Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 05-06/2024
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai on theSyrian Migrants: Rai Calls for a Unified Lebanese Position
The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut, Bishop Elias Audi Easter Address: Need to Elect a President and for a Functioning Government
Al-Amin Rejects Hezbollah-Iranian Project and Involvement in Gaza War
Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel after south Lebanon strike kills 4 members of family
Four Lebanese Civilians Killed in Israeli Strike
Hezbollah Says Fires 'Dozens' of Rockets at Israel After Deadly Lebanon Strike
Southern Front: Israeli Raids Intensify After Attack on Mays Al-Jabal
Hezbollah launches 'dozens' of rockets on northern Israel in response to civilian deaths in southern Lebanon
Lebanese Woman Brutally Murdered, Sexually Assaulted at Hotel in Beirut
Tackling online harassment: Protecting children in the digital world
Bassil criticizes seasonal migration to Europe and the one-billion-euro aid package for Lebanon

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 05-06/2024
Netanyahu uses Holocaust ceremony to brush off international pressure against Gaza offensive
Biden administration pauses one ammunition shipment to Israel, reason unclear
Netanyahu says ending Gaza war now would keep Hamas in power
Hamas Says Latest Gaza Ceasefire Talks Have Ended, Delegation Heads from Cairo to Doha
Israel Closes Gaza Crossing after Hamas Attack and Vows Military Operation in 'Very Near Future'
Netanyahu Refuses to End Fighting Until ‘War Aims Are Achieved’
Netanyahu’s Cabinet Votes to Close Al Jazeera Offices in Israel
Gaza Ceasefire Talks Continue in Cairo as Israel Pounds the Enclave
UNRWA chief says again barred entry to Gaza by Israel
IMF Warns Escalation in Red Sea Could Adversely Affect Economic Activity in Yemen
Galant threatens an imminent attack on Rafah, Hamas announces that it has targeted an enemy army base at the Kerem Shalom crossing
Tensions Mount Amidst Stalled Prisoner Exchange Talks and Escalating Border Clashes
Macron calls on Netanyahu to 'complete' negotiations with Hamas
Israel halts Al Jazeera broadcasts
Egypt, Iran Agree to Continue Consultations on Normalizing Relations
UNESCO: Journalists in Yemen Face Environmental Crisis
Russian army executed at least 15 surrendering Ukrainian soldiers since December, HRW report says
Kremlin says Ukraine targeting forces in Crimea with U.S.-made mobile missiles
Houthis claim Red Sea victory against US Navy

Titles For The Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 05-06/2024
Saving Hamas/Lee Smith/The Tablet/May 05/2024
On ‘The White Man’/Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
Trump’s Trial Can Right a Wrong From 50 Years Ago/Kevin Boyle/The New York Times/May 05/2024
American Academia/Samir AtallahAsharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
Britain: Will Sunak Pay the Price for the Defeat?/Jumah BouklebAsharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
Peace, unity and challenges for the EU on Europe Day/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/May 05, 2024

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 05-06/2024
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai on theSyrian Migrants: Rai Calls for a Unified Lebanese Position
This Is Beirut/May 05/2024
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai called for unity on “the issue of securing the safe return of displaced Syrians and refugees to their homeland, and resisting European and international pressures and their seductive tactics aimed at preventing their return and keeping them in Lebanon for political purposes that are neither in their favor nor in Lebanon’s.”He also stressed the urge to “halt the war in southern Lebanon and put an end to the destruction of homes, shops, farmlands and crops, as well as the killing and displacement of innocent civilians,” considering that they are living in “an economic situation that has already impoverished them.”

The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut, Bishop Elias Audi Easter Address: Need to Elect a President and for a Functioning Government
This Is Beirut/May 05/2024
The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut, Bishop Elias Audi, emphasized the need to elect a president during his Easter Mass at St. George’s Cathedral in Downtown’s Nejmeh Square. “Our country requires officials who work for it and not for their interests, and the first duty of parliamentarians is to meet within the constitutional deadline to elect a president who will lead the country with honesty and wisdom,” he said. Audi commented that “Lebanon will not be invited to regional negotiations without a president and a functioning government.”He said, “Our country will not rise unless the work of its constitutional institutions is regularized and no president is elected due to bickering, obstruction and the imposition of fads that are not stipulated in the constitution.” He continued, “It is shameful that the Lebanese feel that their parliamentarians are helpless and wait for foreign aid, and nothing is in their pockets or in their heads.”

Al-Amin Rejects Hezbollah-Iranian Project and Involvement in Gaza War
This Is Beirut/May 05/2024
Shiite religious authority Ali al-Amin emphasized that Hezbollah cannot represent all Shiites and underscored the harm its policies have inflicted on both Shiites and Lebanon, in an interview with Independent Arabia. He also touched upon the desires of Lebanese Shiites to create a fair and equitable state.
On his opposition to the relationship between Hezbollah and Iran, he said, “We rejected their project, which relies on the survival of weapons outside state institutions and is contrary to the state’s sole authority in issues of war, peace, security and sovereignty over its land and people.”He also added, “We must realize that the participation of some Shiite factions in politics does not reflect the will of the Shiites as a whole.” The article also noted that Amin highlighted how Hezbollah’s policies, associated with the Iranian agenda, have harmed the Shiite community along with national allies, and have drawn Lebanon into the Iranian sphere, interfering in the affairs of Arab countries. Amin also conveyed his opposition to Hezbollah’s involvement in the Gaza war, believing “that this war does not benefit the people of Gaza and harms Lebanon.”He stressed that “Lebanon cannot be alone in this war for which it is unprepared.” “Lebanon cannot and should not bear the consequences of these wars alone,” he added. He also reiterated his demand for “the deployment of the Lebanese army to the south, along with international emergency forces.”When addressing the possibility of forming a Shiite opposition coalition in Lebanon, Amin revealed that this opportunity is viable, given the emergence of specific groups in the political arena. He also emphasized that the Shiite community encounters obstacles in creating an authentic opposition, due to inadequate protection of their rights to express their views openly. He commented, “The state project and the rejection of war were the dominant opinions in the sect, but when the war occurred and the duo’s (Hezbollah and Amal) power intensified, people’s interests were linked to those in control, so these voices decreased. And any other voice calling for the state project and the integration of weapons outside the state with the state project was stifled.”Regarding Iran’s influence on Shiite citizens in various Arab countries, Amin pointed out that “there is a large part of Shiites who reject this vision.”

Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel after south Lebanon strike kills 4 members of family
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/May 05, 2024
BEIRUT: An Israeli airstrike killed four members of a family in a border village in southern Lebanon on Sunday, security sources said. Hezbollah, in retaliation, fired Katyusha rockets at the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona, close to the Lebanese border. The four family members killed in Mays Al-Jabal were identified as Fadi Hounaikah and Maya Ali Ammar, and their sons Mohammed, 21, and Ahmad, 12. The attack occurred when the family took advantage of a de-escalation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel to return to their properties to assess damage and move goods from their supermarket to a location outside the village. A security source in the area told Arab News that while the family was gathering their groceries from the supermarket, an Israeli military drone spotted them and launched an attack, destroying the area and killing all the members of the family and injuring several civilians in the vicinity. The source clarified that villages in the area were empty because “residents fled the area seven months ago.”He added: “When residents want to enter these villages to attend victims’ funerals, they send their names and car number plates to the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL, who in turn coordinate with the Israeli side to spare these funerals (from attack). “In general, people cannot enter border villages without taking into consideration the Israeli danger, as Israeli reconnaissance planes and drones are hovering over the area 24/7. However, what Israel committed against this family is a terrible massacre.”Hezbollah responded to the incident by launching dozens of Katyusha and Falaq missiles at Israel. The group said the operation was “in response to the crime committed by Israel in the Mays Al-Jabal village.”The Israeli Upper Galilee Regional Council announced that missiles hit buildings in Kiryat Shmona, while Israeli Army Radio reported that some of the rockets fell inside the city, causing a power outage. An Israeli army spokesman reported that 65 rockets were launched from southern Lebanon toward Israeli settlements in the Upper Galilee region. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit the villages of Al-Adissa and Kafr Kila, while artillery shelling hit the village of Aitaroun. Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi in his Sunday sermon called for an end to the war in southern Lebanon, urging an end to the “demolition of homes, the destruction of shops, the burning of the land and its crops, and the killing and displacement of innocent civilians and the destruction of their livelihood in an economic condition that has already impoverished them.”Mohammed Raad, leader of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, meanwhile, expressed his disapproval of the West’s backing for Israel. He said that Israel “faces no international deterrent. On the contrary, some support it in committing crimes.”He accused those who support Israel of being “hypocrites and liars who falsely claim to champion human rights, civilization, and progress in the West, (yet) they provide Israel with financial aid, weapons, smart bombs, and a continuous air bridge.”Raad concluded: “We are not afraid of Israel’s insanity. We are prepared to confront them directly. We are prepared to sacrifice and shed blood to protect our homeland, independence, and honor.”

Four Lebanese Civilians Killed in Israeli Strike
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
Four members of a Lebanese family were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house in a town in southern Lebanon on Sunday, civil defense and security sources said. They said the family were killed in the village of Meiss al-Jabal, which has suffered extensive damage in regular exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of the war in Gaza last October. Both sides have however refrained from pushing the conflict into all-out war although airstrikes and shelling have taken place sporadically. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said Sunday's strike killed "three civilians" and wounded several others. Hezbollah had on Saturday evening said it fired on military positions in northern Israel. More than 250 Hezbollah members and 75 civilians have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since October. In Israel, missile fire coming from Lebanon has killed around a dozen troops and several civilians.

Hezbollah Says Fires 'Dozens' of Rockets at Israel After Deadly Lebanon Strike
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
Hezbollah said Sunday it launched dozens of rockets at northern Israel in retaliation for a strike on south Lebanon that a local official said killed a couple and their child. The Iran-backed group said in a statement that it fired "dozens of Katyusha and Falaq rockets" at Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel "in response to the horrific crime that the Israeli enemy committed in Mays al-Jabal" which it said killed and wounded civilians, AFP reported. Also, Israel's i24 News television said on Sunday that three people were injured, including one in a serious condition, after the missile attack that targeted northern Israel from southern Lebanon. More than 250 Hezbollah members and 75 civilians have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since October. In Israel, missile fire coming from Lebanon has killed around a dozen troops and several civilians.

