Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 13-14/2024
Happy & Blessed Mathers Day To All Mothers/Elias Bejjani/May 12/2024
Lebanon: Rahi Says EU Exploiting Syrian Refugee Crisis for Political Ends
Five Israeli soldiers injured in intense clashes along Lebanese border
Hezbollah chief urges Beirut to allow Syrian migrant boats to leave for Europe
Strengthening military cooperation: General Aoun's Qatar visit
Syrian Refugee File: Mikati Refutes Ongoing Campaigns Against the Government
Syrian refugee crisis: EU's one billion euro aid package to Lebanon stirs debate
Port Explosion: Victims’ Families Urge World Bank to Preserve Silos
PSP Urges Swift Action over Shooting Incident Targeting Party Members
Southern Front: Hezbollah Claims Strikes that Wounded Israeli Soldiers
Sayyed Nasrallah's Nasrallah Speeche: ‘Israel’ Heading into Either Defeat or Abyss
Nasrallah: Opening Sea Routes to Syrian Migrants Is an Option
Hezbollah leader tackles Gaza war: Israel's 'strategic setbacks'; proposes solutions for Syrian refugee crisis - Speech highlights
Bou Saab from Ain al-Tineh: Rejecting dialogue rules and consensus in the file of presidential elections will prolong vacuum
TikTok Scandal: Immunity Lifted From Lawyer Khaled Merheb
EU Grant Parliamentary Session: ‘Tajaddod’ Announces Participation, Presents Solutions
EU to Lebanon: Take the Money and Keep the Syrian Migrants
Mikati decries 'campaigns' against govt. over Syrian refugees
Report: Hochstein promises help in rebuilding south Lebanon
EU “Grant” Parliamentary Session: Karam Affirms ‘Strong Republic’ Bloc’s Participation
Report: Quintet to meet Wednesday in Awkar
Qaouq says Hezbollah drones can reach 'Haifa and beyond'
The Jewish Messiah: A War Against Militias or a Religious War?
Drowning incidents: Beach safety concerns in Lebanon
The Implications of the Gaza War Ending for Lebanon/Sam Menassa/Asharq Al Awsat/May 13/2024

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 13-14/2024
UN says Gaza death toll still over 35,000 but not all bodies identified
Misery deepens in Gaza's Rafah as Israeli troops press operation
State Department disputes Israel is ‘restricting’ supplies to Gaza, but wants more aid heading to Palestinians
Israel’s Army Chief Says ‘Fully Responsible’ for Oct 7 Attack
Blinken informs Egypt that Washington does not support a major ground operation in Rafah
US doesn’t believe ‘genocide’ occurring in Gaza: White House
First international UN staff member killed in Gaza attack
Pro-Palestinian protests mark Wash U graduation ceremony, weeks after campus arrests
Leaders of regional rivals Greece and Türkiye meet in bid to thaw relations
Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker flees to Europe after prison and flogging sentence
Iraq and Syria Sign Memorandum for Security Cooperation
The rest of the world wants the Ukraine war to go away. Putin has other ideas
Kuwaiti emir, Omani sultan meet for official talks
Alleged Rushdie attacker, awaiting trial in New York, could still face federal charges

Titles For The Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 13-14/2024
‘Dead Cat Diplomacy,’ Political Cynicism and Nihilistic Warmongering/Charles Chartouni/This is Beirut/May 13/2024
SOS: Stop the World Health Organization's Tyrannical May 27 Power Grab/Robert Williams/Gatestone Institute./May 13, 2024
Secret Hamas Files Show How It Spied on Everyday Palestinians/Adam Rasgon and Ronen Bergman/The New York Times/May 13, 2024
Biden’s betrayal of Israel only means more civilians will die/Mark Dubowitz & Ben Cohen/Daily Mail/May 13/2024
Why the Biden Administration’s Iran Sanctions Waivers Are Futile/Janatan Sayeh, Behnam Ben Taleblu, Saeed Ghasseminejad/The National Interest /May 13/2024
The 21 Christian Martyrs of Egypt: A Feature Film?/Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream /May 13/2024
Memories that Attack Like a Dagger/Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/May 13/2024
The Iranian obstacles slowing any detente with its neighbors/Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami/Arab news/May 13/2024

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 13-14/2024
Happy & Blessed Mathers Day To All Mothers
Elias Bejjani/May 12/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/74768/elias-bejjani-happy-blessed-mathers-day-to-all-mothers/
Today while in Canada we are happily and joyfully celebrating the Mothers’ Day, let us all pray that Almighty God will keep granting all mothers all over the world the needed graces of wisdom, meekness and faith to highly remain under all circumstances honoring this holy role model and to stay as Virgin Merry fully devoted to their families.
For all those of us whose mothers have passed away, let us mention them in our daily prayers and ask Almighty God to endow their souls the eternal rest in His heavenly dwellings.
In Christianity Virgin Merry is envisaged by many believers and numerous cultures as the number one role model for the righteous, devoted, loving , caring, giving, and humble mothers.
The Spirit Of My mother who like every and each loving departed mother is definitely watching from above and praying for all of us. May Almighty God Bless her spirit and the Spirits of all departed mothers.
In all religions and cultures all over the world, honoring, respecting and obeying parents is not a favor that people either chose to practice or not. No not at all, honoring, respecting and obeying parents is a holy obligation that each and every faithful individual who believes in God MUST fulfill, no matter what.
Almighty God in His 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 ) made the honoring of both parents (commandment number five) a holy obligation, and not a choice or a favor.
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you”. (Exodus 20:12)
Reading the Bible, both the Old and New Testament shows with no doubt that honoring parents is a cornerstone and a pillar in faith and righteousness for all believers. All other religions and cultures share with Christians this holy concept and obligation.
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 5:16)
“You shall each revere your mother and father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:3).
Back home in Lebanon we have two popular proverbs that say:“If you do not have an elderly figure in your family to bless you, go and search for one”. “The mother is the who either gathers or divides the family”
How true are these two proverbs, because there will be no value, or meaning for our lives if not blessed and flavored by the wisdom, love and blessings of our parents and of other elder members.
He who does not honor the elderly, sympathize and empathize with them, especially his own parents is a person with a hardened heart, and a numbed conscience, who does not know the meaning of gratitude.
History teaches us that the easiest route for destroying a nation is to destroy, its cornerstone, the family. Once the family code of respect is belittled and not honored, the family is divided and loses all its Godly blessings.
“Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls” (Luke 11-17)
One very important concept and an extremely wise approach MUST apply and prevail when reading the Holy Bible in a bid to understand its contents and observe the Godly instructions and life guidelines that are enlisted. The concept needs to be a faith one with an open frame of mind free from doubts, questions and challenges.
Meanwhile the approach and interpretation MUST both be kept within the abstract manner, thinking and mentality frame, and not in the concrete way of interpretation.
We read in (Matthew 15/04: “For God said, Respect your father and your mother, and If you curse your father or your mother, you are to be put to death).
This verse simply dwells on The Fifth Biblical Commandment: “Honor your Father and Mother”. To grasp its meaning rightfully and put it in its right faith content one should understand that death in the Bible is not the death of the body as we experience and see on earth. DEATH in the Bible means the SIN that leads to eternal anguish in Hell.
The Bible teaches us that through His crucifixion, death and resurrection, Jesus defeated death in its ancient human, earthly concept. He broke the death thorn and since than, the actual death became the sin. Those who commit the sin die and on the judgment day are outcast to the eternal fire. Death for the believers is a temporary sleep on the hope of resurrection.
Accordingly the verse “If you curse your father or your mother, you are to be put to death”, means that those who do not honor their parents, help, support and respect them commit a deadly sin and God on the Judgment Day will make them accountable if they do not repent and honor their parents.
God is a Father, a loving, passionate and caring One, and in this context He made the honoring of parents one of the Ten Commandments.
In conclusion: The abstract and faith interpretation of Matthew 15/04 verse must not be related to children or teenagers who because of an age and maturity factors might temporarily repel against their parents and disobey them.
Hopefully, each and every one of us, no matter what religion or denomination he/she is affiliated to will never ever ignore his parents and commit the deadly SIN of not honoring them through every way and mean especially when they are old and unable to take care of themselves.
Happy Mothers’ Day to all mothers
N.B: Picture Enclosed is for the writer with his late mother in 1982
*The Above Piece was first published in 2015
The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: http://www.eliasbejjaninews.com

Lebanon: Rahi Says EU Exploiting Syrian Refugee Crisis for Political Ends
Asharq Al Awsat/May 13/2024
Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi accused the European Union of exploiting the crisis of Syrian refugees in Lebanon for political ends. Rahi has repeatedly criticized the EU after a $1 billion was announced by EU chief Ursula Von der Leyen to help Lebanon tackle illegal migration. The EU chief said the aid was designed to strengthen basic services such as to bolster border management, education and health amid a severe economic crisis, and will continue until 2027. In his Sunday sermon, Rahi said the accumulating crises in Lebanon and the region necessitate the election of a new head of state. “The situation in the region calls for the election of a president, so does the war in Palestine, and the issue of Syrian refugees residing illegally on Lebanese soil”, said Rahi. He voiced calls for their swift return to safe areas in Syria. “Safe areas in Syria are much more spacious than Lebanon”. He criticized the “lack of international and EU cooperation” to help Lebanon resolve the refugee crisis impacting the country’s already fragile economy. “These countries are exploiting the refugee crisis for political gains in Syria. They do not want to draw a line separating the political crisis from the return of refugees to their homeland. They are making Lebanon carry this immense burden and its dangerous consequences”, he said. On May 2, the EU chief announced a financial package of $1 billion for Lebanon that would be available from this year until 2027. The aid will be disbursed "in grants", with 736 million euros earmarked to support Lebanon "in response to the Syrian crisis", an EU official said. The grant sparked political and popular criticisms in Lebanon, mainly among Christian political parties, and after the killing incident of a Lebanese Forces official, Pascal Sleiman, by a Syrian gang. The perpetrators took his corpse to Syria. Von der Leyen said the EU was committed to maintaining "legal pathways open to Europe" and resettling refugees, but "at the same time, we count on your good cooperation to prevent illegal migration and combat migrant smuggling".Lebanon's economy collapsed in late 2019, turning it into a launchpad for migrants, with Lebanese joining Syrians and Palestinian refugees making perilous Europe-bound voyages. Lebanon says it currently hosts around two million people from neighboring Syria -- the world's highest number of refugees per capita -- with almost 785,000 registered with the United Nations.

Five Israeli soldiers injured in intense clashes along Lebanese border
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/May 13, 2024
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Hezbollah on Monday claimed responsibility for a strike that Israel said wounded five soldiers in the country’s north, the latest casualties in more than seven months of cross-border clashes.The group said it carried out “an aerial attack with a swarm of suicide drones targeting Israeli soldiers’ sleeping quarters in Beit Hillel.”The attack succeeded in “killing and injuring Israeli commanders and soldiers … (at a) newly established site for the 403rd Reserve Artillery Battalion of the 91st Division south of Beit Hillel,” it said. The Israeli Ziv Medical Center reported “the arrival of four injured soldiers due to a fusillade near the Yiftah settlement in northern Israel on the Lebanese border.” The Israeli army later said that five soldiers had been injured. Meanwhile, Israel conducted a drone strike on the Lebanese town of Chihine, with no casualties reported. At the time of the raid, residents were fleeing the area after coordinating with UNIFIL forces operating in the region and the Lebanese Army. The Israeli army also fired artillery and machine guns at targets on the outskirts of Mays Al-Jabal. The resumption in hostilities came after a relatively calm Sunday and ahead of a speech by Hezbollah’s secretary-general on Monday evening. The group also said it “targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in the Israeli site of Birkat Risha.”Israeli media reported that missiles were launched at Pranit Barracks in Western Galilee in Lebanon. Hezbollah said it destroyed a Merkava tank with a guided missile and caused casualties “after closely observing the movements of the enemy at the Yiftah barracks.”It also targeted Israeli soldiers near the Al-Jardah site.
The Israeli army said a drone fired from Lebanon fell in the Zarit area but no one was hurt. Lebanese security reports said: “Hezbollah introduced new weapons into its military operations. These included heavy missiles and a new drone with optical or thermal guidance to target the Israeli Iron Dome.” Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Ezz El-Din said that the support front that Hezbollah had opened in southern Lebanon to help the Gazans was “no less important than what is happening in the Gaza Strip.”The group “has so far only used traditional weapons developed by brothers working in the national industry. So, these drones are a Lebanese national industry,” he said.After discussions on a ceasefire settlement on the southern front ended, Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun met Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani in Qatar. The Foreign Ministry quoted the prime minister as saying that Qatar would “continue to provide support to the military institution so that it can continue its essential role in preserving Lebanon’s security and stability.”
The ceasefire efforts focus on the implementation of UN Resolution 1701 through the reinforcement of the Lebanese army in the border region and the withdrawal of Hezbollah from it. Villages and towns in southern Lebanon have been deserted for more than seven months after residents fled the Israeli shelling of their homes. Those that remain have to race to bury their lost loved ones between attacks.Fadi Hounaikah and his family were killed in an Israeli raid as they examined the remains of the supermarket they once ran and which had been damaged in a previous strike. A local security source said Hezbollah had advised local people attending funerals not to check on their damaged properties during processions because of the dangers involved. Residents should instead “accompany the funeral procession and take maximum precautions to ensure their safety,” the group said. Also, after infrastructure maintenance teams were targeted by attacks, UNIFIL mediated with the Israeli side to allow them set times to carry out essential repairs to water, electricity and telecommunications systems. However, a technician and a paramedic were killed last week when a maintenance team for a mobile service provider was targeted by an Israeli raid, despite being accompanied by the Lebanese Army.

Hezbollah chief urges Beirut to allow Syrian migrant boats to leave for Europe
AFP/May 13, 2024
BEIRUT: Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Monday urged Lebanese authorities to open the seas for migrant boats to reach Europe, amid soaring anti-Syrian sentiment and accusations the West is seeking to keep refugees in Lebanon. His remarks came in an apparent bid to pressure the European Union after it announced earlier this month $1 billion in aid to Lebanon to help tackle irregular migration. Many in crisis-hit Lebanon have criticized the aid package as focused on preventing refugees from leaving the country, amid mounting calls for them to return home.In a televised address, Nasrallah called for “a national decision that says: we have opened the sea... whoever wants to leave for Europe, for Cyprus, the sea is in front of you. Take a boat and board it.”But “we do not propose forcing displaced Syrians to board boats and leave for Cyprus and Europe,” he added in the speech, broadcast on the group’s Al-Manar television channel. Cyprus, the EU’s easternmost member, is less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Lebanon and Syria, and wants to curb migrant boat departures from Lebanon toward its shores. Currently refugees “are prohibited (from leaving), and so they turn to smuggling and to rubber boats, and there are drownings in the sea, because the Lebanese army is implementing a political decision to stop them from migrating,” Nasrallah added. Lebanon says it currently hosts around two million people from neighboring Syria — the world’s highest number of refugees per capita — with almost 785,000 registered with the United Nations. Lebanon needs to tell the West that “we all have to coordinate with the Syrian government to return the displaced to Syria and to present them with aid there,” Nasrallah said. He also urged Lebanon’s parliament to press the EU and Washington to lift sanctions on Syria that Damascus says are blocking aid and reconstruction efforts, adding: “If sanctions on Syria aren’t lifted, there will be no return” of refugees. Nasrallah’s remarks came a day before Lebanon is expected to resume “voluntary returns” of Syrians, with dozens of families set to pass through two land border crossings in the country’s east, a year and a half after such returns were paused. Lebanon’s economy collapsed in late 2019, turning it into a launchpad for migrants, with Lebanese joining Syrians and Palestinian refugees making perilous Europe-bound voyages. Some Lebanese politicians have blamed Syrians for their country’s worsening troubles, and pressure often mounts ahead of an annual conference on Syria in Brussels, with ministers meeting this year on May 27.Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have warned that Syria is not safe for returns.

Strengthening military cooperation: General Aoun's Qatar visit
LBCI/May 13/2024
During his visit to Qatar, Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who affirmed "his country's continued support for the military institution to enable it to carry out its essential role in maintaining Lebanon's security and stability." In turn, General Joseph Aoun expressed "his gratitude and appreciation to the Prime Minister and, through him, to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for Qatar's various [...] initiatives aimed at supporting the military and enhancing the capabilities of the army in light of the delicate circumstances facing Lebanon."

