Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 31- June 01/2024
Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: The UN Undermines Its Values and Principles by Honoring Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi
Elias Bejjani/Texet & Video: Understanding the Risks of Hamas's Victory in Gaza
Video link/A Conversation with Senior Advisor to the President for Energy and Investment, Amos Hochstein
Ambulance strike kills paramedic in southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon: Three Killed in an Israeli Raid on Naqoura, Yaroun and Adloun
Paramedic killed by an Israeli strike in South Lebanon
Hezbollah's Nasrallah: This is an existential battle, crucial for both Palestine and Lebanon's future
Nasrallah Strives to Defend His Involvement in the Gaza War
Amos Hochstein's proposed roadmap: Reducing tensions between Lebanon and Israel
Security concerns: Lebanon enhances mobile line verification to curb illegal Syrian migration
Lebanon Files Complaint Against Israel Over Targeting School Bus
Lebanese Army Arrests Eight Supporters of Daesh
Yassin Urges Removal of Chemicals From Zouk Power Plant
Industrialists Propose Measures to Boukhari to Lift Lebanese Products Boycott

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 31- June 01/2024
Biden details a 3-phase hostage deal aimed at winding down the Israel-Hamas war
Hamas says it ‘positively’ views Gaza Biden ceasefire proposal; EU chief also finds it to be ‘realistic'
Gaza aid not reaching the population: UN
WFP warns of ‘apocalyptic’ scenes in southern Gaza
UNRWA chief says Israel ‘must stop its campaign’ against agency
Israel's firm stand: No pause in Gaza fighting without hostage agreement
Israel's Gantz at the crossroads over challenge to Netanyahu
IDF leaves Jablia, over 100 Hamas fighters killed as 1,000 homes destroyed
Iran denies using Swedish gangs to target Israel
Houthis claim attack on US aircraft carrier in retaliation for deadly strikes
UN mission in Iraq to end after two decades
EU sanctions Iran’s defense minister, IRGC over drones and missiles
Former Iran parliament speaker registers for presidential vote after Raisi death
Turkish drone strikes in Syria kill 4 U.S.-backed fighters, wound 11 civilians, Kurdish group says
Trump says he will appeal historic conviction

Titles For The Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 31- June 01/2024
Embracing new realities benefits Turkiye’s foreign policy/Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/May 31/2024
Now all eyes are on Rafah and Washington/Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg/Arab News/May 31/2024
World is a shameful spectator to injustice/Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama/Arab News/May 31/2024
The Iraq-Turkey Reset/Soner Cagaptay, Selin Uysal, Bilal Wahab/The Washington Institute/May 31/2024
How New Wars Have Brought Back Old American Divisions/The New York Times/Asharq Al-Awsat/June 01/2024

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 31- June 01/2024
Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: The UN Undermines Its Values and Principles by Honoring Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi
Elias Bejjani/May 30, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/130233/130233/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y23GL7V3llA&t=2s
It is sad, unfortunate, and infuriating that the United Nations is set to hold a memorial for the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Friday, May 31, 2024, who died on May 20, 2024, in a helicopter crash along with several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abdollahian.
In response to this scandalous act, numerous protests have erupted across many countries that respect human rights principles. Reports on these protests against the UN’s decision to honor Raisi highlight a wave of anger and resentment among the Iranian community and the international society.
Ebrahim Raisi, who is held accountable for crimes against humanity, including the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran, should not be honored by the United Nations. Raisi was a member of the “Death Committee,” which sentenced thousands of Iranian political prisoners, including members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), to execution. This massacre, which resulted in the deaths of more than 30,000 people, is one of the most horrific crimes in the history of the Islamic Republic. Additionally, Raisi played a significant role in suppressing popular uprisings, committing murders, arbitrary arrests, and torturing protesters, especially women and girls.
Holding a memorial for Raisi, known as “the butcher,” by the United Nations raises several serious concerns, including:
1-Undermining the Credibility of the United Nations:
Honoring a person accused of crimes against humanity contradicts the principles and charter of the United Nations, which focus on human rights and justice. This action may undermine the credibility of the international organization and weaken global confidence in it.
2-Encouraging Impunity:
Honoring Raisi sends a negative message that crimes against humanity can go unpunished, encouraging other authoritarian leaders to continue violating human rights without fear of accountability.
3-Hurting Victims of the Regime:
Honoring Raisi is an insult to the victims and their families, reopening their psychological wounds. These victims suffer from the loss of their loved ones, and the honor appears to justify the crimes committed against them.
4-Encouraging Repression:
Honoring Raisi will embolden the Iranian regime to continue its repressive policies against dissidents and increase its campaigns of oppression and violence against protesters and human rights defenders in Iran.
5-Endorsing the Crimes of Iranian Proxies:
Honoring this criminal implies that the United Nations endorses the criminal activities of Iranian terrorist and fundamentalist proxies in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Gaza, as well as the terrorist acts committed by the Iranian regime in dozens of countries worldwide.
There is way, but to compare this condemned and unacceptable honoring celebration, to hypothetical honoring criminal figures such as Hitler, Mussolini, Saddam Hussein, Gaddafi and many others, who committed genocide and mass atrocities.
In conclusion, this unethical, illegal, and inhumane memorial celebration, which contradicts the laws and principles of the United Nations itself, undermines and weakens international efforts to promote human rights and achieve global justice for victims of terrorism, racism, and wars. Therefore, the United Nations must review its decision and take steps to cancel Raisi’s honoring event, reaffirming its commitment to human rights and justice principles.
**The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: [email protected]
Author’s Website: http://www.eliasbejjaninews.com

Elias Bejjani/Texet & Video: Understanding the Risks of Hamas's Victory in Gaza
Elias Bejjani/May 28, 2024
Elias Bejjani/Understanding the Risks of Hamas's Victory in Gaza - Elias Bejjani News
The ongoing conflict between the State of Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas has resulted in immense suffering for people in the Middle East. The devastating war has caused loss of innocent lives, and the destruction of homes and communities demands global sympathy for the victims on both sides. However, it is crucial for global and regional powers to understand the true nature and goals of Hamas and the risks associated with its continued dominance in Gaza.
Promoting wars and targeting innocent civilians, whether Palestinian or Israeli, is neither acceptable nor justified by any moral or humanitarian standards. The Palestinian people are suffering immensely due to unprecedented Israeli military actions, while Hamas leaders remain indifferent, hiding in tunnels and using civilians as human shields. This organization prioritizes its jihadist agenda against Israel over the lives of defenseless Palestinian civilians.
The loss of innocent Palestinian lives is tragic and must be condemned. Hamas bears full responsibility for the suffering of its people, and its actions provide justification for Israel's military response. While it is essential to condemn Israeli actions that harm civilians, it is equally important to recognize the dangers of a Hamas victory.
Allowing Hamas to win in Gaza would strengthen it militarily, promote violent ideologies, and keep the Palestinian people under its oppressive rule. A Hamas victory would destabilize moderate Arab countries and empower other jihadist and terrorist organizations, potentially exporting terrorism to Europe, America, and beyond.
To defeat Hamas and free the Palestinian people from its tyranny, the international community must address the root causes of the conflict. This involves isolating Hamas, dismantling its infrastructure, and supporting the establishment of peaceful, democratic self-rule in Gaza and the West Bank. A future Palestinian state should be one that is reconciled with Israel and the broader international community.
Arab countries, many of which classify Hamas as a terrorist organization, must take clear and decisive stances against it. Hamas is closely aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood and other extremist groups, as well as with the Iranian Mullahs' regime posing a significant threat to regional stability.
The free world must distinguish between legitimate self-defense and terrorism. Groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, Boko Haram, the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, the Houthis in Yemen, and others, often supported by the Iranian regime, are enemies of peace. Equating their actions with legitimate self-defense undermines justice and destabilizes global security.
Sympathy for the Palestinian people, who are held hostage by Hamas, is necessary. However, the international community must not overlook the dangers posed by allowing terrorist organizations to prevail. Defeating Hamas is crucial for achieving peace in the Middle East and beyond. This peace can only be realized through dialogue, reconciliation, mutual respect, and the right of all peoples to self-determination.
In conclusion, supporting the people of Gaza in their quest for a future free of terrorism and the domination of Hamas is a humanitarian duty. The forces of peace and justice must triumph over hatred and violence to ensure a stable and secure world.

Video link/A Conversation with Senior Advisor to the President for Energy and Investment, Amos Hochstein
Carnegie Endowment/June 01/2024
As the Israel-Hamas war drags on, the potential for spillover effects increase. Three conflict areas have emerged that carry serious risk of escalation: first, growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah along the Israeli-Lebanese border, and attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis against international shipping in the Red Sea, threatening global supply chains and freedom of navigation, and the danger of another direct clash between Israel and Iran.  What are the prospects for regional escalation? Is there a diplomatic pathway in Lebanon? And how have these conflicts affected the international economy, supply chains, and the global trade of hydrocarbons? Aaron David Miller will discuss these and other issues with Amos Hochstein, deputy assistant to the president and senior advisor for energy and investment at the White House. Prior to serving at the White House, Hochstein served as the U.S.-appointed mediator of the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations that resulted in a maritime border agreement between the two nations.