Southern Front: Israeli Raids Intensify After Attack on Mays Al-Jabal
This Is Beirut/May 05/2024
Tension on the southern front escalated further on Sunday, with an intensification of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel following the morning raid on Mays al-Jabal, which left four civilians from the same family dead and several others wounded. A salvo of dozens of rockets was fired at Kiryat Shmona from southern Lebanon by Hezbollah in retaliation for this attack, resulting in one Israeli casualty and extensive material damage. Since then, Israeli raids have been carried out relentlessly on the southern front, targeting the localities of Markaba near the agricultural cooperative, Tall el-Nahas, Tallet al-Izziyah on the outskirts of Deir Mimas, Markaba, Kfar Kila, Odeisseh, and Taybeh in the Marjayoun district. For its part, Hezbollah claimed in a statement to have targeted several Israeli positions, including a building in Shtula “in response to the strike against Mays al-Jabal” and another in Avivim and Margaliot. The pro-Iranian group also announced that it had bombed a deployment of Israeli soldiers in Al-Zaoura and spy equipment in Al-Malkiya and Ramya, respectively. For its part, the Israeli Army announced that “65 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon as part of the recent targeting of northern Israel.” Concerning the early-morning strike on Mays al-Jabal, condemnations came from many quarters, including the local municipality. In a statement, the municipality called for “greater vigilance on the part of the inhabitants of this region, particularly concerning our enemy’s criminal activities.”

Hezbollah launches 'dozens' of rockets on northern Israel in response to civilian deaths in southern Lebanon
AFP/May 05/2024
Hezbollah announced on Sunday that it launched 'dozens of Katyusha rockets' on areas in northern Israel, as a 'response' to an earlier Israeli airstrike that killed at least three people in southern Lebanon. In a statement, the party said, "In response to the horrific crime committed by the Israeli enemy in the town of Meiss El Jabal, resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians, fighters of Hezbollah bombarded the settlement of Kiryat Shmona with dozens of Katyusha rockets."

Lebanese Woman Brutally Murdered, Sexually Assaulted at Hotel in Beirut
LBCI/May 05/2024
In a shocking turn of events, the Universel Hotel in the Rawshe area has become the scene of a heinous crime, with the victim identified as Zainab Maatouk, a young Lebanese woman. The primary suspect in the crime is identified as K.B., a Syrian national. According to details emerging from the investigation, Zainab Maatouk had been employed at the hotel since 2020, while the suspect had also been working at the same establishment for several years before resigning recently. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday morning, between 7 and 8 am, when Zainab arrived at her workplace and proceeded to the storage area located beneath a staircase. She intended to prepare her morning coffee in a small kitchen nestled in one corner of the storage. However, she never emerged from the room. Concern grew among the hotel staff when Zainab failed to return from the lower floor. Upon investigation, they discovered her lifeless body lying on the ground, her head soaked in blood. Paramedics were immediately summoned, and Zainab was rushed to a nearby hospital in an unconscious state. Despite efforts to save her, she succumbed to her injuries. According to the forensic report and information provided by security sources, Zainab died due to internal bleeding in the head after experiencing sexual assault and severe physical violence. The Information Branch, tasked with leading the investigation, has cast suspicions on several individuals, with the Syrian employee, K.B., at the forefront. Despite his resignation from the hotel some time ago, he was seen frequenting the premises and was observed engaging in a heated argument with Zainab in the hotel lobby on the evening of the crime. The Information Branch is intensifying its efforts to locate the suspect, who has been evading capture since Saturday morning. The hotel management has cooperated fully with the authorities, providing CCTV footage, although the manner in which the perpetrator gained access to the storage room remains unclear. While investigations continue to unravel the circumstances of the crime and identify the perpetrator(s), it is noteworthy that the prime suspect, K.B., has a history of prior offenses. After his image circulated on social media platforms, security sources revealed to LBCI that he had previously been apprehended by the Office for the Protection of Public Morals in 2020 for charges related to harassment and filming in bathrooms. He was interrogated by the Shuweifat police station and served a prison sentence.

Tackling online harassment: Protecting children in the digital world
LBCI/May 05/2024
The case of the Lebanese TikToker George Moubayed, who lured children through social media for harassment, has gripped both Lebanese and Arab public opinion. However, this issue is not unique to Lebanon but rather a global phenomenon. Estimates from Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, in its annual report indicate that around 100,000 child users of Facebook and Instagram are subjected to online sexual harassment daily. This includes receiving "adult genital images," according to internal company documents. In an era where technology and social media significantly impact our lives and those of our children, how can we detect if they are being harassed on social media? What steps should parents take to protect them? Parental vigilance is crucial, but the foundation lies in sexual education and trust between parents and their children. Social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram are among the few sites that can be misused, posing risks to our children. Some online multiplayer games, which involve exchanging messages between players, can also endanger children, as they spend long periods conversing with strangers. Moreover, dating apps, prevalent in Lebanon and worldwide, where teenagers and young adults interact with individuals based on certain profiles without any verification, pose significant risks. Despite its risks, social media remains an integral part of our daily lives. Additionally, you can communicate with your internet service provider, whether Ogero or others, to restrict access to inappropriate pages for children. Awareness of the basic measures needed to protect children from the risks of social media and the internet is crucial. Therefore, solutions mitigate risks, but the ultimate solution lies in parental education, maturity, and seeking psychological assistance rather than succumbing to panic in the event of any incident.

Bassil criticizes seasonal migration to Europe and the one-billion-euro aid package for Lebanon
LBCI/May 05/2024
Gebran Bassil, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), commented on the seasonal migration to Europe and the one-billion-euro aid package for Lebanon, explaining that European countries, in need of foreign labor in sectors such as healthcare and agriculture, issue three-month renewable visas, implying a disguised and gradual displacement of Lebanese under the guise of seasonal migration. He added, "Europe is struggling with the migration of Syrians to its countries and tells Lebanon, 'You want to keep the Syrians, and we are opening our doors to your people's migration,' meaning replacing the Lebanese people with Syrian refugees." Bassil emphasized that Lebanon needs a unified political decision, stating, "Release a few thousand Syrians, and see how the European Union kneels! Are you willing to sell yourselves so cheaply and accept a billion euros? If Lebanon opens its borders, see how the Europeans will pay billions to return instead of staying."He pointed out that it is the responsibility of the Syrian government to prepare places to receive refugees and for the European Union and the Refugee Agency to fund the return of economically displaced Syrians. He also stressed the need to lift the blockade on Syria for its reconstruction and the return of its people.

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 05-06/2024
Netanyahu uses Holocaust ceremony to brush off international pressure against Gaza offensive
AP/May 06, 2024
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected international pressure to halt the war in Gaza in a fiery speech marking the country’s annual Holocaust memorial day, declaring: “If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone.” The message, delivered in a setting that typically avoids politics, was aimed at the growing chorus of world leaders who have criticized the heavy toll caused by Israel’s military offensive against Hamas militants and have urged the sides to agree to a ceasefire. Netanyahu has said he is open to a deal that would pause nearly seven months of fighting and bring home hostages held by Hamas. But he also says he remains committed to an invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, despite widespread international opposition because of the more than 1 million civilians huddled there. “I say to the leaders of the world: No amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum will stop Israel from defending itself,” he said, speaking in English. “Never again is now.” Yom Hashoah, the day Israel observes as a memorial for the 6 million Jews killed by Nazi Germany and its allies in the Holocaust, is one of the most solemn dates on the country’s calendar. Speeches at the ceremony generally avoid politics, though Netanyahu in recent years has used the occasion to lash out at Israel’s archenemy Iran. The ceremony ushered in Israel’s first Holocaust remembrance day since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war, imbuing the already somber day with additional meaning. Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people in the attack, making it the deadliest violence against Jews since the Holocaust. Israel responded with an air and ground offensive in Gaza, where the death toll has soared to more than 34,500 people, according to local health officials, and about 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are displaced. The death and destruction has prompted South Africa to file a genocide case against Israel in the UN’s world court. Israel strongly rejects the charges. On Sunday, Netanyahu attacked those accusing Israel of carrying out a genocide against the Palestinians, claiming that Israel was doing everything possible to ensure the entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The 24-hour memorial period began after sundown on Sunday with a ceremony at Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust memorial, in Jerusalem. There are approximately 245,000 living Holocaust survivors around the world, according to the Claims Conference, an organization that negotiates for material compensation for Holocaust survivors. Approximately half of the survivors live in Israel. On Sunday, Tel Aviv University and the Anti-Defamation League released an annual Antisemitism Worldwide Report for 2023, which found a sharp increase in antisemitic attacks globally. It said the number of antisemitic incidents in the United States doubled, from 3,697 in 2022 to 7,523 in 2023. While most of these incidents occurred after the war erupted in October, the number of antisemitic incidents, which include vandalism, harassment, assault, and bomb threats, from January to September was already significantly higher than the previous year. The report found an average of three bomb threats per day at synagogues and Jewish institutions in the US, more than 10 times the number in 2022. Other countries tracked similar rises in antisemitic incidents. In France, the number nearly quadrupled, from 436 in 2022 to 1,676 in 2023, while it more than doubled in the United Kingdom and Canada. “In the aftermath of the October 7 war crimes committed by Hamas, the world has seen the worst wave of antisemitic incidents since the end of the Second World War,” the report stated. Netanyahu also compared the recent wave of protests on American campuses to German universities in the 1930s, in the runup to the Holocaust. He condemned the “explosion of a volcano of antisemitism spitting out boiling lava of lies against us around the world.” Nearly 2,500 students have been arrested in a wave of protests at US college campuses, while there have been smaller protests in other countries, including France. Protesters reject antisemitism accusations and say they are criticizing Israel. Campuses and the federal government are struggling to define exactly where political speech crosses into antisemitism.

