctions. But that should come only as a reward – not as a
bribe. As for Mr. Erdogan, he will insist on being influential in Damascus. Will
that satisfy him, or will his goal be to make Syria a colony of an expanding
neo-Ottoman empire? Did I mention that Mr. Erdogan is no moderate?
*Clifford D. May is founder and president of the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies (FDD) and a columnist for the Washington Times.
How Turkey Outplayed Egypt and the U.S. In The Horn Of Africa ...Ankara’s recent
geopolitical gains go beyond just Syria.
Sinan Ciddi and
Mariam Wahba/The National Interest/December 19/2024
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/how-turkey-outplayed-egypt-and-us-horn-africa-214120
Turkey has mediated an agreement between Ethiopia and Somalia, ending nearly a
decade-long rivalry between the two African nations. While the deal is a welcome
development for regional stability, Turkey’s mediation complicates Egypt’s
regional strategy, as Cairo remains actively engaged in this conflict.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the deal as a “historic
agreement.” It sees Ethiopia and Somalia agreeing “to leave behind differences
of opinion and contentious issues.” The agreement would grant Ethiopia
“reliable, safe and sustainable” sea access under Somali sovereignty, implicitly
signaling that Addis Ababa will rescind its recognition of the de facto state of
Somaliland. Tensions peaked in January when landlocked Ethiopia reportedly
struck a deal with Somaliland to lease a port and military base in exchange for
recognition. While Addis Ababa never confirmed the agreement, Somalia saw the
deal as a violation of its sovereignty. Egypt, embroiled in its own dispute with
Ethiopia over Nile water resources, supported Somalia as part of its broader
strategy to pressure Ethiopia.
By August, Egypt had reportedly deployed 10,000 troops and sent two weapons
shipments to Mogadishu. Addis Ababa expressed concern at the arrival of the
troops and weapons, saying it could exacerbate the security situation in Somalia
and that weapons could fall into the hands of Islamist groups like Al Shabab. In
an October 18 interview, Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed
Cairo’s commitment to Somalia’s security following Ethiopia’s completion of the
fifth phase of filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Abdelatty
also disclosed that he had reiterated his objection to Ethiopia’s unilateral
action in a letter to the United National Security Council. Addis Ababa
responded with its own letter to the UNSC, accusing Egypt of making repeated
threats of force. In November, Egypt sent a third weapons shipment to Somalia.
Meanwhile, relations between Egypt and Turkey have been cautiously warming. In
September, Erdogan welcomed Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Ankara,
marking Sisi’s first visit to Turkey. Relations between the two nations had been
less than warm since 2013 when Erdogan condemned Sisi’s military coup against
Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s then-Muslim Brotherhood leader. Erdogan’s fiery
rhetoric, including calling Sisi a “tyrant,” deepened the rift.
This dynamic began to shift in 2020 when Erdogan reassessed his strategy.
Mending ties with Turkey could neutralize Egypt’s regional threats and boost its
struggling economy. For Erdogan, rebuilding ties with Cairo offers a chance to
reverse his failed isolationist policies, reassert Turkey’s regional role, and
seek inclusion in the East Mediterranean Gas Forum.
Through his mediation with Somalia and Ethiopia, Erdogan dealt a blow to
Egyptian influence in the region and its rivalry with Ethiopia. With its
leverage disappearing overnight, Egypt must recalibrate its strategy. While the
warming ties between Cairo and Ankara might offer some alternatives, Turkey’s
success in this instance underscores its ability to outpace Egypt on the
regional stage.
This deal demonstrates Ankara’s growing assertiveness and influence on the world
stage. Erdogan has made it clear that he wishes to expand Turkey’s footprint in
Africa and beyond, even into areas of traditional U.S. influence. It’s a
reminder that Turkey is actively challenging traditional power dynamics, often
at the expense of the U.S. and its allies.
This is not the only instance of Turkey dominating the headlines. Turkey has
become more forceful in the wider Middle East, particularly in Syria. The recent
rebel uprising that brought down the Assad regime is widely attributed to Ankara
green-lighting Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Syrian National Army’s military
campaign to Damascus, which caught the entire world by surprise and showed
Russia and Iran’s inability to bolster their ally. Turkey is interested in
asserting its will in all areas where Washington is seemingly absent or is too
distracted by the transition process between the Biden and Trump
administrations.
For the United States, Turkey’s maneuver should serve as a wake-up call. While
the Horn of Africa is sometimes sidelined in U.S. foreign policy, the region is
strategically critical for countering instability, curbing extremism, and
securing key maritime routes in the world’s fastest-growing continent. Turkey’s
ability to broker a deal in Washington’s absence highlights how power vacuums
can be exploited. Without a regional presence, Washington risks conceding
influence to powers with divergent goals. Effective mediation of the Nile
dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia could reestablish American credibility and
stabilize the Horn of Africa. Failure to do so could deepen fractures among U.S.
allies, weaken its influence in an increasingly competitive global landscape—or
worse, hand Ankara yet another opportunity to further strengthen its position.
