English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For November 10/2024
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant
does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends because I
have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 15/15-21/:"I do not
call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master
is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you
everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose
you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the
Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these
commands so that you may love one another. ‘If the world hates you, be aware
that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world
would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world therefore the world hates you. Remember the word
that I said to you, "Servants are not greater than their master." If they
persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep
yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name,
because they do not know him who sent me."
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on November 09-10/2024
Elias Bejjan/Video & Text: Hezbollah: Neither Lebanese Nor Resistance, But an
Iranian Armed Jihadist-Terrorist Proxy Imposed on Lebanon and Its Shiite
Community
Elias Bejjani/Our Maronite Patriarch and Bishops Live in Another World, Drowning
in Dhimmitude, and Blinded to Hezbollah’s Occupation and its Crime of Usurping
Sovereignty
5 siblings some of whom deaf are among the dead in Israeli strikes in Lebanon
The Potential for a Civilization
Islamic Sharia Council Calls on UN to End War in Lebanon
Another Historic Site Destroyed, UNESCO to Convene on November 18
Closed Meeting Between Derian and Mikati Ahead of Islamic Sharia Council Session
Massive Fire in Hamra: Firefighters Battle Blaze and Evacuate Residents
Austin tells Katz US committed to Lebanon-Israel deal
12 Israeli airstrikes target Dahieh overnight
3 killed, over 30 hurt by Israeli strikes on Tyre
Buried for 14 hours after Israeli strike, Lebanese toddler makes recovery
While Syrian refugees don't want to return, officials in Lebanon and Syria see
exodus as opportunity
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on November 09-10/2024
Israeli strike hits countryside of Aleppo and Idlib
Israeli rejects 'biased' warning of famine in Gaza
At least 64 attacks against schools reported in Gaza last month, says UNICEF
Hungry Palestinians in northern Gaza search for food in rubble of destroyed
homes
Iran says Trump assassination plot claim 'totally unfounded'
Iranian American human rights activists expresses defiance over Iranian plots to
kill her and Trump
Iran foreign minister denies plot to kill Trump, urges confidence-building with
US
Qatar Withdraws From Gaza Talks, Warns Hamas over Doha Office
Russia open to hearing Trump’s proposals for ending the war, an official says
Ukrainian drones hit Russian weapons factory, Kyiv source says
Thousands participate in Palestinian solidarity march in Dublin
New insurgent group kills 15 in northwest Nigeria, residents say
Dozens killed in Pakistan train station suicide blast, as militants claim
responsibility
Saudi-led coalition in Yemen says two members of its forces killed
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on November 09-10/2024
Peace in the Middle East: The First Step/Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone
Institute./November 9, 2024
Will re-election of Donald Trump open pathways to Middle East peace?/RAY HANANIA/Arab
News/November 09, 2024
Trump’s comeback/Mohammad Faisal Al Dossari/The Arab Weekly/November 09/2024
Sistani and the State Authority/Mustafa Fahs/Asharq AlAwsat/November 09/2024
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News &
Editorials published
on November 09-10/2024
Elias Bejjan/Video & Text: Hezbollah: Neither Lebanese Nor
Resistance, But an Iranian Armed Jihadist-Terrorist Proxy Imposed on Lebanon and
Its Shiite Community
Elias Bejjani/November 09/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/11/136656/
The Shiite community in Lebanon has been held hostage by Hezbollah since 1982.
This group did not emerge as a voluntary choice for the Shiites, but rather was
imposed upon them by armed force during the 1980s under Syrian occupation. This
imposition was a calculated agreement between the Iranian regime and the Assad
Ba'athist regime, aimed at controlling Lebanon through a proxy force. Hezbollah
completed its domination over Lebanon’s Shiite community in 1988, following the
battles of Iqlim al-Tuffah, which forced the Amal Movement into submission and
transformed it into a symbolic facade that carries out orders without any
genuine decision-making power.
From the start, Hezbollah has systematically isolated Lebanon’s Shiites from the
rest of the Lebanese people, from the state, and from Arab identity, cementing
its control over their representation, education, religious institutions, and
social frameworks across all areas of Shiite presence in Lebanon. The group’s
MPs do not serve the community; they serve Hezbollah’s command and agenda, which
aligns solely with Iran’s interests. Hezbollah has militarized the youth,
deploying them in battlefields across Syria, Iraq, Yemen, the Gulf, and even
Western countries, all to serve the expansionist ambitions of the Iranian
regime.
Hezbollah openly declares that it operates within the structure of Iran’s "Army
of the Guardianship of the Jurist" (Wilayat al-Faqih), boasting that all its
resources—financial, military, and operational—are provided by Iran and
dedicated to advancing Iran’s agenda. From its inception, Hezbollah has never
been a true resistance force for Lebanon. It is not concerned with liberating
Palestine or defending Lebanese sovereignty. Instead, it functions as an
obedient arm of Iran, carrying out Iran’s regional strategies with absolute
loyalty to Tehran.
Hezbollah is not Lebanese; it is an Iranian military force in Lebanon. Its
presence undermines Lebanon’s sovereignty, holds the Shiite community hostage,
and drags Lebanon into wars that only serve Iranian interests, particularly the
ongoing confrontation with Israel.
The ongoing current war, that Hezbollaha waged against Israel under the guise of
"resistance," has nothing to do with Lebanon’s interests or its people’s safety.
Hezbollah’s existence in Lebanon as well as its wars serve only the Iranian
regime, and its loyalty lies entirely with Tehran—not with Lebanon.
The Lebanese people, and particularly the Shiite community, deserve freedom from
this forced allegiance. They deserve a future where they can engage with the
Lebanese state and the broader Arab community without the chains of Iranian
control. The dismantling of Hezbollah’s hold over Lebanon and its people is
imperative for reclaiming Lebanon’s sovereignty, stability, and peace.
Elias Bejjani/Our Maronite
Patriarch and Bishops Live in Another World, Drowning in Dhimmitude, and Blinded
to Hezbollah’s Occupation and its Crime of Usurping Sovereignty
Elias Bejjani/November 6, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/11/136590/
Matthew 5:37 / “Let your word be ‘Yes,
Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”
To the shepherd who has abandoned his flock, and to the Maronite
bishops who participated in the misguided and sinful homage at the Mleeta
Museum: Enough with the dhimmitude and blindness to the reality of occupation,
its crimes, its wars, and its shameful arrogance. Your statement today is
alienated from Lebanon, its state, its people, and their suffering; it is
undoubtedly a grave mistake and a sin.
Know that the abduction of Imad Amhaz and Israel's war against Hezbollah in
Lebanon are by no means violations of Lebanese sovereignty, as you have falsely
claimed in your “lamentable” statement. Sovereignty, you dear Bishops who are
supposed to be guardians of sovereignty, has long been absent, usurped,
confiscated and controlled by Hezbollah and its Persian masters.
Fear God, or resign, for your presence has become a disaster, and your absence
would indeed be a relief and a blessing.
5 siblings some of whom deaf are among the dead in Israeli strikes in Lebanon
Mohammed Zaatari And Bassem Mroue/TYRE, Lebanon (AP)/November 9,
2024
An Israeli airstrike on the southern port city of Tyre left at least seven dead,
among them five siblings, three of whom were deaf and mute, officials and a
resident said Saturday. The rise in Tyre’s death toll came as Israel’s air force
carried out airstrikes on different parts of southern and eastern Lebanon
Saturday hours after Beirut’s southern suburbs were pounded by jets, destroying
several buildings, state media reported. Lebanon’s Hezbollah group said it fired
dozens of rockets on northern Israel and shot down a drone over south Lebanon.
The group said that Israel’s air force struck the area where the drone crashed.
There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military.The Health
Ministry said the strikes on Tyre late Friday night also wounded 46 people. It
added that remains also were found in rubble and DNA tests will be used to
identify the victims. Youssef Jundi, a Tyre resident, told The Associated Press
that the airstrikes destroyed several buildings in the coastal city. He said
that his long-time neighbor and friend, Ghazwa Dabouk, was among those killed.
Dabouk’s sisters Elissar, Rabab and Fidaa, who were deaf and mute, were also
killed in the airstrike, together with Dabouk's brother Ali, who had autism.
The Israeli military said it attacked the Tyre offices of Hezbollah’s
intelligence department as well as a command and control center for the group in
the city. More than 3,000 people were killed in Lebanon during the 13 months of
the Israel-Hezbollah war. Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel
the day after Hamas’ surprise attack into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, ignited the
war in Gaza. Hezbollah and Hamas are both allied with Iran.For nearly a year,
the conflict was mostly contained to the areas along the border between Israel
and Lebanon. The conflict dramatically escalated on Sept. 23 with intense
Israeli airstrikes on south and east Lebanon as well as Beirut’s southern
suburbs, leaving hundreds dead and leading to the displacement of nearly 1.2
million people. Israel began a ground invasion of south Lebanon on Oct. 1,
causing wide destruction in border villages but making little advances on the
ground inside Lebanon. Israel says it is destroying Hezbollah weapons and
command centers near the border, including an extensive tunnel system built by
Hezbollah.