Biden administration pauses one ammunition shipment to Israel, reason unclear
Priscilla Alvarez, CNN/May 5, 2024
The Biden administration paused a shipment of US-made ammunition to Israel, according to a source familiar with the matter, who did not disclose why the decision was made. The hold is not connected to a potential Israeli operation in Rafah and doesn’t affect other shipments moving forward, the source said.
Asked about the paused shipment, a National Security Council spokesperson cited ongoing security assistance to Israel. “The United States has surged billions of dollars in security assistance to Israel since the October 7 attacks, passed the largest ever supplemental appropriation for emergency assistance to Israel, led an unprecedented coalition to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, and will continue to do what is necessary to ensure Israel can defend itself from the threats it faces,” the spokesperson said. Axios first reported the paused ammunition shipment.US officials have maintained that there is no change in policy toward Israel. And last month, Biden signed a foreign aid bill that included $26 billion for the Israel-Hamas conflict — including $15 billion in Israeli military aid, $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and $2.4 billion for regional US military operations.
But US officials remain concerned about a potential Israeli operation in Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have been sheltering. The US is currently involved in intensive negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage deal in the Israel-Hamas war. Over the weekend, Israel and Hamas have remained locked in a back and forth over who to blame for stalled ceasefire talks even after the latest round of negotiations in Cairo created some cause for optimism. Both sides blamed the other for extreme views, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu taking issue with Hamas’ demand that Israel withdraw from Gaza.
CIA Director Bill Burns, who had been in Cairo for the ceasefire negotiations over the weekend, also went to Doha to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. He will remain in Doha on Monday, despite previous plans to go to Israel, a source familiar with his meetings told CNN.
Burns has acted as a key interlocutor for the United States in the multiparty talks between Israel, Hamas, Egypt, and Qatar over a release of hostages held in Gaza that would be paired with a temporary ceasefire. It’s unclear why Burns’ stay in Doha was extended or what may have changed. Sources have consistently noted how fluid the negotiations over a Gaza ceasefire are. The US has sought to increase the pressure on Hamas to accept what is thought to be the most recent proposal — which sources previously told CNN would require the group to release as many as 33 hostages kidnapped from Israel in exchange for a pause in hostilities in Gaza — while also trying to prevent the Israeli military from launching a ground offensive on Rafah. Even with a deal in place, Netanyahu has said Israel could still enter Rafah as it looks to eliminate the threat from Hamas.

Netanyahu says ending Gaza war now would keep Hamas in power
Reuters/May 5, 2024
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hardened his rejection of Hamas demands for an end to the Gaza war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, saying on Sunday that would keep the Palestinian Islamist group in power and pose a threat to Israel. Netanyahu said Israel was willing to pause fighting in Gaza in order to secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130. "But while Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power," Netanyahu said. "Israel cannot accept that.""Hamas would be able to achieve its promise of carrying out again and again and again its massacres, rapes and kidnapping‮.‬"
In Cairo, Hamas leaders held a second day of truce talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with no apparent progress reported as the group maintained its demand that any agreement must end the war in Gaza, Palestinian officials said. The war began after an assault by Hamas on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and 252 hostages taken, according to Israeli tallies.Israel's ensuring military offensive has killed more than 34,600 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled Gaza. The bombardment has devastated much of the coastal enclave and caused a humanitarian crisis.
Kremlin says Ukraine targeting forces in Crimea with U.S.-made mobile missiles
Mike Heuer/May 4 (UPI)
Ukraine is using recently acquired and U.S.-made and supplied mobile surface-to-surface missile systems to target Russian military assets in the occupied Crimean peninsula, the Kremlin said Saturday. Ukrainian troops launched four of the tactical ATACMS missiles Friday night into Saturday morning, which were intercepted and shot down by Russia's air defense system, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a Telegram post. They said the attacks targeted Russian training facilities in Crimea and are the second use of the U.S.-made portable missile systems in about five days. Ukrainian forces on Tuesday deployed three of the recently acquired ATACMS missiles to target Russian forces in the Crimea peninsula, killing an estimated 100 Russian military personnel while destroying a Russian surface-to-air missile defense system in Dzhankoy, according to analysts with the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War. Lockheed Martin subsidiary Ling-Temco-Vought designed and manufactures the army tactical missile system that commonly is referred to ATACMS. The system is designed to give military commanders on the ground "immediate firepower to reshape the battle space," according to the manufacturer.
Each surface-to-surface missile can carry up to a 500-pound fragmentation warhead and other ordinance. Each missile is packaged in separate but identical mobile launchers until deployed. A GPS guidance system and a maximum range of about 185 miles. They use solid rocket fuel to propel them to a maximum flight ceiling of 160,000 feet at up to Mach 3. The missiles were part of the military aid package signed into law by President Joe Biden on April 24 to help Ukraine defend against Russia, which invaded the nation two years ago.

Hamas Says Latest Gaza Ceasefire Talks Have Ended, Delegation Heads from Cairo to Doha
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
20The latest round of Gaza ceasefire talks ended in Cairo after “in-depth and serious discussions,” Hamas said Sunday, reiterating key demands that Israel again rejected. Israel didn't send a delegation to the talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that “we see signs that Hamas does not intend to go to any agreement."Egyptian state media reported that the Hamas delegation left Cairo for discussions in Qatar and will return to the Egyptian capital for further negotiations on Tuesday. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a statement earlier said the group was serious and positive about the negotiations and that stopping Israeli aggression in Gaza is the main priority. But Israel's government again vowed to press on with a military operation in Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city on the border with Egypt where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents now seek shelter from Israeli attacks. Rafah is a key entry point for aid. Gaza's vast humanitarian needs put further pressure on the pursuit of a cease-fire. The proposal that Egyptian mediators had put to Hamas sets out a three-stage process that would bring an immediate, six-week cease-fire and partial release of Israeli hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack, and would include some sort of Israeli pullout. The initial stage would last for 40 days. Hamas would start by releasing female civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Israel has shown willingness to make concessions but said it "will continue fighting until all of its objectives are achieved.” That includes the stated aim of crushing Hamas.

Israel Closes Gaza Crossing after Hamas Attack and Vows Military Operation in 'Very Near Future'
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid for Gaza on Sunday after Hamas militants attacked it, reportedly wounding several Israelis, while the defense minister warned of “a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza.”Both struck blows to ongoing ceasefire efforts in Cairo mediated by Egypt and Qatar after reported signs of progress. Israel hasn't sent a delegation, unlike Hamas, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that “we see signs that Hamas does not intend to go to any agreement."The Israeli military reported 10 projectiles were launches at the crossing and said its fighter jets later struck the launcher. Hamas said it had been targeting Israeli soldiers in the area. Israel’s Channel 12 TV channel said 10 people were wounded, three seriously. It was unclear how long the crossing would be closed, The AP reported. The attack came shortly after the head of the UN World Food Program asserted “full-blown famine” in badly hit northern Gaza, one of the most prominent warnings yet of the toll of restrictions on food and other aid entering the territory. The comments were not a formal famine declaration.

Netanyahu Refuses to End Fighting Until ‘War Aims Are Achieved’
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to end Israel's war in Gaza until his “war aims are achieved,” Reuters has reported. He said he cannot accept Hamas' demands for an end to the war or the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. He is willing to to pause fighting in Gaza in order to secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130."But while Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power," Netanyahu said.
"Israel cannot accept that.""Hamas would be able to achieve its promise of carrying out again and again and again its massacres, rapes and kidnapping." In Cairo, Hamas leaders held a second day of truce talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with no apparent progress reported as the group maintained its demand that any agreement must end the war in Gaza, Palestinian officials said.

Netanyahu’s Cabinet Votes to Close Al Jazeera Offices in Israel
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his government has voted unanimously to shut down the local offices of Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera. According to a statement from Netanyahu's office, the decision goes into effect immediately. It could include closing the channel’s offices in Israel, confiscating broadcast equipment, preventing the broadcast of the channel’s reports and blocking its websites, among other measures, the statement said. Israeli media said the vote allows Israel to block the channel from operating in the country for 45 days, according to the decision. “Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israel’s security and incited against soldiers,” Netanyahu said in the statement. “It’s time to remove the Hamas mouthpiece from our country.” The statement from Netanyahu’s office said that under a law passed last month, the government can take action against a foreign channel seen as “harming the country.”According to The AP, an order barring a broadcaster is seen as an extraordinary measure by the Israeli government, which broadly allows media outlets to operate in the country. However, the government has in the past revoked press cards issued to individual correspondents over their coverage.

Gaza Ceasefire Talks Continue in Cairo as Israel Pounds the Enclave
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
Hamas leaders held a second day of truce talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Sunday, with no apparent progress reported as the group maintained its demand that any agreement must end the war in Gaza, Palestinian officials said. One Palestinian official, close to the mediation effort, said the Hamas delegation had arrived in Cairo with a determination to reach a deal "but not at any price". "A deal must end the war and get Israeli forces out of Gaza and Israel hasn't yet committed it was willing to do so," the official told Reuters, asking not to be named. Israel wants a deal to free at least some of the around 130 hostages held by Hamas but an Israeli official signaled on Saturday that its core position was unchanged, saying Israel would "under no circumstances" agree a deal to end the war, which it has pursued with the aim of disarming and dismantling Hamas for good. Another Palestinian official told Reuters the negotiations are "facing challenges because the occupation (Israel) refuses to commit to a comprehensive ceasefire" but added that the Hamas delegation was still in Cairo in the hope mediators could press Israel to change its position. As the latest talks were underway, residents and health officials said Israeli planes and tanks continued to pound areas across the Palestinian enclave overnight, killing and wounding several people. Qatar and Egypt are trying to mediate a follow-up to a brief November ceasefire, amid international dismay over the soaring death toll in Gaza and the plight of its 2.3 million inhabitants.  More than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed and more than 77,000 have been wounded in Israel's assault, according to Gaza's health ministry.

