Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 24-25/2024
Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: Unveiling the Truth Behind Hezbollah's False "Liberation Day" of South Lebanon on May 25, 2000
A new visitor looms on the horizon... Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who dreams of the return of the Ottoman Empire./Abu Arz- Étienne Sakr/May 24, 2024
Israel has 'surprising plans' for Lebanon, Netanyahu says
Israeli drone strikes car in Tyre's Hanaouay
Israeli Raid in Mays el Jabal Kills Two Hezbollah Fighters
Nasrallah: ‘We Hold the Element of Surprise’
Nasrallah mocks Netanyahu's 'surprises' threat, says Hezbollah well-prepared
Hezbollah barrages deal heavy damage in northern Israel
Sayyed Nasrallah Ridicules ‘Israel’: You Have to Wait for Surprises!
Berri Reiterates “Commitment” to UN Resolution 1701
Tripoli’s Official Consecration as Arab Capital of Culture
Lebanon to Present Refugee Management Proposal at Brussels Conference
Civil Defense Warns: Keep Away from Beaches this Weekend
Israel moves Jewish festival over Hezbollah threat
Lebanon ‘open to any effort to curb Israeli aggression,’ says Berri
Berri says Lebanon committed to 1701, decries 'over 30,000' Israeli violations
Bassil criticizes Hezbollah as ties hang by 'fine thread'
Jumblat urges new president and 'foreign assistance'
'Afraid to walk the streets': Syria refugees face Lebanon expulsion
US ambassador hosts reception for US embassy exchange alumni in Lebanon
Axis of Resistance Officials Assemble in Tehran, Deliver Message of Unity against ‘Israel’
Imam Khamenei Receives Speaker Berri, Hails Lebanon Role in Resistance
Hezbollah and the Liberation of South Lebanon/Colonel Charbel Barakat – April 30/ 2022

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 24-25/2024
Pope Francis is gearing up for the first millennial saint, a web developer known as 'God's influencer'
Egyptian Blockade of Aid to Gaza Earns Rebuke from U.S.
UN court orders Israel to halt Rafah offensive in Gaza
Israel's Netanyahu to address U.S. Congress soon, Johnson says
French president Macron meets with Arab delegation to discuss Gaza
EU's Borrell urges Israel 'not to intimidate,' 'threaten,' ICC judges
U.S., European powers divided over confronting Iran at IAEA, diplomats say
Canada expects 'everyone' to abide by ICJ's latest Israel ruling, Trudeau says
No sign of foul play in Iran president's deadly helicopter crash, early report says
Top Russian military officials are being arrested. Why is it happening?
2,000 aid trucks stuck at Rafah border: Norwegian Refugee Council
Hungary Wants to ‘Redefine’ Its NATO Membership, Orban Says
Yemen's Houthis say they launch attacks on 3 ships including one in Mediterranean
French court sentences 3 Syrian officials to life in prison in absentia for war crimes

Titles For The Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 24-25/2024
Egypt’s relationship with Hamas: What does history tell us?/Seth J. Frantzman/The Jerusalem Post/May 24/2024
Lawmakers Urge Blinken to Hold Turkey to Account for Assault on U.S. Citizens/Sinan Ciddi/ Policy Brief/May 24/2024
Maximum Support ...A New Strategic Direction for U.S. Iran Policy/Behnam Ben Taleblu/Saeed Ghasseminejad/Andrew Ghalili/Cameron Khansarinia/Memo.FDD/May 24, 2024
The Secret Reason Hamas's Friends - Ireland, Norway, Spain (and Germany) - Are Helping the Palestinians/Bassam Tawil/Gatestone Institute./May 24, 2024
Egypt’s ‘Reconciliation Sessions’: How Christians Are Pressured into Embracing Second-Class Status/Raymond Ibrahim/Coptic Solidarity/May 24/2024
Question: “Are all people born good?”/GotQuestions.org/May 25/2024
Antonio Scurati, the Free Writer of the Present Century/Bélinda Ibrahim/This Is Beirut/May 24/2024

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 24-25/2024
Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: Unveiling the Truth Behind Hezbollah's False "Liberation Day" of South Lebanon on May 25, 2000
Elias Bejjani/May 25, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/75168/elias-bejjani-hezbollahs-bogus-liberation-resistance-day-3/
May 25, 2000, marked a pivotal moment in the history of South Lebanon, or so it seemed. The Israeli army withdrew, fulfilling a promise made by then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in the lead-up to the Israeli elections. However, what ensued was not a liberation but a betrayal orchestrated by a clandestine deal between Israel, Iran and Syria, leaving the Lebanese residents in South Lebanon, and their army, the South Lebanese Army (SLA), at the mercy of the Iranian terrorist armed  Jihadist proxy, Hezbollah.
Ehud Barak's election pledge, while seemingly noble in its intent, was overshadowed by the murky negotiations that preceded the Israeli Army's withdrawal, betraying its Lebanese allies. Through intermediaries from Germany, Sweden, and Jordan, a secretive deal was struck with the Syrian and Iranian dictatorial regimes, effectively handing over South Lebanon and its residents to Hezbollah's grip. This deal included dismantling the SLA and sealing off gates with Israel, leaving the residents defenceless against Hezbollah's aggression.
Contrary to Hezbollah's claims, the withdrawal did not constitute a liberation. Instead, it was a calculated move orchestrated by political treason and deception rather than genuine emancipation. Hezbollah's annual celebration of May 25th as "Liberation Day" is nothing but a charade built on lies, deception and manipulation.
The reality on the ground was far from liberation. Few day before the Israel Army withdrawal, Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, openly threatened the residents of South Lebanon loudly and openly through all media facilities, instilling fear with his chilling warnings of cutting heads and slashing throats in their beds. These criminal and terrorist threats forced many residents to flee, seeking refuge in Israel, where they remain to this day, branded as traitors and denied the right to return to their homes.
Moreover, it is crucial to acknowledge the role of Syrian occupation in Lebanon during that period. The so-called "Liberation Day", of the South Lebanon, was not a result of Hezbollah's heroic efforts, but rather a consequence of geopolitical under the table deceptive deals orchestrated by foreign powers. Syrian occupation coerced forced the alleged-false narrative of liberation without any tangible basis in reality.
As we reflect on the events of May 25, 2000, it's imperative to strip away the facade and recognize the truth behind Hezbollah's false narrative of liberation. The residents of South Lebanon deserve justice, not manipulation and coercion. It's time to shed light on the dark realities obscured by political agendas and honour the resilience of those who were unjustly abandoned to the mercy of terrorism.
Hezbollah currently occupies all of Lebanon, including its southern regions, from which it has been attacking Israel since October 8, 2003, one day after Hamas's criminal and terrorist war against Israel on October 7, 2003.
We strongly believe that the so-called "Liberation Day" of South Lebanon by the terrorist Hezbollah must be cancelled and completely wiped from Lebanese memory.
In conclusion, Hezbollah is a terrorist, criminal, and jihadist military corps entirely affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Nasrallah and the rest of the members of this group openly acknowledge this relationship. Hezbollah declared an attrition war against Israel on October 8 last year under Iranian orders. Lebanon and the Lebanese people had no decision or say in this matter. Consequently, Hezbollah is entirely responsible for the killing, destruction, and assassinations carried out by the State of Israel in retaliation.
Hezbollah occupies Lebanon and is neither Lebanese nor a liberator. It does not represent the Shiites Lebanese community in Parliament but instead holds Lebanon and the Shiites hostage, leading to the deaths of many young people. Hezbollah because of its attrition war against Israel has devastated the south Lebanon regions, displaced 100,000 residents, and caused the destruction of 70 towns and villages.
Hezbollah is a humanitarian disaster, specializing in crime and smuggling, and is more dangerous than any mafia. Therefore, there is no salvation for Lebanon until its political, military, and occupational influence is ended, and all UN Resolutions addressing Lebanon are fully implemented by force.
 
A new visitor looms on the horizon...  Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who dreams of the return of the Ottoman Empire.
Abu Arz- Étienne Sakr/May 24, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/130074/130074/
Over the past seventy years, no arbitrator or covetous person has remained in this region beset by the curse of continuous wars and conflicts. No conqueror or invader has visited our land (Holy Lebanon) to tamper with the lives and souls of the Lebanese and shed their blood in a dramatic series that has few parallels in history. This bloody series was initiated by Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1958, raising the slogan of Arab unity, then Yasser Arafat followed in 1997 of the alternative homeland, then the Syrian Assad regime in 1976, raising the slogan, “Lebanon is a Syrian province.” Then the rule of the Iranian mullahs came to us through its local representative, raising the slogan, “Liberation of Jerusalem.” And it continues to this day to wreak havoc, killing and destroying throughout the country.
Whoever today monitors the course of events on the ground in Lebanon notices that the recent flow of weapons from Turkey to some of our regions is not innocent. In this context, the Turkish arms truck that was seized a few days ago in Batroun City is neither the first nor the last, and apparently the port of Tripoli City has its doors open to Turkish ships. All of this indicates that there is a new potential conqueror who has begun to prepare himself to visit-invade our country after the departure of the mullahs’ rule.
If we take into account the principle of causality, meaning that there is a reason behind every event, we find that the series of infernal invasions that struck Lebanon seventy years ago and continues to this day has its primary cause in the loose land policy pursued by the ruling class from the era of independence until the present time. This criminal class was distracted by the struggle over authority, power, spoils and plundering the people’s money without paying attention to fortifying the country and strengthening its internal immunity in the face of the ambitions of foreign countries, especially in this constantly turbulent region.
As for the Turkish, Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who dreams of the return of the Ottoman Empire, we advise him to consider those who came before him and not undertake this absurd adventure, thus saving us and himself a lot of blood and tears.
Long Live Lebanon,
Abu Arz-Étienne Sakr
(Free Translation by: Elias Bejjani)

Israel has 'surprising plans' for Lebanon, Netanyahu says
Naharnet/Agence France Presse/May 24, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel has "surprising plans" for Lebanon. "We have eliminated hundreds of Hezbollah operatives, and the hand is still bent, even today," Netanyahu said Thursday. "We have detailed, important, even surprising plans," he added, without elaborating. An Israeli drone strike had killed Thursday a Hezbollah fighter in his car in Nabatiyeh. The attack was the latest in months of violence that has upended lives on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel frontier as the Israel-Hamas war has raged in Gaza. Lebanon's Hezbollah, an ally of Palestinian militant group Hamas, has traded near daily cross-border fire with Israel since the October 7 attack on southern Israel. In the more than seven months since then, at least 429 people have been killed in Lebanon, mostly militants but also including 82 civilians, according to an AFP tally. Israel says 14 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed on its side of the border. Despite the fatalities, both sides have so far calibrated the intensity and range of their strikes in efforts to avoid an all-out war between the two countries.

Israeli drone strikes car in Tyre's Hanaouay
Agence France Presse/May 24, 2024
An Israeli drone struck Friday a parked car deep into south Lebanon in the village of Hanaouay in the Tyre District, north-west of Qana. Hezbollah later announced targeting the surveillance equipment at the Israeli post of Bayyad Blida with the "appropriate weapons," saying it managed to destroy the devices. Israeli warplanes meanwhile raided the center of the southern border town of Mays al-Jabal. Hezbollah had targeted overnight an Israeli military post facing Yaroun, while Israeli artillery shelled the outskirts of Alma al-Shaab and Ramia. Reconnaissance planes meanwhile fired flare bombs along the border. Lebanon's Hezbollah, an ally of Palestinian militant group Hamas, has traded near daily cross-border fire with Israel since the October 7 attack on southern Israel. In the more than seven months since then, at least 429 people have been killed in Lebanon, mostly militants but also including 82 civilians, according to an AFP tally. Israel says 14 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed on its side of the border. Despite the fatalities, both sides have so far calibrated the intensity and range of their strikes in efforts to avoid an all-out war between the two countries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel has "surprising plans" for Lebanon, hours after an Israeli drone strike killed a Hezbollah fighter in his car in Nabatiyeh. "We have eliminated hundreds of Hezbollah operatives, and the hand is still bent, even today," Netanyahu said Thursday. "We have detailed, important, even surprising plans," he added, without elaborating.

Israeli Raid in Mays el Jabal Kills Two Hezbollah Fighters
This Is Beirut/May 24/2024
Following a relatively quiet morning, Israel resumed its raids on Lebanese villages, which it has been targeting since the opening of the southern front on October 8, 2020. A strike against the center of Mays el-Jabal killed two Hezbollah members, Hassan Adel Chaabi and Husein Nabil Mawla, and wounded an unknown number. Hezbollah responded to the deadly raid by bombing “Israeli spy facilities in Blida,” according to a statement. Earlier in the day, the Israeli army carried out an attack on the village of Hanaway, in the Tyre district, without causing any casualties. A vehicle caught fire and Civil Defense teams rushed to the scene to extinguish the flames. The Israeli army also fired interceptor missiles at villages in the western sector. The explosions could be heard as far away as Tyre. In the evening, the Israeli army dropped phosphorus bombs on the village of Hula, where a series of fires broke out among the dwellings. Videos from the village show extensive damage. Simultaneously, raids were carried out against the villages of Maroun el-Ras, Salhani, Yaroun, Khiam and the outskirts of Ramia.

Nasrallah: ‘We Hold the Element of Surprise’
This Is Beirut/May 24/2024
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has downplayed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s thinly veiled threats of “Israeli plans to restore security on the northern border” with Lebanon. “Netanyahu thinks he can wage psychological warfare, talking about surprises he’s planning, to show that he’s strong on this level. To which I respond: He should expect surprises from us,” Nasrallah mocked on Friday, during a speech dedicated to Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. “I’m not exaggerating, and I’d like to tell the Israeli government that we’ve studied all the hypotheses and scenarios you could resort to,” continued Nasrallah, pointing out that “Israeli tricks and [American] pressure will not bend the resistance.”on Thursday, Netanyahu announced that his government “detailed important, even surprising plans” for restoring security in this sector. “But I don’t share them with our enemy,” he added, referring to Hezbollah. In the same vein, Nasrallah stressed that the opening of the southern front on October 8, 2023, “had two objectives: to establish a front of support for Hamas and to prevent an anticipated Israeli military operation against Lebanon.” “I read the Israeli press well, and they had ruled out a Hezbollah intervention in the war unleashed by Tel Aviv against Hamas and Gaza, citing a difficult situation for Hezbollah and Lebanon, but we proved them wrong,” he enthused, noting that once “engaged in this war, we had to think about the gains to be reaped for the benefit of national security.”He insisted that “since October 7, the resistance has held the element of surprise in the war with Israel.” “We’re past the stage of threats. You must expect new surprises from us,” Nasrallah told Netanyahu. As in every one of his speeches since October 8, he didn’t mention the massive destruction in south Lebanon or the Lebanese deaths caused by a war that has nothing to do with Lebanon, but serves the agenda of its Iranian sponsor. Nasrallah briefly mentioned that his remarks about the significance of the southern front “are not well-received by many Lebanese.” However, he failed to acknowledge a crucial point: many Lebanese oppose his actions and policies, both internally and across borders.

Nasrallah mocks Netanyahu's 'surprises' threat, says Hezbollah well-prepared
Naharnet/May 24, 2024
Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday hit back at the threats that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched on Thursday. “Netanyahu thinks that he is good with psychological warfare,” Nasrallah said sarcastically during a speech commemorating late Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi and his companions, who were killed Sunday in a helicopter crash. “It was Gaza that surprised you on October 7 ... and the resistance in Lebanon surprised you on October 8,” Nasrallah added, addressing Netanyahu. “You should await the surprises from our resistance,” Nasrallah went on to say, after Netanyahu said that Israel has “surprising” plans for the Lebanese front. “We have studied all the hypotheses and scenarios that the (Israeli) occupation might resort to on our front,” Hezbollah’s leader added, stressing that Hezbollah will continue its attacks on Israel in support of Gaza. Nasrallah also noted that one of the goals behind activating the southern front on October 8 was to “prevent any preemptive operation against Lebanon.” “We hope the war will stop, but if Netanyahu insists on war, he will be taking his entity into disaster,” Nasrallah added, referring to the broader war in the region. “If Netanyahu continues in this manner, he is going into the abyss,” Nasrallah warned, pointing out that “so far, Israel has not achieved any of its objectives.” “To all the enemies who are waiting for Iran to weaken, retreat and give up Palestine and the resistance I say that they are living illusions and fantasies,” Nasrallah said, in connection with the death of the Iranian president.