Ambulance strike kills paramedic in southern Lebanon
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/May 31, 2024
BEIRUT: A series of attacks by Hezbollah on Friday targeted multiple Israeli military sites with heavy Burkan missiles and suicide drones. The strikes followed Israeli raids on Aitaroun, Houla, and the pro-Hezbollah border village of Maroun Al-Ras overnight on Thursday and into the early hours. As aerial attacks on Lebanese targets continued, two Hezbollah members were killed. A military drone in Naqoura deliberately struck an ambulance, killing a paramedic and injuring one other person. While ambulances and ambulatory units in Odaisseh, Blida, and Hanin have previously been targeted by artillery shelling, this is the first time an Israeli drone has targeted a medical vehicle. In separate statements, Hezbollah said it struck the Branit barracks — headquarters of the Israeli army’s 91st division — with heavy Burkan missiles, “hitting it directly and destroying part of it.”The group also targeted “the Baghdadi outpost with heavy Burkan missiles, hitting it directly,” as well as “a building used by the enemy’s soldiers in the Al-Manara settlement.” Hezbollah said it also attacked Iron Dome launchpads in the Al-Zaoura bunker and a building used by Israeli soldiers in the Shomera settlement.
The two Hezbollah members who died were named as Samer Kamel Yassin, aged 42, and 54-year-old Hussein Mohammed Atwi, both from Houla.
Israeli media said two missiles landed in western Galilee without triggering sirens and claimed a building in Metula was hit when an anti-armor missile launched from Lebanon landed in the area. Sirens sounded in several northern settlements warning of possible drone infiltration. The explosion of air interception rockets was heard over the Marjayoun Valley in southern Lebanon and Israel launched shells toward Al-Wazzani and raided Naqoura. Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X: “Israeli military raids targeted four Hezbollah military buildings in Aitaroun and Markaba in southern Lebanon.”
The Israeli airstrikes, which have been ongoing for 237 days, have caused extensive damage to homes and buildings in the border towns, leaving the areas 90 percent uninhabited. The number of displaced people who have relocated to Beirut’s southern suburbs has reached around 100,000.
The Cabinet has approved $1 million (93 billion Lebanese pounds) in compensation for civilian victims and aid for the displaced. However, the decision has sparked political protests. Critics have condemned the government for spending so much public money on compensation for a war the Lebanese people did not choose while it struggles to pay public sector and military salaries. They said Hezbollah “decided on its own to launch its rockets at Israel on Oct. 8 from the south, dragging Lebanon into the war.” Objections came from the head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, the head of the Lebanese Kataeb Party, MP Sami Gemayel, MP Nadim Gemayel, and other figures. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has repeatedly stated that Lebanon, suffering from an economic crisis, cannot bear the burdens of the southern war.
Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri expressed his deep concern weeks ago about “the extent of the destruction along the southern border, with initial estimates indicating massive losses.”He noted: “The conditions for rebuilding what was destroyed by the Israeli attacks accompanying the 2006 war may not be the same today.”On Thursday, Amos Hochstein, senior adviser for energy and investment to the US president, said in an interview with Carnegie Endowment for International Peace that he did not expect everlasting peace between Hezbollah and Israel.
“A land border agreement between Israel and Lebanon implemented in phases, by removing some of the motivations for conflict, and establishing recognized borders for the first time between the two countries, could dampen the simmering and deadly conflict between the two countries,” he said.

Southern Lebanon: Three Killed in an Israeli Raid on Naqoura, Yaroun and Adloun
This Is Beirut/31 May 2024
Tensions rose in the evening at the southern front between Hezbollah and the Israeli army, which carried out a series of raids on several areas in south Lebanon, killing two men in Naqoura and Yaroun, and one woman in Adloun. In the evening, Israeli aircraft raided a home in Adloun, killing the woman and wounding others. Late in the afternoon, Israeli aircraft targeted a motorcycle in Yaroun, killing a Hezbollah fighter, Abbas Haydar Boussi, and injuring others. Earlier, Haidar Jahir, alias Amir, a paramedic with Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Committee, was killed in an Israeli drone strike on an ambulance in Naqoura. Another was wounded. Rescue workers were extinguishing a fire caused by Israeli bombardment of the outskirts of Naqoura at the time of the strike.In retaliation, Hezbollah shelled the settlements of Gaaton, Ein Yaakov and Yehiam. It again targeted Israeli settlements in the evening to avenge the death of its fighter in Yaroun, wounding three Israelis. Hezbollah launched 100 missiles against non-evacuated settlements in the western Galilee, Israeli media reported, noting that Israeli air defenses intercepted six missiles launched from southern Lebanon towards Peqi’in in the Upper Galilee. The pro-Iranian group reported that it had destroyed the Iron Dome platforms in the Zaoura district. It also targeted the Ramtha, Baghdadi and Ma’yan Baruch sites. The Israeli army then targeted the outskirts of the villages of Dhaira, Aitaroun, Adloun and the area between Houmine el-Fawka and Aïn Qana.

Paramedic killed by an Israeli strike in South Lebanon
LBCI/May 31, 2024
A paramedic was killed and another was wounded in an Israeli strike on Friday that targeted an ambulance from the Islamic Health Organization, affiliated with Hezbollah, in southern Lebanon, a source from the organization's operations room told AFP.

Hezbollah's Nasrallah: This is an existential battle, crucial for both Palestine and Lebanon's future
LBCI/May 31, 2024
In a speech during a memorial service for Sheikh Ali Kourani at the Imam al-Mujtaba complex in the southern suburbs, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah highlighted the ongoing significance of the southern front. He stressed that it is part of a broader struggle that will shape the future of Palestine, Lebanon, and the region. "This is an existential battle, crucial for Palestine and Lebanon's future, resources, and sovereignty," Nasrallah stated. He also addressed the ongoing war in Gaza, pointing out that the fighting continues unabated. He criticized the international community's inaction due to the US veto power, remarking that some still naively rely on international bodies for deterrence and protection. He further condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration, labeling their actions in Gaza and Palestine as genocidal. "Despite the silence of nations and leaders, thankfully, these crimes are awakening the world," Nasrallah concluded.

Nasrallah Strives to Defend His Involvement in the Gaza War
This Is Beirut/June 01 2024
The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, asserted that his organization does not link the presidential election to the war in Gaza. For Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, any occasion is good to try to convince the Lebanese people of the “opportunity” of the unnecessary and destructive war he has led in southern Lebanon. On Friday, it was the commemoration of the death of an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ali Mohammad Kourani, that provided Hassan Nasrallah with the pretext for yet another speech. In it, he once again attempted, with pompous slogans and, of course, half-truths, to outline all the supposed benefits that Lebanon will gain, according to him, from a new “divine victory” against Israel. Needless to say, he once again completely ignored the price that Lebanon and its population, especially in the South, pay for his military adventures that benefit only his sole Iranian sponsor. While he brags about hypothetical future “victories,” southern Lebanon is in turmoil, its population displaced and distressed, its property destroyed, and the Lebanese economy increasingly weakened. But for Hassan Nasrallah, all these are mere details not worth mentioning.
What enrages him, however, is that some Lebanese dare to openly question the validity of his “strategy-that-will-lead-to-a-new-divine-victory-and-inflict-a-crushing-defeat-on-the-Zionist-enemy,” even if it means fighting Israel to the last Lebanese. Hassan Nasrallah knows very well that their criticisms are valid, contrary to his reasoning, which he tries — in his increasingly frequent speeches — to solidify with slogans and threats that ultimately only highlight the weakness of his argument. Mastering the art of manipulation and populism and starting from the principle that attack is the best defense, the Hezbollah leader addressed two audiences on Friday: his supporters and his critics, whom he barely mentioned in his previous speeches. The fact that he dedicated a significant part of his remarks to responding to all those who firmly believe that Lebanon has nothing to do with the war between Israel and Hamas and who refuse to see its southern part destroyed due to the calculations of a group that has arrogated the power of war and peace shows how much these criticisms disturb him.
What Majority?
To his supporters, he “explained” once again why “the front supporting Hamas,” which southern Lebanon has become, is important. “The war we are waging will shape the strategic fate of Palestine and Lebanon, which will be able to regain its sovereignty and benefit from its water and oil resources that it cannot currently enjoy. It will have positive repercussions for the entire region,” he claimed. It is tempting to respond, “That’s great, but could you be a bit more specific?” Hassan Nasrallah obviously did not elaborate on his thoughts, perhaps judging that the Lebanese will not grasp all the subtleties of the long-term effects of the war they care little about and which is taking place on their soil. He merely called on his audience to “not listen to those who preach out of ignorance and engage in analyses that do not correspond to reality,” which is, however, as clear as can be for those willing to see.
Hassan Nasrallah then castigated “the Lebanese who believe that Israel has done nothing to Lebanon since 1948,” recalling the Israeli attacks and occupation of the country, but of course failing to mention the Palestinian and Hezbollah factors, which have been decisive at this level, as they have given Tel Aviv the pretext to carry out all kinds of military operations against the country. Still in a failed attempt at defense, he mocked those who think that “a majority of Lebanese are opposed to reopening the southern front and consider that Lebanon has nothing to do with the war between Israel and Hamas,” challenging them to prove that they form a majority. “Those who died in the south, are they not Lebanese? Are their families not Lebanese? I feel compelled, in light of what is being said, to also talk about a majority. We are the ones with the largest party and the most preferential votes. Let those who claim to represent the majority conduct a census. They will know their weight and see what the majority of Lebanese think,” he said. Nasrallah harshly criticized the United States, which he believes is “responsible for the suffering of the Lebanese, as evidenced by the leaks about a deal according to which offshore gas exploration can begin if the clashes in southern Lebanon cease.” Following his logic, “it is the United States that is the cause of Lebanon’s electricity problems” and not the disastrous management of this sector by his more or less allied Christian party, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM).
Hassan Nasrallah also reacted to statements made by the American envoy, Amos Hochstein, on Thursday about a possible Lebanese-Israeli agreement, one aspect of which would involve resolving the border conflict. “The southern border is delineated, but there are disputed points from which Israel must withdraw,” he said.
Presidential Election and Vetoes
Addressing the presidential issue, the Hezbollah leader rejected accusations that his camp is blocking the election of a new head of state because it ties Lebanon’s issue to the war in Gaza. Recalling that the deadlock has persisted since the end of former President Michel Aoun’s term in October 2022, he emphasized that he has repeatedly stated since the beginning of the war in Gaza and the opening of the southern front that “the two issues are not linked.” He also rejected accusations that his party is seeking to gain political leverage, particularly regarding the presidency, through the war in the south of the country. “What prevents the election of a president are internal and international vetoes,” he accused, alluding especially to the United States and Saudi Arabia, which oppose the accession to the presidency of a candidate close to the pro-Iranian block. “Without these vetoes, many deputies would have voted for certain candidates,” Hassan Nasrallah added, referring to his candidate, the head of the Marada Movement, Sleiman Frangieh. He emphasized his commitment to resolving the deadlock and insisted that it would not be possible without dialogue. “If there is a solution other than through dialogue, tell us,” he said.