UNRWA chief says again barred entry to Gaza by Israel
AFP/May 05, 2024
JERUSALEM: The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said Sunday that Israeli authorities had barred him from entering Gaza for a second time since the Israel-Hamas war started on October 7. “Just this week, they have denied — for the second time — my entry to Gaza where I planned to be with our UNRWA colleagues including those on the front lines,” Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Lazzarini has been to Gaza four times since the war broke out including on March 17. “The Israeli authorities continue to deny humanitarian access to the United Nations,” he said on Sunday. “Only in the past two weeks, we have recorded 10 incidents involving shooting at convoys, arrests of UN staff including bullying, stripping them naked, threats with arms & long delays at checkpoints forcing convoys to move during the dark or abort,” Lazzarini said.
He also called for an “independent investigation” into rocket fire that led to the closure of a key Israel-Gaza aid crossing. Hamas’s armed wing, Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the Sunday launch, saying militants had targeted Israeli troops in the area of Kerem Shalom crossing.

IMF Warns Escalation in Red Sea Could Adversely Affect Economic Activity in Yemen
Taiz: Mohammed Nasser/Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
national Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned of negative effects on Yemen due to escalation in the Red Sea, also affirming that the halt in oil exports since the Houthi attack on oil facilities in October 2022 have deprived the government of half of its revenues. The Fund said growth in Yemen is estimated to have contracted by 2 percent in 2023 while inflation remained high, despite declining global food prices. The findings were released after an IMF team held this week its annual consultative meetings with the Yemeni government in the Jordanian capital, Amman. At the meetings, the government was represented by Central Bank Governor Ahmed Ghaleb and Finance Minister Salem bin Buraik, while the IMF team was led by Joyce Wong. Discussions covered recent economic developments in Yemen, the economic outlook, and progress on key policy reforms. At the end of the mission, Wong said the loss of oil exports, which represented more than half of the government’s revenues (4 percent of GDP), is estimated to have widened the fiscal deficit to 4.5 percent of GDP in 2023, adding to pressures on reserves and the exchange rate.
Challenging Humanitarian Situation
Also, the IMF mission said the humanitarian situation in Yemen remains difficult with 17 million people facing food insecurity. Disbursements of the GCC support package and stable remittances have been mitigating factors, it noted. “An escalation of the Red Sea tensions could adversely affect economic activity through trade and financial channels, and lower external support including humanitarian assistance,” the Missions’ statement said. Despite the challenging situation, the IMF said the authorities remain steadfastly committed to reforms, including further aligning multiple exchange rates for government transactions and refining the FX auction system. “Cash management has been strengthened with better expenditure control and prioritization. These measures have contributed to limiting the budget deficit, recourse to monetary financing, and associated inflationary pressures,” it added.
Acceleration of Fiscal Reforms
Also, the IMF mission found that “amid high uncertainty, the mission urged the further acceleration of fiscal reforms, including improving revenue administration while enhancing expenditure reprioritization and control.”It said ensuring consistency and predictability in FX auctions will help the central bank preserve hard-won credibility amidst constrained FX resources. Strengthening central bank governance while improving data collection will enhance transparency and accountability, it added. The mission also stressed the importance of continuing to preserve stability in the financial sector and further strengthen compliance in line with international frameworks, including AML/CFT, and national standards. It said this will further facilitate trade and remittances, which are key lifelines for the Yemeni population. Meanwhile, external financial support remains critical to help ease fiscal pressures, limit monetary financing, and preserve price stability, the mission affirmed. “To this end, active engagement with donors to address outstanding needs, together with improving the availability and consistency of financing will be crucial,” it said. And while the IMF pledged to continue to provide comprehensive technical assistance to Yemen to further enhance institutional capacities, it said it held discussions with partners and key stakeholders to enhance synergies and improve coordination of external assistance. The mission team then expressed deep appreciation to the Yemeni authorities, technical staff, and all counterparts for their excellent cooperation and candid discussions and looks forward to continued close engagement.

Galant threatens an imminent attack on Rafah, Hamas announces that it has targeted an enemy army base at the Kerem Shalom crossing
NNA/May 05/2024 
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said today that the ground attack on Rafah will take place “as soon as possible,” following a Hamas attack that injured 10 people. Galant said while inspecting Israeli forces in the Netzarim axis, which divides the Gaza Strip into two halves: “It appears that the Hamas movement does not intend to reach an agreement with Israel, and accordingly, a military operation in Rafah and in the entire Strip will take place as soon as possible.”Ten people were injured as 10 to 30 missiles were fired at the Kerem Shalom crossing area. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it targeted an Israeli army base. The Israeli army said that shells were fired from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip towards the crossing, which it announced was now closed to aid trucks heading to the Strip, according to "Sky News Arabia".

Tensions Mount Amidst Stalled Prisoner Exchange Talks and Escalating Border Clashes
LBCI/May 05/2024
Between his weekly government session and the security cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself amidst escalating tensions on various fronts. Amidst intensified efforts in Cairo and Washington to reach a settlement in the prisoner exchange deal, Netanyahu rebuffed the demand of the U.S. Intelligence Director, William Burns, to send the Israeli negotiating delegation to Cairo. Netanyahu engaged in a game of shifting blame between Israel and Hamas, with the latter being accused by Tel Aviv of obstructing the deal, to which Netanyahu responded by asserting that the ball is in Hamas' court.
Meanwhile, in the security cabinet, discussions were renewed regarding a potential incursion into Rafah and the developments concerning the prisoner negotiations. A delegation was dispatched to Washington to discuss the potential attack, amidst statements confirming Washington's intent to prevent such an operation. From the Gaza front, Chief of Staff Hertzi Halevy briefed soldiers on the developments, emphasizing the continuation and intensification of combat after acknowledging the army's shortcomings in the initial months of the conflict.In the north, the region witnessed escalation along the border in Lebanon, with several towns targeted by rockets that struck military sites, causing destruction and power outages. Simultaneously, protests and demonstrations persisted among the remaining inhabitants of the north. Municipal heads urged the government to swiftly ensure their security, prompting significant protests outside the Israeli government, focusing on the slogans of "One Deal" and the return of all prisoners, with Netanyahu being the primary target of criticism.

Macron calls on Netanyahu to 'complete' negotiations with Hamas
AFP/May 05/2024
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to 'complete' negotiations with Hamas to reach a truce in the Gaza Strip and to secure the release of hostages held by the Palestinian movement, according to a statement from the Élysée Palace.
The French presidency noted that Macron 'urged' Netanyahu 'in a phone call' to "complete the negotiations that could lead to the release of hostages and the protection of civilians through a ceasefire and a reduction in regional escalation."

Israel halts Al Jazeera broadcasts
AFP/May 05/2024
Al Jazeera broadcasts in Israel in both Arabic and English were halted on Sunday following the government's decision to close the channel after tensions escalated between the two sides due to the war in the Gaza Strip.The closure decision took effect hours after the Israeli government announced the 45-day shutdown of the Qatari channel in Israel, with the option for an extension. On Sunday afternoon, the screen turned black with a message in Hebrew stating that the broadcast is "suspended in Israel," according to Agence France-Presse's observation.

Egypt, Iran Agree to Continue Consultations on Normalizing Relations
Cairo: Waleed Abdulrahman/Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, met on Saturday on the sidelines of the 15th annual Islamic Summit Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Banjul, where they discussed bilateral relations and the war in Gaza. Shoukry and Abdollahian agreed to “continue consultations to address all outstanding topics and issues toward normalizing relations,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The meeting also touched on the Egyptian-Iranian bilateral relations in light of previous meetings between the two ministers and the directives of the leadership of both countries. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, last November on the sidelines of the Arab–Islamic extraordinary summit hosted by Saudi Arabia. Since then, telephone contacts between the two sides have multiplied, both at the presidential and ministerial levels. They mostly focused on “the situation in the Gaza Strip, and fears of escalation of regional tension,” according to official statements from both sides. “Developments in the region necessitate meetings between Egypt and Iran to follow up on decisions taken in previous summits, especially with regard to bilateral relations,” Ali el-Hefny, Egypt's former ambassador to China and former deputy foreign minister, told Asharq Al-Awsat. According to Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid, Shoukry and Abdollahian’s meeting on Saturday addressed key issues of the Islamic Summit agenda. “The two ministers agreed on the importance of bolstering unity among Islamic countries amid immense challenges,” the spokesman said. The ministers also discussed the ongoing war in Gaza. Shoukry was keen to inform his Iranian counterpart of the Egyptian efforts aimed at reaching a truce in the Palestinian enclave that would allow the exchange of hostages and detainees to reach a full and permanent ceasefire. The two men then stressed their rejection of any ground military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah that would “put the lives of more than a million Palestinians at imminent danger and would worsen the humanitarian situation in the strip.”Iran and Egypt ended diplomatic relations in 1979. Ties were resumed 11 years later but on the level of Chargé d'Affaires. Several meetings were held in the past months between Egyptian and Iranian ministers to discuss the possibility of developing bilateral ties. Last May, the Iranian President directed the Foreign Ministry to take the necessary measures to enhance relations with Egypt. On Saturday, Shoukry briefed his Iranian counterpart on the outcome of meetings he held recently on the sidelines the World Economic Forum, and contacts he made with European officials to resolve the crisis in Gaza. He stressed the urgency of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip while calling for continued entry of urgent humanitarian aid “completely, safely, and without obstacles.” The Egyptian minister also affirmed the importance of encouraging countries to recognize a Palestinian state, adding that this would contribute to strengthening efforts to establish a Palestinian state based on the two-state solution.