**Sinan Ciddi is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies
and an associate professor of national security studies at Marine Corps
University. Follow him on X @SinanCiddi. Mariam Wahba is a research analyst at
the FDD. Follow her on X @themariamwahba.
Seizing the moment: A US strategy to
outmaneuver Russia in Syria
G. Alexander Crowther and Jahara Matisek, opinion contributors/The Hill./
December 19/2024
Most strategies are about having long time horizons and patience. But
timeliness, flexibility and rapidity can be a strategy in and of itself. The
collapse of the Assad regime in Syria presents a rare opportunity for America to
act. But President-elect Trump has written that “Syria is a mess, but is not our
friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR
FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!”
Unfortunately, there are a number of second-and third-order effects should the
United States and its allies passively let events unfold. In fact, if the U.S.
acts decisively now, advantageous strategic conditions can be established in the
Middle East and Eastern Europe that highly favor U.S. national interests.
The U.S. — in conjunction with allies and partners — can help Syrian rebels form
an institutionally strong state while putting Russian naval and air bases in
Syria at risk of falling into rebel hands. This has at least two advantages.
First, it would give the U.S. leverage against Russia in Ukraine to give Putin a
strategic dilemma: Make a deal in Ukraine or lose two strategic bases in the
Mediterranean. Second, helping the Syrians reconstruct a stable state and effect
a political solution to their situation would remove the need for U.S. troops on
the ground.
Besides ensuring that the battlespace is not ceded to transnational terrorists
and extremist factions, this specific line of effort supports Trump’s
long-standing goal of reducing the American military footprint in Syria and
Iraq.
The uncertain state of play in Syria has significant implications for Russia:
Both bases in Syria are crucial for Russia’s power projection across the
Mediterranean, which directly impacts the force posture of NATO members in the
region. The potential loss of these strategic bases would severely undercut
Russian military capability, credibility, and its ability to deploy private
military contractors across Africa.
Additionally, there are reportedly thousands of encircled Russian troops
currently unable to evacuate from a number of forward bases around Syria. Such a
situation allows the U.S. to act decisively and tip the balance of power against
both Iran and Russia especially as Syrian rebels have made clear their dislike
of Iran and their proxy Hezbollah.
The U.S., European allies and neighboring countries have an opportunity to
finance, mentor and advise Syrian rebel leaders committed to building effective
governance structures while keeping Iranian and Russian influence at bay.
The Jordanians, Iraqis, Saudis and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and
others can provide essential support on the ground to prevent Syria from
becoming Libya 2.0 where victorious rebel groups splinter the country into
lawless fiefdoms because they cannot find mutually beneficial power-sharing
agreements. Engaging with Syrian rebel commanders, neighboring Middle Eastern
countries and European allies will be crucial in mediating a healthy
post-conflict Syrian state.
However, several challenges must be navigated carefully. The main Syrian rebel
group, Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led most military operations that toppled
the Assad regime. While HTS has expressed a willingness for a peaceful
resolution, their past association with extremist ideologies requires careful
handling and consideration. Hence, United Nations leadership has already called
for reconsideration of the terrorist designation of HTS, which would legally
permit countries to work with the new Syrian leadership.
Aiding Syrian groups committed to building robust institutions and an effective
state while isolating extremist elements will be critical for long-term
stability. Humanitarian assistance should focus on ensuring all legitimate
Syrian actors are involved in the political solution and aiding Syria’s
neighboring countries and addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis, to include
facilitating the resettlement of refugees and their well-being. The urgency is
clear: If the U.S. does not act swiftly, Putin may negotiate a deal with the
rebels that preserves his two bases and personnel in Syria, removing that
potential pressure point. At this moment, Syrian opposition leaders have
committed to ensuring the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic
facilities within Syria, but the situation is tense and there’s no telling how
long this guarantee might last.
The Americans and Europeans have an exceptional opportunity to outmaneuver Putin,
who is often viewed as a master strategist but has proved to be merely an adept
opportunist. Acknowledging this situation means recognizing this as another
theater of great power competition, where significant decisions must be made to
undermine adversaries like Russia. Hence, Western leaders should also negotiate
and leverage Russia’s de facto bases in Taboruk and elsewhere in Libya, under
similar duress — as Putin may accept his losses in Syria and shift everything to
Libya.
The fall of the Assad regime means the U.S. can reshape the strategic landscape
in Syria and beyond. Acting decisively now can undermine Russia’s and Iran’s
positions in the Middle East and strengthen U.S. and European influence in the
region. This strategic move requires timeliness, flexibility and a willingness
to embrace the complexities of modern geopolitical competition.
Now is the time to act to dismantle Russian military power in the region and
stabilize the region.