The Potential for a Civilization
Fady Noun/This is Beirut/November 09/2024
In recent days, there has been much talk of war, civilization and the need to
defend it. I am not convinced that one defends civilization by sowing barbarism
oneself. Yet, I am certain of this: the very prospect of civilization is at
stake in Lebanon. It is about the ability of men and women of different origins
and faiths to coexist on the same land and unite around a shared purpose. This
is why Lebanon matters – not only for itself but as something far greater.”These
words, spoken by President Macron at the International Conference in Support of
Lebanon's People on October 24, “are not truly his own” (John 11:49). They
reflect a republican version of Pope John Paul II’s famous prophecy: “The Church
wishes to show the world that Lebanon is more than a country; it is a message of
freedom and an example of pluralism for both East and West” (excerpt from a
letter to all the bishops of the Catholic Church, October 1989). The part of
Macron’s statement referring to barbarism is, it seems, a veiled reference to
Israel.For the East, the example is undeniable: Lebanon is a pluralistic
democracy surrounded by tyrannies, theocracies and kingdoms. In stark contrast
to a state that insists on being “a Jewish State for the Jews” and despite “the
barbarism” – which the Land of the Cedars will survive – Lebanon remains a “land
of encounter,” standing as its very antithesis. For the West, this truth will
become ever clearer as multiethnic and multicultural states continue to emerge.
In this Lebanon that is “greater than itself,” the Maronite Church, its
spiritual godmother, must continuously rise above its own limitations to fulfill
the message entrusted to it. How? By relentlessly striving to transcend a
sectarian interpretation of religion in favor of a spiritual one, resisting the
sociological pressures that confine the Church to the narrow interests of one
community, and elevating it to its universal spiritual mission. In this
struggle, amid the current devastation, Lebanon must remain focused on two
principles – and a third: democracy, however imperfect; pluralism, as anarchic
as it may seem; and divine providence in all its abundance. On this foundation,
a framework must be forged, one that transcends the mere victory of one faction
over another, one that severs the allegiances binding some to foreign powers.
Lebanon must be rebuilt as a unified, cohesive nation – not just a marketplace
for leisure. A Lebanon that would make our founding fathers, our ancestors and
our children proud.
We must dare to envision a joyful Lebanon.
Islamic Sharia Council Calls on UN to End War in Lebanon
This is Beirut/November 09/2024
The Higher Islamic Sharia Council held its regular meeting on Saturday, chaired
by the Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, at Dar
al-Fatwa, in the presence of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati. In its
statement, the Council strongly condemned the destructive Israeli offensive
against Lebanon, calling on the UN Security Council to "immediately" adopt a
resolution to end the war on the country and "compel" Israel to comply with it.
The Council also called for the full implementation of Security Council
Resolution 1701, "to enable the Lebanese Army to fulfill its national duty of
defending Lebanon and restoring state sovereignty." It reiterated its support
for the PM, who "continues to work tirelessly to navigate Lebanon through its
crisis by containing the repercussions of the Israeli aggression." According to
the statement, Lebanese muftis emphasized the importance of national unity,
describing it as "a fundamental guarantee for Lebanon’s security, sovereignty,
freedom, and independence." The statement noted that "the Israeli aggression
targets Lebanon and all Lebanese who, through their unity, solidarity, and
commitment to their country, are capable of resisting and repelling the enemy."
Viewing the current situation as "a trial that exposes Lebanon to destruction,"
the Council stressed the need to "proceed, in accordance with the provisions of
the Constitution, to elect a President of the Republic, a unifying symbol for
the country." It also highlighted the importance of "Muslim-Christian
coexistence and building a state of law."The Council further urged participants
at the upcoming Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on November 11 to address the
Palestinian cause, "which is at the heart of most issues in the region,"
advocating a solution based on the establishment of a Palestinian state with
Jerusalem as its capital.
Finally, the Council welcomed the declaration from the spiritual summit in
Bkerke, which underscored the need to end hostilities, reach an immediate
ceasefire, and fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Another Historic Site Destroyed, UNESCO to Convene on
November 18
This is Beirut/November 09/2024
Another historic building was bombarded on Saturday in Nabatiyeh. The Israeli
Army targeted a historic home, one of the oldest in the city, which belonged to
the late MP Rafic Chahine. While the Israeli Army insists on launching
raids against or close to historical sites, and following the Lebanese MP’s
appeal to the international community to take immediate action, UNESCO will hold
an extraordinary session in that regard. Until that session on the 18th, how
many more sites will be destroyed? “Baalbeck Castle Is at Risk” The Governor of
the Baalbeck-Hermel Governorate, Bachir Khodr, warned on Saturday that the
“Baalbeck Castle is at risk today, despite diplomatic efforts to protect
Lebanon's archaeological sites."He also revealed that "more than 50 airstrikes
targeted Hermel this week." "The technical inspection of the castle has not been
carried out yet due to security conditions, but we will conduct it to ensure
that no damage has occurred to the castle as a result of the recent airstrikes,
which has not been visibly detected,” he added. While Israel continues to target
historic buildings, a group of Lebanese parliamentarians has made an urgent
appeal to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay to intervene and protect
Lebanon’s cultural heritage sites, which are facing mounting threats due to the
ongoing Israeli attacks and destruction. The MPs delivered a message to UNESCO,
urging the global organization to take immediate action to safeguard the
country’s invaluable historical landmarks from further damage, including those
in Baalbeck, Tyre, Sidon, and other historic cities, in a letter on Thursday.
The MPs concluded their letter by urging Azoulay and UNESCO to prioritize the
preservation of these historical monuments, ensuring that they remain as symbols
of unity and peace for future generations. UNESCO's Special Committee for the
Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict will meet on
November 18 for an extraordinary session devoted to Lebanon, to call for
“enhanced protection” of Lebanon's heritage.
Closed Meeting Between Derian and Mikati Ahead of Islamic Sharia Council Session
This is Beirut/November 09/2024
The Higher Islamic Sharia Council, chaired by the Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh
Abdel Latif Derian, held its session at Dar al-Fatwa to discuss several national
affairs, linked to the ongoing crises resulting from the war between Israel and
Hezbollah. Prior to the session, a closed meeting was held between Derian and
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at Dar al-Fatwa. Upon leaving, Mikati
stated, “In all our meetings, we witness the unity and solidarity of the
Lebanese people and their commitment to this unity.” He pointed out that Derian
emphasized “the need to focus on unity, collective discourse, and
inclusivity.”Mikati is expected in Riyadh on Sunday to participate in the
Arab-Islamic summit scheduled for November 11. He plans to arrive with strong
political backing. His main challenge will be to present himself before the Arab
community not only as Lebanon’s executive leader, but also as a national and,
importantly, Sunni figurehead. The goal? To prepare for the post-war phase and
position himself as a potential "candidate" to lead a prospective new
government. Ahead of his visit to Saudi Arabia, Mikati took an initiative some
political figures view as having sectarian undertones. After a meeting on
Thursday at the Grand Serail with the Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdel Latif
Derian, the prime minister called for a broader meeting on Friday with the
country’s 27 Sunni MPs.
https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/articles/1300849/brighter-prospects-for-mikati
Massive Fire in Hamra: Firefighters Battle Blaze and Evacuate Residents
This is Beirut/November 09/2024
A massive fire broke out on Saturday morning in a parking lot in Hamra, igniting
several cars and trapping residents of nearby buildings. A thick black cloud
covered the sky as firefighters worked to contain the rapidly spreading blaze.
The reason of the fire as per local media is a power short circuit that enflamed
a huge fuel generator. The National News Agency (NNA) reported that firefighters
and Civil Defense personnel managed to control the fire. Two persons, a worker
of non-Lebanese nationality, and a woman were reported injured. Cases of
asphyxiation have been reported earlier in nearby apartments, prompting
intensive efforts to evacuate residents. Children, elderly individuals, and
other citizens were seen evacuating from their balconies. The caretaker Minister
of Interior, Bassam Maalawi, along with Civil Defense Director-General Raymond
Khattar, closely monitored efforts to extinguish the fire. According to the NNA,
a technical malfunction was behind the fire. The reason it spread so quickly was
due to oil tanks close to the generator, which caught fire in turn. At least
twenty-five cars were destroyed. A building was completely damaged.
Austin tells Katz US committed to Lebanon-Israel deal
Agence France Presse/November 09/2024
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has discussed Lebanon and Gaza in his first
call with his new Israeli counterpart Israel Katz, the Pentagon said. Katz was
sworn in before parliament the previous day, after his predecessor's shock
dismissal by the prime minister over a breakdown in trust during the war in Gaza
-- a conflict that began with a devastating Hamas attack against Israel on
October 7, 2023. Austin "held an introductory call today with the new Israeli
minister of defense, Israel Katz, and congratulated him on his recent
appointment," Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said in a statement. He
told Katz that Washington is committed to a deal that allows Lebanese and
Israeli citizens displaced by more than a year of cross-border violence to
return to their homes, as well as to the return of hostages seized by
Palestinian militant group Hamas, Ryder said.
The U.S. defense chief also discussed "the need to improve the dire humanitarian
conditions in Gaza," after he and Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israel
in a letter earlier this month that it needed to allow more aid into the small
war-wracked coastal territory.
12 Israeli airstrikes target Dahieh overnight
Agence France Presse/November 09/2024
Israeli air strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs overnight Friday shortly after
Israel's military warned residents to leave parts of the area. An air raid hit
near the Lebanese University in Hadath and another on the Burj al-Barajneh
suburb. The aerial attack also hit the al-Jamous neighborhood.
