English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For October 14/2024
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord,
lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.”Keep
awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 25/01-13:
“‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps
and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took
flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them
became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the
bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed
their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our
lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for
you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.”
And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready
went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other
bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly
I tell you, I do not know you.”Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the
day nor the hour.”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on October 13-14/2024
Lebanese Christian Leadership: Subservient,
Neutered, and Ignorant of Gratitude/Elias Bejjani
Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: Honoring the Martyrs of October 13, 1990: Michel
Aoun’s Betrayal of Their Sacrifice and Lebanon, as He Succumbs to the Illusions
of Power and Wealth
Israeli Forces Breach UNIFIL Post in Fifth Incident Against Peacekeepers in Days
Netanyahu Urges UNIFIL Forces to Move Out of Harm's Way
UNIFIL Warns Against Regional Catastrophe
Ceasefire: Washington Shifts Responsibility to Lebanon
Patriarch Rai Quoting Pope Francis: 'Violence Never Brings Peace'
The Lebanese Army’s Role in the War Between Hezbollah and Israel
The War in Lebanon: A Catalyst for Infectious Diseases
Lebanese American killed by Israeli airstrike while caring for those who were
displaced, family says
First Saudi aid plane for Lebanon arrives in Beirut
UN says Israeli tanks forced entry into base in south Lebanon
4 Israeli soldiers killed, more than 60 people injured by Hezbollah drone in one
of bloodiest attacks on Israel since Oct. 7
It's Time to Either Fix Lebanon—Or Break It Up
Lebanon’s PM condemns Netanyahu’s demand for UNIFIL’s withdrawal
Lessons from Iran missile attacks for defending against China's advanced arsenal
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on October 13-14/2024
US to send more troops and an advanced anti-missile system to Israel
Israel rescuers say over 60 wounded in area Hezbollah claimed drone strike
US will send a missile defense system and troops to run it to Israel to aid
defense against Iran
Trump says he recently spoke with Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu
Israel reinforces ban on UN chief entering country over Iran attack comments
Frankly Speaking: Can a new global coalition achieve Palestinian statehood?
Zelenskiy says North Koreans fighting with Russians in Ukraine
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on October 13-14/2024
Israel vs. Iran on the Judo Mat/Raz Greenberg/The Tablet/October 13/2024
HomeIran’s only salvation is through peace with Arab states/Baria AlamuddinArab
News/October 13, 2024
Israel’s options in Lebanon are limited — and fraught with risk/Nadim Shehadi/Arab
News/October 13, 2024
Will Harris’ campaign strategy lead her to electoral success?/MARIA MAALOUF/Arab
News/October 13, 2024
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News &
Editorials published
on October 13-14/2024
Lebanese Christian Leadership:
Subservient, Neutered, and Ignorant of Gratitude
Elias Bejjani / October 13, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/10/135609/
Nothing has destroyed Arab societies, their nations, and
Lebanon more than the ignorant and foolish phrase: "No voice is louder than the
voice of battle."
This unfortunate and self-destructive slogan has for years concealed the deep
existential problems eating away at the Lebanese state, allowing Hezbollah, the
armed, sectarian, and terrorist Iranian armed proxy to expand, take control of
the country, and turn it into a military base for Iranian arms, a battlefield
for its wars, and a launch pad for its destructive expansionist evil project.
Hezbollah was left free to roam under the "mafia-militia" equation (the mafia
covering corruption, the militia covering weapons and occupation), creating a
culture of fear, submission, surrender, and Dhimmitude. It suppressed, through
force, assassinations, and fabricated judicial cases, any attempt to confront
its terror that has been choking Lebanon and its people for more than 40 years.
In the midst of this ongoing war between Hezbollah and Israel that is burning
and destroying our homeland and displacing our people, we must speak honestly
and loudly, without fear: Hezbollah is not just a threat to Lebanon; it is a
plague that has infiltrated every corner of the Lebanese societies, oppressing
our people, particularly Christians, and assassinating Lebanese leaders who
stand against it.
Whether we like Israel or not, it is currently the only force capable of facing
this enormous challenge, dismantling Hezbollah's leadership, and breaking its
terrorist network. No other power in the world has the military capability or
strategic interest to accomplish this mission. Yet, many Lebanese Christian
leaders, driven by Dhimmitude and foolishness, continue to show vile
ingratitude, attacking Israel with empty rhetoric, labeling it "enemy"
"barbaric" and "criminal." etc
These leaders, whether secular or religious, are betraying their own people by
failing to recognize the importance of what Israel is doing to liberate Lebanon
from Hezbollah’s occupation and threat.
This is not just about regional politics; it is a matter of Lebanon’s survival
and existence, especially for the Christians, whom Hezbollah has systematically
targeted for decades in an effort to uproot them. Hezbollah's terrorism,
arrogance, and depravity have turned Christians into second-class citizens in
their own country, forced to live under the threat of violence, coerced into
submission, and stripped of their political power in governance.
In 1982, when Bachir Gemayel was assassinated, we, as Christians and Lebanese in
general, lost our greatest chance to reclaim Lebanon from the forces that sought
its destruction. Now, 42 years later, we are at another critical crossroads in
our history.
Instead of seizing this opportunity and aligning with the only force—Israel—that
can destroy Hezbollah, Lebanese Christian leaders are once again proving
themselves to be neutered and subservient, unable to break free from the
mentality and culture of Dhimmitude that has enslaved them. These leaders, in
their foolishness, continue to appease Hezbollah, standing idly by while Israel
does the hard work of dismantling a terrorist organization that has brought
nothing but pain and destruction to Lebanon and its people.
This is not just cowardice; it is a betrayal of the Lebanese people, especially
Christians, who deserve to live freely, like other Lebanese, in a sovereign and
independent nation.
If these Christian leaders had any dignity or vision, they would stop their
pointless and foolish attacks on Israel and start showing gratitude for what is
being done to free Lebanon from the grip of the Iranian militia.
History will not forgive those who, at the moment of Hezbollah's fall, chose
cowardice over courage, and ingratitude over the duty to acknowledge the favor.
The chance to reclaim Lebanon from the jaws of Iran and its terrorist proxy,
Hezbollah, is now. Israel is offering us this final opportunity. Let us not
repeat the mistake we made in 1982; this may be our last chance to restore our
homeland and live in peace.
Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: Honoring the Martyrs of
October 13, 1990: Michel Aoun’s Betrayal of Their Sacrifice and Lebanon, as He
Succumbs to the Illusions of Power and Wealth
Elias Bejjani / October 13, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/10/112651/
For our fallen heroes who sacrificed themselves at the altar of Lebanon on
October 13, 1990, we offer our prayers and renew our pledge to live with our
heads held high, so that Lebanon remains a homeland of dignity and pride, a
beacon of truth, the cradle of civility, and a melting pot of culture and
civilizations.
From our deeply rooted history, we know without a shred of doubt that patriotic
and faithful Lebanese, with God on their side, wielding truth as their weapon
and faith as their fortress, shall never be defeated.
On October 13, 1990, the barbaric Syrian Army, along with treacherous local
mercenaries, launched a savage attack, occupying the Lebanese presidential
palace and invading the last remaining free regions of Lebanon. Hundreds of
Lebanese soldiers and innocent civilians were brutally murdered, their bodies
mutilated. Tens of soldiers, officers, clergymen, politicians, and citizens were
kidnapped, while a puppet regime, fully controlled by Syria's intelligence
headquarters in Damascus, was installed.
Though the Syrian Army was forced to withdraw in 2005 following UNSC Resolution
1559, Lebanon has since been occupied by the Iranian proxy, Hezbollah. This
terrorist militia has crippled Lebanon, turning it into an Iranian battleground
and impeding the Lebanese people from reclaiming their independence, freedom,
and sovereignty. Hezbollah’s crimes, wars, and terror have dismantled Lebanon's
institutions, public and private alike, while entrenching the country in poverty
and chaos.
We must never forget that on October 13, 1990, the Lebanese presidential palace
in Baabda and the free regions were desecrated by Syrian Baathist gangs, mafias,
militias, and mercenaries. Our valiant army soldiers were tortured and butchered
in Bsous, Aley, Kahale, and other bastions of resistance. Lebanon's most
precious possession, its freedom, was raped in broad daylight while the world,
including the Arab nations, watched in silence.
The memory of the massacre fills us with sorrow for those we lost and for the
many who fled to distant corners of the world. Entire lifetimes of work were
erased overnight; villages and towns were destroyed, factories closed, fields
dried up, and children lost their innocence. Yet we, the patriotic and faithful
Lebanese, remain resilient. Despite the pain and sacrifice, we are more
determined than ever to reclaim our freedom and bring to justice those who have
betrayed our nation since 1976.
The lessons of October 13, 1990, are numerous and glorious. The free
Lebanese—civilians, military personnel, ordinary citizens, and leaders
alike—stood tall, resisting the invaders with valor and courage. They wrote
epics of resistance in their own blood, refusing to sign agreements of surrender
or bow to oppression. They spoke out against the shame of capitulation, ensuring
that their legacy will be remembered by future generations.
Today, as we commemorate the Syrian invasion of Lebanon’s free regions, we pray
for the souls of those who fell in battle, for those still unjustly imprisoned
in Syria’s dungeons, for the safe return of our refugees from Israel, and for
peace to return to our homeland. We also pray for the repentance of Lebanon’s
leaders, who, for personal gain, have betrayed their people, abandoned their
convictions, and sided with the Axis of Evil (Syria and Iran) through their
alliance with Hezbollah.
Despite the Syrian military’s withdrawal in 2005, old and new Syrian-made
Lebanese puppets continue to manipulate public opinion, taking advantage of
economic hardships and the absence of law and order. Thanks to Iranian petro
dollars, their consciences are numb, their pockets filled. Among them is General
Michel Aoun, who, after returning from exile in 2005, transformed from a staunch
advocate for Lebanon's freedom into an ally of Syria and Iran, shamelessly
parroting the Axis of Evil’s agenda.
General Aoun, like the rest of the pro-Syrian-Iranian politicians, cares only
for his position, family, and personal interests. To the patriotic Lebanese,
Aoun and his ilk are nothing but tools of destruction, perpetuating Lebanon's
instability, thwarting the return of peace, and undermining international
efforts, particularly UNSC Resolutions 1559 and 1701. These traitorous leaders
are hired by foreign powers to keep Lebanon, the land of the Holy Cedars, an
arena for proxy wars, a breeding ground for hatred, terrorism, and
fundamentalism.
Our martyrs, both living and dead, must be rolling in their graves as they
witness leaders like Michel Aoun betray everything they once stood for. Aoun has
reversed all his principles, aligning himself with the very forces that invaded
free Lebanon on October 13, 1990. He has selectively forgotten who he is and
abandoned the cause he once championed. As we commemorate this year, we honor
the memory of the hundreds who sacrificed their lives for Lebanon’s freedom,
dignity, and identity. We raise our prayers for the souls of the martyrs and for
the safe return of our prisoners still held in Syrian dungeons. We seek
consolation for their families, hoping their sacrifices were not in vain,
despite the shameful betrayal of leaders and politicians who have joined the
killers they once fought against.
What saddens us most is the continued suffering of our refugees in Israel, whose
plight remains unresolved due to the servitude of Lebanese leaders. Instead of
taking responsibility, these leaders have betrayed the cause of Lebanon,
labeling our heroic southern refugees as criminals to appease their alliances
with extremists. These refugees are the true Lebanese patriots, who did nothing
wrong but simply fought for 30 years to defend their land, their homes, and
their dignity against the onslaught of Syria, fundamentalist militias, and even
renegade factions of the Lebanese Army.
God bless the souls of our martyrs. Long live Lebanon.