Hezbollah barrages deal heavy damage in northern Israel
Agence France Presse/May 24, 2024
A momentary shriek presages a bone-juddering blast, followed by a plume of thick black smoke. Refrigerator-sized holes mark where Hezbollah anti-tank missiles like this one have hit along Israel's northern border. Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily cross-border fire with the Israeli army since Hamas' unprecedented October 7 attack triggered war in Gaza. The Iran-backed group has launched thousands of rockets, mortar rounds, anti-tank missiles and attack drones at northern Israel. The exchanges of fire have killed at least 11 civilians and 14 soldiers in Israel, according to the army. At least 429 people have been killed in Lebanon, mostly militants but also including at least 82 civilians, according to an AFP tally.
Assessing the damage -
The barrages have dealt a heavy blow to Israeli towns and villages near the border which have been evacuated for more than six months. They have also served as a warning of the far greater destruction that would be wrought by a full-blown war. The Israeli defense ministry body responsible for rebuilding northern communities said it had received 930 reports of damage -- around a third of them categorized as moderate to critical -- the vast majority of it inflicted on residential buildings. Hundreds more cases remain unassessed in towns like Arab al-Aramsheh, Menara and Metula because it is considered too hazardous for inspectors to enter. The report did not cite an estimated cost, but a senior defense official who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity said reconstruction in the hardest hit locations could take months to a year. In Kibbutz Menara, around 30 percent of buildings have suffered substantial damage, the official said. At least 26 percent of the reported damage was caused by Israeli troops who have entrenched themselves in evacuated towns and villages along the 120-kilometer (75-mile) border, according to the Northern Horizon Directorate report. The Israeli military said it "regrets any damage to the residents' property" and is working to minimize damage as much as possible.
- 'It’s my land' -
The most vulnerable communities were evacuated immediately after the outbreak of hostilities, displacing some 60,000 civilians. Access to them is restricted by the Israeli military. But AFP reporters managed to visit Shtula, a village of 300 people sitting on the border that has 44 recorded cases of moderate to critical damage. Although her neighbor's house suffered a direct hit, and missiles pounded several other nearby buildings facing Lebanon, Ora Hatan, 60, is one of the few residents who has stayed on. "An anti-tank missile flew over the chicken coop and right into the house," said Hatan, pointing at a neighbor's property. "A direct hit. Fortunately, no one was home."Even after more than seven months of intense bombardment, Hatan won't leave. "It's my house. It's my land. It's my country. Where would I go? Why should I go?" she told AFP on her balcony overlooking the Lebanese village of Raymeh two kilometers (little more than a mile) away.
'Find a solution'
As the war grinds on, and Hezbollah attacks show no sign of relenting, northern residents have grown weary of what many see as talk and little action. For months, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has said Israel will restore security -- diplomatically or militarily. The two sides fought a devastating war in 2006. Israel's Channel 13 reported that National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi told lawmakers Wednesday that "the cabinet hasn't defined any clear objective concerning the north -- not dates, not targets, not strategic aims." A poll published Thursday by Israel's public broadcaster showed that 46 percent of respondents backed military action in Lebanon, while 29 percent opposed. On Thursday, a few hundred activists set up a protest camp to demand urgent action to restore security and allow displaced residents to return to their homes in the north. One of the organizers, Nisan Zeevi, lives in kibbutz Kfar Giladi and serves on its emergency response team. Across the valley from his home, a fortified tower seven stories high looms over the kibbutzim in the valley below that have been frequent targets of drone and missile strikes. A house in the neighboring kibbutz bears a gaping hole where a missile strike killed a woman and her son in January. Zeevi said the camp aimed "to express our protest to the Israeli government and to the world until they find a solution to the severe security situation."

Sayyed Nasrallah Ridicules ‘Israel’: You Have to Wait for Surprises!
Marwa Haidar/Al-Manar English Website/May 24/2024
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah stressed that Iran is powerful and won’t abandon the resistance groups in the region, affirming that passing of President Ebrahim Raisi and companions won’t lead to any change in the policy of the Islamic Republic. In a ceremony held in tribute to late President Raisi, FM Hossein Amir Abdollahian and other companions in Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh), Sayyed Nasrallah addressed Iran enemies, as saying: “Deluded are all those who wait for Iran to weaken or to abandon the resistance groups in the region.”
The Hezbollah leader hit back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threats, stressing that Hezbollah is the party who has the right to talk about surprises.
Sayyed Nasrallah said the Zionist entity has to wait for surprises, noting that the resistance groups in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen have been surprising the Israeli enemy since the start of the war following Op. Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023.
His eminence warned that if Netanyahu goes ahead with the war in Gaza then “he will be heading towards catastrophe and abyss.” He also mocked Israeli ministers who called for controlling south Lebanon, addressing them as wondering if the Israeli army has managed to control Gaza first. Sayyed Nasrallah noted, meanwhile, that today, in the eighth month of the war Israeli officials are admitting that the Zionist enemy is in failure. Starting his speech by talking about the occasion of the ceremony, Sayyed Nasrallah said that the incident in which helicopter of President Raisi and companions crashed “was a painful incident that led to the loss of prominent figures whom the nation will miss.”He noted that Resistance and Liberation Day celebrations was cancelled following the passing away of the Iranian leaders. His eminence reiterated condolences to Imam Mahdi (May Allah hasten his reappearance), Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, families of the martyrs and the entire Iranian nation.

Berri Reiterates “Commitment” to UN Resolution 1701
This Is Beirut/ May 24/2024
Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri has reiterated Lebanon’s “commitment” to UN Resolution 1701 in all its provisions and clauses, emphasizing that the responsibility for violating this resolution since its issuance “lies with Israel, with more than 30,000 breaches by land, sea, and air.”He stated that “Lebanon insists on its right to defend itself against Israel by all available means.”Speaking on the 24th anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from south Lebanon, Berri said that Lebanon is open to every positive cooperation with any international effort that serves curbing Israeli aggression and ambitions towards Lebanon, its resources, its entity, and its land, sea, and air borders. “Lebanon is not willing to relinquish any of its sovereign rights,” he added. Berri also emphasized the need to “intensify international and regional efforts to stop the genocide being waged by Israel on the Gaza Strip”. Regarding the overwhelming Syrian migrants’ presencec in Lebanon , he assured that Lebanon will resist any attempt by any party to impose any form of settlement, whether for Syrians or Palestinians. The Speaker of parliament called on “the international community to approach the issue of Syrian displacement from a humanitarian perspective, away from any exploitation that threatens the unity and sovereignty of Syria. He urged the Lebanese government to expedite the opening of communication channels with the Syrian government and the formation of joint committees to ensure the safe repatration of Syrian migrants. Berri reiterated his appreciation for all regional and international efforts being made, particularly the efforts of the five-nation (France, the US, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt) Quintet Committee aimed at helping Lebanon elect a president of the republic. He considered that this effort will remain “futile if we, as political forces and parliamentary blocs, do not meet halfway by resorting to dialogue, consensus, or consultation, under the ceiling of the constitution.”

Tripoli’s Official Consecration as Arab Capital of Culture
This Is Beirut/May 24/2024
The official ceremony on Friday to mark Tripoli’s selection as the Arab capital of culture in 2024 was an occasion for caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who hails from the northern city, to bemoan the persisting deadlock in the country’s institutions, starting with the presidential vacuum. “The state of paralysis that we are experiencing today is nothing but history repeating itself. We went through it previously and we’re going through it today,” Mikati said, addressing a crowd of Tripoli’s residents, and Lebanese and Arab officials. “Some of our politicians do not learn from the mistakes of the past, but rather repeat them, causing great harm to the nation and the citizens under delicate and dangerous circumstances.” The harm, he said, comes under delicate and dangerous circumstances. “Whether in terms of the living conditions resulting from the financial and economic situation, the security situation resulting from the repercussions of the Gaza war and the ongoing Israeli aggression in the South, or the burdens imposed by the Syrian refugee issue on every village, city and neighborhood in Lebanon.”“Lebanon, which embraced them (Syrian migrants), is now calling for a solution to their displacement crisis by securing their dignified and safe return to their homeland,” Mikati said. He stressed that the Lebanese delegation to the Brussels conference on Syrian refugees on May 27 “will carry this file” and expose its repercussions on Lebanon and “demands that European countries assume their direct responsibilities” in resolving the issue. Mikati also stressed “from Tripoli,” the poorest city on the Mediterranean, that “there is no place for despair in our hearts.”

Lebanon to Present Refugee Management Proposal at Brussels Conference
This Is Beirut/May 24/2024
Lebanon is set to present a comprehensive paper at the upcoming Brussels conference addressing the Syrian refugee crisis, on Monday. The aim is to repatriate displaced Syrians and preserve Lebanese identity. The document in question includes basic procedures for addressing the issue of displaced Syrians. In its proposal, Lebanon urges a shift from integration-focused approaches to those prioritizing the return of refugees to Syria or their resettlement in other countries. This stance is driven by the need to align refugee policies with national interests rather than international agendas. It also highlights the necessity for international support and coordination with Syrian authorities, acknowledging Syria’s limited capacity to absorb returning refugees quickly. Lebanon suggests leveraging positive regional developments, such as Syria’s reintegration into the Arab League, to facilitate these returns. Other proposed include comprehensive registration of all Syrians by Lebanon’s General Directorate of General Security, strict border controls, and the removal of refugee status for those frequently crossing back into Syria. Lebanon also calls for the deportation of convicted Syrians and the regulation of Syrian nationals under Lebanese residency and labor laws to prevent unfair competition with Lebanese citizens. Finally, Lebanon demands clearer commitments from UNHCR and international donors regarding continued funding, resettlement plans, and the overall management of refugees within its borders. It insists on a unified, government-led approach to handling refugee aid to ensure that interventions benefit Lebanon’s national interests. To recall, the National Campaign to Repatriate Syrian Migrants is organizing a rally outside the Palais de Justice in Brussels on Monday, May 27. The rally aims to urge the European Union to re-evaluate its stance on the Syrian migrant issue and facilitate their return to safe areas in Syria.

Civil Defense Warns: Keep Away from Beaches this Weekend
This Is Beirut/May 24/2024
The General Directorate of Civil Defense issued an urgent warning on Friday, advising all citizens, residents and tourists to stay away from the beach on Saturday. The warning highlights the danger of drowning, due to rising waves and the accelerated movement of marine currents caused by strong tidal shifts and high winds. The authorities also strongly urge fishermen, tourist boat operators and anyone engaging in jet-skiing, paragliding or other water sports, to cease all activities during these hazardous weather conditions. They also reminded people to respect the public safety instructions that they issue, and to call 125 if necessary.

Israel moves Jewish festival over Hezbollah threat
Agence France Presse/May 24, 2024
Celebrations marking a Jewish holiday this weekend have been moved after its traditional location near Lebanon was closed due to the threat of Hezbollah rocket fire, Israeli police said. Every year, tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews celebrate the holiday of Lag Baomer by visiting the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Mount Meron, in northern Israel. Preparations for this year's festivities, which come 33 days after Passover, have been completed in Sheikh Jarrah, a tense neighborhoods of annexed east Jerusalem, an Israeli police spokesperson said. Near-daily cross-border exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel have erupted in the months since the Lebanese, Iran-backed group launched hostilities on October 8, a day after the war in Gaza began following Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel. The Israeli army reported on several occasions that Hezbollah rocket fire had targeted the city of Meron, which hosts a military base on the flank of the namesake mountain. Israel's army has declared Mount Meron a "closed military zone" until Monday, May 27. Sheikh Jarrah, a contested east Jerusalem neighborhood occupied by Israel since 1967 along with the rest of the West Bank, has experienced tensions in recent years due to attempts to evict Palestinian families and replace them with Jewish families. The police spokesperson told AFP the force "will deploy thousands of officers and border guards in the city of Jerusalem to maintain security and public order." He added that "the prayers directed to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai will take place in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood on Shimon Hatzadik Street, a place sacred to religious Jews, and at a sacred site for Jews in Beit Shemesh." The Sheikh Jarrah lot where festivities installations were erected is private Palestinian land whose owner did not respond to AFP by the time of publication.
It sits just a stone's throw away from the tomb of Shimon Hatzadik, a venerated high priest who lived in Jerusalem about 2,300 years ago whose resting place religious Jews visit. In 2021, 45 people were killed in a stampede on Mount Meron during the annual pilgrimage for Lag Baomer. An Israeli investigation committee concluded in 2024 that Benjamin Netanyahu bore "personal responsibility" for the deadly stampede.

Lebanon ‘open to any effort to curb Israeli aggression,’ says Berri
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/May 24, 2024
BEIRUT: Lebanon is willing to cooperate with any international effort to stop Israeli aggression and bring security to the region, Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri said on Friday. However, in a statement marking the 24th anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, Berri warned that Lebanon “is not ready to waive any of its sovereign rights.” He also accused Israel of displaying “greed toward Lebanon, its resources, its entity, and its land, sea, and air borders.”Berri’s statement came as hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli army in the southern border region entered their 230th day. The parliamentary speaker called for intensified international and regional efforts to halt Israel’s assault in the Gaza Strip, saying this was crucial to maintain security and stability in the entire region. Hezbollah claims its actions have been in support of Gaza amid further Israeli threats to Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Thursday from the northern command headquarters “to carry out detailed, important and even surprising plans to return displaced settlers to the north.” He claimed Israel had killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters. Benny Gantz, a minister in the Israeli war Cabinet, said: “Get ready from now on for the return of the residents of the north to their houses safely in early September by force or order.”
Berri returned from Tehran after attending the funeral of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash on May 19. In his message to the Lebanese, he renewed Lebanon’s “commitment and adherence to UN Resolution 1701, and all its terms and stipulations.” The resolution calls for an end to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon to be replaced by Lebanese and UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon, and the disarmament of armed groups including Hezbollah. Berri accused Israel of ignoring the resolution “since the moment it was issued, with over 30,000 land, sea and air violations.”Lebanon “upholds its right to defend its land with all the available means in the face of Israeli hostilities,” he said. He called for the liberation of “the remaining occupied territory in the Kfarchouba Hills, the occupied Shebaa Farms, the northern part of the GHajjar village, and the contested border points with occupied Palestine all the way to the B1 point in Ras Al-Naqoura.” Caretaker Minister of Defense Maurice Slim said that Lebanon preferred peace to war. However, “defending the land was and will be the Lebanese state’s choice through the resilience of its army and people, especially the steadfast ones who are still residing in their villages and towns to repel the aggression,” he said. Israeli warplanes on Thursday struck the town of Maroun Al-Ras in the Bint Jbeil district. Sirens sounded in Israeli settlements opposite the border with Lebanon amid fears of possible drone attacks. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Friday that Hezbollah’s drones caused significant damage in the northern towns and resulted in several fatalities. Another newspaper, Israel Hayom, said that Hezbollah’s drones are “one of the biggest threats facing Israel in the northern arena.” The newspaper said that Hezbollah leader Mohammed Hassan Fares, who was killed by an Israeli drone strike last week in Qana, was a scientist who specialized in robotics and machine learning.

Berri says Lebanon committed to 1701, decries 'over 30,000' Israeli violations
Naharnet/May 24, 2024
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Friday marked Lebanon’s Liberation and Resistance Day by calling for “preserving and defending” the country during the current period. “The entire region, including Lebanon, is witnessing a genocidal war” by Israel, Berri said in a “message to the Lebanese.” “We renew our commitment and adherence to U.N. resolution 1701 and all its terms and stipulations,” Berri added, noting that Israel has committed “over 30,000 violations” of the aforementioned resolution. The Speaker added that Lebanon is “keen on its right to defend its land with all the available means in the face of the Israeli hostility,” calling for the liberation of “the remaining occupied territory in the Kfarshouba Hills, the Shebaa Farms, the northern part of the Ghajar village, and the contested border points with occupied Palestine all the way to the B1 point in Ras al-Naqoura.”“Lebanon is open to positive cooperation with any international effort aimed at reining in Israel’s hostility and its ambitions towards Lebanon and its resources,” Berri went on to say. The country is “unwilling to give up any of its sovereign rights,” he underlined. He also vowed that Lebanon “will resist any attempt from any side to impose any form of naturalization, whether for the displaced Syrians or the Palestinian refugees.”

