Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 11-12/2024
Man killed as Lebanese troops raid people smugglers on Syrian border
Hezbollah fires salvos of rockets at north Israel in response to strike on civilians
Israeli strike in south Lebanon kills technician fixing phone tower, sources told
Lebanon’s Hotels Hit Hardest by War in the South, Businesses Mourn Lost Season
Inside Lebanon: Evaluating the European Union's one billion euro aid offer
One Dead in an Exchange of Fire Between Army and Syrian Smugglers
Arrest of a Gang Smuggling Syrians into Lebanon in Jbeil
Hachem to LBCI: The issue of the presidency is not linked to the Gaza war or the South Lebanon conflict
MP Aoun to LBCI: Strengthening security apparatus to protect maritime borders is among goals of financial aid
Hezbollah deputy leader says South Lebanon's sacrifices halt Israel's plans, Gaza support sets new regional standard
Syrian Workers in Lebanon: Legal Status and Deportation Challenges
Challenges and Initiatives in Managing the Syrian Presence in Lebanon
Religious authorities go after comedian Shaden Fakih over prayers sketch
Tribute to Dr. Robert Sacy: Limitless Empathy
The Feghalis Embark on the Conquest of the Spring Rally
Mseitbeh 1970: A Missed Encounter with the Virgin Mary
Basketball: La Sagesse’s Narrow Victory

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 11-12/2024
Israel strikes Gaza as more Rafah evacuations ordered
Israeli Military Escalates Operations in Gaza: Targets and Evacuations
Hamas says another Israeli hostage held in Gaza is dead
Hamas releases video of Israeli-British hostage held in Gaza
Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate from more areas of Gaza's Rafah
White House: Gaps on Gaza Ceasefire Can Still Be Surmounted
Global Support for Palestinian Rights: UN Resolution Highlights Symbolic Step
Netanyahu Trades Insults With Colombia President Over Gaza War
Kuwait's Emir Dissolves Parliament: An Unprecedented Political Shift
Russia claims more advances after Ukraine ground offensive

Titles For The Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 11-12/2024
Iran's Mullahs Desperate for Nuclear Weapons, Do Not Believe Anything Else/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/May 11, 2024
The right to protest is sacrosanct but not all methods of doing so are legitimate/Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/May 11/2024
Gulf states on track with renewable energy investments/Zaid M. Belbagi/Arab News/May 11/2024
Netanyahu and his extremist allies are endangering Israel’s long-term security/Richard J. Davis/CNN/May 11/2024
Euro-Chinese relations changed a lot in the 5 years between President Xi’s visits/Andrew Hammond/Arab News/May 11/2024
Condorcet Gets a Keffiyeh/Amir Taheri/Asharq Al-Awsat/May 11/2024

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 11-12/2024
Man killed as Lebanese troops raid people smugglers on Syrian border
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/May 11, 2024
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Interior Ministry says it will implement a security plan in Beirut in coming days amid fears over the large number of illegal weapons and growing lawlessness in areas of the city and surrounding neighborhoods. Security forces have been told to recruit 800 extra personnel as part of the clampdown, the ministry said. The security plan was announced as Lebanon’s General Security Directorate said it is cracking down on Syrian nationals who remain in the country illegally. The directorate told Syrian nationals who have violated the country’s entry and residence regulations to “regularize their status and leave Lebanese territory” by heading to border departments and centers immediately. Those who ignore the order will face legal action, the statement warned. Lebanese Army Command said on Saturday that an army unit, with support from the General Intelligence Directorate, detained several men in an operation targeting people smugglers in Deir Al-Aachayer in the Bekaa region. A Syrian national who attacked troops with a spear was shot and later died in hospital from his wounds, the army said. People traffickers and goods smugglers have long been a problem in the area, which overlaps Syrian territory, according to the army. Authorities are also cracking down on illegal Syrian-owned institutions and shops, as well as businesses that employ foreign workers in violation of regulations and laws. Media reports said the General Security Directorate will no longer grant residency permits to Syrian family members sponsored by Lebanese citizens in Lebanon. Lebanon’s caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said during a meeting in Beirut that the Syrian presence “plays a fundamental role in putting pressure on security in Lebanon.” He said that after “arduous negotiations,” the UN Refugee Agency revealed almost 1.5 million Syrians were in Lebanon “with unclear reasons for their asylum and entry dates.” However, Lebanon estimates there are at least 2.3 million Syrian refugees in the country, most of whom are “economic refugees, not security or political refugees,” according to Mawlawi.
He said that Lebanon “cannot tolerate any economic asylum.”Lebanese authorities have urged citizens not to employ, shelter, or provide accommodation for Syrians residing illegally in in the country. Violators face administrative and judicial procedures. The General Security Directorate also warned Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR against engaging in paid work outside their designated sectors. In recent months, there has been a sharp rise in the number of murders, kidnappings, and thefts in Lebanon. Incidents have been particularly prevalent on the road to Beirut Airport and in the border area with Syria, where illegal crossings are common. According to Interior Ministry statistics, a significant proportion of the perpetrators are Syrian, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the total detainees.
The recent killing of Pascal Sleiman, the coordinator of the Lebanese Forces Party, intensified animosity toward the Syrian presence in Lebanon. Mawlawi said that Beirut and its suburbs, especially the road to Rafic Hariri International Airport, “will witness a security plan aimed at reassuring the people of Beirut and its residents, and restoring stability.” The Lebanese government has declared that any Syrian who entered Lebanese territory after 2019 is considered to be illegally present in the country. It plans to send all those who arrived after 2019 back to Syria, except detainees who may be at risk if they return. Lebanon received a €1 billion aid package early this month from the European Commission to bolster its border controls and help stem refugee flows to Europe. The financing will be available from the current year until 2027. However, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said there was a difference between registered refugees and those who entered Lebanon illegally and are facing deportation. Mikati held talks in Lebanon in early May with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. He pushed for recognition from Europe and the international community that most areas in Syria are now safe, which would facilitate refugees’ return home. Independent MP Ghassan Skaf said the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon has become an “existential threat, and there is now a consensus about the issue.” However, he said that dealing with the problem “must be far from populism and hate speech.”

Hezbollah fires salvos of rockets at north Israel in response to strike on civilians
Agence France Presse/May 11/2024
Hezbollah has said it fired Katyusha rockets at Israel in retaliation for strikes that killed two people in the south of the country. Israel and Hamas ally Hezbollah have exchanged near-daily cross-border fire following the Palestinian group's October 7 attack on southern Israel that sparked war in Gaza. Hezbollah fighters fired "a salvo of Katyusha rockets" at Israel's north "in response to the Israeli enemy's attacks on... civilians, most recently in Tayr Harfa," the group said in a statement. In a separate statement, the group also claimed a rocket salvo on an army base in northern Israel, later saying its fighters launched a second attack with "dozens of Katyusha rockets" at troops who were assessing the damage at the base. Earlier Friday, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) said a first responder from a rescue group affiliated with a Hezbollah-allied movement and a telecoms technician were killed "as a result of the Israeli aggression on Tayr Harfa."The rescuer belonged to the Risala Scout association, affiliated to the Amal movement, while the technician worked for Power Tec, which undertakes maintenance work for mobile service provider Touch. The technician and colleagues from Ogero telecom provider were carrying out "maintenance on the transmission poles," the NNA said, adding they had sought permission from the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, or UNIFIL. The Risala Scout association, which operates in south Lebanon, said the rescuer was killed when his team went to a location that had come under Israeli bombardment. "The second strike came quickly, and one of the young men was martyred," a source from the association told AFP. A source within Touch said the strike hit a team that had been doing maintenance work in Tayr Haifa. "We lost communications with them because the station was hit," the source told AFP, requesting anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. "There were people from our team and from another company that does maintenance work for us, and there were also paramedics," the source added. At least 402 people have been killed in Lebanon in seven months of cross-border violence, mostly militants but also including 79 civilians, according to an AFP tally. Israel says 14 soldiers and nine civilians have been killed on its side of the border. Three of the soldiers were killed this week, one of them on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides.

Israeli strike in south Lebanon kills technician fixing phone tower, sources told
Reuters/May 11/2024
An Israeli strike on a village in south Lebanon killed a Lebanese technician contracted by a telecoms company to fix a phone tower, Lebanon's telecoms minister told Reuters on Friday. The same strike also killed a medic from a civilian rescue force affiliated with the Amal Movement, an ally of the Shi'ite Muslim armed group Hezbollah, the minister and security sources said. Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has been running in parallel to the seven-month-long war in Gaza, in the most intense confrontation since the two sides fought a war in 2006. Both sides stepped up their bombardments this week, fuelling concerns of a bigger war between the heavily-armed adversaries. Friday's strike on the village of Teir Harfa hit a team of technicians contracted by Lebanese telecoms company Touch as they were attempting to repair the power generator at a telecoms tower, telecoms minister Johnny Corm told Reuters. They were accompanied by medics and Lebanese army soldiers. Separate strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday killed a fighter from Hezbollah as well as two Palestinian fighters, security sources told Reuters. Several Palestinian factions have armed elements based in Lebanon and have fired rockets at Israel from there. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on Friday's strikes. Israel's bombardment of southern Lebanon has killed more than 270 Hezbollah fighters, more than 30 Palestinian fighters and more than 70 civilians, including children, medics and journalists. Rockets from Hezbollah and other groups have killed more than a dozen Israeli troops and about half as many civilians. Hezbollah has repeatedly said it would cease fire when the Israeli offensive in Gaza stopped, but that it was also ready to fight on if Israel continued to attack Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Hotels Hit Hardest by War in the South, Businesses Mourn Lost Season
Beirut: Caroline Akoum/Asharq Al-Awsat/May 11/2024
The mood is somber in Lebanon's tourism industry as leaders look ahead to the summer season. Reflecting on the promising summer of 2023, which followed three years of setbacks, they are now losing hope for a rebound, especially with the threat of war in the south casting a shadow. Israeli predictions suggest a hot summer ahead for Lebanon, adding to concern about tourism. Pierre Ashkar, who heads the Hotel Owners Syndicate, says hotel bookings have been practically non-existent since October. He blames this on the expected heat and ongoing conflict in the south. Ashkar noted that many hotels, especially in Beirut, are partially closed without official announcements. In Mount Lebanon, about 90% of hotels are mostly shut down, though their owners haven’t made it public. This has led to fewer staff, with uncertainty about what’s next. Reflecting on last year’s summer season, Ashkar recalled it as “excellent” after years of struggle. He attributed this success to a significant influx of foreign tourists. However, he now acknowledged a bleak outlook due to embassy warnings against travel to Lebanon, which discourages potential visitors. Ashkar stressed that a ceasefire announcement would quickly improve the situation. “This and next month are crucial for Lebanon’s tourism. If the war stops, we'll see a surge in bookings. But if it continues, we’ll lose the summer season gradually,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat. Highlighting Lebanon’s heavy reliance on tourism, which contributes 40% to the GDP, Ashkar warns of significant losses if the security situation in the south remains unstable or deteriorates due to war. “Tourism drives Lebanon’s economy. If the season falters, it will hurt the flow of foreign currency, slow down spending, and lead to job losses, especially for young people,” warned economic expert Walid Abu Sleiman. Assessing the losses, Abu Sleiman noted that direct tourism revenues last year reached about $3.5 billion. He estimated losses in the sector during the eight-month war at around $200 million, with restaurants and cafes hit hard, and hotels suffering the most.