Israeli Forces Breach UNIFIL Post in Fifth Incident
Against Peacekeepers in Days
This is Beirut/October 13/2024
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) issued a strongly-worded
statement condemning the violation of one of its posts and the restriction of
its movements by the Israeli army on Sunday. "Breaching and entering a UN site
constitutes a flagrant violation of Resolution 1701 (2006)," the statement read,
adding that such actions put at risk the safety and security of UN personnel and
property. UNIFIL has requested an explanation from the Israeli military for what
it described as "horrific violations." It also reminded all actors in the
region, particularly the Israeli army, of their obligations to respect the
inviolability of UN premises and to ensure the safety of peacekeepers in the
area. At approximately 4:30 AM on Sunday, peacekeepers stationed in the border
village of Ramia reported that three platoons of Israeli soldiers, accompanied
by two Merkava tanks, forcibly entered the main gate of their UNIFIL post. The
tanks reportedly entered the base, demanding multiple times that the
peacekeepers turn off the lights. The incident lasted about 45 minutes before
the Israeli forces withdrew, following strong protests from UNIFIL through its
liaison mechanism. UNIFIL argued that the presence of Israeli forces on their
premises endangered the peacekeepers, who had been taking shelter at the time.
Just two hours later, at around 6:40 AM, peacekeepers at the same location
reported bursts of gunfire approximately 100 meters north of the base, resulting
in thick smoke that spread across the area. Despite wearing protective masks, 15
peacekeepers experienced symptoms such as skin irritation and stomach problems
after the smoke entered the base. They are currently receiving medical
treatment. In another incident on Saturday, Israeli soldiers blocked a critical
UNIFIL logistics movement near Mays al-Jabal, preventing the convoy from
proceeding. This marked a further escalation in restrictions on UNIFIL's freedom
of movement, which is guaranteed under the peacekeeping force's mandate and
Security Council Resolution 1701, the statement added.
Netanyahu Urges UNIFIL Forces to Move Out of Harm's Way
This is Beirut/October 13/2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called on the UN chief to
move peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon out of "harm's way." Netanyahu's
appeal to UN chief Antonio Guterres comes a day after the United Nations Interim
Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, refused to withdraw from the border area
despite five of its members being wounded in Israeli fire in recent days. "Mr.
Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm's way. It should be done
right now, immediately," Netanyahu said in a video statement issued by his
office, in what were his first comments on the issue. Netanyahu, speaking at a
cabinet meeting, said Israeli forces had asked UNIFIL several times to leave but
it was "met with repeated refusals" that provided a "human shield to Hezbollah
terrorists." "Your refusal to evacuate the UNIFIL soldiers makes them hostages
of Hezbollah. This endangers both them and the lives of our soldiers," Netanyahu
said. "We regret the injuring of UNIFIL soldiers and we are doing everything in
our power to prevent this injuring. But the simple and obvious way to ensure
their safety is simply to get them out of the danger zone." "There was a
unanimous decision to stay because it's important for the UN flag to still fly
high in this region, and to be able to report to the Security Council," UNIFIL
spokesman Andrea Tenenti told AFP in an interview on Saturday. Tenenti said
Israel had asked UNIFIL to withdraw from positions "up to five kilometres (three
miles) from the Blue Line" separating both countries, but the peacekeepers
refused. That would have included its 29 positions in Lebanon's south. Forty
nations that contribute to the peacekeeping force in Lebanon said on Saturday
that they "strongly condemn recent attacks" on the peacekeepers. "Such actions
must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated," said a joint
statement, posted on X by the Polish UN mission and signed by nations including
leading contributors Indonesia, Italy and India. With AFP
UNIFIL Warns Against Regional Catastrophe
This is Beirut/October 13/2024
UN peacekeepers in Lebanon warned on Saturday against a “catastrophic” regional
conflict as Israeli forces battled Hezbollah and Hamas militants on two fronts,
on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Israel has faced a fierce diplomatic
backlash over the injuries suffered by five Blue Helmets serving in south
Lebanon. Lebanon's Health Ministry said on Saturday that Israeli airstrikes on
three sites had killed at least 15 people, raising an earlier toll. Hezbollah
said it had fired missiles into northern Israel, where air raid sirens sounded,
and the military said it had intercepted a projectile. The Iran-backed militants
have stepped up their attacks on targets in and around Israel's main northern
city of Haifa. Israel's military said Hezbollah fired about 320 projectiles into
Israel over the weekend of Yom Kippur, which ended at nightfall. It also said
roughly 280 “terror targets” were attacked in Lebanon and Gaza over the same
period. For the third time, it declared a “closed military area” along the
Lebanese border in northern Israel. Such measures since late September have
preceded ground operations inside Lebanon.
Peacekeepers to Stay
In an interview with AFP, Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for the United Nations
peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, said he feared an Israeli escalation against
Hezbollah could soon spiral “into a regional conflict with catastrophic impact
for everyone.”
There is “no military solution,” Tenenti said. The UN mission said five
peacekeepers had been wounded during fighting in south Lebanon in two days, and
Tenenti said that “a lot of damage” had been caused to its posts there. But he
added, “There was a unanimous decision to stay because it's important for the UN
flag to still fly high in this region, and to be able to report to the Security
Council.” Around Israel, markets were closed and public transport halted as
observant Jews fasted and prayed on Yom Kippur. After the holiday, attention is
likely to turn again to Israel's promised retaliation against Iran, which
launched around 200 missiles at Israel on October 1. Israeli operations in Gaza
continue, with the army besieging an area around Jabalia in the north, causing
more suffering for hundreds of thousands of people trapped there, according to
the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. Israeli military spokesman
Avichay Adraee posted an evacuation warning on X for an area near Jabalia,
saying it was “considered a dangerous combat zone.”
Sarah Benhaida and Jay Deshmukh, with AFP
Ceasefire: Washington Shifts Responsibility to Lebanon
Bassam Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/October 13/2024
The United States has now placed the responsibility for achieving a ceasefire in
southern Lebanon on Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. This shift was made clear
during the phone call between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Berri, as
well as statements by Senior Advisor to the US President, Amos Hochstein, to
Lebanese media, and in his discussions with Caretaker Prime Minister Najib
Mikati. Sources in Washington suggest that the American administration aims to
clarify Hezbollah's true intentions regarding the implementation of Resolution
1701. There are concerns that recent actions could be part of a maneuver by
Parliament Speaker Berri, aiming to secure a ceasefire with formal agreements
that would enable Hezbollah to restore the status quo that existed before
October 8, 2023. Moreover, the US has expressed doubts about Lebanon’s
commitment to implementing this resolution. As a result, it is seeking to
increase pressure and expedite indirect negotiations with the Islamic Republic
of Iran, aiming to reach an agreement that addresses Israel’s response to Iran
and secures a ceasefire while implementing Resolution 1701. Despite ongoing
talks, no decisive outcome has yet been reached.
According to these sources, Washington is questioning the strategy of Nabih
Berri and Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who seem to advocate adherence
to Resolution 1701, despite the lack of any statements from Hezbollah officials
regarding its implementation. Instead, Hezbollah has focused solely on demanding
a ceasefire, leaving other issues for later discussion. The US recognizes that
with Hezbollah, “later” often means a return to the previous status quo. Once
the conflict ends, the group is expected to revert to its defense strategy,
operating independently of the state across all Lebanese territories.
These sources emphasize that the implementation of Resolution 1701 requires a
complete absence of arms and militant groups south of the Litani River, except
for legitimate forces, namely the Lebanese Army. Thus, any credible ceasefire
proposal must be based on this premise, rather than relying on mere media
statements from Hezbollah. Without a firm Lebanese commitment to establishing
this buffer zone, Israeli military operations will persist. Similarly, Hezbollah
will maintain its actions as long as Iran maintains its alignment between the
Lebanese and Gaza fronts, and upholds Hezbollah as its armed proxy in the
region.
Patriarch Rai Quoting Pope Francis: 'Violence Never Brings
Peace'
This is Beirut/October 13/2024
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai read out a letter from Pope Francis addressed to
the Christians of the Middle East during his Sunday homily. During the mass
celebrated at the patriarchal headquarters in Bkerke, Patriarch Rai shared the
Pope's words to "comfort" and "encourage" the faithful. "I will not tire of
repeating that war is a defeat, that weapons do not build the future but destroy
it, and that violence will never bring peace," the pontiff stated in his letter.
In this context, he praised the Christians living in the regions mentioned in
the holy books for their determination to remain in their countries. The Pope
also sent a message of solidarity to all people, "regardless of faith and
religion, who are suffering from the war in the Middle East," offering them his
thoughts and prayers.
The Lebanese Army’s Role in the War Between Hezbollah and
Israel
Natasha Metni Torbey/This is Beirut/October 13/2024
The Lebanese army, which is extensively deployed in southern Lebanon, is
standing firm against the Israeli army, which has increasingly targeted its
positions since October 1.
By deploying 4,000 soldiers across 900 km˛, covering the entire South Litani
sector from Naqoura in the west to Shebaa Farms in the east, “the Lebanese army
has taken on the mission of maintaining its presence in southern Lebanon and
defending its current positions,” says retired General Khalil Gemayel, former
head of the South Litani sector in the Lebanese army.
Grounded in its military doctrine in support of national goals, “the army is
following the directives of the Lebanese government, which include, notably, the
repositioning of troops and maintaining a legitimate military presence in
southern Lebanon.” These directives come in the wake of the limited Israeli
ground offensive on Lebanese territory. Since then, several soldiers have been
killed or injured in Israeli airstrikes. According to figures provided by
General Gemayel, 21 members of the LAF have died, including 5 who were killed in
direct attacks on their posts or positions in Adaisseh, Wazzani, Taybeh, Bint
Jbeil and Kafra in southern Lebanon. Furthermore, 67 others have been wounded
from either direct strikes on their positions or indirectly in strikes on their
homes and villages.
What Is the Nature of the Army's Repositioning?
With the recent escalation of tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, the
Lebanese army has taken a cautious stance. Although it is not actively engaged
in the conflict, it plays a direct role in overseeing internal security.
On September 30, the Lebanese army was ordered to reposition its troops in the
southern part of the country. This maneuver should not be mistaken for a
withdrawal, as suggested by several reports at the time. What does it entail?
General Gemayel explains that the Lebanese army has always deployed many of its
soldiers along the Blue Line, at various observation posts or checkpoints. The
goal is to monitor border movements and maintain peace. These soldiers are
temporarily deployed according to specific schedules at these observation
points. Once their duty is completed, they return to their home base, which is
their main post.
By “repositioning” its troops, the Lebanese army, following orders from national
authorities, has ceased sending soldiers to certain observation points to ensure
their safety. Instead, they have been “consolidated to regroup as a combat unit,
prepared to remain in their designated areas of responsibility and to defend
themselves and their positions in the event of an Israeli attack,” explains the
former head of the Litani sector.
This initiative is part of a strategy to protect and maintain military presence
and to prevent any internal destabilization. It is conducted in coordination
with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which has maintained
its positions while minimizing unnecessary movements following Israeli strikes
that have also targeted several peacekeepers.
Potential Scenarios
According to General Gemayel, the LAF have recently briefed the Lebanese
authorities on all potential scenarios that may arise if the conflict were to
escalate in southern Lebanon. If the situation changes, it will be up to the
government to issue directives. Two primary scenarios can be contemplated: An
Israeli ground offensive extending beyond the Blue Line, or, ideally, the
complete implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701,
which was adopted in 2006 following the 33-day war between Hezbollah and Israel.
In the case of a large-scale Israeli offensive, the directive is to “defend and
maintain military positions, in coordination with UNIFIL,” reveals General
Gemayel. It is worth noting that since October 1, Israeli forces have been
conducting “reconnaissance operations by force rather than by fire,” notes the
former head of the Litani sector. This means that the Israeli army is sending in
infantry to assess the terrain and monitor enemy positions.
If a decision is made to implement Resolution 1701, it is crucial to emphasize
that the conditions for applying it are already there. In other words, and
contrary to claims made in some circles, the army will not need to deploy, as it
is already stationed in southern Lebanon and ready to enforce all provisions of
the resolution in collaboration with some 11,000 peacekeepers already on the
ground. General Gemayel notes that the army, which will need to bolster its
presence, has requested the recruitment of an additional 6,000 soldiers to
facilitate the implementation of Resolution 1701. As part of this initiative, a
total of 15,000 soldiers are expected to be deployed in the region alongside
UNIFIL. This will be done in phases, and on August 14, the government granted
approval for the recruitment of an initial group of volunteers, totaling 1,500
soldiers. Training and equipment provided by donor countries typically takes
between 4 and 6 months to be completed, according to General Gemayel. The
estimated cost is $4,000 per soldier, in addition to salaries ranging from $300
to $400 per soldier. Once the first phase is completed, recruitment requests for
subsequent groups will be progressively launched.