Bassil criticizes Hezbollah as ties hang by 'fine thread'
Naharnet/May 24, 2024
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has criticized anew old FPM ally Hezbollah for opening a war on the southern border with Israel. Bassil told Kuwaiti newspaper al-Rai that Lebanon has enough problems, from a refugee crisis to an economic collapse and a presidential void. "I don't see that these clashes have done any good to Lebanon," Bassil said. "If others accept this war as a fait accompli, we will not accept it." Bassil wondered if this costly war would return the Israeli occupied Shebaa Farms to Lebanon, the Palestinian refugees to their land, or the Syrian refugees to Syria. "If it did or if it secured oil investments, I wouldn't have any problem." "The problem is that Lebanon alone, of course in addition to Palestine, is bearing this hefty cost, with no benefits in return," he added. Bassil blamed Hezbollah for opening fire without consulting with other Lebanese forces, and called for keeping Lebanon away from the region's problems, but said that he would nevertheless live with Hezbollah and share with the group the same land, tragedies and achievements. "I do not want Hezbollah to lose this war," he said. The FPM chief also criticized Hezbollah and Amal for trying to impose a candidate on Christians who does not represent them. "We support holding consultations, and we are in fact in constant communication with all parties, sometimes away from the spotlight and other times publicly," he said. "We are in consultation with everyone."Bassil said that the FPM-Hezbollah understanding is hanging by "a fine thread". "It doesn't mean it is fragile but the points of agreements are that little," he explained. "When it comes to protecting Lebanon, the relation with Hezbollah is very strong," he said. On a separate note, Bassil said he does not support opening the seas for migrant boats to reach Europe, an idea floated by Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, amid soaring anti-Syrian sentiment and accusations the West is seeking to keep refugees in Lebanon. The European Union had announced earlier this month $1 billion in aid to Lebanon to help tackle irregular migration, as Cyprus, the EU's easternmost member, wants to curb migrant boat departures from Lebanon towards its shores.
"If you want to close the sea, you should also close the land," he said.

Jumblat urges new president and 'foreign assistance'
Naharnet/May 24, 2024
Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has expressed his concern over the possible impact of the regional developments on Lebanon, calling for “consensus and dialogue among the Lebanese to exit the crisis of the presidential vacuum.”“A domestic settlement among the Lebanese parties is what’s essential,” Jumblat, who visited Doha this week, told Qatar’s al-Sharq newspaper. “Some in Lebanon must come out of the cocoon they have trapped themselves in, as if history has stopped for them, knowing that things are rapidly developing and the threats surrounding Lebanon are very big, that’s why I have always called for an internal settlement,” Jumblat added. He however noted that “foreign assistance” is needed to help the Lebanese overcome their political crisis. Asked whether he believes that there will be an imminent presidential vote, Jumblat said: “I don’t foresee this date and I think that the war will be lengthy and will at least last until the U.S. elections and maybe beyond.”He accordingly called on the Lebanese parties to “agree that the war will be long” and to resort to a “periodic solution” by electing a new president.

'Afraid to walk the streets': Syria refugees face Lebanon expulsion
Agence France Presse/May 24, 2024
For weeks, refugee Maryam Janhat has been living in fear of deportation as Lebanon cracks down on Syrians, with politicians ramping up calls for them to be forced home. Refugees from Lebanon's war-torn neighbor face a dilemma: should they stay and contend with stricter measures and growing anti-Syrian sentiment, or should they return home and risk poverty and repression? Standing at her husband's vegetable stall by the side of the road outside the village of Minyara in Lebanon's impoverished north, Janhat, 38, said she lives in a state of constant worry. "I am scared when (my husband and children) come to work at the stall. I am afraid they could take my son at any moment... we are afraid to walk the streets," she said. Syrians make up about half of Minyara's 8,000 residents, the municipality says, with most living in tent camps adjacent to vast agricultural fields. Janhat, who took refuge in the village a decade ago after fleeing violence in the central Syrian province of Homs, feels lucky to be living in a house rather than a flimsy tent. But she and her family have been unable to renew their residency in Lebanon, and they fear being deported to Syria where she says they have "no house, no work, and no security." A few steps away, 70-year-old Ibrahim Mansour is offloading crates of fruit and vegetables from his van to sell. Syrians "have stalls everywhere, competing with us in every sector," he said."When they leave, the situation will improve a lot."
'Open the seas' -
Many Lebanese, including politicians, have long pushed for Syrians who have fled 13 years of civil war at home to return, blaming them for exacerbating Lebanon's woes, including a crushing economic crisis that began in late 2019. Lebanon says it currently hosts around two million people from Syria -- the world's highest number of refugees per capita -- with almost 785,000 registered with the United Nations. In recent months, politicians have ramped up anti-Syrian rhetoric, with Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah urging Lebanese authorities to open the seas for migrant boats to reach Europe to pressure for more Western aid. Earlier this month, the European Union announced $1 billion in aid to Lebanon to help tackle illegal migration, mostly of Syrians to nearby Cyprus, the bloc's easternmost member. Lebanon has long heavily relied on Syrians for manual labor, especially in agriculture and construction.
Minyara mayor Antoun Abboud said Syrians were needed in the workforce but that his village cannot accommodate large numbers of refugees or provide them with basic services. "We are not telling them to leave. We just want to reduce... and organize Syrian presence" in Lebanon, he said.
'Can't sleep at night'
Lebanese security forces have intensified a crackdown on Syrians without residency permits, shutting down their businesses and forcing them to evacuate their homes. "Hate campaigns, legal restrictions, and unprecedented measures to make it difficult to obtain residency" are on the rise, said Sahar Mandour, Amnesty International's Lebanon researcher. This means most Syrians find themselves without legal residency, she said, adding that "voluntary returns are impossible in these conditions."In one of the informal camps near the village, children play in the dirt, while men sit idle, too frightened to leave. "Everyone is scared," said herder Hajem, 37, who declined giving his last name for security concerns. "Syrians cannot move anymore. Even laborers in the fields are skipping work," he said, shearing his sheep near the camp, while women around him collected the wool. He fled to Lebanon illegally eight years ago, at the height of Syria's war, and cannot return because he says he is wanted by Damascus. He said he has been too scared to venture outside for work since security forces began to clamp down more forcefully on Syrians. "I can't sleep at night because the army or security forces could deport us at any moment," he said. His elderly father is also filled with worry. "If we leave, we will die of hunger. There are no opportunities in our country," he said. "It would be better to throw oneself into the sea."

US ambassador hosts reception for US embassy exchange alumni in Lebanon
Naharnet/May 24, 2024
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson hosted a reception on May 23 to celebrate the "strong ties" between the U.S. Embassy and the hundreds of Lebanese who have participated in U.S. Government-sponsored international exchange programs in the United States, the embassy said. Johnson expressed her admiration for the "remarkable achievements" of U.S. exchange alumni, emphasizing the importance the United States places on the "bridges of friendship and understanding" that alumni continue to build between the United States and Lebanon. The event featured a musical performance by American Music Abroad (AMA) alumnus Nareg Vassilian. U.S. Exchange alumni come from fields and areas of expertise including academia, politics, business, the media, community leadership, and social and environmental activism. The U.S. exchange alumni network in Lebanon has 16,000 members who have participated in U.S. government-funded exchange, educational, and cultural programs. "The U.S. Embassy's Public Diplomacy Section actively engages with this dynamic community through thematic discussions, roundtables, and celebratory events," the embassy said in a statement. To find out more about exchange opportunities please go to
https://lb.usembassy.gov/education/

Axis of Resistance Officials Assemble in Tehran, Deliver Message of Unity against ‘Israel’
Iranian media/May 24, 2024
Senior officials representing movements of the Axis of Resistance held a meeting in Tehran, delivering a message of unity against the Zionist entity as the Israeli aggression on Gaza entered its eighth month. A number of officials representing the resistance groups assembled in Tehran on Wednesday on the sidelines of a formal ceremony held to pay tribute to late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions, who died in a helicopter crash last Sunday (May 19). The officials representing the resistance movements grouped Hezbollah Deputy Chief Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh, Islamic Jihad Deputy Chief Mohammad Al-Hindi, Spokesman for Yemen’s Ansarullah revolutionary movement Mohammad Abdulsalam. The senior officials met with IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami and Commander of the IRGC Quds Force Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, Iranian media reported. The meeting revolved around the latest political, social and military developments in Gaza, Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, and the role of the resistance front in the region, according to Tasnim News Agency. The representatives of resistance groups emphasized at the meeting the need to continue the fight and struggle until the Palestinian resistance’s complete and ultimate victory in the Gaza Strip with the participation of all resistance movements and fronts across the region, Tasnim added.

Imam Khamenei Receives Speaker Berri, Hails Lebanon Role in Resistance
Iranian media/May 24, 2024
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei received Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri, as he hailed the role Lebanon’s involvement in the recent events in Palestine and Gaza. In a meeting with Berri on Wednesday, Imam Khamenei expressed his gratitude for the Lebanese government and nation’s condolences over the passing away of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi along with FM Hossein Amir Abdollahian and other officials in a recent helicopter crash. “The declaration of public mourning in Lebanon highlights the perfect companionship between the two countries. We view our relationship with our Lebanese brothers and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as one of kinship and brotherhood,” the Leader remarked, as reported by the official website of the Leader, Khamenei.ir. Describing the recent incident as a loss of a prominent figure, Imam Khamenei said: “This incident is difficult for us, but by the grace of God, the Iranian nation will use such bitter events as opportunities, just as it has turned challenging incidents into opportunities in previous years.”Speaker Berri, for his part, expressed the sadness and deep sorrow of both the Lebanese people and government regarding the recent incident. “We consider the wounds and injuries of our Iranian brothers as our own, and it was our duty to be present in Tehran as representatives of the government and people of Lebanon,” he said. On the other hand, Imam Khamenei lauded the massive turnout in the funeral procession of the late president and his entourage. “Praise God, our nation is determined and awakened. Our faith in the Almighty God is strong, and our reliance on Him is immense. God willing, the Iranian nation will benefit and make use of this incident.”Imam Khamenei also expressed his satisfaction with the existing solidarity between the Resistance groups in Lebanon, affirming Speaker Berri’s remarks regarding the “existential battle” in the region. “Lebanon’s involvement in the recent issues of Palestine and Gaza has had a profound impact. If such measures had not been undertaken, the greatest damage would definitely have been inflicted on Lebanon itself,” the Leader added.