Syrian Refugee File: Mikati Refutes Ongoing Campaigns Against the Government
This Is Beirut/May 13/2024
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati refuted on Monday the “ongoing campaigns against the government regarding the Syrian displaced file” that indicate, in his opinion, “a clear approach aimed at obscuring the truth for populist purposes and hindering the government’s work with futile disputes and debates.” He reaffirmed the government’s work and commitment to implementing the decisions they have made “with a living conscience and a sense of responsibility.” Mikati emphasized “hope and work” as the only resort through “concerted efforts, the determination to persevere, and the support of our partners at home and abroad, as well as in the Arab and international communities.” He also informed the EU Ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra De Waele, that the Lebanese delegation to the eighth Brussels conference on “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region” will be led by Caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah

Syrian refugee crisis: EU's one billion euro aid package to Lebanon stirs debate
LBCI/May 13/2024
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's announcement of a one billion euro aid package for Lebanon in light of the Syrian refugee crisis has yet to gain approval from the European Union. It is scheduled for discussion in July, and if faced with opposition within the Union, it may not be proceeded with. The European offer, initially seen as a gesture of support, sparked an ongoing debate in Lebanon, reaching the point of accusing Prime Minister Najib Mikati of accepting bribery, selling Lebanon, and agreeing to settle Syrian refugees. Consequently, the debate in the parliament, convened by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, will address a proposal, not a European decision.The issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon transcends its consequences and decisions within Lebanese borders. In this context, measures taken by the General Security, municipalities, and other administrations may create conditions that encourage refugees to return voluntarily. However, such returns remain extremely limited, as resolving the refugee crisis is contingent upon resolving the Syrian regime's crises, which necessitates lifting sanctions and injecting funds for reconstruction to improve the economic situation, paving the way for the return of Syrian refugees. The calculations of the Syrian regime do not align with those of EU countries like France and Germany nor with those of the United States. These nations have so far refused to make any concessions to the regime. Therefore, the Syrian regime and some of its allies in Lebanon warn against the Brussels conference, suggesting it will oppose the Syrian perspective on the solution. It is worth noting that the Syrian regime has failed to leverage improved relations with Arab countries since the Jeddah Summit last May, culminating in the Bahrain Summit this month to demonstrate cooperation on various issues, including the issue of Captagon, which any serious handling of could have a positive impact on the Syrian crisis as a whole.

Port Explosion: Victims’ Families Urge World Bank to Preserve Silos
This Is Beirut/May 13/2024 
The association of the families of the Beirut port explosion and the “Our City, Our Silos” campaign have joined forces in a plea to the World Bank’s Middle East Director, Jean-Christophe Carret, demanding an urgent intervention to safeguard the Port’s iconic silos. In a letter addressed to Carret on May 2nd, 2024, the association emphasized the critical importance of preserving the silos in the World Bank’s Harbor Master Plan, announced by local officials during the “Beirut Port Vision” conference on March 13, 2024. The letter outlined practical and material solutions, including a Kuwaiti donation specifically earmarked for reinforcing the silos. The association emphasized that this donation would not impose any financial burden on the city but would instead generate revenue for the port in the long term. Moreover, they stressed the need to preserve the collective memory of the tragic explosion that rocked the city on August 4, 2020. In their communication to Carret, the association underscored the importance of the silos as a heritage site that bears witness to the devastating events of that fateful day, which claimed the lives of over 235 individuals and displaced hundreds of thousands more. The association bemoaned that repeated attempts to engage in dialogue with the World Bank during the conference, in order to convey their appeals, were unheeded.

PSP Urges Swift Action over Shooting Incident Targeting Party Members
This Is Beirut/May 13/2024 
The Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) has released a statement in response to a recent shooting incident targeting the director of the Karakol Druze branch of the party, and two other party affiliates. The party has reaffirmed its commitment to Lebanon’s state and institutions, calling on security and judicial authorities to take immediate action to apprehend the assailants and ensure they are held accountable for their actions. While the party is closely monitoring the situation, it has expressed confidence in the security services and the judiciary to handle the investigation effectively.

Southern Front: Hezbollah Claims Strikes that Wounded Israeli Soldiers
This Is Beirut/May 13/2024 
Hezbollah claimed responsibility on Monday for a strike that Israel said wounded four soldiers in the country’s north, the latest cross-border fire in more than seven months of clashes. Hezbollah fighters fired “a guided missile” at an Israeli Merkava tank across the border on Monday morning, destroying it “after closely monitoring the Israeli’s movements,” the Iran-backed group said in a statement. For its part, the Israeli Army said “two anti-tank missiles” crossed from Lebanon into the area of Yiftah, a kibbutz community less than two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the border. The missiles wounded four Israeli soldiers, the Army said, one of them moderately and the rest lightly. Earlier on Monday, Hezbollah said it launched “a swarm of explosive drones” targeting tents and “sleeping quarters” for an Israeli artillery battalion. The Israeli Army said the attack caused no casualties and reported that one drone that crossed from Lebanon fell in a different area. Earlier on Monday morning, an Israeli airstrike hit the town of Shihine while some residents were inspecting their homes and working on transporting some of their belongings in coordination with UNIFIL forces and with the support of a Lebanese Army patrol. Additionally, the Israeli artillery has targeted the outskirts of the town of Mays Al-Jabal while conducting reconnaissance of the area with machine guns.

Sayyed Nasrallah's Nasrallah Speeche: ‘Israel’ Heading into Either Defeat or Abyss
Al-Manar English Website/May 13/2024
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah on Monday stressed that the Israeli enemy is facing a historical dilemma in Gaza– if it halts the war, it will be a major defeat, and it will move into an abyss if it continues the military battle.
Addressing Hezbollah’s memorial ceremony marking the eighth martyrdom anniversary of military commander Martyr Sayyed Mustafa Badreddine, Sayyed Nasrallah concentrated on the challenge of goals between the Palestinian Resistance and the Zionist enemy. Sayyed Nasrallah maintained that the Palestinian resistance wanted Al-Aqsa Flood Operation to be a chance to revitalize the Palestinian cause and remind the whole world with the Palestine and Palestinian rights thrown in the oblivion. On the other hand, some Arab regimes promoted ‘Israel’ as a normal entity that preserves democracy, according to Hezbollah leader, who added that the steadfastness of women, children and resistance fighters in Gaza has changed this situation. Nowadays, Palestinian and the Palestinian rights are being highlighted all over the world, Sayyed Nasrallah said, adding that over 140 states voted for granting Palestine a full UN membership.
Sayyed Nasrallah affirmed that the Israeli envoy’s act of shredding a copy of UN Charter over a vote in favor of Palestinian rights displays the Zionist arrogance and carelessness about the international resolutions. The most important political media scene that reflects the victory of the Palestinian resistance is the moment the Israeli UN envoy raised the picture of Hamas military commander Yahya Al-Sinwar.
Sayyed Nasrallah underlined the pro-Palestine protests held by the university students in the United States, Australia France, Britain, Germany and several European countries, adding that those rallies outraged the Israeli and US officials.
The steadfastness of the Palestinian people since October 7 has obliged the whole world to accept the notion of establishing a Palestinian state, even the hypocritical US administration is now considering a Palestinian state, Sayyed Nasrallah said.
Al-Aqsa Flood Operation and the multi-front war between the resistance movements and the Zionist enemy have exposed the criminal and barbaric essence of the Zionist enemy, according to Hezbollah Chief. Hezbollah Secretary General called for concentrating on the remarks of the Israeli presidents, ministers, generals and various officials, away from all what the pro-Zionist Arabs say.
Sayyed Nasrallah emphasized that none in the Zionist entity is capable of claiming victory in Gaza eight months since the start of the war, adding that the Israelis mock Netanyahu when he says the occupation army is about to achieve victory in the Strip. Sayyed Nasrallah mentioned that the Israelis tell the Zionist officials that three main targets of the war–eradicating Hamas, liberating the captives, and protecting the settlements from Gaza missiles– have not been achieved yet.
Hezbollah leader said that Hamas continues fighting the Zionist occupation forces across Gaza, holding most of the Israeli captives, and firing missiles at the Zionist settlements in the south of occupied Palestine. Sayyed Nasrallah added that the Israelis also failed to achieve the implicit targets, including displacing Gaza locals, noting that the Gazans showed a great steadfastness against this scheme.
“‘Israel’ presents itself as the most powerful ‘state’ in the region, claims to have the most powerful army in the region, and obtains the support of the most powerful country in the world, the United States of America which provides it with hundreds of war jets, dozens of warships, military bridge, expertise, technology, satellites, and intelligence agencies.” The United States of America even interferes to defend ‘Israel’ against the Yemenis in the Red Sea and in face of the Iranian missiles as well as drones, Sayyed Nasrallah noted. “Imagine how ‘Israel’ with such capabilities and US support fails to achieve any of its targets in Gaza over 8 months.”
“Gaza, an area of around 270 square kilometers, has been besieged since 20 years, with modest military capabilities.” Sayyed Nasrallah asserted that this reflects inability, not just failure, and leads the Zionists to lose confidence in this entity with its political, security and military command.
Sayyed Nasrallah cited the Israeli polls which indicated that 30% of the Israelis consider that the entity is unsuitable for a decent life and 70% of them demand the resignation of the commander-in-chief. Sayyed Nasrallah noted that ‘Israel’ has also failed to reconstruct the deterrence image in face of the entire resistance axis in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Iraq and Yemen. According to Sayyed Nasrallah, ‘Israel’ does not even have any minimal assumption about the political era in Gaza after the war, which leads the army into successive daunting battles.
Sayyed Nasrallah indicated that the pro-Zionist Arabs utilize the numbers of martyrs in Gaza to promote surrender instead of denouncing the Israeli criminality in an act treachery. Hezbollah chief dismissed the US ploy of blocking military shipment to the Zionist entity, warning against the American deception. Sayyed Nasrallah underlined that Hamas approval of the Egyptian ceasefire proposal shocked Netanyahu and made the US officials swallow their tongues and abstain from denouncing the Zionist obstruction of the solution process. “The US administration also vetoes any vote for Palestine’s membership,threatens to sanction any state that voices intention to recognize a Palestinian state and the ICC judges if they issue an arrest warrant against Netanyahu, and persecutes the students protesting in favor of Gaza despite all the freedom and human rights slogans.”Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated that Hezbollah will continue its border battle against the Israeli enemy in support of Gaza and impose more rules of engagement, adding that the Resistance command may escalate the front. Sayyed Nasrallah called on the Israeli settlers displaced from Northern Palestine to demand their government to stop its war on Gaza in order to return to “their houses” before September 1.
Displaced Syrians
Hezbollah Secretary General pointed out that all the Lebanese parties, except for some beneficiaries, agree that the displaced Syrians file is now problematic and must be addressed. Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that the USA and Europe are responsible for preventing the displaced Syrians in Lebanon from returning to Syria, calling on the Lebanese authorities to challenge the foreign will by letting the displaced Syrians move into Europe by sea. This issue can be easily addressed whenever bravery and political will are presented in face of the foreign pressures, threats, and interventions, Sayyed Nasrallah said. Sayyed Nasrallah indicated that the Lebanese authorities must communicate with the Syrian government in order to facilitate the return of the displaced, underlining the importance of demanding the revocation of Caesar Act overburdening Syria economically.
Martyr Badreddine
Sayyed Nasrallah recalled the real badges gained by the Islamic Resistance Commander Sayyed Mustaf Badreddine, mentioning martyr Sayyed Zulfiqar’s Medals of the Combatant Man, the Wounded, the Detainee, the Commander, the Achievements’ Maker, and the martyr. Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated condolences and felicitations to the noble family of martyr Badreddine, adding that the Resistance might on the borders recalls the martyred commanders, including Hajj Imad Mughniyeh, Sayyed Mustafa Badreddine, Hajj Qassem Suleimani, Hajj Mohammad Rida Zahedi, and Radhi Al-Mousawi. Sayyed Nasrallah said that Hezbollah combat drones striking the Israeli enemy nowadays recall the martyred commander Hassan Al-Lakkis. Sayyed Nasrallah summarized the achievements of Sayyed Badreddine in face of the Zionist enemy and during the negotiations aimed at concluding prisoner swap deals, concentrating on his feat of fighting the terrorist groups in Syria. Sayyed Nasrallah indicated that the foreign plots wanted Syria to move into the US influence circle, adding that, however, the sacrifices of Sayyed Zulfikar and the rest of the martyrs preserved the pro-resistance stance of Syria.

Nasrallah: Opening Sea Routes to Syrian Migrants Is an Option
This Is Beirut/May 13/2024 
Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has called on the Lebanese government to open the sea routes for Syrian migrants to go to Europe, as a way to alleviate Lebanon from their protracted presence. “A courageous national decision should be taken to open the sea to the voluntary departure of displaced Syrians towards Europe,” Nasrallah said on Monday, two days before parliament is set to debate plans and proposals for returning them to their homeland. “That is a way to put pressure on the European Union and the United States, which are obstructing their return home,” he said, accusing international organizations and NGOs financed by the EU of encouraging the Syrians to remain in Lebanon by providing them with financial support, schooling and medical coverage. He made the comments in a speech commemorating the death of senior Hezbollah operative, Mustafa Badreddine, who was accused by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon of involvement in the explosion that killed former Prime Minister Rafi Hariri. He said for Lebanon to secure the repatriation of more than 2 million Syrians, the majority of whom are residing illegally, “it is inevitable to communicate with the Syrian government.”
He argued that “since there is a national consensus on addressing the issue of displaced Syrians in Lebanon,” official delegations should be sent out to convince the Europeans to lift the sanctions on the Syrian Regime, and the US to abrogate the Caesar Act, which sanctions any dealings with Damascus, in order to enable Syria to prepare the ground for the return of the refugees. The head of the Iranian-backed party also highlighted in his speech what he dubbed the “victories” that have been achieved in the eighth month of “al-Aqsa Flood” operation launched by Hamas against Israel on October 7. “Today, Palestine and the Palestinian people have become the talk of the globe, and despite Israel’s manipulations the world is talking about a Palestinian state, and that no solution is possible without a state for the Palestinians, a matter that is scaring the Israelis,” Nasrallah said, in reference to the United Nations General Assembly’s majority vote on May 10 in favor of the adhesion of the Palestinians to the UN. Nasrallah reiterated once again the irrevocable link between Hezbollah’s so-called support front for Gaza in southern Lebanon and the war in the Hamas-controlled enclave. “France and the US have acknowledged the fact that the link between the southern front and Gaza is irreversible, as no pressures, or intimidation, or threats could succeed to severe that link.” Addressing Israeli settlers who were displaced since Hezbollah opened the southern front, he said, “If you want to go back to northern Israel, go and tell your government to stop the war in Gaza.”

Hezbollah leader tackles Gaza war: Israel's 'strategic setbacks'; proposes solutions for Syrian refugee crisis - Speech highlights
LBCI/May 13/2024
Hezbollah leader tackles Gaza war: Israel's 'strategic setbacks'; proposes solutions for Syrian refugee crisis - Speech highlights  Amid the current developments in the region, the Hezbollah Secretary-General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, stated that the [opened] fronts in the West Bank, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria are additional fronts that "support" Gaza in its conflict. In a speech on Monday, he indicated that the developments currently happening in Gaza and the "continued resilience" have placed the world before the reality that there are events in the region that could lead to a regional war. "The world is responsible for finding a solution," he added. He also noted, "If we want to evaluate the current battle's results, we must listen to what the [Israeli] media says about the failure of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his army."He emphasized that in the eighth month of the Gaza war, there is consensus that Israel failed to achieve the war's objectives. He said, "The real achievement is that Israel, backed by the West, is incapable of regaining its captives or achieving victory. One of the most important outcomes is that this entity admits it has not achieved victory, and 70 percent of Israelis demand the resignation of the Chief of Staff.""The issue is not limited to Israeli failure in achieving objectives but to further strategic losses," he added. He affirmed, "We believe that the [Israeli] enemy has two choices: either go back to relying on the 'mediators' strategy,' which would indicate their defeat, or persist with the attrition. The Al-Aqsa Flood exposed the West's lies and deception." He considered that what happened at the United Nations and international courts "confirms American support for Israel and its unchanged position."
The leader of Hezbollah confirmed that Lebanon's front still supports Gaza, and this is a crucial and settled issue, acknowledged by both the American and the French sides. In his speech, he mentioned that everyone agrees on dealing with the Syrian refugee crisis. He also noted that the upcoming parliamentary session on Wednesday provides a chance to propose practical solutions for this issue. He emphasized the necessity of initiating contact with the Syrian state regarding the refugee issue, stating the importance of creating a Lebanese delegation to visit countries blocking the return of Syrian refugees from Lebanon to Syria. He stated that this delegation should advocate for the repeal of the Caesar Act and the lifting of sanctions on Syria. Furthermore, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah mentioned that to pressure the US and Europe on the Syrian refugee issue, one solution is to facilitate their departure by opening up sea routes and allowing them to leave on fit ships. In another context, he said, "Today, they want Syria to fall under American control, but it has prevailed [...] Despite the siege and difficult conditions, Syria remains steadfast and firm in its stance on the Palestinian cause."

Bou Saab from Ain al-Tineh: Rejecting dialogue rules and consensus in the file of presidential elections will prolong vacuum
LBCI/May 13/2024
Deputy Parliament Speaker, Elias Bou Saab, stressed "the importance of the parliamentary session on Wednesday to come up with a comprehensive national stance regarding displaced Syrians."After meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh, Bou Saab renewed his call on all political parties and parliamentary blocs on "the necessity of dialogue and consensus to elect a president."He expressed fear that "continuing to be arrogant, spiteful, and rejecting dialogue and convergence will not lead to a solution." Bou Saab stressed that "rejecting the rules of dialogue and consensus in the file of the presidential elections will prolong the vacuum, and the term of the current Council may end without a President of the Republic. As a result, the biggest loser is Lebanon and the Lebanese."