**G. Alexander Crowther, Ph.D., is a retired Army strategist and a nonresident
senior fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security Program at the Center
for European Policy Analysis. U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jahara Matisek,
Ph.D. is a military professor in the National Security Affairs department at the
U.S. Naval War College, a fellow at the European Resilience Initiative Center
and fellow at the Payne Institute for Public Policy.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Iran-Affiliated Venezuelan Gangs Invited Into
the United States
Robert Williams/Gatestone Institute./December 19, 2024
Truth Social Gettr
"Border Patrol zones across Texas, Arizona and California had no agent presence
for weeks and months at a time. Those who did not want to be caught could simply
walk in. We have no idea who and what entered our country over this time." —
Aaron Heitke, retired chief patrol agent for the San Diego Sector of the U.S.
Border Patrol, testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security,
September 18, 2024.
"Simultaneously, in San Diego we had an exponential increase in [Special]
Interest Aliens (SIAs). These are aliens with significant ties to terrorism....
I was told I could not release any information on this increase in SIA's or
mention any of the arrests. The administration was trying to convince the public
that there was no threat at the border." — Aaron Heitke, testimony before the
U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, September 18, 2024.
More than half a million Venezuelans have entered the US illegally since
President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. These included criminals from
the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which, according to Texas Governor Greg
Abbott, has "a history of flooding other countries with military-aged Venezuelan
males to establish a base of operation to carry out violent crimes in those
countries." Pictured: Illegal immigrants, mostly Venezuelans, arrive to be
processed by U.S. Border Patrol agents on September 29, 2023 in Eagle Pass,
Texas, after agents allowed them into the United States to make asylum claims.
(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
More than half a million Venezuelans have entered the US illegally since
President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, according to the Federation for
American Immigration Reform. Until Biden became president, few Venezuelans
arrived illegally. Only around 4,500 arrived in 2020. After Biden's
inauguration, however, numbers exploded: 50,499 Venezuelans illegally entered in
2021, another 189,520 in 2022 and a whopping 334,914 in 2023.
This means that Venezuelans now rank second in illegal immigration into the US,
after Mexicans, who still take the number one spot.
For more than two decades, Venezuela has been a close ally of Iran, and a
regional home base for Hezbollah, Iran's proxy in the Middle East. Hezbollah,
according to one 2020 Atlantic Council report, helped to "turn Venezuela into a
hub for the convergence of transnational organized crime and international
terrorism."
Iran's Quds Force is a subsection of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Quds Force runs Iran's terrorist operations abroad, and it established
operations in Latin America with Venezuela's support during the Hugo Chávez
regime (1999-2013), noted Jorge Serrano, a security expert and member of the
team of advisors to Peru's Congressional Intelligence Commission. Quds Force has
a local unit in Venezuela, Unit 840, which recruits and relies on local criminal
groups to conduct assassinations and kidnappings. (The practice of hiring local
criminals to do Iran's bidding has also spread to Europe.)
According to Alejandro Cassaglia, an expert in terrorism and organized crime and
professor at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina:
"It's crucial to recognize that these groups are dedicated to hybrid warfare,
cyber-intelligence, and terrorist attacks... The presence of Iran and the Quds
Force [in Latin America] is not just a potential risk, but a palpable reality.
These criminals have total freedom of movement in the region, they have
Venezuelan passports and are usually of Lebanese or Persian origin."
One of these groups is the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, described as a
"mega-gang" or a conglomerate of different criminal groups, by Transparencia
Venezuela, an NGO that notes the gang is the "largest and most powerful
organization in Venezuela" with more than 4,000 criminals. It has been described
as "MS-13 on steroids."
The state of Texas has designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist
organization. According to Serrano, the gang "has Iran's support" and have
forged "strategic alliances with Russia, China, and North Korea."
In July, a federal memo said that the Tren de Aragua gang had been given the
"green light" by its leaders to "attack and open fire on cops in Denver,"
according to the New York Post.
The gang has "a history of flooding other countries with military-aged
Venezuelan males to establish a base of operation to carry out violent crimes in
those countries," Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in September.
The Biden administration, knowing this, nevertheless allowed Tren de Aragua to
come into the US, where they are now have set up shop in at least 16 states, and
have already been tied to hundreds of crimes, including the shooting of two New
York Police Department officers in June.
How did the Biden administration do that? According to the Center for
Immigration Reform:
"The major driver of Venezuelan migration to the U.S. has been policies that
allow illegal aliens to enter, be released, and work in the United States. Many
Venezuelan nationals are taking advantage of the Biden Administration's illegal
categorical parole program, announced in late 2022. Under this program,
Venezuelans and dual citizens of Venezuela can fly directly into the U.S.
without a visa. Furthermore, the Biden Administration has designated and
re-designated Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which blocks the
government from deporting Venezuelan nationals and offers them work permits.
This has incentivized more Venezuelans to come to the U.S. because they
anticipate similar treatment."
Former director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan, tapped by
President-elect Donald J. Trump to be the US "border czar", has stated that
Biden is the only president in U.S. history to "unsecure the border on purpose."