An Important historical study by Colonel Charbel Barakat confirms with details and facts that Hezbollah did not liberate south Lebanon, and explains the fact that Israel withdrew from it in 2000 for mere internal reasons, in full agreement with the Iranians, and with an American blessing.
Hezbollah and the Liberation of South Lebanon
Colonel Charbel Barakat – April 30/ 2022
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/108382/%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d8%ba%d8%aa%d9%8a%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a5%d9%86%d9%83%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%b2%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%af%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%a9-%d8%aa/
It has been 22 years since the withdrawal of Israel from the border region. Then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak, a proponent of the view of leaving Lebanon and its problems in 1982, took the decision of a quick withdrawal. This idea was proposed at the time by senior Israeli officers to their command after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) successfully fulfilled their mission in “Operation Peace in Galilee” in which they uprooted Yasser Arafat and his organization from Lebanon and sent them off first to Yemen, then to Tunisia. Since that time, General Barak has held on to his view of Israel withdrawing from what he called the “Lebanese swamp” and leaving Lebanon to flounder in its own problems.
In 1999, Barak decided to run for the Knesset as a candidate of the Labor Party, which he headed, on the basis of a program that boiled down to withdrawing from Lebanon before June 2000, should he succeed in the elections. His victory in those elections triggered a countdown for the Israeli Army withdrawal, in a fulfillment of the promise made by now Prime Minister-elect Barak. Subsequently, and with an agreement with the Americans to ensure a smooth withdrawal of the IDF from Lebanon without major incidents. Meanwhile, the Syrian occupation forces were on keeping the Israelis in Lebanon to ward off any demands by the Lebanese for a Syrian army withdrawal, and so Damascus was maneuvering to convince everyone that Israel will not withdraw, and that Barak was merely sloganeering in an election campaign.
In practice, the Israelis were seeking an agreement with the Iranians in which South Lebanon would be handed over to the pro-Iranian Hezbollah group on condition of controlling the border and interdicting any military operations across that border. Several contacts and meetings were held through Swedish and German emissaries, a demarche that was amply covered by international news outlets, and Der Spiegel was not the only one to do so. The Americans were, as far as is known, aware of all the details of these negotiations, and of course the Syrians as well. Yet, the Lebanese government was not allowed to participate in any of these negotiations or to even express an opinion on what was going on, just as was the case when the “April Understanding” was reached in the aftermath of the 1996 “Operation Grapes of Wrath”, even though the matter concerned Lebanese territories and the fate of Lebanese citizens. As a result, the Lebanese State and its institutions, including the Army, were excluded from any effective participation in the matter, as if the operation was to be carried out in some remote place in the middle of nowhere.
In the border zone, several intelligence operations were conducted to strike the infrastructure of the South Lebanon Army (SLA), in an attempt to present it as weak before Israeli and international public opinions. The movement led by Riyad Abdallah, a follower of the Amal Movement from Khiam village, might have taken the form of a coup, though it was not supported by SLA troops or the ordinary citizens of the border strip. This prompted the Director of the Lebanon Bureau Uri Lubrani and the Deputy Defense Minister General Sneh to pay a visit to Major General Lahad and together contain this rebellion. At the same time, however, assassination attempts were initiated against security officials operating in the area, which climaxed with the killing of the Western District Commander, Colonel Akel Hashem, who also headed the Intelligence Service. The objective was to weaken the morale of the people of the area, and perhaps also to silence those who may disclose the names of people meeting with the Israelis. Some of the targeted individuals were slated to take up important posts in the armed organization at a later time. This was followed by an increased recruitment of informers working for Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army, some of whom had previously worked for the Israelis, in order to protect them and improve their image. The Lebanese Army at the time pretended to be blind to the unfolding events, ever since the Lebanese South was handed over to Hezbollah to be the sole “Resistance”.
The Lebanese citizens of the border strip and members of the SLA were aware of what was being prepared, and everyone knew of the Israeli government’s intention to withdraw. However, the discussions were about an agreement in which the United Nations forces would assume responsibility for security in the area, and SLA members would be incorporated into the Lebanese government troops who be entering the area under UN command. That agreement also stipulated the resolution of all pending issues, including a clean slate to erase the residues of the conflict between Hezbollah and the SLA and reconcile the Lebanese residents separated by the conflict, leading to stability under the umbrella of the UN and the Lebanese State. All of this was included in a memorandum drafted by representatives of the civilian committees of the border strip and submitted to the French and British ambassadors and to an attaché at the US Embassy in Tel Aviv. The UN representative, Mr. Larsen, did not have the courage to receive a copy of the memorandum when he visited the area, although a copy was delivered to the UN Command in Naqoura, while a second copy was directly forwarded to the relevant UN authorities in New York.
But the Iranians were not interested in such a solution because it would deprive them of control on the ground and of their claims of victory. The Iranians pledged to the Israelis that not a single shot would be fired across the border if Hezbollah were to control security in the area. But if the Lebanese Army were to enter the area, followed by the Lebanese State’s official institutions, the Iranians could not assume any responsibility for the transgressions that might ensue. The US ambassador to Lebanon, David Satterfield, agreed to the plan as it offered the fastest solution to reducing tensions and stop the attacks.
As for the Lebanese side, the Taef Agreement had granted Syria complete control on the ground. President Assad had secured his grip on security in Lebanon, and therefore on the Lebanese government as well. He believed that keeping Hezbollah in south Lebanon served his interests, because Hezbollah was an integral part of his Iranian ally’s forces and gave Iran space to persevere despite its defeat in its war with Iraq. Iraq’s victory gave President Saddam Hussein a surplus of force that drove him to invade Kuwait and face an international coalition to liberate it, a coalition that included Syria. Details were being worked out on an agreement over border issues between Israel and Lebanon, using the officially recognized Lebanese and Israeli maps of the 1948 Truce Agreement to delineate the Blue Line under the auspices of the UN forces. The Lebanese State consented to the full implementation of UNSCR 425 as soon as Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory, on the basis of the Blue Line as the border between the two countries.
In the Border Strip, Major General Lahad had instructed his staff that the agreement included ceasing hostilities, coordinating the entry of the UN forces following the Israeli withdrawal, overseeing the heavy weapons, and integrating SLA members who wished to continue to serve into the State security institutions. In exchange, Hezbollah was to surrender its weapons to the Lebanese government, as had previously happened with the other militias after the Taef Agreement.
But the Iranian expansionist plan for the Middle East was still in its early phases, especially after the downsizing of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. As a result, these Iranian plans increasingly relied on creating local Shiite armed organizations that were brainwashed to blindly follow the directives of the Iranian theocracy and implement its expansionist projects. To appear as a victor that vanquished Israel was a very critical narrative in Iran’s future outlook for the region, something that Ehud Barak did not understand. He committed himself to a specific timetable for withdrawing from South Lebanon, which made him lose the prime minister ship less than a year later, and ushering Israel into many years of a cycle of violence inspired by the” success” of the radical “terrorist” movement in Lebanon, and a failure of all understandings to bring stability.
Hence, the Iranian attempts to score mediatic points victories on the ground, with Hassan Nasrallah volunteering to issue brazen and depraved threats to enter into the bedrooms of the southern Lebanese residents and kill them in their sleep. Afterwards, no sooner had the Israelis withdrawn from the Bayyada site overlooking the sea, Hezbollah tried to seize the SLA position at Hamra Bridge, but it was ambushed by the SLA and lost more than 15 of its members whose bodies were left by the roadside near the Hamra crossing until the full Israeli withdrawal, not to mention the wounded, and despite the participation of the Lebanese Army artillery in the attack. Following that debacle, Hezbollah did not dare to use its own forces, and instead pushed waves of civilians into entering the area through the Shoumariyeh – Deir Seryan crossing point.
Meanwhile, the Israelis had convinced Major General Lahad to visit his family in France before the scheduled withdrawal, so that he could be present and supervise the implementation of the agreed-upon provisions pertaining to the SLA. But Ehud Barak, seemingly fearing an unravelling of the agreement with the Iranians, took the decision to withdraw precipitously one month before schedule, in the absence of the SLA Commander, and without a clear plan or instructions for the rank and file. The people of the southern border strip were left confounded, with nor orders to fight or coordinate the withdrawal. In the absence of the Israelis and General Lahad, it seemed that there was an agreement to hand over the area to Hezbollah. Having no interest in fighting the Lebanese State or the UN, some of them preferred to enter Israel to avoid a gratuitous bloodshed, as the Israeli “ally” had left and the Lebanese government or the UN forces were not allowed to negotiate with the Israelis. There seemed to be a will to transform the war in the south into a war between the Lebanese owners of the land on one hand, and the Iranian Hezbollah on the other, under the watch of the Lebanese government and the UN. The people of the south could not comprehend these events, for they had defended their homes and coordinated this defense with the Israelis, pending a return of the Lebanese government to assume its responsibilities. Their objective was to prevent a cross-border war and not engage in a war against their own people, even though their Lebanese opponents were under orders of a foreign country.
The SLA was capable of resisting and controlling the area, and compelling others to coordinate and negotiate with it over future arrangements. But the absence of General Lahad – some say he was sent away or excluded himself on purpose in order to implement the agreement signed in Sweden between the Iranians and the Israelis, which stipulated that Hezbollah will supplant the SLA in protecting the border and preventing any attacks across it – and Barak’s hurried withdrawal, with the blessing of Satterfield, had undermined any attempt at a successful normal process that would have rehabilitated the Truce Accords, the deployment of the Lebanese Army with the assistance of the SLA and the UN along the entire border, the surrender by Hezbollah of its weapons to the government, and the integration of willing Hezbollah and SLA fighters into the Lebanese Army.
But the insistence on such a hasty withdrawal will remain a shameful scar on Barak’s character and career inside Israel. Many believe that his political leadership has betrayed the people of the border strip and walked away from the sacrifices made for the sake of peace across the border. As a result, it was the principal driver for all the terrorist attacks that were to later occur inside Israel, which were a direct result of the apparent victory of Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
Today, 22 years after the Israeli withdrawal, we can understand that Barak’s haste in making the decision, his disrespect and lack of protection of his southern ally and eliminating the SLA’s role as an element of balance in the Lebanese equation, was a “misstep” that contributed greatly to boost Hezbollah and assist the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in presenting themselves as victorious. It also led to the 2006 War that cost both Lebanon and Israel much pain. Thus, and even if it sowed the seeds for dismantling the Lebanese State (Israel’s enemies actually say that dismantling the Lebanese entity was one of Israel’s undeclared goals), it lessened the halo that surrounded it, all the while leading without war to undermining the organized armies of neighboring Arab countries that have no peace treaty with Israel. Indeed, it favored the ongoing rapprochement between Israel and the Gulf Arabs who fear Iranian domination, and whose mixed sectarian demographics were exploited by the Iranians to sow terror in their prosperous societies and jeopardize their stability as a prelude to controlling their resources and capabilities, using organizations like Hezbollah to carry out their dirty deeds.
As for the internal Lebanese situation, the Syrian occupation had tamed the forces opposed to it after the defeat of General Aoun and the entry of the Syrians into the Defense Ministry and the Presidential Palace in Baabda. The Syrian regime had imposed the Taef Agreement that legitimized its occupation of the entire country, followed by the defeat of the Lebanese Forces, their dissolution and the imprisonment of their leader Samir Geagea, the takeover of the Kataeb Party and the exclusion of President Gemayel from the political scene, the killing of Danny Chamoun and his family in a murder operation reminiscent of the assassination of Tony Frangiyeh and his family, leaving Syria’s fingerprints in all of this, even in the assassination of Prime Minister Rachid Karameh. The Syrians now controlled the “pacified” country, with their tight grip on both its political and economic life.
Everyone was led to concede that Hezbollah, backed by Syria and its Iranian ally, had liberated the Lebanese south and saved Lebanon from the Israeli “enemy”. None of the active political actors at the time realized that inflating the role of Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards will eventually turn against Lebanon and prevent it from recovering its sovereignty and will wipe out the hopes of the Lebanese for an end to wars and for a closure of the open wound in the South that had brought much destruction to them and their children.
Everyone applauded the withdrawal of the Israelis from all Lebanese territory, but no one inquired about those brave SLA soldiers who had protected the South with their bodies and prevented the establishment of Israeli colonies in it, as had happened in the Golan, the Sinai, the West Bank and Gaza. It was them who protected people’s rights and properties, as well as the diversity of their communities, and even their political affiliations. The Druze citizen of Hasbaya, even as a member of the Socialist Party, was proud of his friendship with the Head of the Civilian Administration and may have had a child of his serving as a soldier or officer in the SLA. Similarly, the Shiite citizen who was affiliated with the Amal Movement, the Sunni Bedouin in the West or hailing from the Arqoub region, were also proud of their good relations with the SLA and even with the Israeli officers. The Christians were no different, they who defended the region since the occupation by the Palestinian Fatah and others, and who later prevented the Jezzine residents from being forcibly evicted and displaced like the fate suffered by the people of East Sidon and the Iqleem. They improved relations with the Mount-Lebanon Druze, allowing movement between Hasbaya and the Shouf, Bint Jbayl and Tibneen, Marjeyoun, and Nabatiyeh. They had linked their region by sea with East Beirut before it fell to the Syrians, cooperating with the Lebanese Forces in its defense. However, after the fall of East Beirut to the Syrians as a result of the fratricidal war between its leaders, one of whom was exiled and the other jailed, all hope for salvation had evaporated, and there was no reason to connect with a Lebanon under the Syrian yoke. When Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak decided to withdraw unilaterally, there was no one in Lebanon who cared for the citizens of the South who had kept the Lebanese flag flying high until the Israeli withdrawal, only to be replaced by the Iranian flag and the yellow flag that have nothing to do with Lebanon and are rather symbols of Iran’s domination over Lebanon.
These days, when we hear some politicians proclaiming their conviction that Hezbollah had liberated the South, while fully aware that Hezbollah did nothing but prevent the withdrawal of Israel for 15 years in order to complete its takeover of the Shiite community and isolate it into backwardness and the fear of cooperating with others. It then proceeded to complete its effective takeover of the country with its Syrian and Iranian masters’ help, and transform it into a failed state whose population can be easily sent into forced migration, as it did in Syria; it impoverished the country and destroyed the State institutions, beginning with the electricity sector; it forbade its followers from paying their bills to the ministries since 1982, and has filled them with its own men who do not even go to work; to the universities whose value has been tainted, the banks whose trust and confidence it undermined, and even the social and medical security network and other institutions that managed people’s lives and contributed to the advancement of the country. They then attacked all the friends of the country and sowed division and conflict with them, they empowered the corrupt, the drug smugglers, and the theft gangs to erode all that the State’s infrastructure and projects, thus shattering the hopes of the Lebanese people of keeping up with the world.
Those politicians who say that Hezbollah liberated the south from the Israelis are either fooling the Lebanese or themselves, in order to adapt and be part of this new system of subordination to the Persian theocracy that can only drag the country into backwardness, oppression, and isolation. By instilling fear between the various constituents of the nation, it makes them cease cooperating with each other, which puts Hezbollah as the arbiter of potential conflicts. These same politicians will marvel after the elections that they imposed a “defense strategy” in which Hezbollah, rather that dissolving itself and surrendering its weapons to the government, will control the Lebanese Army and the legitimate security forces. Lebanon will suffer the same fate as Iraq which is controlled by the Popular Mobilization Movement (Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi) and is preventing the rise of the Iraqi State.
This domination by Hezbollah was made possible by the Israeli handover of the Lebanese South to it until it entered the political arena by means of the quadripartite alliance and then by its invention of the non-sensical “Blocking Third”. The latter gimmick was used ad libitum to undermine the government until the pro-Iranian militia was able to impose the new electoral law by which it managed to take control of Parliament and subdue all three top offices in the land. Here is Hezbollah today having decided to run for the elections which are expected to increase the number of MPs under Hezbollah’s control to over 70, a number that Qassem Sulaymani bragged about reaching the previous time.
Was it in Ehud Barak’s design to crush the surrounding countries, including Lebanon, via Hezbollah and its weapons and hostile ideology to all the nations of the Arab region under the control of the descendants of Qurush and Khosrow Anushirvan? Or is it pragmatism used by military people who cannot see beyond the immediate operation assigned to them in their mission, even if at the cost of other losses whose legacies could be much graver.
The project of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards entails the destruction of all that surrounds it in order to build its new empire governed by the Jurisprudent Ruler. Iran has so far destroyed Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, after failing to destroy Bahrain. It is directly attacking Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, and prodding Palestinian extremism on a daily basis to undermine Israeli production centers with the objective of demolishing them, as it did in Lebanon and elsewhere in the region. Will the Abraham Accords between Arabs and Israel prevent the metastasis of this cancer and put an end to it? Or will these accords be more than successful than those accords stained with the blood of the southern Lebanese and the Israelis, and lead to a new era of peaceful relations between the two countries. Those relations were ended by the conduct of the “practical” and short-sighted Prime Minister General, much as the conduct of an “indecisive” President Amin Gemayel who obliterated the aftermath of Israel’s entry into Lebanon in 1982, namely putting an end to the legend of Arafat and his organization, and all of Syria’s military capabilities in Lebanon?
In conclusion, and 22 years after the Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, we ask: Isn’t it to remove the “liberator” label off Hezbollah and show its true nature as the “occupier” on behalf of its Iranian masters? Or is hatred still controlling the Lebanese that they become blind to the hurtful truth and no longer know where their interests lie?
N.B: The above study was translated from Arabic to English By Mr. Joseph Hitti.

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 24-25/2024
Pope Francis is gearing up for the first millennial saint, a web developer known as 'God's influencer'
Joshua Zitser/Business Insider/May 24, 2024
Pope Francis has attributed a second miracle to teenage website developer Carlo Acutis. This paves the way for Acutis, who was born in 1991, to become the first millennial saint. The tech whizz, sometimes called 'God's influencer,' died of leukemia in 2006 at age 15. Pope Francis has attributed a second miracle to a teenage website developer, paving the way for him to become the first millennial saint. Carlo Acutis, born in 1991 in the United Kingdom and raised in Italy, is sometimes referred to as "God's influencer" and the "patron saint of the internet." He died at age 15 from leukemia in October 2006. During his brief life, Acutis created a website cataloging each Eucharistic miracle in the world and listing approved Marian apparitions of the Catholic Church. Cardinal Agostino Vallini praised Acutis at his beatification ceremony, according to BBC News, saying, "Carlo used the internet in service of the Gospel to reach as many people as possible." The path to sainthood typically requires two miracles attributed to prayers made to an individual after their death. Then, canonization can take place. Acutis was beatified by Pope Francis in October 2020 after a first miracle was attributed to him, involving a Brazilian boy born with a pancreatic defect who said he was healed after praying to Acutis. According to Vatican News, the news portal of the Holy See, the second miracle involved a Costa Rican woman whose daughter had a bicycle accident and was given a low chance of survival by doctors. Vatican News said the mother, Liliana, prayed at Acutis' tomb in Assisi, Italy, and claimed that her daughter recovered soon after. In a bulletin on Thursday, the Holy See confirmed that the Pope had decided to convene a consistory, a formal meeting of the College of Cardinals, to discuss the canonization of Acutis.
It is unclear when the canonization would take place. The Holy See Press Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Acutis' mother, Antonia Salzano, told Vatican News in 2022 that her son was considered a "computer genius" who knew how to code at an advanced level from a young age. But he didn't use social media to "chat, have fun, or anything like that," she said, he used his talents for his "zeal for the Lord and his love for the knowledge of Jesus."

Egyptian Blockade of Aid to Gaza Earns Rebuke from U.S.
Flash Brief-FDD/May 24/2024
Latest Developments
A senior U.S. official issued a rare rebuke of Egypt on May 22 for blocking aid transfers into Gaza. Egypt shares one border crossing with Gaza in Rafah, which has been closed since May 7. The unnamed U.S. official told The Times of Israel that aid could flow instead through Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing. “We do not believe that aid should be held back for any reason whatsoever. Kerem Shalom is open. The Israelis have it open. And that aid should be going through Kerem Shalom.” More than 82,000 metric tons of aid is currently stranded on the Egyptian side of the crossing, Edem Wosornu, a senior United Nations aid official, said in remarks reported by The Jerusalem Post. Cairo plays a key role in facilitating aid deliveries, as international aid that arrives in Egypt is loaded onto trucks and transferred to Israel for inspection before entering Gaza. Egypt started blocking aid transfers after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) captured the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing as part of its limited operation in the southern Gazan city. The IDF is undertaking the ground operation to dismantle Hamas’s last four intact battalions, choke dozens of terror tunnels that snake across the Egyptian border, and free the hostages whom Israel believes Hamas is holding in Rafah.
Expert Analysis
“Egypt has an opportunity to work with the United States and Israel to create a new reality for Gazans. To do that, Egypt must work with Israel and the United States to close the smuggling routes that have allowed Hamas to line its pockets and build its deadly arsenal while — at the same time — continuing the flow of much-needed humanitarian assistance to Gazan civilians.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network. “Cairo is squandering a golden opportunity to play an instrumental role in the current Gaza crisis. Increasing Palestinian suffering as much as possible and harnessing it for Egypt’s blame game against Israel in the international arena isn’t the right policy now.” — Haisam Hassanein, FDD Adjunct Fellow
Egypt Threatens Israel Over Rafah Operation
Egyptian officials threatened on May 14 to downgrade their country’s relationship with Israel in protest of the IDF’s Rafah operation. The next day, an Israeli official told Haaretz that Cairo’s attitude towards Israel had flipped after the IDF advanced into Rafah. “At the beginning of the war, the Egyptians showed understanding toward our position,” the official said. “They realized why it was important for us to dismantle Hamas’s military and ruling capabilities after October 7.” However, the official said that Egypt started working “deliberately to get in our way” after the Rafah operation began.
Egypt Refuses Displaced Gazans
Cairo has only admitted a limited number of foreign passport holders and wounded civilians from Gaza into Egypt since October 7. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi said on October 12 that Egypt will not absorb displaced Gazans because “it’s important for [Gaza’s] people to stay steadfast and exist on its land.” On February 5, Cairo threatened to suspend its 1979 peace treaty with Israel if civilians evacuated to Egypt ahead of the IDF’s Rafah operation. “If even one Palestinian refugee crosses over, the peace agreement will be nullified,” unnamed Egyptian officials told Israeli media.

UN court orders Israel to halt Rafah offensive in Gaza
REUTERS - Johanna Geron/Fri, May 24, 2024
Judges at the top UN's top court on Friday ruled that Israel must immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, citing the "immediate risk" of harm to the Palestinian people. The ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found the situation in Gaza had deteriorated since the court in March ordered Israel to take urgent steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. Reading out the decision in a case brought by South Africa, ICJ president Nawaf Salam said conditions had been met for new emergency measures. The court was not convinced that evacuation of Rafah – refuge to about half of Gaza's 2.3 million people – and other measures by Israel were alleviating suffering of Palestinians. The ICJ ordered Israel to take measures to ensure unimpeded access into the Gaza Strip for investigators and fact-finding missions wishing to gather evidence. Israel must also keep the Rafah crossing open for "unhindered" aid, and submit a report on the measures taken within one month. The landmark ruling likely to increase mounting international pressure on Israel more than seven months into the Gaza war. While orders are legally binding, the court has no police to enforce them.

Israel's Netanyahu to address U.S. Congress soon, Johnson says
Matt Spetalnick and Humeyra Pamuk/May 24/2024
Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Thursday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would soon address a joint meeting of Congress amid heightened tension with President Joe Biden over the Israeli leader's handling of the war in Gaza. Delivering a keynote speech at the Israeli embassy's annual Independence Day reception, Johnson, the top congressional Republican and a critic of the Democratic president’s Israel policy, said it would be “a strong show of support for the Israeli government in their time of greatest need.”Such a speech is sure to further anger progressive Democrats critical of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and Biden's support for it. Netanyahu has closely aligned himself with Republicans. The diplomatic gathering in Washington comes amid strains between Biden and Netanyahu over a U.S. push for Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians in the war against Hamas militants in Gaza. The embassy gave equal billing to Democratic U.S. Representative Pete Aguilar, who shared the high-profile platform with Johnson at a more subdued event under the shadow of the Gaza war. "As Americans, we reaffirm our commitment to Israel's sovereignty," he said. Speaking first, Johnson said to applause: "Tonight I'm happy to announce ... we will soon be hosting Prime Minister Netanyahu at the Capitol for a joint session of Congress." Successive U.S. administration have usually sent a high-level official to the Independence Day receptions. Vice President Kamala Harris, who in recent months has called the situation in Gaza a "humanitarian catastrophe" and has urged a ceasefire, delivered last year's keynote, mostly extolling U.S. backing for Israel. An Israeli official said this year the embassy wanted to honor lawmakers in a bipartisan way in appreciation for congressional approval of billions of dollars in new U.S. military aid. The reception took place on the same night as a White House state dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto, which the Israeli official said created a scheduling conflict for cabinet members. Several less senior Biden aides were in attendance, including Derek Chollet, Secretary of State Antony Blinken's counselor. The White House declined comment when asked whether it was consulted about the invitation to Netanyahu or whether Biden, who has denied an Oval Office meeting to the Israeli leader, might see him in Washington.

French president Macron meets with Arab delegation to discuss Gaza
ARAB NEWS/May 24, 2024
PARIS: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan headed an Arab ministerial delegation in a meeting with the French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday. Prince Faisal was joined at the meeting by Qatari prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Al-Safadi, and the Egyptian minister of foreign affairs Sameh Shoukry, Saudi Press Agency reported. During the meeting, the situation in the Gaza Strip as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression was discussed, as well as the need to intensify international efforts aimed at an immediate and complete ceasefire. The two sides also talked about ensuring the protection of civilians and the delivery of adequate and sustainable humanitarian aid to all parts of Gaza. They reiterated the need for an independent Palestinian state and for the international community to hold Israel accountable for its actions in the Palestinian territories. During his trip to Paris, Prince Faisal also met with the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Stephane Sejourne on Friday. During the meeting, the two ministers discussed Saudi-French relations and ways to enhance them and ways to improve coordination on various issues of mutual concern, Saudi Press Agency reported. The two ministers also discussed the situation in Gaza and its surroundings and the need to deliver humanitarian assistance to the civilians in the enclave. The meeting was also attended by Saudi Ambassador to France Fahd bin Mayouf Al-Ruwaili, the Foreign Minister's office director general Abdulrahman Al-Dawood, and ministry Advisor Manal Radwan.

EU's Borrell urges Israel 'not to intimidate,' 'threaten,' ICC judges
Agence France Presse/May 24/2024
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell on Friday urged Israel "not to intimidate" or "threaten" the judges of the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutor has asked for arrest warrants of Israel's prime minister and defence minister.
"I ask everyone, starting with the Israeli government, but also certain European governments, not to intimidate the judges, not to threaten them," Borrell said during an interview with Spanish public television TVE, calling for "respect for the International Criminal Court".

U.S., European powers divided over confronting Iran at IAEA, diplomats say
Francois Murphy and John Irish/VIENNA/PARIS (Reuters) May 24, 2024
The U.S. and its three top European allies are divided over whether to confront Iran at the U.N. nuclear watchdog by seeking a resolution against it and thereby risk further escalation, with the Europeans in favour, diplomats say. It is 18 months since the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors last passed a resolution against Iran, ordering it to cooperate urgently with a years-long IAEA investigation into uranium particles found at three undeclared sites. While the number of sites in question has been narrowed to two, Iran still has not explained the traces, and the number of other problems in Iran has risen including Tehran barring many of the IAEA's top uranium-enrichment experts on the inspection team. A quarterly Board of Governors meeting begins in 10 days. "It's extremely difficult with Iran and the level of violations is unprecedented ... There is no slowing down of its programme and there is no real goodwill by Iran to cooperate with the IAEA," a senior European diplomat said. "All our indicators are flashing red." Concern about Iran's atomic activities has been high for some time. It has been enriching uranium to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% that is weapons-grade, for three years. It has enough material enriched to that level, if refined further, for three nuclear bombs, according to an IAEA yardstick. Western powers say there is no credible civilian energy purpose in enriching to that level, and the IAEA says no other country has done so without making a nuclear weapon. Iran says its objectives are entirely peaceful. The United States, however, has not wanted to seek another resolution against Iran at recent IAEA board meetings. Before the last one, in March, the European powers - France, Britain and Germany, known as the "E3" - disagreed with Washington on whether to seek a resolution but then backed down. Officials often cite the U.S. presidential election as a reason for the Biden administration's reluctance. But the main argument U.S. officials make is to avoid giving Iran a pretext to respond by escalating its nuclear activities, as it has done in the past. Tensions in the Middle East are running particularly high with Israel continuing its military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas's Oct. 7 attack. Israel and Iran carried out direct strikes on each other for the first time last month, and Israel has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's death in a helicopter crash on Sunday has complicated the situation. In talks aimed at improving Iran's cooperation with the IAEA, Tehran told the Vienna-based agency this week it would not engage with it until Raisi's successor is elected on June 28, two diplomats said. "A resolution has been prepared," another senior European diplomat said. Others confirmed the E3 had prepared a draft but not circulated it to Board members. "Our analysis is the death of Raisi changes nothing. We have to move forward with this resolution ... The Americans are the difficulty, and in our conversations we continue to do everything to convince them." It was unclear when a decision on whether to seek a resolution would be reached. The next quarterly IAEA reports on Iran are due early next week. Draft resolutions tend to refer to those reports' findings.

Canada expects 'everyone' to abide by ICJ's latest Israel ruling, Trudeau says
The Canadian Press/May 24, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the International Court of Justice's latest ruling is in line with Canada's position on Israel's military operations in Rafah. His comments come after the United Nations' top court ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza Strip city, but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire for the enclave. The sharply focused decision sent a three-pronged message to Israel, ordering the country to halt the Rafah offensive, allow war crimes investigators access Gaza and immediately increase humanitarian aid into the region. Trudeau reiterated Canada's call for a ceasefire, for Hamas to lay down its arms and release all hostages as well as for the need to get more aid into Gaza. The prime minister notes the ICJ's ruling is binding and Canada expects everyone to abide by it as a matter of international law. The ruling is a blow to Israel's international standing, but the court doesn't have a police force to enforce its orders.

No sign of foul play in Iran president's deadly helicopter crash, early report says
Reuters/Fri, May 24, 2024
A preliminary report by Iran's military said no evidence of foul play or attack had been found so far during investigations into the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi, state media reported on Friday. Raisi, a hardliner who had been seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed when his helicopter came down in poor weather in mountains near the Azerbaijan border on Monday. "Signs of gunshot or similar were not observed in the wreckage of the helicopter (which) crashed in an area in high altitude and burst into flames," the report issued by the armed forces general staff said. "Nothing suspicious has been observed in the control tower's conversations with the flight crew," it added. More details would be released as the investigation advanced, the report said. Raisi was buried in the Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Mashhad on Thursday, four days after the crash that also killed Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others. Experts say Iran has a poor air safety record, with repeated crashes, many involving U.S.-built aircraft bought before the 1979 Islamic revolution. Tehran says U.S. sanctions have long prevented it from buying new aircraft or spare parts from the West to update its creaking fleets. Iran proclaimed five days of mourning for Raisi, who enacted Khamenei's policies, cracked down on public dissent and adopted a tough line on foreign policy issues including talks with Washington to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear pact. A presidential election has been scheduled for June 28.

Top Russian military officials are being arrested. Why is it happening?
Emma Burrows/The Associated Press/May 24, 2024
It began last month with the arrest of a Russian deputy defense minister. Then the head of the ministry’s personnel directorate was hauled into court. This week, two more senior military officials were detained. All face charges of corruption, which they have denied. The arrests started shortly before President Vladimir Putin began his fifth term and shuffled his ally, longtime Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, into a new post. They immediately raised questions about whether Putin was reasserting control over the Defense Ministry amid the war in Ukraine, whether a turf battle had broken out between the military and the security services, or whether some other scenario was playing out behind the Kremlin’s walls. A look at what's behind the arrests and why they are happening:
HOW SERIOUS IS CORRUPTION IN RUSSIA?
Corruption scandals are not new and officials and top officials have been accused of profiting from their positions for decades. Graft in Russia functions as both a carrot and stick. It’s a way of “encouraging loyalty and urging people to be on the same page,” as well as a method of control, said Sam Greene, director of Democratic Resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis. Putin wants everyone to have “a skeleton in their closet,” security expert Mark Galeotti said on a recent podcast. If the state has compromising material on key officials, it can cherry-pick whom to target, he added. Corruption, “is the essence of the system,” said Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. The war in Ukraine has led to ballooning defense spending that has increased opportunities for graft.
WHO WAS ARRESTED?
Former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov — the first official arrested in April and the highest-ranking one so far — oversaw large military-related construction projects with access to vast sums of money. Those projects included rebuilding Ukraine's destroyed port city of Mariupol. The team headed by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny alleged that Ivanov, 48, and his family owned elite real estate, enjoyed lavish parties and trips abroad, even after the invasion. They also alleged that Ivanov’s wife, Svetlana, divorced him in 2022 to avoid sanctions and continue living in luxury.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday the recent arrests are not a “campaign” against corruption but rather reflect ongoing activities in “all government bodies.” Peskov and Ivanov were once part of an embarrassing episode caught on camera. Navalny’s team has shared 2022 images of the Kremlin spokesman celebrating at a birthday party for Ivanov’s former wife. In the video, Peskov, with Ivanov at his side, is seen wearing a watch estimated to cost $85,000. In April, the Investigative Committee, Russia’s top law enforcement agency, reported Ivanov is suspected of taking an especially large bribe — a criminal offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Since then, other arrests on bribery charges have included Lt. Gen. Yury Kuznetsov, head of the Defense Ministry’s personnel directorate; Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov, a career soldier and former top commander in Ukraine; and Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin, deputy chief of the military general staff. Shamarin is a deputy to Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff. A fifth ministry official was reported arrested Thursday — Vladimir Verteletsky, from the defense procurement department. He was charged with abuse of office that resulted in damages worth over 70 million rubles (about $776,000), the Investigative Committee said. Also, the deputy head of the federal prison service for the Moscow region, Vladimir Telayev, was arrested Thursday on charges of large-scale bribery, Russian reports said.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING NOW?
The arrests suggest that “really egregious” corruption in the Defense Ministry will no longer be tolerated, said Richard Connolly, a specialist on the Russian economy at the Royal United Services Institute in London. Shortly after his inauguration, Putin replaced Shoigu as defense minister with Andrei Belousov, an economist. Peskov said Russia's increasing defense budget must fit into the wider economy. Peskov said Russia’s defense budget is 6.7% of gross domestic product. That is a level not seen since the Soviet era. “There is a view that this needs to be spent more wisely,” Connolly said. Before his death in a still-mysterious plane crash last year, mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin led a brief rebellion against the country's military leadership, saying it mismanaged the war and denied weapons and ammunition to his forces. Belousov's appointment is “a grudging recognition from the Kremlin” that it has to pay attention to these problems, said Gould-Davies. It's also critical the war is managed correctly because Russia's economy depends on it. Russians are earning higher salaries driven by the booming defense sector. While that has created problems with inflation, it allows Putin to keep delivering on promises to raise living standards.
Greene said the government needs to “keep the war going in order to keep the economy going," but also must ensure the costs — and corruption — are not higher than needed. Connolly said it's also possible that Belousov, the new defense minister, is clearing out his predecessor’s associates and sending the message that “things are going to be done differently.” Other changes include Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Sadovenko, who was replaced by Oleg Saveliev, a former aide to Belousov, and former Shoigu spokesperson Rossiyana Markovskaya, who said she was moving to a new job. Popov's case may be different. He fought in Ukraine and was suspended in July 2023 for criticizing the Defense Ministry leadership — like Prigozhin — and blaming it for a lack of weapons and poor supply lines that led to many Russian casualties. He now may be facing the consequences for that criticism.
COULD THIS BE A TURF BATTLE?
It is unclear whether the Kremlin or Russia's security services, particularly the State Security Service, or FSB, are the driving force behind the arrests. It's possible that officials sufficiently distant from Putin could have been caught in the middle of a turf war unconnected to the appointment of the new defense minister. The security services, Greene said, could be trying to “push back” against the military's dominance seen since Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While the Kremlin denies that any kind of a purge was taking place, “if Putin didn’t want it to happen, it wouldn’t be happening,” Greene said. With the war in Ukraine turning in Russia’s favor, Putin may be emboldened to sweep out the Defense Ministry, or he may be allowing the security services to assert their dominance.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
More arrests are likely as the new defense minister wants to show “there is a price to be paid” for corruption in order to rein it in, Connolly said. Greene added it's also possible that “entrepreneurial” investigators will think launching a criminal case against a general is a great opportunity for career advancement. Because corruption is so endemic, however, it could cause panic in the whole system. If officials are arrested for behavior that previously was allowed even though it was illegal, it could shift the “red lines," Greene said. If the arrests continue or widen beyond the Defense Ministry, it could cause finger-pointing and for officials to “rush for the exits," he said, and that is something the Kremlin wants to avoid. Because the system is built on corruption, Greene said, attacking it too hard could cause it to "fall apart.”

2,000 aid trucks stuck at Rafah border: Norwegian Refugee Council
ARAB NEWS/May 24, 2024
LONDON: The Norwegian Refugee Council has warned that 2,000 aid trucks are stuck in Egypt at the Rafah border crossing, with Palestinians in Gaza being “actively deprived” of essential goods. Rafah is the last remaining area of Gaza yet to come under full assault by Israeli forces, with fears now mounting of an imminent operation to take the southern city. The NRC’s head of operations in Gaza, Suze van Meegen, told the BBC: “The city of Rafah is now comprised of three entirely different worlds: the east is an archetypal war zone, the middle is a ghost town, and the west is a congested mass of people living in deplorable conditions.”She said medical supplies, tents, water tanks and food are being held up at the border, and in some cases Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced as many as nine times since Israel launched its military operation last October. “People have no choice but to put their faith in so-called ‘humanitarian safe zones’ designated by the forces that have killed their family members and destroyed their homes,” she added. Israeli journalist Amos Harel told the BBC that he believes Israel is moving ahead with plans to occupy Rafah with tacit US support. “It’s quite clear that the Americans are no longer trying to prevent Israel from occupying Rafah. So the Israelis may proceed carefully and not too quickly. But it’s less of a question of whether the Israelis are going to occupy Rafah. It’s quite clear that they are,” he said. It comes despite earlier warnings by US President Joe Biden against Israel attacking “population centers,” and with the International Court of Justice set to rule on the legality of the Israeli campaign in Gaza after a case was submitted by South Africa in December accusing Israel of genocide.