Amos Hochstein's proposed roadmap: Reducing tensions between Lebanon and Israel
LBCI/May 31, 2024
Once again, Amos Hochstein has presented a roadmap aimed at bringing the ongoing escalation between Lebanon and Israel to a calmer state.
However, this time, the senior advisor to the US president on energy issues has delved into more detailed American proposals, which are divided into three phases.
- The initial phase involves allowing residents of northern Israeli communities and southern Lebanese communities to return to their homes. This step requires strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces through recruitment, training, and equipping, according to Hochstein, who did not specify how it would be accomplished.
- The second phase includes an economic package for Lebanon designed to demonstrate international support for the Lebanese people. Among the proposed economic aid is a solution to the electricity crisis. Hochstein stated that the US has developed a package that could provide electricity to the Lebanese people for 12 hours a day in a short period.
- The final phase involves reaching an agreement on the land border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel. The US envoy considers this a crucial factor in reducing Iran's influence in Lebanon and diminishing the impact of external forces on the small country.
From the Lebanese side, the Lebanese Army has neither confirmed nor denied receiving such a plan.
Nevertheless, political sources following the matter told LBCI that Hochstein’s proposals were part of the ideas he has been presenting during his frequent visits to Lebanon since October 7.
He plans to continue discussing these ideas during his upcoming visit to Lebanon, which he has linked to a ceasefire in Gaza.
As for Hezbollah, which had conditioned any agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza, the party’s sources have asserted that Hochstein’s talk is still far from achievable. They argue that any agreement requires both parties’ consent.

Security concerns: Lebanon enhances mobile line verification to curb illegal Syrian migration
LBCI/May 31, 2024
Recently, discussions began between security officials, the Telecommunications Ministry, and mobile companies Alfa and Touch about the necessity of securing a system to verify the authenticity of documents submitted by Lebanese and foreigners to obtain mobile lines, ensuring they are free from forgery.
Following a parliamentary recommendation to regulate Syrian migration, complemented by a similar government plan, the Telecommunications Ministry decided to accelerate its efforts to ensure national security.
Minister Johnny Corm convened with security and technical officials to agree on purchasing Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. This AI-powered program will be integrated with mobile companies to verify the authenticity of documents submitted for obtaining mobile lines.
In Lebanon, there are approximately 828,000 active mobile lines held by resident Syrians, distributed as follows:
- 441,932 lines on Alfa
- 386,164 lines on Touch
These represent about 20% of the lines on the network.
So, what Will Happen?
Within two months of purchasing the software (a tender prepared by the Telecommunications Ministry is expected to be finalized soon), Syrians will receive SMS messages on their lines requesting them to present the documents based on which they obtained these lines.
If they do not comply, their lines will be cut off. Those found to have submitted forged documents will also have their lines cut. If there are errors or missing documents, they will be asked to complete them, and failure to do so will result in disconnection if their residency status is found to be illegal.
Minister Johnny Corm presented this issue at the latest Cabinet meeting and received approval from the Prime Minister to proceed.  He told LBCI that this measure would facilitate the implementation of plans to regulate the presence of illegal Syrian residents in Lebanon, urging each minister to work within their jurisdiction to address this issue.

Lebanon Files Complaint Against Israel Over Targeting School Bus
This Is Beirut/31 May 2024
The Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations, based on the instructions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, filed a complaint to the Security Council regarding an “Israeli strike that targeted a car carrying a Lebanese citizen, resulting in his death. The same raid also damaged a school bus transporting students to Shoukin School, injuring three students.”This incident occurred while the bus was passing on the Shoukin-Kfardajal road, located southwest of Nabatiyeh. “Given that international humanitarian law, based on Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, guarantees the protection of civilians and civilian facilities, Israel’s deliberate bombing of a civilian car and a school bus carrying minor students heading to their school constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime,” the complaint read. It noted that “protecting children in wartime is a principle enshrined in international humanitarian law and binding on states, based on Article 16 of the aforementioned convention, which states that these groups are ‘entitled to special protection and respect’.”According to the statement, Lebanon has requested that the Security Council ask Israel to respect international humanitarian law and children’s rights, “urging them to avoid targeting civilians.” Additionally, it called on the Security Council to “condemn Israel’s direct, deliberate, and repeated attacks on civilians and to ensure that Israel does not evade punishment for these crimes.”It emphasized that “the failure of Council members to condemn these Israeli crimes would give Israel a free hand to continue targeting civilians without any deterrence.”

Lebanese Army Arrests Eight Supporters of Daesh
This Is Beirut/31 May 2024
The Lebanese Army announced on Friday that it had arrested “eight individuals who confessed to being supporters of the terrorist organization Daesh (ISIS).” “The suspects admitted to committing acts of theft to finance their terrorist projects and to firing at shops and at the vehicle of an officer of the Internal Security Forces as part of a series of security incidents that occurred in the regions of Jabal Baddaoui and Wadi el-Nahleh in North Lebanon,” according to a statement from the Lebanese Army. They also confessed to “taking a photo of a Lebanese Army post that they intended to attack,” the statement added. The Army also seized weapons and equipment used by the suspects in their operations. The confiscated items were handed over to the competent authorities, and a judicial investigation has been opened.

Yassin Urges Removal of Chemicals From Zouk Power Plant
This Is Beirut/31 May 2024
“The chemicals from the Zouk power plant should be promptly transferred to countries that will treat them appropriately,” declared caretaker Minister of the Environment Nasser Yassin on Friday. In an interview with the radio station Voice of Lebanon, Yassin stated that the chemicals in the Zouk power plant were “flammable and not explosive.”The Mayor of Zouk Mikael, Elie Beaino, assigned a delegation from the municipality to accompany members of the Intelligence services to inspect the materials in the factory, determine their nature and obtain preliminary information about their potential danger.
Suspicions that ammonium nitrate was stored in the Zouk power plant aroused fear among the inhabitants of Zouk Mikael of a possible occurrence of an explosion. Caretaker Minister of Interior Bassam Mawlawi confirmed those suspicions in 2022, warning against explosive materials in the power plant, while Beaino told This is Beirut on May 30 that there was “no ammonium nitrate in the facility.”Hazardous Materials in Zouk’s Thermal Plant: Another Ticking Bomb? However, he admitted the presence of several materials that could be dangerous if kept close to each other. Beaino estimated that the storage amounts to 60 tons, posing a risk of explosion due to sabotage, warfare or heat. On March 23, the Director-General of Electricité du Liban (EDL) received a notice from the Public Prosecution to ship the explosive chemicals out of the Zouk power plant. Notice for Immediate Shipment of Explosive Material from Zouk Power Plant Nonetheless, the materials remain there. Zouk Mikael residents planned a demonstration on Friday, May 31 at 6:00 PM, to demand the immediate removal of all dangerous chemicals.

Industrialists Propose Measures to Boukhari to Lift Lebanese Products Boycott
This Is Beirut/ 31 May 2024
The Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Boukhari, received MP Nadim Gemayel on Friday, accompanied by a delegation of industrialists. They presented him with proposals for lifting the Saudi boycott of Lebanese products. The document presented to the ambassador includes several proposals in this regard:
— Impose, with the help of Saudi customs, preemptive control over exports by land, sea or air to Saudi Arabia. This control could be carried out by international specialized companies, as is the case in many countries.
— Grant joint authorization to companies and institutions that adhere to safe transport conditions for goods to prevent potential threats to Saudi Arabia’s security.
The industrialists also assessed the volume of trade in pharmaceutical products. They pointed out that 175 Saudi medicines are registered in Lebanon, compared to 16 Lebanese medicines listed in Saudi Arabia. They emphasized that the Saudi boycott of Lebanese products results in losses in the pharmaceutical sector amounting to “more than 15 million US dollars per year.”In this context, Gemayel stressed the importance of Lebanese-Saudi cooperation and the urgent need for Riyadh’s support for the Lebanese industry. In November 2021, Saudi Arabia announced the suspension of imports of Lebanese products, which affected the country’s economy as, according to 2020 figures, Riyadh was the third-largest market for Lebanese exports.

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 31- June 01/2024
Biden details a 3-phase hostage deal aimed at winding down the Israel-Hamas war
AP/May 31, 2024
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden on Friday detailed a three-phase deal proposed by Israel to Hamas militants that he says would lead to the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza and could end the grinding, nearly 8-month-old Mideast war. Biden added that Hamas is “no longer capable” of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel as he urged Israelis and Hamas to come to a deal to release the remaining hostages for an extended ceasefire. The Democratic president in remarks from the White House called the proposal “a road map to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages.”Biden said the first phase of the proposed deal would would last for six weeks and would include a “full and complete ceasefire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. American hostages would be released at this stage, and remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families. Humanitarian assistance would surge during the first phase, with 600 trucks being allowed into Gaza each day.
The second phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza.“And as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire would become, in the words of the Israeli proposals, ‘the cessation of hostilities permanently,’” Biden said. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from devastation caused by the war. But Biden acknowledged that keeping the deal on track would be difficult, saying there are a number of “details to negotiate” to move from the first phase to the second.Biden’s remarks came as the Israeli military confirmed that its forces are now operating in central parts of Rafah in its expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city. Biden called it “a truly a decisive moment.” He added that Hamas said it wants a ceasefire and that an Israeli-phased deal is an opportunity to prove “whether they really mean it.” Israel has faced growing international criticism for its strategy of systematic destruction in Gaza, at a huge cost in civilian lives. Israeli bombardments and ground offensives in the besieged territory have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250. Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more. Ceasefire talks ground to a halt at the beginning of the month after a major push by the US and other mediators to secure a deal, in hopes of averting a planned Israeli invasion of the southern city of Rafah. The talks were stymied by a central sticking point: Hamas demands guarantees that the war will end and Israeli troops will withdraw from Gaza completely in return for a release of all the hostages, a demand Israel rejects.

Hamas says it ‘positively’ views Gaza Biden ceasefire proposal; EU chief also finds it to be ‘realistic'
REUTERS/June 01, 2024
GAZA: Hamas on Friday said it had a positive view of the contents of a three-phase ceasefire proposal announced by US President Joe Biden for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. “Hamas confirms its readiness to deal positively and in a constructive manner with any proposal that is based on the permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal (of Israeli forces) from the Gaza Strip, the reconstruction (of Gaza), and the return of the displaced to their places, along with the fulfillment of a genuine prisoner swap deal if the occupation clearly announces commitment to such deal,” the group said in a statement.
Hamas’ position signals a change in attitude from the group, which in recent months had accused the US of siding with Israel and obstructing attempts for a ceasefire. “Hamas sees Biden’s position now more focused on pressuring Israel to return to negotiations with a different attitude, or they (Israel) could risk clashing with the Americans,” a Palestinian official close to the mediation efforts told Reuters. Rifts between Biden and Netanyahu over red lines in Gaza has set up a potential showdown between the two leaders, raising questions about whether the US might restrict military aid if Israel continues its offensive in the now-devastated enclave. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that Israel had authorized negotiators to present a Gaza truce deal after Biden revealed details of the ceasefire plan. Palestinian health authorities estimate more than 36,280 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel attacked the enclave in response to an Oct. 7 Hamas assault in southern Israel. The Hamas attack killed around 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed the Israeli roadmap toward a ceasefire in Gaza announced by US President Joe Biden as a “significant opportunity” to bring the war to an end. “I wholeheartedly agree with Biden that the latest proposal is a significant opportunity to move toward an end to war and civilian suffering in Gaza. This three-step approach is balanced and realistic. It now needs support from all parties,” the European Commission president said on social media.