Inside Lebanon: Evaluating the European Union's one billion euro aid offer
LBCI/May 11/2024
The issue of the one billion euro offered by the European Union to Lebanon remains a central topic of internal discussion. After Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed the matter, what does the European Union say? An EU official affirmed to LBCI that these funds are for Lebanon's assistance in enhancing essential services, including healthcare, education, and border control, both maritime and land. During a meeting with journalists, the EU official revealed that discussions are ongoing with officials in Lebanon to identify the projects to which the one billion euro will be allocated. Responding to concerns about EU oversight regarding the expenditure of funds to prevent corruption, the EU official assured that the spending process would undergo monitoring by NGOs and international organizations. This monitoring would involve regular financial reporting, financial audits, and monitoring of implementation. Within Lebanon, there are accusations against the European Union of using these projects to support the continued presence of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The EU official asserts that all of the EU's efforts at this stage focus on supporting both refugees and host countries alike, noting that a significant number of Lebanese also benefit from these projects. Regarding the issue of seasonal migration for Lebanese to Europe, as mentioned by Mikati, the EU official confirms that this matter will be discussed later.

One Dead in an Exchange of Fire Between Army and Syrian Smugglers
This is Beirut/May 11/2024
An exchange of fire took place on Saturday morning between the border patrol in the Lebanese army and Syrian smugglers in Deir al-Ashayer, on the western border with Syria. It resulted in the death of one person and the injury of another who was transferred to Rashaya Governmental Hospital. Earlier in the morning, the night guards in the municipality of Jbeil arrested a Syrian gang for smuggling Syrians into Lebanon through the border in an innovative way. In detail, the Syrian smuggler transported two women and two children to the Syrian border – in the Arida area, stamped their papers, escorted them out of Syria, then handed them over to a Lebanese driver before they reached the lebanese border. Subsequently, the first driver stamped his own identity papers at the Lebanese border and returned to collect his passengers from the Lebanese driver, before heading towards Jbeil.
It was reported that the two women and children have relatives working in a commercial store in Jbeil. An investigation by the relevant security services is ongoing to ascertain all the details.

Arrest of a Gang Smuggling Syrians into Lebanon in Jbeil
This is Beirut/May 11/2024
The night guards in the municipality of Jbeil arrested a Syrian gang on Saturday morning for smuggling Syrians into Lebanon through the border in an innovative way. In detail, the Syrian smuggler transported two women and two children to the Syrian border – in the Arida area, stamped their papers, escorted them out of Syria, but handed them over to a Lebanese driver before they reached the lebanese border. Subsequently, the first driver stamped his own identity papers at the Lebanese border and returned to collect his passengers from the Lebanese driver, before heading towards Jbeil. It was reported that the two women and children have relatives working in a commercial store in Jbeil. An investigation by the relevant security services is ongoing to ascertain all the details.

Hachem to LBCI: The issue of the presidency is not linked to the Gaza war or the South Lebanon conflict
LBCI/May 11/2024
Member of the Development and Liberation Bloc MP Kassem Hachem emphasized that there is steady contact between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at all times and under all circumstances, whenever necessary. He affirmed that this is the principle of cooperation between the country's authorities. Regarding the one billion euro aid package provided by the European Union, Hachem pointed out that this amount is extended over four years, noting that Lebanon used to receive around 160 to 170 million euros annually as part of the aid that used to reach the country. On LBCI's "Nharkom Said" TV show, he said: "It can be said today that the Syrian refugee file is the only issue that has received almost unanimous Lebanese consensus and has become a national issue for all Lebanese." He added: "Everyone has made their decision to discuss this issue and the necessity to approach it from a 'national interest' standpoint."Hachem believed that the Brussels Conference, in the absence of the concerned party, denoting the Syrian government, "has no meaning."Regarding the relationship with Syria, he said: "Syria represents our strategic depth," noting that there is a new interest: Addressing the Syrian refugee issue. MP Kassem Hachem affirmed that addressing the issue of displaced persons can only be done through direct communication with the Syrian government. On the other hand, he stressed that the issue of the presidency is not linked to the war in Gaza or what is happening in southern Lebanon.

MP Aoun to LBCI: Strengthening security apparatus to protect maritime borders is among goals of financial aid
LBCI/May 11/2024
MP Salim Aoun has affirmed that the Strong Lebanon bloc meeting with the caretaker Prime Minister did not set high expectations. On LBCI's "Nharkom Said" TV show, Aoun explained that external decisions are hindering the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland. "Syrian [individuals], just like Lebanese, are victims," he stated. Aoun disclosed that one of the financial aid's aims is to bolster Lebanon's security apparatus to safeguard maritime borders, thereby deterring refugees from migrating to Europe.In the forthcoming session on Wednesday, he emphasized that all parliamentary blocs should unite on a unified stance, compelling the government to adhere to it. In addition, Aoun highlighted that the "Free Patriotic Movement" opposes how the South Lebanon conflict is being managed, due to the country's "lowered" capabilities compared to the 2006 war. He remarked, "We will not fear the destruction of a bridge, a station, or others if Israel attacks us, but engaging in a conflict under the 'unity of the arenas' slogan is something Lebanon cannot afford."

Hezbollah deputy leader says South Lebanon's sacrifices halt Israel's plans, Gaza support sets new regional standard
LBCI/May 11/2024
Sheikh Naim Qassem, the Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah, stated that the "sacrifices" made in southern Lebanon have stopped Israel's plans in Lebanon for the coming years. During a ceremony held in Beirut, he reported there are no more Israeli settlements or colonies in southern Lebanon and no presidential elections "influenced by Israel."He stressed that the "exaggerated" statements made out by some Israeli leaders will not make a difference because the resistance is committed to defending Lebanon, regardless of the required sacrifices. Sheikh Naim Qassem said, "You tried in the past and were defeated, and if you try now, you will also be defeated." He considered that supporting Gaza has created a new "benchmark" in the region, stating that, similar to how the "United States has its center of power marked by 'oppression and violence,' the oppressed also have their united center characterized by loyalty, unity, and mutual support."He announced that they would show their vision in southern Lebanon after a complete ceasefire is achieved in Gaza.

Syrian Workers in Lebanon: Legal Status and Deportation Challenges
LBCI/May 11/2024
Roughly 400,000 Syrian workers comprise the labor market in Lebanon, according to data from the General Security agency. This number significantly falls short of the total Syrian population residing in Lebanese territories. Among these individuals are those who have legal residency status, while others remain in the country through illegal means.
Who are these Syrians staying illegally?
This category includes displaced and non-displaced Syrians, categorized into those who entered Lebanon clandestinely since the start of the war in Syria, and those who initially entered legally but later found themselves in unlawful status due to violations of the residency system:
Those who failed to renew their residency permits.
Those possessing a residency type that the General Security recently suspended, including cases where residency was revoked from Syrian family members sponsored by Lebanese nationals, as per information made available to LBCI.
Additionally, there are Syrians working without official work permits from the Ministry of Labor.
The General Security sources assert that they actively deport these individuals upon proving their legal violations, confirming that this task is carried out with high engagement, given the limited number of General Security personnel across Lebanese territories, not exceeding 6,000.
How is deportation conducted in such cases?
Each case is individually assessed by the General Security. Any Syrian found to have entered the country illegally will face deportation.
If a Syrian violates residency and work permit regulations, their case is transferred to the judiciary, which decides either to deport them by court order or allows them to settle their legal status if they are deemed essential to the labor market.
The deportation process is coordinated between the Lebanese General Security and Syrian authorities. Upon the issuance of a deportation order, the General Security communicates with Syrian authorities and UNHCR to confirm that the Syrian is not wanted in their home country and can safely return.
Accordingly, they are handed over to the Syrian Immigration and Passports Administration at the border.
But what about the Syrians whose return to their homeland could pose a threat to their lives?
General Security sources emphasize that such individuals cannot be returned to their country because Lebanon is a signatory to the Convention against Torture and upholds human rights laws, refusing to endanger the lives of any displaced persons. Consequently, these individuals are kept detained by the General Security, while UNHCR is tasked with finding a third-country asylum solution for them.
Moreover, what about Syrians lacking proper documentation?
Sources from the Syrian Embassy in Lebanon confirm that in collaboration with the General Security, they work on resolving the status of those lacking proper documentation. Syrians in this situation may have their official documents issued either directly by the embassy or by specialized Syrian authorities. The sources further state that Syrian authorities accept any Syrian issued with a deportation order and welcome their return to their homeland.

Challenges and Initiatives in Managing the Syrian Presence in Lebanon
LBCI/May 11/2024
The political rift between the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and the Lebanese Forces (LF) has disrupted, as described by Governor of the North, Ramzi Nohra, the gathering of Syrian refugees or the Syrian presence as he called it.
Despite the wide political divide between the two sides, the economic and political stability of Batroun was through the launching a plan to organize the Syrian displacement.
In the Batroun district, there are 10,000 Syrians according to the last census of the municipalities of the Batroun district.
More than half of them under 18 years old.
In public schools, there are 2200 Syrian students compared to 1600 Lebanese students.
The largest gatherings of Syrian refugees in the Batroun district are distributed as follows:
Batroun City 1450
Kouba 1010
Jran 470
Kfar Hilda 505
Shekka between 700 and 1000
There are more than a political message to the municipalities, not to give up the interests of their towns for some election votes benefiting from the employment of Syrians residing in Lebanon illegally
However, they are aware of the importance of the Syrian workforce for the Lebanese economy and therefore, the most prominent thing on which the plan is based is:
- Organizing housing to prevent living in one place for more than one family
- Consideration of the type of work allowed, and providing a sponsor
- Schools are required not to register any non-Lebanese student who does not meet legal conditions
- Banning street vendors
- Prohibition of entry for associations without municipal approval
It is known that the concerned parties say that their goal is to organize the presence in the district. As for the destination to which any violator is transferred, it is not their responsibility, but the responsibility of the state.
In light of the existential threat posed by the chaos of the Syrian presence, the goal of the plan remains to organize this Syrian presence, not to expel the Syrians.
In terms of form, the plan is practical, but it remains ink on paper unless it receives judicial cover to keep pace with the control of violations and the commitment of security agencies to support municipalities.