Echoes of the attack rang out over Beirut, while thick black smoke blanketed the
region as around 12 airstrikes targeted the southern suburbs. Hezbollah and
Israel have been at war since late September, when Israel broadened its focus
from fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip to securing its northern border, even as
the Gaza war continues. Hezbollah announced on Wednesday that it had targeted a
military base close to Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main international transport
hub. Hezbollah began low-intensity strikes on Israel last year in support of its
Palestinian ally Hamas following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which
triggered the Gaza war. Since September 23, more than 2,600 people have been
killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, according to Health Minister Firass Abiad.
3 killed, over 30 hurt by Israeli strikes on Tyre
Naharnet/November 09/2024
Three people were killed and over 30 injured in several Israeli airstrikes on
Lebanon's southern port city of Tyre, the health ministry said. The ministry
said that this toll is preliminary, as rescue workers were searching for people
trapped under rubble. The Israeli army did not issue an evacuation warning
before the strikes. They hit several locations in Tyre and caused extensive
damage, according to Lebanon’s state media. Following the attacks, the Israeli
army said it targeted Hezbollah “intelligence and command and control complexes”
that operated in Tyre. Since late October, Israeli airstrikes have repeatedly
struck the city, which is known for its UNESCO World Heritage archaeological
sites.
Buried for 14 hours after Israeli strike, Lebanese toddler
makes recovery
Agence France Presse/November 09/2024
Rescuers did not expect to find two-year-old Ali Khalifeh alive after an Israeli
strike on southern Lebanon killed his entire family and left him trapped under
the rubble for 14 hours. Amputated, bandaged and hooked to a respirator in a
hospital bed that was way too big for him, "Ali is the sole survivor of his
family," said Hussein Khalifeh, his father's uncle. The toddler's parents,
sister and two grandmothers all perished in the strike on October 29, weeks
after Israel intensified its attacks on Lebanon. The strike on Sarafand, some 15
kilometers (nine miles) south of the coastal city of Sidon, flattened an
apartment complex and killed 15 people, many of them relatives, according to
residents. "Rescue workers had almost lost hope of finding anyone alive under
the rubble," 45-year-old Khalifeh told AFP from the hospital in Sidon where his
two-year-old relative was being treated.
But then "Ali appeared among debris in the shovel of the bulldozer, after we all
thought he had died," he said. "He emerged from the rubble, barely breathing,
after 14 hours." Israel has been at war with Hezbollah since late September,
when it broadened its war focus from fighting Hamas militants in Gaza to
securing its northern border with Lebanon. An escalating Israeli air campaign,
after nearly a year of low intensity cross-border fire, has killed more than
2,600 people across Lebanon since September 23, according to health ministry
figures.
'Psychological scars'
Signs of the violence were apparent even at the hospital in Sidon where Ali was
rushed to following the strike on Sarafand. The toddler, under a medically
induced coma after doctors amputated his right hand, has since been transferred
to a medical facility in the capital Beirut where he is due to undergo
pre-prosthetic surgery. "Ali was sleeping on the couch at home when the strike
hit. He is still asleep today... were are waiting to complete his surgeries
before waking him up," said the relative Hussein Khalifeh. Other family members
were also fighting to stay alive after the Sarafand strike.
One of Khalifeh's nieces, 32-year-old Zainab, was trapped under the rubble for
two hours before being rescued and transferred to the nearest hospital, said the
man. It was there that she was later informed that her parents, her husband and
three children, aged between three and seven, had all been killed. The strike
left her with only one, severely injured eye. Zainab said she "did not hear the
sounds of the missiles that rained down on her family's home," according to
Khalifeh. "She only saw darkness and heard deafening screams," he said. Ali Alaa
El-Din, a doctor treating her, said that "the psychological scars that Zainab
suffered are much greater than her physical injury."He has also tended Zainab's
sister Fatima, 30, who was wounded in the same strike. Both had injuries
"throughout their bodies, with fractures in the feet and damage to the lungs,"
said the doctor. Medically, he added, "Zainab and Fatima's cases are not among
the most difficult cases we have faced during the war, but they are the most
severe from a psychological and human perspective."
While Syrian refugees don't want to return, officials in
Lebanon and Syria see exodus as opportunity
ABBY SEWELL/BEIRUT (AP) /November 9, 2024
Hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees have returned to their country since
Israel launched a massive aerial bombardment on wide swathes of Lebanon in
September. Many who fled to Lebanon after the war in Syria started in 2011 did
not want to go back.
But for officials in Lebanon, the influx of returnees comes as a silver lining
to the war between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed more than 3,000 people
and displaced some 1.2 million in Lebanon. Some in Syria hope the returning
refugees could lead to more international assistance and relief from western
sanctions.
'I wasn't thinking at all about returning'
Nisreen al-Abed returned to her northwest Syrian hometown in October after 12
years as a refugee in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. The airstrikes had been
terrifying, but what really worried her was that her 8-year-old twin daughters
need regular transfusions to treat a rare blood disorder, thalassemia.
“I was afraid that in Lebanon, in this situation, I wouldn’t be able to get
blood for them,” al-Abed said. During their dayslong journey, Al-Abed and her
daughters were smuggled from government-held to opposition-held territory before
reaching her parent’ house. Her husband remained in Lebanon. “Before these
events, I wasn’t thinking at all about returning to Syria,” she said. According
to the U.N. refugee agency, more than 470,000 people — around 70% of them Syrian
— have crossed the border since the escalation in Lebanon began in
mid-September. Lebanon's General Security agency estimates more than 550,000
people have fled, most of them Syrian. Most of the returnees are in
government-controlled areas of Syria, according to UNHCR, while tens of
thousands have made their way to the Kurdish-controlled northeast and smaller
numbers to the opposition-controlled northwest. Political leaders in Lebanon,
which was hosting an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees before the recent
wave of returns, have been calling for years for the displaced to go home, and
many don't want the refugees to return. Lebanon's caretaker Minister of Social
Affairs Hector Hajjar told Russia's Sputnik News last month that the war in
Lebanon could yield “a positive benefit, an opportunity to return a large number
of displaced Syrians to their country, because the situation there is now better
than here.”
A political opening for Syria?
Officials in Damascus point to increasing economic pressure from the masses
fleeing Lebanon as an argument for loosening western sanctions on President
Bashar Assad's government. Syria was already suffering from spiraling inflation,
and the sudden influx of refugees has driven prices up even more, as have
Israeli strikes on border crossings that have slowed legal cross-border trade
and smuggling. “Everyone knows that Syria is suffering from difficult economic
conditions: hyperinflation, import inflation, and an economic blockade," said
Abdul-Qader Azzouz, an economic analyst and professor at Damascus University.
The influx of refugees just "increases the economic burden,” he said. Alaa
al-Sheikh, a member of the executive bureau in Damascus province, urged the U.S.
to lift sanctions on Syria because of the huge number of arrivals. “The burden
is big and we are in pressing need of international assistance,” she said.
Rights groups have raised concerns about the treatment of returning refugees.
The Jordan-based Syrian think tank ETANA estimates at least 130 people were
“arbitrarily arrested at official border crossings or checkpoints inside Syria,
either because they were wanted for security reasons or military service,”
despite a government-declared amnesty for men who dodged the draft. Joseph Daher,
a Swiss-Syrian researcher and professor at the European University Institute in
Florence, noted the number of arrests is small and that Assad's government might
not view the returnees as a threat because they are mostly women and children.
Still, Daher labeled government attempts to show the returning refugees are
welcome as “propaganda,” saying, “they’re unwilling and not ready in terms of
economics or politics to do it.”UNHCR head Filippo Grandi said this week that
his agency is working with the Syrian government “to ensure the safety and
security of all those arriving," and he urged donors to provide humanitarian aid
and financial assistance to help Syria recover after 13 years of war.
A temporary return
UNHCR regional spokeswoman Rula Amin said if people leave the country where they
are registered as refugees, they usually lose their protected status. Whether
and how that will be applied in the current situation remains unclear, Amin
said, underscoring the exodus from Lebanon took place “under adverse
circumstances, that is under duress.”“Given the current situation, the procedure
will need to be applied with necessary safeguards and humanity," she said. Jeff
Crisp, a visiting research fellow at the University of Oxford’s Refugee Studies
Center and a former UNHCR official, said he believes Syrians are entitled to
continued international protection "because of the grave threats to their life
and liberty in both countries.” Some refugees have entered Syria via smuggler
routes so their departure from Lebanon is not officially recorded, including Um
Yaman, who left Beirut's heavily bombarded southern suburbs with her children
for the city of Raqqa in eastern Syria. “When I went to Syria, to be honest, I
went by smuggling, in case we wanted to go back to Lebanon later when things
calm down, so our papers would remain in order in Lebanon,” she said. She asked
to be identified only by her honorific (“mother of Yaman”) to be able to speak
freely. If the war in Lebanon ends, Um Yaman said, they may return, but "nothing
is clear at all.”