Gaza aid not reaching the population: UN
AFP/May 31, 2024
GENEVA: The humanitarian aid allowed into the Gaza Strip is not getting to civilians in need, the United Nations said Friday, urging Israel to fulfil its legal obligations. “The aid that is getting in is not getting to the people, and that’s a major problem,” Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, told a media briefing in Geneva. He highlighted the role of the Israeli authorities at their Kerem Shalom crossing, the main entry point for aid into the besieged Palestinian territory since the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza was closed by the Israeli military on May 7.
“We continue to insist that Israeli authorities’ obligation under the law to facilitate delivery of aid does not stop at the border,” said Laerke. “It does not stop when you drop off just a few meters across the border and then drive away, and then leave it to humanitarians to drive through active combat zones — which they cannot do — to pick it up,” he said. “We need that safe and unimpeded access to get to the drop-off point so we can pick it up and get it to people. “We want all parties to live up to their obligations under the law.”The bloodiest-ever Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,189 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,224 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

WFP warns of ‘apocalyptic’ scenes in southern Gaza
AFP/May 31, 2024
ROME: Daily life has become “apocalyptic” in parts of southern Gaza since Israel moved into the city of Rafah, though the situation in the north is improving, the UN’s food agency said Friday. “The exodus that we’ve seen in the past 20 days or so out of Rafah has been an awesome and horrific experience for many, many people,” Matthew Hollingworth, the World Food Programme (WFP) director for the Palestinian territories. They have fled the fighting to areas where there was not enough water, health care or fuel, where food was limited, telecommunications had stopped and there was not enough space to dig pit latrines, Hollingworth told an online briefing. The public health situation was “beyond crisis levels,” he said, adding: “The sounds and smells of everyday life are horrific and apocalyptic.” People “sleep to the sounds of war... and they wake to the same sounds,” he said. The WFP was able to provide “ever decreasing amounts of assistance,” with all of its bakeries in Rafah closed due to a lack of fuel and supplies, he said. From May 7 — when Israeli tanks and troops entered Rafah’s east — to May 20, “not a single WFP truck crossed from the southern corridors from Egypt,” Hollingworth said. The WFP also lost access to its main warehouse in the south of the Gaza Strip because it was in an evacuation zone, with 2,700 tons of food either looted or destroyed in fighting. Hollingworth said the WFP was serving around 27,000 people with hot meals in Rafah — “but that’s not enough.”
In central areas of the Gaza Strip, where many people fled, the WFP is providing around 400,000 hot meals a day, and has kept six bakeries functioning. Commercial food is also getting in, he said, but many people have no money, with some even resorting to trading their identity cards — which they need if they want to register for aid. Hollingworth said aid trucks from Egypt had begun entering the Gaza Strip through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing. “Since May 20, we have started to get a trickle of assistance in,” he said, though he warned the security situation was still slowing down the deliveries.
“That has to turn into a flood of assistance if we’re going to ensure we don’t start seeing the most acute forms of hunger becoming more common,” he said. In the north of the Palestinian territory, by contrast, where UN agencies warned of imminent famine in March, Hollingworth said the situation was improving.
With the opening of crossings, around 12,000 tons of inter-agency assistance, mostly food, had been delivered since May 1. “There has been a step change in terms of availability of food,” he said, though problems of health care, clean water supply and sewage remained.
The United States has built a temporary pier into Gaza, but it was damaged in poor weather, suspending deliveries. During the two weeks it was open, about 1,000 tons of inter-agency aid moved through the pier, Hollingworth said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his government is doing everything to avoid famine in Gaza, and noted a study saying that calorie consumption in the territory was 3,200 a day — more than enough. “I have not seen anybody, aid workers alike who live off protein bars, eat 3,000 calories or more in Gaza,” Hollingworth said. The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,189 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,284 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

UNRWA chief says Israel ‘must stop its campaign’ against agency
AFP/May 31, 2024
JERUSALEM: UN Palestinian refugee agency chief Philippe Lazzarini said on Friday that Israel “must stop its campaign against UNRWA” in an opinion article published by the New York Times. “The war in Gaza has produced a blatant disregard for the mission of the UN, including outrageous attacks on (UNRWA) employees, facilities and operations,” agency chief Lazzarini said. “These attacks must stop and the world must act to hold the perpetrators accountable.”UNRWA, which coordinates nearly all aid to Gaza, has been in crisis since January, when Israel accused about a dozen of its 13,000 Gaza employees of being involved in the Oct. 7 attack. That prompted many governments, including top donor the US, to abruptly suspend funding to the agency, threatening its efforts to deliver aid in Gaza, although several have since resumed payments. An independent review of UNRWA, led by French former Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, found some “neutrality-related issues” but said Israel had yet to provide evidence for its leading allegations. “Israeli officials are not only threatening the work of our staff and mission, they are also delegitimizing UNRWA by effectively characterizing it as a terrorist organization that fosters extremism and labelling UN leaders as terrorists who collude with Hamas,” Lazzarini said. He said the “assault on UNRWA has spread to (Israeli-annexed) East Jerusalem”, where demonstrations outside the agency’s compound have become common in recent months, and “increasingly dangerous, with at least two arson attacks.” UNRWA last week suspended food distribution in southern Gaza, including Rafah, after Israel launched an offensive in the city and seized the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. The war was sparked by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,284 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s Health Ministry.

Israel's firm stand: No pause in Gaza fighting without hostage agreement
LBCI/May 31, 2024
Following Hamas' announcement of its readiness to agree on a deal to exchange Israeli-Palestinian prisoners, provided that Israel halts its operations in Gaza, the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has decisively rejected the proposal. The government declared its intention to continue the military offensive in Gaza. This stance was bolstered by a senior security official who stated that there would be no truce or cessation of fighting unless it included a comprehensive agreement for the release of the hostages. In a meeting with the families of the hostages, National Security Council Chairman Tzachi Hanegbi emphasized that even if the first phase of the prisoner exchange, known as the humanitarian phase, which includes women, the elderly, and the sick, is completed, Israel would not commit to the second and final phase involving soldiers and bodies until Hamas is eradicated. The contentious meeting underlined the complexities surrounding the deal, placing the negotiations at a critical juncture. This stance comes amid a deepening internal crisis in Israel, exacerbated by the increasing number of officers, reservists, along active-duty officers opposing the continuation of the Gaza offensive. Internal military reports indicate that only 42% of active-duty officers support ongoing combat operations. The soldiers' opposition to the continued fighting aligns with the call from Labor Party leader Yair Golan, who has urged reservists to rebel and refuse to fight. In a bid to alleviate mounting international pressure, Tel Aviv and Cairo have reached an agreement to reopen the Rafah border crossing, which will be managed by Palestinian authorities unaffiliated with Hamas—a goal that Israel is actively pursuing. Concurrently, Washington is working to facilitate a trilateral meeting in Cairo to secure an agreement regarding the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi Corridor, which borders Egypt.

Israel's Gantz at the crossroads over challenge to Netanyahu
James Mackenzie/JERUSALEM (Reuters)/May 31, 2024
Former general Benny Gantz faces a reckoning next week over his revolt against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been gaining ground in the opinion polls almost nine months into the war in Gaza. On Thursday, Gantz's centrist party proposed a bill to dissolve parliament, days after he said he would quit Netanyahu's wartime unity government unless the prime minister came up with a clear day-after strategy for Gaza.But with the latest opinion poll showing a noticeable swing towards Netanyahu, who received wide support in Israel after International Criminal Court prosecutors said they had requested an arrest warrant against the prime minister, the way ahead has become more complicated. The poll for Israel's Channel 12 television published this week showed 36% considered Netanyahu better suited to be prime minister over 30% who favoured Gantz in a two way choice between them. The same poll showed the lead held by Gantz's National Unity Party narrowing, giving it 25 seats in parliament if elections were held now against 21 for Netanyahu's Likud party. Gantz, a former army commander and defence minister in the previous government has held a clear lead over Netanyahu in the polls for months as the prime minister's image as a security hawk was shattered by the devastating attack on Israel by Hamas-led gunmen on Oct. 7. He joined a unity government soon after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, saying he was putting aside political considerations in the national interest. But, along with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Gadi Eisenkot, another centrist former general, he has clashed repeatedly with the religious nationalist members of Netanyahu's government, who have remained adamantly opposed to any political settlement with the Palestinians. Earlier this month, the frustrations of the generals broke into the open, when first Gallant, then Gantz demanded a clear strategy for what to do in Gaza when the fighting ends. But the demand may have come too late for the increasing number on the left who were unhappy that Gantz's presence in the government was providing cover to Netanyahu. "In some ways, Gantz has cornered himself because he cannot retreat, he cannot back off from the ultimatum," said Aviv Bushinski, a former communications advisor to Netanyahu, who noted that within an hour of Gantz's statement, Netanyahu had dismissed his demand. "So he is stuck there but everybody knows that nothing will happen, so why doesn't he exercise the ultimatum?" he said.
QUIT THE GOVERNMENT
Gantz's departure from government would not, on its own, endanger Netanyahu, whose coalition with a clutch of right-wing nationalist religious parties gives him a solid majority in parliament, and elections do not have to be held until 2026. Whether it triggers a wider shakeup would have to be seen but Israeli media questioned the timing of Gantz's decision and fierce criticism of the government by Eisenkot in a separate speech on Wednesday. "What's going on? Did you suddenly see a poll showing a dramatic drop in support for your party that woke you up?" wrote Sima Kadmon, a commentator in Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel's top-selling tabloid newspaper. Almost nine months into the war in Gaza, Israel has become increasingly isolated internationally as the Palestinian death toll has risen among a 2.3 million population that aid agencies say faces a severe humanitarian crisis. More than 36,000 Palestinians, including both armed fighters and civilians, have been killed since the start of the Israeli assault, according to figures from Palestinian health authorities. Much of the coastal enclave has been reduced to rubble and most of the population has been displaced. As well as a ruling from the International Court of Justice in the Hague ordering it to halt its operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, prosecutors from the International Criminal Court are also seeking arrest warrants against both Netanyahu and Gallant. Increasing numbers of European countries have either recognised a Palestinian state, or are poised to do so, and even Israel's closest ally, the United States, has become increasingly frustrated at the attitude of Netanyahu's government. Gantz himself, as hawkish an enemy of Hamas as any other Israeli leader, would do little to end that isolation because his policy for conducting the war would differ little from Netanyahu's.
His differences with Netanyahu have centered more on issues such as the possibility of opening a path towards a political settlement with the Palestinians and doing more to ensure Orthodox Jewish Israelis serve in the military, both policies fiercely opposed by Netanyahu's allies on the right. "I think an Israeli government headed by anybody else would have exactly the same policy in Rafah," said Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to the United States. "Israelis understand that. People outside don't seem to understand that very much."