UNESCO: Journalists in Yemen Face Environmental Crisis
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has affirmed that the risks facing journalists in Yemen are not confined to addressing political issues, but instead extend to addressing and covering environmental crises in this country, which has been globally classified as one of the nations severely affected by climate change. Marking the World Press Freedom Day 2024, the organization highlighted in a report the challenges environmental journalists face, particularly in conflict zones like Yemen. saying Yemeni journalists continue to brave danger to report on crucial issues including the environmental crises affecting their country. "Yemen, already burdened by conflict, faces a myriad of environmental challenges. Over the past decade, climate change-induced natural disasters, including floods, cyclones, landslides, and droughts, have caused extensive damage in the country. Among the most pressing issues are several cyclones that have hit Yemen, resulting in severe damage to housing and infrastructure, the flooding of hundreds of hectares of agricultural land, the loss of thousands of tons of crops, and more, directly impacting the livelihoods of Yemenis," the report noted. The report also cited environmental journalist Hussen Nasser Al-Yabari saying that these challenges have been exacerbated by conflict, as man-made disasters such as deforestation, unsafe pesticide use, oil spills, and poor waste management have increased, putting further pressure on the country’s resources. He added: “Yemen has faced several significant environmental challenges over the past year, exacerbated by ongoing conflict, worsening humanitarian, economic, and environmental conditions.” "Awareness of all aspects of the environmental crisis and its consequences is essential for peacebuilding. Journalistic work is crucial for this purpose, providing the public with reliable information, insightful analysis, and a comprehensive understanding of the issues directly affecting them. Sharing a success story," Al-Yabari was quoted as saying. According to the report, reporting on environmental crises amidst conflict and political instability presents numerous challenges. Journalists encounter significant hurdles in seeking and disseminating information on these issues, especially in a war-torn country like Yemen. According to the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate's first quarterly report of 2024, 17 cases of violations against media freedom were documented in the country during the first quarter of the year. These violations included restrictions on freedom, assaults on journalists and press institutions, and property confiscations. In addition to dealing with physical, economic, political, psychological, digital, and legal threats, accessing reliable information in times of crisis can be challenging.

Russian army executed at least 15 surrendering Ukrainian soldiers since December, HRW report says
Clara Preve/Euro News/May 5, 2024
Russian forces have allegedly executed at least 15 Ukrainian soldiers who were attempting to surrender since the beginning of December 2023, according to a recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report. The US-based organisation called for the five analysed instances of alleged executions to be investigated as war crimes. “Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, its forces have committed many heinous war crimes,” said Belkis Wille, associate crisis and conflict director at HRW. “The summary execution - or murder - of surrendering and injured Ukrainian soldiers, gunned down in cold blood, expressly forbidden under international humanitarian law, is also included in that shameful legacy.”HRW analysed drone footage posted on social media on 2 December, 27 December and 25 February. In the videos, Ukrainian soldiers appeared to have surrendered but were shot by Russian troops. HRW said they could not verify some of the incidents' locations. Considering they were no longer part of combat, international humanitarian law says the men are not targets and so cannot be shot at. The Geneva Conventions specifically say that combatants who are out of combat for reasons such as surrender, injury, or capture must be treated humanely and are no longer lawful targets for attack. On 25 February, the footage shows at least seven Ukrainian soldiers removing their body armour. One of them also took off his helmet. They all faced down as five Russian soldiers aimed their guns at them. Six of the Ukrainian men did not move after they were shot. One attempted to escape before he was shot dead. This incident took place in Ivanivske village near the Donetsk region. HRW was able to differentiate between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers by identifying the tape on their arms: Ukrainian troops wear blue and Russians white or red. The United Nations reported in March that Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian captivity experienced torture, including repeated beatings, electric shocks and mock executions. Some were even subjected to sexual violence, the report said. The UN also recorded “credible allegations” of Russian troops conducting executions of at least 32 Ukrainian prisoners of war. A UN report a year before of how Russian troops and the Wagner Group executed 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war during the first year of the full-scale invasion. The office of Ukraine’s Prosecutor General announced on 9 April that it was conducting 27 criminal investigations into the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied his government has committed war crimes against Ukrainians. “While each of these cases is horrifying, perhaps what is most damning is the evidence indicating in at least one case that Russian forces explicitly gave orders to kill soldiers instead of letting them surrender, thereby endorsing war crimes,” Wille said.

Kremlin says Ukraine targeting forces in Crimea with U.S.-made mobile missiles
Mike Heuer/May 4 (UPI)
Ukraine is using recently acquired and U.S.-made and supplied mobile surface-to-surface missile systems to target Russian military assets in the occupied Crimean peninsula, the Kremlin said Saturday. Ukrainian troops launched four of the tactical ATACMS missiles Friday night into Saturday morning, which were intercepted and shot down by Russia's air defense system, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a Telegram post. They said the attacks targeted Russian training facilities in Crimea and are the second use of the U.S.-made portable missile systems in about five days. Ukrainian forces on Tuesday deployed three of the recently acquired ATACMS missiles to target Russian forces in the Crimea peninsula, killing an estimated 100 Russian military personnel while destroying a Russian surface-to-air missile defense system in Dzhankoy, according to analysts with the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War. Lockheed Martin subsidiary Ling-Temco-Vought designed and manufactures the army tactical missile system that commonly is referred to ATACMS. The system is designed to give military commanders on the ground "immediate firepower to reshape the battle space," according to the manufacturer.
Each surface-to-surface missile can carry up to a 500-pound fragmentation warhead and other ordinance. Each missile is packaged in separate but identical mobile launchers until deployed. A GPS guidance system and a maximum range of about 185 miles. They use solid rocket fuel to propel them to a maximum flight ceiling of 160,000 feet at up to Mach 3. The missiles were part of the military aid package signed into law by President Joe Biden on April 24 to help Ukraine defend against Russia, which invaded the nation two years ago.

Houthis claim Red Sea victory against US Navy
SAEED AL-BATATI/Arab News/May 05/2025
AL-MUKALLA: The Houthis have reiterated a warning of strikes against ships bound for or with links to Israel — including those in the Mediterranean — as they claimed victory against the US Navy in the Red Sea. The Houthi-controlled SABA news agency reported that the fourth phase of the militia’s pro-Palestine campaign would involve targeting all ships en route to Israel that came within range of their drones and missiles, noting that the US, UK, and other Western navies “stood helpless” in the face of their attacks. “The fourth phase demonstrates the striking strength of the Yemeni armed forces in battling the world’s most potent naval weaponry, the American, British and European fleets, as well as the Zionist (Israel) navy,” SABA said. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said on Friday strikes against Israel-linked ships would be expanded to the Mediterranean. Attacks would be escalated to include any companies interacting with Israel if the country carried out its planned attack on the Palestinian Rafah. Since November, the Houthis have launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at commercial and navy vessels in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden. They claim attacks are only aimed at ships linked with Israel in a bid to force an end to its siege on the Gaza Strip. They have also fired at US and UK commercial and navy ships in international waters off Yemen after the two countries launched strikes against Houthi-controlled areas. On Saturday, Houthi information minister Dhaif Allah Al-Shami claimed the US was forced to withdraw its aircraft carrier and other naval ships from the Red Sea after failing to counteract attacks. He added new offensives would begin against Israeli ships in the Mediterranean in the coming days. “They failed badly. Yemeni missiles and drones beat the US Navy, and its military, cruisers, destroyers and aircraft carriers started to retreat from our seas,” Al-Shami said in an interview with Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen TV news channel.  Yemen specialists have disputed Houthi assertions that they have military weapons capable of reaching Israeli ships in the Mediterranean. Brig. Gen. Mohammed Al-Kumaim, a Yemeni military analyst, told Arab News on Sunday the Houthis would only be able to carry out such attacks if they had advanced weaponry. He said the Houthis were expanding their campaign against ships to avoid growing public resentment in areas under their control after the militia had failed to pay public employees and repair services. Al-Kumaim added the Houthis might claim responsibility for an attack on a ship in the Mediterranean which was carried out by an Iran-backed group operating in the region. “Theoretically and technologically, the Houthis lack any technical or military capability to achieve their objectives (in the Mediterranean),” Al-Kumaim said.

Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on May 04-05/2024
Saving Hamas
Lee Smith/The Tablet/May 05/2024
The Palestinian terror organization refuses to release hostages while clinging to its last stronghold in Rafah. So why is the Biden administration throwing the full weight of the U.S. government at Israel to prevent it from routing Hamas?
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/saving-hamas
eports are circulating that the Israelis are planning an operation in Rafah to eliminate the last Hamas stronghold in Gaza. If so, the Netanyahu government will be acting against the very public wishes of the Biden administration, which has spent the last half year moving heaven and earth to save a terrorist organization from destruction. Bizarrely, the White House’s statements and actions show that Hamas’ survival is more important than the security of a traditional American partner, Israel; more crucial to American interests than the preservation of the U.S.-led order of the Middle East; more precious than the dozens of American lives that Hamas ended on Oct. 7; more valuable than however many Americans and Israelis are still alive in the terror army’s tunnels.
Why? As the money and prestige that the U.S. has invested month after month in protecting Hamas demonstrate, the Biden administration sees the terror group as a valuable asset.
A day after the massacre, before Israel’s campaign against Hamas even began, Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote that he was encouraging the Turkish government’s “advocacy for a cease-fire.” It makes no difference that the tweet has since been deleted, since the White House has produced no shortage of evidence since that its top priority is to deter Israel from defeating Hamas, by increasing Israel’s vulnerabilities at every turn, and conditioning aid on Israel adopting a purely defensive posture.
The Biden administration has stopped Israel from entering Rafah by demanding it produce plans to protect the civilian population, piously insisting that “even one civilian death is too many.” That would be a hard task in any military scenario, but given that Hamas hides among noncombatants, the White House’s policy openly reinforces the terror group’s political and military strategy.
What distinguishes the Palestinians from other ethno-national groups born of the breakup of the multiethnic empires of Europe and the Levant after World War I is that their claim on the world’s attention issues largely from their willingness to hire themselves out as terrorist mercenaries.
The president abdicated America’s historical role of vetoing anti-Israel activity at the U.N. Instead, the U.S. delegation abstained from a key Security Council resolution in March demanding an immediate cease-fire—thereby putting America’s diplomatic weight behind Hamas’ demand that it should be allowed to keep its hostages and continue ruling Gaza. The White House then sanctioned Israeli civilians on the West Bank for crimes dreamed up by left-wing pro-Palestinian organizations, while ignoring a Palestinian terror wave aimed at murdering Jewish civilians who were guilty of crimes like stopping at a red light, buying gas, and herding sheep. Much of the false reporting supporting the pro-Hamas offensive is channeled through U.S. Army Gen. Michael Fenzel. The U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority are spending taxpayer resources to build a Palestinian terror army on the West Bank that may soon be repurposed for Gaza, too.
By compelling Jerusalem to “surge” food aid and energy to Gaza, the White House broke Israel’s siege, and demanded an ally resupply its adversary at wartime. Whenever Israel goes on the offensive, Biden and aides publicly threaten to stop resupplying arms. After Iran’s massive missile and drone attack last month, administration officials let on that if Israeli retaliatory strikes exceeded meager U.S. limits, the White House would hobble Israel’s air defense systems. Thus, the Israelis were forced to adopt the battle-tested American military strategy of bombing sand.
The White House has used CIA Director William Burns as one of its main instruments of diplomatic deterrence. He’s traveled to Egypt, Qatar, and elsewhere for endless hostage negotiations with the Palestinian terrorist organization. That none of these negotiations has gone anywhere is the point. Burns’ jawboning is designed to stall Israel’s war while legitimizing the act of hostage-taking, even as it’s become increasingly clear that many of the hostages whose release he is supposedly negotiating for are dead.
To emphasize its evenhandedness in the conflict between a key U.S. military ally and a designated foreign terrorist organization, the White House has amplified Hamas propaganda that has repeatedly been shown to be false. The president himself and the secretary of state enthusiastically repeated accusations that Israel intentionally murdered World Central Kitchen aid workers. Without evidence to support USAID head Samantha Power’s claims of rampant famine in Gaza, the administration and its validators began calling it a “reported famine.”
To fight the mythical famine, Biden is sending thousands of U.S. troops to build a $320 million pier to resupply Hamas—an arrangement that will turn American forces into human shields to deter Israeli military operations against the terror organization. By leaking fake news, most recently an internal State Department memo alleging Israeli war crimes, that Israel was hindering aid to starve Gazans, the administration laid the groundwork for arrest warrants likely to be issued by the International Criminal Court. While the warrants reportedly target Netanyahu and other members of Israel’s war cabinet, the action is likely to set a precedent broad enough to justify arresting any Israeli who served in the Gaza campaign.
It’s useful to remember that what distinguishes the Palestinians from other ethno-national groups born of the breakup of the multiethnic empires of Europe and the Levant after World War I is that their claim on the world’s attention issues largely from their willingness to hire themselves out as terrorist mercenaries.
During the Cold War, the Palestinians were used by the Soviets against the U.S. and American interests and allies. Regional powers like Nasser’s Egypt, Assad’s Syria, Saddam’s Iraq, and Ghaddafi’s Libya used the Palestinians to advance their own interests, against the superpowers and/or each other. Not infrequently, Palestinian factions fought each other on behalf of their Arab patrons.
It was through this nonstop violence that the Palestinian cause flourished. The Palestinians won a place in regional and then international forums not because of a world-historical injustice done to an ad hoc confederacy of minor Levantine bloodlines. Rather, it was because if you didn’t employ a mercenary gang of Palestinians against your enemies, you would be exposed to a terror campaign waged by a rival band of Palestinians, sponsored by your rivals.
What Middle East watchers call the “Palestinian veto” refers to the ability of Palestinian terrorists to destabilize any given regional order that doesn’t suit the ambitions of whoever their dominant patron happens to be. For instance, the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty came about only because Egyptian President Anwar Sadat insisted on keeping the Palestinians out. Unlike Jimmy Carter, Sadat didn’t care about a comprehensive peace in the Holy Land with the Palestinians front and center—he knew that giving the Palestinians a seat would give the Soviets and their Arab allies an opening to derail an agreement he needed to advance Egyptian interests.
On whose behalf were the Palestinians acting when they destabilized the region with their gruesome Oct. 7 attack? Iran—but also the Biden administration. The two share an interest in collapsing the traditional U.S.-led order of the Middle East that Donald Trump had restored, after Barack Obama began the process of dismantling it.
Up until Obama, the pillars of America’s security architecture were the Persian Gulf’s oil-rich Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia, and, in the eastern Mediterranean, Israel and Egypt. Early in his first term Obama signaled he intended to undo that order when he gave a speech in Cairo and invited officials from the Muslim Brotherhood, existential enemies of the military regime then led by Hosni Mubarak. Within two years, the White House withdrew its support for Mubarak during the Arab Spring revolutions and ushered in a Muslim Brotherhood government. Egypt became the first pillar of the old U.S. security order to fall.
Obama’s aides made it clear that his second term would be devoted to securing a nuclear deal with Iran. The purpose of the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was not to prevent an Iranian bomb—in fact, the agreement legalizes the clerical regime’s nuclear weapons program. Rather it was to realign U.S. interests with Tehran while stiffing traditional U.S. partners, especially Riyadh and Jerusalem, the other regional pillars of the American order. To cap off his eight years of dismantling the instruments of U.S. policy in the Middle East, Obama’s final foreign affairs initiative was to push a U.N. Security Council resolution adopting the Palestinian position that Israel was in violation of international law by occupying, among other places, historic Jewish holy sites.
Then came Donald Trump, who not only reversed Obama’s realignment but reinforced Washington’s traditional security architecture. Trump’s first official trip was to Saudi Arabia. He explained that the U.S.-Saudi alliance was good for the U.S. because it meant affordable oil, investment in America, and American jobs. Trump defended the Saudis when retired U.S. spies, The Washington Post, Obama operatives, and foreign intelligence services joined in an information operation to isolate Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after the murder of former Saudi intelligence official Jamal Khashoggi.
That was only the beginning, as step by step Trump erased Obama’s legacy in the Middle East, and restored the pillars of the American-led regional security order. He backed the military regime in Cairo, and moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. He acknowledged Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the Jordan Valley, and large parts of the West Bank. The Trump-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and other regional states, known as the Abraham Accords, reaffirmed the U.S.-led regional order by binding our allies to each other—and thus to America.
Crucially, the Abraham Accords also ignored the Palestinians. After all, the Palestinians could never normalize relations without forfeiting their ability to project power and demand tribute. Like Sadat, Trump and his diplomats understood that peace could only be made by sidelining the Palestinians and whoever was sponsoring them, in this case Iran.
Naturally, the Abraham Accords were repugnant to the Obama faction. The normalization deals undid Obama’s balance of power project—i.e., strengthen U.S. adversaries at the expense of allies—and pushed the left’s longtime darlings, the Palestinians and the Islamic Republic to the margins. Accordingly, the Biden administration unfroze money to fill Iran’s war chest and undermined regional normalization under cover of expanding it to Saudi Arabia. Any direct talks between Israel and Saudi, the steward of Islam’s holy shrines, would, if only for the sake of protocol, have to involve the Palestinian cause. Thus, the Biden administration put the Palestinians at the center of the region again.
That’s how we got to Oct. 7. Contrary to the Biden administration’s talking points, the Iranians didn’t see Saudi-Israeli normalization talks as an existential threat; rather, they correctly saw it, and other Biden moves, as an invitation to disrupt and destabilize the regional order that Trump had rebuilt. Subsequently, in traditional regional fashion, the Iranians mobilized their Palestinian proxy.
And yet for many good-faith observers, it remains a mystery why Obama and then Biden sought to undo the U.S. order of the Middle East, an arrangement that has kept a volatile and strategically vital region relatively stable. Is it ego alone that requires Obama and his party must be proven right, and that Trump’s successes must be transformed into failures at America’s expense—and at the additional price of destroying the prospects of a relatively hopeful future for Middle Easterners?
The key fact is this: The regional order that Trump restored has long been part of the formula that ensures continued U.S. domestic peace and prosperity. To put it another way, the moves made by Obama and now Biden are not primarily about destabilizing the Middle East. Rather, they are designed to destabilize the United States.
The Biden team’s moves to shelter Hamas are best understood in the context of a revolutionary program of domestic initiatives that aim to reconstitute American society on a new basis, and which in turn require the outright rejection of the country’s history and culture, its existing social arrangements, and constitutional order. The current regime has weaponized the security state, labeled its opponents “domestic terrorists,” and waged a third-world-style campaign against the opposition candidate because it’s a revisionist faction. Its political and cultural manifesto is a program for remaking America, whether through social pressure, or censorship, or bureaucratic fiat, or threats of violence, or actual violence. Among other devices to transform America, the Biden administration has opened the border to at least 7 million illegal aliens (and counting), many from places in the Middle East where Hamas is revered, and for whom political violence means steady, well-paid work.
It’s not the traditional U.S.-led order in the Middle East that the revisionist faction, Obama’s faction, is most determined to dismantle but rather the existing order in the U.S. And it’s not Israel that it’s most keen to grind into dust, but America. For the party that Obama remade in his image to triumph at home, the Palestinians must win.
*Lee Smith is the author of The Permanent Coup: How Enemies Foreign and Domestic Targeted the American President (2020).
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/saving-hamas