Hungary Wants to ‘Redefine’ Its NATO Membership, Orban Says
Zoltan Simon/Bloomberg/May 24, 2024
Hungary is working to “redefine” the country’s NATO membership status to allow it to potentially opt-out from the military alliance’s deepening support for Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. Hungarian military officials and lawyers are already working on trying to come up with a new concept that would differentiate the country from other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Orban said in a state radio interview on Friday. “Our lawyers and officers are hard at work to see how Hungary can maintain its NATO membership in a way that it wouldn’t have to take part in NATO actions outside of NATO territory,” Orban said. The government in Budapest is already an important contributor in the alliance’s two missions outside of its territory — in Iraq and in Kosovo. NATO members also have the option to opt out of any military missions, even though the broadest possible participation is always encouraged. Orban’s remarks come as the alliance is drawing up a package of support for Ukraine to present at its leaders’ summit in Washington in July. The measures are expected to include a greater role for NATO at the operational level in coordinating weapons deliveries and training for Kyiv’s forces. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has also proposed allies pool together a $100 billion fund for Ukraine for the coming five years, but many allies have pushed back on the plans since they were initially proposed. Hungary has sought to repeatedly torpedo Western efforts to aid Ukraine, including financing and weapons deliveries to help Kyiv fight back Russia’s full-scale invasion, currently into its third year. Orban also sought to stall on NATO’s expansion to include Finland and Sweden and struck energy deals with Russia, prompting criticism from Western capitals. In the interview, Orban said Hungary was committed to NATO’s mission to defend members should one come under attack. But he said Hungary was concerned that financing and weapons supplies for Ukraine, a non-NATO country bordering Hungary, would eventually give way to greater military involvement, potentially even sending troops. He said Hungary fundamentally disagreed with some NATO members’ assessment that Russia would invade NATO’s eastern flank after Ukraine, as the current war, he said, should be considered as one between “two Slavic countries.”That view isn’t shared within NATO, which has set up working groups to explore the military alliance’s potentially expanded role in the war, Orban said. The support for Kyiv’s forces under the new NATO mission would take place outside of Ukraine. Hungary, as a NATO member, takes part in these discussions but effectively as a “non-participating member” that opposes sending money and weapons to Ukraine, he said. Giving Hungary a formal opt-out would amount to a new concept of NATO membership, he said. “It’s a situation where we’re sort of there and not there” now, Orban said. “I don’t know how long this can be maintained.”
--With assistance from Marton Kasnyik and Natalia Drozdiak.

Yemen's Houthis say they launch attacks on 3 ships including one in Mediterranean
Reuters/May 24, 2024
Yemen's Houthis have launched attacks on three ships in the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Sea, the Iran-aligned group's military spokesman Yahya Sarea said on Friday. The attacks are the latest in a months-long campaign of Houthi strikes against regional shipping in what the group says is solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel in the Gaza war. Sarea said in a televised speech that Houthi forces had targeted the Yannis ship in the Red Sea, the Essex in the Mediterranean Sea and MSC Alexandra in the Arabian Sea. Houthis "fired several missiles at the ship Essex in the Mediterranean Sea while it was violating the decision ban that prevents entry into occupied Palestinian ports", Sarea added. He did not clarify when the attacks took place. Earlier this month, the leader of Yemen's Houthis, Abdul Malik al-Houthi had said that all ships heading to Israeli ports would be attacked by the Iran-backed group, not just those in the Red Sea region which it has sought to strike before. The Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched repeated drone and missile strikes on ships in the crucial shipping channels of the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab strait and the Gulf of Aden since November to show their support for the Palestinians in the Gaza war. This has forced shippers to re-route cargo to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa and has stoked fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spread and destabilise the Middle East.

French court sentences 3 Syrian officials to life in prison in absentia for war crimes
AP/May 25, 2024
PARIS: A Paris court sentenced three high-ranking Syrian officials in absentia to life in prison Friday for complicity in war crimes in a landmark case against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad and the first such case in Europe. The trial focused on the officials’ role in the alleged 2013 arrest in Damascus of Mazen Dabbagh, a Franco-Syrian father, and his son Patrick, and their subsequent torture and killing. The four-day trial featured harrowing testimonies from survivors and searing accounts from Mazen’s brother. Though the verdict was cathartic for plaintiffs, France and Syria do not have an extradition treaty, making the outcome largely symbolic. International arrest warrants for the three former Syrian intelligence officials — Ali Mamlouk, Jamil Hassan, and Abdel Salam Mahmoud — have been issued since 2018 to no avail.They are the most senior Syrian officials to go on trial in a European court over crimes allegedly committed during the country’s civil war. The court proceedings came as Assad has started to shed his longtime status as a pariah that stemmed from the violence unleashed on his opponents. Human rights groups involved in the case hoped it would refocus attention on alleged atrocities. Clémence Bectarte, the Dabbagh family lawyer from the International Federation for Human Rights, said the verdict was the “first recognition in France of the crimes against humanity of the Syrian regime.” “It is a message of hope for all Syrian victims who are waiting for justice. It is a message that must be addressed to states so that they do not normalize their relations with the regime of Bashar Assad,” she said.
The trial began Tuesday over the alleged torture and killing of the French-Syrian father and son who were arrested at the height of Arab Spring-inspired anti-government protests. The two were arrested in Damascus following a crackdown on demonstrations that later turned into a brutal civil war, now in its 14th year. The probe into their disappearance started in 2015 when Obeida Dabbagh, Mazen’s brother, testified to investigators already examining war crimes in Syria. Obeida Dabbagh and his wife, Hanane, are parties to the trial along with non-governmental organizations. They testified in court on Thursday, the third day of the trial. Obeida Dabbagh said he hoped the trial would set a precedent for holding Assad accountable. “Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have died. Even today, some live in fear and terror,” he said. Despite the defendants’ absence, the trial’s significance was underscored by Brigitte Herremans, a senior researcher at the Human Rights Center of Ghent University. “It’s very important that perpetrators from the regime side are held accountable, even if it’s mainly symbolic. It means a lot for the fight against impunity,” she said.

Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 24-25/2024
Egypt’s relationship with Hamas: What does history tell us?
Seth J. Frantzman/The Jerusalem Post/May 24/2024
October 7 deeply impacted Egypt, however, Cairo has not appeared to excoriate Hamas for the attack, leaving questions about how this all transpired.
As the IDF pushes deeper into Rafah they are finding tunnels and dismantling Hamas terrorist infrastructure. The offensive in Rafah was opposed by Egypt before it happened, however there have been less statements since it actually began. There remains a lack of clarity about Egypt’s overall position today and also what may have transpired in the years leading up to October 7. It’s important to begin the process of understanding how Hamas became so powerful prior to the October 7 attack. How did it stockpile so many weapons? Where did the weapons come from? Hamas manufactures many types of rockets locally, but it also acquired RPGs and other types of systems that appear to have been trafficked from abroad. In the past Hamas smuggled weapons using tunnels in Rafah that went to Egypt. It was widely believed these tunnels were dismantled years ago. There is also a crossing between Egypt and Gaza called the Rafah crossing. Ostensibly this was only for approved types of aid entering Gaza. Israel maintained a blockade of Gaza for many years to prevent weapons entering. However, weapons did enter. In fact, Gaza may have been one of the most heavily armed places per capita in the world on October 6. If it was under blockade, how did this happen.
Egypt’s role
There are going to be a lot of questions asked in coming months about Egypt’s role here. Egypt and Israel appeared to have relatively warm ties prior to October 7. Egypt’s government is opposed to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas has origins in the Brotherhood. Egypt also opposes terrorism. Therefore many would have concluded that Egypt opposes Hamas. However, it is less clear now what Egypt’s role has been. To use the phrasing made famous by a former US secretary of defense, there are many “known unknowns” and “unknown knowns” regarding what transpired in Gaza with Hamas and also what Egypt’s role has been. Let’s take a look at what we know. Egypt entered a period of chaos during the Arab Spring when longtime leader Hosni Mubarak left office in 2011. In June 2012 the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi became president of Egypt. He held office for only a year, before being pushed out by the military and a popular protest movement. Since 2013 Egypt has been led by Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. It’s important to understand the crucial period of 2012 in the Middle East. At the time the Arab Spring led to major shifts. The Obama administration backed the Arab Spring and it was pleased to see Morsi elected in Egypt. It also backed protests in Syria. At the same time the US reportedly asked Qatar to begin to host the Hamas leadership. Hamas at the time had controlled Gaza for 5 years. But it was not as powerful as it is today. It was only just beginning to make rockets that could reach Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. It couldn’t fire large salvos of rockets at the time and its tunnel operations were much smaller. Hamas benefited from the chaos in the Arab world. It was able to bring in weapons that were flowing from Libya and elsewhere. It’s likely that Iran was involved in these smuggling attempts, because Iran had ties with the Sudanese regime and was able to exploit the chaos. The US at the time was withdrawing from Iraq and there was a power vacuum in the region.
Hamas benefited
Hamas benefited even more when its leaders moved to Qatar. No longer was Hamas a small terror group, now its leaders could live openly in nice hotels and receive lavish gifts. Hamas got legitimacy in 2012 and it is likely that there were moves afoot to bring it to power in the West Bank.
The rise of Sisi changed these calculations. In Egypt people were angry at the chaos Morsi had thrived on. There was an insurgency in Sinai and Egyptian troops were being killed. Egyptians would say back then that they refused to be forced to “bathe” in the bloodbath unfolding in the region. There was a conflict between Hamas and Israel in 2012. Morsi pretended to help bring about a ceasefire. But Israel was facing off against the chaos rising in the region.
By 2013 things were different. New leadership meant competent army officers could be sent down to Sinai to end the insurgency. It continued for several bloody years and even ISIS tried to benefit from it. By that time ISIS was already taking over Iraq and Syria. The crackdown by Egypt was supposed to end the smuggling to Hamas. Hamas benefited from the chaos and in 2014 there was another war with Israel. Israel had to go into Gaza and uproot tunnels. However, Hamas tunnels were still much smaller than today.
Egypt in 2015 backed the Saudi Arabia intervention in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthis. In addition the Egyptian leadership began to do quiet outreach to the Assad regime. The Syrian security chief Ali Mamluk met with the Egyptians in 2016 and 2018. What’s clear here is that Egypt saw a different future in the region. It was cracking down on the Brotherhood and it believed that strong Arab states needed to emerge from the chaos. At the time Egypt had cold relations with Qatar and Turkey because both of them had backed Morsi or the Brotherhood.
Things began to change though. The defeat of ISIS in 2017-2019 changed the Arab world’s dilemma facing extremism. Morsi, imprisoned after he was overthrown, died in 2019. This got rid of one of the key elements of problems between Egypt and Turkey. Turkey at the time was hosting Hamas leaders and was involved in intervention in Libya. Ankara’s intervention in Libya undermined Egypt’s backing of Khalifa Haftar in eastern Libya, handing Haftar a setback.
In addition, Ankara’s quest for resources in the Eastern Mediterranean led to potential standoffs with Egypt and brought Egypt much closer to Greece and Cyprus. Ostensibly it also brought Egypt and Israel closer.
Meanwhile in the Gulf the close Egypt allies of Saudi Arabia and the UAE broke ties with Qatar in 2017. Egypt and Bahrain joined the UAE and Saudi in severing ties with Doha. This was also the Trump era and Egypt was keenly interested in closer ties with the Trump administration. Egypt believed the Obama administration had backed the Brotherhood and had difficult ties with the US for several years. Sisi travelled to Saudi Arabia to meet Saudi Arabia’s King Salman in May 2017 for a summit of Arab and Muslim countries that was attended by US president Donald Trump. Trump, Sisi, and Salman were photographed with their hands on a glowing orb, a symbol of the partnership.
Other things were shifting in the region. Egypt and Turkey began a reconciliation process. This likely came about in part because the Syrian civil war was winding down. Russia, Turkey and Iran had worked through the Astana process on Syria and the war largely ended. With the war over, the chaos that Egypt feared appeared to be controlled. Soon there was also a ceasefire in Yemen and China was brokering Iran-Saudi reconciliation. Syria returned to the Arab League. Tensions in Libya were reduced. For Egypt this shift in events likely meant it didn’t need to fear the rise of the Brotherhood again, or fear that Hamas antics might lead to chaos in Sinai. It possible that sometime in this period 2019-2023, that a grand bargain took place in which Egypt was asked by Ankara, Doha, Tehran, and/or Moscow, to reduce constraints on Hamas. At some point this meant Hamas likely was able to smuggle more weapons into Gaza. Israel, convinced that Hamas was deterred, didn’t seem to notice as Hamas grew more powerful. In May 2021 Hamas launched an attack on Israel with huge salvos of rockets and Iran mobilized proxies to attack Israel. However, the short ten day conflict ended.
What was Egypt thinking?
The Abraham Accords and the Negev Summit and other trends in the region were supposed to be toward regional stability. This meant Egypt was supposed to benefit through peace and stability. Why would it allow Hamas to start a huge war? The only reason Egypt may have been lured into thinking Hamas was contained was due to Doha and Ankara, and other moves in the region. Egypt may have been told to go soft on Hamas and in exchange Turkey and Doha and others wouldn’t back the Brotherhood anymore inside Egypt. In the end, Hamas launched the October 7 attack and this has deeply impacted Egypt. However, Cairo has not appeared to excoriate Hamas for the attack, leaving questions about how this all transpired. Now we know some of the known unknowns of this story.  *Seth Frantzman is the author of Drone Wars: Pioneers, Killing Machine, Artificial Intelligence and the Battle for the Future (Bombardier 2021) and an adjunct fellow at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Lawmakers Urge Blinken to Hold Turkey to Account for Assault on U.S. Citizens
Sinan Ciddi/ Policy Brief/May 24/2024
More than 70 U.S. lawmakers signed a bipartisan letter on May 15 urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to hold Ankara to account for the 2017 assault on American citizens by Turkish security officials. The letter adds further U.S. pressure upon Turkey, which is already facing legal challenges over the issue that could result in fines. During President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington, DC, on May 16, 2017, a group of peaceful protestors, mostly Kurdish in origin, gathered near the residence of Turkey’s ambassador to the United States, located at Sheridan Circle. They were there to protest the Turkish government’s harsh treatment of Kurds inside Turkey. Erdogan’s security detail proceeded to punch and beat many of the protestors, including women, children, and elderly men. The assailants also injured six U.S. Secret Service officers. District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, the late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), and other U.S. leaders condemned the attacks. On June 6, 2017, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution (H. Res. 354) demanding the prosecution of the Turkish security officials under U.S. law. American authorities arrested two Turkish officers on June 14, charging them with aggravated assault. By August 2017, a grand jury indicted 19 defendants on charges of “conspiracy to commit a crime of violence.” Erdogan rejected the charges as baseless, and most defendants remain outside the United States.
Over the course of 2018, the Department of Justice dropped charges against several of the officers. It provided no official reason, although an anonymous source told The Washington Post that prosecutors questioned whether they had sufficient evidence to proceed. Separately, in May 2018, victims of the attack filed two civil lawsuits with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking more than $100 million in damages. Both cases, Lusik Usoyan, et al., v. The Republic of Turkey, and Kasim Kurd, et al., v. The Republic of Turkey, are concerning to Erdogan because of the potential for having to pay hefty fines to the plaintiffs. To avoid the conviction of the defendants, the Turkish government attempted to claim sovereign immunity, an argument that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rejected in February 2020. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia affirmed the District Court’s ruling in January 2021, finding that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) does not protect security personnel who commit violence. Ankara’s last-ditch attempt to overturn these decisions at the U.S. Supreme Court fell short, with the court declining to hear the case in November 2022. Consequently, the DC District Court’s original ruling will stand. Thus, the new bipartisan letter, spearheaded by Reps. Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), requests that Secretary Blinken heed H. Res. 354 by asking Erdogan to recognize that violent attacks “by foreign actors on American soil against Americans cannot and will not be tolerated – that there must be consequences.” Yet Erdogan is unlikely to take any action to address the letter’s demands. Many of the officers on his security team traveled back with him to Turkey on the day of the attack and remain at large. Accordingly, Blinken must address this issue with his Turkish counterpart and devise consequences. The Biden administration must set a clear precedent that Washington cannot and will not tolerate such violence on American soil.
**Sinan Ciddi is a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he contributes to FDD’s Turkey Program and Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP). For more analysis from Sinan, the Turkey Program, and CEFP, please subscribe HERE. Follow Sinan on X @SinanCiddi. Follow FDD on X @FDD and @FDD_CEFP. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focused on national security and foreign policy.