The War in Lebanon: A Catalyst for Infectious Diseases
Alain E. Andrea./This is Beirut/October 13/2024
As Lebanon faces escalating conflicts, the health consequences could be
disastrous. Now more than ever, it is urgent to enhance vigilance against
potential epidemics.
With the intensification of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon
finds itself at a critical juncture for multiple reasons. This crisis has
resulted in devastating consequences for the country, characterized by massive
material destruction, a relentless exodus of residents from war-affected areas,
and an alarming decline in living conditions for an increasing number of
displaced people. These combined factors could lead to significant gaps in the
public health system, heightening the risk of epidemics. As such, the detection
and control of emerging infectious diseases becomes a major challenge,
necessitating special attention and appropriate interventions. According to the
World Health Organization (WHO), wars and humanitarian crises are often linked
to a surge in epidemic outbreaks. Standards for hygiene, infection prevention
and screening are less stringent. In unstable areas, the ability of local health
systems, which are often failing, to manage transmissible diseases raises
serious concerns. Therefore, countries affected by conflict frequently face a
heavy burden of morbidity and mortality, with more than 70% of reported cases of
epidemic diseases worldwide, such as cholera, measles and meningitis, according
to WHO statistics. So, what is the situation in Lebanon?
Increased risk
MP Abdul Rahman Bizri, an infectious disease specialist and author of several
epidemiological studies, has recently highlighted a “real deficit in securing
housing needs,” warning of the risk of spreading transmissible diseases. In an
interview with Voice of Lebanon, he stated that while the situation in shelter
centers is currently deemed acceptable and no epidemics are reported so far,
efforts are underway to prevent contamination, particularly by ensuring access
to clean drinking water. His observations align with those of WHO, which is now
sounding the alarm. Speaking from Beirut, Ian Clarke, WHO’s deputy incident
manager for Lebanon, warned in a press conference in Geneva on October 8 that,
due to limited access to healthcare, Lebanon is facing “a situation where the
risk of epidemics is significantly increased.”In a conversation with This is
Beirut, Dr. Bizri clarified that the current situation is vastly different from
that of Syrian refugees, who contributed to the transmission of certain diseases
from Syria to Lebanon. “With the Syrian exodus to Lebanon, we primarily observed
an increase in waterborne infectious diseases, such as cholera, as well as
vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, not to mention outbreaks of cutaneous
leishmaniasis,” the Lebanese physician explained, noting that cholera cases are
primarily linked to the influx of individuals from Syria. According to a genomic
analysis conducted by Dr. Ghassan Matar’s team and published in Nature
Communications in August 2024, the cholera outbreak in Lebanon between 2022 and
2023, associated with Syrian refugees, revealed two distinct strains: one from
South Asia and the other from Yemen. “This is likely related to the movement of
pro-government and anti-government fighters from various countries during the
Syrian war,” Dr. Bizri explained.
Epidemiological reality
“Today, the situation is completely different,” he reiterated. “Internal
displacement does not significantly alter the epidemiological reality. However,
it has led to overcrowding, increasing the transmission of skin diseases.” In
this regard, several cases of parasitic skin infestations, particularly
pediculosis (lice infestation) and scabies, have been reported in certain
centers but were quickly managed. “It is crucial to monitor these cases, as the
spread of these parasites can be rapid,” commented the infectious disease
specialist. Anti-parasitic shampoos, lotions and creams are currently available
in Lebanon, both in pharmacies and through primary care centers. Moreover, Dr.
Bizri noted that the risk of transmitting waterborne infectious diseases remains
concerning due to inadequate sanitation infrastructure in shelters. The absence
of proper sanitation measures exacerbates this situation, further increasing the
risk of pathogen spread, which can lead to diseases like hepatitis A and
cholera. Children are particularly vulnerable to diarrheal diseases caused by
pathogens present in untreated water. “A cholera vaccination campaign had been
initiated prior to the conflict to contain and prevent outbreaks, especially in
villages near the Syrian border. Now, the war threatens to compromise these
efforts,” lamented the MP from Sidon.
Conducive factors
Furthermore, communal cooking practices amplify the risks of cross-contamination
during various stages of preparation, transportation and service, especially if
hot and cold chains are not maintained. “Recently, several cases of
gastroenteritis and acute diarrhea have been observed in the centers, but they
were swiftly managed,” said the doctor, who is also a member of the
parliamentary health committee. With winter approaching, there are also concerns
about the transmission of respiratory illnesses, particularly acute respiratory
infections such as influenza, pneumonia, viral bronchitis, as well as measles
and COVID-19, which can “spread rapidly in community settings and harm the
health of the most vulnerable individuals.” Dr. Bizri concluded, “All factors
likely to favor the emergence of potential epidemics are present. This does not
necessarily mean that one will occur, but it is crucial to implement appropriate
preventive measures to mitigate the risk.”
Lebanese American killed by Israeli airstrike while
caring for those who were displaced, family says
Alaa Elassar, CNN/October 13, 2024
When Israeli airstrikes began raining down on southern Lebanon, Kamel Ahmad
Jawad’s first instinct wasn’t to seek safety or return to the US. Instead, he
volunteered at a hospital to help those who couldn’t run – even if they wanted
to.
On October 1, Jawad, a 56-year-old American citizen, father of four and
cherished figure in the Dearborn, Michigan, community, was killed by an Israeli
airstrike, his family says. The tragedy attests to fears of the conflict
spilling over into the wider region being realized as Israel expands its
assault.
“We are honored by my father’s sacrifice. In his last days, he chose to stay
near the main hospital in Nabatieh to help the elderly, disabled, injured, and
those who simply couldn’t financially afford to flee,” his daughter, Nadine
Jawad, wrote in a statement on Facebook.
”He served as their guardian, provided them with food, mattresses, and other
comforts, and anonymously paid off their debts. I would often ask him if he was
scared, and he repeatedly told me that we should not be scared because he is
doing what he loves the most: helping others live in the land he loved the
most.”Israeli airstrikes were reported in Nabatieh, Jawad’s hometown where he
was killed, over the past week, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public
Health. CNN has reached out to the Israeli military, which said they could not
comment without being given the exact coordinates and time of the strike that
killed Jawad. Israel has pummeled Lebanon with an unprecedented airstrike
campaign, killing over 1,400 people, injuring nearly 7,500 others and displacing
more than a million people from their homes, according to the Lebanese health
ministry. The bombardment, which Israel says is targeting Hezbollah strongholds
in the country, marks the world’s “most intense aerial campaign” outside of Gaza
in the last two decades, according to the conflict monitoring group Airwars.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah is officially considered a “resistance” group tasked with
confronting Israel, which Beirut classifies as an enemy state. Yet much of the
Western world has designated the Iran-backed group a terrorist organization.
Israel and Hezbollah have been locked in tit-for-tat escalation since October 7,
2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack in Israel, killing 1,200 people and
taking more than 250 others hostage, according to Israeli officials. In the
ensuing war in Gaza, Israel’s bombardment and ground offensive has so far killed
more than 41,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the
Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Militant groups from Lebanon to Yemen – as well as Iran – have responded by
launching attacks on Israel, which has responded in kind, heightening fears of a
wider regional war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the war
is only with Hezbollah and not the Lebanese people, and that the Israeli
military has repeatedly instructed civilians to evacuate areas under
bombardment. Lebanese officials have accused Israel of indiscriminately bombing
populated civilian areas, including the capital Beirut. CNN teams in Beirut this
week found that many Israeli strikes happened without prior warning. Israel also
sends evacuation orders by text in the middle of the night, when most people are
sleeping. As a result, the death toll in Lebanon continues to rise, with a fifth
of its population now displaced. But for Jawad, it was the people – not the
geopolitics – that mattered most.
“In his last moments, my father was calm. He emphasized our collective
responsibility to help the oppressed. Even as he witnessed destruction from the
missiles falling around him, his certainty in the importance of caring for
community – in any and every capacity possible – remained,” his daughter wrote.
“Our father’s message was clear: stop arming, aiding, and abetting our
oppression and start caring for the people struggling for their freedom and
dignity.”
An American community in mourning
Jawad’s killing has ignited an outpouring of love and fond memories in Dearborn,
home to the largest Arab American and Lebanese communities in the US. In the
days since his death, friends, family, community members and local officials
have posted tributes online to the man they say was beloved for his selflessness
and dedication to both his American and Lebanese communities. Many recall him as
a kind, generous person who didn’t like to make a fuss out of his good deeds. He
was known for saving money each year to return to Lebanon and help people,
feeding them and paying off strangers’ debts without them ever knowing it was
him, friends said. Jawad was also the founder of the nonprofit Lebanese Diaspora
Relief Org, which provides families in Lebanon who are in need with food and
medical supplies.
“There are some people in this world who when you meet them, sincerity shines
out from them,” Hamzah Raza, Jawad’s friend, said in a statement on Facebook.
“He was someone who loved people. And loved helping people.
“We applaud him on leaving this world as a martyr,” Raza said. “Yet we are sad
for humanity. We are sad at the oppression of the Israeli state. We are sad that
an American was killed by (Israel) with weapons given to him by his own
government.”
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee National Executive Director Abed
Ayoub, who is Lebanese and from Dearborn, told CNN that Jawad was a
well-respected member of the community who contributed to its betterment every
day.
“He’s leaving behind an incredible legacy, and someone that’s going to truly be
missed, somebody that really embodies the best of Lebanon and the best of
Dearborn in the US,” Ayoub told CNN. “It’s a tragic loss for the community, a
tragic loss for his family, for his parents, for all of us in the city.”
US Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell of Michigan are among the many who
paid tribute to Jawad and his family.
Other Lebanese American families in Dearborn also are grieving the loss of loved
ones back home, including Ali Dabaja, who said at least five family members were
recently killed by Israeli airstrikes in Bint Jbeil, a city in southern Lebanon.
His cousin Batoul Dabaja-Saad, her husband and their three children – the
youngest 8 years old – were buried beneath the rubble of their home, he said.
Dabaja, who is close friends with the Jawad family and says he is heartbroken
over his killing, said the Dearborn community is in “collective mourning” and
that every death – including every Palestinian killed by Israel since October 7
– has caused the community the same measure of pain.
“These are all lives that mean something to us, every single one of those human
beings, those Arabs, those brown faces, have been allowed to die, but they had
stories and ambitions and every single time one of those lives are lost for us,
it compounds our tragedy,” Dabaja told CNN. “With each death, a fire inside of
us continues to burn, and it burns stronger.”
With their sorrow comes anger and despair – and a sense that US leaders are not
listening to their pleas for an end to the violence that has claimed the lives
of so many loved ones. “We don’t just need soft words and words of diplomacy,”
Dabaja said. “We need action, we need change in policy, policy that says no to
war, a policy that says no to foreign funding of wars.” The US State Department
confirmed to CNN on Friday that Jawad was a US citizen, not a legal permanent
resident as spokesperson Matthew Miller initially said on Wednesday. Miller’s
initial remarks disclaiming Jawad’s citizenship was criticized by the Arab
American community and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which told CNN
the rushed statements hurt the community and undermined the extent of Jawad’s
loss. “We are aware and alarmed of reports of the death of Kamel Jawad, who we
have confirmed is a US citizen,” a State Department spokesperson told CNN,
adding that they “are working to understand the circumstances of the incident.”
“As we have noted repeatedly, it is a moral and strategic imperative that Israel
take all feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm,” the spokesperson said.
“Any loss of civilian life is a tragedy.”
‘Your duty is to the poor’
The Jawad family has denied all requests to speak to the media. In an Instagram
exchange with a journalist, Nadine Jawad cited the “dehumanizing” coverage of
Arabs and Arab Americans. Jawad said in her statement on Facebook her father
“never viewed himself as a savior,” only that he was “part of a much larger
movement of people who refuse to stay silent in the face of oppression.”He
dedicated his life – and ultimately sacrificed it – for his beloved Lebanese
community, in Lebanon and here in the US. But his American citizenship, his
daughter says, does not make his life any more valuable than the lives of the
thousands of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians killed by Israeli airstrikes.