IDF leaves Jablia, over 100 Hamas fighters killed as 1,000 homes destroyed
Doug Cunningham/United Press International/May 31, 2024
The IDF said more than 100 Hamas fighters were killed and the bodies of seven hostages were retrieved in the 20-day operation."Our forces also eliminated hundreds of terrorists in intense close-quarters combat and located hundreds of weapons, rocket launching compounds and launchers and over 10km of tunnels -- all of which were neutralized," the IDF said on X. Jabalia civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal said over 1,000 homes were destroyed in the fighting. Tens of thousands of civilians fled the area during Israel's assault. At least 36,224 Palestinians have been killed and 81,777 injured since Oct. 7, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. U.N. agency said about 18,500 pregnant Palestinian women have fled the city of Rafah's "unrelenting nightmare."Israel's military invaded Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed at least 1,139 while dozens of Israeli hostages taken in that attack are still held by Hamas. Israeli 155 self-propelled Howitzer fires from southern Israeli into Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 7, 2024. Israel entered Rafah and took over the Keren Shalom crossing May 6 in what appeared to be a "limited" ground offensive against Hamas. Israeli 155 self-propelled Howitzer fires from southern Israeli into Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 7, 2024. Israel entered Rafah and took over the Keren Shalom crossing May 6 in what appeared to be a "limited" ground offensive against Hamas. According to the IDF, Hamas turned Jabalia into a fortified combat complex, firing at Israeli troops from schools and other locations where civilians were sheltering while using tunnel networks built under civilian buildings. The IDF said two Israeli troops were killed in the Jabaliya operation bringing the total number of troops killed in Gaza to 294. Hamas said Thursday it won't negotiate in cease-fire talks "in light of [Israel's] aggression, killing, siege, starvation and genocide of our people."
A key aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that the Gaza war could continue for the rest of the year.

Iran denies using Swedish gangs to target Israel
AFP/May 31, 2024
STOCKHOLM: Iran’s Embassy in Stockholm has denied accusations it was recruiting criminal gang members, some of them children, as proxies to commit “acts of violence” against Israeli interests in Sweden. “Paying attention to the source of this information clearly shows that it is false,” the embassy said in a statement on its website, adding that media coverage based on documents from Israel’s secret services was “false and baseless.” Tensions have flared between Israel and Iran since the start of the war in Gaza on Oct. 7, and the two states have fought a shadow war of killings and sabotage attacks for years. On Thursday, Sweden’s intelligence agency said Iran was “using criminal networks in Sweden to carry out acts of violence against other states, groups or people in Sweden that it considers a threat.” The service, commonly known as Sapo, said these were particularly aimed at “Israeli and Jewish interests, targets and operations in Sweden.” Several hours before Sapo’s announcement, Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter or DN cited documents from Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad as saying that the heads of two Swedish gangs had both been recruited by the Iranian regime.
“Unfortunately, some Swedish media have quoted the false and baseless claims of media and institutions affiliated with this brutal regime (Israel) and published false and fabricated reports against Iran,” the Iranian Embassy’s statement added.
The embassy said it “expects the Swedish media not to trust the claims and reports published by the Israeli regime” and to work for “an end to the crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine.”The diplomatic spat comes two weeks after night-time gunfire was reported outside Israel’s embassy in Stockholm, and three months after police found a live grenade lying on the grounds of the Israeli compound.

Houthis claim attack on US aircraft carrier in retaliation for deadly strikes
SAEED AL-BATATI/Arab News/May 31, 2024
AL-MUKALLA: Yemen’s Houthi militia said on Friday that it fired a salvo of ballistic missiles toward the US aircraft carrier Eisenhower in the Red Sea in revenge for the US and UK airstrikes on Thursday, which it claims killed and injured 58 people. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said that 16 persons were killed and 41 injured in the last wave of US and UK missile attacks on the Red Sea province of Hodeidah alone on Thursday, which targeted Hodeidah Radio, a coast guard facility on Al-Saleef port. Other US and UK strikes hit the capital Sanaa, Sanaa province, Houthi-controlled sections of Taiz province, and two mansions in Hodeidah owned by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and former Vice President Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmer, injuring another person. “This is an obvious targeting of civilian targets, a flagrant breach of all international law, and a full-fledged war crime,” the Houthi spokesperson said in a televised statement. In reprisal for the strikes, Sarea said that its navy and missile forces jointly fired a number of ballistic missiles at the US aircraft carrier Eisenhower in the Red Sea, pledging to continue striking ships in international seas in support of the Palestinian people.People in the targeted Houthi locations, mostly in Hodeidah, described hearing enormous explosions and witnessing massive balls of flames pouring from the targets. The Houthi military spokesperson’s statement came hours after the US Central Command said its forces, together with UK forces, carried out preemptive attacks against 13 Houthi targets in Yemen under their control on Thursday, without mentioning the areas targeted. Also on Thursday, US Central Command troops destroyed eight drones launched from Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen over the Red Sea, according to the US military. Since January, the US and UK have carried out dozens of strikes in Sanaa, Saada, Hodeidah, and other Houthi-controlled Yemeni provinces, targeting what the two countries say are missile and drone launchers, as well as explosive-laden drone boats preparing to launch at international shipping in the Red Sea. On Thursday, Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi said that his forces had attacked 129 ships in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean, and, most recently, the Mediterranean, as well as shot down six US military MQ-9 Reaper drones since the start of their operations against ships in November and that they would cease attacks once Israel’s war in Gaza ended.

UN mission in Iraq to end after two decades
AFP/May 31, 2024
NEW YORK: At the request of Baghdad, the UN Security Council unanimously decided Friday that the United Nations political mission in Iraq will leave the country at the end of 2025 after more than 20 years. Earlier this month, in a letter to the council, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani called for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to be closed. Al-Sudani said UNAMI had overcome “great and varied challenges” and that “the grounds for having a political mission in Iraq” no longer exist. The UNSC resolution adopted on Friday extended the mission’s mandate for “a final 19-month period until 31 December 2025 after which UNAMI will cease all work and operations.” Farhad Alaaldin, the Iraq prime minister’s adviser for foreign affairs, welcomed the move, expressing on X his “thanks to UNAMI for all their work during the past two decades.”
The mission was established by a UN Security Council resolution in 2003 at the request of the Iraqi government after the US-led invasion and fall of Saddam Hussein. It has about 700 staff, with key tasks including advising the government on political dialogue and reconciliation, as well as helping with elections and security sector reform. During the mission’s previous renewal in May 2023, the Council asked the secretary-general to launch a strategic review, which was overseen by German diplomat Volker Perthes. In a report issued in March, Perthes signaled that the closing schedule would reassure reluctant Iraqis that the transition “will not lead to a reversal of democratic gains or threaten peace and security.”Given that UN missions can only operate with the host nation’s consent, Russia, China, Britain and France this month all voiced support for a transition in the United Nations role in Iraq. “The people of Iraq are now ready to assume full responsibility for the country’s political future,” said Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Anna Evstigneeva. “We express our firm support for Iraq sovereignty and oppose any interference in the country’s internal affairs.”The United States drafted the resolution, after initially being more wary. “We all recognize that Iraq has changed dramatically in recent years, and UNAMI’s mission needed to be realigned as part of our commitment to fostering a secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq,” deputy US ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said on Friday. Analysts say that the prime minister was seeking a political win, and that the UN was not pulling out of Iraq. “This does not mean they want to end UN programs,” Renad Mansour, senior research fellow at Chatham House, said. “This is all part of Prime Minister Sudani’s attempts to show Iraq as a country entering a new phase, one he hopes can be defined by sovereignty.”He added UNAMI had some limited successes but had struggled “to ensure accountability and create the space for a thriving and independent civil society.” The UN has been facing hostility in recent years, in Africa in particular. Several countries have forced UN missions to depart — in Mali, for example, where MINUSMA pulled out last year. December also saw the Security Council end the political mission to Sudan at the request of authorities. “Council members now seem resigned to the fact that many states which have hosted UN missions for a long time want them gone,” Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group told AFP. “For a long time, the Council’s default position was to keep UN missions in place indefinitely. Now the new default is to let them go quietly.”

EU sanctions Iran’s defense minister, IRGC over drones and missiles
AFP/May 31, 2024
BRUSSELS: The European Union on Friday imposed sanctions on Iran’s defense minister, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, and the country’s Revolutionary Guards for sending missiles and drones being used against Israel and Ukraine and in the Red Sea.
The high-profile measures also targeted the leader of the Guard’s Qods force for his role in transferring missiles used by Iran’s Hezbollah proxy militia against Israel, and by Houthis firing from Yemen. A key armed forces command center and an electronics company were also sanctioned. Also on Friday, the US issued fresh Iran-related sanctions, according to a posting on a Treasury Department website. The sanctions target one individual linked to Iran Aviation Industries Organization and four entities, it said.