Maximum Support ...A New Strategic Direction for U.S. Iran Policy
Behnam Ben Taleblu/Saeed Ghasseminejad/Andrew Ghalili/Cameron Khansarinia/Memo.FDD/May 24, 2024
America’s Iran policy has become increasingly ineffective, partisan, and predictable. Faced with multifaceted and enduring threats from the Islamic Republic, Washington has embraced a reactive posture that has failed to adequately deter and roll back regime-sponsored terrorism, nuclear escalation, and domestic repression. This shortcoming is contagious and emboldens other American adversaries, including Tehran’s regional terror proxies, known as the Axis of Resistance, as well as authoritarian and revisionist states like Russia, China, and North Korea. Worse, U.S. policy has left Washington largely flat-footed in the face of a boom-and-bust cycle of anti-regime protests across Iran for almost a decade. Leaders in the United States and around the world are grappling with the implications of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s unexpected death in a helicopter crash on May 19, 2024. The people of Iran immediately took to the streets in celebration of the death of Raisi, who was commonly known as the ‘Butcher of Tehran’ for his role in the massacre of tens of thousands of Iranian dissidents. Now is the perfect time for American leaders to dispose of empty rhetoric and instead express their support for the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations through words and actions. To correct America’s course and reset the chessboard against the Islamic Republic, Washington should embrace a strategy that is sustainable, cost-effective, and more in concert with American values and interests in the Middle East. Maximum Support for the Iranian people is an integral component of such a strategy.
When combined with “Maximum Pressure” against the clerical regime in Tehran — which should entail robust political and economic pressure against the Islamic Republic from abroad — Maximum Support taps into the organic and longstanding domestic resistance to the regime from within Iran. Taken together, these two pillars allow policymakers to synergize U.S. policy and better align ways, means, and ends. To ensure effectiveness, policies supporting this framework should be measured against the Hippocratic oath of first “do no harm” to the interests of either the United States or the Iranian people. In particular, Washington should respect Iran’s territorial integrity and national unity; refrain from engaging with armed groups or former terrorist organizations; and avoid enriching the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI) have worked over the past two years to develop specific proposals not only to hold the Islamic Republic accountable for its foreign aggression and domestic oppression but also to support the Iranian people.1 This joint 10-point plan represents a distillation of our views, which reflect input from elements of the American think-tank and policy community, activists and analysts from the Iranian-American community, and leading dissidents inside Iran.
1. Review efficacy of U.S. government projects supporting the people of Iran.
The U.S. government currently spends tens of millions of dollars on Iran-related funding across the Persian-language programming of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the State Department’s Near East Regional Democracy (NERD) program and Global Engagement Center (GEC), and other initiatives. Each of these programs should be subjected to an audit and impact analysis. Washington should cut low-performing projects in their entirety in favor of projects with tangible impact and measurable outcomes inside Iran. Even longstanding projects should face rigorous scrutiny. Washington should give funding priority toward grants or projects that resolve chronic issues the Iranian people have endured, such as the termination of internet access by the regime.
2. Enforce oil and petrochemical sanctions.
A vigorous sanctions regime with adequate legal, political, bureaucratic, and financial support that metes out punishment over time against Tehran will significantly reduce available resources for the regime’s nuclear, missile, and drone programs. This approach will also have the secondary effect of shrinking the pie available to pro-regime elites and security forces during times of crisis such as nationwide protests. U.S. departments and offices charged with enforcing these sanctions should include the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the State Department’s Office of Economic Sanctions Policy and Implementation, and the Department of Homeland Security. All three should receive increased funding and personnel to monitor sanctions’ effectiveness and enforcement. They should also build support for such penalties with America’s diplomatic partners.
With respect to any confiscated assets or shipments of oil, petrochemicals, or other sanctioned products and commodities, the United States should develop an Iran Democracy Fund that would allow it to underwrite the forthcoming elements of its Iran policy without drawing on pre-appropriated taxpayer funds.
3. Offer internet and communications solutions to facilitate freedom of expression.
The Islamic Republic frequently impedes Iranians’ access to the internet in order to prevent their communication with one another and the outside world. The U.S. government can help ensure Iranians’ right to freedom of expression by supporting access to the internet and other communications tools. This should include expanding existing programs that provide free VPNs and engaging with private sector partners like Starlink. The U.S. government should also hold accountable technology companies, many of which are affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, that are active in Iran or may have affiliates or subsidiaries in Iran and may be providing technologies that empower the regime’s repressive cyber apparatus.
4. Place restrictions and sanctions on regime officials and organs.
While allowing dissidents seeking political asylum to escape the regime, the U.S. government should ban travel for all Islamic Republic officials, their family members, and their affiliates unless it can be assessed that they are truly defecting. Furthermore, the United States and its allies should seize the assets of regime officials and their affiliates pursuant to anti-corruption authorities — which exist in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, and New Zealand. Washington should also deport regime officials or affiliates already in the United States.
Next, the United States should actively encourage its allies and partners pursuant to their unique counterterrorism authorities to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in its entirety as a terrorist organization.
Furthermore, the United States should identify and designate the leadership of the IRGC and business empires tied to or controlled by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This includes C-level executives and board members of all companies in their portfolio. The restrictions imposed on them should include asset forfeiture and travel bans.
It is imperative that the United States continue to name, shame, and punish Iranian human rights violators through sanctions, designations, asset freezes, and visa bans. This means targeting both national and local political, military, security, religious, and legal officials in Iran engaging in the repression of dissidents and protestors. Washington should apply these penalties multilaterally in conjunction with European partners. Official delegates from the Islamic Republic seeking to enter the United States for United Nations-related business should be strictly limited, and the physical movement of those permitted to enter should be tightly controlled. Similarly, Washington should incentivize its trans-Atlantic partners to reduce the size of Iran’s diplomatic missions in each country if they are unwilling to expel Iranian diplomats.
5. Support labor strikes.
The United States should create a strike fund to provide basic economic support to Iranian workers willing to go on strike but who would face economic and other forms of retribution from the Islamic Republic. The U.S. government should allow this strike fund, with the logistical support of needed allies, to legally access frozen Iranian assets to finance it. These assets belong to the Iranian people, not to the clerical regime.
6. Develop a regime elite defection program.
The United States should develop a defection strategy and identify pathways to promote it within Iran’s security and political establishment. Such a program will take advantage of existing cleavages and tensions within the regime and increase the likelihood of a non-violent and successful transition from the Islamic Republic. It will help mitigate some of the mistakes made in recent political transitions in the Middle East. These high-level defectors should be thoroughly debriefed by the U.S. intelligence community to ascertain any relevant information on the regime that can be used to weaken it and empower the Iranian people against it.
This program should be developed and maintained in coordination with America’s regional allies and security partners. Successfully vetted defectors should be connected to relevant, trusted forces in the Iranian opposition.
7. Provide cyber and intelligence support.
The fight between the Iranian people and the Islamic Republic is not a fair one. Iranians are waging a peaceful, non-violent campaign against a well-armed, brutal dictatorship. The U.S. government can help level the playing field by offering intelligence support to Iranians and the opposition to help protesters outsmart and outpace the regime’s suppression forces. It can also provide cyber support to protesters by working with regional allies to disable the security forces’ communications and command-and-control capabilities to give protesters a fighting chance. For example, the U.S. government should target the security camera and communication infrastructure of the regime’s oppression machine.
This cyber support can also be used to target the regime’s critical infrastructure, particularly its security forces, to give Iranians both psychological and tactical advantages over the regime.
8. Develop a strategy to engage with the Iranian opposition.
The United States and its allies should not limit their dialogue to the regime — this should be cut altogether — but instead engage the secular, democratic Iranian opposition. This includes organizations and activists in the Iranian-American diaspora and trusted representatives of Iranians inside the country. The U.S. government should determine with whom to engage by examining polling that indicates Iranians’ preferences and by monitoring domestic protests and the chants used by demonstrators.
This engagement should include high-profile, public meetings but also behind-the-scenes coordination and support.
9. Apply diplomatic pressure.
The United States should support Iranians’ efforts and lead an international diplomatic campaign against the Islamic Republic. Just as diplomatic pressure led to Iran’s removal from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in 2022, the United States and its allies should categorically delegitimize and deplatform Iran on the international stage. For example, Iran has remained in violation of its safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency for roughly two decades yet is serving as president of the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva in 2024. Washington should seek Iran’s ejection from this body.
This should also be done in coordination with support for a campaign of lawfare by Iranians to bring civil and criminal cases against the Islamic Republic for transnational repression or violation of fundamental human rights. Washington should even consider hosting public tribunals against regime officials with testimony from victims of Iranian terrorism or repression.
10. Bolster and broaden a communications strategy.
Iranians do not want the world to remove the Islamic Republic for them. They are willing to fight, and even risk their lives, to reclaim their country and their freedoms. But they deserve the vocal, moral support of American leaders in their fight against the Islamist regime. The U.S. government should state clearly and consistently that it supports Iranians’ democratic aspirations and will support their national and popular sovereignty. This must be reinforced across all levels of the U.S. government and through all available communication platforms and tools, including relevant executive departments and Congress. This should include setting up a calendar to systematically organize and proactively prepare communication strategies aimed at Iranians. For example, the president should use his annual Nowruz message to endorse Iranians’ democratic aspirations. The U.S. government should also develop a menu of options that can be strategically deployed to correspond to known events, dates, and anniversaries on the Iranian political calendar, such as the November 2019 or Aban protests or Cyrus the Great Day.
Conversely, poor and mixed messaging, be it from the bully pulpit or social media from official U.S. sources, clips the wings of Iranian protests and dampens the spirit of Iranians seeking change in their own country. For example, the recent use of U.S. communication to promote spin classes, publicize the work of regime officials, and tie in the Palestinian issue and war in Gaza have soured Iranians on America’s public diplomacy.
Conclusion
The time has come for the United States to adopt a policy of maximum support for the Iranian people, who have made clear they reject Tehran’s oppressive clerical regime. While taking care to do no harm, U.S. policy should communicate clearly that Washington supports the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations, will engage with the Iranian opposition, and will use its diplomatic clout to isolate the clerical regime. The United States can also help the opposition mobilize by facilitating its access to the internet, contributing to strike funds, and employing cyber tools to limit security forces’ ability to crush dissent. Finally, Washington should vigorously enforce its own sanctions, which can deprive the regime of resources, while naming and shaming human rights violators. With these measures in place, the United States will have far better options at its disposal when the next wave of mass demonstrations threatens to topple the regime.