“His service and dedication to helping those in need is not over,” she wrote,
vowing to continue his work. Before he was killed, Jawad sent his children a
simple voice note: “Peace be upon you. Everything is ok, but if something
happens to me your duty is to the poor.” The family has already launched a
fundraiser in Jawad’s honor, collecting more than $88,000 to help feed and aid
displaced Lebanese civilians through his nonprofit organization.
“Their death isn’t just a death, it isn’t just a loss, it is a message,” Dabaja
said. “His story is a story that needs to be told to the whole world.”
First Saudi aid plane for Lebanon arrives in Beirut
ARAB NEWS/October 13, 2024
Riyadh: Saudi aid agency, KSrelief, on Sunday opened an “air bridge” to
transport medical supplies and food aid to Lebanon, state news agency reported
on Sunday. The initiative follows the directives of Saudi King Salman and Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman to support those impacted by the war in Lebanon. The
first Saudi aid plane that left from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh
landed in Beirut, carrying more than 40 tonnes of food, medical supplies and
relief materials. It was accompanied by a relief team for rescue operations.
KSrelief chief, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah, said the initiative was
part of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to aid people and countries in need across the
world. Since Sept. 23, Israel has launched an intense air campaign mainly
targeting Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, killing more than 1,150 people and
displacing more than one million people. The UAE, Turkiye, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan,
Romania and France are among the countries to have sent aid to Lebanon.
UN says Israeli tanks forced entry into base in south
Lebanon
Aleks Phillips - BBC News/October 13, 2024
The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon says Israeli tanks forced their
way into one of its positions early on Sunday morning. In a statement, the UN
Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) said two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tanks
destroyed the main gate of a post in Ramyah, near the Israeli border, and
"forcibly entered the position" to request it turn out its lights. About two
hours later, it said rounds were fired nearby that saw smoke enter the camp,
causing 15 peacekeepers to suffer skin irritations and gastrointestinal
reactions. The IDF offered a different version of events, saying it had
encroached on a Unifil position to evacuate soldiers who had been wounded by an
anti-tank missile. It said two soldiers had been "seriously injured" in the
attack, with others suffering lesser degrees of injury. "For the sake of
evacuating the wounded, two tanks drove backwards, in a place where they could
not advance otherwise in light of the threat of shooting, a few metres towards
the Unifil position," the IDF said. It added that during the incident, a smoke
screen was fired to aid the evacuation - and that it had "maintained continuous
contact" with Unifil, stressing there was "no threat to the Unifil force from
IDF activities".
UN secretary general António Guterres warned any attacks on peacekeepers "may
constitute a war crime", adding that "Unifil personnel and its premises must
never be targeted". "Attacks against peacekeepers are in breach of international
law, including international humanitarian law," Mr Guterres said, according to a
statement from his spokesman. The incident is the latest in a growing number of
encounters between Unifil and Israeli forces. Israel has repeatedly urged the
peacekeeping force to withdraw from areas of southern Lebanon where fighting was
taking place, after it began a ground incursion on 30 September targeting the
armed group Hezbollah.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Unifil to "immediately" get its
troops "out of harm's way" in a video statement issued by his office on Sunday,
claiming that their presence in the region made them "hostages of Hezbollah".
Unifil has so far refused these requests. Israel has faced international
condemnation for previous instances in which Unifil troops have been injured in
southern Lebanon - with the IDF admitting responsibility for firing toward UN
posts in some cases. Unifil said: "For the fourth time in as many days, we
remind the IDF and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and
security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN
premises at all times."It described the breach of its post in Ramyah as "a
further flagrant violation of international law". Unifil added that on Saturday
Israeli troops had blocked them from carrying out a "critical" logistical
movement near Meiss El Jebel, also near the border. The IDF has yet to comment
on that incident. But it alleged that Hezbollah had fired around 25 rockets and
missiles in the last month from sites located near Unifil sites. It accused the
armed group of "exploiting their proximity to UN forces". Hezbollah and Israel
have been trading near daily cross-border fire since last October, when the
Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked communities in southern Israel. Nearly
10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries are stationed in Lebanon, alongside around
800 civilian staff. Since 1978, they have patrolled the area between the Litani
River and the UN-recognised boundary between Lebanon and Israel known as the
"Blue Line". Israel has previously asked Unifil to withdraw north by 5km (3
miles).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a video address on 13 October,
2024
The Israeli PM urged the UN to "get them out of the danger zone" after five
injuries [Israel Government]
Prior to Sunday's incidents, five peacekeepers had been injured in recent days.
On Saturday, Unifil said a soldier had been shot at its headquarters in the city
of Naquora - though it did not know the origin of the bullet. The day before,
the IDF said its troops were responsible for an incident in which two Unifil
troops from Sri Lanka were injured. On Thursday, two Indonesian Unifil soldiers
were injured falling from an observation tower after an Israeli tank fired
towards it. Those incidents prompted rebukes from several of Israel's allies,
including France, Italy and Spain. A Downing Street spokesperson said the UK was
"appalled". In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu said European leaders should
direct their criticism towards Hezbollah, not Israel. Israel argues that Unifil
has failed to stabilise the region and prevent Hezbollah fighters from operating
south of the Litani River - among the reasons for a UN presence there. It has
previously said that it was acting on a 2004 UN resolution calling for the
disbanding of Lebanese and non-Lebanese militant groups, and that its request
for peacekeepers to withdraw was so it could confront Hezbollah. Netanyahu said
these appeals had been "met with refusals", and that Unifil was providing a
"human shield to Hezbollah terrorists". "This endangers both them and the lives
of our soldiers," he added. "We regret the injuring of Unifil soldiers and we
are doing everything in our power to prevent this injuring. But the simple and
obvious way to ensure this is simply to get them out of the danger zone."Unifil
officials have repeatedly refused to withdraw troops from the region. The body's
spokesman Andrea Tenenti told the AFP news agency on Saturday that there had
been a "unanimous decision to stay because it's important for the UN flag to
still fly high in this region". Lebanon's Prime Minister Nijab Mikati condemned
Netanyahu's position. In a statement, he said the Israeli PM's comments
represented "a new chapter in the enemy's approach of not complying with
international legitimacy". Mikati urged other nations "to take a firm position
that stops the Israeli aggression". Fifth peacekeeper wounded in southern
Lebanon, UN says US urges Israel to stop shooting at UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
No 10 'appalled' by Israel attacks on UN bases
4 Israeli soldiers killed, more than 60 people injured
by Hezbollah drone in one of bloodiest attacks on Israel since Oct. 7
Ivana Kottasová, Lauren Iszo, Dana Karni, Sarah Sirgany and Eugenia Yosef,
CNN/October 13, 2024
Reporter: ‘This seems to be the bloodiest attack on Israel’ away from frontlines
since October 7Scroll back up to restore default view. Four Israeli soldiers
have been killed and more than 60 people injured in a Hezbollah drone attack on
an army base in central-northern Israel, according to first responders and the
Israeli military. The incident late Sunday local time is one of the bloodiest
attacks on Israel since the beginning of the war last October. The Israel
Defense Forces (IDF) said an unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, launched by
Hezbollah hit an army base adjacent to Binyamina, a town north of Tel Aviv that
lies some 40 miles from the Lebanese border.
In addition to the four soldiers killed, seven soldiers suffered severe
injuries, the IDF said. According to Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency
service, a total of 61 people were wounded in the attack. The news comes after
Hezbollah said Sunday it had fired a swarm of attack drones on an Israeli
infantry training camp in Binyamina. The Lebanon-based militant group said the
attack was in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon Thursday that killed 22
people and injured 117, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Hezbollah
said it had targeted the Golani Brigade, an infantry unit of the Israel Defense
Forces (IDF) that has been deployed in southern Lebanon. The claim of
responsibility for the attack came shortly after the militant group released an
audio message from its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah calling on its members to
“defend your people, your family, your nation, your values and your dignity.”
Earlier on Sunday, the IDF said it had intercepted a Lebanon-launched UAV
without specifying where. It was not immediately clear whether this was the same
incident that led to the injuries.
Israeli air defence systems tend to be very reliable, but on Sunday, there were
no reports of alerts in the Binyamina area at the time of the attack, raising
questions of how the drone was able to penetrate so deep into the Israeli
territory without being spotted. Hezbollah said it had fired dozens of rockets
toward the northern Israeli towns of Nahariya and Acre to engage Israel’s air
defense systems, while simultaneously launching the drone swarm. “These drones
broke through the Israel defense radars without detection and reached its target
at the training camp of the elite Golani Brigade in Binyamina,” Hezbollah said.
The IDF’s top spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the military would
investigate how the drone got through without raising an alarm at the base. “We
will learn from and investigate the incident,” he said in a video statement from
the base. “The threat of UAVs is a threat we are dealing with since the
beginning of the war. We need an improvement to our defense,” he added.
‘Very difficult scene’
The Binyamina attack comes almost two weeks after Israel launched a ground
operation in southern Lebanon. The IDF has insisted the operation is “localized”
and “limited” – even though the reality on the ground suggests it might be
preparing for a wider invasion. The IDF has issued evacuation orders for a
quarter of Lebanon’s territory and deployed units from four different IDF
divisions to the border area, while also continuing an intense bombardment
campaign. More than 1,500 people have been killed and more than 8,000 injured in
Lebanon since September 16, when Israel stepped up its campaign against
Hezbollah, according to a CNN tally of Lebanese health ministry statements.
Tensions rose again on Sunday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
called on the United Nations peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon to withdraw
from the area following several incidents involving the IDF that left five
members of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) injured. The 40 countries
whose soldiers serve as UN peacekeepers in Lebanon issued a statement on Sunday
“strongly condemning” these attacks. At the same time, Israeli Defense Minister
Yoav Gallant said Israel would not allow Hezbollah to return to border villages
in southern Lebanon after Israeli troops leave the area. Despite the ground
operation targeting its infrastructure, Hezbollah continues to fire dozens of
rockets into Israel on daily basis. The attack on Sunday also raises concerns
over Hezbollah’s ability to use longer-range drones against Israel, as it comes
just two days after another attack in which the IDF said two drones were
launched from Lebanon. The Israeli military said Friday it had intercepted one
of those drones, but did not specify what happened to the other one. In the
attack Friday, warning sirens had activated and while a nursing home in the
coastal city of Herzliya, central Israel, was damaged, no casualties were no
reported. Magen David Adom said it declared a mass casualty event on Sunday
evening and had evacuated 61 injured people from the scene. It said three people
were in serious condition and 18 suffered moderate injuries. A statement from
the emergency service quoted a paramedic at the site as saying it “was a very
difficult scene.” “We declared it a mass casualty event and treated patients
suffering from blast injuries and shrapnel. The injuries were severe, and we
evacuated the injured to hospitals as quickly as possible for further medical
treatment,” Rafi Sheva said in the statement. Those injured in Binyamina were
transported to eight different hospitals across Israel, according to Magen David
Adom. The Laniado Hospital in north-central Israel treated several of the people
who suffered light injuries. Its spokesperson Asahel Shahaf said that one man
who was brought into the emergency room had a lucky escape when shrapnel from
the drone lodged into his kippah, a head covering worn by Jewish men. “The
shrapnel did not scratch the wounded man,” Shahaf said, calling the incident “a
small (big!!!) miracle.”
It's Time to Either Fix Lebanon—Or Break It Up
newsweek/October 13/2024
Imagine two diplomats in smoke-filled rooms in wartime London and Paris, poring
over maps of the Ottoman Empire. Mark Sykes, representing Britain, and François
Georges-Picot, were not renowned cartographers nor great experts on the Middle
East. But the clandestine map they signed in 1916, together with some agreements
in the years that followed, created the unhelpful map of the Middle East today.
Imagine two diplomats in smoke-filled rooms in wartime London and Paris, poring
over maps of the Ottoman Empire. Mark Sykes, representing Britain, and François
Georges-Picot, were not renowned cartographers nor great experts on the Middle
East. But the clandestine map they signed in 1916, together with some agreements
in the years that followed, created the unhelpful map of the Middle East today.
In essentially divided up the region into British and French protectorates
(Russia, the other element in the Great War's "Triple Entente," imploded in
civil war and lost its chance to control Istanbul). There was little concern for
the realities on the ground—the tribes, religious communities, and ethnic groups
that had been lorded over by the Ottomans. The lines they sketched lumped
diverse populations into hastily imagined nations. This is how we ended up with
Iraq, a melding of Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds who hate each other. That is why
we have Syria, similarly a fake country which blew up in a ruinous civil war.