Religious authorities go after comedian Shaden Fakih over prayers sketch
Agence France Presse/May 11/2024
Lebanon's Muslim religious authorities have filed complaints against a stand-up comedian and LGBTQ rights activist, after a sketch of hers about Friday prayers sparked controversy online. Openly gay Lebanese comedian Shaden Fakih has amassed a large online following for her jabs at religious authorities and the sectarian factions that have long dominated the country's politics. But her sometimes crude jokes have also angered many Lebanese, despite the country's reputation as one of the Arab world's most tolerant societies. On Friday, the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council filed a criminal complaint against Fakih for "the crimes of blasphemy, insulting religious rituals and stirring sectarian... strife," the state-run National News Agency reported. Islamist lawmaker Imad Hout also filed a complaint against her, NNA said. On Thursday, Lebanon's grand mufti, Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan, ordered top Sunni religious authority Dar al-Fatwa to file a complaint against Fakih for "insult and blasphemy against the divine glory and Prophet Mohammed."Dar al-Fatwa also accused her of "inciting religious and sectarian strife," and "undermining national unity," NNA said. A judicial source told AFP the judiciary had not yet looked into the complaints against Fakih because the competent judge was still abroad. Rights activists expressed outrage that Fakih was being threatened with prosecution for simply expressing her opinions. "The idea that someone could be arrested... harassed and subjected to death threats just for expressing views that may contradict certain societal norms... is unacceptable," said Jad Shahrour of Beirut's Skeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom. In August, Lebanese stand-up comedian Nour Hajjar was briefly arrested over a joke he made five years ago, days after he was detained over another quip. In 2021, Fakih was summoned by a military court on charges of "insulting" the Internal Security Forces and "harming" their reputation.

Tribute to Dr. Robert Sacy: Limitless Empathy
Alissar Boulos/This is Beirut/May 11/2024
Lebanon and its children mourn the loss of an emblematic figure in medicine, care and benevolence with the passing of Dr. Robert Sacy.
His departure leaves a profound void in Lebanon’s charitable sector and pediatric healthcare, as well as in the hearts of all who knew him, touched by his compassion and dedication. Dr. Sacy pursued his medical studies at Saint Joseph University in Beirut and specialized at the same university and at Necker Hospital for Sick Children in Paris. For many years, Dr. Robert Sacy served as a pediatrician at Saint-Georges Hospital University Medical Center (SGHUMC), where he led the pediatric care department. There, he founded Cap-Ho (Pediatric Assistance Committee-Orthodox Hospital) in 1995 with a team of dedicated female volunteers. Their mission: to ensure that no patient would be turned away due to financial constraints or lack of space. “He was a deeply humane physician, remarkably approachable, and possessed an excellent knowledge of his profession. Sweet and kind with children, he also provided reassurance to parents. He joked with the patients to create a relaxed atmosphere,” recounts the mother of one of his patients to This is Beirut.
Yet, it was his momentum of solidarity towards the underprivileged that drove him to go even further. In 2016, he founded a pediatric wing at the Governmental Hospital of Beirut – Quarantine, made possible by contributions from the Carlos Slim Foundation, among others. It allows patients to receive treatment without any consideration of their financial status, documentation or nationality. This pediatric wing, which he established in 2015, operates under the umbrella of the Mother and Child Care Association Health Center (Assameh, Birth and Beyond). “He was the pediatrician of two or three generations of children,” asserts Mrs. Neda Farah, a committee member of the Association, to This is Beirut. The hospital, ravaged on August 4, was one of the most important pediatric facilities, annually welcoming between 800 and 1,000 patients under the age of 18. The hospital’s operations were sustained by donations from individuals, associations and foreign countries. Thanks to Dr. Sacy’s courageous leadership and determination, the hospital was renovated in 2023, and these donations also enabled the acquisition of cutting-edge equipment and materials. “This hospital is very well-stocked and competes with the best healthcare institutions,” says Farah. “Dr. Sacy received countless sick children who couldn’t afford healthcare; he even rescued many ‘rubbish children’.” Just a month ago, Dr. Sacy was honored by all his friends who gathered to express their gratitude. “He’s someone who has extensively worked for Lebanon; he has performed a colossal task,” concludes Farah. Today, we bid farewell to an exceptional man who was “a man of values, an irreplaceable one,” according to one of his friends, interviewed by This is Beirut. One day before his passing, Dr. Sacy posted a quote by Jean d’Ormesson on his Facebook page: “Men are truly great only through their dreams and convictions. What elevates them beyond themselves is faith, science, beauty, concern for justice or truth, love for their homeland, and for the miserable.”A quote that reflects the life journey of Robert Sacy, acknowledging that his legacy will persist through the lives he has touched and uplifted.
*Dr. Sacy is survived by his wife, Nicole, and daughter, Kim. His passing leaves a grieving family, friends, colleagues and especially patients, who are all better individuals for having known him.

The Feghalis Embark on the Conquest of the Spring Rally
Makram Haddad/This is Beirut/May 11/2024
The 39th Spring Rally of the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) promises thrilling action this weekend, especially as an epic duel between Lebanese champion Roger Feghali and his son Alex looms on the horizon. The National Sporting Authority (ASN), under the auspices of the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL), will kick off the new rally season this Saturday and Sunday with the 39th edition of the Spring Rally, set to take place on the asphalt roads of the Kesrouan and Jbeil districts. For the second consecutive year, the race will span two days, whereas in previous editions, it was held in a single day. This event marks the 1st round of the Lebanese auto rally championship for the current season. No fewer than thirty crews will take part in this important motorsport event. Leading the pack, the legendary Roger Feghali, already crowned 16 times in 21 participations, is the man to beat. His incredible track record positions him as the undisputed favorite for his own succession. His thirst for victory remains unquenchable, pushing the bar ever higher, challenging not only his rivals but potentially his own son, Alex. Alongside the Feghalis, the lineup includes a mix of veteran and experienced drivers and co-drivers, as well as emerging and novice ones. Three female crews will add a touch of glamour to the race.
The Race Circuit
The route, spanning the Kesrouan and Jbeil districts, totals 262.75 km, including 95.86 km of timed special stages. The competition, consisting of six special stages, will offer varied and exhilarating challenges. The start, scheduled for Saturday at exactly 5:00 PM at ATCL, marks the beginning of an emotionally charged weekend. Saturday’s leg takes place within ATCL. After the conclusion of the demonstration stage, the cars will enter the nighttime closed park behind the tennis courts at the end of the first sector until the start of the second sector of the race on Sunday.
On Sunday, competitors will depart from the organizing club at 7:30 AM towards the maintenance and refueling point in Adma (LBCI parking lot) before heading to the speed stages in Nahr Ibrahim. Thus, the Spring Rally goes beyond mere competition: the car meet-up point, as well as mechanical services and technical revisions, will be concentrated in this parking lot, turning this event into a real spectacle for motorsport fans. Nahr Ibrahim – Adonis – Meshan: This stage starts from Nahr Ibrahim after the junction of Bziza before the bridge of the electricity company towards Yahchouch, following the river and the rest areas, then turning left up to Adonis and right to Meshan to reach the main road of Qartaba. This road will be closed on Sunday from 07:08 to 09:38, then reopened from 10:28 to 12:58.
Third, fifth, and sixth speed stages: 21.30 km. Habboûb – Bentaël: This stage starts from Habboûb, climbing towards Fidar al-Tahta, Fidar al-Fouqa, Mazra’at al-Ain, Bchetléda, Hjoula, Birkat Hjoula, Jrabta, to reach Bentaël. This road will be closed from 08:01 to 10:31, from 11:21 to 13:51 and from 13:58 to 16:28. A gathering point and a service area will be set up in the LBCI parking lot at 4:00 PM. The first car will enter the Casino du Liban at the end of the 39th Spring Rally at 4:23 PM, where the prize-giving ceremony will take place at 4:45 PM. So, will it be the Feghalis or a surprise guest? Some superb duels are coming ahead.

Mseitbeh 1970: A Missed Encounter with the Virgin Mary
Fady Noun/This is Beirut/May 11/2024
April 8, 1970. Young Thérèse Abdallah is doing her homework in the study hall of the Syriac Orthodox school in Mseitbeh, a predominantly Sunni neighborhood in Beirut. She is the eldest in her family, and her father is the steward of the local bishop, Athanassios Ephrem Barsoum.
In Mseitbeh, Muslims and Christians live side by side, but it is mostly the neighborhood where Syrian families who fled the genocide perpetrated against Armenians and other Christian minorities of the Ottoman Empire (1915) have regrouped. The school is built within the grounds of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut, where the basilica of Saint Peter and Paul also stands, a pretty building topped with a dome. In the evening, around 8:30 p.m., as she leaves the study hall, crossing the schoolyard, Thérèse Abdallah, at the signal of a classmate, looks up and sees above the dome of the church, surrounded by light, the Virgin Mary, whose blue robe she clearly distinguishes. She is of an indescribable, unforgettable beauty and majesty. Rebuked by the supervisor, who fears a beginning of confusion in the ranks, escorted to the exit door, from where the dome is no longer visible, she goes home, frustrated. At around 10 p.m., hearing the sound of the bells of the basilica, whistles, and gunfire, Thérèse can’t stay still and runs out towards the basilica. The whole neighborhood is in turmoil. Worshipers and onlookers are already gathered in the schoolyard, ecstatic at the sight of the luminous silhouette of the Virgin.
The prolonged and silent nocturnal apparitions of Our Lady above the basilica’s dome continued throughout the Easter season, celebrated that year on April 26. Thousands of witnesses from all social classes, both Christian and Muslim, were amazed by them.
Apparitions also occur inside the basilica, and a register is offered to the faithful. Those who saw her testify to having seen her, sometimes with hands holding a rosary, joined in prayer, sometimes kneeling before the cross, sometimes with hands raised or arms crossed on her chest. She also appears with the Infant Jesus and Saint Joseph, or as depicted by the statue of Our Lady of Lebanon. The press and even the young Lebanese Television Company will seize this event, and crowds will flock from Lebanon and Syria to witness it. By an apostolic letter, Patriarch Severius Yaacoub III (1902-1980) of the Syrian Orthodox confirmed the authenticity of the heavenly visit and the awakening of piety that accompanied it. During a mass celebrated by Bishop Athanassios Ephrem Barsoum, at the words of consecration, the Virgin was seen weeping by some worshippers, under the aspect of Our Lady of Sorrows. It was in 1970. Five years later, war broke out in Lebanon. It is therefore legitimate to wonder: What was the Virgin trying to say at the time? Did she come to ask Christians to convert, to pray, and to remain united in the face of mounting dangers? Did she come to warn the Lebanese against the threats of violence and divisions? It is up to each to decide. No doubt all of this at once.
Alas, her presence, the signs that accompanied her, and the warnings of a small community that had fervently prayed for her appearance, were superbly ignored by a country already deeply divided. However, these apparitions were not inferior in importance to those that had shaken, two years earlier, the Zeitoun neighborhood in Cairo. In Egypt too, the repeated apparitions had been nocturnal, luminous, and silent, and thousands of people, including President Gamal Abdel Nasser, had witnessed them. Numerous works are dedicated to them.
In our case, religious hierarchies, except for that of the Syriac Orthodox Church, remained unmoved, preventing the heavenly visit from taking on a national dimension. In Mseitbeh, to this day, the apparitions of 1970 are commemorated, traditionally, on the first Sunday after Easter. Until a few years ago, a procession and a fair were organized, and a large “hrisseh” was cooked for the occasion. But difficult times are extinguishing everything, even these small festivities.
More than fifty years have passed since these apparitions. From the history of the 20th century, especially from the Second World War, and from that of Lebanon in the last 50 years, we have learned that the warnings of the Virgin, whether at Fatima, Beirut, or elsewhere, are always significant. A glance around confirms this: a political and social apocalypse is at our doorstep. The whole world is dizzy.
But if the dangers facing faith are far from being averted, the mercies of God, too, “are not finished,” as the Psalms assure us. God still speaks to men, let us not doubt it. Against the positivist vision of a history that would progress from synthesis to greater synthesis, the Christian philosopher Jacques Maritain asserts: “One of the fundamental axioms of a healthy philosophy of history (…) is that the history of the world progresses at the same time in the line of evil and in the line of good.”
In the Christian faith, “the future is not fixed in an immutable way,” says Benedict XVI, but remains open to our freedom, to our intercession, as well as to the designs of peace of which the Virgin Mary is the first advocate. Like Penelope making and unmaking the knots of her tapestry, awaiting the return of Ulysses, let us allow ourselves to be warned by the motifs drawn by the Mother of the Church on the canvas of history, awaiting the promised advent “of a new earth and new heavens”. Or a new visit.