TikTok Scandal: Immunity Lifted From Lawyer Khaled Merheb
This Is Beirut/May 13/2024
The council of the North Bar Association, presided over by President Sami Al-Hassan, convened to discuss the lifting of immunity from Merheb, who arrived at the association to attend the investigation with him in the association council, accompanied by a boy introduced as his “assistant.” The Tripoli Bar Association had previously issued a statement affirming that if the involvement of any lawyer is proven, “it will take necessary legal actions to ensure justice,” and that “it will not hesitate to take any decision or measure to expose this gang and hold it accountable.

EU Grant Parliamentary Session: ‘Tajaddod’ Announces Participation, Presents Solutions
This Is Beirut/May 13/2024 
MPs Michel Moawad and Ashraf Rifi, representing the “Tajaddod” bloc, held a press conference during which they discussed the issue of “Syrian displacement,” affirming the bloc’s participation in the Parliamentary session on Wednesday. “The invitation to Wednesday’s session is timely as it is essential to have a national debate on the displaced issue,” Moawad stated. He said that the bloc will not only attend the session to discuss the European grant, but rather to discuss, in a broader sense, “the government’s complicity or abandonment in the Syrian displaced issue, which poses a threat to Lebanon’s security, economy and stability.”Moawad pointed out that between December and mid-April, 4,000 illegal Syrian migrants moved to Cyprus, while Lebanon bears the presence of over two million “displaced,” most of whom entered Lebanese territory illegally. “It appears disinterested in solving the Syrian displacement crisis and is irresponsible and relinquishing sovereignty,” he noted. He said that Europe’s priority is to protect itself from illegal migration, and the Lebanese government’s responsibility is to adopt a sovereign policy to protect Lebanon, not Europe. Moawad urged rejecting funding for Syrians in Lebanon, redirecting resources to aid their return to Syria and pushing for international support. Additionally, he stressed the need to deport illegal Syrian migrants, enforce laws and regulate borders in line with UN Resolution 1680. “What is needed is a ministerial committee transparently dealing with the displacement issue, and the Caesar Act should not hinder humanitarian aid. Although the mechanism is challenging, the presence of determination aids in utilizing available resources,” Moawad concluded. For his part, MP Ashraf Rifi stressed the urgency of addressing the Syrian displacement issue, emphasizing the need for a unified approach, grounded in brotherhood, respect for Lebanese diversity and Islamic-Christian cooperation. Regarding the Ministry of Displaced Persons’ role, he clarified that their responsibility doesn’t encompass the displacement file. Instead, he proposed a strategic plan and a military-led crisis cell for effective implementation. Rifi concluded by demanding a swift, safe and dignified return for the displaced while preserving Lebanon’s demographic balance.

EU to Lebanon: Take the Money and Keep the Syrian Migrants
Michael Al Andary/This Is Beirut/May 13/2024
The billion Euro aid, to be given by the European Union to Lebanon to help the country alleviate the burden of hundreds of thousands of Syrians living in its territory, still raises question marks on the reason, timing and circumstances of this “gift,” which will be discussed on Wednesday by the Parliament. The donation was only offered after Cyprus raised its voice against the continuous influx of Syrian migrants from the Lebanese shores to this island, while Lebanon has been dealing for more than 10 years with the consequences of the overwhelming presence of Syrian migrants and refugees on its soil. It’s a fact: The influx of Syrians since 2011 put additional pressure on Lebanon’s poor infrastructure and the European aid is far from providing a substantial solution to this problem, particularly since part of it will be used to support the Lebanese army and security services.
“The financial package aims (among other things) to support Lebanese armed forces with equipment and training for border management,” said President of the EU Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, during her recent visit to Beirut, stressing that the EU wants to “contribute to Lebanon’s socio-economic stability.”This is the public reason, and this is the main sore point, as there are fears about many hidden political and financial motives, in addition to the social and humanitarian cover. Economic expert Patrik Mardini told This is Beirut that “the Europeans believe that Lebanon can handle border control at a lower price, so instead of paying the European police to patrol their maritime borders, they pay the Lebanese to do it.” Mardini added, “In addition, it is a win-win situation for the Europeans, as they would be supporting the Lebanese armed forces financially. Hence, the motive is financial at this level.”
On the Lebanese level, it is both financial and political. “In the case of Lebanon, policy makers are trying to use the refugee crisis for two reasons or two political schemes. First, they are trying to extract money from the West in exchange for keeping the Syrian refugees in the country. The second reason is to divert attention from the problems facing Lebanon such as the financial and economic crisis and the failure of the political class in assuming their responsibilities, notably introduce reforms. They needed a scapegoat. They found it in the refugees’ issue, so they can blame them for all the problems,” Mardini added.
“Politicians would love to have the money of the refugees; they would want to have as much as they can. They would prefer that the money would go through government channels which would ensure greasing the corruption wheel in Lebanon. What we are really concerned about is that the EU might really know about that but would still give them the money to buy their silence. This is the worst thing that might happen since it will fund corruption,” Mardini concluded. The EU is giving money to a Lebanese caretaker government, with a contested general budget with no reform vision.
In the past, the Europeans asked for detailed data on how each penny given to Lebanon’s government is spent. They were very keen on transparency and after the 2019 crisis, they affirmed several times that there will not be any monetary help for Lebanon unless reforms are made in different sectors, including electricity, public administration and taxation, in addition to a transparent general budget and the lifting of all subsidies. Like many Lebanese, former LF leader Fouad Abu Nader “has great doubts” about the European Union’s €1 billion, three-year financial package for Lebanon. He considers it as “a thinly veiled bribe to buy off the government in order to contain the Syrian refugees and keep them in Lebanon.” He added, “This assistance should be returned to its owners with thanks.”Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri convened the MPs to a parliamentary session on Wednesday, May 15 to discuss the EU donation. “Since stability has been restored in most Syrian territories, why are the refugees not given the money in Syria?” Abou Nader asks. Most alarming, however, is caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s revelation about EU opening the way for “seasonal migration” for the Lebanese to work in European countries. Different analyses emerged on the ins and outs of the EU donation, but whatever the explanations and the opinions, Lebanese public opinion mostly remains opposed to Syrians living in Lebanon. The track of the billion Euro “gift” will be clear on Wednesday. It remains to be seen whether Parliament will echo the Lebanese people’s opinion or try to sidestep them.

Mikati decries 'campaigns' against govt. over Syrian refugees
Naharnet/May 13/2024 
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday noted that “the continuation of the campaigns against the government in the Syrian refugee file is an approach that is clearly aimed at distorting the truth for populist goals.”Some are seeking to “paralyze the work of the government and preoccupy it with futile bickering and debates,” Mikati lamented, in remarks at the Grand Serail. “We will carry on with our work and with implementing the decisions we have taken, with a living conscience and a sense of responsibility, and we will detailed remarks in this regard during Wednesday’s parliamentary session,” Mikati added. Several parties have lashed out at Mikati and the European Union after the EU announced $1 billion in aid for Lebanon and urged it to tackle illegal migration to the bloc in what critics have described as a “bribe” aimed at keeping the Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The bulk of the package — 736 million euros — would go to supporting Syrian refugees “and other vulnerable groups” in Lebanon, while 200 million euros would bolster Lebanese security services in enforcing border and migration control, according to figures provided by the Cypriot government. Parliament is scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss the grant amid reports that the legislature might reject it.

Report: Hochstein promises help in rebuilding south Lebanon
Naharnet/May 13/2024
During a meeting with members of the Lebanese expat community in Michigan, U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein promised U.S. help in rebuilding the destroyed villages in south Lebanon, a media report said. “Should the negotiations related to Resolution 1701 succeed and if a president who can guarantee stability is elected, the region will witness a period of economic prosperity,” Hochstein said, according to the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper. “The U.S. will ask several countries for assistance in funding the rebuilding process in south Lebanon,” sources informed on Hochstein’s efforts told the daily.

EU “Grant” Parliamentary Session: Karam Affirms ‘Strong Republic’ Bloc’s Participation
This Is Beirut/May 13/2024 
Member of the “Strong Republic” bloc (Lebanese Forces), MP Fadi Karam, affirmed that the bloc will participate in Wednesday’s parliamentary session dedicated to discussing the one-billion-euro grant from the European Union. “This session differs from its predecessors and falls within the framework of the Parliament exercising its supervisory role,” he said. Karam emphasized in an interview with “Voice of Lebanon” the necessity for Lebanon to have a unified stance in approaching international aid aimed at alleviating the burdens of the Syrian displacement, regardless of its destination. He stressed that aid should not be linked to the presence of undocumented Syrian citizens on Lebanese territory. “Sovereignty cannot be bought or sold,” he stressed. Regarding the expected recommendation in Wednesday’s session, Karam said, “The important thing is to start from a single vision that does not prolong the stay of displaced Syrians.” Concerning the exchange with Speaker of Parliament’s right-hand man, MP Ali Hassan Khalil, who was tasked by Berri to gather opinions ahead of Wednesday’s session, Karam confirmed communication ongoing between various parliamentary forces to reach a single recommendation that emphasizes the strength of the Lebanese stance regarding the Syrian migration crisis. Regarding the pressures Lebanon might face should it reject the grant, Karam said, “If we stand united in defending our sovereignty, laws, and protecting our existence, no one can pressure us,” he assured, adding that “alarmism doesn’t work with us; otherwise, we would have lost our dignity and sovereignty.”

Report: Quintet to meet Wednesday in Awkar
Naharnet/May 13/2024 
The Ambassadors of the five-nation group on Lebanon, which comprises the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, will meet Wednesday at the U.S. embassy in Awkar, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper said. The daily said U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson will head the meeting. Crisis-hit Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022, with neither of the two main blocs -- Hezbollah and its opponents -- having the majority required to elect one. The international community and the five-nation group have long urged Lebanese leaders to end months of political wrangling and stem the financial meltdown.

Qaouq says Hezbollah drones can reach 'Haifa and beyond'
Naharnet/May 13/2024 
Hezbollah central council member Sheikh Nabil Qaouq has said that the “growing pressures” on Hezbollah are “a proof of the success of the resistance’s strategy,” stressing that “Zionist settlers will not return to the north (of Israel) before the end of the aggression against Gaza.”“The resistance’s powerful and swift response to the targeting of civilians has burned the ground under the feet of the Zionists,” Qaouq said. “The Israeli enemy has admitted that the Iron Dome’s missiles and an F-16 warplane have failed to intercept a drone sent by the resistance in Lebanon,” he boasted. “The (explosive-laden) drones of the Islamic resistance in Lebanon are capable of reaching where they should reach in the north of occupied Palestine -- to Akka and what’s beyond Akka and to Haifa and what’s beyond Haifa,” Qaouq added, echoing a famous warning that Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had made during the 2006 war.

The Jewish Messiah: A War Against Militias or a Religious War?
Salam Zaatari/This Is Beirut/May 13/2024
Ehud Barak, the former Prime Minister of Israel, recently shed light on the motivations driving certain ministers within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s inner circle to advocate for escalated conflict in the Middle East. Speaking in a televised interview with the LCI channel, Barak asserted that these ministers are pushing for heightened tensions in the region to expedite the arrival of the Messiah. According to Barak, v finds himself under considerable pressure from this faction of ministers, who are keen on maintaining their influence and control within Israel. He emphasized that Netanyahu is being urged towards a course of action that appears inevitable to this group, one that involves escalating the situation to create what they believe are the necessary conditions for the Messiah’s appearance. Oddly enough, the religious radical politicians of the Islamic Republic of Iran have the same approach with their “Mahdi.”
Some leftist liberal factions in Israel would consider this approach illogical and insane, but Israel’s political identity is constantly under questioning. Is it a democratic state or is it a Jewish state? The irony is that it was founded by an Atheist Zionist but proclaimed the land of Palestine as a biblical promise from God.
The concept of a Jewish democracy has provided solace to liberal proponents of a Jewish state, individuals typically less inclined to support nations characterized by ethnic or religious nationalism. The inclusion of the term “democracy” offers reassurance, seemingly mitigating concerns associated with such nationalism. Yet somehow, far-right factions found their calling with Netanyahu’s government and influenced his political decisions based on their religious beliefs. Is it time for the Jewish Messiah to appear? Can you override the will of God by speeding the process? How can you convince Liberals of something they do not believe in? In the tapestry of religious beliefs and geopolitical landscapes, the Jewish perspective on the coming Messiah is a thread that weaves through both spiritual longing and earthly ambition. Rooted in ancient prophecy and upheld by faith, the anticipation of the Messiah’s arrival carries profound significance in Jewish tradition. However, in the intricate dynamics of contemporary politics, some Israeli politicians have intertwined this theological anticipation with strategic agendas, particularly in the context of the Middle East conflict.
Who is the Jewish Messiah?
Central to Jewish belief is the concept of the Messiah, a figure heralded as the savior and redeemer of the Jewish people. The Messianic hope is deeply ingrained in Jewish scriptures, where prophecies foretell a time of peace, justice and universal recognition of God’s sovereignty.
For millennia, Jews have fervently prayed for the arrival of this promised figure, whose advent is expected to bring about the ultimate redemption of humanity. Within Jewish tradition, there exists a framework of events and rituals believed to precede the coming of the Messiah. One such ritual is the purification process involving the “Red Heifer” or “Red Cow.” According to Jewish law, the ashes of a red heifer, when combined with water, have the power to purify individuals and objects contaminated by contact with a corpse. The meticulous process of obtaining these ashes, which includes slaughtering the red cow and burning its carcass, is viewed as a necessary precursor to the restoration of purity and the preparation for the Messianic age. Moreover, the construction of the Third Temple in Jerusalem occupies a central place in Messianic anticipation. The destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE left a void in the religious and national consciousness of the Jewish people. Rebuilding the Temple is seen as a pivotal step towards the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy, symbolizing the restoration of Jewish sovereignty and the re-establishment of divine presence among the people.
Last year, six radical Jewish settlers sought to conduct a ritual animal sacrifice at the al-Aqsa Mosque, commemorating the second Jewish Passover. They were all arrested. These constant attempts from Jewish extremists to perform certain rituals by al-Aqsa Mosque drove Hamas in 2023 to fire 5,000 Rockets into Israel, and the images we saw from Israeli security forces, attacking prayers and invading the third holiest site in Islam, brought a lot of anger into the Muslim war. So, has it always been a religious war, or is it simply about political/ethnic dominance fueled by religion?
In contemporary Israel, the convergence of religious fervor and political ambition has led to a complex interplay between faith and power. Some Israeli politicians, particularly those aligned with religious nationalist ideologies, advocate for policies that they believe will hasten the coming of the Messiah. This includes efforts to assert Jewish sovereignty over disputed territories, such as the West Bank, and to promote the expansion of Jewish settlements in these areas.
Additionally, there are voices within Israeli politics that advocate for a more aggressive stance in regional conflicts, viewing military escalation to fulfill Messianic prophecy. This perspective, often rooted in interpretations of biblical texts, sees the turmoil of war as a precursor to the ultimate redemption and the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. However, it is crucial to note that these views represent a subset of Israeli society and do not reflect the entirety of Jewish belief or political discourse. Many Israelis, including religious leaders and politicians, emphasize the importance of responsible governance, ethical conduct, and peaceful coexistence with their neighbors. Furthermore, the intertwining of religious prophecy with political agendas raises complex ethical questions and challenges. The pursuit of Messianic goals through military means risks exacerbating tensions and perpetuating cycles of violence, undermining the values of justice, compassion and reconciliation that lie at the heart of Jewish teachings. In conclusion, the Jewish perspective on the coming Messiah is a multifaceted tapestry of faith, tradition and historical longing. While the anticipation of the Messiah’s arrival remains a central tenet of Jewish belief, the intersection of religious prophecy with political agendas underscores the complex dynamics shaping the contemporary Middle East. As Israel navigates its path forward, it is essential to uphold the principles of peace, justice and human dignity, ensuring that the pursuit of Messianic ideals is guided by ethical and moral considerations. But also, Iran’s proxy militias are fueled by a similar concept, so how can you reach an agreement, if both political approaches are based on and fueled by an Armageddon scenario and an “end of times” religious approach?

Drowning incidents: Beach safety concerns in Lebanon
LBCI/May 13/2024
Two weeks ago, tragedy struck as the waves claimed the lives of two brothers on the shores of Ramlet al-Baida in Lebanon, drowning them. Today, a similar tragedy unfolded, affecting a group of young people, all under the age of 20. On one of the public beaches, between Jbeil, Qartaboun, and Fidar, a group of youths from Deir al-Ahmar and its surroundings were enjoying a swim. With the resorts on the beach still closed, they entered through one of the public entrances, commonly used by all beachgoers free of charge. Two out of the eight individuals ventured approximately 40 meters into the water, only to be swept away by the current. Some of their friends attempted to help, but tragically, one additional person drowned. The rest managed to save themselves. Among the victims was 16-year-old Jason Habchi, one of the three who succumbed to the sea's betrayal. His body was discovered on Sunday evening and laid to rest in his village in Deir al-Ahmar on Monday. Search efforts are ongoing for the remaining two individuals by the Maritime Rescue Unit of the Civil Defense, with support from the Maritime Commandos and Black Panthers. This incident marks the second in less than a month, despite repeated warnings from the Civil Defense against swimming in turbulent and unpredictable seas. The dangers posed by high waves, strong winds, and swift currents remain ever-present, emphasizing the need for awareness and caution. With the summer tourist season and swimming period yet to commence, most beaches remain unsafe and unmonitored, lacking lifeguards or safety measures. Responsibility ultimately lies with each individual to safeguard their lives by adhering to safety guidelines.