Former Iran parliament speaker registers for presidential vote after Raisi death
REUTERS/May 31, 2024
DUBAI: Former Iranian parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, a prominent conservative, was among candidates registering on Friday for an early election next month following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, state media reported. Larijani, an adviser and ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told reporters that he would focus on fixing the economic problems facing Iranians and “resolving (US) sanctions,” while maintaining a strong defense. Larijani was barred from standing in the 2021 presidential race by the clerical-led Guardian Council which vets candidates. But an Iranian insider told Reuters that Larijani decided to run after he was assured by top officials that he would not be disqualified by the hard-line council. No reason was given for the change. Abdolnaser Hemmati, a former central bank governor, was among other hopefuls who registered on Friday. Hemmati, a low-key moderate, also ran in the 2021 presidential election. Iran on Thursday started the registration of candidates for the June 28 election. Once seen as a possible successor to Khamenei, Iran’s ultimate decision-maker, Raisi’s sudden death has triggered a race among hard-liners to influence the selection of the country’s next leader.
After a five-day registration period, the Guardian Council will vet candidates running for the presidency. Moderate politicians have accused the 12-member body of disqualifying rivals to hard-line candidates, who are expected to dominate the race. Turnout may be hit by restricted choice on the ballot and rising discontent over an array of political, social and economic crises. Within Iran’s complex mix of clerical rulers and elected officials, Khamenei has the final say on all state matters such as nuclear and foreign policies. But the elected president will be in charge of tackling worsening economic hardship.
Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator who two decades ago ran Khamenei’s office for four years, was the first heavyweight hard-liner to register for the election on Thursday. Jalili had made an unsuccessful bid in 2013 for the presidency and withdrew from the 2021 race to support Raisi.
Parviz Fattah, a former Revolutionary Guards member who heads an investment fund linked to the leader, could also register as a candidate. Interim President Mohammad Mokhber has also been mentioned in Iranian media as a possible candidate.
Several low-key moderate politicians are also likely to enter the race.

Turkish drone strikes in Syria kill 4 U.S.-backed fighters, wound 11 civilians, Kurdish group says
Hogir Al Abdo/QAMISHLI, Syria (AP)/May 31, 2024
— Turkish drone strikes in northeastern Syria on Friday evening killed four U.S.-backed fighters and wounded 11 civilians, the Kurdish-led force said. The strikes on areas held by the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces came a day after Turkey’s president said his government won’t hesitate to act against Kurdish-led groups in northern Syria if they proceed with plans to hold local elections. It accuses the groups of having links to outlawed Kurdish militants in Turkey. The SDF said drone strikes hit its positions eight times as well as civilian homes and vehicles in and near the northern city of Qamishli. Such Turkish strikes are not uncommon in northeastern Syria.The Kurdish Red Crescent said that as its paramedics were trying to reach the attacked areas, a Turkish strike hit one of its ambulances, putting it out of service. It said the attack occurred near the town of Amouda, west of Qamishli.
There was no immediate comment from Turkey. The Kurdish-led autonomous administration that controls northern and eastern parts of Syria has announced plans to hold municipal elections June 11. The vote to choose mayors will be held in the provinces of Hassakeh, Raqqa, Deir el-Zour and the eastern part of Aleppo province. On Friday, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel posted on X that “we don’t think that the conditions for such elections are in place in NE Syria in present time.”The comments appeared to be a message to Kurdish-led authorities not to hold the elections. Turkey, which has conducted military operations in Syria in the past, considers the move a step by Syrian Kurdish militants toward the creation of an independent Kurdish entity across its border. It has described the planned polls as a threat to the territorial integrity of both Syria and Turkey.
“We are closely following the aggressive actions by the terrorist organization against the territorial integrity of our country and of Syria under the pretext of an election,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday. Turkey considers the Kurdish militia group, known as the People’s Protection Units, as a terrorist group linked to an outlawed Kurdish group that has led an insurgency in Turkey since 1984. That conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party has killed tens of thousands of people. The People's Protection Units provide the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which is a key U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State group. American support for the SDF has infuriated Turkey and remains a major source of friction in their relations.

Trump says he will appeal historic conviction
Reuters/May 31, 2024
Donald Trump said on Friday he would appeal the guilty verdict that made him the first US president convicted of a crime, though he will have to wait until after his sentencing on July 11 before taking that step. In rambling remarks at the Trump Tower lobby in Manhattan where he announced his first presidential run in 2015, Trump repeated his complaints that the trial was an attempt to hobble his comeback White House bid and warned that it showed no American was safe from politically motivated prosecution. "If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone," Trump said in an unscripted 33-minute speech. Applauded by supporters, Trump, the Republican candidate in the 2024 election took no questions from reporters. Thursday's guilty verdict catapults the United States into unexplored territory ahead of the Nov. 5 vote, when Trump, 77, will try to win back the White House from Democratic President Joe Biden, 81. The charge he was convicted of, falsifying business records, carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison. Others convicted of that crime often receive shorter sentences, fines or probation, but the judge in the case said during jury selection that Trump faces a potential jail sentence. Incarceration would not prevent Trump from campaigning, or taking office if he were to win. Trump will not be jailed ahead of his sentencing, which comes just days before the Republican Party is due to formally nominate him as its presidential candidate at its convention in Milwaukee. After two days of deliberation, a jury of New Yorkers found Trump guilty of all 34 criminal counts he faced for falsifying documents to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final days of his successful 2016 campaign. Trump still faces three other criminal prosecutions - two for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat - but the New York verdict could be the only one handed down before Americans vote as the other cases have been tied up in legal wrangling. Trump has pleaded not guilty in all four cases, which he says are politically motivated. A source familiar with his campaign's inner workings said the verdict was expected to prompt him to intensify deliberations on picking a woman as his vice presidential running mate.

Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 31- June 01/2024
Embracing new realities benefits Turkiye’s foreign policy
Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/May 31/2024
In the past two decades Turkiye has pursued an increasingly proactive and interventionist foreign policy in line with the geopolitical transformations and structural challenges of regional conflicts.
With fewer domestic constraints, Turkish policymaking apparatus has had ample room for maneuver and flexibility to formulate an ambitious foreign policy, which at times has strained relations with both global and regional actors.
Ibrahim Kalin, who was chief foreign policy adviser to Recep Tayyip Erdogan when he was prime minister and is now intelligence chief, introduced the term “precious loneliness” to international relations literature to justify Turkiye’s Middle East policy, which was very much criticized during that era. When he first used this term, a serious diplomatic row had broken out between Ankara and Cairo. Turkiye, which already had strained relations with Syria and Israel, had also started to see difficulties with some Gulf states. Every effort made to restore Turkiye’s ties with Egypt, Israel and the Gulf states failed to yield serious fruits for at least a decade. With new structural challenges, a new era has opened in Turkiye’s relations with states that it was previously at odds with, and Turkiye has been gradually building on this new era with all tools that it can employ, politically, economically, and socially.
The obvious recalibration in Turkish foreign policy has been closely observed by the region. Both internal and external factors have contributed to the shift. Internal factors include domestic political developments (two recent elections), economic challenges, and public opinion. External factors include shifts in the global power dynamics (post-American era in the Middle East), regional conflicts (Israeli war in Gaza), and the diplomatic pressure of being part of the broader reconciliation climate in the region which started with the AlUla declaration of 2021.
These factors have led Ankara to adopt a foreign policy characterized by greater pragmatism and restraint. Turkiye’s newfound momentum in relations with the US, Egypt, and Iraq have been instrumental in this transformation. Ankara’s relations with Washington entered a new chapter when the Turkish parliament signed off on Sweden’s NATO membership and the US Congress approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkiye. Erdogan’s visit to Egypt marked a new era in that strategic partnership. The Egyptian president’s imminent visit to Ankara will add to that. The Turkiye-Iraq security summit in Baghdad in mid-March was a forward leap in relations. The two governments took joint steps to combat the PKK, and discussed the creation of a security corridor along their land border and expediting the Development Road project.
Turkiye’s current foreign policy echoes the era before 2010, in which cooperation with regional actors was a key aspect of the strategy
In the domestic realm, three significant developments shaped Turkish foreign policy transformation: May 2023 elections, followed by March 2024 elections, and a reshuffle of the foreign policy apparatus. The appointment of Hakan Fidan, former intelligence chief, as the head of foreign affairs gave a new momentum in Turkish foreign policy. Although this shift suggested a policy in which intelligence and diplomacy are now in close cooperation, in the end, it is Erdogan who determines the parameters of foreign policy. But it is noteworthy that when heading the national intelligence service Fidan had a significant influence in the shaping and implementation of foreign policy, especially toward Syria, and was the main architect of Turkiye’s efforts to normalize relations with the Middle Eastern countries Ankara alienated over the course of the past decade. This is certainly showing its impact in the new, calmer and more pragmatic foreign policy approach. Fidan is known for his calm and silent diplomacy, closely reading the changing dynamics in the region and navigating the foreign policy landscape accordingly.
Past elections have prompted a reflection on “what went wrong,” resulting in a recalibration in foreign policy. Despite no change in government or leadership, it appears that election outcomes have notably influenced the priorities of Turkish foreign policymakers, and as a result the direction of the country's foreign policy. Turkiye’s current foreign policy echoes the era before 2010, in which cooperation with regional actors was a key aspect of the strategy. Economic considerations are currently taking precedence over ideological factors in shaping foreign policy decisions. In a world order characterized by uncertain multipolarity, Turkiye, like other regional powers, believes that it has a wide space for maneuver in its foreign policy in the pursuit of “strategic autonomy.” This approach, however, aligns with cooperation among regional actors. As can be seen in regional crises, Turkiye refrains from making unilateral moves, as it used to, and seeks to move in coordination with regional and global actors. Although some may interpret this as passive, Turkiye’s new foreign policy approach reflects rationality and caution, especially when the regional environment is restrictive. As it continues to carefully read new regional realities while also engaging with regional actors, Turkiye's role in the region is likely to be embraced.
• Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz.