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on November 09-10/2024
Israeli strike hits countryside of Aleppo and Idlib
Agence France Presse/November 9, 2024
Syrian state media reported an Israeli strike Saturday on the countryside of
Aleppo and Idlib that injured soldiers and caused damage. "At around 00:45 after
midnight, the Israeli army launched an air aggression from the direction of
southeast Aleppo, targeting a number of sites in the countryside of Aleppo and
Idlib," the official SANA news agency said. The report added that the attack had
"resulted in the injury of a number of soldiers and some material losses",
without providing further details. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a
Britain-based war monitor, reported the strikes had targeted military
installations. The war monitor also said members of the Iranian revolutionary
guards and pro-Tehran factions were based in the area. Since the beginning of
the Syrian civil war in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in
Syria, mainly targeting army positions and Iran-backed fighters including from
Hezbollah. The Israeli military has intensified its strikes on Syria since it
launched its war on Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. Israeli authorities rarely
comment on the strikes but have repeatedly said they will not allow arch-enemy
Iran to expand its presence in Syria.
Israeli rejects 'biased' warning of famine in Gaza
Emily Rose/Reuters/November 9, 2024
JERUSALEM- Israel rejected on Saturday a group of global food security experts'
warning of famine in parts of northern Gaza where it is waging war against
Palestinian militant group Hamas. "Unfortunately, the researchers continue to
rely on partial, biased data and superficial sources with vested interests," the
military said in a statement. The independent Famine Review Committee (FRC) said
on Friday in a rare alert that there was a strong likelihood of imminent famine
in parts of north Gaza with immediate action required from the warring parties
to ease a catastrophic situation. Israel said it had increased aid efforts
including opening an additional crossing on Friday. Since the beginning of the
war in October, 2023, 39,000 trucks carrying more than 840,000 tons of food have
entered Gaza, it said, and meetings were taking place daily with the U.N. which
had 700 trucks of aid awaiting pickup and distribution. With some critics
decrying a starvation tactic in north Gaza, Israel's main ally the U.S. has set
a deadline within days for it to improve the humanitarian situation or face
potential restrictions on military cooperation.
At least 64 attacks against schools reported in Gaza
last month, says UNICEF
Arab News/November 09, 2024
LONDON: At least 64 attacks targeting schools were reported in the Gaza Strip
last month, averaging nearly two incidents per day, according to data from
UNICEF and its partners released on Saturday. The strikes in October led to an
estimated 128 deaths, many of whom were children, the report added. These
schools, which often double as shelters for displaced families and children
fleeing violence, have seen 226 attacks since the conflict began on Oct. 7 last
year. Over one million children have been displaced in the past 14 months,
facing unimaginable hardship and trauma, UNICEF said. Schools should never be on
the frontlines of war, and children should never be indiscriminately attacked
while seeking shelter,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “The
horrors we are seeing in Gaza are setting a dark precedent for humanity, one
where children are hit with bombs at record numbers while looking for safety
inside classrooms. Trauma and loss have become their daily norm.”Nearly half of
the attacks in October – 25 in total – were concentrated in northern Gaza, an
area experiencing relentless bombardment, widespread displacement, and limited
humanitarian aid. Many of these schools also serve as critical malnutrition
treatment points, providing essential services to those in need. International
Humanitarian Law designates schools as protected spaces. However, since the
renewed hostilities in October 2023, more than 95 percent of Gaza’s schools have
been partially or completely destroyed. UNICEF reports that 87 percent will need
extensive reconstruction before they can be used again. The plight of children
in Gaza underscores the urgent need for adherence to international laws
protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure, particularly in conflict zones
where the most vulnerable bear the brunt of violence and devastation, UNICEF
added.
Hungry Palestinians in northern Gaza search for food in
rubble of destroyed homes
AP/November 09, 2024
JERUSALEM: With virtually no food allowed into the northernmost part of Gaza for
the past month, tens of thousands of Palestinians under Israeli siege are
rationing their last lentils and flour to survive. As bombardment pounds around
them, some say they risk their lives by venturing out in search of cans of food
in the rubble of destroyed homes. Thousands have staggered out of the area,
hungry and thin, into Gaza City, where they find the situation a little better.
One hospital reports seeing thousands of children suffering from malnutrition. A
nutritionist said she treated a pregnant woman wasting away at just 40 kilograms
(88 pounds). “We are being starved to force us to leave our homes,” said
Mohammed Arqouq, whose family of eight is determined to stay in the north,
weathering Israel’s siege. “We will die here in our homes.” Medical workers warn
that hunger is spiraling to dire proportions under a monthlong siege on northern
Gaza by the Israeli military, which has been waging a fierce campaign since the
beginning of October. The military has severed the area with checkpoints,
ordering residents to leave. Many Palestinians fear Israel aims to depopulate
the north long term.
On Friday, experts from a panel that monitors food security said famine is
imminent in the north or may already be happening. The growing desperation comes
as the deadline approaches next week for a 30-day request the administration of
President Joe Biden gave Israel: raise the level of humanitarian assistance
allowed into Gaza or risk possible restrictions on US military funding. The US
says Israel must allow a minimum of 350 trucks a day carrying food and other
supplies. Israel has fallen far short. In October, 57 trucks a day entered Gaza
on average, according to figures from Israel’s military agency overseeing aid
entry, known as COGAT. In the first week of November, the average was 81 a
day.The UN puts the number even lower — 37 trucks daily since the beginning of
October. It says Israeli military operations and general lawlessness often
prevent it from collecting supplies, leaving hundreds of truckloads stranded at
the border. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Israel had made
some progress by announcing the opening of a new crossing into central Gaza and
approving new delivery routes.
But he said Israel must do more.
“It’s not just sufficient to open new roads if more humanitarian assistance
isn’t going through those roads,” he said. Israeli forces have been hammering
the towns of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and Jabaliya refugee camp. Witnesses
report intense fighting between troops and militants.
A trickle of food has reached Gaza City. However, as of Thursday, nothing
entered the towns farther north for 30 days, even as an estimated 70,000 people
remain there, said Louise Wateridge, spokesperson for the UN agency for
Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, speaking from Gaza City.
The government acknowledged in late October that it hadn’t allowed aid into
Jabaliya because of military “operational constraints” in response to a petition
by Israeli human rights groups. On Saturday, COGAT said it allowed 11 trucks of
food and supplies into Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya. But Alia Zaki, a spokeswoman
for the WFP, said Israeli troops at a checkpoint forced the convoy to unload the
food before it could reach shelters in Beit Hanoun. It was not clear what then
happened to the supplies. Palestinians in the north described a desperate daily
struggle to find food, water, and safety as strike-level buildings, sometimes
killing whole families. Arqouq said he goes out at night to search bombed-out
buildings: “Sometimes you find a half-empty package of flour, canned food, and
lentils.”He said his family relies on help from others sheltering at a Jabaliya
school, but their food is also running low.
“We are like dogs and cats searching for their food in the rubble,” said Um
Saber, a widow. She said she and her six children had to flee a
school-turned-shelter in Beit Lahiya when Israel struck it. Now they live in her
father-in-law’s home, stretching meager supplies of lentils and pasta with 40
others, mostly women and children. Ahmed Abu Awda, a 28-year-old father of three
living with 25 relatives in a Jabaliya house, said they have a daily meal of
lentils with bread, rationing to ensure children eat.
“Sometimes we don’t eat at all,” he said.
Lubna, a 38-year-old mother of five, left food behind when fleeing as strikes
and drone fire pummeled the street in Jabaliya. “We got out by a miracle,” she
said from Beit Lahiya, where they’re staying. Her husband scavenged flour from
destroyed homes after Israeli forces withdrew around nearby Kamal Adwan
hospital, she said. It’s moldy, she said, so they sift it first. Her young
daughter, Selina, is visibly gaunt and bony, Lubna said. The offensive has
raised fears among Palestinians that Israel seeks to empty northern Gaza and
hold it long-term under a surrender-or-starve plan proposed by former generals.
Witnesses report Israeli troops going building to building, forcing people to
leave toward Gaza City. On Thursday, the Israeli military ordered new
evacuations from several Gaza City neighborhoods, raising the possibility of a
ground assault there.
The UN said some 14,000 displaced Palestinians were sheltering there. Food and
supplies are also stretched for the several hundred thousand people in Gaza
City. Much of the city has been flattened by months of Israeli bombardment and
shelling. Dr. Rana Soboh, a nutrition specialist at Gaza City’s Patient Friend
Benevolent Hospital, said she sees 350 cases of moderate to severe acute
malnutrition daily, most from the north and also from Gaza City.“The bone of
their chest is showing, the eyes are protruding,” she said, and many have
trouble concentrating. “You repeat something several times so they can
understand what we are saying.” She cited a 32-year-old woman shedding weight in
her third month of pregnancy — when they put her on the scale, she weighed only
40 kg. “We are suffering, facing the ghost of famine hovering over Gaza,” Soboh
said. Even before the siege in the north, the Patient Friend hospital saw a
flood of children suffering from malnutrition — more than 4,780 in September
compared with 1,100 in July, said Dr. Ahmad Eskiek, who oversees hospital
operations. Soboh said staff get calls from Beit Lahiya and Jabaliya pleading
for help: “What can we do? We have nothing.”
She had worked at Kamal Adwan Hospital in the north but fled with her family to
Gaza City. Now, they stay with 22 people in her uncle’s two-bedroom apartment.
On Thursday, she had had a morsel of bread for breakfast and later a meal of
yellow lentils.
As winter rains near, new arrivals set up tents wherever they can. Some 1,500
people are in a UN school already heavily damaged in strikes that “could
collapse at any moment,” UNRWA spokesperson Wateridge said. With toilets
destroyed, people try to set aside a classroom corner to use, leaving waste
“streaming down the walls of the school,” she said. She said that others in Gaza
City move into the rubble of buildings, draping tarps between layers of
collapsed concrete.