Imperial machinations are why Jordan even exists—that had to do with offering
compensation to a tribe that did not get handed Saudi Arabia. Such a scenario,
hypothetical though it may be, raises numerous questions regarding the rest of
Lebanon's territory, with its significant Muslim populations—and also, of
course, about defending the Christian state. This statelet might initially
function as part of a confederation. But it might also dream of independence,
with non-Christian areas eventually merging with a post-war Syria or a future
multiethnic country in the region. Beirut would remain as the center of a
peaceful, smaller Lebanon, ethnically more homogeneous, not fighting with
Israel, reclaiming its quasi-European culture, freed of jihadist nonsense.
Carving out a "Petit Liban" (a smaller, predominantly Christian Lebanon) would
be a dramatic and highly controversial geopolitical scenario. But it would
underscore wider lessons that should be rather obvious by now. Multi-ethnic
countries require populations that embrace multiculturalism—and that is rare.
And irrational territorial ambitions, like those that begat "Greater Lebanon,"
can lead to great disaster.
*Dan Perry is the former Cairo-based Middle East editor and London-based
Europe/Africa editor of the Associated Press, the former Chairman of the Foreign
Press Association in Jerusalem and the author of two books. Follow him at
danperry.substack.com.
Lebanon’s PM condemns Netanyahu’s demand for UNIFIL’s
withdrawal
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/October 13, 2024
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati has condemned his Israeli
counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for appealing to UN chief Antonio Guterres to
remove peacekeepers from the Lebanese side of the border, where clashes between
Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israeli troops have intensified. Lebanon “condemns
Netanyahu’s position and the Israeli aggression against UNIFIL (UN Interim Force
in Lebanon) peacekeepers,” said Mikati. He added: “The warning that Netanyahu
addressed to … Guterres demanding the removal of the UNIFIL represents a new
chapter in Israel’s approach of not complying with international norms.”Mikati’s
statement came as Saudi Arabia officially launched relief air support to
Lebanon, and the first plane carrying humanitarian and medical aid reached
Beirut. Rafic Hariri International Airport on Sunday witnessed the arrival of
the first aircraft from the Saudi relief airlift, accompanied by the Saudi
Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari. The Saudi aid agency KSrelief announced
that the airlift was established “under the directives of the Kingdom’s
leadership to provide medical and humanitarian assistance to the Lebanese people
in support of their efforts to cope with critical circumstances.”The first
aircraft carried 46 containers of various aid supplies, including tents, in
anticipation of the approaching winter season. The Saudi Press Agency also
reported that KSrelief had continued implementing the fourth phase of the Hope
Bakery charitable project in the Akkar Governorate and Miniyeh district in
northern Lebanon.
During the past week the project has distributed 175,000 bundles of bread to
families in need, including Syrian and Palestinian families, and host
communities in northern Lebanon, benefiting 12,000 households. The Lebanese
Caretaker Minister of Economy Amin Salam; Caretaker Minister of Environment
Nasser Yassin; and the Secretary-General of the Lebanese High Relief Commission
Maj. Gen. Mohammed Khair welcomed the support’s arrival at the airport. Yassin
thanked Saudi Arabia “for this assistance in these challenging times to secure
urgent needs. The Kingdom has consistently supported Lebanon, and we appreciate
this stance and commitment.”Bukhari, who met Mikati, said: “The first wave of
assistance has arrived, confirming Saudi Arabia’s commitment and support for the
Lebanese people in facing difficult challenges.”A Qatari aircraft transporting
tonnes of medical supplies also arrived at the airport, while an Omani aircraft,
loaded with 40 tonnes of medicine and humanitarian assistance, is scheduled to
arrive on Monday. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continued to target the Lebanese
army. A drone targeted a Lebanese army vehicle with a missile on Sunday as it
passed through the town of Burj Al-Muluk, injuring three soldiers.An airstrike
on the town of Srebbine in the district of Bint Jbeil wounded four paramedics.
Meanwhile, UN peacekeepers in Lebanon on Sunday asked for an explanation from
the Israeli army over what they said were “shocking violations” against their
force, including forcing entry into one of their positions. UNIFIL said in a
statement: “We have requested an explanation from the Israeli army for these
shocking violations.”
The organization also accused Israel’s military of halting a logistics convoy.
The UN peacekeepers said Israeli tanks broke through a gate to enter a Blue
Helmet position in Lebanon on Sunday, after blocking their movement the previous
day. The peacekeeping mission said: “At around 4:30 a.m., while peacekeepers
were in shelters, two Israeli military Merkava tanks destroyed the position’s
main gate and forcibly entered the position in the Ramia area of southern
Lebanon. “They requested multiple times that the base turn out its lights. The
tanks left about 45 minutes after UNIFIL protested through our liaison
mechanism.”A little over two hours later, peacekeepers reported “the firing of
several rounds 100 meters north, which emitted smoke.” They added: “Despite
putting on protective masks, 15 peacekeepers suffered effects, including skin
irritation and gastrointestinal reactions, after the smoke entered the
camp.”Israeli soldiers on Saturday had “stopped a critical UNIFIL logistical
movement near Mais Al-Jabal, denying its passage,” the force said, referring to
an area in south Lebanon. “For the fourth time in as many days, we remind the
IDF and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN
personnel.”The UN force added: “Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave
violation of international humanitarian law and Resolution 1701.”It added that
UNIFIL’s mandate provided freedom of movement in its area of operations. The
number of peacekeeping soldiers in UNIFIL stands at 10,500, representing over 40
countries worldwide. They are deployed in fixed and mobile sites in the border
area to monitor the implementation of Resolution 1701 in coordination with the
Lebanese army.
Mikati on Sunday reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to Resolution 1701.
He said that Netanyahu “is not content with the aggression he is waging on
Lebanon, claiming martyrs and victims and causing indescribable destruction.”
Mikati added that Netanyahu’s “warning to Guterres represents a new chapter in
the approach of non-compliance with international legitimacy and its related
resolutions.”He added: “This statement is for the international community and
the UN, and it should be a new incentive to take the appropriate stance after
Netanyahu turned against the French-American call, supported by foreign and Arab
countries, for a ceasefire.”
The southern front on Sunday witnessed new Israeli incursion attempts,
especially in Maroun Al-Ras where Hezbollah announced its targeting of a
gathering of Israeli soldiers inside the town. The group also announced it had
targeted an Israeli tank south of the Lebanese town of Qouzah with a guided
missile. A violent confrontation also took place at the entrance to the town of
Ramyah, and machine-gun clashes were heard in an area between Aita Al-Shaab and
Ramyah. Israel’s Maariv newspaper reported that the Israeli army had captured a
Hezbollah member in southern Lebanon and found an underground tunnel within a
building that led to an area where other members of the group were present.
Hezbollah-affiliated activists denied Israel’s claim.
Analysis-Lessons from Iran missile attacks for defending
against China's advanced arsenal
Gerry Doyle/SINGAPORE (Reuters)/October 13, 2024
Iran's missile barrage this month against Israel, after a similar large-scale
attack in April, shows the value, as well as the shortcomings, of U.S and allied
missile defences in a potential Indo-Pacific conflict with China, analysts say.
Although differences between the two scenarios limit the lessons that can be
learnt, the nearly 400 missiles of different types that Iran has fired at Israel
this year offer the United States and China some idea of what works and what
does not. For Washington, the main takeaway from Iran's Oct. 1 attacks - the
largest sample yet of ballistic missiles fired against modern defences - could
be that Beijing's missiles would be more difficult to intercept than Iran's and
that the ability to strike back would be needed to deter a mass attack, said
Collin Koh of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.
"If we look purely through the lenses of deterrence, no longer can one pin hopes
on deterrence by denial only - that is, the hope that effective defences can
blunt the efficacy of missile strikes," Koh said. "Deterrence by punishment
might have to become normative going forward." There is no immediate threat of
missile conflict in the Indo-Pacific region. The distances, thousands of
kilometres, are greater than in the Middle East. China's weapons are more
advanced, including manoeuvring warheads and precision guidance. And the target
areas are scattered across the region, making a massed attack more difficult.
The United States has developed and deployed new weapons in the region this year
to counter China, including the AIM-174B air-to-air missile and the ground-based
Typhon missile battery in the Philippines, which can launch SM-6 and Tomahawk
missiles. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and China's Ministry of Defence did not
immediately respond to requests for comment.
CHINA'S MISSILES LONGER-RANGE, LESS ACCURATE
On the other hand, simply being better informed about how offensive and
defensive systems perform after Iran's missile fusillades - many were
intercepted - may reduce the chance of conflict, said Ankit Panda of the
U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
"Any military force planning long-range missile strikes will need to plan around
the possible effects of missile defences," Panda said. "Of course, without
clarity on how well a given missile defence system might perform, this could
lead to massive escalation."
Israel's layered air and missile defences - from its long-range Arrow systems to
the Iron Dome shield meant to handle slower, less complex threats - are tailored
to the threats it faces: guided ballistic missiles from powers such as Iran
mixed with unguided rockets launched from just over Israel's borders. The
picture is much different in the Indo-Pacific region for the U.S. and its
allies, which use the Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Patriot, THAAD and sea-based
Aegis systems for missile defence. The accuracy of China's DF-26, its most
numerous conventional intermediate-range ballistic missile, is estimated to be
as good as 150 m (500 feet), according to the Center for Strategic and
International Studies' Missile Defense Project. Its DF-21 is shorter-ranged,
though some variants have an accuracy of 50 m. Both can hit most U.S. and allied
targets in the region. The DF-26 can reach Guam, the site of major U.S. military
facilities. The Pentagon has estimated that China may have several hundred of
the missiles. By contrast, Iran's missiles such as the Fattah-1 are
theoretically more accurate - within tens of metres - but are much
shorter-ranged. The number of these newer missiles is not public, but U.S. Air
Force General Kenneth McKenzie told Congress last year that Iran had more than
3,000 ballistic missiles of all types. China's capabilities outstrip Iran's in
other ways, said Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic
Policy Institute. Missile attacks would most likely be coordinated with
anti-satellite strikes and cyberwarfare, both designed to complicate defence.
"Western (integrated air and missile defence) systems in the Indo-Pacific would
have a much tougher time defeating a large Chinese missile strike, comprising
hundreds or even thousands of missiles, compared to what the Iranians are
capable of," Davis said.
.The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on October 13-14/2024
US to send more troops and an advanced anti-missile system to Israel
Katie Balevic/Business Insider/October 13, 2024
The THAAD system will bolster Israel's air defense against incoming threats, the
Pentagon said.
It comes amid heightened tensions with Iran after Israel's assassination of
Hezbollah's leader. The United States is sending
troops and an anti-missile defense system to Israel.
US President Joe Biden directed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to approve "the
deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and
associated crew of U.S. military personnel" to Israel following Iran's attacks
on the country earlier this month. Iran's missile
attack on Israel was in retaliation for Israel's escalating attacks on
Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, in Lebanon. Israel assassinated Hezbollah
leader Hassan Nasrallah in September. Iran also retaliated against Israel in
April after Israel assassinated several Iranian military leaders in Syria. "The
THAAD Battery will augment Israel's integrated air defense system. This action
underscores the United States' ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel, and
to defend Americans in Israel, from any further ballistic missile attacks by
Iran," Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement on Sunday.
Multiple outlets, citing the Pentagon, reported that the US will send about 100
troops to operate the air defense system. The US
previously deployed the THAAD system to Israel in 2019 for training exercises
and again following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, the press statement
said. The United States has about 40,000 troops
deployed in the wider Middle East, the Associated Press reported.
Israel rescuers say over 60 wounded in area Hezbollah
claimed drone strike
AFP/October 13, 2024
JERUSALEM: An Israeli volunteer rescue service on Sunday said more than 60
people were wounded south of Haifa, where Hezbollah earlier claimed a drone
strike that targeted a military base. “With the help of United Hatzalah
ambulance teams, we provided assistance to over 60 wounded people with varying
degrees of injuries — critical, serious, moderate and mild,” the rescue service
United Hatzalah said in a statement posted on its Facebook page. Earlier Sunday,
Hezbollah, which is at war with Israel, said it launched “a squadron of attack
drones” at a military training camp in Binyamina, south of Haifa, in response to
Israeli air strikes on the country. The incident comes two days after air raid
sirens sounded in central Israel after two aerial drones entered the country
from Lebanon, with at least one building damaged north of Tel Aviv during the
incident.Hezbollah has been regularly firing r ockets and drones across the
border into Israel for more than a year, but has reached further since late
September when fighting escalated. Israel’s sophisticated air defenses,
including the Iron Dome system, has intercepted most of the projectiles, with
few casualties caused by strikes or falling debris.