Now all eyes are on Rafah and Washington
Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg/Arab News/May 31/2024
An Israeli attack in southern Gaza last week ignited a fire in a camp for the displaced at Tel Al-Sultan in western Rafah that killed at least 45 Palestinians, many burned alive, and injured hundreds more, adding to at least 36,000 killed and more than 100,000 injured since the start of the conflict.
Many of the victims had fled to Rafah on the orders of Israeli forces who were bombarding other parts of Gaza. When Israel invaded Rafah three weeks ago and ordered the evacuation of its eastern districts, many refugees were forced to flee west, to destinations including Tel Al-Sultan. A week before the bombing, Israel had designated the neighborhood a “safe zone” and dropped leaflets urging Palestinians to move there. The attack hit a tent encampment known as the Kuwait Peace Camp, the location of which had to be known to Israel. Thus the responsibility for this war crime falls squarely on Israel.
The attack came in defiance of the International Court of Justice, which just two days earlier had ordered Israel to halt the Rafah offensive: Israel disregarded the order, confirming its rogue-state status.
Despite the horror of last week’s attack, the US has yet to call for a stop to Israel’s Rafah operation. Earlier, President Joe Biden had said he would limit weapons supplies to Israel if it entered Rafah’s “population centers,” which clearly it has. But the US has taken no action, and has instead continued to support Israel materially and diplomatically. The administration’s spokesmen have failed to call out Israel for crossing Biden’s red line, and its UN diplomats are thwarting efforts for the UN Security Council to order a halt to Israel’s Rafah operations.
This attack was the second mass killing Israel has committed in Rafah in this war. Its forces launched an assault on the city in February, killing over 83 people. Airstrikes destroyed several homes, killing most or all of their occupants, another textbook war crime.
To many Palestinian refugees in Gaza, most of whom are descendants of refugees in earlier waves going back to 1948, these massacres bring to mind the 1956 massacre by Israeli forces in a Rafah refugee camp, and repeated in other parts of Gaza, during Israel’s brief occupation of the Strip. Hundreds of refugees were killed in cold blood. Those killings stopped only when Israel was forced to withdraw in early 1957, following a threat of action by US President Dwight Eisenhower.
Only when faced with such decisive moves by the US has Israel in the past curbed its appetite for Palestinian blood and land. So far in this war, the US has chosen not to do so, but has emboldened Israel by continuing military support, including weapons used in the Gaza war, and shielding it from Security Council censure. If Benjamin Netanyahu is left to his base instincts, he will drag his people, the entire region and possibly the US to the abyss with him.
The US administration has also failed to persuade Israel to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza, as required of an occupying power under international humanitarian law; to stop obstructing aid from other counties; and to open more crossings for the delivery of aid to Gaza. The US attempt to help by building a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza has fallen apart, as did the pier — which took months to build at great cost to US taxpayers, but was never able to provide the assistance it had promised. The whole effort was undertaken because the US did not want to pressure Israel to allow sufficient aid through the closed land crossings, including the Rafah border crossing, which already existed and would have been more than sufficient to allow sufficient aid in. The result has been an increasing number of Palestinians dying of starvation and malnutrition.
In addition to the colossal humanitarian toll of its Rafah incursions, Israel has now taken over the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. This has had severe implications. For one, Israel has effectively cut off the main humanitarian access to Gaza and prevented the delivery of acutely needed aid. For another, Israel is trying to force its own vision for the future of Gaza, precluding the possibility of restoring control of the Strip by the Palestinian Authority, which the US and others have proposed, and reunifying Gaza with the West Bank as a prelude for an independent and viable Palestinian state.
Richard Peeperkorn, World Health Organization representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, said in February: “All eyes are on Rafah,” warning against Israeli forces attacking the city. He feared “unimaginable disaster” if the Israeli army made a large-scale incursion into the city, which at the time it was threatening to invade.
Since last week’s attack there has been widespread international condemnation. Officials and activists have been repeating Peeperkorn's phrase to express their concern and opposition to Israel’s military operation in Rafah. His words superimposed on an image of tent camps for displaced Palestinians have been widely shared on social media, about 50 million times on Instagram alone.
The image is moving, despite its simplicity and the absence of pictures of dead bodies, blood, real people, names or distressing scenes. Its widespread use indicates how abhorrent most of the world, including most Americans, view the carnage in Rafah and all of Gaza.
All eyes are on Rafah, but also on Washington: Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza has continued mainly because the US has failed to take action to stop it. If Benjamin Netanyahu is left to his base instincts, he will drag his people, the entire region and possibly the US to the abyss with him.
As the 19th-century British philosopher John Stuart Mill observed: “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” The “good men” of the US government have so far chosen to do nothing.
• Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg is the Gulf Cooperation Council assistant secretary-general for political affairs and negotiation. The views expressed here are personal and do not necessarily represent the GCC. X: @abuhamad1

World is a shameful spectator to injustice
Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama/Arab News/May 31/2024
The war on Gaza that Israel launched last October, killing nearly 40,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and destroying cities and infrastructure, reaffirms the pressing need for global and regional solidarity, and the highest state of alert to intensify efforts toward achieving lasting peace and security in this sensitive region. There are immense human and material losses caused by the war, which continues to have painful negative impacts as the entire world stands powerless before it, and the adverse effects are clearly reflected on global peace and stability.
The war has exposed the ugliness and brutality of the Israeli occupation, disproving Israel’s claims to be an oasis of democracy in a disparate environment. This falsehood was highlighted by protests in many cities and universities worldwide, expressing outrage over the mass killing of unarmed civilians in Gaza.
It is shameful that the international community remains a mere spectator to this injustice, brutal destruction, and barbaric killing that defies international laws. While we condemn the global silence, we must commend the positive steps taken by Spain, Norway, and Ireland to recognize the state of Palestine. The decision by these three European countries is a significant stride toward achieving global peace and security, as the Palestinian cause is one of the most significant causes worldwide. Its exacerbation over decades has been a major cause of many crises in the world and the region due to the occupation and displacement of the Palestinian people. We should also appreciate the efforts by the Arab-Islamic committee established during the Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh last November, chaired by the Saudi minister of foreign affairs. Its efforts aim to achieve a ceasefire, the release of hostages, the delivery of aid and UN recognition of the state of Palestine based on 1967 borders.
The Israeli government opposes any peace plans that acknowledge Palestinian rights. This means no progress will be achieved unless Israeli political forces become convinced of the need to abandon the notion of hegemony and the imposition of force. The events in Gaza, notwithstanding the staggering number of casualties, have proved that military force will not provide the desired solution sough by the Israeli right wing.
Today, more than ever, it is imperative to join hands at various levels to find a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause based on the two-state solution. The use of violence and excessive force has proved that there can be no rest or stability without sustainable peace. It is crucial that the Palestinians take sincere and serious steps to consolidate their ranks and strengthen their united movement toward this goal.
No progress will be achieved unless Israeli political forces become convinced of the need to abandon the notion of hegemony and the imposition of force
Resolving the Palestinian issue and achieving peace in the Middle East require strong political will and sustained efforts by all parties. This represents a significant challenge, but it is not impossible if sincere intentions and a commitment to justice and equality are present. Peace is the only way to achieve stability and prosperity in this sensitive region of the world.
In this regard, we can draw on the experiences of countries with a history of sponsoring peace, such as Saudi Arabia, which enjoys unparalleled acceptance in the Islamic world and has sponsored many peace talks to resolve crises in the Middle East.
The Kingdom actively sought solutions to the Arab-Israeli conflict, presenting two key initiatives in 1981 and in 2002. It also participated in the Madrid Conference in 1991 and endorsed King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz’s peace initiative approved by the Arab summit conference in Beirut in 2002. It is fair and just to acknowledge that from the era of King Abdulaziz to the reign of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has stood by the Palestinian people since the onset of their plight. A notable example of this support is King Saud, who offered Ahmed Shaqiri, the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Saudi seat at the UN, allowing him to defend his country’s cause not only as a Palestinian representative but also from his position as a representative of Saudi Arabia.
My own country, Djibouti, it is renowned for its pioneering role in peace and reconciliation efforts in the Horn of Africa, and for hosting refugees fleeing conflicts in neighboring countries. Since gaining its independence in 1977, Djibouti has defended it, and continues to do so, in various international and regional forums. Everyone must understand that Israel will not enjoy peace unless it recognizes the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The continuation of the Arab Peace Initiative is contingent upon Israel’s beginning to fulfill its commitments within the framework of international references to achieve peace in the region. The starting point must be an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of prisoners and hostages, as a prelude to finding a just and comprehensive solution that ends the suffering of the oppressed Palestinian people by declaring their independent state recognized by the UN with East Jerusalem as its capital.I call on all countries that have not yet recognized the state of Palestine to do so. This will encourage peace, contribute to achieving stability and development, and put an end to the decades-long suffering of the Palestinian people.
• Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama is the ambassador of Djibouti to Saudi Arabia. X: @dya_bamakhrama