The Implications of the Gaza War Ending for Lebanon
Sam Menassa/Asharq Al Awsat/May 13/2024
A ceasefire agreement between Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas hangs in the balance. The two men principally concerned know that it would spell the end of the war, and that ending the war means the beginning of their political end. The war will end one day, whether through a negotiated ceasefire that leads to a prisoner exchange and gives rise to discussions regarding the future of the Strip, or after Netanyahu goes berserk and invades Rafah, ending it in his own way despite all the American and international pressure to deter him from doing so. The war has reached a climax. There is nothing more to be gained than adding blood, destruction, and Palestinian suffering. Most importantly, after all this destruction and its impact on the two sides’ prestige, both have lost. Hamas will not be able to rule Gaza after the war, and Israel will not be able to stay there and realize the religious extremist right-wing government’s dreams of expelling the Palestinians. There is no doubt that the very existence of Hamas is at stake, as is the future of the Israeli government, and the political future of Netanyahu himself. What about Hezbollah and the Lebanese support and distraction front? Will it also lose? What are the repercussions of the end of the Gaza war for Lebanon?
Logic dictates that the end of this horrific war will reflect positively on Lebanon, especially if the region takes the path of negotiation- albeit an inevitably long one- for a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This path could open the door to an unprecedented phase of political stability and economic cooperation. For multiple local and regional reasons, however, this could not apply at all to Lebanon. Regionally: negotiations between the Arabs and Israel and Arab-American cooperation do not mean that the Axis of Resistance sit idly by and retreat. It could be surrounded and weakened politically, but it will preserve the gains it has accumulated in the countries it controls.
Its slogans will not change, and the path to peace could impel it to intensify its efforts to obstruct any kind of Arab-American alliance, the expansion of normalization between the Arabs and Israel, a two-state solution project, and the attempts to bring Gaza under the Palestinian Authority’s umbrella. Thus, given the presence of Hezbollah and its dominant role in shaping Lebanon’s foreign and defense policy, as well as everything related to security and several domestic issues, Lebanon will remain within the Iranian orbit. It will continue to reject any settlement, the two-state solution, and cooperation with the US and the West. It will not join the moderate Arab state or the path to peace and regional cooperation. In addition, Iran may intend to strengthen the capabilities of its leading proxy in South Lebanon to compensate for the harsh blow suffered by Hamas. Indeed, this blow to its strongest Sunni arm in the region has left it in a weaker position in its conflict with Israel. As for Tel Aviv, which is living in existential fear after the success of the Al-Aqsa Flood, it will not sit on its hands. It wants to eliminate the threat Hezbollah poses from the north. Hezbollah’s support war might not be the middle ground the party had hoped it would be. The rules of engagement with Israel will go back to being what they had been before the end of the war, especially with the pressures that the residents of northern Israel have put on the Israeli government. They have stressed that they will not accept temporary solutions.
In the end, the southern front could remain active. The war of attrition and exchanging messages could continue and become a broader war that destroys what is left of this country. The weakness of Iran’s “unity of arenas” strategy could encourage Israel to wage this war. The party has miscalculated, and no Israeli government will allow it to use its arsenal to target Israel to serve Iran’s interests. There is no doubt that the dynamics created by the October 7 operation have changed the “status quo” that had prevailed on the border since the 2006 war, and it has not changed in Hezbollah’s favor.
We must also account for the fact that Hamas- as it currently exists or in a new form (whose keys are in the hands of Iran and Hezbollah)- seeks to establish a foothold in Lebanon. It sees Lebanon as a safe haven that its leaders and activists could turn to after the Gaza War. This could mean that it takes control over Palestinian refugee camps, which would turn the country into even more of a hotbed of armed groups operating outside the state’s control.
Locally, the party will declare victory after the war stops. It will seek greater influence as a reward for defending Gaza and Palestine. It has incurred hundreds of casualties among its best youths and heavy losses have been inflicted on southern villages, whose residents support the party, it says. Moreover, it will present its actions as having prevented a devastating war. Hezbollah will claim that the balance of deterrence has so far prevented Israel from waging a wide-scale war against it that would affect all of Lebanon. Second, it will boast that its conduct over the past months was wise and well-calibrated, preventing the war from expanding and destroying the country.
Then, it will emphasize its concern for Lebanon and its safety, claiming that it cares more than the parties who oppose it. In addition, and to convince its base of its narrative of victory, Hezbollah will do what it does best, accuse its local opponents of treason under the pretext that while he and the people of the South were paying the heavy costs of this war, the rest other parties went about their lives, almost ignoring what was happening in country's southern borders, worse, demanding the implementation of UN Resolution 1701. This narrative is being discussed. It has many loopholes, and its claims are weak. In the end, however, when the fighting stops, it will return as a major Lebanese party seeking to reap what it had sowed in the South over the past forty years. Even if an understanding is reached regarding the party’s presence south of the Litani River, with the party retreating, in one way or another, in line with the arrangements put forward by Washington, Paris, and other capitals, the party will. keep its arsenal. It will reap the fruits of the war between Hamas and Israel without losing everything it has accumulated militarily since 2006. In the event of a settlement that does not include Iran, Lebanon will remain a prisoner of Hezbollah, its weapons, and its regional ties, and will continue to pay the price of remaining outside the circle of moderate Arab countries.
If no comprehensive settlement is reached and the conflict continues, the gates of hell will open again. The southern front will once again be inflamed, and Lebanon will face a devastating war. Amid the minefield of Syrian displacement, economic and financial collapse, and state decay, are Hezbollah’s opponents capable of confronting it? They reply that they managed to prevent it from going further, legitimizing its power and imposing a president of the republic. This answer might be realistic. However, the double-edged weapon of obstruction also serves the party, as it has hollowed out the country of its communities and accelerated the disintegration of the state.

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 13-14/2024
UN says Gaza death toll still over 35,000 but not all bodies identified
REUTERS/May 14, 2024
UNITED NATIONS/GENEVA: The death toll in the Gaza Strip from the Israel-Hamas war is still more than 35,000, but the enclave’s Ministry of Health has updated its breakdown of the fatalities, the United Nations said on Monday after Israel questioned a sudden change in numbers. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said the ministry’s figures — cited regularly by the UN its reporting on the seven-month-long conflict — now reflected a breakdown of the 24,686 deaths of “people who have been fully identified.” “There’s about another 10,000 plus bodies who still have to be fully identified, and so then the details of those — which of those are children, which of those are women — that will be re-established once the full identification process is complete,” Haq told reporters in New York. Israel last week questioned why the figures for the deaths of women and children has suddenly halved. Haq said those figures were for identified bodies — 7,797 children, 4,959 women, 1,924 elderly, and 10,006 men — adding: “The Ministry of Health says that the documentation process of fully identifying details of the casualties is ongoing.” Oren Marmorstein, spokesperson for Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Monday accused Palestinian militants Hamas of manipulating the numbers, saying: “They are not accurate and they do not reflect the reality on the ground.”“The parroting of Hamas’ propaganda messages without the use of any verification process has proven time and again to be methodologically flawed and unprofessional,” he said in a social media post. Haq said UN teams in Gaza were not able to independently verify the Gaza Ministry of Health (MoH) figures given the ongoing war and sheer number of fatalities. “Unfortunately we have the sad experience of coordinating with the Ministry of Health on casualty figures every few years for large mass casualty incidents in Gaza, and in past times their figures have proven to be generally accurate,” Haq said. The World Health Organization “has a long-standing cooperation with the MoH in Gaza and we can attest that MoH has good capacity in data collection/analysis and its previous reporting has been considered credible,” said WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris. “Real numbers could be even higher,” she said.

Misery deepens in Gaza's Rafah as Israeli troops press operation
WAFAA SHURAFA, JOSEPH KRAUSS and SAMY MAGDY/RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP)/Mon, May 13, 2024
Aid workers are struggling to distribute dwindling food and other supplies to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by what Israel says is a limited operation in Rafah, as the two main crossings near the southern Gaza city remain closed. The United Nations' agency for Palestinian refugees said 360,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah over the past week, out of 1.3 million who were sheltering there before the operation began, most of whom had already fled fighting elsewhere over the course of the seven-month war between Israel and Hamas. Israel has portrayed Rafah as the last stronghold of the militant group, brushing off warnings from the United States and other allies that any major operation there would be catastrophic for civilians. Hamas has meanwhile regrouped in some of the most devastated parts of Gaza that Israel had previously claimed to have cleared with heavy bombardment and ground operations. Thirty-eight trucks of flour arrived through the Western Erez Crossing, a second access point to northern Gaza, Abeer Etefa, a spokeswoman for the U.N.’s World Food Program, said Monday. Israel had announced the opening of the crossing on Sunday. But no food has entered the two main crossings in southern Gaza for the past week. The Rafah crossing into Egypt has been closed since Israeli troops seized it a week ago. Fighting in Rafah city has made it impossible for aid groups to access the nearby Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel, though Israel says it is allowing supply trucks to enter from its side. For the past week, the Israeli military has intensified bombardment and other operations in Rafah, while ordering the population to evacuate from parts of the city. Israel insists it is a limited operation focused on rooting out tunnels and other militant infrastructure along the border with Egypt. Israeli forces were also battling Palestinian militants in Zeitoun and the urban Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, areas where the army had launched major operations earlier in the war. Etefa said WFP is distributing food from its remaining stocks in the areas of Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah further north to which many of those escaping Rafah have fled. Inside Rafah, only two organizations partnering with WFP were still able to distribute food, and no bakeries were operating in the city.
“The majority of distributions have stopped due to the evacuation orders, displacement, and running out of food,” she said. “The situation is becoming increasingly unsustainable.”Almost the entire population of Gaza relies on humanitarian groups’ distribution of food and other supplies to survive. Amid Israeli restrictions and obstacles to aid distribution from violence, some 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza face catastrophic levels of hunger, on the brink of starvation, and a “full-blown famine” is taking place in the north, according to the U.N. The director of the Kuwait Hospital, one of the last functioning medical centers in Rafah, said medical staff and residents living near the facility have been told to evacuate. Sohaib al-Hams warned that any evacuation of the hospital itself would have “catastrophic consequences.”Israel has also ordered new evacuations in northern Gaza, even after hundreds of thousands of people fled in the opening weeks of the war. Mahmoud Shalabi, the senior program manager for Medical Aid for Palestinians, a U.K.-based charity, said he was recently ordered to relocate from Beit Lahiya in the far north to Gaza City. “I have left my house several times now, along with my parents, who are both older than 70, my three children and my wife," he said. "The journey of terror and displacement is beyond words.”The war began when Hamas and other militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 250 hostage. Militants still hold about 100 captives and the remains of more than 30 after most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year. Israel’s offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures. Israel says it has killed over 13,000 militants, without providing evidence. Israel marked an especially somber Memorial Day on Monday, with ceremonies across the country commemorating fallen soldiers, including the more than 600 killed since Oct. 7, most in the initial attack. During the day’s opening ceremony at Mount Herzl cemetery on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed once again to defeat Hamas. “We are determined to win this struggle. We exacted and will exact a high price from the enemy for their criminal acts. We will realize the goals of victory and at the center of them the return of all our hostages home,” he said. At 11:00 A.M. on Monday, sirens announced two minutes of silence, and a formation of four fighter planes flew over Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. Protesters and hecklers interrupted some of the ceremonies, reflecting growing discontent with the country's leaders that has brought thousands of protesters into the streets in recent months. Critics blame Netanyahu for the security and intelligence failures that allowed the attack to happen and for the failure to reach a deal with Hamas to release the hostages. Months of internationally mediated talks over a cease-fire and hostage release ground to an apparent standstill last week after Israel launched its incursion into Rafah. Israel has refused Hamas' central demand for an end to the war and the withdrawal of its forces from the territory, saying that doing so would allow the militant group to regain control and launch more Oct. 7-style attacks. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until Israel dismantles Hamas' military and governing capabilities and returns all the hostages, goals that remain out of reach even after one of the deadliest and most destructive military onslaughts in recent history. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, which has provided crucial military and diplomatic support for the offensive, has expressed growing impatience, saying it won't supply offensive arms for a full-scale Rafah assault. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Sunday that Israel could face an "enduring insurgency" if it doesn't come up with a realistic plan for postwar governance in Gaza. Israel has rejected U.S. proposals for the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza with help from Arab states because those plans depend on progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state, which Netanyahu opposes.

State Department disputes Israel is ‘restricting’ supplies to Gaza, but wants more aid heading to Palestinians
John Bowden/The Independent/May 13, 2024
A State Department spokesman pushed back against the assertion the Israeli government was “restricting” aid to Gaza as reports of dehydration and starvation continue and videos depict humanitarian convoys being targeted in Israel. Vedant Patel asserted several times at Monday’s briefing it was not fair to say the Israeli government was prohibiting aid into Gaza despite a previous State Department-authored report had found there to be “reasonable” evidence to find that Israeli forces had violated international humanitarian law in various “instances.” If Israel did restrict aid, it would be in violation of the laws. “We need to see more [aid get into Gaza]. But wanting to see more is very different than dealing with a situation in which a country is restricting the flow of aid. And we have not seen that in this case,” Patel told reporters. Under the standard set out by international humanitarian law, Patel said, “we were not satisfied with what we were seeing” in aid crossings since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack that provoked hostilities in Gaza. But he reiterated that “we did not see a restriction or prohibition” of aid. Even today, Patel said, “we don’t see enough going in.” But it doesn’t rise to the level of “restricting” the aid, according to the Biden administration. Confusingly, he also conceded that “certainly” Israel could have taken steps it took to increase the flow of aid “six months ago,” as a reporter suggested. His remarks come as videos from the Kerem Shalom crossing have shown aid convoys bound for Gaza held up at the Israeli border while gangs of rightwing extremist rioters and thugs attempt to destroy or damage the desperately-needed humanitarian supplies. The State Department’s increasingly questioned position comes after a presdiential directive that led to the aid report. Under US law, the federal government is required to verify to Congress that recipients of US arms-related assistance do not use those weapons or munitions to commit war crimes. Democrats in the president’s party are increasingly voicing concerns about that issue, even as Israel-boosters in its own party, such as Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman, push back and argue that Israel has the right to fight a war on its terms. Maryland’s Chris Van Hollen, one of the most vocal of those critics, told CBS News on Sunday:”I fear that we have set...a very low standard for what’s acceptable. And I think that will come back to haunt us.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken was forced to face some of those criticisms over the weekend in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, where he was asked whether the Biden administration has held a “double standard” on Israel allowing its ally to get away with violations of international law by which other countries abide. “Mr Secretary, is the US trying to avoid holding Israel accountable for its actions?” asked NBC’s Kristen Welker in the interview. “No. We don’t have double standards,” Mr Blinked replied. “We treat Israel, one of our closest allies and partners, just as we would treat any other country, including in assessing something like international humanitarian law, and its compliance with that law.”International health authorities estimate that more than 35,000 people have died in Gaza since the beginning of Israel’s brutal military assault. A terrorist attack beginning the war in October of last year left more than 1,100 dead, the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.

Israel’s Army Chief Says ‘Fully Responsible’ for Oct 7 Attack
Asharq Al Awsat/May 13/2024
Israel’s army chief Herzi Halevi said on Sunday he was "fully responsible" for what happened on October 7 when Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Israel. "Every day, I feel its weight on my shoulders, and in my heart I fully understand its significance," he said. "I am the commander who sent your sons and daughters into battle, from which they did not return, and to positions from which they were kidnapped." The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Some 250 Israelis and foreigners were kidnapped by militants and taken to Gaza during the October 7 attack by Hamas. Israel estimates that 128 are still being held captive there, including 36 who the military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory military campaign aimed at eliminating Hamas in Gaza has killed at least 35,034 people, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

Israeli Protesters Block Aid Convoy Headed to Gaza
Asharq Al Awsat/May 13/2024
Israeli protesters blocked aid trucks headed for Gaza on Monday, strewing food packages on the road in the latest in a series of incidents that have come as Israel has pledged to allow uninterrupted humanitarian supplies into the besieged enclave. Four protesters, including a minor, were arrested at the protest, at Tarqumiya checkpoint, west of Hebron in the Israeli occupied West Bank, according to a statement from lawyers representing the protesters. Videos circulated on social media showed protesters throwing supplies from the trucks on to the ground, with the contents of opened cartons lying spilled across the road. Last week, four people were arrested in southern Israel after a similar protest by Israelis who object to delivering humanitarian supplies into an area controlled by the Hamas movement, according to their lawyers. Israeli police did not respond to a request for comment. The protests came as Israel has faced heavy international pressure to step up the flow of aid into Gaza, where international organizations have warned of a severe humanitarian crisis threatening a population of more than 2 million people. On Sunday, Israeli authorities announced the opening of a new crossing into northern Gaza and a temporary port, built by the United States, is close to opening.

Blinken informs Egypt that Washington does not support a major ground operation in Rafah
Reuters/May 13, 2024
The US State Department said that Secretary Antony Blinken spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on Monday and reiterated that Washington does not support a large-scale military ground operation by Israel in Rafah.