Basketball: La Sagesse’s Narrow Victory
Jad Ramadan/This is Beirut/May 11/2024
Beirut SC and La Sagesse met in the semi-finals of the Lebanese basketball championship on Friday evening. While a win for La Sagesse would see them through to the final, Beirut SC aimed to force a fifth game at home.
La Sagesse won 80-76 after a tough game, and qualified for the final against Riyadi or Homenetmen. Beirut SC coach Joe Ghattas chose his usual starting five of Dar Tucker, Jonathan Hamilton, Ali Haidar, Ali Mezher and Sergio Darwiche. La Sagesse’s Jad el-Hajj, meanwhile, has selected Jonathan Gibson, Karim Ezzeddine, Ahmad Ibrahim, Omar Jamaleddine and Nick Rakocevic.
Fast start
Both teams started the match strongly, not letting their opponents get the better of them. While the score remained tight for most of the first quarter, Beirut SC found themselves on a 7-0 run, which gave them a crucial 9-point lead. The quarter ended 23-17 to the away team, who got off to a good start, leaving their opponents with a conversion rate of just 22%. Early in the second quarter, La Sagesse cut into Beirut SC’s lead, which demanded a quick response from the away team. After a sequence involving a block on the defensive end and a dunk on the other end, La Sagesse took the lead, swinging the momentum in their favor. The green team increased their lead to 3 points, keeping the game close. The second quarter ended 44-43 to La Sagesse, in a first half that showed two equally competitive teams. The second half began in the home team’s favor, with Ahmad Ibrahim increasing La Sagesse’s lead to 7 points. Midway through the quarter, Gibson scored a three-pointer while being fouled, converting a 4-point play for the home team. Their lead was 11 points at that point. However, their lead didn’t last long, as Beirut SC quickly came back towards the end of the quarter, thanks to some organized play. The quarter ended 64-63 to Beirut SC. After a rollercoaster of a third quarter, Beirut SC’s sole objective was to extend their lead in order to secure a hard-won victory on rival territory. For most of the quarter, the score remained tight, with 2 or no points separating the two teams. With the score at 72-72, Beirut SC’s Ali Mahmoud converted a crucial 4-point play, while Gibson responded with a 3 at the other end. The home team then made some tough baskets and stayed put on defense. The game ended 80-76 for La Sagesse. The home team has now qualified for the final of the Lebanese basketball championship. They will play either al Riyadi or Homenetmen, with all Riyadi already leading the series 2-0. Their match will be played on Saturday.

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 11-12/2024
Israel strikes Gaza as more Rafah evacuations ordered
AFP/May 11, 2024
RAFAH, Gaza Strip: Israeli strikes on Saturday hit parts of Gaza including Rafah where Israel expanded an evacuation order and the UN warned of “epic” disaster if an outright invasion of the crowded city occurs.AFP journalists, medics and witnesses reported strikes from the south to the north of the coastal territory, where the UN says aid is blocked after Israeli troops defied international opposition and entered eastern Rafah this week, effectively shutting two crossings. At least 21 people were killed during strikes in central Gaza and taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah city, a hospital statement said. Bodies covered in white lay on the ground in a courtyard of the facility. A man in a baseball cap leaned over one body bag, clasping a dust-covered hand that protruded. The feet of another corpse poked from under a blanket bearing the picture of a large teddy bear.
In Rafah, witnesses reported intense air strikes near the crossing with Egypt, and AFP images showed smoke rising over the city. Other strikes occurred in north Gaza, they said. Israeli troops on Tuesday seized and closed the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing — through which all fuel passes into Gaza — after ordering residents of eastern Rafah to evacuate. Israel’s military said it went into eastern Rafah to pursue Palestinian militants. Fighting continued on the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing, the military reported on Friday, before on Saturday expanding its evacuation order to more areas of Rafah’s east.
Evacuation orders
The new order, posted on social media platform X by military spokesman Avichay Adraee, said the designated areas had “witnessed Hamas terrorist activities in recent days and weeks.”The war began with Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. During their attack, militants also seized hostages. Israel estimates 128 of them remain in Gaza including 36 whom the military says are dead. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,971 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. A US State Department report on Friday said Israel likely violated norms on international law in its use of weapons from the United States but it did not find enough evidence to block shipments.
The State Department submitted its report two days after President Joe Biden publicly threatened to withhold certain bombs and artillery shells if Israel goes ahead with an all-out assault on Rafah, where the United Nations said 1.4 million had been sheltering. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to “eliminate” Hamas battalions in Rafah and achieve “total victory,” after the army in January said it had dismantled the Hamas command structure in northern Gaza. But on Saturday Adraee said Hamas “is trying to rebuild” there, and ordered evacuations from the north’s Jabalia and Beit Lahia areas.
After rising criticism from Washington over the civilian impact of Israel’s war against Hamas, the threat to withhold weapons was the first time Biden raised the ultimate US leverage over Israel — its military aid which totals $3 billion annually. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday that Gaza risked an “epic humanitarian disaster” if Israel launched a full-scale ground operation in Rafah. While the army said it reopened Kerem Shalom crossing near Rafah on Wednesday, aid agencies cautioned that getting assistance through the militarised area remained extremely difficult.
Aid in limbo
A UN report late Friday cited Martin Griffiths, the UN’s aid chief, as saying closure of the crossings “means no aid.” Israel has said its Erez crossing into northern Gaza remains open. The State Department report said it was “reasonable to assess” that Israel has used American weapons in ways inconsistent with standards on humanitarian rights but that the United States could not reach “conclusive findings.” The report does not affect Biden’s threat to withhold some weapons.On Friday the White House said it did not yet see a “major ground operation” in Rafah but was watching the situation “with concern.” Biden’s administration had already paused delivery of 3,500 bombs as Israel appeared ready to attack Rafah. More than 100,000 people fled the city after the initial evacuation order, the United Nations said on Friday. Israel on Saturday gave a figure of 300,000, as more Rafah residents piled water tanks, mattresses and other belongings onto vehicles and prepared to flee again. Malek Al-Zaza, with a trim grey beard, said he has been displaced three times now during the war and found “no food” and “no water” in central Gaza’s Nuseirat camp where he has returned.
“We only have God looking out for us,” he said.
Humanitarian crisis
Israel said it had delivered 200,000 liters of fuel to Gaza on Friday through Kerem Shalom — the amount the United Nations says is needed every day to keep aid trucks moving and hospital generators working. Reiterating his calls for a ceasefire, Guterres said: “We are actively engaged with all involved for the resumption of the entry of life-saving supplies — including desperately needed fuel — through Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings.” The evacuation order on Saturday told residents to go to the “humanitarian zone” of Al-Mawasi, on the coast northwest of Rafah. That area has “extremely limited access to clean drinking water, latrines, et cetera,” said Sylvain Groulx, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) emergency coordinator in Gaza. The army late Friday said rocket fire from Gaza wounded an Israeli civilian in the southern city of Beersheba. It was the first time since December that the city had come under Palestinian rocket attack. In New York, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to grant the Palestinians additional rights in the global body and backed their drive for full membership. Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said the vote was historic, but Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the move told Hamas that “violence pays off.”

Israeli Military Escalates Operations in Gaza: Targets and Evacuations
LBCI/May 11, 2024
The Israeli army escalated its combat readiness and incursion into the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning, targeting dozens of new objectives in Jabalia, Zeitoun neighborhood, and Rafah. This escalation was based on decisions from the military cabinet and the Ministerial Committee on National Security.
The army called upon residents to evacuate their homes:
- In Jabalia, located in the north of Gaza, heading towards the west of Gaza City.
- In Zeitoun neighborhood, heading south of Gaza.
- Residents in Rafah, a central target in the recent Israeli campaign, were advised by the army to move westward towards the outskirts.
According to its military plan, the army will conduct operations in Rafah in several phases expected to last for about two months. This development comes as an Israeli report confirms that Hamas has rebuilt its military and combat capabilities across various areas. The report also indicates that the intensity of rocket launches towards Israel from the Gaza Strip matches the levels seen in the first week of the conflict. This situation has sparked waves of warnings within Israel's leadership regarding the implications of intensified combat and further entrenchment in Gaza, particularly as casualty figures among soldiers continue to rise. Intensified fighting poses a major obstacle to progress in a hostages exchange deal, especially after it was revealed that the number of living Israeli hostages included in the proposed deal may not exceed twenty. Israel vehemently rejects extending the ceasefire period beyond six weeks to secure the release of hostages held by factions other than Hamas. Amidst calls for an immediate deal, especially following confirmation of the deaths of a significant number of hostages due to Israeli attacks in Gaza, there are increasing voices advocating for escalating fire to subdue Hamas. While Israel has rejected an US report that questioned its use of weapons in Gaza as unlawful, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah’s statements, along with ministers and deputies from the right, claiming that the army possesses sufficient means to achieve its objectives have further strained tensions with Washington. The issue of Israeli control over the Rafah crossing remains a contentious point with Washington and Cairo. Reports of famine risks in Gaza have exacerbated tensions. Meanwhile, truck drivers stranded on the Egyptian side of the crossing face threats of food spoilage, endangering the supplies they carry.

Hamas says another Israeli hostage held in Gaza is dead
JERUSALEM, May 11 (Reuters)/May 11, 2024
Palestinian Islamist group Hamas said on Saturday that another one of the hostages abducted during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel has died. Hamas released a video saying that Nadav Popplewell, who was taken hostage from the southern Israeli community of Kibbutz Nirim, died after being wounded in an Israeli strike in Gaza. The Israeli military did not offer immediate comment on the latest video. It has referred to previous videos of hostages released by Hamas as psychological terror. It has also denied some of the previous accusations by Hamas that hostages were killed by Israeli fire. Earlier on Saturday Hamas released an undated video of the 51-year-old captive in front of a white wall, with a bruise on his right eye, and speaking his name. Hours later, in the second video, it said Popplewell died of wounds sustained a month ago in an Israeli air strike.
Hamas said Popplewell, whom it said was also a British citizen, was being detained with a woman hostage when the place they were being held was targeted by an Israeli missile. "He died because he didn't receive intensive medical care at medical facilities because of the enemy's destruction of hospitals in Gaza," the Hamas armed wing spokesman, Abu Ubaida, said in a statement. Of 252 people abducted on Oct. 7, 128 remain in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. At least 36 of them have been declared dead by an Israeli forensic committee. Israel says securing the release of the hostages is the aim of its offensive in Gaza, along with eliminating Hamas, which has ruled the enclave since 2007. Popplewell, according to the hostages support group, was captured with his mother from her home in Kibbutz Nirim. His brother was killed during the attack. His mother was freed during a brief truce in November. (Reporting by Maytaal Angel; Editing by Mark Potter and Alex Richardson)

Hamas releases video of Israeli-British hostage held in Gaza
AFP/May 11, 2024
GAZA: Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, on Saturday released a video of a man held hostage in Gaza by Palestinian militants and seen alive in the footage. The captive, identified by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group as Nadav Popplewell, is seen speaking in the 11-second clip, which is superimposed with text in Arabic and Hebrew that reads: “Time is running out. Your government is lying.”In the video the hostage, who is also a British national, has a black eye and is seen speaking under duress. He showed no other visible signs of injuries.Wearing a white T-shirt, he introduces himself as 51-year-old Popplewell, from kibbutz Nirim in southern Israel. Popplewell was kidnapped from his home during Hamas’s October 7 attack along with his mother, Hanna Peri, who was released during a one-week truce in November — the only pause so far in more than seven months of war. Popplewell’s older brother was killed in the attack. The video posted Saturday on the Telegram channel of Hamas’s armed wing was the third time in less than a month that the group releases footage of captives held in Gaza. On April 27 Hamas released a video showing two hostages alive — Keith Siegel and Omri Miran. Three days earlier it broadcast another video showing hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin alive. The videos come amid growing domestic pressure on the Israeli government to secure the release of the remaining hostages. “Every sign of life received from the hostages held by Hamas is another cry of distress to the Israeli government and its leaders,” the families’ group said in its statement on Saturday. “We don’t have a moment to spare! You must strive to implement a deal that will bring them all back today.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government are under immense pressure to strike a deal with Hamas, but the two warring sides have so far failed despite repeated rounds of indirect negotiations. Some 250 people were abducted to the Gaza Strip on October 7 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel. Israeli officials say 128 of them are still held captive in the Palestinian territory, including 36 who are dead. The attack resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. In Israel’s retaliatory military campaign in Gaza, at least 34,971 people have been killed so far, most of them women and children, according the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate from more areas of Gaza's Rafah
Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maytaal Angel/USA TODAY/May 11, 2024
JERUSALEM - Israel called on Saturday for Palestinians in more areas of Gaza's southern city of Rafah to evacuate and head to what it calls an expanded humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, in a further indication that the military is pressing ahead with its plans for a ground attack on Rafah.
In a post on social media site X, a military spokesperson also called on residents and displaced people in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza, and 11 other neighbourhoods in the enclave to go immediately to places west of Gaza City.
The Palestinian health ministry said at least 37 Palestinians, 24 of them from central Gaza areas, were killed in overnight airstrikes across the enclave, including in Rafah.
War in Gaza: Biden administration acknowledges possible Israeli weapons misuse in report to Congress
"They threw fliers on Rafah and said, from Rafah to al-Zawayda is safe, people should evacuate there, and they did, and what has become of them? Dismembered bodies? There is no safe place in Gaza," Khitam Al-Khatib, who said she had lost at least 10 of her relatives in an airstrike on a family house earlier on Saturday, told Reuters. Al-Zawayda is a small town in central Gaza Strip that has been crowded by thousands of displaced people from across the enclave.
The Israeli military said its aircraft struck tens of targets across the Strip over the past day, adding its ground troops had eliminated fighters in Zeitoun in recent hours.
An Israeli airstrike killed at least seven people in a house in Beit Lahiya town in the northern Gaza Strip, all from the same family, medics said.
In Rafah, residents told Reuters the new evacuation orders by the Israeli military covered areas in the centre of the city and left little doubt Israel planned to expand its ground offensive there. "The situation is very difficult, people are leaving their homes in panic," said Khaled, 35, a resident of the Shaboura neighbourhood, an area where the new orders to leave have been issued.
The Israeli military said it was continuing operational activity against Hamas fighters in eastern Rafah and on the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing.
Despite heavy U.S. pressure and alarm expressed by residents and humanitarian groups, Israel has said it will proceed with an incursion into Rafah, where more than 1 million displaced people have sought refuge during the seven-month-old war.
Israeli tanks captured the main road dividing Rafah's eastern and western sections on Friday, effectively encircling the eastern side in an assault that has caused Washington to hold up the delivery of some military aid to its ally.
Colleges and universities: What's the latest on pro-Palestinian campus protests? More arrests as graduations approach
Israel says it cannot win the war without rooting out thousands of Hamas fighters it believes are deployed in Rafah. About 300,000 Gazans have so far moved towards Al-Mawasi, according to Israeli military estimates released on Saturday.
The war was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which some 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 people taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military operation in Gaza has killed close to 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. The bombardment has laid waste to the coastal enclave and caused a deep humanitarian crisis.
Two crossing points vital for delivery of aid to Gaza were still closed on Saturday: the Palestinian WAFA news agency said the Rafah crossing was closed for a fifth day, while another crossing, Kerem Shalom, has been shut for around a week.
The latest evacuation orders came hours after internationally mediated ceasefire talks appeared to be faltering, with Hamas saying Israel's rejection of the truce offer it had accepted returned things to square one.
The Palestinian militant group also hinted it was reconsidering its negotiation policy. It did not elaborate on whether a review meant it would harden its terms for reaching a deal, but said it would consult with other allied factions.
Israel says it wants to reach a deal under which hostages would be released in exchange for the freeing of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, but that it is not prepared to end the military offensive.
'Exhausted'
In Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, where hundreds of thousands were sheltering, Palestinians mourned relatives during funerals on Saturday.
"Here they are, in pieces, here is my sister-in-law, without a head, my aunt is without a head, what is this injustice? Until when will this go on? We are exhausted, by God we are exhausted, I have lived in tents for the past seven months," said Khatib, sitting near bodies wrapped in white shrouds bearing the names of the dead men and women. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is under increasing pressure over its military campaign, including from longtime ally the United States. The Biden administration said on Friday Israel's use of U.S.-supplied weapons may have violated international humanitarian law during its Gaza operation, in its strongest criticism to date of Israel. But the administration stopped short of a definitive assessment, saying that due to the chaos of the war it could not verify specific instances where use of those weapons might have been involved in alleged breaches.

White House: Gaps on Gaza Ceasefire Can Still Be Surmounted
Asharq Al Awsat/May 11/2024
In-person talks on a Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages agreement have concluded for now with no deal but the US believes remaining gaps can be surmounted, the White House said on Friday. "Obviously we don't have a deal and that's deeply regrettable," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. He said that while the in-person meetings have ended, "we are working hard to keep both sides engaged in continuing the discussion, if only virtually.""We still believe that a deal is possible," Reuters quoted Kirby as saying. He also said an agreement will require leadership and moral courage. Kirby stressed the US is watching Israel's military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah with concern and wants the Rafah crossing reopened immediately. He said the activity did not appear to reflect a large-scale invasion. "It appears to be localized near the crossing and largely with the forces they had put in there at the beginning. That said, we are watching it with concern," Kirby said. "One again we urge the Israelis to open up that crossing to humanitarian assistance immediately," he added.

Global Support for Palestinian Rights: UN Resolution Highlights Symbolic Step
LBCI/May 11, 2024
143 countries voted on a resolution presented by the Arab Group and others, supporting Palestine's request for full membership in the United Nations and recommending the Security Council to reconsider its position on the request, also grants additional privileges to Palestine in the United Nations starting from next September.
Among these privileges:
- The right to sit among member states according to alphabetical order.
- The right to be listed as speakers within the framework of the agenda items, excluding those related to the issues of Palestine and the Middle East.
- The right to submit proposals, amendments, and present them on behalf of a group. However, at the same time, Palestine, as an observer state, is not entitled to vote in the General Assembly.
Opposed to the 143 countries, 25 countries abstained from voting, and nine countries opposed, including Israel, which was angered by the scene at the United Nations. It is true that what happened is a symbolic step because obtaining full membership requires the approval of the Security Council, which is difficult under the US veto, but it is a meaningful step:
Firstly, because the majority vote expresses global solidarity with the rights of the Palestinian people and rejection of Israeli actions in Gaza. Also notable is that European countries like France voted in favor of this resolution, while both Britain and Germany abstained from doing so.
Secondly, this decision will increase pressure on Security Council members when the issue of full membership for Palestine is raised in the future, under favorable circumstances.

Netanyahu Trades Insults With Colombia President Over Gaza War
Matthew Bristow/Bloomberg/May 11, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked Colombian President Gustavo Petro after the South American leader called for his arrest over the war in Gaza. “Israel will not be lectured by an antisemitic supporter of Hamas,” Netanyahu wrote in a post on X on Saturday. Earlier this month, Petro said Colombia would cut diplomatic ties with Israel for having “a genocidal president.” On Friday, he wrote, “Netanyahu won’t stop the genocide, which implies an arrest order by the International Criminal Court.” Israel’s relations have soured with governments across Latin America in recent months as the death toll rose in its Gaza campaign.

Kuwait's Emir Dissolves Parliament: An Unprecedented Political Shift
LBCI/May 11, 2024
In a fiery move, Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, announced the dissolution of the National Assembly and the suspension of certain constitutional provisions for four years. Following this decision, the Emir and the government now assume the powers of the National Assembly, marking an unprecedented shift in the oldest democracy in the Gulf region. For the past 61 years, Kuwait has operated under a parliamentary system, fostering a vibrant political life. The National Assembly held significant authority in governing the country compared to its neighbors, possessing the ability to question and hold accountable the head of state and ministers. This has made the Assembly chamber a stage for intense debates since Kuwait's founding. Since 2020, Kuwait has experienced an unparalleled political stalemate. The Emir dissolved the Assembly four times, leading to the election of new assemblies, none of which managed to continue. However, today's decision by the Emir is different. He dissolved the current National Assembly, dominated by opposition figures including Salafists, without calling for new elections. Instead, the Emir and his government retain the Assembly's powers for the next four years.
This move follows what the Emir deemed as several transgressions that troubled him, such as demands by some MPs to participate in the selection of the Crown Prince—a perceived unprecedented encroachment on his powers. Additionally, there were calls by members of the new Assembly to hold the former Interior Minister accountable if reappointed in the new government, which contradicts the Kuwaiti constitution. The constitution grants MPs the right to hold ministers accountable for their current actions, not retroactively. This is a recurring crisis but one that is steering the country into unprecedented territory. It underscores a deep-seated governance crisis where political, tribal, and sectarian dynamics intertwine, amidst corruption crises that hinder the country's economic progress and recovery, akin to neighboring countries.

Russia claims more advances after Ukraine ground offensive
AFP/May 11, 2024
UKRAINE: Russia on Saturday said it had captured six villages in Ukraine’s east after launching a surprise ground offensive that prompted mass evacuations. The defense ministry said its troops had “liberated” five villages in the Kharkiv region near the border with Russia — Borisivka, Ogirtseve, Pletenivka, Pylna and Strilecha — “as a result of offensive actions.”The village of Keramik in the Donetsk region was also now under Russian control, it said. Ukrainian officials said Russian forces made small advances in the area it was pushed back from nearly two years ago, the latest in a series of gains as Ukrainian forces find themselves outgunned and outmanned. “A total of 1,775 people have been evacuated,” Kharkiv governor Oleg Synegubov wrote on social media. He reported Russian artillery and mortar attacks on 30 settlements over the past 24 hours. Groups of people could be seen coming in vans and cars with as many bags as they could carry at an evacuation arrival point outside the city of Kharkiv. Evacuees — many of them elderly — registered and received food and medical assistance in makeshift tents. “We must disrupt Russian offensive operations and return the initiative to Ukraine,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday. Ukrainska Pravda quoted military sources saying the Russian assault had resumed on Saturday near the village of Glyboke in Kharkiv. The report could not be independently verified.
The Kharkiv region has been mostly under Ukrainian control since September 2022. A senior Ukrainian military source said on Friday that Russian forces had advanced one kilometer into Ukraine and were trying to “create a buffer zone” in the Kharkiv and neighboring Sumy regions to prevent attacks on Russian territory. Ukrainian forces have multiplied attacks inside Russia and Russian-held areas of Ukraine, particularly on energy infrastructure. Moscow-installed authorities in the Russian-occupied Lugansk region in eastern Ukraine said four people were killed by a Ukrainian strike with US-made missiles on an oil depot in Rovenky. Governor Leonid Pasechnik said the strike “enveloped the oil depot in fire and damaged surrounding homes.”In Russia, two people were reported killed by Ukrainian strikes in the Belgorod and Kursk regions. Ukrainian officials also reported a total of six civilians killed in Russian shelling in the Donetsk, Kharkiv and Kherson regions over the past day. Officials in Kyiv had warned for weeks that Moscow might try to attack its northeastern border regions, pressing its advantage as Ukraine struggles with delays in Western aid and manpower shortages.
Ukraine’s military said it had deployed more troops and Zelensky said Ukrainian forces were using artillery and drones to thwart the Russian advance. “Reserve units have been deployed to strengthen the defense in this area of the front,” it said. The US-based Institute for the Study of War said on Friday that Russia had made “tactically significant gains.”But the main aim of the operation was “drawing Ukrainian manpower and material from other critical sectors of the front in eastern Ukraine,” it said. ISW said it did not appear to be “a large-scale sweeping offensive operation to envelop, encircle and seize Kharkiv” — Ukraine’s second biggest city. Washington announced a new $400 million military aid package for Kyiv hours after the offensive began, and said it was confident Ukraine could repel any fresh Russian campaign.

Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 11-12/2024
Iran's Mullahs Desperate for Nuclear Weapons, Do Not Believe Anything Else
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/May 11, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/129656/129656/
Ayatollah Khamenei's initial issuance of a fatwa against nuclear weapons coincided with damning revelations in 2002: Iran was exposed clandestinely engaging in nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment, at covert facilities in Natanz and Arak.
These activities flamboyantly violated the principles outlined in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which Iran was a signatory.
The timing of Khamenei's fatwa should only raise questions about its authenticity and underlying motive: it likely an attempt to mitigate international backlash and deflect scrutiny away from Iran's covert nuclear endeavors.
Iran's constitution explicitly mandates that both the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps are not only tasked with safeguarding the nation's frontiers, but also with advancing the ideological mission of jihad in the name of Allah. This mission entails the propagation and imposition of Allah's law worldwide and reflects the regime's fervent commitment to spreading its Islamic revolutionary principles beyond its own confines.
Such a constitutionally mandated objective underscores the regime's revolutionary zeal and underscores the potential significance of acquiring nuclear weapons as a means of furthering its ideological agenda on a global scale.
Iran's constitutionally mandated objective to "export the revolution" underscores the regime's revolutionary zeal and the potential significance of acquiring nuclear weapons as a means of furthering its ideological agenda on a global scale. (Image source: iStock)
In spite recent claims by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi that Iran harbors no intentions of pursuing nuclear weapons, along with a repeated fatwa from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei supposedly banning nuclear weapons, it would be insane for Western powers naively to accept these assertions at face value. While some leaders in the West may be inclined to regard such declarations lightly, the international community cannot afford to underestimate the potential threat posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions, especially given the deceptive nature of the claims by the regime.
Regrettably, the claims of Iran's leaders have often found acceptance among some influential Western figures, including Barack Obama, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton.
The endorsement of Iran's claims by influential Western figures not only undermines efforts to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions but emboldens the regime to continue unchecked its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Western leaders need to approach Iran's assertions with skepticism and prioritize the protection of global security interests.Khamenei's initial issuance of a fatwa against nuclear weapons coincided with damning revelations in 2002: Iran was exposed clandestinely engaging in nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment, at covert facilities in Natanz and Arak.
These activities flamboyantly violated the principles outlined in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which Iran was a signatory. The timing of Khamenei's fatwa should only raise questions about its authenticity and underlying motive: probably an attempt to mitigate international backlash and deflect scrutiny away from Iran's covert nuclear endeavors. This historical context underscores the need for caution when assessing Iran's nuclear pronouncements, particularly in light of its history of total disregard for international norms and obligations concerning nuclear proliferation.
It is also imperative to delve into the concept of taqiyya (dissimulation) in the context of the Shia Islamism in Iran. Taqiyya, a principle emphasized in the mullahs' Shia jurisprudence, also warrants attention when evaluating fatwas issued by Khamenei -- especially regarding nuclear weapons. Taqiyya, rooted in the belief that deception is permissible to protect oneself, the Islamic government, or the community of Muslims allows for the strategic use of falsehoods when perceived threats loom over the interests of the Islamic community, and sheds light on the motivations behind the Ayatollah's proclamations: that political expediency and safeguarding interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran may well influence such declarations.
Moreover, for those still inclined to accept the notion of a nuclear fatwa at face value, it is crucial to recognize the transient nature of fatwas within Islamic jurisprudence. Fatwas are not immutable edicts; they are opinions, subject to revision and reinterpretation at the discretion of Muslim leaders. Thus, any purported fatwa, especially one ostensibly prohibiting nuclear weapons, need to be scrutinized within the broader framework of political and religious dynamics, not accepted unquestioningly.
Considering the regime's extensive record of sponsoring terrorism on a global scale, including supporting groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Houthis -- as well as involvement alongside Russia attacking Ukraine, or Hamas attacking Israel, it is totally rational to assume that the Iranian regime is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons to further bolster its influence and consolidate its power. The regime's demonstrated willingness to use violence and support proxy groups in pursuit of its hegemonic objectives suggests that possessing nuclear weapons could indeed be viewed as a means of pursuing those ends as well.
Finally, Iran's revolutionary regime is deeply entrenched in the aspiration to "export the revolution" beyond its borders, a goal enshrined within the Islamic Republic's constitution. Iran's constitution explicitly mandates that both the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps are not only tasked with safeguarding the nation's frontiers, but also with advancing the ideological mission of jihad in the name of Allah. This mission entails the propagation and imposition of Allah's law worldwide and reflects the regime's fervent commitment to spreading its Islamic revolutionary principles beyond its own confines. Such a constitutionally mandated objective underscores the regime's revolutionary zeal and the potential significance of acquiring nuclear weapons as a means of furthering its ideological agenda on a global scale.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a business strategist and advisor, Harvard-educated scholar, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He has authored several books on Islam and US Foreign Policy. He can be reached at Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu
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https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/20626/iran-desperate-nuclear-weapons