The Iraq-Turkey Reset
Soner Cagaptay, Selin Uysal, Bilal Wahab/The Washington Institute/May 31/2024
From water rights to PKK violence, a recent summit seemed to remove several long-festering thorns from the bilateral relationship, creating potential challenges and benefits alike for U.S. interests in Iraq and beyond.
On April 22, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan traveled to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, marking his first visit there in thirteen years. The trip produced several significant bilateral agreements on energy, water, security, trade, and transportation, signaling a mutual desire to improve relations. Given the tumultuous nature of Iraqi-Turkish ties since the 1950s, this development could represent a historic turning point. Why are Ankara and Baghdad patching up their ties now, and what implications does this reset hold for the broader Middle East and U.S. policy?
A Relationship in Free Fall for Decades
Ties between the two countries fell into disarray following the 1958 coup against Iraq’s King Faisal II. The putsch and subsequent rise of a socialist Baath regime in Baghdad pitted Iraq and NATO member Turkey against each other during the Cold War. Various bilateral disagreements emerged as well, including over water rights in the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, where Turkey holds upstream control. Relations continued to suffer after the Cold War in the 1990s, when Iraq’s mountainous north became a haven for the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that had been waging war against the Turkish government since the 1980s.
The end of Saddam Hussein’s rule in 2003 did not mend the relationship. Turkey’s refusal to participate in the U.S.-led coalition and Iran’s growing influence after the war prevented Ankara from establishing any clout in Baghdad. Turkish influence remained limited to Iraq’s small Turkmen community, the Sunni Arab bastion in Mosul province, and the Kurdistan Region in the north. For its part, Baghdad was preoccupied with internal strife and the challenge of balancing relations with Iran and the United States, leaving it with little bandwidth to develop a coherent Turkey policy.
Why the Summit May Change Everything
By directly addressing several perennial issues between the two countries, the Erdogan-Sudani summit promises to upgrade the relationship substantially while advancing Turkish influence in Baghdad.
Water management. Ever since Turkey began constructing large hydroelectric dams on the Tigris and Euphrates in the 1970s, Iraq and Syria have expressed deep concerns over Ankara potentially weaponizing water against them (Iraq is downstream for both rivers, and Syria for the Euphrates). In 1983, the three countries formed a Joint Technical Committee to discuss management of the rivers, but they never reached a trilateral settlement despite inking bilateral arrangements. In 1987, for instance, Ankara signed a treaty with Damascus to release 500 cubic meters of water per second from the Euphrates; three years later, Damascus signed an agreement with Baghdad promising 58 percent of that water to Iraq. An Iraq-Turkey agreement remains the missing link.
Moreover, Ankara has at times decreased or cut off the flow of both rivers when collecting water for its large dams, such as Keban, Karakaya, and Ataturk on the Euphrates and Ilisu on the Tigris. It has also done so for geopolitical reasons, such as when it blocked the Euphrates in 1990 after Iraq invaded Kuwait (at the time, Turkey had no major dams that would have allowed it to block the Tigris). Such moves have made Baghdad and Damascus feel vulnerable about their water security, spurring them to push back against Turkey in other ways, from strengthening ties with the Soviet Union during the Cold War to sheltering the PKK.
During last month’s summit, Turkey and Iraq signed a cooperation framework agreement and various memorandums of understanding aimed at “fairly and equally allocating cross-border waters and establishing a goal for the efficient and sensible use of water.” Ankara has also committed to providing technical assistance on water management, including modern irrigation systems and techniques. The real test lies in whether Turkish companies can implement agribusiness projects on Iraqi soil amid a chronic local governance deficit and potential threats of violence from the PKK and Iran-backed militias.
Pressuring the PKK. In the 1990s, the PKK built numerous camps along Iraq’s mountainous border areas with Iran and Turkey, taking advantage of the power vacuum and eventual U.S.-enforced no-fly zone in the north. Both before and after Saddam’s ouster, Ankara frequently ordered military incursions to target these camps, spurring harsh criticism from Baghdad for violating its sovereignty. Today, Turkey maintains nearly forty military outposts inside Iraq and has intensified pressure on the PKK using drones and seasonal military campaigns. Ankara is also concerned that the PKK-affiliated Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS) are receiving Iraqi government funds as part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
This issue underwent a sea change shortly before Erdogan’s visit, with Iraq formally designating the PKK as a "banned organization." Hence, Turkey’s next military incursion, unfolding with Baghdad’s blessing, could conceivably result in a permanent Turkish cordon sanitaire inside Iraqi territory. Erdogan has vowed to establish such a zone in order to defend the border against PKK infiltration. In return, Baghdad gets a water deal and a share in the so-called “Development Road,” as discussed below.
Development Road and economic integration. The summit witnessed concrete planning for the proposed Development Road trade route connecting the Indian Ocean with Europe. Part of the route will run from Iraq’s planned al-Faw port overland to Turkey’s Mediterranean ports. The accelerated planning was spurred by the recently announced, U.S.-supported India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a route that was formally announced last September and would bypass Turkey and Iraq if implemented. The Development Road proposal has become more viable since then due to the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel war, which has been accompanied by attacks on Red Sea shipping and other challenges to the U.S.-proposed corridor. During the summit, Erdogan promised Sudani that Ankara will invest in the Development Road, which has also garnered financial backing from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
If implemented, the project would create more economic interdependence between Turkey and Iraq, forcing them to hash out their differences instead of repeatedly escalating tensions. Companies from Turkey’s robust construction sector would likely build much of the highway and railway infrastructure across Iraq. And militias seem more inclined to take a slice of the resultant revenue rather than sabotage the project.
The Kurdistan Region’s role in this initiative remains unclear. Many in the dominant Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) worry that the Development Road will bypass their territory and weaken their monopoly over cross-border trade with Turkey. In the meantime, Ankara has moved against the KDP’s rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), accusing it of harboring the PKK. For example, Turkish Airlines has stopped flights from Ankara to the PUK stronghold of Sulaymaniyah, further isolating the group.
Iraqi re-centralization. In the bigger picture, Ankara wants to boost the re-centralization dynamics that have guided many of Baghdad’s actions in recent years. In 2017, Ankara worked with Baghdad (and Tehran) to halt the Kurdistan Region’s independence bid. More recently, the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline has been shut down since early 2023. Although the situation arose from an Iraqi complaint against Turkey at the International Chamber of Commerce, the outcome served their shared goal of re-centralization—that is, the Kurds can no longer export oil independently and must turn back to Baghdad for a viable solution.
The continued pipeline freeze suggests that Ankara will back Sudani as he reasserts central authority, without sacrificing Turkish leverage over the increasingly divided Kurdistan Region. On the latter count, Erdogan met with KDP leader Masoud Barzani during his April visit for the first time since 2017, indicating that he will continue cultivating good ties with the group, improving relations with Baghdad, and showing no leniency toward the PUK.
Implications for U.S. Policy
Turkey’s renewed focus on Iraq presents challenges and opportunities for the United States, especially given Washington’s frequently strained relationship with Ankara. For one, the shift is primarily motivated by Turkey’s anticipation of an eventual U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. Furthermore, as the Middle East has become an arena for growing U.S. economic competition with China, Turkey aims to play a role in reshaping global trade routes, in part through cooperation with Iraq. The vacuum left by a U.S. withdrawal might also strengthen Turkey’s entente cordiale with Iran. Although Tehran’s stance on this possibility remains unclear, it seems to be cautiously tolerating Ankara’s economic and military initiatives in Iraq.
At the same time, Turkey’s interest in Iraq could wind up aligning with certain U.S. priorities. Strengthening Baghdad’s ties with a different neighbor could serve as a useful counterweight to Iran’s influence. More broadly, Ankara aims to establish a north-south axis of Turkish influence stretching across Iraq to the Persian Gulf, perhaps impeding Tehran’s long-sought “land bridge” to the Mediterranean.
For now, Washington should continue its wait-and-see approach, cautiously allowing Turkey to deepen relations with Iraq while leaving the door open to potential trilateral and multilateral synergies, including between IMEC and the Development Road. The same goes for the European Union, which may favor the Development Road’s potential benefits through the existing EU-Turkey Customs Union. Yet any EU support for Ankara’s projects in Iraq will depend on a Turkish-European reset that has yet to materialize.
*Soner Cagaptay is the Beyer Family Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute and director of its Turkish Research Program. Selin Uysal is a visiting fellow at the Institute, in residence from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Bilal Wahab is the Institute’s Wagner Senior Fellow and author of its recent study “Family Rule in Iraq and the Challenge to State and Democracy.”

How New Wars Have Brought Back Old American Divisions
The New York Times/Asharq Al-Awsat/June 01/2024
For all the ways that our political coalitions have changed over the last few generations — Southern Democrats joining the G.O.P., Northeastern Republicans turning Democrat, “Reagan Democrats” moving right, suburban Republicans voting for Joe Biden — there are patterns that persist across the generations.
That’s what we’re seeing in foreign policy right now, where Democrats and Republicans are dividing over Israel-Palestine and Ukraine-Russia, respectively, in ways that would have been familiar to the version of each party that existed 50 or even 75 years ago.
The Democrats, first, are replaying their Vietnam-era divisions in the split between the Biden administration and the pro-Palestine left. Again you have an aging Democratic president struggling to modulate a conflict with no certain endgame. Again his left-wing critics represent his party’s younger generation, their influence concentrated on college campuses, their power expressed primarily through disruptive protest tactics.
The language of the protesters is similar across the two eras, albeit with “settler colonialism” replacing “imperialism” as the favored epithet.
So is the internal dilemma of the left — namely, to what extent is it possible to oppose a military campaign against an insurgent force embedded in a civilian population without becoming dupes for the insurgency’s authoritarian (in Vietnam) or theocratic (in Gaza) politics?
While the Democrats replay the 1960s, the Republican split over Ukraine funding has revived debates that would have been familiar to anyone watching the G.O.P. from the 1930s through the early 1950s. Now as then, we have noninterventionists pitted against hawks, Jacksonian populists against internationalists, an updated version of the party’s old Robert Taft wing against the contemporary equivalents of Wendell Willkie and Thomas Dewey.
The fact that Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, the most prominent spokesman for the populist side, represents the same state as Taft is a nice little historical brushstroke. If you wanted to push the analogy further, you could even say that the recent shift by the embattled speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, from skeptic of Ukraine spending to supporter of a big aid package, resembles the switch that the leading Republican senator, Arthur Vandenberg, made across the 1940s, from isolationist to Cold Warrior.
Of course history doesn’t repeat that neatly, especially when you move from America’s internal divides to the actual foreign policy challenges. Putin’s Russia isn’t Hitler’s Germany or Stalin’s Soviet Union, Israel isn’t at all like South Vietnam and American troops are not committed to either conflict yet.
Moreover, seeing continuities across different eras doesn’t tell you who’s correct in this one, or reveal how today’s crises will ultimately end.
Especially when the crises are concurrent, and others loom ahead. One interesting aspect of the current situation is that each intraparty debate feels somewhat separate from the other. You could imagine right-wing non-interventionism undermining Republican support for Israel as well as for Ukraine, but so far right-wing critics of Israel like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens don’t have a big constituency in Congress. Likewise, you could imagine antiwar activism on Israel-Palestine encouraging a left-wing case for making peace with Russia. (If Israel is expected to bargain with Hamas, why not Kyiv with Moscow?) But those arguments aren’t a big part of Democratic politics at the moment.
Perhaps there will be more cross-pollination if the two conflicts drag on. Or maybe current debates will be transformed and superseded by events in Asia. For now, anxiety about our position vis-à-vis China offers potential common ground for the Republican factions, with Vance and his hawkish foes at least notionally agreeing that we need to be doing more to deter Beijing. In the Democratic coalition, meanwhile, the China question isn’t getting much attention at all.
But that could change quickly, especially if you believe that the current period of global conflict is only “hardening” the Chinese regime’s “intent to execute an act of aggression similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine” (to quote a new analysis from Mike Studeman, a former commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence). In that case China will go from occupying a second-order role in our debates to rewriting them entirely — maybe by discrediting both left-wing and right-wing skepticism about American overseas commitments, the way isolationism was abandoned when the simmering crises of the 1930s gave way to World War II. Or maybe by heightening and shaking up today’s divisions, so they feel less like reruns and more like the new debates of an era when the American empire may be fighting for its life.