US doesn’t believe ‘genocide’ occurring in Gaza: White House
AFP/May 13, 2024
WASHINGTON DC: The United States does not believe that genocide is occurring in Gaza but Israel must do more to protect Palestinian civilians, President Joe Biden’s top national security official said Monday. As ceasefire talks stall and Israel continued striking the southern city of Rafah, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan insisted that the responsibility for peace lay with militant group Hamas. “We believe Israel can and must do more to ensure the protection and wellbeing of innocent civilians. We do not believe what is happening in Gaza is a genocide,” Sullivan told a briefing. The US was “using the internationally accepted term for genocide, which includes a focus on intent” to reach this assessment, Sullivan added. Biden wanted to see Hamas defeated but realized that Palestinian civilians were in “hell,” Sullivan said. Sullivan said he was coming to the White House podium to “take a step back” and set out the Biden administration’s position on the conflict, amid criticism from both ends of the US political spectrum. Biden has come under fire from Republicans for halting some weapons shipments to press his demands that Israel hold off a Rafah offensive, while there have been protests at US universities against his support for Israel. The US president believed any Rafah operation “has got to be connected to a strategic endgame that also answered the question, ‘what comes next?’” Sullivan added. This would avoid Israel “getting mired in a counterinsurgency campaign that never ends, and ultimately saps Israel’s strength and vitality.”

First international UN staff member killed in Gaza attack
AFP/May 13, 2024
UNITED NATIONS: A UN security services member was killed in an attack on a vehicle in Gaza on Monday, a spokesperson said, adding the death was the first international UN employee killed in the Palestinian territory since the war began. UN chief Antonio Guterres “was deeply saddened to learn of the death of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS) staff member and injury to another DSS staffer when their UN vehicle was struck as they traveled to the European Hospital in Rafah,” said his deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq. It was “the first international casualty” for the UN since the start of the Israeli offensive in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas attack of October 7, Haq said, recalling that some 190 Palestinian UN employees have been killed, mainly staff of the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA). “The Secretary-General condemns all attacks on UN personnel and calls for a full investigation,” Haq said. The spokesman did not immediately release the nationality of the person killed. “I don’t have the full details of whether this was part of a large convoy or not, I believe it was in a convoy that was moving, and this was the DSS vehicle that was hit,” he said. The DSS oversees the security of UN agencies and programs in more than 130 countries around the world.

Pro-Palestinian protests mark Wash U graduation ceremony, weeks after campus arrests
Sarah Fentem/Belleville News-Democrat/Mon, May 13, 2024
Many of Washington University’s newest graduates at their commencement ceremony Monday expressed solidarity with Palestinians in the war zone of Gaza as dozens of students, alumni and supporters gathered outside campus to protest the university’s continuing investments in Boeing, which supplies the Israeli military with weapons. More than an hour before the 9 a.m. graduation ceremony began, protesters arrived near Lindell and Skinker boulevards to press their case that Wash U should disclose its investments and withdraw those in companies that provide weapons to Israel. They’re also calling an end to the war in Gaza, where Israeli bombardments have killed thousands. Israel has waged the campaign since an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas fighters. “We are demanding that Wash U divest from Boeing and other military-industrial corporations that are supporting Israeli apartheid and the genocide in Palestine,” said Grace Iverson, who graduated from the university in 2020. “And we are continuing to keep up the pressure because Wash U has shown that they are clearly not interested in the community and in divesting. But we will not stop until they move to divest.”
As the university prepared to start its ceremony, people outside the campus held signs calling for a “permanent global ceasefire.” Another poster was painted to resemble a Palestinian flag, with “Queer Jews for Palestine” written on it. Members of the “Ceasefire Choir” began singing “From Ferguson to Palestine, occupation is a crime!” outside the campus. Clayton police later arrived to tell protesters to stop using megaphones and speakers, which officers said are against city ordinances — and threatened to arrest those who continue doing so. They briefly put a woman in handcuffs after she honked her van’s horn in support of the protests. Police then released her. The demonstration is part of a series of protests on or near college campuses across the U.S., some of which have been forcefully shut down by police. Students staged minor disruptions at several commencement ceremonies across the nation over the weekend. Wash U maintains that it has not taken a position on the war and that it remains committed to free expression and peaceful protest.
“Student Affairs staff have been working with our students and faculty to facilitate dialogue about this complex issue since Oct. 7, and we will continue to do so,” Wash U spokeswoman Julie Hail Flory said in a statement Friday. At the graduation ceremony, some students wore mortarboards with “Free Palestine’‘ messages. Others wore Palestinian flag buttons and keffiyeh scarves to show their solidarity with Palestinians. Commencement speaker Alejandro Ramirez, who earned a degree in Latin American studies and a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct research in Brazil, noted that many of the graduates support the Palestinian people. “Today I stand in solidarity with my peers, faculty and community members who have experienced hardship this last semester, who found their why and used it to express solidarity with the Palestinians around the world,” Ramirez said. Actor Jennifer Coolidge, who delivered the commencement address and is receiving an honorary fine arts doctorate, mentioned the protest and said “it illustrates the need for voices of brilliant, unique and nuanced graduates,” a line that received applause and a big cheer from the crowd. Some students say Wash U needs to pay better attention to student voices. Students are particularly outraged at the school’s response to two April pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus, where police made more than 100 arrests. They’re calling for Wash U to drop charges and disciplinary cases against students, faculty and staff. In a statement Friday, Wash U spokeswoman Flory said the tone of this protest was not peaceful and included “aggressive chanting.”
“They were abhorrently violent,” said Kevin McCarthy, who is graduating with a degree in English. “I was there the Saturday that they arrested my friends. And they acted with complete impunity. They did it all with a smile on their face, which is what was most jarring to me. I could see school administrators I saw and interacted with on campus in different contexts smiling as they told the police to charge the protesters and violently assault them. “It shows that the university is completely tied into the military-industrial complex,” said McCarthy, 22. “They are fully focused on their bottom line of the endowment, and they do not care about their students one bit.”To express their displeasure with the university, some graduates walked out of the ceremony as Chancellor Andrew D. Martin gave closing remarks. McCarthy said students are determined to continue delivering thoughtful and compassionate messages. “We’re going to be out here until Gaza is free — until this genocide stops happening. I know that me and my fellow classmates have not lost their appetite to protest the apartheid state of Israel. And we have not lost our appetite for justice and decolonizing the world.” Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org.

Leaders of regional rivals Greece and Türkiye meet in bid to thaw relations
Euronews/Mon, May 13, 2024
The leaders of Greece and Türkiye met on Monday for talks aimed at underlining their efforts to put aside decades-old disputes, but they also revealed deep divisions over the Israel-Hamas war. Speaking at a news conference in Ankara following the two-hour face-to-face summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan jumped on comments by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in which he described Hamas as a terrorist organisation. “I do not see Hamas as a terror group,” Erdogan said. “I see it as a group of people trying to protect their own land.” He said that Türkiye was currently treating “more than 1,000 Hamas members” in its hospitals. Greece, like most Western states, considers Hamas a terrorist organisation but Erdogan repeated his reference to the group as a “resistance organisation.”Trade, energy, education and cultural ties on the agenda. The leaders were meeting for the fourth time in the past year in a bid to strengthen a normalisation process. Türkiye and Greece, which are NATO members, have been at odds for decades over a series of issues, including territorial claims in the Aegean Sea and drilling rights in the Mediterranean, and have come to the brink of war three times in the last half-century. A dispute over energy exploration rights in 2020 led to the two countries’ warships facing off in the Mediterranean. They agreed last December to put their disputes aside and focus on areas where they can find consensus. The list of items on the so-called positive agenda includes trade, energy, education and cultural ties. Greece and Turkey agree to reboot relations following landmark talks in Athens. Since that summit in Athens, the regional rivals have maintained regular high-level contacts to promote fence-mending initiatives, such as allowing Turkish citizens to visit 10 Greek islands without cumbersome visa procedures. Stressing the ties between the two countries, Mitsotakis said the deal allowed Turks and Greeks to "get to know each other, which is an important step”. Similarly, Erdogan referred to the Turkish-Muslim minority in Greece's Thrace region as a “friendship bridge between the two communities.”
Earlier, he described the normalisation process as beneficial to both countries and the region. “The channels of dialogue are being kept open and we are focusing on the positive agenda,” Erdogan said. The propensity for quarrels remains, however. The recent opening of a former Greek Orthodox church in Istanbul for use as a mosque led to Greece accusing Türkiye of “insulting the character” of a World Heritage Site. Türkiye, meanwhile, criticised a Greek plan unveiled last month for “marine parks” in parts of the Ionian and Aegean Seas. Ankara said the one-sided declaration was “a step that sabotages the normalization process.”But such low-level disputes are far removed from relations a few years ago, when energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean resulted in a naval confrontation and a vow by Erdogan to halt talks with Mitsotakis' government. Fresh tensions in Eastern Mediterranean after Greek and Turkish coast guard boats collide. Despite sharp differences over the Israel-Hamas war, Erdogan and Mitsotakis are keen to hold back further instability in the Mediterranean as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine grinds on. The recent thaw in relations was partly helped by Greek solidarity after last year's devastating earthquake in southern Turkey. Erdogan has initiated a broader effort to reengage with Western countries following an election victory last year that saw him extend his two-decade rule by a further five years.

Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker flees to Europe after prison and flogging sentence
Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN/May 13, 2024
Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof says he has fled his home country to an undisclosed location in Europe after a court in Iran sentenced him to prison on national security charges. Rasoulof condemned the Iranian government in an Instagram post on Monday, calling it a tyrannical and oppressive regime, and posting a video that showed him crossing the country’s mountainous border. “If geographical Iran suffers beneath the boots of your religious tyranny, cultural Iran is alive in the common minds of millions of Iranians who were forced to leave Iran due to your brutality and no power can impose its will on it. From today, I am a resident of cultural Iran,” he said. In a separate statement dated May 12, Rasoulof said he had decided to escape Iran after his lawyers told him his prison sentence would be implemented on short notice. “I had to choose between prison and leaving Iran. With a heavy heart, I chose exile,” he said in that statement, which was provided by a spokesperson. CNN has reached out to Iranian authorities for comment. His lawyer Babak Paknia said last week that an Iranian court had sentenced Rasoulof to eight years in prison and flogging after it found his films and documentaries to be “examples of collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the security of the country.” Rasoulof is among several high-profile artists to have been caught up in a widening crackdown on dissent by Iranian authorities since nationwide protests broke out over the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. Rasoulof, whose recent films have been critical of the Iranian government, was among a group of artists and filmmakers who signed a letter criticizing the violent response of security forces to quell a 2022 protest over a building collapse in the southwestern city of Abadan that killed more than 40 people. Rasoulof won a Golden Bear for best film at the Berlinale festival in 2020 for “There Is No Evil” and his film “A Man of Integrity” was recognized for a “Certain Regard” honor at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 2017.
The filmmaker’s latest work, “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” is set to premiere at Cannes next week, but it’s unclear if he will be able to attend. “We are very happy and much relieved that Mohammad has safely arrived in Europe after a dangerous journey,” said Jean-Christophe Simon, the distributor for Rasoulof’s latest film. The Films Boutique and Parallel45 executive added that he hopes that Rasoulof will be able to attend the Cannes premiere for his film “in spite of all attempts to prevent him from being there in person.”Rasoulof said on Instagram that he will now work to quickly finish the last technical steps of his film’s post-production. “Many people helped to make this film. My thoughts are with all of them, and I fear for their safety and well-being,” he said, accusing the Iranian government of pressuring members of his production team with interrogations, court filings and travel restrictions. Rasoulof didn’t specify how he escaped Iran, saying only that he did it secretly with the help of friends and acquaintances. In 2022, an Iranian court sentenced Rasoulof to one year in prison and banned him from making films for two years on the charge of “propaganda against the system,” according to Human Rights Watch. Iranian authorities have previously arrested him multiple times and confiscated his passport because of his work, HRW said.

Iraq and Syria Sign Memorandum for Security Cooperation
Baghdad: Fadhel al-Nashmi/Asharq Al Awsat/May 13/2024
Iraq and Syria inked on Sunday a memorandum of understanding for security cooperation in various areas, including combating terrorism. “The agreement included a number of articles related to cooperation in combating drug trafficking, border control, extradition of wanted persons, combating organized crime, and money laundering,” said Iraq’s Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari. His remarks came in a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart, Muhammad Khaled Al-Rahmoun. In January, Iraq built a concrete wall of 160-km -- 3 meters deep and 3 meters across -- along part of its border with Syria to stop people and vehicles crossing the vast, sparsely populated desert that joins western Anbar province to Syria. On Sunday, Al-Shammari spoke of a “good” intelligence cooperation between Baghdad and Damascus, saying the two countries “have joint work in exchanging information.”For his part, the Syrian Minister said: “Cooperation in all fields, especially security, was discussed, as we suffered from terrorism in our countries. There is a criminal phenomenon managed by drug trafficking and human trafficking gangs, so we signed a memorandum of joint security cooperation.” In a related security development, the Security Media Cell, an affiliate of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, announced in a statement that Iraqi security forces have successfully dismantled two international networks engaged in human and drug trafficking and arrested 40 foreigners across the country. Security forces arrested the suspects in Baghdad and several other Iraqi provinces based on intelligence reports, the statement read. “The Iraqi National Intelligence Service, in collaboration with the Interior Ministry, arrested 40 foreigners suspected of being involved in crimes of kidnapping, extortion, forgery, as well as human and drug trafficking,” it added. The statement said the majority of the victims targeted by these two rings were foreigners residing in Iraq.

The rest of the world wants the Ukraine war to go away. Putin has other ideas
Analysis by Nick Paton Walsh, CNN/May 13, 2024
The changing language used by the Ukrainian military in 72 hours of daily updates tells the story: “Ongoing defensive fighting.” “Significantly worsened.” Russian “tactical success.”You rarely ever hear Kyiv’s top brass sounding downbeat, but their steep southerly trajectory reflects the grave place Ukraine finds itself in. Russia is not just advancing slowly in one place; it appears to be advancing in four, across the frontline. Moscow knows it is on the clock: in about a month, the $61billion of US military aid will start to translate into Ukraine having the weapons it has been begging for. So, Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to be throwing whatever he can at it, knowing the fight will likely only get tougher for his forces in the summer ahead. First, and most acutely troubling, is the northern border near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city. Russian forces have crossed the border in multiple locations and claim to have seized nine villages. Their move 3 to 4.5 miles (5 to 7 kilometers) into Ukraine, in the border area above Ukraine’s second city of Kharkiv, is arguably their fastest advance since the first days of the war. Russia has thrown five battalions at the border town of Vovchansk, Ukrainian officials said, which has been hit hard by airstrikes over the weekend. The town of Lyptsi is at risk, say some military bloggers, and from there Russian forces could hit Kharkiv with artillery. This is a nightmare for Kyiv for two reasons: firstly, they liberated this land from Russian forces 18 months ago, yet failed, clearly, to fortify the area enough to prevent Moscow sweeping back with the ease with which they were swept out. And secondly, Russia can again tie up Ukraine’s over-stretched army with constant and grinding pressure on Kharkiv, exacting a toll with crude shelling on a vast urban center. Then there is the rest of the front, where progress in Kharkiv region has been mirrored by old, exhausting fights suddenly seeing new Russian success. This should be the greatest cause for concern to Kyiv, as it suggests a coordinated bid to push in all directions and leave Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with ugly choices about where to send limited resources, and where ultimately to sacrifice. Moving slowly south from Kharkiv, closer to Bakhmut, the town of Chasiv Yar has been under intense pressure – a valuable height above two key Ukrainian military towns, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, which could prove an exhaustive pressure point over the summer on Kyiv’s supply lines. Netailove and Krasnohorivka slightly further south show Russian forces making further gains to the west of Avdiivka, and threatening another key hub – Pokrovsk. If Ukraine begins to fall back further here, its grip on the remnants of Donetsk region could be at risk.
And then overnight, Deep State Map, a Ukrainian military analysis group, said the southern village of Verbove was under greater threat – one of the minimal gains from Kyiv’s stymied summer counteroffensive last year. All across the board, the news is bad: it is a growing calamity.
Ukraine’s rhetorical response has been telling. Its leaders have, for once, openly said how bad it is. They appear to be shuffling commanders around – which is not something you do in the heat of battle without desperate reason. There is vocal criticism of the failure to prepare and fortify the northern border regions over the past year. Indeed, along much of the front line where there is not active fighting, and in the near-rear to active frontlines, fortifications seem wanting, if not entirely absent. It may be that Kyiv believed so much in its counteroffensive last summer, that it failed to entertain the idea of bad news this summer. Kyiv’s larger problem is global attention. Trenchant statements from European ministers, and even visits from senior Biden administration officials, cannot cut through the fatigue or the notion that helping Ukraine win is something governments see they strategically must do, rather than something their publics actively demand. It is becoming a war the world wishes would go away – side-lined by the horrors of the Middle East – exactly when its outcome is most perilous and vital for European security.
Putin used the weekend to reshuffle some of his cabinet – moving Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to a more procedural role as National Security Council head, and perhaps further away from the wartime cookie jar. An accountant, Andrey Belousov, will take his place. But this is not necessarily a sign of retribution for failure, or a reset: the same old boys still get nice jobs. It smacks more of Moscow economizing, integrating the war more fully into the economy, and settling in for the longer haul. The opposite is happening in the West, where the congressional dysfunction pausing that paused the US’s $61 billion in aid has already wreaked havoc on Ukraine’s military effort. Its forces are losing now because of that six-month delay in ammunition reaching them. Europe talks big about making up the gap, but it cannot. And Washington DC will now be in a whirlwind of electioneering ahead of the US elections in November just when Kyiv needs American certainty most. The news is not just bad, it is worsening daily. The ground on the front lines is drying out, bringing us into the season to attack. Russia has momentum unlike anything seen since March 2022. Ukraine is being forced to admit just how bad the situation is. Much of the world may be tiring of this war, but Putin is not.