The right to protest is sacrosanct but not all methods of doing so are legitimate
Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/May 11/2024
During my considerable time in academia teaching politics at various universities, including American ones, I have had many wonderful students who cared deeply about their studies and the issues discussed in class.
However, I have also complained to them about their reluctance to become proactive in terms of political activity. Where previous generations took to the streets, they prefer to log on to social media to protest.
It might be the case that individualism has descended upon our societies, making the younger generation less enchanted by the prospect of mass gatherings. Or it may be a perception that politics is beyond repair, especially when true leadership is hard to come by these days. There is also the unbearable ease with which social media can give us an impression of engaging in political activism without leaving our armchairs.
However, the latest round of horrific hostilities between the Israelis and Palestinians has incentivized hundreds of thousands of people to take to the streets and protest. On many college campuses, especially in the US, students have become political activists in large numbers, which is something to be welcomed.
Nevertheless, this development has also highlighted the binary nature of the message behind these protests, and in too many cases produced ugly manifestations of antisemitism and Islamophobia, which are utterly unacceptable.
In the US, these phenomena are even more accentuated due to the very loose interpretation of the First Amendment. Its almost illogical interpretation of absolute protection for the right of freedom of speech, one can argue, allows and encourages hate speech, and leaves no room for incitement and expressions of hate to be censored, punished or even restrained within the education system. On the positive side, what we have seen emerge over the past seven months is the fact that young people are desperately looking for a cause to rally around, and this is something society especially needs because the challenges that lie ahead, whether they arise from climate change, wars and conflicts, or the growing inequalities in our societies, are endangering not only our security but also our humanity.
Criticism of Israel for the killings and devastation it is inflicting on Gaza with little care for civilians, from the very young to the elderly, is understandable, because it is impossible to watch the horrific images from the Strip and remain indifferent to them, regardless of the terrible atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct. 7. Who among us has the moral right to question the legitimacy of the calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, and the demand for sufficient humanitarian aid to reach more than 2 million Gazans, who have been literally trapped for years in the crossfire between an occupying and blockading force and a fundamentalist regime, both of which have deprived them of their most basic needs, rights and dignity?
Israeli authorities, through their self-defeating policies, have “earned” the wrath of ordinary people and states around the world. Moreover, support for the Palestinian cause and calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state is not an antisemitic act, but a call for a solution that would enable both Israelis and Palestinians to live peacefully, side by side.
The White House description of the call for an intifada as “hate speech” was misplaced, because to rise up against an occupation is not necessarily to call for suicide bombings, as was claimed; this was certainly not the case during the First Intifada.
Israeli authorities, through their self-defeating policies, have “earned” the wrath of ordinary people and states around the world.
Yet, among some of the protesters there are also clear manifestations of antisemitism, the misrepresentation of Zionism, and a questioning of the right of Israel to exist, as well as incitements against Jews more generally. And this is where a line should be drawn.
There are recorded incidents of antisemitic slurs directed at Jewish students and academic staff, and many of them report that they are afraid, for example, to wear a Star of David necklace for fear of being attacked by pro-Palestinian protesters.
Extremely disturbing has been the support expressed, albeit by a small minority of the protestors, not only for Hamas as a political movement but for the crimes it committed on Oct. 7.
There have also been several cases of physical attacks, although it has been reported that at UCLA it was pro-Israel activists who resorted to violence against pro-Palestinian protesters. This is a worrying trend that jeopardizes the pursuit of common ground and peaceful dialogue that would be much more helpful to both Israelis and Palestinians than exporting this bitter conflict around the world.
What has become apparent in the anti-Israel protests is that they have “empowered” those who never believed in a two-state solution, or never believed that Israel should exist in the first place (and equally those pro-Israelis who have always opposed a Palestinian state).
Much of the influence on the protesters stems from academics who subscribe to the theory-ideology of the moment of “decolonization.” This views the Zionist movement as a whole as a colonial project, and the Jewish people, including those living within the international recognized Green Line and not only the settlers in the occupied West Bank, as committing “settler-colonialism,” hence delegitimizing the very right of Israel to exist.
While the Zionist movement has always been diverse in its ideology, and tragically the current Israeli government represents the most extreme right-wing and expansionist version of this, the attempts to tar the entire movement and those who support it with the same brush of illegitimacy, while claiming that so-called Jewish money and power is ensuring US and international support for Israel, is nothing short of incitement.
Universities and academics have the difficult task of providing their students with critical-thinking skills in the face of complex situations and events, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict presents its fair share of complexities.
What is required is to avoid the type of approach that is more applicable to sporting contests, in which one supports the “either-or,” “zero-sum” outcome. Not only is this unsuitable for dealing with war and conflicts, in which the various causes and outcomes are often opaque and entangled, but it causes obvious harm to the discourse surrounding a conflict and its ability to overcome differences on the path to resolving it.There can be only one silver lining to what has taken place since Oct. 7, and that is the opportunity to internalize the fact that there is an urgent need for a completely new discourse over Israel and Palestine, one that discards prejudices, biases, hatred and, in the case of universities, avoids the artificial paradigms that are at best only partially relevant, and at worst highly damaging.
Instead, it is time for students, and the rest of us, to join forces and support those who want peace, coexistence and reconciliation, and marginalize the haters and those for whom a historical compromise for peace is a curse and not a blessing.
*Yossi Mekelberg is a professor of international relations and an associate fellow of the Middle East and North Africa Program at international affairs think tank Chatham House. X: @YMekelberg

Gulf states on track with renewable energy investments
Zaid M. Belbagi/Arab News/May 11/2024
The Gulf states that are concerned with economic transformation are beginning to focus on diversification, with the development of robust infrastructure for renewable energy. As urban developments and populations expand across the Gulf region, the demand for electricity is growing rapidly and the region is predicted to need another 100 gigawatts of power over the next decade to meet this demand. Moreover, several avenues of economic diversification, such as artificial intelligence, smart cities and tourist attractions, are electricity-intensive, further adding to the need for sufficient and sustainable energy sources.
At the same time, as the number of residents increases in a region that faces high temperatures for most of the year, the increased demand for air conditioning will also put new pressures on electricity generation. Renewable energy is key to meeting this growing demand and, as per the International Energy Agency, will meet 35 percent of global power generation by 2025.
This region has shown a positive trend in this domain, as the Gulf states have actively established cross-border, regional and international cooperation to develop renewable energy infrastructure. On May 1, for example, the UAE’s state-owned renewable energy company Masdar established a partnership agreement with Bahrain’s energy and investment arm Bapco Energies to develop near-shore and offshore wind farms in Bahrain.
In the same week, Oman’s green hydrogen company Hydrom signed agreements worth $11 billion with international companies, including France’s state-owned EDF. These will lead to the establishment of two new green hydrogen projects in Dhofar. Simultaneously, the Kuwait Oil Company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy to coordinate efforts to generate 1 GW of electricity from solar energy.
They have established cross-border, regional and international cooperation to develop renewable energy infrastructure.
With abundant exposure to sunlight and wind and large tracts of unused land, the Gulf states are well positioned to leverage natural resources for sustainable energy. High sunlight exposure allows solar plants to operate for longer durations. It is worth noting that, in the Gulf Cooperation Council, solar photovoltaic power now costs less than 2 cents per kilowatt-hour to generate and is therefore the cheapest option for power generation.
Boosting renewable energy generation is also part of the Gulf states’ commitment to reduce carbon emissions and hit their net-zero targets. Through their participation in notable international environmental summits such as the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change’s Conference of the Parties gatherings, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE have committed to net-zero emissions by 2050. Further, having ratified the Paris Agreement and acknowledged their heavy reliance on fossil fuels, the Gulf states have actively put in place the necessary infrastructure and plans to reduce emissions.
This commitment is also reflected in the states’ national vision statements. As part of its Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is working toward energy diversification and a circular carbon economy wherein, by 2030, renewable sources will provide 50 percent of the Kingdom’s energy needs. Saudi Arabia’s total installed renewable energy capacity tripled in 2023 and it continues to make significant investments in solar and wind projects. Similarly, the UAE’s Energy Strategy 2050 aims to make the country carbon-neutral by 2050.
Renewable energy is not just an option but a necessity to enhance the socioeconomic transformations underway in the Gulf
Beyond the benefits of energy security and sustainability at home, their commitment to renewable energy has also allowed the Gulf states to boost international relations, as well as attract and provide foreign investment. In the first week of May alone, Saudi Arabia signed renewable energy partnerships with Azerbaijan, Mauritania and Uzbekistan. Notably, the Kingdom is also in talks with the EU to identify avenues for cooperation on renewable energy and carbon capture. It also hosted the Saudi Arabia Green Energy Week in March, when local and international industry leaders gathered to discuss the opportunities and challenges for the energy value chain.The region is therefore on track to build a robust and sustainable infrastructure for renewable energy that can not only meet domestic demand but also potentially support international consumption. State-owned companies have been active in providing the necessary financial and regulatory support to this endeavor and, while the private sector has also played a role, there continues to be scope for further private-public partnerships. For instance, as per the UAE’s Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, the country needs investments totaling approximately $36 billion to achieve its climate targets by 2030. Today, renewable energy is not just an option but a necessity to enhance the socioeconomic transformations underway in the Gulf. It adds sustainability to economic development, allows significant opportunities for employment and skills development and increases international investor confidence in the region.
**Zaid M. Belbagi is a political commentator and an adviser to private clients between London and the Gulf Cooperation Council region. X: @Moulay_Zaid

Netanyahu and his extremist allies are endangering Israel’s long-term security
Richard J. Davis/CNN/May 11/2024
President Joe Biden appropriately spoke out forcefully about the need to combat the surge in antisemitism in the US, the importance of supporting Israel’s security and not forgetting the brutality of the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas during his speech at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s annual Days of Remembrance ceremony at the Capitol on Tuesday.
“My commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state is ironclad. Even when we disagree,” he said. But if we are to fight against antisemitism, promote the long-term security of Israel and remember the horrors of the October 7 Hamas attack we must also recognize and speak out against a dangerous failure of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.
That failure is his inability to understand one of the basic requirements to establish long-term security for any society: those living there need to believe they have a stake in that society and can enjoy its benefits. If they do, they will want it to be as safe and secure as possible. If, however, many believe that they have no stake in a society and that they have no real hope of sharing in its success, then turning to violence to create a place in which they believe they can meaningfully participate is far more likely.
If Netanyahu understood this principle, his government would not include dangerous extremists and would not pursue policies involving the significant expansion of West Bank settlements and the recognition of illegal settlements which deny Palestinians hope for a better future. We also would not have to deal with the reality that efforts to support the long-term security of Israel, combat the scourge of antisemitism and address Gaza protests on campuses both in the US and abroad have been made more difficult by the extremism of the Netanyahu government.
Netanyahu, an outspoken critic of the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords, has spent his years as prime minister promoting the expansion of settlements within the West Bank and making it clear that Palestinians have no hope of anything like their own state.
According to the New York Times, he even went so far as to voice no objection to various Arab countries providing aid to Hamas as part of demonstrating that Israel had no realistic negotiating partner. But he reached a new low when in 2022 he brought into his government the most extreme anti-Palestinian participants in Israeli politics. Their inclusion sent the clear message to Palestinians that there is no hope of a better future for them in any Israeli-controlled-land.
Netanyahu invited Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir to join his government. The former was appointed finance minister and was given responsibility for West Bank settlements. He has, however, suggested during a debate on an immigration bill it was a mistake in 1948 not to expel all Arabs from Israel; has asserted that “there is no such thing as a Palestinian people;” favors all of the West Bank being incorporated into Israel; and says he supports the voluntary moving of Palestinians out of Gaza.
Ben Gvir, who has been given a national security portfolio, is arguably even worse. He has been convicted of inciting racism against Arabs and was an alleged member of a terrorist group; has idolized the killing of Palestinians; publicly threatened then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin before his assassination in 1995; and claimed that his right to travel in the West Bank was more important than the Palestinians’ right to travel. And, just late last month he reportedly questioned the Israeli Defense Forces why they were taking so many Palestinian prisoners instead of killing them (which would be a violation of international law).
After the October 7 terrorist attack, Netanyahu had an opportunity to remove Smotrich and Ben Gvir from their posts when the first offer from the opposition for a unity government involved their elimination from the cabinet. Seemingly focused on not disturbing his coalition and staying in power, Netanyahu refused. Consequently, his unity government today still gives a platform to these extremists. It also gives license to followers of these extremists to, as we have seen, attack Palestinians in the West Bank and even to attack a Jordanian aid convoy.
There is no doubt that a robust military response by Israel was justified. And there also is no doubt that Hamas’ embedding its fighters and military infrastructure within the civilian population has inevitably increased the dangers civilians face in Gaza. But as has been widely reported, the military tactics adopted by Netanyahu’s government have led to massive civilian casualties, including of international aid workers. Its approach to assistance to Gaza has led to a historic humanitarian crisis.
At the same time, Israel has continued with significant expansion of settlements on the West Bank. The message being sent is clear. As far as the Netanyahu administration is concerned, Palestinian lives do not matter, and there is no reason for them to expect a better future. As a result, however much Hamas is weakened, a new generation of terrorists is being created. And the brutality of the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas and the plight of the hostages are being drowned out.
So what should those organizations and individuals who believe in Israel and the need to fight antisemitism, whether it be on college campuses or elsewhere, do? For their own efforts to be credible they must not avoid legitimate criticism of Israel. They must condemn the participation of Smotrich and Ben Gvir in the Israeli government. They need, as the United States government is doing, to tell Israel there can be no more excuses. Israel must do what is necessary to expand and simplify the process of sending humanitarian aid to Gaza. They also need to be clear that Israel must change its military tactics to dramatically reduce civilian deaths. And, as challenging as it would be, they need to openly call for the end to the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and for a path back towards a two-state solution.
Ignoring the extremism of the Netanyahu government and the horrible humanitarian disaster in Gaza only undermines the credibility of those seeking to defend Israel and fight antisemitism. Indeed, Netanyahu’s government and its actions risk adding fuel to the dangerous fire of antisemitism. And tragically, for all too many around the world, revulsion over what his government has become risks causing them to no longer support the legitimacy of Israel itself.
**Editor’s Note: Richard J. Davis was the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Carter administration and former assistant Watergate special prosecutor. The views expressed in this commentary are his own.