It is indeed impossible to see the invasion at the border as anything other than
planned by the Biden administration. When Venezuela began to empty its prisons
of criminals two years ago, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, aware that
the criminals were heading to the U.S. border, gave the United States Border
Patrol instructions to look for violent criminals from Venezuela entering the
country. If the Biden administration had wanted to stop the invasion, in the
words of U.S. House Representative Troy Nehls:
"For starters, he can use Section 212 (f) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act, which states, 'Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or
of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the
interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as
he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens
as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any
restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.' Simply put, Biden could end the
entry of illegal aliens, or specifically Venezuelans, today. Instead, he is
callously and consciously refusing to do so."
Aaron Heitke, a retired chief patrol agent for the San Diego Sector of the U.S.
Border Patrol, gave testimony on September 18 to the U.S. House Committee on
Homeland Security, revealed that "Biden and Harris' policies so overwhelmed the
Border Patrol that upwards of 80-90% of agents were completely pulled away from
the border to process and release historic numbers of border crossers." Heitke
testified:
"Sectors were ordered to take in and process all the illegal aliens encountered
on the border. The Border Patrol saw groups of hundreds and thousands coming
into the United States and turning themselves in. These numbers pulled 80-90%,
sometimes 100% of the agents on duty away from the border. Border Patrol zones
across Texas, Arizona and California had no agent presence for weeks and months
at a time. Those who did not want to be caught could simply walk in. We have no
idea who and what entered our country over this time. Throughout 2022 and 2023 I
sent agents to Texas and Arizona to count gotaways. Those sectors could not even
put enough agents in the field to see what they had missed."
As evidence of the national security risks caused by the Biden administration,
it told Border Patrol agents to lie about the number of terrorists entering the
country, according to Heitke. "Simultaneously, in San Diego we had an
exponential increase in [Special] Interest Aliens (SIAs). These are aliens with
significant ties to terrorism. Prior to this administration, the San Diego
sector averaged 10-15 SIAs per year. Once word was out that the border was far
easier to cross, San Diego went to over 100 SIAs in 2022, way over 100 SIAs in
2023 and more than that this year. These are only the ones we caught. At the
time, I was told I could not release any information on this increase in SIA's
or mention any of the arrests. The administration was trying to convince the
public that there was no threat at the border."
*Robert Williams is based in the United States.
© 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.
We Must Help Syrians Build Their Democracy
Dr. Barham Salih/Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
The fall of the Baath Party’s totalitarian regime in Syria should be good news
for the region and the world, as the fall of the despotic Baath regime in Iraq
had been. Nonetheless, we must be cautious. Tyranny is a tragedy, but its
downfall can bring other hardships if the situation is not managed properly,
without revenge and foreign interventions. The Assad regime has been a source of
hardship for the Syrian people for more than five decades. Evidence of its
massacres, use of internationally prohibited weapons, horrific killing methods,
and notorious prisons is emerging through eyewitness testimonies, footage from
inside prisons, and state documents. The regime had also been a source of
instability in the region. Its interference in Lebanon’s affairs and its role in
the assassinations of Lebanese leaders and elites- among them the late Lebanese
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri- have wreaked havoc on this beautiful country, which
has always been a symbol of coexistence and culture. It also destabilized Iraq
by facilitating the training and entry of jihadist terror groups after 2003. At
a time when Iraq needed a helping hand, it offered a killing hand.
The collapse of this regime should be celebrated as a victory for freedom and
justice. The Syrian people have taken the first step toward correcting severe
injustices. However, despite the balanced statements from Joint Operations
Commander Ahmed al-Sharaa, the current situation in the country is concerning.
Indeed, armed factions that had branched out of al-Qaeda and ISIS control large
parts of Syrian territory.
The last thing the Middle East needs today is a Jihadist resurgence. This region
is not the vast expanse of Afghanistan. It has strong links with the rest of the
world and is of greater strategic significance. The international community must
act decisively, not only to confront the potential terrorist threat but also to
help the Syrian people turn the page on despotism. To this end, we must help
them achieve their aspirations through the formation of a democratic civic
government that represents all the people of Syria- Sunnis, Alawites, Kurds,
Christians, Druze, and others. A comprehensive civic governance framework is
essential not only for Syria but also for peace in the region.
Syria’s future will have major implications for its people, but also for its
neighbors. Lebanon desperately needs to restore its civic democratic state, as
well as stability and peace, after years of difficult conflicts and wars.
At the same time, amid these major regional shifts, Iraq stands at a crossroads.
Iraq must be mindful of what is happening in Syria and support our Syrian
brothers and neighbors in their pursuit of security and stability. However, we
cannot play this role if we do not address the structural problems of our
governance system and reinforce domestic cohesion in the face of the threat of
extremism and sectarian strife, which have already had disastrous consequences
for Iraq.