“It’s like the carcass of a city,” she said.
Iran says Trump assassination plot claim 'totally
unfounded'
Agence France Presse/November 9, 2024
Iran's foreign ministry on Saturday described as "totally unfounded" U.S.
accusations of a plot by Tehran to assassinate president-elect Donald Trump. The
foreign ministry "rejects allegations that Iran is implicated in an
assassination attempt targeting former or current American officials," spokesman
Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement, after U.S. prosecutors announced charges
over the alleged plot.
Iranian
American human rights activists expresses defiance over Iranian plots to kill
her and Trump
KIRSTEN GRIESHABER/BERLIN (AP)/November 9, 2024
In the middle of a Berlin hotel cafe, Masih Alinejad raises her voice and starts
singing at the top of her lungs in Farsi, as waiters turn to watch along with
the three German government bodyguards assigned to protect her. “I blossom
through my wounds and my scars,” she translates the lyrics as. “Because I am a
woman. I am a woman. I am a woman.”Alinejad was expressing her defiance and
asserting her right to express herself following the news of Iranian
murder-for-hire plots to kill her and Donald Trump that were disclosed by the
U.S. Justice Department. She said that some Iranian women had been jailed for
singing. The Iranian American human rights activist, who was in Berlin on
Saturday to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall
together with other human rights activists from around the globe, told The
Associated Press in an interview that despite the shock of the news, she felt
more determination than ever to continue fighting for women's rights in Iran.
“They want to get rid of me. When they want me dead, it means that I’m doing
something. I’m hurting them so bad," Alinejad, 48, said, referring to the
Iranian government. “I’m echoing the voice of powerful women and that scares
them.”She raised her hand in a defiant fist repeatedly during the interview. On
Friday, the U.S. Justice Department said that it was charging a man who said he
had been tasked by a government official before this week’s election with
planning the assassination of Trump. Investigators were told of the plan by
Farhad Shakeri, an accused Iranian government asset who spent time in American
prisons for robbery and who authorities say maintains a network of criminal
associates enlisted by Tehran for surveillance and murder-for-hire plots.
Shakeri is at large and remains in Iran. Two other men — identified as Jonathan
Loadholt and Carlisle Rivera by the U.S. Justice Department — were arrested on
charges that Shakeri recruited them to follow and kill Alinejad, who has endured
multiple Iranian murder-for-hire plots foiled by law enforcement. The Justice
Department alleges that the two men spent months conducting surveillance on her
and, during their efforts to locate and kill her, shared messages about their
progress and photographs. Around February, they traveled to Fairfield University
in Connecticut, where Alinejad was scheduled to appear and took photos of the
campus. Around April, Shakeri sent Rivera a series of voice notes discussing
their efforts to locate and kill her, the Justice Department said in a statement
Friday.
In one voice note, Shakeri told Rivera that “you gotta wait and have patience to
catch her either going in the house or coming out, or following her out
somewhere and taking care of it,” the statement said. “It’s scary. But at the
same time, I was very pleased that the U.S. law enforcement is protecting me,”
Alinejad said, recounting her call with American security officials. “The same
person who was trying to kill President Trump was assigned to kill me as well. I
mean, that’s a badge of honor,” she added. In Tehran, Esmail Baghaei, an Iranian
Foreign Ministry spokesman, rejected the report and called it a plot by
Israel-linked circles to make Iran-U.S. relations more complicated, the official
IRNA news agency reported. Alinejad is a prominent figure on Farsi-language
satellite channels abroad that critically view Iran, and she has worked as a
contractor for U.S.-funded Voice of America’s Farsi-language network since 2015.
She fled Iran following the country’s disputed 2009 presidential election and
became a U.S. citizen in October 2019. Alinejad accused the Iranian government
of continuing to oppress women in Iran and make them wear the mandatory
headscarf, or hijab, even two years after the death of Mahsa Amini that sparked
weekslong mass protests. The fact that the Iranian government has repeatedly
tried to kill her, she said, "makes me more determined to give voice to powerful
women inside Iran who are facing the same killers every single day.”
Iran foreign
minister denies plot to kill Trump, urges confidence-building with US
Reuters/November 9, 2024
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied U.S. charges that
Tehran was linked to an alleged plot to kill Donald Trump and called on Saturday
for confidence-building between the two hostile countries. "Now ... a new
scenario is fabricated ... as a killer does not exist in reality, scriptwriters
are brought in to manufacture a third-rate comedy," Araqchi said in a post on X.
He was referring to the alleged plot which Washington said was ordered by Iran's
elite Revolutionary Guards to assassinate Trump, who won Tuesday's presidential
election and takes office in January. "The American people have made their
decision. And Iran respects their right to elect the President of their choice.
The path forward is also a choice. It begins with respect," Araqchi said. "Iran
is NOT after nuclear weapons, period. This is a policy based on Islamic
teachings and our security calculations. Confidence-building is needed from both
sides. It is not a one-way street," he added. Iranian Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said earlier that the claim was a "repulsive" plot
by Israel and the Iranian opposition outside the country to "complicate matters
between America and Iran". Iranian analysts and insiders have not dismissed the
possibility of a detente between Tehran and Washington under Trump, although
without restoring diplomatic ties. "Iran will act based on its own interests. It
is possible that secret talks between Tehran and Washington take place. If
security threats against the Islamic Republic are removed, anything is
possible," Tehran-based analyst Saeed Laylaz said this week. While facing off
against arch-foe Israel, Iran’s clerical leadership is also concerned about the
possibility of an all-out war in the region, where Israel is engaged in
conflicts with Tehran's allies in Gaza and Lebanon.
Qatar Withdraws From Gaza Talks, Warns Hamas over Doha Office
This is Beirut/November 9, 2024
Qatar has withdrawn as a key mediator for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal and
warned Hamas that its Doha office "no longer serves its purpose", a diplomatic
source told AFP on Saturday. Qatar, with the United Sates and Egypt, has been
engaged in months of fruitless negotiations for a truce with a hostage and
prisoner releases. "The Qataris informed both the Israelis and Hamas that as
long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith, they cannot
continue to mediate," the source said on condition of anonymity. "As a
consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose," the
source said. The informed source said Qatar had already "notified both sides,
Israel and Hamas as well as the US administration" of its decision. "The Qataris
conveyed to the US administration that they would be ready to re-engage in
mediation when both sides... demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the
negotiating table", the source added. Qatar, which is home to a major US
military base, has hosted Hamas's political leadership since 2012 with
Washington's blessing. During the talks after Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel
last year, both Qatari and US officials indicated that the militant group would
remain in Doha as long as its presence offered a viable channel of
communication. Qatar said in April that it was reassessing its role as a
mediator in the conflict as it was facing criticism, notably from Israeli and US
politicians. At that time, the Qataris gave a similar message over the status of
the Hamas office, prompting Hamas officials to leave for Turkey, the diplomatic
source said. But they returned after two weeks at the request of the United
States and Israel, as negotiations were "ineffective" while they were in Turkey,
the source said. Apart from a one-week pause in the fighting late last year,
during which scores of Hamas-held hostages were released, successive rounds of
negotiations have failed to halt the war.
To break the deadlock near the end of US President Joe Biden's term and in the
run-up to this week's US elections, Washington and Doha last month announced
fresh in-person talks to explore new options.But the latest initiative produced
no breakthrough. The diplomatic source said Qatar had "concluded that there is
insufficient willingness from either side, with the mediation efforts becoming
more about politics and elections rather than a serious attempt to secure
peace".Qatar "advised the US administration and both parties that it would not
accept being subjected to political exploitation aimed at gaining political
leverage at Qatar's expense while misleading public perception", the source
added. With AFP
Russia open to
hearing Trump’s proposals for ending the war, an official says
AP/November 09, 2024
KYIV: Russia is open to hearing President-elect Donald Trump’s proposals on
ending the war, an official said, as a Russian drone killed one person and
wounded 13 in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa and the European Union foreign
policy chief held talks in Kyiv after the change in US leadership. Russian
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow and Washington were
“exchanging signals” on Ukraine via “closed channels.” He did not specify
whether the communication was with the current administration or Trump and
members of his incoming administration. Russia is ready to listen to Trump’s
proposals on Ukraine provided these were “ideas on how to move forward in the
area of settlement, and not in the area of further pumping the Kyiv regime with
all kinds of aid,” Ryabkov said Saturday in an interview with Russian state news
agency Interfax. In Kyiv, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters that
Ukraine is ready to work with the Trump administration. “Remember that President
(Volodymyr) Zelensky was one of the first world leaders ... to greet President
Trump,” he said. “It was a sincere conversation (and) an exchange of thoughts
regarding further cooperation.” “Also during the telephone conversation, further
steps to establish communication between teams were discussed and this work has
also begun. Therefore, we are open for further cooperation and I’m sure that a
unified goal of reaching just peace unites all of us,” Sybiha said. Sybiha
appeared alongside EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who said his visit is
meant to stress the European Union’s support to Ukraine. “This support remains
unwavering. This support is absolutely needed, for you to continue defending
yourself against Russian aggression,” he said. Borrell urged “faster deliveries
and fewer self imposed red lines” in getting Western weapons to Ukraine. He had
appealed to allies in August to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of
Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike Russian military targets. In Odesa,
regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said high-rise residential buildings, private houses
and warehouses in the Black Sea port city were damaged overnight by the “fall”
of a drone. He did not specify whether the drone had been shot down by air
defenses. A further 32 Russian drones were shot down over 10 Ukrainian regions,
while 18 were “lost,” according to Ukraine’s air force, likely having been
electronically jammed. A Russian aerial bomb struck a busy highway overnight in
the northeastern Kharkiv province, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekohov said. No
casualties were reported. Russia is mounting an intensified aerial campaign that
Ukrainian officials say they need more Western help to counter. However, doubts
are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new US administration. Trump has
repeatedly taken issue with US aid to Ukraine, made vague vows to end the war
and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. In Russia, the Defense
Ministry said 50 Ukrainian drones were destroyed over seven Russian regions —
more than half over the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine.
Ukrainian drones hit Russian weapons factory, Kyiv source
says
Reuters/Sat, November 9, 2024
Ukrainian drones struck a munitions factory in central Russia in an overnight
attack, a source in Ukraine's SBU Security Service told Reuters on Saturday. The
attack on the Aleksinsky chemical plant, which produces gunpowder, ammunition
and weapons in the Tula region about 200 km (120 miles) south of Moscow, was
part of a strategy to target factories that support Moscow's war against
Ukraine, the source said. "Attacks on weapons warehouses, military airfields,
and enterprises, which are part of the Russian military-industrial complex,
reduce Russia's ability to terrorize our country," the SBU source said. The
source did not give any estimate of damage to the Aleksinsky factory. Russia's
Defence Ministry said its forces shot down 50 Ukrainian drones in seven Russian
regions overnight, Russian state news agency Tass reported. As the war against
Russia approaches its 1,000-day mark, Ukraine is on the back foot on the
battlefield against its larger and better-equipped foe. Russian troops are
steadily advancing in the eastern Donetsk region, slicing through Ukrainian
defence lines and wiping out towns and villages there with guided air bombs and
artillery. The Ukrainian General Staff said on Saturday that the frontline
situation was complicated, reporting more than 170 combat clashes in the past 24
hours, the majority in the east. Ukrainian officials say strikes against
military facilities, warehouses, and airfields in Russia would disrupt Moscow
troops' logistics and supplies and help turn the war in Ukraine's favour. Since
September, Ukraine has struck several ammunition warehouses in Russia with
Ukrainian-produced long-range drones, according to Ukrainian security officials.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly urged Kyiv's Western partners to
supply more long-range missiles and lift restrictions on using them to hit
targets deep inside Russia.
Thousands participate in Palestinian solidarity march in
Dublin
Cillian Sherlock, PA/November 9, 2024
Thousands of people have joined a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Dublin,
calling for sanctions on Israel and its immediate expulsion from the United
Nations. The large crowd marched from the Garden of Remembrance through the
Irish capital towards its parliament buildings, one day after an election was
formally announced. The activists expressed anger at the Irish Government’s
failure to pass legislation designed to restrict trade with Israeli settlements
in Palestine before the dissolution of the Dail parliament on Friday.
Demonstrators, some wearing keffiyehs and waving banners and Palestinian flags,
stopped for a series of speeches outside Leinster House. Speakers led chants of
“free, free Palestine” and addressed the large crowd on the escalating conflict
in the Middle East. Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign chairwoman Zoe Lawlor
said: “Palestinians know and we know – the ICJ has ruled it – occupation is
illegal, apartheid is illegal, forced deplacement is illegal and our Government
has to name these crimes. “Denying that it is apartheid and genocide is a way to
avoid sanctioning these crimes and we won’t tolerate it any longer. “We are sick
of endless words of concern and condemnations, it is meaningless unless it is
turned into action.”It is the 11th national rally since October 2023 and
protesters again demanded sanctions on Israel. The march called for states to
stop arming Israel, an end to the use of Irish airspace for transporting
weapons, and for “an end to Israel’s genocidal assault on the people of Gaza”.
They called for the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill, along with the
Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill and legislation on arms embargo. In
addition, it demanded that the Government ceases trade with Israel and refuses
any planned return of the Israeli ambassador from Tel Aviv. Speakers at the
rally included Gazan activist Mazen Abughali, Palestinian activist and
videographer Abdaal Salim, Palestinian photojournalist Eman Mohammed from Gaza,
People Before Profit candidate Richard Boyd Barrett and UpLift campaigns
director Brian Cuthbert. Other election candidates at the rally included People
Before Profit’s Paul Murphy, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, independent candidate
Clare Daly and Social Democrat Sinead Gibney.
New insurgent group kills 15 in northwest Nigeria, residents say
Ahmed Kingimi/Reuters/November 9, 2024
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria - At least fifteen people were killed and several others
wounded when new insurgent group Lakurawas attacked a rural community in
Nigeria's northwest Kebbi state after stealing livestock, residents said.
Nigeria has been grappling with a long-running insurgency in its northeast,
primarily driven by the Islamist armed group Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic
State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Lakurawas emerged after the July 2023 coup
in Niger from herding communities along the Nigeria-Niger border who had
gradually turned militant.
Witnesses said the insurgents arrived on motorbikes in the village of Mera in
Kebbi’s Augie local government area on Friday and attempted to seize cattle from
the villagers. When residents resisted, gunfire erupted, leaving fifteen dead
and forcing others to flee. Two insurgents also died, the witnesses said. A
local traditional ruler Samaila Mera said this was the first attack by the group
in the area. State deputy governor Abubakar Tafida, who attended a funeral for
the victims on Saturday, said the government was working closely with the
security agencies to prevent further attacks.
Dozens killed in Pakistan train station suicide blast, as
militants claim responsibility
Sophia Saifi and Asim Khan, CNN/November 9, 2024
A suicide bombing at a train station in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday killed
at least 25 people, as a separatist militant group in the region said it carried
out the attack. Another 53 people were injured in the attack in the city of
Quetta, Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said in a statement.
“Explosion at the railway station was a suicide bombing,” the statement said.
The blast happened on a platform at the city’s main railway station at about 9
a.m., Senior Police Superintendent Muhammad Baloch said. The Baloch Liberation
Army (BLA), a militant group active in the region, has claimed responsibility
for the attack in a statement seen by CNN. “The explosion happened when a large
number of passengers were present on the platform,” Baloch said. Fareed, an
eyewitness to the blast, told CNN: “There was a lot of chaos. People were
running back and forth, people were lying martyred, some without legs and arms
and hands.”Passengers, railway employees and security personnel are among the
dead, a senior local government official said. Security forces have cordoned off
the area, and investigations are underway. The province’s Chief Minister Sarfraz
Bugti has ordered an inquiry into the incident. In a statement, Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack. An insurgency in Balochistan has
been running for decades but has gained traction in recent years since the
province’s deep-water Gwadar port was leased to China, the jewel in the crown of
Beijing’s ‘Belt and Road’ infrastructure push in Pakistan. The BLA has been
responsible for the deadliest attacks in Pakistan this year, most recently in
October when it targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers and investors in the city
of Karachi leaving two Chinese citizens dead. Correction: This story has been
updated to correct when the suicide bombing occurred.
Saudi-led
coalition in Yemen says two members of its forces killed
Reuters/Sat, November 9, 2024
(Reuters) -Two members of the Saudi-led coalition forces were killed in an
attack by a Yemeni defence ministry employee in Yemen's Seiyun on Friday, the
coalition's spokesperson Turki al-Malki was quoted by the Saudi state news
agency as saying on Saturday. Al-Malki said the attack, which also wounded one
officer, occurred at a training camp for Yemeni forces in the eastern city of
Seiyun in the Hadhramaut province. He added that the coalition and Yemeni
authorities will jointly investigate the incident to determine motives behind
the attack and bring the perpetrator to justice.The Saudi-led military coalition
intervened in Yemen in 2015 after Iran-aligned Houthis ousted the government
from the capital, Sanaa. Yemen has enjoyed almost two years of relative calm
amid direct peace talks between Saudi and Houthi officials.
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on November 09-10/2024
Peace in the Middle East: The First Step
Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute./November 9, 2024
Over the decades, Iran's regime has embedded itself deeply within the region's
crises, stoking unrest and sponsoring terrorism. If the Middle East is to see
any genuine peace and stability, a transformation of Iran's regime is essential.
Without addressing the regime at the core, these threats will only intensify,
especially when Iran acquires nuclear weapons... weeks away.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution orchestrated by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini,
Israel has been regarded as a cancerous tumor to be wiped off the map.
[O]nly Israel has demonstrated the courage and determination to confront the
Iranian regime head-on, recognizing it as the "tumor" that fuels much of the
region's instability.
It is crucial to recognize that the core ideological mission of the Iranian
regime — using religion as a pretext to seize power by force — is deeply
ingrained and is not going to change. For years, Iran's regime has not only been
attacking its own citizens, especially women, and it has even been executing
children. In the first six months of 2024 alone, "Iranian authorities executed
249 people" and an additional 166 people just in October.
A regime that treats its own people this way is not likely to treat anyone else
any better.
The system in Iran was founded on principles aimed at "exporting the revolution"
and imposing an Islamist governance structure across other nations. This
ideological commitment is even enshrined in Iran's constitution...
Notably, during significant waves of protests in recent years, the Obama and
Biden-Harris administrations remained silent, offering no substantial support to
the people risking their lives for freedom.
Often, Western countries have chosen to overlook Iran's human rights abuses and
advances in military power: they might interfere with profitable trade.
If these Western nations lack the will to fight the Iranian regime directly,
then they should, at the very least, provide Israel with the necessary support —
economically, militarily and politically. This is not an act of charity:
supporting Israel in its mission serves their own interests.
Can the West set aside its hypocrisy long enough to stand with Israel in
confronting Iran — this source of terror to them as well? If they cannot summon
the nerve to act directly, then the least they can do is back those who do.
Over the decades, Iran's regime has embedded itself deeply within the region's
crises, stoking unrest and sponsoring terrorism. If the Middle East is to see
any genuine peace and stability, a transformation of Iran's regime is essential.
To embark on the path toward sustainable peace in the Middle East, it is
essential to confront a fundamental truth: without addressing a crucial first
step, peace across the region will remain nothing more than an illusion. This
first step lies in directly confronting and ultimately changing the root cause
of much of the ongoing conflict, violence, and terrorism — namely, the Islamist
regime in Iran.
Over the decades, Iran's regime has embedded itself deeply within the region's
crises, stoking unrest and sponsoring terrorism. If the Middle East is to see
any genuine peace and stability, a transformation of Iran's regime is essential.
For nearly forty years, the clerical establishment in Iran has perpetuated chaos
by hiding behind a network of militias, terror groups and proxies. These groups,
fueled by the Iranian regime, have not only sustained violence within the region
but have also exported it worldwide. This network of terror has become a vast
and complex threat, continuously multiplying and growing in strength and
influence. Without addressing the regime at the core, these threats will only
intensify, especially when Iran acquires nuclear weapons, which are, according
to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in July, weeks away.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution orchestrated by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini,
Israel has been regarded as a cancerous tumor to be wiped off the map. The
message has been "Death to Israel" and "Death to America." As The Atlantic
noted, "When Iran Says Death to Israel, It Means It."
Among all the nations affected by Iran's expansionist and violent ideology,
however, only Israel has demonstrated the courage and determination to confront
the Iranian regime head-on, recognizing it as the "tumor" that fuels much of the
region's instability.
Israel's mission does not stop there. Israel is also fighting Iran's proxies,
Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Houthis. This dual approach
targets both the root and its extensions — the entire problem — rather than
merely containing parts of it.
If Israel's allies would support this courageous mission instead of abandoning
Israel, the region could see a quicker resolution to the Iranian threat,
benefiting all those under its shadow.
It is crucial to recognize that the core ideological mission of the Iranian
regime — using religion as a pretext to seize power by force — is deeply
ingrained and is not going to change. For years, Iran's regime has not only been
attacking its own citizens, especially women, and it has even been executing
children. In the first six months of 2024 alone, "Iranian authorities executed
249 people" and an additional 166 people just in October.
A regime that treats its own people this way is not likely to treat anyone else
any better.
The system in Iran was founded on principles aimed at "exporting the revolution"
and imposing an Islamist governance structure across other nations. This
ideological commitment is even enshrined in Iran's constitution, which states:
"The constitution provides the necessary basis for ensuring the continuation of
the revolution at home and abroad. In particular, in the development of
international relations, the constitution will strive with other Islamic and
popular movements to prepare the way for the formation of a single world
community."
This radical ideology, foundational to its governance and ambitions, leaves
little room for hope that the regime will self-reform or abandon its aspirations
to dominate.
For decades, the Iranian people have yearned for change, courageously rising
against the regime time and again. Yet, each time, the regime has met their
demands for freedom with brutal crackdowns, deploying force to crush protests,
imprisoning, torturing, and even killing those who dared to defy its rule. Iran
has also, according to Amnesty International, poisoned thousands of schoolgirls
with toxic gas, accompanied by calls for all schools, especially girls' schools,
to be closed down.
Sadly, all these brave struggles for liberation often go unnoticed or
unmentioned by major global powers. Notably, during significant waves of
protests in recent years, the Obama and Biden-Harris administrations remained
silent, offering no substantial support to the people risking their lives for
freedom. This lack of international support has only emboldened Iran's regime,
deepening the disillusionment of those within the country who seek freedom.
Now, Israel — a small but determined state — has taken on the colossal task of
tackling what has been a forty-year nightmare of oppression for the people of
Iran, the broader region, and even the world. Israel's commitment to confronting
Iran is not only monumental but profoundly moral. Iran, its allies and its
proxies will stop at nothing to destroy Israel. Israel's stand is therefore a
significant moral statement against tyranny and terror. Israel's courage to face
this "evil" is precisely what the Iranian regime fears most: it represents a
force of resistance that challenges its ideological and military grip on power.
Western powers -- in their rhetoric — frequently champion democracy, human
rights and justice. Yet, when it comes to confronting Iran — the root of most of
the terrorism and violence in the region — they have shied away from taking bold
action. Often, Western countries have chosen to overlook Iran's human rights
abuses and advances in military power: they might interfere with profitable
trade.
If these Western nations lack the will to fight the Iranian regime directly,
then they should, at the very least, provide Israel with the necessary support —
economically, militarily and politically. This is not an act of charity:
supporting Israel in its mission serves their own interests.
Can the West set aside its hypocrisy long enough to stand with Israel in
confronting Iran — this source of terror to them as well? If they cannot summon
the nerve to act directly, then the least they can do is back those who do.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a scholar, strategist and advisor, Harvard-educated
analyst, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and
president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He has
authored several books on the US Foreign Policy and Islam. He can be reached at
Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu
© 2024 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
Will re-election of Donald Trump open pathways to Middle East peace?
RAY HANANIA/Arab News/November 09, 2024
CHICAGO: The re-election of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United
States is expected to open pathways to peace in the Middle East, according to
predictions from two prominent political consultants from both the Republican
and Democratic parties.
Republican strategist Jeff Davis, president of Victory Media Inc., and
Democratic consultant Thom Serafin suggested on Thursday that Trump’s leverage
and strong relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could
facilitate a ceasefire with the Palestinians and potentially pave the way for
support from Saudi support.
Appearing on The Ray Hanania Radio Show, both consultants agreed that Trump’s
rapport with the Israeli leadership and his previous initiatives in the region,
including the Abraham Accords, position him uniquely to influence Middle East
dynamics.
“(Trump) is well respected, especially in Israel. When he was president last
time, Jerusalem became the capital,” Serafin said. “There’s a lot of good blood
there. He thought they were coming to an accord where they would have the
long-term peace at the time.”Trump’s first term saw the official US recognition
of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, marked by the controversial relocation of the
US Embassy in 2018. Concurrently, he spearheaded the Abraham Accords, paving the
way for normalization agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain and later
Morocco.
Although these accords encountered resistance from some neighboring Arab
nations, they laid the groundwork for potential US-mediated discussions between
Riyadh and Tel Aviv. However, that prospect was cut short following the Oct. 7,
2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel and the subsequent escalation in Gaza, dashing
hopes for a new era of Middle East peace and stability.
“Everything blew up on Oct. 7 when they were, (rather) they thought they were
getting very, very close (to a deal). But you need somebody who’s full-time
there and goes toe to toe with Netanyahu. And I think Trump is the guy who could
do that,” he said.
Serafin, who has an extensive background in media and political consultancy,
having worked as press secretary on several US Senate election campaigns and
served on the staffs of Senator Alan Dixon and Representative Dan Rostenkowski,
highlighted the significance of the hostages held by Hamas as a key element in
negotiating peace with regional powers, including Iran and its proxies.
“If he’s capable of reaching the Israelis, and I think he is, that’s the key,”
he said. “If you can get Israel to be accommodating to what he needs to do, you
can bring peace, at least ceasefire, to that part of the world.”Since October
last year, escalating violence in the Middle East has spread from Gaza to
Lebanon, drawing diplomats worldwide into urgent efforts to mediate a solution.
INNUMBERS
• 2,600 Trump’s margin of victory over Harris in Arab-majority Michigan suburb
of Dearborn.
• 17,400 Joe Biden’s margin of victory over Trump in the same city in 2020.
The conflict, driven by clashes involving Iran-backed groups such as Hamas,
Hezbollah and the Houthis, has seen limited restraint from Israeli officials,
further fueling tensions. This crisis has also taken center stage in the US
election season, especially among Arab Americans some of whom view the Biden-Harris
administration’s handling of the situation as a betrayal, given their
community’s crucial support for the Democrats’ 2020 win.
Davis noted that while many Arab Americans declined to endorse Harris due to her
stance on the conflict, Trump garnered substantial support within the community
resulting in his re-election on Tuesday, but still has “some way to go” to fully
solidify these ties.
He pointed to Michigan’s Arab-majority Dearborn as a case in point, where Trump
won 42.5 percent of the Arab American vote compared to Harris’s 36.3 percent.
Notably, anti-war critic Dr. Jill Stein drew 18.3 percent in the area,
reflecting broader discontent within the community.
“Let’s talk about Michigan a little bit. Because of the population centers in
Michigan being Arab American and how Trump did well there. And he did well
there, but he won those areas,” Davis said.
Analyzing data from Dearborn, he noted that Trump still has ground to cover with
the Arab American community, acknowledging that Stein’s appeal in Dearborn was
significantly stronger than her national average.