US will send a missile defense system and troops to run it
to Israel to aid defense against Iran
Lolita C. Baldor/WASHINGTON (AP) /October 13, 2024
The United States will send a T erminal High Altitude Area Defense battery to
Israel, along with the troops needed to operate it, the Pentagon said Sunday,
even as Iran warned Washington to keep American military forces out of Israel.
Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement that Defense
Secretary Lloyd Austin authorized the deployment of the THAAD battery at the
direction of President Joe Biden. He said the system will help bolster Israel's
air defenses following Iran’s ballistic missile attacks on Israel in April and
October. The delivery of the sophisticated missile defense system risks further
inflaming the conflict in the Middle East despite widespread diplomatic efforts
to avoid an all-out war. The Iranian warning came in a post on the social
platform X long associated with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who noted the
earlier reports that the U.S. was considering the deployment. Israeli forces and
Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon have been clashing since Oct. 8, 2023, when the
Lebanese militant group began firing rockets over the border in support of its
ally Hamas in Gaza. Late last month, Israel launched a ground invasion into
Lebanon. Israel is widely believed to be preparing a
military response to Iran’s Oct. 1 attack when it fired roughly 180 missiles
into Israel. In a brief exchange with reporters before
leaving Florida on Sunday, Biden said he agreed to deploy the THAAD battery “to
defend Israel.” Biden spoke at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa after making a
quick visit to to see the damage caused by Hurricane Milton and meet with first
responders, residents and local leaders. Ryder, in his
statement, said the deployment "underscores the United States’ ironclad
commitment to the defense of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel, from any
further ballistic missile attacks by Iran.” It was not immediately clear where
the THAAD battery was coming from or when it will arrive. Lt. Col. Nadav
Shoshani, an Israeli army spokesman, declined to provide any timeline for its
arrival, but thanked the U.S. for its support. The
U.S. deployed one of the batteries to the Middle East along with additional
Patriot battalions to bolster protections for U.S. forces in the region late
last year after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas militants. Ryder
also said that the U.S. sent a THAAD battery to Israel in 2019 for training. It
also is not unusual for the U.S. to have a limited number of troops in Israel,
which the U.S. considers a key regional ally. There generally has been a small
number of forces there consistently as well as routine rotational deployments
for training and exercises. The THAAD will add another
layer to Israel's already significant air defenses, which include separate
systems designed to intercept long-range, medium-range and short-range threats.
Israel recently retired its U.S.-made Patriot systems after decades of use.
According to an April report by the Congressional Research Service, the
Army has seven THAAD batteries. Generally each consists of six truck-mounted
launchers, 48 interceptors, radio and radar equipment and requires 95 soldiers
to operate. The THAAD is considered a complementary
system to the Patriot, but it can defend a wider area. It can hit targets at
ranges of 150 to 200 kilometers (93 to 124 miles), and is used to destroy
short-range, medium-range and limited intermediate-range ballistic missile
threats that are either inside or outside the atmosphere. The U.S. Missile
Defense Agency is responsible for developing the system, but it is operated by
the Army. An eighth system has been funded and ordered and is expected to be in
the field sometime next year.
Trump says he recently spoke with Israel Prime Minister
Netanyahu
Jasper Ward/WASHINGTON (Reuters)/October 13, 2024
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is the Republican
presidential candidate, said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu "like two days ago."Trump was asked when last he spoke to the Israeli
leader during a Fox News interview that aired on Sunday. "Like two days ago and
he came to my house in Florida, Mar-a-Lago with his wife who was lovely," he
responded. Trump met with Netanyahu at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida, in
July. It was their first meeting since the end of Trump's presidency. U.S.
President Joe Biden also spoke with Netanyahu last week amid tensions with Iran.
Their Wednesday call was the first known conversation between the two leaders
since August. It coincided with a sharp escalation of Israel's conflict with
Iran and the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah. Trump called the lack of
conversation between Biden and Netanyahu in nearly two months "pathetic." "I can
tell you that Bibi has been very strong," Trump said. "He's not listening to
Biden." Relations between Biden and Netanyahu have been tense, strained over the
Israeli leader’s handling of the war in Gaza and the conflict with Hezbollah.
Israel has said it will pursue its military operations until Israelis are safe.
Israel reinforces ban on UN chief entering country over Iran attack comments
Reuters/October 13, 2024
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz reinforced on Sunday his decision to
declare U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata over what he
described as a failure to condemn Iran's missile attack and antisemitic and
anti-Israel conduct.On Oct. 2, Katz said that he was barring Guterres from
entering Israel. He posted on X on Sunday that "Guterres can continue seeking
support from U.N. member states, but the decision will not change." U.N.
spokesperson Stephane Dujarric described the initial announcement on Oct. 2 as
political and "just one more attack, so to speak, on U.N. staff that we've seen
from the government of Israel." He said the U.N. traditionally does not
recognize the concept of persona non grata as applying to U.N. staff. When asked
to respond to Katz's remarks on Sunday, a U.N. spokesperson referred to
Dujarric's earlier comments. Dujarric also said last
week that the U.N. had not received any formal communication from Israel on the
matter. On Oct. 3, the U.N. Security Council expressed its full support for
Guterres, saying in a statement that "any decision not to engage with the U.N.
Secretary-General or the United Nations is counterproductive, especially in the
context of escalating tensions in the Middle East."
When asked last week if Guterres had been made persona non grata by Israel,
Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters: "There was a statement made
... we will evaluate the relationship. We are here at the U.N., we work with the
U.N. agencies, but we were disappointed." Iran fired more than 180 ballistic
missiles at Israel on Oct. 1 amid an escalation in fighting between Israel and
its proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah. Many were intercepted in flight but some
penetrated missile defenses. Guterres condemned the missile attack and "the
broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation."
Earlier the same day, Israel had sent troops into southern Lebanon. During a
Security Council meeting a day later, Guterres said: "As I did in relation to
the Iranian attack in April - and as should have been obvious yesterday in the
context of the condemnation I expressed - I again strongly condemn yesterday’s
massive missile attack by Iran on Israel."
Frankly Speaking: Can a new global coalition achieve
Palestinian statehood?
ARAB NEWS/October 13, 2024
DUBAI: Riyad Mansour, Palestine’s permanent observer to the UN, has commended
Saudi Arabia’s leadership in advancing the two-state solution, stressing that
the Kingdom’s efforts, led by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, are
pivotal for the future of the Palestinian people.
Appearing on the Arab News current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” Mansour
said the international coalition spearheaded by Saudi Arabia is a vital step
toward realizing Palestinian statehood and enforcing international law. The
coalition, launched at a high-level meeting during the UN General Assembly,
involves key global players, including the EU and Norway.
“We are very appreciative of what Saudi Arabia is doing and the personal
involvement of Prince Faisal bin Farhan,” Mansour said. In the recent UN General
Assembly session, Prince Faisal bin Farhan announced the coalition’s formation,
drawing participation from a wide range of international stakeholders. “About 90
countries participated, among them 90 foreign ministers,” Mansour said, adding
that the coalition’s purpose is to take concrete steps to pressure Israel to
comply with international laws and resolutions, which mandate an end to the
occupation of Palestinian territories.
He praised the Saudi leadership for mobilizing this broad international support
and noted that the coalition’s next steps would be shaped by an upcoming
conference in Riyadh. “There will soon be a conference in Riyadh in order to
adopt the action plan for moving in the direction of taking all the steps
necessary in order to either convince or force Israel to comply with this wish
that this occupation has to end and it has to end soon to allow for the birth of
the two-state solution,” Mansour told “Frankly Speaking” host Katie Jensen.
“Which means the independence of the State of Palestine, because one has been in
existence since 1948-1949. The other one is under occupation, and it needs to be
independent. “It needs to be a full member in the UN to have parity and then to
deal with all of the details that would lead to the evacuation of the
settlements and the settlers and all of the manifestation of this illegal
occupation to allow for seeing the two-state solution becoming a reality on the
ground. I think we are in the initial stages of all these practical steps.”He
reaffirmed that the two-state solution remains the only viable path to peace in
the region, emphasizing the importance of establishing the state of Palestine
alongside Israel, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Mansour also stressed the
need for Israel to be held accountable for its actions, particularly in Gaza,
where some 42,000 Palestinians have been killed over the past year. He
underscored the role of international legal mechanisms such as the International
Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court in achieving this
accountability.
Reflecting on the ICJ’s ruling in July on the legality of Israel’s occupation of
Palestinian territories, Mansour said: “The court did its job and they gave us a
historic advisory opinion.” However, he acknowledged the limitations of the
court in enforcing its rulings. “The court doesn’t have an enforceability
power,” he said. “The enforceability power is in the hands of the international
community — the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Human Rights
Council, the Contracting Parties of Fourth Geneva Convention and it is in the
hands of national states.”
Mansour underscored the responsibility of the international community to take
concrete action following the ICJ’s ruling. “We translated that in the
resolution adopted in the General Assembly by saying this illegal occupation has
to end as rapidly as possible. It should end within 12 months,” he said. He
called on countries that supply Israel with weapons to halt their support.
“Those who provide weapons, they should stop sending weapons to embolden Israel
and to allow it to continue with this illegal occupation and this genocidal war
against our people in Gaza, among other things,” he said.
Mansour warned that the situation in Gaza is deteriorating rapidly. He also
expressed concern that the world may be turning its back on the embattled
enclave, despite the severity of the crisis.
“I hope that, after one year, these atrocities against our people in the Gaza
Strip do not become a forgotten subject,” he said. Mansour reiterated the
importance of a ceasefire and humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering
of Palestinians in Gaza. “We hope that that momentum will culminate in putting
in place a ceasefire and the beginning of sending humanitarian assistance to the
scale needed by our people in the Gaza Strip, and the process of allowing the
people of Gaza to go back to the places where they were forced from and to
provide them with shelter since winter is approaching,” he said. Mansour did not
shy away from criticizing the role of the US in the conflict, accusing
Washington of failing to use its influence to stop the war in Gaza. He argued
that the US could have exerted pressure on Israel to halt its military campaign
but has allowed the violence to continue.“The US could have stopped this war a
long time ago,” Mansour said, adding that the situation has worsened due to this
inaction.
“They could have mustered enough pressure on Israel more than three months ago
when President Joe Biden made his announcement of the three stages of dealing
with the situation in Gaza, starting with a ceasefire. And a resolution was
adopted, 2735. Fourteen countries voted in favor. Nobody voted against it. And
we are still not seeing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.”He added: “And they are
now more or less frozen, and the administration is unable to take significant
decisions to stop this war.”Mansour also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu of using the conflict to advance his political interests.
“I believe that Netanyahu took the American leadership for a ride,” he said,
suggesting that Netanyahu is exploiting the conflict to bolster his position
domestically and avoid corruption charges. “And he is, in essence, helping
(Donald) Trump to become the next president. And he will wait and see what the
result will be after Nov. 5.” He warned that Netanyahu’s actions could
destabilize the entire region, pointing to Israel’s ongoing strikes on Hezbollah
targets and its military incursion into southern Lebanon, as well as threats
against Iran. “We condemn this aggression against Lebanon, and it should be
stopped immediately,” he said. “He created an environment to expand this war
even further after what with regard to Iran, because he wants to wreck the
entire Middle East if he can, in order to fulfill his selfish desire of
remaining as prime minister of Israel and not going to jail because he’s facing
four allegations of criminal activities that each one of them is enough to put
him in jail.”
Mansour also commended Saudi Arabia for its financial support to the Palestinian
people, particularly in Gaza, where Saudi aid has been vital in addressing the
growing humanitarian crisis. He welcomed Saudi Arabia’s announcement of monthly
financial aid to Palestine, calling it a significant step in ensuring the
survival of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. “This step is a
very significant step in showing that it is not up to Israel to decide the fate
of the State of Palestine,” Mansour said, adding that the aid will help counter
Israel’s economic pressure on the Palestinian Authority. Mansour praised Saudi
Arabia’s continued commitment to supporting Palestine, noting that its aid has
to date totaled more than $5.3 billion.
He said that this support is not just humanitarian but also political, sending a
clear message that the international community, led by Saudi Arabia, stands with
Palestine. Mansour called on the international community to take more decisive
action to end the conflict and achieve peace. He expressed optimism that the
Saudi-led coalition could serve as a catalyst for real change, but stressed that
more needs to be done to hold Israel accountable and bring an end to the
occupation. Mansour said that global support for Palestine is growing. He called
for continued pressure on Israel to comply with international law and for the
international community to support the establishment of an independent
Palestinian state. “As Nelson Mandela said, and it was quoted even by President
Biden in his speech at the UN, it is not over until it is over, until it is
done,” he said.
“It looks very complicated. It looks that Israel is so belligerent. But when we
reach that tipping point where countries, as some of them in Europe, like Spain,
Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, and others, started to see the light that, for
example, admitting the state of Palestine to membership should take place at the
beginning of the process, not at the end, as they used to believe.
“All these signs are giving us signals that we are getting very close to the
possibility of opening the door to begin to see that this isolation and these
practical tools available to all nations and the UN to be used. “Then they will
start giving results to force Israel to change its behavior and to begin the
process of ending this occupation, hopefully soon in order to enjoy freedom and
independence of the Palestinian people and the occupied land of the state of
Palestine and to have the state of Palestine completely free, fully member of
the UN, and to end this occupation in that process as well.”He remains hopeful
that the two-state solution can be realized, despite the challenges. “It is
complicated, it is difficult, but we have a tremendous amount of help and
support, globally speaking,” he said. “We will succeed.”
Zelenskiy says North Koreans fighting with Russians in
Ukraine
Reuters/KYIV (Reuters)/October 13, 2024
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that defence
relationships with his country's partners would have to change in light of North
Korean transfers of people as well as weapons to Russian forces in Ukraine.
The Kremlin on Thursday dismissed South Korean assertions that North
Korea may have sent some military personnel to help Russia against Ukraine and
might be weighing a bigger deployment. "We see that
the alliance between Russia and such regimes as the North Korean one is getting
stronger," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. "This is not just about
the transfer of weapons, this is in fact about the transfer of people from North
Korea to the armed forces of the occupiers. "It is obvious that under such
conditions our relationship with our partners needs to evolve," he added. "The
front line needs more support. We are talking about more long-range capabilities
for Ukraine and more sustained supplies for our forces rather than a simple list
of military hardware."South Korea's Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun said on
Tuesday that "there was a high possibility" North Korea could deploy troops to
help Russia in the war with Ukraine. Kim also told a
parliamentary hearing that news reports of North Korean military officers having
been killed in a Ukrainian strike on territory controlled by Russian forces were
likely true. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, asked on
Thursday if North Korea was sending its troops to fight in Ukraine, told
reporters: "This looks like another bit of fake news."
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources
on October 13-14/2024
Israel vs. Iran on the Judo Mat
Raz Greenberg/The Tablet/October 13/2024
A new film about rival female judokas, one from Israel and one from Iran, by an
Israeli director
An early scene in the sports drama-thriller Tatami brings together protagonist
Leila Hosseini (Arienne Mandi), an Iranian judoka, and her potential Israeli
rival Shani Lavie (Lir Katz). They meet just before they are about to start
competing at the World Judo Championship held in Georgia, where they will very
likely face each other in an upcoming match. However, the film makes it clear
that despite their professional rivalry and the conflict between their
countries, they hold no personal grudges against each other.
Their conversation is friendly, but it also highlights the difference between
the two characters. Lavie struggles to find the balance between her professional
and personal life, having recently broken up with her boyfriend over her busy
practice schedule. Hosseini, on the other hand, has obviously found this balance
in her life: She is married to a loving husband (Ash Goldeh) who takes upon
himself most of the responsibilities in raising their child so that she can
focus on her judo career. The conversation also reveals deeper differences
between them: Lavie is still in her self-searching phase, probably (though the
film does not explicitly state this) after her mandatory IDF service, trying to
figure out what path to take. Hosseini, as seen throughout the film, has found
her path: She came to win, and she is not going to let anything stand in her
way.
Lavie’s character is barely seen through the rest of the film; the story is not
about her. But the early scene of her meeting with Hosseini’s character makes it
clear that the film is every bit about Israel as it is about Iran—which is quite
appropriate given that it was co-directed by Israeli filmmaker Guy Nativ and
Iranian actress and director Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who also plays the role of
Hosseini’s coach, Maryam Ghanbari.
In terms of plot and style, Tatami plays like a first-league work in both its
genres. The judo matches are loaded with raw, brutal energy: Restless camerawork
and editing make the audience feel every punch, kick, and fall, all accompanied
by excited narration from unseen sports reporters that boost the drama. Those
who follow real-life judo matches (as many Israelis do, given the achievements
of Israeli contestants in the field) will perhaps find it all a bit too
dramatic, feeling more like something out of a martial arts film than a real
judo match. But what Tatami loses in realism in its portrayal of judo fights, it
wins back through its impressive black-and-white photography that gives its
sports segments in the film a rough, documentarylike feeling.
As the plot progresses, the film slowly turns from a sports drama into a
nail-biting thriller: Fearing that Hosseini’s victory streak will eventually
bring her to face Lavie, the Iranian government orders Ghanbari to pull Hosseini
out of the championship, which Hosseini refuses to do. Pressure quickly
increases: The Iranian security forces have no qualms about taking violent
actions against Ghanbari or Hosseini—either through their families in Iran or
toward them directly with representatives of the regime sent to watch them
during the championship and make sure they will not stray from the path dictated
to them. Taking place in real time, following the schedule of the championship,
Tatami turns Hosseini’s struggle into a desperate affair as her options run out.
Here, too, the film’s black-and-white photography serves it well, providing it
with a threatening noirlike aesthetic that makes it feel as though the narrow
corridors of the stadium in which the championship is held literally suffocate
the protagonists.
COURTESY XYZ FILMS
Once Tatami switches to thriller mode, it keeps its audience on the edges of
their seats, all the way to the ending, although a few redundant flashbacks and
scenes taking place in Iran during the competition somewhat distract from the
film’s otherwise near-perfect pacing. The film’s two lead actresses also deliver
a strong sense of urgency. Mandi, in what I truly hope will be a star-making
role (watch for her in the upcoming second season of Netflix’s The Night Agent)
is excellent as the strong-headed judoka, eager to prove that she is at her top
form. In contrast, Ebrahimi delivers a highly nuanced performance as the coach
who really wants Hosseini to win, but also has a deeper understanding of the
political implications involved in this kind of victory, realizing that it’s
about a lot more than just sports. Both actresses superbly portray that change
in the relationship between the two characters during the film’s 105-minute
runtime—from supporting friendship to bitter animosity.
Ebrahimi, an Iranian actress living in exile after being persecuted in her
country, has obviously brought a lot of her own personal experiences into Tatami
as both actress and co-director. As both an actress and director, she brings
another element into the film, her experience adding another layer to the
relationship between Hosseini and Ghanbari. That relationship goes beyond a mere
friendship between a young ambitious woman and an older, wiser woman who serves
as both her trainer and a confidant. Tatami is also about the relationship
between an idealist, and an older woman who gave up on her ideals.
At the beginning of the film, Hosseini is proud to represent Iran. Yes, she is
involved with the illegal underground party scene, but she also loves her
country—perhaps even believing that her achievements in the championship will
push her country in a different direction. Ghanbari, on the other hand, has
given up on her ideals, and probably also her patriotism, long before the
beginning of the story. Yet for this precise reason, she tries to persuade
Hosseini to follow the directives given by the Iranian authorities and drop out
of the competition: It may hurt Hosseini’s pride, her professional status and
her love for her country, but it will make her life comfortable and safe. The
crashing of Hosseini’s ideals, and the manner in which Ghanbari admits her own
broken ideals, prove destructive for both characters.
But what did an Israeli director bring into this aspect of the film? Those who
follow Guy Nativ’s career know that intolerance is a recurring theme in his
work. He has explored it in Israel (in his brilliant debut short Strangers,
co-directed with Erez Tadmor), North America (in his Academy Award-winning short
film Skin and the later feature-length film of the same title), and now in Iran
with Tatami.
Yet Tatami is not about Iranian intolerance, or at least not exclusively about
it. Over the past two years, Israel has seen many public protests—first over the
attempt at legal reform, and now over the demand to free the hostages in
Gaza—and protesters had to insist they are motivated by their love for their
country. In this sense, as an Israeli watching Tatami, I could not help but
wonder if the film’s Iranian judoka story is actually meant to be a twisted
mirror image of an Israeli story (appropriately, mirrors play a vital role in
the plot of Tatami). Like Lavie, the Israeli judoka seen at the beginning of the
film, Israeli protesters—and their political rivals as well—are free to express
themselves. But as Nativ reminds his Israeli audience, freedom cannot be taken
for granted.
**Raz Greenberg, an animation researcher, is the author of Hayao Miyazaki:
Exploring the Early Work of Japan’s Greatest Animator.
HomeIran’s only salvation is through peace with Arab
states
Baria AlamuddinArab News/October 13, 2024
Smuggled from one safe house to the next, communicating with underlings via
scraps of paper for fear of using a phone, and with his foremost regional
commanders dead, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is perhaps pondering how his actions
have brought Iran to this miserable juncture.
The Iranian supreme leader’s hapless spy chief Ismael Qaani has disappeared,
prompting speculation that he may have been killed by Israel, or is under
interrogation in Tehran over his culpability for security breaches. Iran flooded
the region with transnational paramilitary armies such as the Houthis in Yemen,
Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi in Iraq and Hezbollah in Lebanon that were supposed to be
cannon fodder in the exalted cause of regime preservation. But through such
warmongering, the ayatollahs succeeded only in placing a large target on their
own heads. The “axis of resistance” was never primarily about attacking Israel:
it was a pretext for subverting governing authorities in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria,
Yemen and elsewhere, converting these nations into proxy frontline states
against the full spectrum of regime enemies — including Arab countries and the
West. Iran cynically wields these failed states like playing cards, dialing
tensions up and down as proof of its supposed pre-eminence. Hezbollah leader
Hassan Nasrallah and the ayatollahs were prisoners of their own rhetoric, having
for so long trotted out the nonsensical narrative of “death to America” and
“death to Israel,” while in practice spending the past year dodging and weaving
in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid being caught up in full-blown regional war.
But through such warmongering, the ayatollahs succeeded only in placing a large
target on their own heads. Tehran and Hezbollah’s constant missteps ultimately
granted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the pretext he sought for
targeting the Iranian regime directly. It is only because the Biden
administration in the White House is risk averse and focused on elections that
there has been any hesitation in Israel embarking on massive air assaults
against Iran’s nuclear, oil, military, economic and civilian installations.
Khamenei must be having sleepless nights about the prospects of a Trump
presidential election win. Iran has dispatched diplomats to Riyadh, Doha, Cairo,
Baghdad, Damascus and elsewhere in last-ditch efforts to avert Israel’s oncoming
onslaught, but the regime looks more isolated than ever. Dysfunctional,
questionable allies such as North Korea and Russia habitually fail to follow
through on promises of weapons and support — particularly given Moscow’s
historic ties with Israel, 15 percent of whose population speak Russian. The
most likely existential threat to the regime is from the inside, from an
impoverished and frustrated populace who blame their oppressive leaders for
their miserable plight, so the ayatollahs can ill afford to look so weak and
vulnerable.
Hezbollah’s decapitation is fueling tensions in numerous states, including Iraq,
where the conspicuous humiliations of the “resistance” have encouraged calls to
demobilize the Iran-backed Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi militias in the knowledge that it
is only a matter of time before Israel unleashes its firepower on Baghdad.
Likewise in Lebanon, where a radically weakened Hezbollah will nevertheless
fight tooth and nail to avoid losing its accustomed political prestige,
particularly with Israel agitating for implementation of the 2004 UN Security
Council resolution that requires the disarmament of all non-state forces.