Kuwaiti emir, Omani sultan meet for official talks
ARAB NEWS/May 13, 2024
KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah hosted Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tareq at Bayan Palace in Kuwait City on Monday for official talks. The leaders discussed the longstanding relationship between their countries and explored avenues for enhancing cooperation in various sectors, the Kuwait News Agency reported. They also addressed strategies for the advancement of the Gulf Cooperation Council, matters of shared interest and various regional and international affairs. The meeting came during the sultan’s two-day state visit to Kuwait and was followed by a banquet held in his honor. Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah and other officials from the two countries also attended the meeting.

Alleged Rushdie attacker, awaiting trial in New York, could still face federal charges
Associated Press/May 13, 2024
The lawyer for the Lebanese-New Jersey man charged with stabbing author Salman Rushdie is in talks with county and federal prosecutors to try to resolve existing charges of attempted murder without a trial — as well as potential terrorism-related charges that could still be coming, he said. Hadi Matar, 26, has been held without bail since his 2022 arrest, immediately after allegedly attacking the internationally acclaimed writer in front of a stunned audience he was about to address at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York. Rushdie was blinded in one eye, and moderator Henry Reese also was wounded. Matar pleaded not guilty to assault and attempted murder after being indicted by a Chautauqua County grand jury shortly after the attack. The U.S. Justice Department continues to consider separate federal charges against Matar, though none have yet been filed, according to public defender Nathaniel Barone, who said he is in contact with federal prosecutors. "They're looking at it from a whole different perspective," Barone said. "Any statute you're dealing with federally could be terrorist-based," he added, without providing details, "and the exposure is much more significant for my client than the state charges." A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office said it does not confirm or deny investigations. If Matar agrees to plead guilty in the state and a potential federal case, Barone said, he would want a shorter state prison sentence in return, something Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt is unwilling to consider. Barone said Matar faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of attempted murder, and he has proposed a maximum of 20 years instead — otherwise, "there's no carrot to plead here." Schmidt said he would not sign off on less than the maximum, given the nature of the crime, regardless of whether the Justice Department brings a case. "It's not just Salman Rushdie," he said. "It's freedom of speech. It's the fact that this occurred in front of thousands of people and it was recorded, and it's also a recognition that some people should be held to the top charge."
Rushdie, 76, spent years in hiding after the Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or edict, in 1989 calling for his death due to his novel "The Satanic Verses," which some Muslims consider blasphemous. Over the past two decades, Rushdie has traveled freely.
The prolific Indian-born British-American author detailed the near-fatal attack and painful recovery in a memoir: "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder," released in April. In it, Rushdie wrote that he saw a man running toward him and described the knife plunging into his hand, severing tendons and nerves, as he raised it in self-defense. "After that there are many blows, to my neck, to my chest, to my eye, everywhere," he wrote. "I feel my legs give way, and I fall." Rushdie does not use his attacker's name in the book, referring to him as "The A.," short for "The Ass" (or "Asinine man").
The author, whose works also include "Midnight's Children" and "Victory City," is on the witness list for Matar's trial in Chautauqua County, scheduled for September. Matar was born in the U.S. but holds dual citizenship in Lebanon, where his parents were born. His mother has said that her son changed, becoming withdrawn and moody, after visiting his father in Lebanon in 2018.

Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 13-14/2024
‘Dead Cat Diplomacy,’ Political Cynicism and Nihilistic Warmongering
Charles Chartouni/This is Beirut/May 13/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/129720/charles-chartouni-this-is-beirut-dead-cat-diplomacy-political-cynicism-and-nihilistic-warmongering%d8%b4%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b4%d8%b1%d8%aa%d9%88%d9%86%d9%8a-%d9%85/
Aside from pacifist daydreaming and faked humanitarianism, how evitable are the battles in Rafah and South Lebanon? Is the unilateral pressure on Israel likely to forestall the inevitable confrontation on both sides of the border, while Hamas and Hezbollah are still determined to derail diplomatic mediations and engage in long hauled conflicts notwithstanding their disastrous consequences on their respective civilian populations? The unleashed conflict dynamic since October 7th, 2023, is by definition exponential and defies diplomacy and conflict resolution. The nihilistic nature of the war declaration last October, far from being fortuitous, was based on unrealistic power projections, political and military logjams, and intentional politics of victimization while overlooking their detrimental incidences on Gaza and its civilians.
The obfuscation strategy is based on leveraging human shields to serve a compounded set of destructive warmongering and malevolent power politics. This state of ambiguity is what defines the ongoing conflicts, their exponential character, and the unlikeliness of political and military de-escalation. The premeditated savagery of the the 7th of October attack, the human shield strategy and its undifferentiated civilian and combat zones, the deliberate politics of victimization, ostracism and stigmatization have made Israel indifferent to the intimidation tactics, instead focused strictly on redressing the strategic imbalances, and remapping the boundaries of its security. The security and humanitarian dilemmas are inextricably linked and that makes Israel’s military maneuverability more constrained on the Gaza theater than on the Lebanese one. The Rafah operational theater is fraught with heavy humanitarian hazards that make it hard to manage, whereas the Lebanese military landscape offers a wider operational latitude. The military and humanitarian considerations are hardly tradable, and the very nature of the military and political challenges offer few leeways for mitigated military and political scenarios.
However coercive the issue of the political hostages, it can hardly sway Israel from prioritizing its strategic challenges, which ultimately frame its overall political and military options. However serious and demanding the United States pressure, it has failed, so far, to offer a working diplomatic alternative to the manifold security, humanitarian and political issues. Hamas, its acolytes, and political handlers are uncompromising and do not seem mindful of forestalling the incoming humanitarian tragedies. On the Israeli side, two overriding concerns are quite compelling: the release of hostages by whichever means, and the upending of the strategic equations in Israel’s southern, northern and north-eastern borders with Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, altogether controlled by Iranian proxies. Otherwise, the Israeli political polarization and the hardening of the rightist coalition are interfacing with the ongoing radicalization engineered by the Iranian manager, its partners and competitors.
The peaceful wishful thinking is politically blind and surfs carelessly over controversial security and political issues, whereas the truthful search for peace is inevitably politically mediated. It’s not enough to express humanitarian concerns, what matters most is to translate them into tangible conflict resolution scenarios to tackle the thorny and controversial issues of strategic security, working governance, economic livelihood, and humanitarian cooperation. The “dead cat diplomacy” however tactically instrumental cannot dispense with the need to confront each party in its own right: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is unlikely to be approached unless Palestinians recover their political and moral autonomy and put an end to the instrumentalization by Iranian and Islamic power politics, mend their deep-seated domestic rifts, and engage Israel in good faith, in a common undertaking for peace. The Israelis have to reengage the legacy of peacemaking, overcome the ideological blinders of the ultranationalist and religious right, and deal with the security qualms that forestalled the aspirations that have guided generations of Israeli leaders in their striving for peace.
The defeat of Hamas and Hezbollah is seen as necessary from an Israeli standpoint to overcome the conjunction of extremism and political nihilism. The likelihood of an alternative approach by the coalition war protagonists is dismissed, and their inclination towards liberalization and normalization is an oxymoron. What’s left is their ability to sabotage every peace process and kill every undertaking in this regard. In counterpart, Israel is bound to dovetail its strategic overhaul with its readiness to reengage the peace process and find a solution to an overdue conflict, and join the Arab world in a common search for new geopolitical equilibriums, a pluralistic regional order and economic integration. The end of this conflict is tied to major transformations that relate to a new political narrative based on the primacy of regional pluralism, moral reciprocity, dual statehood, democratic reforms, and developmental imperatives. Upending the strategic equations should lead to the ultimate leap of faith toward negotiated conflict resolution, reformed governance, and a pluralistic democratic community of states. https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/254098

SOS: Stop the World Health Organization's Tyrannical May 27 Power Grab
Robert Williams/Gatestone Institute./May 13, 2024
The proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations give the WHO Director General the authority to declare not just an actual but a potential international public health emergency and set out binding recommendations on how to address it, whether individual states agree with him or not.
Worse, no criticism of the new WHO regime and its decisions to declare potential or actual pandemics, lockdowns and treatment, including vaccines, will be allowed under the amended IHR... In other words, the government lies, obfuscations and cover-ups that so dominated the last pandemic will become normalized, and all criticism outlawed.
Already, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (not a medical doctor) has castigated critics of the planned amendments and new Pandemic Treaty as conspiracy theorists who spread "fake news, lies and conspiracy theories."
Since the UN claims that to "owns the science," it is now brainwashing the public into believing that "climate change" threatens global health. This view makes it likely that you will one day find yourself in a WHO-mandated lockdown to mitigate the effects of the "climate crisis," along with limits on where you go, how you may get there, what you do, and what you can own.
The US is already seeing forerunners of this in the Biden administration's unconstitutional executive orders, possibly including his attempts to ban internal combustion engine vehicles and gas stoves; mandating dishwashing machines that may need repeated cycles to clean dishes, and new stricter regulations on air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, and even leaf-blowers -- and this is only the beginning.
The WHO is not elected, has no democratic legitimacy, is not accountable to anyone and has no control mechanisms to restrain its reach. After the horrifying failures of the WHO during Covid-19, the answer is not to give the organization more power, but to disengage from it entirely.
The UN and the WHO evidently want unlimited control. If they are not stopped right now by national governments that refuse to approve the new Pandemic Treaty and proposed International Health Regulations amendments, unlimited control is what they will have -- and it is we who will have given it to them.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is not elected, has no democratic legitimacy, is not accountable to anyone and has no control mechanisms to restrain its reach. After the horrifying failures of the WHO during Covid-19, the answer is not to give the organization more power, but to disengage from it entirely. Pictured: WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (left) shares a moment with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on January 28, 2020. (Photo by Naohiko Hatta - Pool/Getty Images)
Most countries have not initiated any mainstream critical public debate about how Covid-19 was addressed. The governments responsible for the outrageously botched response to the virus have not been held accountable. Communist China, despite having unleashed the virus on the world by deliberately lying about its human-to-human transmissibility, has not suffered a single negative consequence. Nothing has been done either about the duplicitous role played by World Health Organization (WHO), which parroted Chinese Communist Party propaganda about the virus, even after having been informed in writing early on by Taiwan that the virus was highly transmissible.
The WHO, still led by the reportedly corrupt (here and here) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, covered up for China, and repeatedly praised China for, in effect, having murdered more than seven million people worldwide, including more than one million just in the US .
No one has held to account either China's way of handling the virus by recalling protective gear so it would have enough for itself; made billions exporting "useless" defective protective gear (here and here), for sending its citizens abroad to infect the world while it closed down its own borders and tried to isolate Wuhan, where, in a laboratory, the virus seems to have begun. China imposed lockdowns, literally: physically barring 25 million of its own citizens from leaving their apartments. Some who were locked in from outside burned to death in a fire; others, including scientists who tried to warn about the lethality of the virus, or mentioned China's role in spreading the virus, or expressed any skepticism about cures, were either arrested, silenced, or "disappeared".
The same governments and organizations that lied and covered up how Covid-19 was mishandled are now in the process of finalizing negotiations on amendments to WHO's International Health Regulations (IHR) and the new Pandemic Treaty that together will give the WHO Director General unprecedented power over public global health.
At present – at least until the World Health Assembly, the parent organization of the WHO, meets in Geneva from May 27-June 1, the WHO is able to declare a public health emergency of international concern, but now the organization's recommendations are not binding. So far, so good.
The proposed amendments to the IHR, however, give the WHO Director General the authority to declare not just an actual but a potential international public health emergency and set out binding recommendations on how to address it, whether individual states agree with him or not.
This means that the WHO will be able to declare whatever it deems to be an actual or potential health emergency and mandate lockdowns, medical examinations, require vaccination or other prophylaxes, place individuals under public health observation, implement quarantine or other health measures.
In addition, the IHR will adopt the worldwide use of digital vaccine passports. Already in June 2023, the European Union and the WHO announced "a long-term digital partnership to deliver better health for all."
"This partnership will work to technically develop the WHO system with a staged approach to cover additional use cases, which may include, for example, the digitisation of the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. Expanding such digital solutions will be essential to deliver better health for citizens across the globe."
The proposed amendment to the IHR, will ensure a "global digital exchange of health information" under WHO.
Worse, no criticism of the new WHO regime and its decisions to declare potential or actual pandemics, lockdowns and treatment, including vaccines, will be allowed under the amended IHR:
"WHO shall collaborate with and promptly assist States Parties, in particular developing countries upon request, in countering the dissemination of false and unreliable information about public health events, preventive and anti-epidemic measures and activities, in the media, social networks and other ways of disseminating such information."
In other words, the government lies, obfuscations and cover-ups that so dominated the last pandemic will become normalized, and all criticism outlawed.
Just last month, Germany woke up to revelations that the country's public health authority had lied about Covid. Newly released documents obtained by investigative journalists after a two-year court battle, showed that Germany's public health authority, also known as the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) advised the German government that the flu posed a greater risk than Covid, masks would be useless, and that lockdowns were more dangerous than the virus and could lead to increased child mortality. None of these concerns were addressed in practice. The German government – as most other governments – instead chose draconian, totalitarian measures inspired by China.
In addition, the RKI's concerns were never communicated to the German public.
Already, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (not a medical doctor) has castigated critics of the planned amendments and new Pandemic Treaty as conspiracy theorists who spread "fake news, lies and conspiracy theories."
The power grab will not only give the corrupt WHO unprecedented powers, but also benefit the special interests who effectively control WHO -- primarily Communist China.
Gebreyesus is a long-time friend of China, which secured the director general's job after Beijing threw its weight behind his candidacy, over the emphatic objections of Ghana and Ethiopia.
Gebreyesus, a former foreign minister and health minister of Ethiopia, who was accused in 2017 of being "fully complicit in the terrible suffering" caused by three cholera epidemics in Sudan and Ethiopia, used his role at the WHO to aid China's global campaign for economic dominance. He even appointed Beijing's ally, Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe, as a WHO "goodwill ambassador." Gebreyesus further repaid his debt to Beijing when the Covid-19 pandemic began. He failed to challenge Chinese misinformation about the outbreak, delayed declaring an international emergency, and protected China's economy by discouraging governments from introducing travel controls. "This," the Sunday Times wrote, "allowed the virus to spread across the globe in the crucial early weeks."
The WHO is not elected, has no democratic legitimacy, is not accountable to anyone and has no control mechanisms to restrain its reach. After the horrifying failures of the WHO during Covid-19, the answer is not to give the organization more power, but to disengage from it entirely.
The WHO's illiberal designs to silence all dissent as "disinformation" represent a corruption of both science and freedom of speech – an outcome that is hardly surprising given the outsize influence that China evidently wields on the body and UN member states. Just look at the willingness with which ostensibly liberal Western governments implemented authoritarian measures from the Chinese Communist Party.
Once the new legal instruments are passed, there will be nothing to stop the WHO from making insane decisions based on their corrupted view of science. One such view, totalitarian in its mindset, is that there is one true science, apparently the WHO's, and there can be no discussion of it. "We own the science and we think that the world should know it," Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications at the UN, said at the 2022 World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. She also revealed that the social media platforms already "know" that the UN "owns" the science:
"You know, we partnered with Google, for example, if you Google climate change, you will, at the top of your search, get all kinds of UN resources. We started this partnership when we were shocked to see that when we Googled climate change, we were getting incredibly distorted information right at the top. So we're becoming much more proactive."
Since the UN claims that to "owns the science," it is now brainwashing the public into believing that "climate change" threatens global health. This view makes it likely that you will one day find yourself in a WHO-mandated lockdown to mitigate the effects of the "climate crisis," along with limits on where you go, how you may get there, what you do, and what you can own.
The US is already seeing forerunners of this in the Biden administration's unconstitutional executive orders, possibly including his attempts to ban internal combustion engine vehicles and gas stoves; mandating dishwashing machines that may need repeated cycles to clean dishes, and new stricter regulations on air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, and even leaf-blowers -- and this is only the beginning.
The WHO wrote in a press release on March 22 about its new "toolkit empowering health professionals to tackle climate change":
"Climate change presents one of the most significant global health challenges and is already negatively affecting communities worldwide. Communicating the health risks of climate change and the health benefits of climate solutions is both necessary and helpful...
"Climate change affects health through various pathways, including extreme weather events, air pollution, food insecurity, water scarcity and the spread of infectious diseases. Heatwaves, changing weather patterns and air pollution contribute to a range of adverse health effects, including cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, mental health issues and malnutrition. Moreover, health systems face increasing strain from climate-related challenges, amplifying the urgency for action...
"By empowering health and care workers to communicate about climate change and health, it aims to drive collective action towards mitigating climate change, building resilience and safeguarding public health."
The UN and the WHO evidently want unlimited control. If they are not stopped right now by national governments that refuse to approve the new Pandemic Treaty and proposed International Health Regulations amendments, unlimited control is what they will have -- and it is we who will have given it to them.
**Robert Williams is a researcher based in the United States.
© 2024 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Secret Hamas Files Show How It Spied on Everyday Palestinians
Adam Rasgon and Ronen Bergman/The New York Times/May 13, 2024
JERUSALEM — Hamas leader Yehia Sinwar has for years overseen a secret police force in the Gaza Strip that conducted surveillance on everyday Palestinians and built files on young people, journalists and those who questioned the government, according to intelligence officials and a trove of internal documents reviewed by The New York Times.
The unit, known as the General Security Service, relied on a network of Gaza informants, some of whom reported their own neighbors to police. People landed in security files for attending protests or publicly criticizing Hamas. In some cases, the records suggest that authorities followed people to determine if they were carrying on romantic relationships outside marriage.
Hamas has long run an oppressive system of governance in Gaza, and many Palestinians there know that security officials watch them closely. But a 62-slide presentation on the activities of the General Security Service, delivered only weeks before the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, reveals the degree to which the largely unknown unit penetrated the lives of Palestinians.
The documents show that Hamas leaders, despite claiming to represent the people of Gaza, would not tolerate even a whiff of dissent. Security officials trailed journalists and people they suspected of immoral behavior. Agents got criticism removed from social media and discussed ways to defame political adversaries. Political protests were viewed as threats to be undermined.
Everyday residents of Gaza were stuck — behind the wall of Israel’s crippling blockade and under the thumb and constant watch of a security force. That dilemma continues today, with the added threat of Israeli ground troops and airstrikes.
“We’re facing bombardment by the occupation and thuggery by the local authorities,” Ehab Fasfous, a journalist in Gaza who appeared in the files of the General Security Service, said in a phone interview from Gaza.
Fasfous, 51, is labeled in one report as among “the major haters of the Hamas movement.”
The documents were provided to the Times by officials in Israel’s military intelligence directorate, who said they had been seized in raids in Gaza.
Reporters then interviewed people who were named in the files. Those people recounted key events, confirmed biographical information and, in Fasfous’s case, described interactions with authorities that aligned with the secret files. The documents reviewed by the Times include seven intelligence files ranging from October 2016 to August 2023. The military intelligence directorate said it was aware of files containing information on at least 10,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
The General Security Service is formally part of the Hamas political party but functions like part of the government. One Palestinian individual familiar with the inner workings of Hamas, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that the service was one of three powerful internal security bodies in Gaza. The others were Military Intelligence, which typically focuses on Israel, and the Internal Security Service, an arm of the Interior Ministry.
Basem Naim, a spokesperson for Hamas, said the people responsible for the General Security Service were unreachable during the war.
With monthly expenses of $120,000 before the war with Israel, the unit comprised 856 people, records show. Of those, more than 160 were paid to spread Hamas propaganda and launch online attacks against opponents at home and abroad. The status of the unit today is unknown because Israel has dealt a significant blow to Hamas’ military and governing abilities.
Israeli intelligence authorities believe Sinwar directly oversaw the General Security Service, according to three Israeli intelligence officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. They said the slideshow was prepared for Sinwar personally, though they did not say how they knew that.
The presentation said the General Security Service works to protect Hamas’ people, property and information, and to support its leadership’s decision-making.
Some slides focused on the personal security of Hamas leaders. Others discussed ways to stamp out protests, including the “We Want to Live” demonstrations last year that criticized power shortages and the cost of living. Security officials also tracked operatives from Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an ideologically aligned militant group that often partners with Hamas.
Some tactics, like amplifying Hamas’ own message, appeared to be routine politicking. In other instances, officials suggested using intelligence to undermine opponents and distort their reputations, though the files were vague about how that was to be done.
“Undertaking a number of offensive and defensive media campaigns to confuse and influence adversaries by using private and exclusive information,” the document read. Security officers stopped Fasfous on his way to a protest in August, seized his phone and ordered him to leave, a report says. Fasfous confirmed that two plainclothes officers had approached him. Authorities searched his recent calls, and wrote that he was communicating with “suspicious people” in Israel.
“We advise that closing in on him is necessary because he’s a negative person who is full of hatred, and only brings forth the Strip’s shortcomings,” the document said.
The most frustrating thing, Fasfous said, was that the officers used his phone to send flirtatious messages to a colleague. “They wanted to pin a moral violation on me,” he said. The report does not include that detail but does describe ways to “deal with” Fasfous. “Defame him,” the report said.
“If you’re not with them, you become an atheist, an infidel and a sinner,” Fasfous said. He acknowledged supporting protests and criticizing Hamas online, but said the people he was in touch with in Israel were Palestinians who owned food and clothing companies. He said he helped run their social media accounts. The General Security Service’s goals are similar to those of security services in countries such as Syria that have used secret units to quell dissent. The files of the General Security Service, though, mention tactics like censorship, intimidation and surveillance rather than physical violence.
“This General Security Service is just like the Stasi of East Germany,” said Michael Milshtein, a former Israeli military intelligence officer specializing in Palestinian affairs. “You always have an eye on the street.”
Palestinians in Gaza live in fear and hesitate to express dissent, analysts said.
“There are a lot of people practicing self-censorship,” said Mkhaimar Abusada, a professor of political science from Gaza City. “They just don’t want problems with the Hamas government.” That view clashes with the most strident comments of Israel’s leaders, like President Isaac Herzog, who blamed Palestinians in Gaza for not toppling Hamas before the Oct. 7 attacks.
“There’s an entire nation that is responsible,” he said. “This rhetoric about civilians were not aware, not involved, it’s absolutely not true. They could have risen up.”
The General Security Service, the files show, also tried to enforce a conservative social order. In December 2017, for example, authorities investigated a tip that a woman was acting immorally with a man who owned a clothing shop. A security report noted that she visited the shop for an hour on one day, then more than two hours the next. The report presented no evidence of wrongdoing, but proposed that “relevant parties” address the matter.
An October 2016 report described young men and women performing unspecified “immoral acts” at a Palestine Liberation Organization office in Khan Younis at night. Hamas sees the Palestine Liberation Organization as a compromised entity, whose leader too often favors Israeli interests. The report offered no evidence of misdeeds but recommended summoning a man who claimed to be in possession of videos and pictures. The files also show that Hamas was suspicious of foreign organizations and journalists.
When Monique van Hoogstraten, a Dutch reporter, visited a protest encampment along the border with Israel in April 2018, authorities noted the most banal of details. They noted the make and model of her car and her license plate number. They said she took pictures of children and tried to interview an elderly woman. Van Hoogstraten confirmed the reporting trip in an interview with the Times.
The file recommended further “reconnaissance” on journalists.
None of the files reviewed by the Times were dated after the start of the war. But Fasfous said the government remained interested in him.
Early in the war, he said he took images of security forces hitting people who fought over spots in line outside a bakery. Authorities confiscated his camera.
Fasfous complained to a government official in Khan Younis, who told him to stop reporting and “destabilizing the internal front,” Fasfous recalled.
“I told him I was reporting on the truth and that the truth won’t hurt him, but that fell on deaf ears,” he said. “We can’t have a life here as long as these criminals remain in control.”
c.2024 The New York Times Company

Biden’s betrayal of Israel only means more civilians will die
Mark Dubowitz & Ben Cohen/Daily Mail/May 13/2024
A decade ago, former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates famously declared that Joe Biden, ‘has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.’Secretary Gates – you’ll never believe what Joe’s done now.
President Biden has made, perhaps, his most incompetent policy blunder yet (at least since his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan). In an interview Wednesday, Biden threatened to block the transfer of U.S. weapons to Israel, if the Jewish State launches a military operation against Hamas‘s last remaining stronghold in southern Gaza.His ultimatum comes nearly seven months to the day of the October 7 slaughter – and after the White House admitted they had already secretly halted the delivery of bunker-busting bombs that Israel requires to root out terrorists hiding in deeply buried underground tunnels.
Indeed, the mastermind of the Hamas massacre, Yahya Sinwar, is believed to be sheltering in these tunnels – cynically dug beneath the feet of about 1.3 million Palestinians. It’s not only layers of concrete, dirt and sand that shield these terrorists from the Israeli military. These monsters hide under women and children.  But Biden blames Israel. ‘Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those [U.S.] bombs,’ Biden told CNN’s Erin Burnett. ‘…it’s just wrong.’
Consider the impact of this new Biden Doctrine: It is nothing less than an endorsement of Hamas’s use of human shields.
The President’s message to terrorists the world over is that if they embed themselves in mosques, schools, hospitals, homes and refugee camps, the United States of America will protect them.
What an appalling new precedent – and it didn’t need to be this way.
There were many viable policy alternatives that President Biden could have pursued before validating Hamas’s strategy of maximizing civilian casualties.
Block Aid for Egypt, Not Arms for Israel
Instead of cutting off arms transfers to Israel, the Biden administration could have leveraged $1 billion in annual U.S. military aid to Egypt to force President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to take Gazan refugees.
Egypt has all the capability necessary to temporarily shelter Palestinians in the vast empty spaces of the Sinai Peninsula – the region just West of Rafah and nearly the size of West Virginia. This would allow for the evacuation of civilians and the final defeat of Hamas before the phased return of Palestinians to Gaza.
To date, Egypt has refused to accept refugees because el-Sisi sees elements of the Palestinian population, especially the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Hamas, as an extremist threat to his rule.
Western government officials have told the Foundation for Defense of Democracies that several Gulf States have even offered el-Sisi an additional $40 billion in economic aid to open Egypt’s northern border to Palestinian refugees.
Still, he has not budged.
American pressure would surely change that calculus.
U.S. aid to Egypt should be made conditional on Cairo alleviating the humanitarian suffering in Gaza. And el-Sisi should be held accountable for allowing Hamas, for years, to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Gaza exacerbating the current crisis.
Put Mossad Targets on Hamas Leaders. While Palestinians suffer under the thumb of Hamas – the terror group’s leadership lives in luxury more than one thousand miles away in the tiny Persian Gulf nation of Qatar. Today, Hamas’s political chief Ismail Haniyeh and his commanders living in Doha, Qatar are estimated to be worth $11 billion. They stand in the way of an immediate temporary Israeli ceasefire by refusing to release 132 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. But perversely, President Biden rewarded Qatar by naming the country a ‘major non-NATO U.S. Ally’ in 2022, despite its harboring of Hamas, which was designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. as far back as 1997.
The U.S. should give Doha a two-week deadline: Convince your Hamas guests to release the hostages back or the Biden administration will revoke Qatar’s major non-NATO status and designate Qatar as a state sponsor of terrorism.
In the long term, the U.S. should be pressuring Qatar’s Emir to expel Hamas’s leadership altogether – then let Mossad deal with them.
Strangle Hamas’s Patrons
The Islamic Republic of Iran sends $100 million to Hamas, $700 million to Hezbollah, and tens of millions to Islamic Jihad every year, according to Israel. President Biden can take steps today to choke off this terror-funding pipeline.
First, the White House could end its policy of appeasement toward Iran by halting the release of billions of dollars in oil funds, which were frozen during the Trump administration. These monies fund the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and terror proxies throughout the Middle East.
Secondly, the administration can do more to shut down the stream of illicit oil sale revenues that continue to flow into Iran.
For example, Malaysia’s Prime Minister, who refused to condemn the October 7 massacre, has vowed to maintain ties to Hamas even if that leaves Kuala Lumpur vulnerable to Western sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department has found that Malaysia is buying oil from Tehran is clear defiance of sanctions.
President Biden should make an example of Malaysia by cracking down on this illicit trade that fuels international terrorism. In contrast, the White House has taken a different approach – and abandoned an ally in the process.
Maybe it’s all about presidential politics: Biden has been desperate to rid himself of the ‘Genocide Joe’ label affixed to him by Hamas sympathizers inside and outside of the Democratic Party.
He hopes that by betraying Israel, he will win back far-left supporters who threaten to withhold their support for him in November. But this cynical strategy is fated to fail. Biden won’t mollify the ‘From the River to the Sea’ radicals on American campuses, bring the war in Gaza to a speedier conclusion or secure the release of a single hostage, alive or dead.
However, he has established a perverse new doctrine that generations of Americans will come to regret.
**Mark Dubowitz is Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ chief executive. Ben Cohen is an FDD senior analyst

Why the Biden Administration’s Iran Sanctions Waivers Are Futile
Janatan Sayeh, Behnam Ben Taleblu, Saeed Ghasseminejad/The National Interest /May 13/2024
The Islamic Republic also has a history of diverting resources intended for humanitarian purposes.
After years of fighting in the shadows against Israel, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) crossed the threshold. On April 13, the IRGC undertook an overt and direct attack from its own territory against Israel, launching over 300 projectiles, including one-way attack drones, land-attack cruise missiles, and even nuclear-capable medium-range ballistic missiles. The IRGC’s barrage raises the urgency of cracking down on any form of financing that underwrites the Guard Corps’ capabilities.
Only a few days prior to the attack, a Biden administration appointee publicly acknowledged the regime’s exploitation of humanitarian funds for nefarious purposes. On April 9, U.S. Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo testified that Tehran exploits fungible humanitarian assistance and noted that “any dollar they have will go towards violent activity before they deal with their people.” Adeyemo’s attestation raises serious concerns over the Biden administration’s policy of retaining several Iran sanctions waivers.
Almost all statutory sanctions measures have waivers, allowing for transactions that would otherwise be prohibited should they meet certain requirements. In the Iranian context, one reason these waivers are issued is to ensure that there are economic arteries to purchase and deliver humanitarian aid. However, the issuance of waivers can be as political as it is technical because waiver issuance can indirectly ease sanctions and macroeconomic pressure on a target and impact foreign policy towards a third-party country.
For example, from 2018 to 2023, the State Department issued sanctions waivers allowing Iraq to import electricity from Iran provided that all payments were kept in an escrow account in Baghdad, thereby denying Iran access to the revenue. But last summer, the Biden administration changed that waiver to allow Iraq to transfer $10 billion to Iran and to deposit future payments into Iranian bank accounts in Oman. The new policy also allowed Iran to convert the money from Iraqi dinars to euros. Iran could then process euro-based transactions for imports and debt payments out of the accounts in Oman.
Prior to this, in the fall of 2023, the Biden administration unfroze $6 billion of Iranian assets in South Korea that were converted to euros before being sent to Qatar. The administration claimed that this money would only be available for humanitarian transactions.
The allegation that America’s Iran sanctions cause humanitarian suffering has long been a staple talking point by opponents of pressure on the Islamic Republic despite evidence to the contrary. For example, during the height of COVID-19 in Iran, many Western media outlets citing sanctions skeptics claimed that U.S. sanctions exacerbated humanitarian challenges in Iran by directly contributing to drug shortages across the country. Even international bodies such as the United Nations and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed this notion that U.S. sanctions inhibit Iran’s ability to import medical goods.
In contrast to these claims, U.S. law specifically exempts humanitarian aid. For instance, sanctions targeting the Central Bank of Iran, as stipulated by Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, exempt “transactions for the sale of food, medicine, or medical devices.” Sector-based sanctions imposed by statute and executive orders likewise exempt such transactions. Similarly, the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSRA) of 2000 exempts medicine, medical devices, and food from U.S. sanctions as well.
Despite assertions that U.S. sanctions exacerbated the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran, trade data indicated that sanctions did not restrict Iran’s ability to import pharmaceutical goods. Moreover, the U.S. and EU took various measures to maintain the humanitarian trade, such as establishing a Swiss banking channel that facilitates the flow of humanitarian goods into Iran. In 2019, Human Rights Watch published a report blaming the maximum pressure campaign for the shortage of drugs in Iran. However, FDD’s research showed that Iran’s imports of pharmaceutical products from the European Union declined only 5 percent in 2019 compared to 2018.
The Islamic Republic also has a history of diverting resources intended for humanitarian purposes. In July 2019, President Hassan Rouhani’s administration reported that $186 million in hard currency allocated for importing medicines and essential goods was spent on cigarettes and tobacco. In 2018, a Treasury Department investigation demonstrated that the regime fronted an Iranian medical and pharmaceutical company (Tadbir Kish) to facilitate the IRGC Quds Force’s illicit payments to Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, and Russia.
In the years leading up to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Turkish banks helped channel billions of dollars in illicit transactions using fraudulent invoices for fictitious humanitarian goods and even foodstuffs to bypass sanctions. Earlier in 2012, Iran’s health minister complained that subsidized Iranian government monies were spent on luxury car imports rather than on meeting medical import needs. Her criticism of Iran’s banking policies cost the minister her job.
In light of this track record, coupled with recent statements from the Treasury Department, it is increasingly apparent that Tehran will continue to divert funds gleaned from sanctions waivers to bolster the IRGC indirectly. The Biden administration should, therefore, take this opportunity to work with, rather than against, Congress and restrict Iranian access to frozen funds and ensure that any waivers issued are not being used by the regime to fund its terrorist apparatus.
*Janatan Sayeh is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian domestic affairs and the Islamic Republic’s regional malign influence. Follow him on X: @JanatanSayeh.
*Behnam Ben Taleblu is a senior fellow at FDD, where he focuses on Iranian security and political issues. Behnam previously served as a research fellow and senior Iran analyst at FDD.
*Dr. Saeed Ghasseminejad is a senior Iran and financial economics adviser at FDD specializing in Iran’s economy and financial markets, sanctions, and illicit finance. Follow him on X: @SGhasseminejad.
All of the authors contribute to FDD’s Iran Program and the Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP). FDD is a Washington, DC-based, non-partisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.