Davis, a seasoned Republican strategist who has advised campaigns across several
battleground states, emphasized that although Stein’s Green Party did not reach
the 5 percent threshold needed for major party status, Trump’s support within
the Arab American community was bolstered by endorsements from figures like
former Democrat Dr. Bishara Bahbah and Dr. Massad Boulos, father-in-law of
Trump’s daughter Tiffany.
Both Davis and Serafin noted that Trump made unexpected inroads into traditional
Democratic voter bases, securing 45 percent of the Hispanic vote and nearly 27
percent of the Black vote. Surprising many experts, Trump’s success in gaining
support from key demographics enabled him to outpace Harris in critical swing
states. However, the two consultants emphasized that Harris’s primary setback
was her struggle to connect with voters on a personal level.
“I recall that old phrase, ‘I feel your pain.’ She did not exhibit that on the
campaign trail,” Serafin said. “She had the joy and all these other things, but
ironically, she wasn’t feeling the pain of the average voter that was
struggling.”
He argued that Harris’ lack of empathy during the campaign failed to fully
address concerns around the economy and rising inflation.
Democratic consultant Thom Serafin believes Vice President Kamala Harris’ lack
of empathy during the campaign failed to fully address concerns around the
economy and rising inflation. (Supplied)
“Everything I learned in college, over the last 50 years, 60 years in life, is
(that) inflation is the hidden pain, hidden taxation. You know, all of a sudden
you get your hundred-dollars paycheck every week, but the bills are getting
higher and higher. You just can’t meet ends,” Serafin added.
Polling throughout the campaign, including an Arab News/YouGov survey,
consistently highlighted economic concerns as top priorities for voters, also
among Arab Americans, who indicated them as nearly on par with foreign policy
issues in the Middle East.
Davis and Serafin also contended that media coverage frequently misrepresented
Trump’s statements, including attributing to him a comedian’s reference to
Puerto Rico as a “garbage island,” or claims that Trump suggested aiming guns at
Liz Cheney.
Republican strategist Jeff Davis, president of Victory Media Inc. (Supplied)
In reality, Trump was not present when the comedian made his remark, and his
statements on Cheney referred to her lack of military experience, not an
incitement to violence.
The consultants also said that Democratic efforts to emphasize Trump’s legal
battles, many of which originated from the Democrat-led Department of Justice,
further deepened the polarization, arguably contributing to his game. Trump
currently faces multiple felony charges related to fraud, election interference
and obstruction.
“Every time they called him the felon, I thought to myself, what a mistake.
Because everybody knows he’s only a felon because the Democrats wanted him to be
one. It wasn’t because he was legitimately a felon,” Serafin said. “And, so, I
thought that was always a mistake when she called him that way and some other
people. After a while, they stopped doing that because they probably tested that
term, and it was backfiring.”
Both Davis and Serafin believe these cases may be dismissed, setting the stage
for another four years under Trump’s leadership — one that will inherit a
divided domestic landscape and face the immense challenge of upholding his
promise to end the conflict that has claimed nearly 50,000 lives, while working
toward the peace and stability long desired in the Middle East.
Trump’s comeback
Mohammad Faisal Al Dossari/The Arab Weekly/November 09/2024
With Donald Trump returning to the White House as the United States 47th
president, attention is turning to the Republicans’ imminent control of the
Senate and garnering of a majority in the House of Representatives. This would
mean a major shift in American domestic and foreign policy and setting in motion
a red wave-dominated dynamic that would be in harmony with the executive branch.
With the Republicans’ control of Congress, Trump has a real opportunity to
reshape the US administration’s direction in line with his vision and policies,
especially with regard to migration and border security issues. Trump’s victory
has implications beyond the United States, as it illustrates the rise of the
far-right not only in the US, but globally. We may in fact witness in the near
future improving fortunes for the far-right in Europe, which may push the
European Union to adapt to America’s new directions under Trump. There is likely
to be renewed US pressure on European Union countries to increase NATO’s
military, as was the case during his first term, and hence create additional
burdens for European economies.
Russia sees Trump’s return as an opportunity to end the war with Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin hopes that Trump adopts a more flexible approach based
on the understanding that the war was caused by the mistakes of the previous US
administration, hence Trump will not have to bear the burden of the conflict.
This means stopping the war and reaching agreements quickly.
With the possible waning of the US commitment towards NATO, Russia may find
itself in a better position to impose its hegemony over its strategic neighbours.
It does not seem that China will welcome Trump’s return. His previous policies
were very aggressive on the economic front. In his new term, one may witness an
escalation in the trade war between the United States and China. This in turn
may spark tensions that would affect the global economy as Trump prefers to
focus on imposing economic sanctions and tightening controls on sensitive
technologies. In the Middle East, Trump is considered a transactional
deal-maker, which makes him unpredictable. It is expected that he will seek to
strengthen his relations with traditional allies in the region, especially in
the moderate Arab camp.The region will also witness a return to the Abraham
Accords with Israel, which will help put an end to the ongoing crises in the
region, whether in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, Yemen or elsewhere. Iran will be in a
difficult position, as its leaders realise that Trump’s comeback may mean more
pressure and sanctions, and perhaps military threats that put its nuclear
programme in jeopardy. But Tehran will still be governed by realistic
considerations of military and economic balance of power. This may force it to
offer some tactical concessions, but without compromising the essence of its
regional project, especially its support for regional proxies in Iraq, Syria and
Lebanon.
Trump’s return to the White House may push many countries to reconsider their
regional alliances, and the coming stage may witness the emergence of new blocs
and alliances aimed at addressing concerns about the stability of the global
system. Trump will face the challenge of maintaining a delicate balance between
US interests and those of Washington’s allies in the Middle East and Europe. It
is likely that he will lean towards policies based on striking deals and forging
tactical alliances, which could add to international uncertainties. Trump’s win
represents a golden opportunity to reconsider the US role on the international
scene. It also constitutes a major challenge in a world increasingly less stable
and more divided, and hence creating more polarisation and inconstancy in
international relations. With his unique vision and unconventional style, Trump
may be able to clinch many effective achievements, and if he is able to restore
the United States to its “greatness” as he promises, this “greatness” will
inevitably come at a heavy price globally, as he leaves his mark on transformed
relations and alliances in a way that is difficult to predict.
Sistani and the State Authority
Mustafa Fahs/Asharq AlAwsat/November 09/2024
The world’s highest Shiite Muslim authority, Ali al-Sistani, has sounded an
alarm, which seems like the last warning before Iraq faces a critical turning
point that neither the state nor its people may be able to withstand.
These potential dangers have compelled Sistani to break his long silence,
expressing dissatisfaction and disapproval of Iraq’s political experiment since
the 2003 regime change, which now finds itself at a crossroads: either undergo
radical reform or descend into deadly chaos.
During his meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General’s representative
and head of the UN mission in Iraq (UNAMI), Mohammad Hassan, the Grand Ayatollah
called for the monopoly of arms by the state, the rejection of all foreign
interference, and the fight against corruption.
Sistani’s calls are not new; they are principles he consistently upholds and
reiterates to his influential visitors, excluding Iraqi politicians whom he has
refused to meet for the past decade. He also emphasizes these principles to his
followers, the majority of whom belong to the Jaafari Shiite sect worldwide. His
recent reassertion of these positions, following a long period of political
silence, was made at a crucial juncture in Iraq’s and the region’s history.
The timing of his statement, then, is what makes Sistani’s stance remarkable,
even if it repeats past messages. The reiteration itself signals a warning about
what the religious authority in Najaf perceives as an imminent threat to Iraq
and the post-2003 system, and it delivers a sharp, direct message to the
so-called political houses produced by this system. These houses have been
responsible for creating power structures but have failed to establish a stable
state, which is the primary motivation behind Sistani’s warning.
The location of this message, Najaf, is also significant. It is the spiritual
heart of the global Shiite community and plays a general pastoral role, serving
as an advisor, not a ruler. Najaf advocates for the protection of individuals
and the national community, regardless of their ethnic, religious, or sectarian
identity, from the perspective of the state alone. In this view, the nation’s
welfare, whether in Iraq or Lebanon, is the concern of individuals, the
citizens, and only the state—fair or flawed—bears the ultimate responsibility
for national security.
Political forces, particularly the ruling Coordination Framework, were quick to
affirm Sistani’s words. However, this moment requires actual commitment and
action, something that appears difficult or nearly impossible under the current
circumstances. Despite the risks, Sistani’s words remove any religious or legal
justification for the power-and-arms duality that has ruled and influenced Iraq
since Saddam’s fall—and similarly, Lebanon. His statement is a clear call for
these groups to abandon their illicit gains and relinquish their influence over
the state and society, while also holding them accountable for the consequences
of weakening the state and monopolizing its decision-making.
Sistani’s message resonates not only in Baghdad and Beirut but also in other
capitals concerned with his stance. It represents a measure of national interest
that transcends transnational ideological affiliations, affirming that loyalty
to the state supersedes all other allegiances, and that the safety of nations
and lives ensures the security of faith, sect, and belief. Sistani’s
straightforward words to the Iraqi people were sobering. He said: “Iraqis face a
long path to achieve this; may God help them on this journey”—referring to the
fight against financial and administrative corruption and the effort to
centralize arms under the state’s control. This message applies to Lebanon as
well; it is not merely a historical statement but one intended for the future.
As a prominent figure from the modern historical school once said: “History is
not the science of knowing the past; it is the science of human beings within
historical time—past, present, and future.”