Having lost an entire cohort of veteran commanders, the regime in Tehran appears
to be promoting surviving Iraqi warlords such as Qais Al-Khazali and Akram Al-Kaabi,
but the Revolutionary Guards must feel trepidation that future phases of
paramilitary brinkmanship sit in the unpredictable hands of such mercurial
megalomaniacs and inexperienced nonentities. While Iraqi paramilitaries may be
more numerous than Hezbollah, they have long since devolved into criminal
mafias, offering scant military abilities other than skirmishing with each other
and staging predatory attacks on defenseless civilians.
It doesn’t have to be like this. After millennia of shared culture and history
with Iran, fellow-Muslim Arab states are not its natural enemies. They are
supposedly all on the same side in championing the justice of the Palestinian
cause. So rather than mumbled threats that Gulf states could be targeted if
Tehran is hit, Iran should be seeking to reactivate its previous reluctant and
tentative steps toward diplomatic outreach.
After millennia of shared culture and history with Iran, fellow-Muslim Arab
states are not its natural enemies.
This would entail removing the gun it holds to the Arab world’s head, by
demobilizing proxy armies, renouncing pretentions of nuclear supremacy, and
ceasing efforts to flood Arab states with narcotics. For decades Gulf states
have weathered an atmosphere of threats and hostility, such as groundless
territorial claims over Bahrain, the occupation of UAE islands, and support for
insurgencies and coup attempts. Through all these self-defeating machinations,
Iran only harmed and isolated itself. Because of its nuclear program and support
for terrorism, this foremost oil producer is impoverished by sanctions, while
billions of dollars were siphoned off to fund Arab paramilitary armies that
Israel is gleefully ripping limb from limb. The weapons arsenals being destroyed
throughout Lebanon were funded off the backs of ordinary Iranians who have taken
to social media in droves to denounce such colossal wastage that made Iran a
target for Israeli wrath. This warmongering regime has hubristically brought
itself to the cusp of annihilation — but it can still save itself by affirming
its commitment to becoming a normal state that prioritizes enriching its
citizens and coexisting peacefully and prosperously with its neighbors.
Paradoxically, a strong and unified Muslim world would pose the greatest threat
to the maximalist ambitions of Israel’s extreme right by presenting a united
front in support of Palestinian justice and nationhood. This would allow states
such as Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq to step back from the brink of
disintegration and return to the Arab fold, with all the support for
reconstruction and economic rehabilitation that this would bring. For Iran,
acknowledging that the past 45 years have been an exercise in self-destructive
futility would not be an admission of defeat, but instead may represent the only
prospect of emerging from this catastrophe in one piece. Nobody, least of all
the regime itself, wants to witness Iran’s destruction. Let us hope that at this
late and fateful moment the ayatollahs possess some kind of survival instinct.
• Baria Alamuddin is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in the Middle
East and the UK. She is editor of the Media Services Syndicate and has
interviewed numerous heads of state.
Israel’s options in Lebanon are limited — and fraught with
risk
Nadim Shehadi/Arab News/October 13, 2024
Benjamin Netanyahu’s televised message to the Lebanese people last week sounded
a bit “off,” with Israel destroying the country. “This will hurt, but it is for
your own good” was the implied meaning, and the tone attempted to be like that
of a friend doing you a favor, but issuing a threat at the same time. The
Israeli leader advised the Lebanese — I am translating here — to launch a civil
war against Hezbollah in order to save themselves from destruction by Israel. If
those were not his exact words, this is how we heard them in Beirut, the twisted
product of a perverse logic.
The Netanyahu doctrine revealed in that speech is not complex — it is a binary
view of the world, with Israel on one side fighting an enemy that it seeks to
destroy physically. Success is measured by the number of people killed and
buildings destroyed. He is crudely asking us to help. On this side of the
border, the battle is far more sophisticated. By fighting Israel, Hezbollah
justifies maintaining its arms, its status as a resistance force and its control
over the country. It can lose militarily on the local front, but the so-called
axis of resistance could also gain political power even from a military defeat.
By calling on the Lebanese to join him, the Israeli leader is weakening them
politically by turning them into collaborators in the destruction of their own
country. If there is a lesson that Israel can conclude from its previous wars,
it is that victory on the battlefield has resulted in its enemies emerging
stronger. It must be doing something wrong.
Israel’s third Lebanon war has even less chance of success than the previous
two. Success is not calculated by the number of deaths or the amount of
destruction. A military victory can also translate into a political defeat, and
history is full of heroes of glorious defeats on the battlefield. The saying in
Arabic is that “the outcome at the threshing floor is not what was expected when
planting the field.” It is the exact opposite of the English saying that “you
reap what you sow.”
At the end of his last speech before he was killed, Hezbollah leader Hassan
Nasrallah set a trap when he practically invited Israel to invade southern
Lebanon, saying that “we are ready.” This allows Hezbollah to declare victory no
matter what happens. What follows is a glimpse of how it can spin it.
If Israel does not invade, then Hezbollah will claim that it was deterred by the
resistance and will declare victory. Even continuing bombardment without a land
operation is counterproductive and will have the opposite effect of bringing the
Lebanese closer together. It is absurd to think otherwise.
Here are the options:
If Israel falls into the trap and does invade, then Hezbollah will be given a
lifeline legitimizing its role as a resistance force at a time it needs it most.
It solves Hezbollah’s crisis of legitimacy — for almost a quarter of a century,
since Israel withdrew from south Lebanon in May 2000, it has faced a challenge
in that it was resisting an occupation that hardly existed. Its interventions in
Syria, Iraq and Yemen were also a bit of a stretch. Israel will have two options
after it invades, and I am not sure which is worse. If it remains as an
occupation, then the chances of getting rid of Hezbollah’s arms in Lebanon
through a political process will be zero. Political debate in Lebanon will be
back to square one, with few arguments for a now legitimate resistance to give
up its arms. Hezbollah will also be the subject of a continuous supply of
munitions, weapons and other resources from its allies, as it will be the front
line in a global confrontation.
Israel has far more serious problems than security — those of legitimacy,
sustainability and viability.
Worse still, if after a land operation Israel withdraws partially or completely,
or if it carries out limited incursions, then Hezbollah would also declare
victory, claiming that the enemy was repelled by the resistance, and the result
would legitimize its arms even further.
But that is not the end of the story. Defeat on the battlefield can also give
the party a boost politically, with influence that transcends the border area.
Let me explain, or at least anticipate the narrative. Hezbollah is not just
fighting a far superior enemy, it can also claim that it is fighting a global
alliance that includes the US and NATO. This is the definition of a glorious
defeat that would then attract support from all the anti-US forces in the world,
including the students at Columbia and Berkeley universities.
Israel has far more serious problems than security — those of legitimacy,
sustainability and viability. It cannot ensure its security by destroying the
neighborhood. The Zionist dream is turning into a nightmare for both Israel and
the region. It also threatens the broader region with radicals being given the
upper hand over moderates. Calls for peace with Israel sound hollow while it is
exhibiting so much brutality. The dehumanization of the Palestinians and
Lebanese does not help it gain more friends in the Arab world and embarrasses
those who already are.
There is a need for a deep and sober reevaluation of the Zionist project, since
it is obvious that the current model has reached a stage of crisis. This process
has already begun with the work of Israeli revisionists, or the “new
historians,” who are gaining influence. Authors such as Benny Morris, Avi Shlaim,
Ilan Pappe, Tom Segev and Shlomo Sand are radically leading that thought
process. Their work, however critical and sometimes extreme, is not necessarily
a sign of weakness. The challenge that they pose is essential and they touch on
fundamental issues. The same is happening among diaspora groups, especially
young Jewish groups.
While this crude Netanyahu doctrine condemns the region to eternal instability
without ensuring its security, it is also strengthening its enemies over those
who now seem naive if they talk of peace. The optics should be clear. Israel
should distance itself from such thinking, not only to save itself but also to
save the world to which its present behavior also represents a danger. The
political impact of military defeat can also be unpredictable and far more
dangerous. We have seen in Europe that the rise of fascism was fueled by despair
and humiliation that made people yearn for a strong leader who would lift them
up from the abyss. The culture of defeat in itself transforms societies in
unpredictable ways. At the same time, the larger picture is optimistic. The dark
image is that, nearly two decades after the 2006 wars in Lebanon and Gaza,
Israel’s enemies look stronger. Iran and its proxies control the politics of
Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and the current war empowers them and
puts them in a position to blackmail the rest of the region. But on the bright
side, the prospects for peace look much brighter than they did in 2006, with the
Arab Peace Initiative, the Abraham Accords and the recent declaration by
Jordan’s foreign minister on behalf of other Arab colleagues offering security
guarantees in return for peace.
After a catastrophic war, there are lessons learned that can follow conflicting
logical reasoning and lead to contradictory outcomes. The desirable conclusion
is that one side will learn that war is tragic, destructive and should not be
repeated, leading it to work toward peace. The conclusion to be avoided is that
the other side learns that it is defeat that should not be repeated and so it
starts preparing itself for the next, even more devastating, conflict.
*Nadim Shehadi is an economist and political adviser. X: @Confusezeus
Will Harris’ campaign strategy lead her to electoral
success?
MARIA MAALOUF/Arab News/October 13, 2024
Kamala Harris’ campaign team is employing different strategies in the final
weeks running up to the 2024 US presidential election. Two prominent tactics are
distancing herself from President Joe Biden and borrowing themes from Donald
Trump’s campaign. This raises several questions. Why is Harris’ campaign
pursuing these strategies? Will they help her win the White House on Nov. 5?
Many Democratic leaders believe that President Biden has hindered rather than
helped the party’s prospects in 2024. Among them is former Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi, who reportedly pressured Biden to exit the race after his poor
performance in a debate against Trump early in the summer. His economic record
is not impressive and several wars have occurred during his presidency, such as
the conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and between Russia and Ukraine.
Historically, friction often arises between the staff of a sitting president and
their vice president when the latter runs for president. This occurred in 2000,
when Vice President Al Gore distanced himself from President Bill Clinton,
particularly after Clinton’s involvement in several ethical scandals. In 2024, a
similar dynamic is playing out. Harris recognizes that Biden’s approval ratings
are low, so she is seeking to differentiate herself from him, especially in
style. She aims to restore confidence among Democrats who have lost faith in
Biden. Her campaign portrays her as a change-maker, conveying that the old guard
of the Democratic Party is fading and that she represents the new face of
change.
Harris recognizes that Biden’s approval ratings are low, so she is seeking to
differentiate herself from him. Additionally, political observers have noted
that Harris is borrowing several themes from her opponent’s campaign. For
example, she has adopted Trump’s idea of eliminating taxation on tips for
restaurant workers. Republican strategist Frank Luntz commented: “Harris is
taking pages out of the Republican playbook … There’s an important use of
language, especially her focus on small business issues and describing herself
as a capitalist. If you listen to these general statements, she sounds like a
moderate Republican. The challenge for the Trump campaign is to move away from
character attacks and focus on specific issues and her claims.”
On national security, Trump criticizes Biden and Harris for emboldening
America’s adversaries, such as China, Russia and Iran. Harris has used a similar
tactic by accusing Trump of being a weak leader that no foreign head of state
respects. She said last month: “It’s well known that Donald Trump is weak and
wrong on national security and foreign policy. He admires dictators and wants to
be a dictator himself.”
However, these tactics are not necessarily winning over the American public. A
political strategist noted that borrowing from an opponent’s playbook and
relying on personal attacks can be tiresome to voters, who are “tired of the
same old playbook, filled with lies, grievances and name-calling.” A complete
political separation between Harris and the Biden White House is impossible, as
she still needs the Democratic base to win the election. For millions of voters,
she represents the preservation of Biden’s legacy. Moreover, Harris cannot fully
agree with Trump on economic policies. For instance, while Trump intends to
interfere in Federal Reserve policy, Harris firmly disagrees with this approach.
Ultimately, the scope of issues in any presidential campaign should surpass
policy differences between a sitting president and their vice president when the
latter is running to succeed them. It is also unlikely that voters will see
little distinction between two presidential candidates simply because one
borrows some themes from the other.
*Maria Maalouf is a Lebanese journalist, broadcaster, publisher, and writer. X:
@bilarakib