Euro-Chinese relations changed a lot in the 5 years between President Xi’s visits
Andrew Hammond/Arab News/May 11/2024
Though 2019 was not so long ago by most reckonings, it must seem like a different political epoch for China’s President Xi Jinping, who has just concluded his first visit to Europe for five years.
During those years, the world not only experienced the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, the presumed origins of which in China remain shrouded in some mystery, but also witnessed the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is tacitly supported by Beijing.
All of this means that much of Europe is in a different political space regarding China than it was in 2019. Aware of this change in mood, Xi chose the destinations for his three-leg European itinerary last week carefully. After a visit to France (China’s ties with which he described as a model bilateral relationship) on Monday and Tuesday, he traveled to Hungary and then to non-EU member Serbia, two of China’s supporters on the continent.
Xi has described Serbia as an “iron-clad” friend. Bilateral trade and investment ties between the nations have been growing, including a $2.2 billion Chinese investment in wind and solar power plants and a hydrogen production facility.
Within the 27-member EU itself, however, Xi’s strongest ally might be long-standing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. He favors deeper ties not only with China but also Russia, which makes him highly unusual among his counterparts.
During his visit to Hungary, Xi welcomed the fact that the nation has become a key production hub in Europe for Chinese automotive suppliers, including makers of electric vehicles. This might help Chinese firms navigate any EU tariffs on such vehicles in the future.
Serbia and Hungary are outliers in contemporary continental opinions on Beijing. A position more reflective of the wider stance at the present time is that of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with whom Xi met on Monday in France, and who has led the political charge in Brussels toward what she calls a policy of “de-risking” from Beijing.
Certainly, even in France Xi received a respectful and warm welcome during a visit that coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Paris and Beijing, and met President Emmanuel Macron as well as von der Leyen.
But the underlying political mood music is very different now than it was during his 2019 visit to Europe. Back then, Xi was love-bombed by his Italian hosts, who became the first G7 country to sign up to Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure scheme. This was a controversial decision in the West, even then. It infuriated the Trump administration in Washington, which called it “legitimacy for China’s infrastructure vanity project.”
Within the 27-member EU itself, Xi’s strongest ally might be long-standing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration, which came to power in 2022, withdrew from the agreement last year. This is a sign of the undeniable chill in EU-Chinese relations in recent years as a result of a wide-range of political and economic factors. These include Western assertions of human rights abuses by China in Xinjiang province, and concerns that Beijing is “dumping” key products such electric vehicles, batteries, wind turbines and solar panels on the European market through the use of extensive state subsidies.
Worse still, top EU officials have grown increasingly concerned about whether the nature of China’s external interventions in Europe represents a divide-and-rule strategy designed to undermine the collective interests of the continent.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell even asserted that Beijing is a “systemic rival that seeks to promote an alternative model of governance” to that of Europe.
Therefore, EU policies on China are clearly moving in a more hawkish direction. Even on issues in which breakthroughs have been made with Beijing in recent years, such as the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, the “long grass” in Brussels has prevented ratification of the deal by the European Parliament owing to EU concerns about the behavior of China.
Yet, despite these greater attempts to encourage more European unity, Brussels is still struggling to find common ground on Beijing across all 27 member states. This is what shaped Xi’s travel itinerary last week, including the choice of France as his first stop. While Macron has become increasingly hawkish about Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, China has welcomed a string of recent comments by the French president on wider issues. During a joint visit with von der Leyen to Beijing last year, for example, Macron deployed the language of economic reciprocity rather than de-risking. He has also moved away from prior French positions on Taiwan.
Whereas von der Leyen asserted during their trip that “stability in the Taiwan Strait is of paramount importance” and that the “threat of use of force to change the status quo is unacceptable,” Macron said Taiwan is a “crisis that is not ours” and that Europeans should not be “America’s followers.”While the full motivation for Macron’s comments remains unclear, his position is certainly out of sync not only with the EU position, but also key G7 statements on Taiwan that France signed up to. The Franco-China discussions last week were closely watched, therefore, not only in Europe but in the US, about a month before President Joe Biden is expected to make his own state visit to Paris.
Perceptions of a divided Europe have also been publicly highlighted by several Chinese officials, including the ambassador to the EU, Fu Cong, who cast doubts on whether all 27 member states fully back the agenda of Borrell and von der Leyen. He recently said that “Europe has not formulated a coherent policy toward China” and it felt like “people quarreling with each other.”Taking all of this together, Xi will be hoping his tour last week marks an important reset in ties with Europe, post-pandemic. However, while his visits to France, Serbia and Hungary were very cordial, there is no disguising the fact that broader ties between Europe and China remain chilly and could yet go from bad to worse this year.
• Andrew Hammond is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics

Condorcet Gets a Keffiyeh
Amir Taheri/Asharq Al-Awsat/May 11/2024
To those of us old enough to remember the good (or bad) old days of student revolt in Western universities in the 1960s, current disturbances in a number of European and American universities appear as a bad remake of a controversial original.
The current disturbances are on a much smaller scale. In the US, they have affected a handful of universities and attracted a few thousand students out of a total college enrolment of over 15 million. In France, the “uprising” is centered on the Institute of Political Science which boasts between 12,000 and 15,000 students a third of them foreign from more than 100 countries. The Palestine Group that organizes and leads the “uprising” boasts a membership of around 200 of which between 50 and 60 involve in action including breaking windows, barring entrances and threatening hunger strike.
The smallness of numbers, however, is compensated by a media presence that was unimaginable in the 1960s. Protests in the Institute of Political Science (Science Po in French) has attracted TV channels from over 50 countries and often benefited from live reporting on a Franco-Belgian channel. Add to that the countless accounts on the ever growing jungle of the Internet and you get an exposure that the rebellious youths of the ‘60s couldn’t imagine. Spending the good part of a day around Science Po and talking to a number of protesters and student observers of the “struggle” revealed another fact: the protest feeds on media attention. As soon as TV cameras are switched off the shouting of slogans dies down. The student revolts of the 1960s were prompted by two issues: the war in Vietnam and the rejection of a cultural inheritance that some students regarded as a relic of colonialism. American students calling for an end to the Vietnam War had a direct interest in the issue because they didn’t wish to be drafted to fight in what they saw as a bloody civil war in a distant land. Student protesters in England and France also had direct interests at stake.
In England, John Osborne’s play “Look Back in Anger” encouraged an Oedipus revolt against the British Empire and its paternalistic Victorian culture a key feature of which had been colonialism. In France, the Algerian war of independence, which was seen as a civil war because Algeria had never been a colony in the classical sense and at the time formed two French provinces, furnished the template for a revolt that later morphed into the May ’68 Revolution. It may be argued that the ‘60s protesters ultimately failed.
In the US, the protests may have prolonged the Vietnam War for at least four years by persuading the silent majority shocked by scenes of mayhem to vote for Richard Nixon who, on Henry Kissinger’s delusional advice, chased some form of victory as a prelude to peace. On the way, the Nixon-Ford administration expanded the war to Laos and Cambodia.
In England, those who had looked back in anger soon found out that they had to look to the future in boredom. In France, protests helped partisans of Algerie-Francaise to expand their audience and make it difficult for shaky IVth Republic governments to negotiate a peaceful disengagement from the North African provinces as they had done in Morocco and Tunisia. In political terms the May 68 “Revolution” in Paris also achieved the opposite of what it had hoped for by enabling Gaullists to maintain their monopoly on political power for 13 more years. The 1960s student rebels forged a neo-colonial narrative in which the West was responsible for whatever was wrong with the world. That in turn denied “the rest” any free will, reducing to an object in its own history. In the Arab-Israel war of1967, that belief persuaded rebellious students to support Israel against its Arab neighbors. In Paris, Science PO was adorned with the Star of David flags and shaken with cries of “Israel Vaincra!” (Israel shall be victorious). In London, New York and Chicago Israel was seen as a victim of “feudal Arab regimes” backed by the old colonial power in Great Britain. At that time, Israel was the darling in the left because it owed its birth to armed rebellion against British colonialists while obtaining the weapons it needed from the Soviet bloc via Czechoslovakia with money that came from America. Israel’s special place in the global left was illustrated by a vice presidential slot it held in the Socialist International. If support for Israel in those days was prompted by ideological considerations that had nothing to do for its struggle to survive, a mirror image of the same considerations inspires today’s student rebels in the West to be anti-Israeli.
Talking to some of the Science Po activists one sees Israel branded as
“an outpost of “American Imperialism” in the Middle East and Benjamin Netanyahu as a key player in the resurgence of “the hard right” in Europe and the US. There are other differences today. In the 1960s, student rebels focused on issues their respective governments were directly involved in. Today, anyone who thinks that any Western power could set the tune for either Israel or Hamas needs a fresh course in political psychology. Science Po rebels mumble about “enforcing UN resolutions”, resolutions that have been meaningless for more than seven decades. In any case, even if all the UN resolutions were implemented, they would not reassure Israel and won’t quench Hamas’ “from the river to the sea” thirst. For seven decades, Israelis accepted the “advice” of the US and its European allies to accept a fish-tail end to its wars rather than the victory won on the battlefield. Beyond Hamas which wants everything, Palestinians, too, have realized that listening to advice from “well-wishers” like Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W Bush, the inventor of the roadmap to a two-state solution, will not provide even half a state for them. It may sound like a nostalgia-stricken voice from the past.
But, in the old golden days of campus rebellion, student rebels took time to learn about what they were protesting against. Instead of wrecking campus furniture, they organized what was called teach-in to discuss and debate the issues and hear different views. Today’s protesters know little about what they are rebelling against and, at least in our experience of talking to some of them in Paris and reading and/or hearing what their counterparts say on American campuses, don’t even wish to know. Meanwhile, as flags are waved or burned and as the statute in Paris of the philosopher Condorcet is coiffed with a keffiyeh people die in a distant land.