The Secret Reason Hamas's Friends - Ireland, Norway, Spain (and Germany) - Are Helping the Palestinians
Bassam Tawil/Gatestone Institute./May 24, 2024
Ireland, Norway and Spain should have advised the Palestinians that if they wanted anything from Israel, they should sit down and negotiate with the Israelis, and not try to impose any solution on them with the help of the international community. They also should have told them that there will be no peace negotiations with Israel unless the Palestinians repudiate and renounce terrorism and recognize Israel's right to exist. Apparently, Ireland, Norway and Spain do not even realize that they just strengthened the terrorists in their own countries. When Muslims demonstrated in Hamburg last month and demanded that shariah law and a Caliphate replace democracy in Germany, politicians said they should be jailed and stripped of their citizenship.
Perhaps a few countries might also recognize a State of Catalonia?
[W]hen [Palestinians] talk about "liberating" the land, what they really mean is that they want to murder all Jews or expel them from Israel, and replace it with an Iran-backed Palestinian terror state. The timing of the recognition of a Palestinian state, just months after Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, sent a message to the terrorists -- which should be transposed to the Europeans in their own countries -- that the more people they slaughter, including the Gazans Hamas kills as human shields, the more support they will have from the Europeans and the rest of the international community.
Ireland, Norway, and Spain are letting it be known that the international community is willing to overlook, submit to, or even condone terrorism. This attitude will not promote any peace process between Israel and the Palestinians -- or among anyone trying to transform other countries. Instead, it encourages those who want to fundamentally remake countries in the West. Finally, who in his right mind imagines that the Middle East would be secure and peaceful with a Palestinian state adjacent to Israel? Such a state will simply serve as a springboard for more attacks against Israel. The Palestinians openly stated as much in their ratified 1974 "10-Point Program," known as the "phased plan," in which any land acquired will be used to get the rest. Basically, as Hamas openly states in its charter, its aim to eliminate the only homeland of the Jewish people and murder as many Jews as possible. It appears that the Europeans wish to finish the task that Hitler started -- the secret reason they are assisting the Palestinians in achieving this goal. In the past few days, Hamas and other terrorist groups have been rejoicing over the decision by Ireland, Norway and Spain to recognize a Palestinian state. Germany, not to be left out, said it would "detain Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to set foot on German soil and if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant..."  In the past few days, Hamas and other terrorist groups have been rejoicing over the decision by Ireland, Norway and Spain to recognize a Palestinian state. The terrorists are so delighted that they have released several statements praising the three countries and stating that the Palestinians view the recognition as a direct result of their terrorist attacks against Israel. Germany, not to be left out, said it would "detain Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to set foot on German soil and if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant..."
The recognition of a Palestinian state, even if it is merely a symbolic action that has no bearing on the reality on the ground, sends two messages to the Palestinians. First, that terrorism against Jews is justified and worthwhile because the world, instead of punishing you, will reward you for your crimes.
Second, that the Palestinians will not need to negotiate thorny issues with Israel, such as borders and the status of Jerusalem, because the international community will grant them everything on a platter.
Ireland, Norway and Spain should have advised the Palestinians that if they wanted anything from Israel, they should sit down and negotiate with the Israelis, and not try to impose any solution on them with the help of the international community.
They also should have told them that there will be no peace negotiations with Israel unless the Palestinians repudiate and renounce terrorism and recognize Israel's right to exist.
The three countries, however, chose not to make any demands from the Palestinians before they announced their decision to recognize a non-existent Palestinian state. These countries appear to have been motivated more by a desire to put a finger in the eye of Israel than a genuine concern for the Palestinians.
Apparently, Ireland, Norway and Spain do not even realize that they just strengthened the terrorists in their own countries. When Muslims demonstrated in Hamburg last month and demanded that shariah law and a Caliphate replace democracy in Germany, politicians said they should be jailed and stripped of their citizenship.
Perhaps a few countries might also recognize a State of Catalonia?
The Palestinian terrorists have every reason to be happy. They know that a Palestinian state will be controlled by the Iranian regime and its Palestinian terror proxies, especially Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Public opinion polls conducted before and after Hamas's October 7, 2023 massacre of Israelis show that most Palestinians prefer the terrorist group over the Palestinian Authority and its governing Fatah faction. Additionally, a poll published last March showed that 71% of the Palestinians believe that the Hamas massacre was justified.
"This recognition [of a Palestinian state] came as a result of the enormous sacrifices made by the Palestinian people and after many decades of struggle and resistance," Hamas said. "The historic and bold decision announced by the Spain, Norway and Ireland is a decision in the right direction."
The "struggle" and "resistance" refer to the Palestinians' decades-long anti-Israel terrorism, which reached its peak on October 7 with the murder, rape, beheading, and burning alive of 1,200 Israelis, including infants, and seizing more than 240 as hostages -- many of whom are now believed murdered.
Palestinian terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip said that they view the decision by Ireland, Norway and Spain as a reward for the October 7 carnage and the many years of terrorism against Israel.
"The [Palestinian] resistance factions in Gaza welcomed the announcement by Norway, Spain and Ireland of their recognition of the State of Palestine, considering it a major shift in the global position in support of the Palestinian cause and the result of the Palestinians' steadfastness and bravery in defending their rights and clinging to their land," the Palestinian news agency Safa reported.
These factions also called on all world leaders and governments to follow suit and assist the Palestinians in their fight to "liberate" all their land. The factions, which include Hamas, PIJ, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), do not recognize Israel's right to exist. So, when they talk about "liberating" the land, what they really mean is that they want to murder all Jews or expel them from Israel, and replace it with an Iran-backed Palestinian terror state. The Hamas-affiliated Palestine Information Center (PIC) said it viewed the three European countries' recognition of a Palestinian state as one of the achievements of the October 7 massacre, which the Palestinians call the "Al-Aqsa Flood." "It is the Al-Aqsa Flood alone and nothing else that changed the equations and returned the Palestinian issue to the top of the agenda of the world," PIC said, adding that the massacre successfully paved the way for the creation of a Palestinian state. Commenting on the decision by Ireland, Norway and Spain, the PFLP said in a separate statement that the recognition of a Palestinian state "came as a result of the Palestinian people's resistance" -- a reference to the October 7 massacre and other crimes committed by the Palestinians against Israelis over the past few decades. The PFLP expressed hope that the recognition of the Palestinian state would mark the beginning of "defeating" Israel and "expelling" the Jews from "our land." The timing of the recognition of a Palestinian state, just months after Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, sent a message to the terrorists -- which should be transposed to the Europeans in their own countries -- that the more people they slaughter, including the Gazans Hamas kills as human shields, the more support they will have from the Europeans and the rest of the international community.
Ireland, Norway, and Spain are letting it be known that the international community is willing to overlook, submit to, or even condone terrorism. This attitude will not promote any peace process between Israel and the Palestinians -- or among anyone trying to transform other countries. Instead, it encourages those who want to fundamentally remake countries in the West. Finally, who in his right mind imagines that the Middle East would be secure and peaceful with a Palestinian state adjacent to Israel? Such a state will simply serve as a springboard for more attacks against Israel. The Palestinians openly stated as much in their ratified 1974 "10-Point Program," known as the "phased plan," in which any land acquired will be used to get the rest.
It was precisely this plan that was put into action on October 7.
Under the rule of Hamas and PIJ, the Gaza Strip had actually been a sovereign and autonomous state -- and supposedly honoring an official ceasefire already in place. Hamas and the Palestinians in Gaza possessed their own government, parliament, judiciary, security forces, military, and border crossings (with Egypt and Israel) – with not one Jew or Israeli in their territory. Gaza had the opportunity to become a "Singapore on the Mediterranean" and all the foreign aid in the world with which to create it. Instead, Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups chose to use the funds to build "a city under a city" -- 400 miles of terrorist tunnels from which to attack Israel -- because their true goal has always been, and remains, not to live next to Israel, but to replace Israel. Basically, as Hamas openly states in its charter, its aim to eliminate the only homeland of the Jewish people and murder as many Jews as possible. It appears that the Europeans wish to finish the task that Hitler started -- the secret reason they are assisting the Palestinians in achieving this goal.
**Bassam Tawil is a Muslim Arab based in the Middle East.
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Egypt’s ‘Reconciliation Sessions’: How Christians Are Pressured into Embracing Second-Class Status
Raymond Ibrahim/Coptic Solidarity/May 24/2024
Last month, in the days and weeks leading up to Easter, church-hating Muslims in at least two villages rose up against their Christian neighbors. On April 23 in al-Fawakhir, a rumor that a church was being constructed prompted hundreds of fanaticized Muslims to riot and torch numerous Coptic homes—the blaze could be seen for miles. Three days later, on April 26 — a Friday, when Muslims are wont to hear sermons riling them against “infidels” during mosque prayers and then rampage — fanatics of another village, al-Kom al-Ahmar, attacked its Christian minority for receiving a permit to construct an Evangelical church. As there never was—and now probably never will be—a church in al-Fawakhir, the matter has ended there. But because the Christians of al-Kom al-Ahmar still have a permit to build a church, the matter has not ended. Enter “reconciliation sessions,” whereby leaders of the Coptic and Muslim communities of this or that village, are brought together by State Security behind closed doors in order to reach an “agreement” without resorting to the law (meaning, without the Christians pressing charges). Such a “reconciliation” took place in al-Kom al-Ahmar on May 18, 2024.
According to one Arabic-language report, the session “included speeches about unity, rejecting attacks on the other, words about the national fabric and love, and a confirmation that such events will not be repeated.”After pointing out that several people had been arrested, pending investigation, the report adds that “the session touched on the importance of releasing everyone and emphasizing the right to build a church.” In other words, the Christians are being buttered up into thinking that their permit will not be permanently revoked—so long as they show some “tolerance” and not press charges against their attackers.
Of course, once they do and the guilty parties are released, the chances that the permit will be resumed are slim at best.
For example, almost five years ago to the day of the attacks on al-Kom al-Ahmar, (again, around Easter), another reconciliation session was held on April 30, 2019 in the Upper Egyptian village of Nagib, following a set of similar circumstances (Muslim mob attacks on Christians due to the presence of a church, which was subsequently closed down). As that five year old report explains:
Egypt’s 2016 Church Construction Law contains language which allows church legalization permits to be indefinitely delayed due to the threat of sectarian violence. Reconciliation sessions are often used to further restrict the rights of Christians to practice their faith.
This pattern of abuse has played out countless times in the modern era: Christians in Egypt encounter numerous legal obstacles in order to open a church—none of which, naturally, apply to the building of mosques; desperate to worship freely, particularly on holy days such as Easter, they meet in private homes or unofficial churches; this enrages local Muslims, who resort to violence and rioting—often under the watchful eyes of the security apparatuses.
After the authorities achieve some semblance of peace, they gather the leaders of the Christian and Muslim communities together for these so-called “reconciliation sessions.” During these closed-doors encounters, Christians are “politely” asked to make further concessions to outraged Muslims.
Copts are often treated to the “good cop/bad cop” routine. Authorities (the “good cops”) tell Christian leaders things like, “Yes, we understand the situation and your innocence, but the only way to appease the rioters (the Muslim mob, the “bad cops”) is by closing down the church—just for now, you understand, until things calm down.” Or, “Yes, we understand you need a church, but as you can see, the situation is volatile right now, so, for the time being, maybe you can walk to the church in the next town ten miles away—you know, until things die down.”
Needless to say, things almost never “die down” or “return to normal.” Churches rarely resume being legitimized on the pretext that they pose “security threats” (meaning their existence prompts Muslims to riot and rage).
If Christians dare rebuff the authorities’ offer to have a reconciliation session and instead demand their actual rights as citizens, the authorities smile and say “okay.” But because many of the initial arrests they made usually consist of Christian youths who had tried to defend the unofficial church or private residence used as a church, the authorities tell the Christian leaders, “Just as you say so-and-so [Muslim] was involved, there are even more witnesses [Muslims] who insist your own [Christian] youths were the ones who began the rioting. So, we can either arrest and prosecute them, or you can rethink our offer about having a reconciliation meeting.”
Under the circumstances, dejected Christians generally agree to the further mockery. What alternative do they have? They know if they refuse to play along their youth will, according to precedent, go to prison and be tortured. For example, in one incident, wounded Christians who dared repel Muslim attackers were arrested and, despite serious injuries, held for seven hours and prevented from receiving medical attention. This issue of reconciliation meetings is so prevalent and prevents Christians from receiving any justice that a 2009 book is entirely devoted to it. According to a review of this Arabic language book, titled (in translation), Traditional Reconciliation Sessions and Copts: Where the Culprit Emerges Triumphant and the Victim is Crushed:
In some 100 pages the book reviews how the security apparatus in Egypt chooses to ‘reconcile’ the culprits and the victims in crimes where churches are burned; Coptic property and homes plundered, and Copts themselves assaulted, beaten and sometimes murdered; and when even monks are not spared. Even though it stands to reason that such cases should be seen in courts of law where the culprits would be handed fair sentences, this is almost never allowed to take place. And even in the few cases which managed to find their way into the courts, the culprits were never handed fair sentences since the police invariably fell short of providing any incriminating evidence against them.
The farcical scenario of reconciliation sessions has thus without fail dominated the scene where attacks against Copts are concerned, even though these sessions proved to be nothing but a severe retreat of civil rights.
Politically speaking, the authorities aim—through the reconciliation sessions—to secure a rosy façade of the ‘time-honoured[’] amicable relationships between Muslims and Copts’, implying that they live happily ever after. The heartbreaking outcome, however, is that the only winners in these sessions are the trouble mongers and fanatics who induce the attacks in the first place and who more often than not escape punishment and emerge victorious. The Coptic victims are left to lick their wounds.
Worse, not only are the victims denied any justice, but the aggressors are further emboldened to attack again. As Coptic Bishop Makarious of Minya once put it in the context of discussing how Coptic Christians were being attacked at the rate of every two or three days:
As long as the attackers are never punished, and the armed forces are portrayed as doing their duty, this will just encourage others to continue the attacks, since, even if they are arrested, they will be quickly released.

Question: “Are all people born good?”
GotQuestions.org/May 25/2024
Answer: There is a common belief today that people are born “good” and most people remain basically good at heart their whole lives. According to this theory, the evil that some people exhibit is the result of environmental factors—people only turn “bad” when external forces beyond their control twist them away from their basic goodness. This is a false, unbiblical view of human nature.
The Bible teaches that none of us are good. We are all born sinners with a sinful, selfish nature inherited from Adam. Unless we are born again by the Spirit of God, we will never see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
Psalm 14:2–3 counters the idea that anyone is “good”: “The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Add to this Jesus’ statement that “No one is good—except God alone” (Luke 18:19), and we see that we all stand guilty before God.
In the beginning, God created an absolutely perfect world. God called His creation “very good” in Genesis 1:31. The Garden of Eden was the perfect environment for the first humans, Adam and Eve. Even in that perfect environment, with all their needs met and living in a state of innocence, Adam chose to disobey God. Adam couldn’t blame environmental factors for his sinful choice; it was simply an act of his will to rebel.
When Adam disobeyed God, the first couple lost their innocence, they were ejected from the Garden, and, importantly, their basic nature was corrupted (Genesis 3:7–12). Sin and death became a part of creation. Later, when Adam had a son, the Bible describes the event this way: “He had a son in his own likeness, after his own image” (Genesis 5:3). Like father, like son. The sinner begot a sinner. Now Adam’s sin has spread to all creation: “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).
People are not born “good” because every one of us has been affected by Adam’s sin; there are no exceptions. Romans 5:18 says that “one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people.” We are sinners for two reasons: we actively sin ourselves (we are sinners in practice), and we bear a sinful character passed down from Adam (we are sinners by nature). That’s why we all face physical death: “In Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22).
It’s hard to imagine a sweet, innocent baby being a sinner, but the Bible indicates that even children possess a sin nature. Logically, if our sin nature is inherited from Adam, then babies must already possess the bent to sin. “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child” (Proverbs 22:15). Bolstering the truth of this proverb, a child’s sinful behavior begins to manifest itself quite early in his development; as soon as a child is able to start choosing between obedience and disobedience, he will begin “testing the waters” of disobedience. Children are naturally selfish, and their wayward nature is evident to anyone who has ever been around children.
The definitive passage on the fact that people are not born “good” is Psalm 51:5. Here, David speaks of his own sin nature beginning at conception: “I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me” (CSB).
There is nothing inherently “good” within any of us. There is nothing in us that could earn salvation, and on our own we have no ability to become worthy of God’s favor. We deserve only God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:3). We are dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1). But thanks be to God, who chose to send His Son, Jesus, into the world. Jesus lived without sin, and His death on the cross paid the penalty we deserved.
Charles Wesley’s hymn “And Can It Be?” rightly praises the Lord for His amazing love:
“He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race. . . .
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”
God’s great love for us is the only reason He offers us such an amazing gift—the gift of forgiveness of sin! John 3:16–18 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

Antonio Scurati, the Free Writer of the Present Century
Bélinda Ibrahim/This Is Beirut/May 24/2024
Antonio Scurati, the renowned Italian writer and author of the “M” trilogy on Benito Mussolini, is much more than a mere historical novelist. A staunch defender of freedom of expression, he embodies the figure of the committed writer. This is Beirut had the privilege of meeting this exceptional man for an interview during a debate in Perpignan, concluded by the awarding of the “Prix Mare Nostrum du roman méditerranéen” founded by Jean-Jacques Bedu. A unique opportunity to discover the man behind the writer and to understand what drives him in his fight for historical truth and democracy.
Tall, blond, with a hooked nose and blue eyes as gentle as they are piercing, Antonio Scurati is not one to be silenced. This writer, with the thoughtful demeanor of a philosopher and a head full of ideas, knows what he is doing and, most importantly, what he is worth. With an unbreakable sense of humor, he punctuates his serious interventions with delightful anecdotes about Mussolini, almost making the controversial figure seem endearing.
When asked how it was possible to write a novel about such a historical figure, Scurati confidently replied, “Yes, yes, it is possible. I have already written three; a fourth is on the way, and a fifth is in gestation.” Like a literary detective, he scrutinized every stage of the Duce’s life, tracking the most bizarre as well as the most horrifying details, to weave an extraordinary tapestry about an equally extraordinary subject.
Scurati describes himself as a “documentary novelist,” an approach he has adopted to narrate the history of fascism through the eyes of Benito Mussolini in his work M, the Child of the Century. He specifies that his book contains “nothing fictionalized, nor, undoubtedly, romanticized,” seeking instead to transform history into a novel without falling into the traps of aestheticization. This unique approach reflects the author’s determination to stay as close as possible to historical truth while offering a captivating and immersive reading experience.
Born on June 25, 1969, in Naples, Antonio Scurati is a renowned Italian writer, professor, and columnist. He teaches comparative literature and creative writing at the Free University of Languages and Communication (IULM) in Milan and is also a columnist for the prestigious newspaper Corriere della Sera. His talent is unquestionable: his works, translated into several languages, break sales records in many countries and have earned him prestigious literary awards. In 2019, he won the famous Strega Prize for his novel M: Il figlio del secolo (M: The Child of the Century). In 2022, his book M. l’uomo della provvidenza (M, the Man of Providence) was awarded the European Book Prize.
Scurati’s “M” trilogy is a series of historical novels that trace the rise and fall of Benito Mussolini and fascism in Italy. This masterful work stands out for its hybrid approach, brilliantly blending fiction and historical documentation to offer an immersive perspective on this tumultuous period of Italian history.
The first volume, M: Il figlio del secolo (2018), covers the period from 1919 to 1925, describing Mussolini’s meteoric rise to power. Acclaimed by critics, this novel has been praised for its ability to humanize the Duce while exposing the mechanics of the rise of fascism.
M: L’uomo della provvidenza (2020), the second installment, continues the exploration of the Mussolini era from 1925 to 1932. Scurati skillfully depicts the years of consolidation of fascist power and the repressive policies implemented by the regime while examining the complex relationships between Mussolini and his contemporaries.
Finally, M: Gli ultimi giorni dell’Europa (2023), the third volume, plunges the reader into the pivotal period from 1938 to 1940, marked by Mussolini’s fateful alliance with Hitler and the promulgation of racial laws in Italy. A poignant account of Europe’s last days before plunging into war, where we discover a Duce increasingly isolated and paranoid.
But Scurati’s work does not stop there. The author is currently working on a fourth volume that will focus on the period of World War II, continuing the narration of significant historical events in fascist Italy under Mussolini. And as if that were not enough, Scurati has already announced that a fifth volume will follow, addressing the period after Mussolini, thus completing an ambitious pentalogy that promises to leave a lasting mark on the Italian literary landscape.
During our meeting in Perpignan, where he received the “Prix Mare Nostrum du roman méditerranéen,” Antonio Scurati granted us an interview, skillfully translated live from Italian to French by Marion Poirson. It was a privileged moment to better understand the man behind the writer and grasp what drives him in his fight for memory and freedom of expression. He is aware that he could be “used” for purposes he does not endorse, and he remains extremely cautious when people rush to meet or pose with him for a photo session that he will refuse!
Beyond his status as a renowned writer, Antonio Scurati is above all a simple and discreet man. Far from the glitter and stardom, he embodies the figure of the committed writer, who dislikes being labeled as an “intellectual” because, according to him, “this word can wear many masks at once. Under the pretext of being an ‘intellectual,’ one allows oneself all postures, especially those that are unacceptable.” He carries humility and integrity, which command respect and give even more weight to his fight against oblivion and the manipulation of history.
Throughout our conversation, we discovered a man deeply attached to historical truth, driven by the desire to understand and make others understand the mechanisms that led to one of the darkest chapters in Italian history. But he is also a man with great intellectual finesse, capable of humorously and lucidly pointing out the troubling parallels between the past and the present. In his response to the question about the rarity of female characters in his trilogy, Scurati reveals the macho and misogynistic mentality of the time. The author even cites a personal note from the Duce, revealing his emotional detachment: “No woman can say she is satisfied with intimacy with me because shortly after climaxing, I am irresistibly drawn to the image of my hat.” This remark perfectly illustrates the attitude of a man in a hurry, considering women as mere objects of ephemeral desire. However, despite this context, women played a significant, though little-known, role in Mussolini’s life.
Where there is no room for feathers, there is no room for life. This metaphor could sum up Scurati, who emphasizes the crucial importance of freedom of expression in a democratic society, where writers play a vital role as guardians of truth and social critique. This meeting with Antonio Scurati will remain etched in our memories as an exceptional moment, a rare privilege to converse with an extraordinary man who honors literature and commitment. A writer whose work and struggle are more necessary than ever in a Europe facing the resurgence of extremism and the temptation of identity retreat.