The significance of our achievements since the overthrow of the despotic Baath
regime in 2003 cannot be denied. These achievements include the adoption of the
constitution, the peaceful transfer of power, and the current signs of
reconstruction and economic growth. However, structural problems remain. The
state suffers from structural deficiencies, corruption, and armed groups’ hold
over the state and decisions. These problems pose an existential threat to the
very survival of the Iraqi state. Iraq must also redefine its relations with its
neighbors. It must build sovereign state-to-state relations around mutual
interests and noninterference in others’ affairs. Iraq should not be a base for
any state seeking to undertake hostile actions against its neighbors. Allowing
any foreign actor to dominate our national decision-making process undermines
our sovereignty and fuels instability. Our sovereign state’s authority must be
reinforced. Indeed, Iraq cannot enjoy stability so long as its sovereignty is
undermined. As history has shown, Iraq is not an easy country for foreign powers
to dominate!
The religious authority in Najaf's recent statement emphasizing the need to
respect the state’s authority and its monopoly on arms, and to curb corruption,
came at a historic juncture. We are accustomed to seeing this prudence that
reflects genuine concern for Iraq’s interests from Najaf.
As we previously mentioned, there is an urgent need for intra-Iraqi dialogue to
address the flaws in our governance system and develop a democratic civil
political system founded on genuine partnership in ruling their country. This
regime should reinforce the concept of a sovereign state, place weapons solely
in the hands of the state, enable good governance, curb corruption, and deliver
services.
Whether Iraq becomes a pivotal player in the Middle East depends on its ability
to operate independently and foster peaceful relations with all its neighbors,
including Arab states, Iran, and Türkiye. Enhancing sovereignty and political
stability can turn Iraq into a bridge between Middle Eastern countries, as the
country has the potential to become the cornerstone of a new regional system
that encourages stability, economic integration, and cooperation rather than
conflict.
Addressing the Kurdish question is also essential. The Kurds have been deprived
of their political and cultural rights for decades; addressing these grievances
and respecting Kurdish rights as an indigenous people must be prioritized. In
Syria, Kurdish rights must be guaranteed in any political settlement that is
reached, ensuring partnership and doing away with the discriminatory and
exclusionary policies of Baathist rule. In Iraq, the relationship between the
federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government must be reassessed to
resolve the recurring disputes over resources, territories, governance, and
authorities. The challenges are immense, but so are the opportunities. The
Middle East stands at a crossroads, and the choices made now will determine the
region's trajectory for decades to come. Supporting the Syrian people in their
struggle for democracy, helping Lebanon get back on its feet, and reforming the
political system in Iraq are not just moral obligations, they are also strategic
necessities. This region has undergone cruel and devastating wars over the past
few decades due to authoritarian regimes, violence, and repression. It was an
era of declining states being overrun by armed groups that embroiled the region
and its peoples in perilous misadventures. It is time for this region to
stabilize. Stability hinges on governance that derives its legitimacy from the
people's consent, with states focusing on economic growth, development, youth
employment, and the fight against terrorism and extremism.
Others were able to change course. We have seen this in Europe and Asia, and we
in this region can also do the same. Otherwise, this generation and future
generations will remain prisoners of petty conflicts as the world makes strides
and grows.
This is our duty, as the leaders and peoples of these countries. However, in my
view, the international community also has a role to play in supporting this
effort to correct course and restore states, to help us build our future on
democratic and civic values, peace, and coexistence, and to facilitate real
reform in Iraq that ensures coexistence, not only at the national level but also
regionally. The international community must play a proactive role by providing
diplomatic, economic, and security support to solidify the region's stability.
Ultimately, however, the responsibility lies with the leaders and peoples of the
region.
A Middle East grounded in cooperation and inclusivity is within reach- if there
is the will to bring it about.
Are Syria’s New Authorities Against the Iranian Axis?
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/December 19/2024
Everyone is searching for clues about the possible foreign policy of the new
Damascus regime, especially concerning Iran. If it turns out to be against Iran,
this would be a significant development and could potentially change the face of
the region.
The initial impressions suggest possibilities that could be misleading, and the
coming days will reveal the answers. Theoretically, the new Syrian regime, under
the leadership of “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” and its leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, is
expected to adopt a policy different from that of the ousted al-Assad regime.
Accordingly, many bet on its opposition to Tehran and its militias, which fought
against it in Syria, including hostility towards the parties of the axis, such
as in Iraq and the Lebanese Hezbollah.
If its leader, al-Sharaa, follows this path, we may witness the end of Iran’s
expansionist project, especially after Israel successfully destroyed most of its
external capabilities.
However, regional political dynamics could steer Damascus in different
directions. Moreover, politics does not operate according to a constant
“catalog.” In the early 2000s, for instance, Hamas was thought to be Iran’s
adversary until it later became clear that it was one of Tehran’s proxies, as
was the Sunni “al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah” in Lebanon’s Tripoli. Similarly, the
global Muslim Brotherhood played the role of a Trojan horse for Tehran under
banners of sectarian solidarity and hostility toward Israel.
If Israel continues to exploit the collapse in Syria to strengthen its presence
there, we might be surprised by a new Damascus alliance with Tehran, Baghdad,
and a return of the Iranians to Sayyidah Zaynab. Much depends on al-Sharaa’s
vision and his government’s stance on the conflict with Israel.
I have not found much in the available speeches and interviews that provides
sufficient insight into his philosophy or possible policies.