The 21 Christian Martyrs of Egypt: A Feature Film?
Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream /May 13/2024
A filmmaker recently announced that he is making a movie dedicated to the trials and travails of the 21 Coptic Christians who were ritually decapitated by ISIS terrorists in Libya in 2015.
The iconic and infamous moment the 21 men in orange jumpsuits were killed was captured by video and disseminated around the world. Kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs, the Christian martyrs appeared to be silently praying before their executors knocked them down on their faces, knelt on their backs, and began to decapitate them, as their blood mingled with the waters of the Mediterranean. Their deaths were neither clean nor quick.
I recently interviewed Egyptian filmmaker Raouf Zaki, who detailed his extensive research to gather information for his screenplay (including interviewing Libyan officials and investigators, as well as visiting the martyrs’ families in Egypt).
Why do this project? Zaki told me:
I was profoundly moved to write Son of the 11th Hour because of the grace with which the martyrs faced their final moments. They did not beg or falter; instead, they embraced their fate with a serenity that seemed to transcend their surroundings. As they knelt, looking up at the sky, their actions seemed to echo the biblical notion that ‘faith is the hope in things unseen.’ To them, the end of their earthly lives was not an end but a passage — a continuation of a legacy rooted deep within the cradle of civilization, where belief in life after death has ancient ties and where early Christians were known as the “Blue Bone.”
Through this film, I hope to fortify the faith of our viewers. By witnessing such unwavering faith, we gain perspective on our own trials, which, in comparison, might then appear minute and manageable. Films have the power to etch such profound truths into our memories, serving as lasting reminders of resilience and hope.
Son of the 11th Hour should further resonate with contemporary audiences by portraying its characters as modern-day martyrs (a term often associated with ancient Roman persecutions). The film delves into the darkness of radicalization, exploring the tragic misbelief held by some that acts of terror are services to God — a stark reminder of Christ’s warning that there would be those who “kill you and think they are offering service to God.”
Ultimately, this film is an invitation to witness, reflect, and perhaps alter our understanding of faith, sacrifice, and the human capacity for resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Blue-Collar Workers, Heroes of Faith
Most of the 21 men, Zaki said, were “proud, hardworking men of simple but strong faith” who came from the same poor village in Egypt — which happens to be in the region where the Holy Family hid for three years when Jesus was a toddler. Most of the men were the oldest sons of their respective families, in their twenties or early thirties. And that meant their families looked to them for help and support, “because that’s what you do, you take care of your family when you’re the older brother, and many people can rely on you.”
Due to a lack of work, around 2013, they left their loved ones — parents, young wives, children, etc. — to work in Libya and send money home. The last time their families saw them was around Christmas of 2014. Family members told Zaki they would Skype with the men and see their surroundings — small, candlelit rooms with religious icons and crosses on the walls. They would often talk about how excited they were to be going home to Egypt for the holiday.
Son of the 11th Hour – Trailer from Raouf Zaki on Vimeo.
Then, sometime before Christmas, ISIS abducted them and threw them into an abandoned underground prison. Zaki says they spent 40 days in that dungeon, being tortured. Initially, the terrorists offered to release them for a ransom.
When it became clear that they’d already sent whatever money they had to their families in Egypt, ISIS gave them a second option: openly renounce Christ as the Son of God, proclaim the shahada, and become Muslim. When they staunchly refused this, too, the terrorists “exposed them to a lot of tortures,” Zaki says — for example, by tying their hands behind their backs and hanging them on doors all night.
When all else failed, ISIS decided to execute them and videotape the incident as a recruiting tool — to inspire more like-minded Muslims to join the growing “caliphate.”
‘What You Meant for Evil, God Turned to Good’
However, Zaki said this “backfired” and rather worked to God’s greater glory:
Instead of instilling fear, the video showcased the remarkable courage and composure of the martyrs, which not only strengthened the faith of viewers around the world but also drew widespread admiration. The families of the martyrs — widows, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters — appeared on television, forgiving their captors and praying for them. This profound act of forgiveness was bewildering and inspiring to people of all faiths, turning a narrative of terror into one of hope and resilience.
Of particular interest is the mysterious and touching story of the only non-Coptic martyr, a black man from Ghana. Very little is known about him — he may even have originally been Muslim — but the information Zaki gathered suggests that while he was imprisoned alongside them, he was so inspired by the Copts’ defiance that he ended up converting and casting his lot in with theirs. That’s why the lead executioner chose the Ghanan to be his personal victim.
When an imprisoned ISIS terrorist’s confession led to the discovery of the men’s remains nearly two years later, Egypt claimed its 20 sons, but no one from Ghana came to claim the unknown martyr’s remains. They lay there for a year, until the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt claimed and buried them alongside the other martyrs, making him an “honorary Copt.”
Zaki said he wrote the screenplay through the eyes of this Ghanan man because he “presented a profound mystery that captivated my imagination”:
Unlike the 20 Coptic men, whose stories and sacrifices have been documented and honored, the Ghanan man’s tale remains largely untold. This gap in the narrative intrigued me, sparking questions and possibilities that seemed ripe for exploration through film.
Rumors suggested that ISIS initially did not intend to kill him but made a last-minute decision to include him in the martyrdom, executed personally by the group’s leader. This unique and harrowing twist in his fate raises haunting questions: Was there a change of heart, a moment of defiance, or perhaps a deeper story that led to such a personal act by the leader?
In the film, I envisioned his story as one of choice — a theme universally resonant and particularly poignant in his context. The narrative explores the idea that sometimes, the most defining choices are those that cost us everything. His journey, as I have imagined it, challenges viewers to reflect on the power and price of conviction, making his perspective not only unique but central to the thematic core of the film. One of the most amazing things Zaki encountered while shooting Son of the 11th Hour was the forgiveness the martyrs’ families extended to the men who murdered them. Theirs, he said, is “a faith beyond comprehension … . The amount of forgiveness they have in their hearts is unbelievable.”
Will This Powerful Film Find the Funding to Get Completed?
But Zaki has also experienced many setbacks — “enemy oppression” and “spiritual battles” as he called them — in his effort to make this film a reality. Some of the film has already been shot (see the trailer here). Without proper funding, however, Zaki — who is working with a tiny budget — said he would be unable to turn this much-needed story of modern-day martyrdom into a feature film for widespread viewing. As of now, only 25% of filming has been completed. He needs an additional $300,000 in donations. Zaki said he is also offering investing opportunities with a 50/50 profit-sharing margin for larger donations (contact him directly at raouf@ravision.net). To learn more about the film and watch some scenes, click here. The Catholic Talk Show also did a comprehensive interview with Zaki here.

Memories that Attack Like a Dagger
Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/May 13/2024
Given his experience, Yehya al-Sinwar knows that nothing can break the will of an Israeli government and its generals like one of its soldiers being taken prisoner by the Palestinians. In 1988, Sinwar was again arrested and sentenced to four life terms. But in 2011, he was freed, along with 1,026 Palestinians, after Hamas agreed to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, whom it had abducted five years earlier. The prime minister at the time was Benjamin Netanyahu, who retaliated to last year’s Al-Aqsa Flood operation with the ongoing bloodbath in Gaza and his current attempt to invade Rafah. It is the norm in the Israeli army for the Jewish state to never abandon efforts to release any soldier who is held captive. It could resort to force to ensure the release, even if the price it pays is costly. Should that fail, then it could turn to arduous and costly negotiations.
The issue of prisoners and exchanges is old and painful. Every prominent Palestinian leader dreams of earning the medal of liberating Palestinians from their torture in Israeli prisons. CNN aired a report about the suffering of Palestinian prisoners at an Israeli military base-turned-detention center in the Negev desert. It spoke of rotting wounds and limbs getting amputated for being shackled for too long. The report jogged my memory. During the early days of my career, my profession allowed me to learn about the suffering of prisoners and a captive country called Palestine. The country witnessed a river of prisoners and several exchanges, but the river of blood and detainees will never stop without the birth of an independent Palestinian state. I will share a few memories with the reader. Back in 1979, leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command Fadel Shrourou asked me if I wanted an intriguing story. No young journalist would pass up such a proposal. I asked him about the time and place, smiling, he replied: “A car will come to pick you up.”
I waited in front of the An Nahar building and soon, a car with tinted windows drove up to me. The driver and his companion were both armed. I asked the companion where we were going, and he said he had yet to receive the details. After some 20 minutes, the car veered off the main road and we changed cars. I asked them why, and they said: “Israel is watching on the ground and in the air.” My excitement only grew from there.
Reaching our destination, the companion asked me if I recognized the place. I said I didn’t, when indeed I did. It was Abra east of Sidon in southern Lebanon, only a few kilometers from my own village. I didn’t tell him I knew where we were because I didn’t want to ruin the trip.
We then headed to a residential building where we were welcomed by some obviously nervous men. Entering an apartment, I found myself face to face with an Israeli prisoner. It was the first time I had ever found myself under the same roof as an Israeli, a soldier no less.
I asked him who he was, and he identified himself as Abraham Amram. He revealed that he was taken prisoner by the PFLP-GC during the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon in 1978. Then, like all prisoners, he went on to criticize the Israeli government and urged it to comply with the demands of his captors. He also said the PFLP-GC had treated him well and provided him with medical care. However, after his return to Israel, he published a book in which he said his captors had held him in Syria and that he was severely tortured during his detention.
On the way back to Beirut, the companion apologized for the security measures of the journey. He said the area was at the mercy of Israeli jets and that Israel would not have hesitated in carrying out a landing operation had information about the meeting been leaked.
Later, on March 14, I was at Damascus airport for a flight on a Bulgarian Tupolev plane that was transporting Amram. Shrourou was in charge of the trip, and he worried himself to no end that Israel would hijack the Tupolev. Amram himself was worried that Menachem Begin’s government would make a move that would lead to his death. He tried to conceal his fear by asking whether his wife and children would be waiting for him when we arrived at our destination.
The plane landed at Geneva airport. A plane flying in from Israel was also there, carrying 66 Palestinian prisoners. With tensions riding high, the Red Cross carried out the swap. Amram was not allowed to get out of the Bulgarian plane before all Palestinians exited the Israeli aircraft.
The Palestinians were overjoyed with their newfound freedom. Amram’s jet flew towards Tel Aviv and the liberated prisoners were flown to the Libyan capital where they were received at Tripoli airport by PFLP-GC leader Ahmed Jibril and Abdessalam Jalloud, who was representing Libyan leader Moammar al-Gaddafi. As I recall this incident, I need to recount some testimonies. Fatah’s Abdullah Hilal Tohma recalled how he infiltrated Palestinian territories in 1967 with another Palestinian called Yasser Arafat. They parted ways in Nablus city. Tohma would be detained and held prisoner by Israel, while Arafat would later become the guardian of the Palestinian dream.
Hafez Dalqamouni recalled the horrific torture he endured during his time in Israeli captivity. He said an Israeli doctor insisted on amputating his leg and that later, during interrogations, his captors would beat the leg that was amputated.
A.A.A. recalled how she was paraded naked in from of Israeli soldiers and how they attempted to penetrate her body using a stick. She was serving two life sentences. The “mother of all horrors” was recalled by R.Y.A. of the PFLP who was imprisoned after carrying out several attacks against Israel. One attack targeted the British consulate. She recalled: “They stripped me naked, brought in my father and ordered him to have sex with me. He fainted from horror.”
I am now using the initials of the two liberated women prisoners. Back then, I was a young journalist with few reservations. I released their full names along with their photos. In Beirut, famed poet Mahmoud Darwish read their recollections and told me: “This killed me. This is peak brutality. I couldn’t sleep that night.”I have heard many painful recollections throughout my career. But R.Y.A.’s statements were the most brutal. The CNN report reminded me of the suffering of prisoners. The recollections living in my memory attacked me like a dagger.

The Iranian obstacles slowing any detente with its neighbors
Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami/Arab news/May 13/2024
Iran is engaged in double-dealing when it comes to its regional policy. The plurality of institutional actors that play a role in the implementation of Iranian foreign policy sometimes makes it difficult to determine what the official Iranian diplomatic position is. Several institutional bodies can present the official posture regarding what Tehran calls “regionalism” in its foreign policy approach. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, president, supreme leader and his office or a general of the Revolutionary Guards can present contradictory diplomatic positions on the same topic without any official clarification.
This diplomacy with several voices is a strength in the context of developing a strategy of destabilization because it makes it impossible to determine the responsibility of the state incriminated for its actions. In the context of the Iranian support to the so-called axis of resistance, the country’s regional strategy of plausible deniability is designed to confuse the adversary.
Conversely, in the context of regional reintegration of the Iranian state, notably after the Iran-Saudi rapprochement deal signed in March 2023, the inability to adopt a unified and coherent position may constitute an obstacle to Iran’s participation in the search for a political solution to regional crises, the Yemen war in particular.Indeed, it is essential that the Iranian diplomatic apparatus manages the process of challenging US influence in the Middle East with the building of trust in its neighborhood policy. The current management of this process explains why the regional perception of the neighborhood policy of Iran remains built on caution rather than trust.
The regional perception of the neighborhood policy of Iran remains built on caution rather than trust
In Iran, there is no elite consensus or political elite self-confidence regarding what should be the country’s regional policy. Most of the Iranian decision-makers agree on the need for minimal foreign intervention in the region, but they disagree on whether the great powers involved should be Russia or China, on the one hand, or the US and its European allies on the other. One has to consider that the internal fragmentation among the different Iranian factions and institutions may lead to some decisions that could destroy any agreement between Iran and other countries, including Saudi Arabia.
If we consider that the Iranian president is a decisive actor in the decision-making process, it is clear that the Gulf region is — as during Mohammed Khatami’s presidency (1997-2005) — a factor in pushing Iran and the US to de-escalate. Overall, the main foreign policy body is the Supreme National Security Council. Regarding the Gulf, it was Ali Shamkhani, the former defense minister under Khatami and Supreme National Security Council secretary, who used to summarize the positions presented by the different political actors in Iran. After the Iran-Saudi deal, Shamkhani was replaced by Ali Akbar Ahmadian.
The Supreme National Security Council is the institution in charge of coordinating and implementing Iran’s foreign policy with the goal of safeguarding the national interest and preserving the Islamic revolution, along with the country’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty. In practice, since 1989 and the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, it has been very difficult to develop a common strategy between the different decision-making centers.
Nevertheless, the international strategy defined by the Supreme National Security Council aims to defend several positions at the same time. This strategy allows the head of each of the foreign policy institutions — government, parliament, presidency, supreme leader’s office, Revolutionary Guards, army, etc. — to exist on the international diplomatic scene and thereby legitimize their existence domestically. These different decision-making centers only compete to a certain point. In other words, the limits are set by the supreme leader and the institutions attached to him. Any excess is punished by an accusation of treason or compromise with “enemy elements.”Khamenei last week delivered another anti-US, anti-Israel speech, implicitly also attacking the Kingdom
For the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij, the US military presence in the region is an existential threat to the survival of the Islamic revolution. Therefore, the targeting of US military bases is not a means to protect Iranian territory but rather an end. This ideological dimension is key to explaining the lack of trust between Iran and its neighbors. Also, regarding the relationship with Saudi Arabia and the future of the rapprochement deal, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei last week delivered another anti-US, anti-Israel speech, implicitly also attacking the Kingdom, saying that “anyone who extends a hand of friendship to America and Israel is an oppressor.” This speech was meant to be a guide for Iranians planning to perform Hajj, but it turned out to be mainly about regional issues linked to the possible rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Iran is this year sending 87,550 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.As in the diplomatic strategy, while targeting Saudi officials, Khamenei contradicted himself by calling for “unity and communication among Muslims.” The repeated call for Islamic unity must be understood in terms of the legacy of Khomeini’s ideological framework. The Iranian perception of the future of the Muslim world is to extend the Iranian ideological sphere of influence, insisting on the ayatollah’s specific interpretation of what should be the true Islam.
This ideological battle of the Islamic Republic of Iran is also a factor, alongside the military tensions with the US, that complicates the possibility of building trust. Overall, the revolutionary nature of the Iranian regional policy is a hurdle to a successful rapprochement with its neighbors. Consequently, even if a direct diplomatic dialogue were restored between Iran and its neighbors, the future of the regional detente would depend on Tehran downplaying its call for militarism, including the possibility of the militarization of its nuclear program and the use of missiles as a diplomatic tool to deter regional and international foes.
The possibility of Iran developing propaganda activities during the pilgrimage and its apparent readiness to use the region as a military battlefield are today the main obstacles for the establishment of regional stability and a long-term detente process between Iran and its neighbors.
**Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami is the founder and president of the International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah). X: @mohalsulami