On ‘The White Man’
Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
Fires burning in the mind today compete with the fire that Israel has lit over Gaza’s land and in its inhabitants' lives. That began years before this war, but it found its feast in this war, as disasters always feed on disasters.
“The white man" is a theme of the fire we are referring to.
Defining groups and nations by the color of their skin implies a sort of fusion with nature that was not overcome by society nor tamed by modernization. It brings to mind the world of Tarzan, and it tempts us to think up a children's game: "the white man" eradicated "the red man", oppressed "the black man", and besieged "the yellow man"... and so on.
In this, we find something similar to the way in which some Lebanese media outlets speak of "the Syrian", "the Palestinian", "the American", "the French", and "the Iranian," lumping millions into a single person, the ruler or leader of the country. The individual does not exist. There is no individual person, personal endeavor, or personal opinion, which bows humbly to the color of his skin or some other definitive marker of a supposed identity.
As for the "white man’s" portrayal as a villain incapable of anything but evil, it presents him as having known nothing but spoils and privilege acquired by force of arms and amassed through plunder and coercion.
According to this narrative, he never endured the pains of the industrial revolution or those of totalitarianism and its wars, gulags, and gas chambers. With the exception of theft and tyranny, he has not produced anything: no schools, universities, hospitals, bridges, or water canals. He did not develop medicine, invent cinema, build an airplane or a ship, or created any technologies that have benefited humanity.
It is true that the "white man" has sided with Israel in its war on Gaza, contradicting his values and betraying his principles. But this very assertion refers to values and principles that it would be difficult to accuse countries like Russia or China of betraying, as the question of values and principles is not posed in the first place. More importantly, history and reality in their totality can’t be reduced to an abhorrent Western position on the war in Gaza, or any other abhorrent political position, however horrendous it may be.
No matter how hard some may try to attribute this color discourse to some sort of left, it is very identitarian and right-wing. The decline of the left and the ensuing decline of its internationalist message are one of the reasons behind this resurgence of identity, which has rejected the left’s customary approach of ascribing color and gender contradictions to social factors that go beyond color and gender in themselves. In turn, the fact that some left-wing parties were taken by the storm of identities contributed to the surge in support for right-wing parties among segments of the white working-class in Europe.
We now find the cry of war against the "white man" continuing where the cries for building a bloc of "Arabs" or "Muslims" or "Africans" or "Latinos" had left off. The driving philosophy has remained the same: the state of the world does not change; its history, from start to finish, is that of a perpetual war between whites and non-whites. This war cannot be stopped or channeled into something else, especially since colors are by definition impervious to change.
However, if we were to use this racist terminology for the sake of argument, we could ask: What about the "brown man"? He oppresses women in Afghanistan, but also in many other countries, and has instigated and is instigating civil wars, has displaced and is displacing peoples, has tyrannized and is tyrannizing ethnic and religious minorities, and has built regimes that are unworthy even of slaves, whose hallmarks are prisons and torture, to say nothing about how he has emptied notions of independence and national liberation of all their positive connotations...
The fact is that these condemnations of the "white man" would have been taken more seriously if they had been accompanied by some self-criticism, such as highlighting, for example, the history of our ancestors, who invaded and conquered other nations and traded in slaves on a massive scale. As for the color discourse’s disregard for all of this, it seems to suggest the circuitous affirmation of a dangerous narrative, that the "white man" is the only subject of history, while everyone else, including ourselves, are mere puppets and objects. The fervent critics of "Eurocentrism" thereby present European history as being the only history of any significance and influence.
There is nothing innovative about the claim that racism, be it white, black, or yellow, is extremely cruel and unjust, that its history is extremely gruesome, and that it still exists and continues to influence the thinking and actions of broad segments of populations. As for the privileges afforded by the color of one’s skin, it continues to fuel class disparities, as well as segregation and discrimination, to say nothing about personal biases that are not difficult to demonstrate. The United States specifically, from before the emergence of the Ku Klux Klan to after the heinous murder of George Floyd, has been home to racism based on color. Nonetheless, racism is debated only in the countries of the "white man,” and only there are laws passed to push back against it, large numbers of immigrants and asylum seekers taken in, and projects for culturally and ethnically pluralistic societies put forward. It is only there that history moves up and down, and transformative shifts unfold, like those brought about by the American civil rights movement in the sixties, which was followed by the birth of the black middle class and the rise of non-white figures to the top of the social and political hierarchy.
More progressive policy and progress on social justice could accelerate the shift in this direction and reduce and decrease setbacks. However, such tasks cannot be undertaken in a period of short time, nor can this path be as smooth and straight as a freeway without twists and turns.
In any case, reverse racism is also racism. Assuming that racist remarks are no longer racist when uttered by a victim is as flawed as assuming that the victim cleanses and purifies racist rhetoric by the mere fact that it comes out of his mouth.

Trump’s Trial Can Right a Wrong From 50 Years Ago
Kevin Boyle/The New York Times/May 05/2024
Of the four criminal cases that Donald Trump is facing, the one unfolding in Manhattan is generally considered the weakest. Its legal foundation is complex. Its key witness is a felon. Its details are the sort of stuff that the tabloids splash across their front pages.
Worst of all, it doesn’t speak to Mr. Trump’s actions as president, as the other cases do. But as the Supreme Court oral arguments on immunity last week made clear, it is likely to be the only one the country will see resolved before Election Day. As a historian who has written about the wrenching events of the 1960s and early 1970s, I can’t help seeing Mr. Trump’s legal troubles through the lens of an earlier Republican president, Richard Nixon. He spent more than two years, from the summer of 1972 to the summer of ’74, trying to prevent investigators from uncovering the tangle of crimes that made up the Watergate affair. But unlike Mr. Trump, Mr. Nixon never faced criminal charges. For that, justice suffered, and the nation suffered, too.
So here we are, watching unfold in Justice Juan Merchan’s utilitarian courtroom the narrow, tawdry version of the trials the nation ought to have had this year and the trial the nation should have had 50 years ago.
Mr. Nixon won the presidency in 1968 promising to be tough on crime. And he was. From 1961 to 1968 the nation’s prison population fell by 15 percent. By the time Mr. Nixon left office in 1974, it was almost back to where it was in 1962 — the start of a spiral fueled by the furious politics of law and order that his administration had helped to unleash.
The punitive turn struck poorer people and communities of color with particular force, an outcome that a majority of Americans didn’t seem to mind. But when the Watergate investigation exposed Mr. Nixon’s own potential criminality, they thought that the law ought to apply to him, too. As the crisis reached its peak in the summer of 1974, that belief hardened: By almost two to one, Americans wanted the House of Representatives to impeach the president, the Senate to try him and prosecutors to secure his indictment, so that his case could move into open court.
None of that happened. In early July 1974, Mr. Nixon’s lawyer presented to the Supreme Court his client’s claim of presidential immunity. The justices took just two weeks to issue their ruling against the president’s position, by a vote of 8 to 0.
In light of the Supreme Court’s conduct this year, it’s worth underlining that timing: The case was argued on July 8. The justices issued a decision on July 24.
Between July 27 and 30, the House Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment. Mr. Nixon resigned nine days later, with the articles pending. President Gerald Ford waited a month and then gave his predecessor “a full, free and absolute pardon” for the crimes he had yet to be charged with committing. And something started to shift for Americans.
In April 1974, the month the Watergate cover-up started to unravel, 71 percent of Americans had at least a fair amount of confidence in the legal system. In the weeks after Mr. Nixon’s pardon, the share of people who felt that way fell to 67 percent. A year later it was down to 64 percent. That growing sense of disillusionment can’t be explained purely by the failure to bring Mr. Nixon to trial. But a revealing set of long-forgotten surveys suggests that it played a part.
In 1971 the Roper Organization, then one of the nation’s leading pollsters, asked a randomly selected sample of adults to say which groups the courts treated too leniently. Respondents put “dope peddlers” at the top of the list, followed by “heroin users,” “marijuana users” and “revolutionists, anarchists, agitators” — almost precisely the people Mr. Nixon had promised to bring to justice by restoring law and order. Roper asked the same question two years after he was pardoned. “Dope peddlers” came in first again. “Government officials” was second.
Americans’ view of the Nixon pardon gradually softened, while their underlying distrust of the legal system solidified, a dynamic undoubtedly driven by the nation’s rapidly rising levels of economic inequality. When Roper revived its question in 1987, government officials still ranked right behind drug dealers as the group most likely to get special treatment in court. This time, “top business executives” finished fourth (tied with “marijuana users” and “frequent offenders”), barely below “heroin users.” There the public’s perception remained, as the wealth gap widened and the apparently endless war on crime locked up a greater and greater share of the nation’s poor.
By 2001, as indicated in a poll from Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research/American Viewpoint, 62 percent of Americans had come to believe that there were two justice systems in the United States: one for the rich and powerful and another for everyone else. By 2019, in a similarly worded question from a Willow poll, that figure had reached 70 percent, just a point below the proportion of people who had confidence in the courts in the spring of 1974.
Since then, the cracks that run through the system have been torn wide open by the 2020 protests against police brutality and the fierce law-and-order response that the Trump administration mounted against them — combat-ready federal agents on the streets of Portland, Ore., tear gas in Lafayette Square in Washington. Add to that pile of tinder Mr. Trump’s manic subversion of the electoral process and the peaceful and effective transfer of power, which has led to three of the four criminal cases he’s facing.
Mr. Trump has met the charges against him with a blatant display of the privileges that wealth and power create. Over the past two years, he has spent about $76 million of other people’s money on legal fees, much of it to pay for motions and appeals that have stalled the three most damning cases from coming to trial. He persuaded the Supreme Court to treat his immunity claim — far more sweeping than Mr. Nixon’s — with a deference, at least in oral arguments, greatly out of step with the precedents the lower courts followed.
Perhaps most striking, Mr. Trump repeatedly ignored the gag orders that prohibit him from publicly attacking judges, clerks, prosecutors and witnesses — as well as their families — because he seems to believe he can do whatever he wants without fear of consequences. (On Tuesday he was held in contempt of court by Justice Merchan on nine counts and fined $9,000.) All the while, he’s marched toward the Republican nomination with a campaign infused with yet another version of law-and-order politics, this one focused on undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers rather than dope peddlers and drug addicts.
Now he’s spending his days at the defendant’s table, glowering at the judge whose daughter he endangered, as prosecutors working for the district attorney whom he has called an “animal” and a “criminal” lay out the lurid case against him. However the trial unfolds, it’s unlikely to change many people’s opinions of Mr. Trump — or of the legal system.
In polling, almost half of registered voters said they thought the charges Mr. Trump faces were politically motivated, and over two-thirds said that the outcome wouldn’t change their votes or that they would be more likely to vote for him if he was convicted.
No verdict in the Manhattan Trump case can undo the disillusionment with the system of justice that followed Mr. Ford’s pardon of Mr. Nixon. But the trial can, in its imperfect way, right the wrong of half a century ago, when the system last had its chance to prove that even the most powerful man in America is subject to its laws — especially when that man is so eager to take advantage of the politics of law and order. And there is a measure of justice in that.