In geopolitics, Türkiye is an important regional player. The question now is
whether it holds significant influence over the new Damascus regime,
particularly regarding its conflict with Iran.
Currently, Türkiye’s role might be beneficial in preventing Damascus from
slipping into religious and political extremism and helping it escape US
sanctions. Regarding Damascus’ management of its foreign affairs, there are two
narratives: the first suggests “HTS” is closely tied to Ankara and owes much to
it since 2018 and during its recent victory, indicating a likely alliance. The
second narrative suggests the two parties have a good relationship, but their
policies are not identical. Sinan Ulgen from the Carnegie Center supports this
view, stating: “It is wrong to assume Türkiye controls Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.”
If the relationship deepens, Damascus’s policy would likely mirror Türkiye’s,
making it unlikely to adopt a hostile stance toward Iran. However, tensions with
Iraq are expected to persist for various reasons.
The Mesopotamian region has its own dynamics, with political and sectarian
competition between Damascus and Baghdad. Following the fall of Saddam Hussein’s
and al-Assad’s regimes, and with religious factions now ruling both capitals,
theoretically, Iraq’s government is Shiite while Syria’s is Sunni. After “Hayat
Tahrir al-Sham” took control in Damascus, anger spread in Baghdad, and
historical vendettas between extremist factions of the two sects began
circulating on social media.
Politically and militarily, Tehran, Baghdad, and Hezbollah pose a serious threat
to the al-Assad regime’s replacement. Iraq has hosted thousands of fleeing
leaders and soldiers of the regime following the fall of the Syrian capital.
It is expected that the axis will reorganize its priorities after the massive
setbacks it suffered this year, including the destruction of Hamas, the
elimination of Hezbollah leaders and forces, and now the end of the al-Assad
regime.
In my view, Tehran will pursue two paths: political rapprochement with al-Sharaa
and his team under the banner of hostility toward Israel, and weaving alliances
within Syria and its surroundings to pressure Damascus.
Tehran, haunted for forty years by the theory that Washington is planning to
overthrow its regime, is experiencing its greatest anxiety in history. It
believes and repeats that what happened in Damascus was orchestrated by Israeli
and American arrangements, targeting it. Today, it may be justified in feeling
genuinely threatened in terms of its existence.
A massacre, a rumored hanging and Syrians' thirst for justice and revenge
Nabih Bulos/LA Times/December 19, 2024
The crowd surged forward, thousands cheering, waving and jostling their way
around Damascus’ Al Ashmar Square, all positioning themselves for the best view
of a hanging. “Hurry up,” a mother scolded her child as they walked along the
roadside. "We don’t want to be late."
A fire truck approached, spurring a chorus of shouts by those thinking a
condemned man was inside. Young men scampered onto the truck, hoping to glimpse
Saleh al-Ras, an enforcer for former Syrian President Bashar Assad, who was
ousted by rebels this month after 13 years of civil war.
Al-Ras led a militia that oversaw security in the district of Tadamon, just
outside Damascus, and is widely believed to be responsible for numerous
atrocities there, including a 2013 massacre that killed nearly 300 people.
People in Tadamon have a nickname for the toothbrush-mustached henchman:
"Syria's Hitler."
“This man, he and his people, they were animals,” said Majed Shaaban, 32, who
works for a cleaning services company. “I came to see him die.”
A crowd gathers after hearing that a militia commander would be publicly hanged.
Shaaban and the rest of the crowd would eventually leave the square in
disappointment.
Syria's new leaders have promised justice for a population that had been
terrorized for decades by a government that imprisoned, disappeared, tortured,
killed and used sexual violence as a weapon of war. But in keeping with the
rebels' quest for international legitimacy, they have also vowed to deliver it
through the rule of law, with prosecutions that could take years.
That timescale is unlikely to satisfy ordinary Syrians clamoring for vengeance.
Within days of the rebel victory, pro-rebel activists reported that Al-Ras had
been one of several figures detained in a countrywide dragnet by the interim
security authority led by the rebel faction Hayat Tahrir al Sham.
Government officials did not confirm whether Al-Ras was captured, but before
long word was spreading in Tadamon that he was to be publicly hanged.
Waiting for the execution in Al Ashmar Square last week, people in the crowd
explained why they wanted to witness Al-Ras be put to death.
“If he wanted a woman he saw at the checkpoint, he would arrest her husband and
threaten to kill him if she didn’t let him rape her,” said a woman in her 30s.
The woman said that four of her relatives, including her uncle and nephew, had
been taken by Al-Ras' men and that almost certainly they were dead.
“I won’t tell you my name, or my age — I’m too afraid," she said. How could she
be sure the militia commander somehow wouldn't return to power? "Anyone could
inform on you; the grocer, the restaurant waiter, the neighbor — everyone.
“It’s only been a week without them," she said. "We need time to get used to
this new life.”Next to her, a 62-year-old man, also too afraid to give his name,
agreed that Al-Ras was a perpetrator of rape and murder.
“Sometimes he would just shoot the husband, rape the wife, then shoot her too,”
he said. “If they put this man in front of us on the ground, all the women of
Tadamon would jump on him and rip him apart.”
After a few hours, with no sign of Al-Ras, the bearded militants maintaining
order informed people there would be no execution for two days, until Friday
after noon prayers. The crowd reluctantly dispersed. But when Friday came, word
spread there would be no execution after all. The hanging had been a rumor.
An official in the Ministry of Interior, who was not authorized to speak to the
media, said the government had no plans to execute any former government figures
without trials. "There are many rumors about executions, but this is just
people's talk," he said. "We're not going to have reprisals.
"We will have justice for everyone, but first we have to form a government so we
can have proper courts," he said. In a statement last week, Ahmad al Sharaa, the
leader of the Hayat Tahrir al Sham faction, said the government planned to
release a most-wanted list of members of the former government and offer rewards
for information leading to their arrests.
“We will pursue them in Syria, and we ask countries to hand over those who fled
so we can achieve justice. ... The blood of the innocent martyrs and the rights
of the detainees are a trust that we will not allow to be wasted or forgotten.”
At the same time, Al Sharaa said, the new leadership was offering amnesty to
conscripts and would open so-called reconciliation centers.
When rebels overran portions of Tadamon early in the civil war, the district
became an emblem of the resistance. Then when evidence emerged of mass killings,
it seemed to encapsulate the sadism of Assad's security forces. In the days
since the government’s disintegration, Tadamon has illustrated the search for
the missing, and for answers.
Last week in Tadamon, where bombed-out husks of buildings rise out of a sea of
rubble, Usama Kastana, 40, and a few other residents explored the ruins near Al-Ras'
checkpoint for the first time, including the site of the 2013 massacre that had
been off-limits to residents for years.
“You couldn’t even come close to this block,” Kastana said. “We weren’t
allowed.”
Two years ago, a member of the government-backed militia gave researchers 27
videos of intelligence and militia personnel leading blindfolded detainees to a
ditch filled with tires and shoving them in or shooting them in the back as they
ran, then igniting the tires to burn the bodies. Researchers and journalists
combed through the videos and identified 288 people — including seven women and
12 children — who were killed. Fouad Shawakh, 56, said executions were routine
in the neighborhood right up until government forces withdrew this month.
“You’d hear shooting," he said. "Then there would be this smell all over the
place, of burning flesh.”Mohammad Darwish, 23, pointed to a pile of trash and
shredded clothing in the rubble, along with what appeared to be human bones.
“Look, here’s the top part of the skull,” Kastana said.
"Search each of these buildings and you’ll find bones in every single one,”
Darwish said before leading a reporter to a nearby mosque that had been
commandeered by Al-Ras’ men throughout the war. “We spent the last day taking
bones out of there as well,” he said. During his search, Darwish had discovered
a tunnel. It stretched dozens of feet but had been partially blocked by debris.
Darwish was sure there would be remains inside. Though they would have been
happy to see Al-Ras punished, many here insisted their priority was to know the
fate of their missing loved ones.
Legs of men standing around a hole.
Men gather around a hole leading to a tunnel found in Tadamon.
“The worst thing authorities could do now is execute him," said Walid
Al-Abdullah, 56. "We know he did the crime and he should be punished, but they
need to keep him alive until we find out what happened.”
Al-Abdullah, an engineer, remembers the date — July 27, 2013 — when 15 members
of his family, including his parents, sisters and four of his nieces and
nephews, disappeared. He found the family home ransacked and no trace of his
loved ones, he said. "I don't care to get compensation or for anything that was
lost from the house. None of it," he said. "I just want to know the fate of 15
people."For years, Al-Abdullah said, he sent official requests for information
to the ministry of interior and the intelligence agencies. He got no answers,
only punishment, he said, including losing some benefits at his state job. He
held out hope that his family was alive — thinking there were kids among those
taken, so surely they would be fine — until two years ago when he saw the
massacre videos. After a visit to Tadamon, Human Rights Watch issued a report
Monday urging Syria's transitional authorities to secure and preserve physical
evidence across the country of "grave international crimes by members of the
former government." "The loved ones of people so brutally killed here deserve to
know what happened to them," said Hiba Zayadin, a senior researcher at Human
Rights Watch. "The victims deserve accountability." Al-Abdullah was waiting for
a government to be formed so he could restart his search requests. He wants to
know what happened to them, even if he may never understand the reason.
“Why would they kill kids?” he asked. Beside him stood Ali Fadhel, who said he
was imprisoned for more than three months after asking about his two brothers,
taken by the militia. “With them there was no why or why not," he said. "They
just took you.” Sign up for Essential California for news, features and
recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
West Bank settlers are reenacting King Ahab’s
sin
Mark I. Pinsky, opinion contributor/ The Hill./December 19, 2024
In the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Kings, a story is told about a ruthless king of
Israel who abused his authority and was punished for it by God.
King Ahab’s realm was in Samaria, what is now known by most as the occupied West
Bank. The monarch coveted some land that did not belong to him, a vineyard owned
by a man named Naboth. Ahab wanted the vineyard for a vegetable garden near his
palace, so he offered to buy the land or trade land of equal value for it.
But Naboth refused. “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of
my ancestors,” he told the king.
Ahab sulked and refused to eat, until his wife Jezebel provided a solution.
Pretending to be the king, she wrote to the elders of Naboth’s village under his
seal and ordered them to hold a feast, with Naboth seated prominently. Then she
ordered two witnesses to falsely charge that the vineyard owner had cursed God
and the king, whereupon Naboth was taken out and stoned to death. When word came
that he was dead, Ahab took possession of the land he coveted.
So, a trifecta, three of the Ten Commandments were broken: Thou shalt not covet,
thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not kill.
God was displeased, the Bible says, so he sent the Prophet Elijah to find Ahab,
who was in the purloined vineyard. “This is what the Lord says,” Elijah tells
him. “Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?” As punishment,
Ahab’s kingly line would be wiped out, but not before the dogs would rip Jezebel
to death and drink her blood by the wall surrounding Naboth’s vineyard. This,
the Lord says, “because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to
sin.”
Might this story have a current parallel? Modern Jewish settlers of the West
Bank, many of whom profess to be religious believers, would do well to read
these verses and consider what they mean for their ongoing actions. Likewise,
their zealous supporters in America.
These vigilantes, facing unarmed Palestinians who they accuse — often without
credible evidence — of terrorism, have stolen olive harvests and cut down the
trees at gunpoint; stolen or slaughtered Palestinian farmers’ livestock; and,
under the eyes of the Israeli military, who were sometimes complicit, shot some
of the rightful residents and driven others from the land.
Despite an official ban on new settlements, the Israeli government has
effectively enabled new or expanded Jewish settlements by arbitrarily declaring
land part of a military or security zone. Then the land it turned over to the
settlers. Cumulatively, these recent displacements add to the estimated 750,000
Palestinians forced out of Mandatory Palestine in 1948, and 300,000 more since
the 1967 Six-Day War.
Like the farmer who only covets the land that adjoins his own — which is
effectively endless — the settlers want all of the West Bank land they don’t
already have. Since the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, drew global attention to
Gaza, settler attacks have driven at least 57 West Bank Palestinian communities
off their land. According to the left-wing Israeli group Peace Now, 10 of these
new Jewish settlements were built close to Palestinian communities, and then the
new residents subsequently drove their neighbors off the land.
To their credit, groups of unarmed Israeli and Palestinian civilians have tried
to prevent the seizures by interposing themselves between protesting
Palestinians trying to save their homes and settlers and soldiers, although with
mixed results.
Here in America, university officials, perhaps fearing hostile donors and
members of Congress, have developed new disciplinary regulations aimed at
student supporters of the Palestinian cause. But in doing so, they have
increasingly focused on the content of speech, as much as the conduct of
protesters.
In particular, pro-Palestinian protesters have been and are expected to face
charges for chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which
has roots in the Hamas charter. To many of Israel’s North American supporters,
that is tantamount to calling for Jewish genocide, and students on campus should
be disciplined, even expelled, for doing so.
But what began in the wake of the Oct. 7 terrorism as an understandable effort
to characterize support for Hamas as an antisemitic call for genocide has
effectively escalated into calling any support for the Palestinian cause,
including a two-state solution, as antisemitic. Others even cite President
Biden’s vacation reading matter to bolster previous charges that he, too, is
antisemitic.
“You cannot have a system where one person’s property is sacred and another’s
can be taken, based on nationality,” Rashid Khalidi — the author of the book in
question, “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine” — who is an outspoken
anti-Zionist but not an antisemite, recently told an informal meeting with
Orthodox Jews in Manhattan.
Yet it has been an article of faith (and policy) for the West Bank settlers and
their surrogates in the Likud cabinet that Israel should be a land without
Arabs. Their quest for taking Palestinian land for more “living space” seems
insatiable. They echo 1975 Likud party platform that explicitly states that from
the Jordan to the Mediterranean will only be Jewish sovereignty. Their slogan
is, effectively, “From the river to the sea, Israel will be Jewish.”What if
American student supporters of Israel, facing a cynically ginned up hysteria
about the extent of campus antisemitism, were to chant such a slogan? Would
they, too, be fairly disciplined for advocating Palestinian “genocide?”
After all, what would the endgame solution be if West Bank Palestinians and
those in Gaza refuse to be ethnically cleansed? Drive them into the sea, or into
the desert?
The lesson of Naboth’s vineyard for the Israeli government and the West Bank
settlers is that the strong and the powerful — even a king, a cabinet minister
or an armed mob — should not take advantage of the weak and powerless. I’m no
theologian, but what has been going on in the West Bank looks a lot like Ahab’s
sin to me.
*Mark I. Pinsky is a Durham, N.C.-based journalist and author who served as a
civilian volunteer attached to the Israeli military in El Arish, Sinai, in 1967.
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