American Academia
Samir AtallahAsharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
Joe Biden had to make an appearance in order to justify what is prohibited by international norms: the storming of a university campus.
This was not about a public demonstration in London or Paris. The university was in America. These institutions took the United States to the forefront of nations.
There are many universities in China, Russia, and India, but none are Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, and MIT. Not in Germany, not in France.
This institution is mostly the face of America, and the other face of Israel. When the world was promoting Henry Kissinger, he was praised as a professor at Harvard. When John Kennedy presented his values to the Americans, he boasted about being a Harvard graduate.
The fact that American academia protested against Israel instead of supporting it is a terrifying historical event for both sides. Israel cannot bear to see such a transformation in the country that acts as the primary guarantee of its existence. What begins in American universities may expand to European ones, which happened in the famous 1968 revolution. What students initiate is usually followed by professors, not the other way around.
Everyone owes all this amazing change in US society to an American man from Brooklyn, called Netanyahu. The Arabs spent millions of dollars to convince the Americans that the victims were the Palestinians, but they did not gain a greater supporter than George Galloway.
Netanyahu turned the world in favor of Palestine. He unleashed all brutalities in Gaza and has yet to stop. He bombed it with the equivalent of a number of atomic bombs and did not stop. He threw its people towards death, hunger, desolation, destruction and tragedy, and still summons reserve troops.
American academia was late in taking a courageous moral stance against the imitators of Nazi barbarism and genocidal lusts, and if it must be held accountable for something, it is for its failure to stop the murderous gang and the extermination government in the Israeli war cabinet.
Thirty-seven boys and girls lose their mothers in Gaza every day. 1.7 million people are threatened by famine. The good Guterres incessantly warns every day that Netanyahu’s massacres will reach an extent that humanity has never seen before, even at the peak of Nazi brutality.
Official international bodies. Academic institutions around the world. Respected and free press institutions. Independent countries. Relevant global organizations such as the World Health Organization, and finally the International Criminal Court; They all stand against the intensifying Israeli oppression in Gaza.
Mr. Biden will not be able to control universities in America, nor is Mr. Trump capable of convincing anyone that all of this is a Hamas issue. Both of them, the president and the candidate, are now facing the masses. We don’t know how long the people will be able to endure this scene.

Britain: Will Sunak Pay the Price for the Defeat?
Jumah BouklebAsharq Al Awsat/May 05/2024
The mayoral and council elections in England and Wales ended last Thursday, and the results aligned with pollsters’ projections that the ruling Conservative Party would suffer a significant defeat. Quickly and confidently, the opposition Labour Party climbed over the Conservatives’ shoulders and took in its victory. If the results are replicated in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Labour has cleared its path to 10 Downing Street. It is worth noting that every party but the Conservatives managed to increase their number of council seats. The Conservatives lost nearly half of their local council seats and suffered a humiliating parliamentary by-election defeat in Blackpool South to the Labour Party by a large margin. According to commentators, the elections are significant because of the reactions they could stir in Conservative Party circles, especially their implications for the British Prime Minister and Conservative Party Leader Rishi Sunak. A few days before the election date, I read a statement British Home Secretary James Cleverly had made to the media warning Conservative MPs against the repercussions of ousting and replacing Mr. Sunak after the election results came out. The statement shows that Cleverly had anticipated the striking magnitude of the Conservatives' defeat and that he knew it would concern many Conservative Party officials and MPs, encouraging them to hastily take a risky political gamble.
It's evident from the statement and its timing that Cleverly is well aware of what is happening behind closed doors. He has clearly been briefed on the reported plot by groups of (mostly far-right) Conservative MPs who support former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Losers have nothing to fear from another loss. This is true for life in general, and it is particularly true for politics. None of the Conservative MPs, who are threatened with losing their seats in the upcoming elections, would disagree. Accordingly, many Conservative MPs will not hesitate to seize any opportunity to throw the dice one last time, hoping for good luck and a win, or at least to minimize their electoral defeat. Of course, it will not be too difficult to find opportunists who are ready to lead the plot and volunteer to wield the dagger and stab Prime Minister Sunak in the back. Indeed, conventional wisdom tells us that if the loser has nothing to fear, gamblers have an opportunity to win, if not the parliamentary elections, then the party leadership. After that, all bets are off!
Despite its dazzling lights, the world of politics remains a dark and frightening place that the faint-hearted should avoid. In the hallways of British politics in general, and those of the Conservative Party in particular, this obscurity seems particularly pronounced. The bright lights conceal tense struggles between different parties that represent competing and conflicting interests. Each of them seeks to hold the levers of power and protect their interests, and to all of them, "the end justifies the means.”
If the price of maintaining the current status quo and avoiding electoral defeat demands nothing more than removing the Conservative leader and replacing him, then the problem would seem to have been solved. However, the Conservatives would not solve their problems by getting rid of Mr. Sunak. Their actual problem is that parliamentary elections are not far off. The noose around their neck is becoming tighter every day. They do not have the time to orchestrate and implement a plan to avert a painful electoral fate that could mirror that which they suffered at the hands of New Labour and Sir Tony Blair in 1997.

Peace, unity and challenges for the EU on Europe Day
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/May 05, 2024
Europe Day will be marked this week. This is a day that symbolizes peace and unity across the continent, as well as the imperative to acknowledge the multifaceted challenges the people of Europe face.
While the EU has made remarkable strides in fostering collaboration and solidarity over many decades, recent surveys and real-world developments underscore critical areas where progress remains elusive. Among these challenges, three stand out: economic pressures, environmental sustainability and immigration policies. These issues not only demand attention but also necessitate collective action and innovative solutions to ensure a future where peace and unity thrive alongside prosperity and justice.
First and foremost, economic concerns loom large over Europe, casting a shadow over the bloc’s aspirations for stability and growth. The rising cost of living, escalating prices and inflationary pressures have become recurrent themes in the daily lives of millions. Some families grapple with stretched budgets, workers feel the squeeze of stagnant wages and small businesses strain under the weight of mounting expenses.
Of course, the roots of these economic challenges are complex and are intertwined with global market dynamics, geopolitical uncertainties such as the Russia-Ukraine war and domestic policy choices. However, what is evident is the urgent need for policies that prioritize growth, the equitable distribution of wealth and resilience in the face of economic turbulence.
Moreover, as Europe confronts the realities of climate change, environmental sustainability emerges as another paramount concern. The specter of environmental degradation looms large, fueled by carbon emissions, deforestation and pollution. As we have seen, from extreme weather events to biodiversity loss, the consequences of ecological neglect transcend national boundaries.
As Europe confronts the realities of climate change, environmental sustainability emerges as a paramount concern
A report issued by the European Environment Agency last month sounded the alarm for Europe, emphasizing the pressing need for more robust action to address the risks posed by climate change. Its assessment underscored the imperative for immediate and decisive measures to confront the escalating threats to the environment and society. The report also served as a critical reminder of the challenges ahead, urging policymakers and stakeholders to prioritize sustainability, resilience and innovation in their responses to the climate crisis.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, EU citizens have increasingly demanded decisive action from their leaders. The transition to a green economy, powered by renewable energy sources and guided by the principles of sustainability, holds the promise of not only mitigating climate change but also fostering innovation, job creation and social well-being. Yet, achieving these ambitious goals requires bold policy initiatives, continuous and increasing investments in green technologies and international cooperation on an unprecedented scale.
Last but not least, the issue of immigration remains divisive and contentious, testing the unity and solidarity of the European project. Against the backdrop of geopolitical upheavals, armed conflicts and humanitarian crises, the EU finds itself at a crossroads, torn between its humanitarian values and the pressures of managing migration flows. A March Euronews poll conducted by Ipsos revealed a sobering reality: a majority of Europeans harbor negative sentiments toward the EU’s handling of its migration policy.
It seems that this sentiment underscores deep-seated anxieties regarding cultural identity, social cohesion and economic security. While migration enriches Europe’s cultural tapestry and fills critical labor gaps, it also poses challenges in terms of integration, social cohesion and resource allocation. Striking a balance between pragmatism and compassion is essential as the EU navigates the complexities of migration governance, border management and refugee protection.
In confronting these challenges, the EU must continue drawing on the spirit of solidarity and cooperation that underpins its founding principles. The bloc, which was born from the ashes of war and strife, stands as a testament to the transformative power of unity in diversity. Now, as it grapples with the uncertainties of the 21st century, Brussels must reaffirm its commitment to collective action and shared prosperity.
The issue of immigration remains divisive and contentious, testing the unity and solidarity of the European project
But this requires visionary leadership, bold policy choices and meaningful engagement with citizens, civil society and stakeholders across the board.
One crucial avenue for addressing these challenges lies in the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, slated to be held between June 6 and June 9. These elections represent a pivotal moment for Europeans, offering citizens the opportunity to shape the future direction of the EU. Voters can scrutinize the policies, priorities and platforms of candidates and subsequently hold them accountable for their commitments to addressing pressing issues such as economic inequality, environmental degradation and migration governance. Moreover, this serves as an important reminder of the importance of civic engagement in Europe.
Beyond the realm of electoral politics in the EU, meaningful change also requires grassroots mobilization, civic activism and cross-border solidarity. Civil society organizations, grassroots movements and youth initiatives play a vital role in driving social change, raising awareness and holding institutions to account. In other words, by harnessing the power of collective action, European citizens can amplify their voices, challenge entrenched interests and advocate for policies that prioritize the common good over narrow interests.
In a nutshell, as the EU celebrates peace and unity on Europe Day on Thursday, it must also confront the challenges that threaten to undermine its hard-won achievements. By fostering economic prosperity, safeguarding the environment and embracing diversity, the bloc can chart a course toward a future where peace, justice and solidarity prevail. This journey will undoubtedly be fraught with obstacles and setbacks but, as history has shown, the European spirit is resilient, adaptive and indomitable. Europe Day serves as a reminder of the shared values, aspirations and responsibilities that bind Europeans.
• Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh