English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For October 30/2024
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant: You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you
Matthew 18/23-35/ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[h] was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”.

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 29-30/2024
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord
Elias Bejjani/Video: Arab and Israeli Reports Confirm the Beginning of Hezbollah’s Collapse and Disintegration Amid a Wave of Defections and Desertions/
A perspective on the Israeli strike on Iran: a victory for all who value peace and stability/Elias Bejjani
Link to Video Interview with Writer and Director Youssef Khoury
Roadmap for Hezbollah and the Lebanese Leaders of the Shiite Community/Colonel Charbel Barakat/
Israeli tanks enter Khiam outskirts in deep south Lebanon incursion
Lebanon’s Hezbollah Names Naim Qassem as New Leader, Israel Says His Days May Be Numbered
Hezbollah names Naim Qassem as new leader, Israel says he won't last long
A difficult scene: Hezbollah rocket kills Israeli Arab, wounds three children in northern Israel
Gallant: Hezbollah rocket arsenal down to 20%; Disagreements about how long to continue invasion
Austria Says Eight of Its UNIFIL Troops in Lebanon Injured in Rocket Attack
Iraq Opens Arms to Lebanese Fleeing Israeli Attacks
To the Lebanese people: Don’t follow Hezbollah, be like Azerbaijan

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 29-30/2024
Israel’s strikes on Iran broke a 40-year taboo. Tehran faces tough choices about what to do next
Satellite photos show Israeli strike likely hit important Iran Revolutionary Guard missile base
Israel Says It Will Continue Talks with Mediators on Potential Hamas Ceasefire
EU Preparing to Appoint Envoy to Syria to Address Migration Crisis
Israeli strikes in northern Gaza kill at least 88, officials say
Iran moves to triple military budget amid Israel tensions
Saudi Arabia Hopes Two-State Solution Alliance Meeting Would Reach Practical Steps in Backing Peace
Kurdish leader in Syria calls for diplomatic solutions to conflict with Turkey
UN chief writes letter to Israeli PM protesting UNRWA ban
Houthis attack Ashkelon, ships off Yemeni Coast
Canada alleges Indian minister Amit Shah behind plot to target Sikh separatists

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on October 29-30/2024
The Media Is Implementing Sinwar's Genocidal Strategy/Alan M. Dershowitz and Andrew Stein/Gatestone Institute/October 29, 2024
As US Election Looms, Biden Aides Struggle With Middle East Wars/Michael Crowley and Edward Wong/The New York Times//Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024
The Duty of the Lebanese… Despite Washington’s Differing Priorities/Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024
This Criminal Media!?/Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 28-29/2024
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord
With deep sorrow yet steadfast faith, we extend our heartfelt condolences to our brother Charbel Bassil and his family on the passing of his beloved mother in Lebanon. May her soul find eternal peace in the heavenly abode, alongside the righteous and the saints.

Elias Bejjani / Video: Arab and Israeli Reports Confirm the Beginning of Hezbollah’s Collapse and Disintegration Amid a Wave of Defections and Desertions/October 28-29/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/10/136259/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQP0BJ0u4eg&t=210s

A perspective on the Israeli strike on Iran: a victory for all who value peace and stability
Elias Bejjani/October 26/2024
Today’ Israeli military operation against Iran exposed a critical truth: the Iranian regime, despite its grandiose threats and relentless propaganda, is a paper tiger. Over four hours, 100 advanced Israeli jets—equipped with state-of-the-art American technology—conducted precision strikes on key Iranian military sites, achieving their objectives without resistance. Iran, which claims it can "annihilate Israel" and "drive the Jews into the sea," could not even down a single Israeli jet, revealing its military weakness for all to see.
Israel’s operation didn’t target civilians; instead, it focused on destroying missile production facilities, air defense systems, and critical military bases. This precise strike underscored a reality that every Arab nation should take to heart: Iran’s power is illusory, based on empty rhetoric rather than real military capability. For decades, Iran’s leaders have been the loudest opponents of Israel, but their primary targets are the Arab nations themselves, destabilizing the region through armed proxies and aggressive meddling in neighboring countries.
The Iranian regime has always relied on its militia networks and terrorist proxies like Hezbollah to carry out its agenda. This regime’s tactics have consistently placed Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen in the line of fire, sacrificing countless Arab lives. By using these militias, Iran avoids direct confrontation with Israel while continuing its destabilizing actions against Arab nations, risking “the last Lebanese, Palestinian, and Arab” in a never-ending quest for dominance.
It’s baffling, therefore, that some Arab countries condemned Israel’s actions today. They must realize that their true security lies in a Middle East free from the influence of Iran’s mullahs, who pose an existential threat to regional peace. These Arab nations have far more at stake in seeing the mullahs’ power weakened, if not dismantled, than Israel does alone.
Israel acted fearlessly, proving once more that it won’t hesitate to counter threats directly. The United States, though influencing certain boundaries, allowed Israel’s operation to proceed, making it clear that the global community is unwilling to turn a blind eye to the destructive ambitions of Tehran’s regime.
Iran will not retaliate directly because it knows it lacks the power to do so. Instead, it will persist in its hollow threats, leaving real combat to its proxies. Israel's resolve against Iran should be seen as a beacon of strength, protecting not only its own citizens but also advancing the cause of peace and stability in the entire region.
In conclusion, Arabs' actual enemy is not the State Of Israel, but rather the Iranian Mullahs' terrorist regime. And if the Middle East is to see stability, the Iranian regime must be dismantled, its militias and proxies neutralized, and its leaders brought to justice. For the Arab world, the Israeli strikes are a necessary step toward exposing and weakening a regime that endangers all who hope for a secure, peaceful future. Israel’s efforts against Iran should be applauded as a force for regional security.

Link to Video Interview with Writer and Director Youssef Khoury on “Assiyassa Youtube Channel”
A realistic analysis of the battlefield outcomes that will mark the end of Iran’s influence and its proxies, ushering in an Israel era, a time of peace envisioned by the late Bashir Gemayel.
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/10/136296/
Key Highlights from Youssef ElKhoury’s Interview: Transcribed, summarized, and freely crafted by Elias Bejjani.
The below summary underscores Youssef ElKhoury’s call for a shift in regional dynamics, emphasizing the need to dismantle Iranian influence and achieve a lasting peace that benefits all communities in the Middle East.
In this important interview with writer and director Youssef Khoury on “Assiyassa youtube channel” Khoury offers a realistic analysis of the battlefield dynamics that will bring an end to Iran’s influence and its militant proxies. He speaks of ushering in an era of peace led by Israel, a peace that the late Bashir Gemayel had envisioned for the region. Khoury criticizes Hezbollah, which remains captive to its own delusions and false resistance narrative—a narrative that has destroyed its own communities, cost thousands of lives, displaced families, and torn apart the Lebanese state. Khoury calls for Hezbollah’s surrender, disarmament by the Lebanese army, and a judicial trial for its leaders before Israel, under Prime Minister Netanyahu, takes on this task. He stresses that the Lebanese parliament is constitutionally incapable of electing a new president and should resign immediately. He also questions the whereabouts of true Shiites opposition to Hezbollah. Khoury advocates for acknowledging the Southern Lebanese Army (SLA) as national heroes, calling for an official apology and the return of its members to Lebanon as patriots. The Fakhoury family, he notes, has been aiding the people of the South.
He condemns the militant actions of Yahya Sinwar, labeling him a criminal, while acknowledging the courage of his people. Khoury warns that those who do not acknowledge their own weakness, like Hezbollah, become complicit in crimes against their own people, as they allow further devastation and loss.
To pave the way for a lasting peace, Khoury calls on Lebanese leaders, the military, and all political parties to initiate a Lebanese-led plan to end the conflict, disarm Hezbollah, and pursue justice. He envisions a future where the entire region embraces peace, a time where all can reject the cycles of violence and embrace stability for the generations to come.

Roadmap for Hezbollah and the Lebanese Leaders of the Shiite Community
Colonel Charbel Barakat/October 29/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/10/136287/
(Freely translated from Arabic and quoted by Elias Bejjani, editor and publisher of the LCCC website)
Today, following Hezbollah’s appointment of Sheikh Naim Qassem as its new leader to succeed the infamous Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel, Colonel Charbel Barakat—a retired Lebanese Army officer and terrorism expert who has testified before the U.S. Congress on Iranian and Syrian terrorism, the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, jihadism, and Middle East peace—delivers an incisive editorial. In it, he outlines a strategic plan for Hezbollah and the Iranian Mullahs’ regime, providing a critical roadmap for addressing the impact of their actions on Lebanon and the region.
In his strategic roadmap for Hezbollah and its leadership of Lebanon’s Shiite community, Colonel Charbel Barakat outlined a series of directives for Sheikh Naim Qassem, the newly appointed Hezbollah leader.
He began by stressing the significance of Iran’s recent military setbacks, which have left its air defenses, missile production, and drone programs exposed. Barakat explained, “As Iran faces the reality of its weakened state, it must focus on survival. The once-prioritized expansionist policies of the Iranian regime have failed, and the Iranian people deserve leadership that prioritizes their well-being over ideological dominance.” He described the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s struggle to maintain its influence by sending officers and fighters abroad, only to be met with continued losses. “Now, Iran is attempting to negotiate a ceasefire in Lebanon,” he noted, “to allow its exhausted forces a respite and a chance to regroup, especially if a favorable U.S. administration emerges after the next election cycle.”
He underscored that Israel, under Prime Minister Netanyahu, remains fully aware of Iran’s ambitions, particularly its “Unity of the battlefields” project aimed at destabilizing the region. “This Israeli government will not likely concede to Iran’s terms,” he asserted, “despite heavy U.S. pressure to maintain regional stability ahead of their elections.” He added that for Israel, Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain a red line, cautioning that any leniency towards Hezbollah could bolster Iran’s resolve to develop nuclear capabilities—a mistake Israel cannot afford.
Barakat advised Hezbollah and Lebanon’s Shiite community to adopt a realistic outlook and recognize the high cost of their loyalty to the Iranian regime. He cautioned, “Hezbollah’s choices have stripped Lebanon of its economic, scientific, and cultural strengths, isolating it from the world.” Barakat pointed out that Lebanon’s reputation has suffered, with many now equating Lebanese identity with terrorism and drug trafficking. “The Shiite community must reconsider its role,” he urged, “taking responsibility for the tragic consequences of its leaders’ alliance with Tehran.”
He then outlined a potential action plan, urging Hezbollah to declare an immediate ceasefire without preconditions and commit to Lebanon’s legal framework. Barakat recommended a symbolic gesture to sever ties with Iran and end Hezbollah’s involvement in regional conflicts, such as the Gaza war, calling for the disarmament of its fighters and the handover of weapon stockpiles to the Lebanese army and UN forces. “This is within the authority of the new Hezbollah Secretary-General, Sheikh Qassem,” he stated. He called for a cessation of inflammatory media and religious discourse and the establishment of educational programs to reshape community perspectives towards coexistence, justice, and respect for diverse beliefs. Barakat concluded with a call to the broader Lebanese community: “This moment must serve as a transformative period for the Middle East. Let Lebanon’s journey be a pioneering model for peace, economic collaboration, and productive unity across the region.” He envisioned a Middle East that embraces stability, prosperity, and a cooperative spirit, positioning it as a beacon for the world.

Israeli tanks enter Khiam outskirts in deep south Lebanon incursion
AFP/October 29, 2024
BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanese state media said Tuesday that Israeli tanks entered the outskirts of the village of Khiam, their deepest incursion yet into south Lebanon in a ground operation launched last month. The official National News Agency reported the entry of “a large number of tanks belonging to the Israeli occupation army” into the eastern outskirts of Khiam, some six kilometers (nearly four miles) from the border with Israel. Hezbollah said it destroyed two tanks using guided missiles and targeted Israeli troops south and southwest of Khiam with rockets and artillery. Lebanon’s National News Agency said Israeli forces carried out a series of air attacks on Khiam later on Tuesday and launched a large-scale sweep “using heavy and medium weaponry.” Iran-backed Hezbollah, which named deputy chief Naim Qassem as its new leader on Tuesday, has been battling Israeli forces in Lebanese border villages since the ground invasion began on September 30. According to an AFP count based on Lebanese health ministry figures, 1,754 people have been killed nationwide since intensive Israeli strikes on Lebanon began. Hezbollah claims that Israeli forces are yet to assert full control over any village in Lebanon, weeks into the invasion, amid repeated operations to repel Israeli attempts at infiltration. The large town of Khiam holds symbolic significance. It was home to a notorious prison run by the South Lebanon Army, an Israeli proxy militia, during Israel’s occupation of south Lebanon.
Israeli troops withdrew from the region in 2000 after 22 years.

Israeli Strikes on Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley Kill More than 60
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024
Israeli strikes on Lebanon's Bekaa Valley overnight killed more than 60 people across a dozen towns, the district governor said on Tuesday, the deadliest day yet in the area in more than a year of hostilities. Rescue workers were still pulling bodies out of the rubble on Tuesday morning. Israel has ramped up its air strikes across Lebanon over the last month, saying it is targeting Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Lebanese officials, rights groups and residents of affected towns say the strikes are indiscriminate. No evacuation orders were given for any of the towns struck overnight. District governor Bachir Khodor said 67 people had been killed and more than 120 wounded and the death toll was expected to rise. "That's only the people who've been removed from under the rubble and we still don't have the final toll. This is the most violent day for Baalbek in the last year," Khodor told Reuters. The toll included nine people killed in Ram, its mayor Nazih Noun said, including a woman and her four children. "It's quiet now, but we don't know how we can carry on with the funerals given the security situation," Noun told Reuters. Large swathes of the Bekaa Valley are Hezbollah strongholds. There was no immediate comment from Israel on the attacks. More than 2,700 people have been killed by Israeli bombardments of Lebanon since Israel's military and Hezbollah began exchanging fire more than a year ago in parallel to the war in Gaza. At least two-thirds were killed in the last five weeks alone, when Israel stepped up its bombing campaign. The expanded strikes have targeted the port city of Tyre. On Monday, Israel issued a new evacuation order for swathes of the city and carried out strikes that damaged the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, which sit within the evacuation zone. The strikes and detonation of homes have left towns along Lebanon's border with Israel in ruins, according to satellite imagery.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah Names Naim Qassem as New Leader, Israel Says His Days May Be Numbered
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024
Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said on Tuesday it had elected deputy head Sheikh Naim Qassem to succeed Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air attack on Beirut's southern suburb over a month ago. The group said in a written statement that its Shura Council had elected Qassem, 71, in accordance with its established mechanism for choosing a secretary general. He was appointed as Hezbollah's deputy chief in 1991 by the armed group's then-secretary-general Abbas al-Mousawi, who was killed by an Israeli helicopter attack the following year. Qassem remained in his role when Nasrallah became leader, and has long been one of Hezbollah's leading spokesmen, conducting interviews with foreign media, including as cross-border hostilities with Israel raged over the last year. Nasrallah was killed on Sept. 27, and senior Hezbollah figure Hashem Safieddine - considered the most likely successor - was killed in Israeli strikes a week later. Since Nasrallah's killing, Qassem has given three televised addresses, including one on Oct. 8 in which he said the Iran-backed group supported efforts to reach a ceasefire for Lebanon. He is considered by many in Lebanon to lack the charisma and gravitas of Nasrallah. The Israeli government's official Arabic account on X posted, "His tenure in this position may be the shortest in the history of this terrorist organization if he follows in the footsteps of his predecessors Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.""There is no solution in Lebanon except to dismantle this organization as a military force," it wrote. Born in 1953 in Beirut to a family from Lebanon's south, Qassem's political activism began with the Lebanese Shiite Amal Movement, now a Hezbollah ally. He left the group in 1979 in the wake of Iran's revolution, which shaped the political thinking of many young Lebanese Shiite activists. Qassem took part in meetings that led to the formation of Hezbollah, established with the backing of Iran's Revolutionary Guards in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. He has been the general coordinator of Hezbollah's parliamentary election campaigns since the group first contested them in 1992.

Hezbollah names Naim Qassem as new leader, Israel says he won't last long
Reuters/October 29, 2024
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese armed group Hezbollah named Naim Qassem as its new leader on Tuesday but Israel said his tenure would be "temporary", an apparent threat after it killed his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut over a month ago. "Temporary appointment. Not for long," Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant posted on X with a photo of Qassem. Earlier, Iran-backed Hezbollah said in a written statement that its Shura Council had elected Qassem, 71, in accordance with its established mechanism for choosing a secretary general. Qassem was appointed as Hezbollah's deputy chief in 1991 by the armed group's then-secretary general Abbas al-Musawi, who was killed by an Israeli helicopter attack the following year. Qassem remained in his role when Nasrallah became leader, and has long been one of Hezbollah's leading spokesmen, conducting interviews with foreign media, including while cross-border hostilities with Israel raged over the last year. Nasrallah was killed on Sept. 27 in an Israeli air attack on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, and senior Hezbollah figure Hashem Safieddine - considered the most likely successor - was killed in Israeli strikes a week later. Since Nasrallah's killing, Qassem has given three televised addresses, including one on Oct. 8 in which he said the armed group supported efforts to reach a ceasefire for Lebanon. He is considered by many in Lebanon to lack the charisma and gravitas of Nasrallah. In its official Arabic account on X, the Israeli government said: "His tenure in this position may be the shortest in the history of this terrorist organization if he follows in the footsteps of his predecessors Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.""There is no solution in Lebanon except to dismantle this organization as a military force," it wrote.

A difficult scene: Hezbollah rocket kills Israeli Arab, wounds three children in northern Israel
Jerusalem Post/October 29/2024
Three others were wounded in the rocket fire and are in light condition.
The MDA confirmed that a man was killed by a Hezbollah rocket on Tuesday in Ma'alot-Tarshiha in the Galilee region. 24-year-old Israeli Arab Mohammad Naim was killed by a direct hit to his house in the northern city, Ynet reported. A total of 13 others were wounded in the rocket fire and are in light condition, including three children, Ynet also said, citing the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, including those suffering from anxiety. "It was a difficult scene. There was a lot of destruction when we arrived and started searching the scene. There was an unconscious man with no pulse," MDA paramedic Gilad Ben Hamo said. "We gave him medical treatment, but his injury was too critical, and we had to pronounce him deceased. "MDA teams are providing treatment on scene to a number of victims with anxiety," he continued. He also said that a 13-year-old boy sustained shrapnel injuries to his lower limbs. Further activities by Hezbollah on Tuesday. Around the time of the man's death, the IDF reported that between 10:37 and 10:39, about 50 rockets from Lebanon were fired into Israeli territory, which was the barrage where one of the rockets killed Naim. Further activities by Hezbollah on Tuesday. Around the time of the man's death, the IDF reported that between 10:37 and 10:39, about 50 rockets from Lebanon were fired into Israeli territory, which was the barrage where one of the rockets killed Naim.

Gallant: Hezbollah rocket arsenal down to 20%; Disagreements about how long to continue invasion
Jerusalem Post/October 29/2024
Amid escalating conflict, the IDF targets Hezbollah's command structure, but internal debates on strategy persist.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told officers of the IDF Northern Command on Tuesday that Israel’s war against Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal has reduced it to 20% of its pre-war numbers. He said, "The achievements of the IDF in Lebanon are extremely impressive. We have eliminated the chain of command and control of Hezbollah, and I estimate the missile and rocket capability they have left is at 20%." Defense sources told The Jerusalem Post that the 20% comment related to the around 50,000 supply of rockets held by Hezbollah prior to October 23, 2023, meaning that this number is now down to around 10,000. All of this is within the context of Hezbollah having had an estimated pre-war combined rocket and mortar (much shorter range than rockets) arsenal of 150,000. Regarding the other weapons, such as mortars, sources told the Post that the IDF’s intelligence may not be as exact, and it is possible that there are still more of them, though also they are likely down to far under 50%. How long will operations go on?  In addition, because mortars are even shorter-range weapons, they will not be as usable against the IDF Home Front while Israel’s up to five divisions remain in southern Lebanon.
Also on Tuesday, Gallant emphasized the progress of the ground operations in southern Lebanon aimed at dismantling Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure and the goal of returning residents of northern Israel to their homes. There are disagreements within the defense and political establishments about how much longer to continue the ground invasion which started on September 30. IDF Maj. Gen. Uri Gordon initially wanted to finish it by mid-late October, based on the idea that little more could be accomplished strategically, given that the government had limited the invasion to southern Lebanon anyway.
However, the government, many northern residents’ mayors, and some other defense officials have wanted to continue. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not shown any desire to finish the invasion before the US presidential election on November 5.
Gallat himself has not taken a public position on the timing and the Post has learned that he seems to be trying to navigate both between the opposing camps as well as maximizing the utility of the pressure the IDF has on Hezbollah for achieving a better diplomatic resolution of the northern border conflict.
Sources also said that the length of the invasion of southern Lebanon and IDF actions there, in general, could impact deterrence visa vise Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not shown any desire to finish the invasion before the US presidential election on November 5.
Gallat himself has not taken a public position on the timing and the Post has learned that he seems to be trying to navigate both between the opposing camps as well as maximizing the utility of the pressure the IDF has on Hezbollah for achieving a better diplomatic resolution of the northern border conflict. Sources also said that the length of the invasion of southern Lebanon and IDF actions there, in general, could impact deterrence visa vise Iran.

Austria Says Eight of Its UNIFIL Troops in Lebanon Injured in Rocket Attack
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024
Eight Austrian soldiers belonging to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) sustained superficial injuries in a rocket strike on the force's headquarters in Naqoura, Austria's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. UNIFIL is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel, an area that has seen more than a year of fighting that turned into fierce clashes this month between Israeli troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters. "We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms and demand that it be investigated immediately," the ministry said in a statement, adding that it was not clear where the attack came from and none of the soldiers needed urgent medical care. UNIFIL later issued a statement saying the rocket, which set a vehicle workshop ablaze, was fired from north of the site, "likely by Hezbollah or an affiliated group", and that it had opened an investigation. Austria contributes about 180 soldiers to the 10,000-strong force. They are part of a "Multi Role Logistic Unit" that performs roles like transporting goods and personnel, repairing vehicles, supplying fuel and firefighting. The strike comes amid heavy fighting between Hezbollah and Israel in border areas where Israel has been making ground incursions and after a night of Israeli strikes focused on the eastern Bekaa Valley that killed more than 60 people, according to Lebanese authorities. Hezbollah on Tuesday said it targeted with rockets and artillery Israeli forces southeast of the southern town of Khiyam, the deepest the group has acknowledged Israeli forces operating in Lebanon since ground operations began. UNIFIL said earlier this month it had come under several "deliberate" attacks by Israeli forces and efforts to help civilians in villages in the war zone were being hampered by Israeli shelling.
Israel says UN forces provide a human shield for Hezbollah and has told UNIFIL to evacuate peacekeepers from southern Lebanon for their own safety - a request that it has refused. Five peacekeepers had already been injured since the start of Israeli ground operation in Lebanon on Oct. 1. UNIFIL positions have been affected at least 20 times, including by direct fire and an incident on Oct. 13 when two Israeli tanks burst through the gates of a UNIFIL base, according to the UN. Israel has ramped up its air strikes across Lebanon over the last month, saying it is targeting Hezbollah. Lebanese officials, rights groups and residents of affected towns say the strikes are indiscriminate. More than 2,700 Lebanese have been killed and 1.2 million Lebanese displaced. Israel says around 50 soldiers and civilians have been killed and some 60,000 residents of northern Israeli communities displaced.

Iraq Opens Arms to Lebanese Fleeing Israeli Attacks
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024
Israeli bombardment of Lebanon forced Mohammed Fawaz and his family to flee so often that they finally moved many kilometers (miles) away to find respite in central Iraq. "Wherever we went, danger followed," the 62-year-old white-haired Lebanese man told AFP in the small town of Al-Qassem, sitting with his wife and daughter. "That's when I thought of Iraq. It was the only way I could see to escape the danger after we saw death with our own eyes."Opposite the small house where they now live, beyond a road busy with traffic, tall palm trees emblematic of Iraq's Babylon province stretch as far as the eye can see. According to the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, more than 19,200 Lebanese have arrived in Iraq since the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon. The Baghdad government and Shiite religious authorities mobilized quickly to cope with the influx. So did the Popular Mobilization Forces, an alliance of pro-Iran former paramilitary groups now integrated into Iraq's security forces. Everyone turned out to welcome the refugees, helping them get to Iraq and also arranging accommodation. The solidarity has highlighted the close ties between the Shiite communities of both countries. Iraq had always welcomed Lebanese pilgrims visiting its famous Shiite shrines at Karbala and Najaf. But now the Baghdad government, in which pro-Iran parties dominate, is also willing to signal it stands staunchly by Lebanon in the wake of daily Israeli attacks on Hezbollah strongholds there. Fawaz is originally from south Lebanon, and moved to the southern suburbs of Beirut before later moving again to the outskirts of the capital.
'Invited guests'
"We fled from place to place," the father of four said, bursting into tears when he spoke of relatives back in Lebanon. "My displaced brothers now live in schools in different areas." His journey to Iraq included a coach trip across Syria. After a stopover in the Sayyida Zeinab area south of Damascus, home to a Shiite shrine protected by pro-Iran groups, their entry to Iraq was coordinated by the PMF. Fawaz hailed what he called "the best welcome" and Iraqi generosity, especially from his host, one of many Al-Qassem residents who have opened their doors to Lebanese refugees. He praised Iraq's government for "treating us like invited guests, not refugees". The war in Lebanon has displaced at least 1.3 million people, according to the UN migration agency, and more than half a million have fled into neighboring Syria. Those who opted to stay often find themselves in makeshift and under-equipped shelters set up in schools. In other areas, their presence can sometimes provoke unease or mistrust. Iraq has made things easier for the new arrivals by extending visas. Those with no passports are helped out with new travel documents, in coordination with the Lebanese embassy. The UNHCR says that some 62 percent of the Lebanese arrivals are women and children, and that the children will be able to attend Iraqi schools. Nearly half of the arrivals are being housed in Najaf and also Karbala. The religious authorities have taken over hotels previously reserved for pilgrims.
- 'No alternative' -
Jalal Assi, who is in his forties, is now in Karbala. "We had no alternative, and decided to come to Iraq," he told AFP, citing the "facilities offered to Lebanese"."We hope the situation will get better and security will be restored so we can go home," he added. Neemat Mussa, 44, originally from the south Lebanese village of Hariss, is now living in the Babylon provincial capital Hilla. She and her husband, their two daughters and an aunt are staying in a house owned by an Iraqi police officer. When she does the family shopping she is driven there accompanied by a local benefactor who also foots the bill. "We chose Iraq because it's a safe place where we are not afraid," she said in a tired voice. It is her first time in the country, although her husband came previously on pilgrimage. The warmth of Iraq's welcome cannot mask the bitterness of exile.Mussa has lost her cousin and sister-in-law in the war, and she follows the news intently on her phone. She weeps when she talks of their loss and of the country to which she longs to return. "I'm in a comfortable home, and the Iraqis make sure we lack for nothing," she said, adding: "When I got sick, they took me to hospital.""But I miss my house and my own country, my neighbors and my family. That's my real home."

To the Lebanese people: Don’t follow Hezbollah, be like Azerbaijan - opinion
Mordechai Kedar/Jerusalem Post/October 29/2024
I call upon the Lebanese people not to allow Iran to build a Shi’ite crescent from Tehran to the Mediterranean Sea. As we speak, rockets and missiles are raining down upon Israel, fired from Hezbollah-controlled areas in Lebanon. Every day, Israeli soldiers are killed in Lebanon, and the Lebanese people are also suffering during this intense war between Hezbollah and the Jewish state.At this critical time, I call upon the Lebanese people, who have suffered under the rule of Hezbollah for many years, to help Israel topple Hezbollah, so that they can enjoy peace, security, and prosperity. Hezbollah is a terror organization that has not just targeted Jewish people. They have also murdered Americans, French, and Christian Lebanese activists who are opposed to the fact that Hezbollah has been extorting, kidnapping, and burning the homes of Christians in southern Lebanon. Sunnis and Druze have also not been spared their wrath. One of Hezbollah’s victims was Rafik Hariri, a former prime minister of Lebanon. Hezbollah assassinated him in cold blood because he was opposed to Syria controlling Lebanon. The International Institute for Counter-Terrorism said, “It is pertinent to note the kidnapping and murder of Suleiman Pascal, a prominent member of the ‘Lebanese Forces’ party, which occurred in early April of this year.  While official reports attributed the responsibility for the murder to Syrian immigrants, there were some who implicated Hezbollah in the crime.”He is not alone. Luqman Salim is a Lebanese citizen and political activist who was allegedly targeted and killed by Hezbollah for his critical views as well. And the list goes on. The time has come for the Lebanese people to wake up, so that their country does not become another Gaza. They should help Israel rid Lebanon of Hezbollah and start to build a peace-loving country like Azerbaijan, which promotes religious tolerance and pluralism for all of its citizens.
A multicultural society
Lebanon, like Azerbaijan, is a multicultural society. While the country today has a Muslim majority, there is still a sizable Christian and Druze community.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 29-30/2024
Israel’s strikes on Iran broke a 40-year taboo. Tehran faces tough choices about what to do next
Analysis by Mostafa Salem, CNN/October 29, 2024
Iran rushed to downplay the impact of Israel’s strikes on its territory this weekend, suggesting that it has taken an off-ramp to avoid a wider war, but the attack set a precedent the Islamic Republic has tried to avoid since its inception 40 years ago. The adversaries had spent decades avoiding direct confrontation, instead choosing to exchange punches in a shadow war. Israel used clandestine operations to assassinate key Iranian figures and execute cyberattacks on vital facilities as Iran continued activating its Arab proxy militias to attack the Jewish state. Saturday’s attack marked the first time Israel has acknowledged striking Iran, bringing the shadow war into the open and crossing a threshold that has led some in the Islamic Republic to question the country’s deterrence capabilities. In April, after Iran attacked Israel in retaliation for what it said was an Israeli attack on its diplomatic building in the Syrian capital Damascus, US officials said Israel responded by attacking Iran just days later. Israel didn’t publicly acknowledge that attack. The latest attack, however, was different. Israel openly said it conducted “precise strikes” on military targets in Iran. “Israel now has broader aerial freedom of operation in Iran,” Israel’s military spokesman Daniel Hagari said, touting achievements in the attack. Shortly after the assault, Iran’s state media published images showing everyday life continuing as usual in its cities. Schools continued operating and Tehran’s streets were shown gridlocked with traffic. Hardline commentators mocked the attack on television and social media memes poked fun at the limited nature of the Israeli response.
Internal debate emerging
In his first comments after the attack, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei opted to give a measured response, saying the strikes should “neither be exaggerated nor downplayed.”But that initial wave of dismissal eventually dissipated, and an internal debate emerged over whether Iran should deliver a harsh response to prevent Israeli strikes from becoming normalized against a regime focused on its own survival. “The sense is that if they do not respond they will normalize the idea that Israel can strike Tehran without getting a response,” Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft in Washington, DC said, adding that there is a “fear if they don’t do something now Israel will start treating Iran as they did with Syria which means every once in a while, (Israelis will) strike.”The strikes, which were a response to an Iranian attack on Israel three weeks ago, steered clear of nuclear and oil facilities – instead striking what was described by the Israeli military as “strategic systems in Iran” that carry “great importance.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran’s defense systems and its ability to export missiles were severely damaged. CNN is unable to independently verify the claims. Iranian officials say some military sites sustained “minor damage” that was “swiftly repaired.” Five people were killed, including four army personnel, the Iranian government said. Experts however say that the damage was more significant than Tehran has acknowledged. “This (attack) was much more damaging than Iranian officials have led on, Iran’s air defenses and some of the radars that are crucial to identifying incoming missiles, it seems that those were destroyed in the first wave,” Nicole Grajewski, a fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Tehran spent years building regional proxies designed to serve as a security umbrella and the first line of defense against Israel. These militias, stationed at Israel’s borders, also acted as a deterrent, discouraging Israel from directly striking Iran. The idea was that if Israel were to strike Iran, Tehran would retaliate by unleashing its militias against Israel. The longstanding balance of power prevented a regional war – until Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza last year, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. That prompted a fierce Israeli onslaught that has destroyed the enclave and killed more than 42,000 Palestinians. The expansion of that conflict to southern Lebanon led to Israel’s assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, Iran’s most formidable proxy, and decimated the organization’s commanding hierarchy. The degrading of Iran’s strongest allied militias, Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as the weekend strikes on Iran, have fueled another internal debate in Iran: whether regional proxies are an effective deterrence. “There are certainly voices within the political establishment who question the efficacy of the ‘forward defense’ doctrine, or the notion that Iran’s regional alliance network can provide a security umbrella. If that is changing, one natural aspect of the debate is what could take place to restore deterrence,” Mohammad Ali Shabani, the editor of Amwaj.media, a London-based news site focusing on Iran, Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula.
The nuclear option
Since the Trump administration abandoned the nuclear agreement with Tehran in 2018, to put curbs on its nuclear program, the Islamic Republic has been gradually ramping up enrichment of uranium, a key ingredient of a nuclear bomb if purified to a high level. Its stockpiles have reached 60% purity, a short step away from weapons-grade, which is 90%. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that they have no intention of weaponizing the country’s nuclear program, while simultaneously using its potential as leverage in negotiations with the West. As Israel continues disintegrating Iran’s deterrence capability, the minority voices in the Islamic Republic favoring the weaponization of its nuclear program are becoming stronger, Parsi said. “The trajectory and momentum are with those who are saying if Iran actually had a nuclear deterrence this would not be happening.”Experts cast doubt over Iran’s ability to quickly build a nuclear weapon even if it can purify uranium to weapons grade. The process to build and test an atomic bomb may take years, leaving Iran vulnerable to Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities. The nuclear bomb option is “much more public now” and has become “normalized in conversation,” but Israel has been able to derail Iran’s nuclear program in the past and may be able to do it again, Grajewski said. Parsi said if the Israelis were to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, regardless of whether the Iranians can get a bomb quickly or not, Tehran will seek to build a nuclear weapon. “Even the more hawkish American presidents have not favored taking military strikes because the most likely outcome is that, at some point, that will make Iran turn nuclear,” Parsi said.

Satellite photos show Israeli strike likely hit important Iran Revolutionary Guard missile base
Jon Gambrel/The Associated Press/October 29, 2024
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel’s attack on Iran likely damaged a base run by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that builds ballistic missiles and launches rockets as part of its own space program, satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press on Tuesday showed.
The damage at the base in Shahroud raises new questions about Israel’s attack early Saturday, particularly as it took place in an area previously unacknowledged by Tehran and involved the Guard, a powerful force within Iran’s theocracy that so far has remained silent about any possible damage it suffered from the assault. Iran only has identified Israeli attacks as taking place in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran provinces — not in rural Semnan province where the base is located. It also potentially further restrains the Guard’s ability to manufacture the solid-fuel ballistic missiles it needs to stockpile as a deterrent against Israel. Tehran long has relied on that arsenal as it cannot purchase the advanced Western weapons that Israel and Tehran’s Gulf Arab neighbors have armed themselves with over the years, particularly from the United States. Satellite photos earlier analyzed by the AP of two military bases near Tehran also targeted by Israel shows sites there Iran uses in its ballistic missile manufacturing have been destroyed, further squeezing its program. “We don’t know if Iranian production has been crippled as some people are saying or just damaged,” said Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies who studies Iran. “We’ve seen enough imagery to show there’s an impact.”Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did the Israeli military.
Images show major building at Shahroud base destroyed
High-resolution satellite images from Planet Labs PBC taken for and analyzed by the AP showed the damage at the Guard’s Shahroud Space Center in Semnan, some 370 kilometers (230 miles) northeast of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Semnan also hosts the Imam Khomeini Space Center, which is used by Iran’s civilian space program. The images showed a central, major building at the Shahroud Space Center had been destroyed, the shadow of its still-standing frame seen in the image taken Tuesday morning. Vehicles could be seen gathered around the site, likely from officials inspecting the damage, with more cars than normal parked at the site's main gate nearby. Three small buildings just to the south of the main structure also appeared to be damaged. Iran has been constructing new buildings at the base in recent months. Another hangar to the northeast of the main building also appeared to have been damaged.
Iran has not acknowledged any attack at Shahroud. However, given the damage done to multiple structures, it suggested the Israeli attack included pinpoint strikes on the base. Low-resolution images since the attack showed signs of damage at the site not seen before the assault — further pointing to Israeli missile strikes as being the culprit. “We can’t 100% exclude the possibility it’s something else, but it’s almost certain this building got damaged because of an Israeli attack,” Hinz said. Given that the large building had been surrounded by earthen berms, that suggests it handled high explosives, said Hinz, who long has studied the site. That central site likely deals with solid propellant mixing and casting operations, he added.
Large boxes next to the building likely are missile motor crates as well, Hinz said. Their sizes suggest they could be used for Iran's Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile and the Fattah 1, a missile that Iran has claimed is able to reach Mach 15 — which is 15 times the speed of sound. Both have been used in Iran's attacks on Israel during the Israel-Hamas war and the later ground invasion of Lebanon. The strike at Shahroud, coupled with others across the country, likely have put more pressure on Iran's theocracy, particularly as it assesses the damage to its main weapon arsenal and tries to downplay the attack.
“Due to preparedness and vigilance of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s armed forces, and timely reaction by the country’s air defense, limited damage was caused to some of the points hit," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed in a meeting with foreign diplomats Tuesday in Tehran. "Necessary measures were taken immediately to restore the damaged equipment to operational state.” US worries Guard's space program a cover for missile research
A short distance from the destroyed buildings sits a concrete launch pad used by the Guard, which has conducted a series of successful missions putting satellites into space using mobile launchers. The Guard, which answers only to 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, revealed its secret space program back in 2020. The U.S. intelligence community’s 2024 worldwide threat assessment said Iran's continued development of satellite launch vehicles “would shorten the timeline to produce” an intercontinental ballistic missile because it uses similar technology.
Intercontinental ballistic missiles can be used to deliver nuclear weapons. Iran is now producing uranium close to weapons-grade levels after the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers. Tehran has enough enriched uranium for “several” nuclear weapons, if it chooses to produce them, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency repeatedly has warned. Iran has always denied seeking nuclear weapons and says its space program, like its nuclear activities, is for purely civilian purposes. However, U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA say Iran had an organized military nuclear program up until 2003. Parchin, one of the two military bases near Tehran targeted by Israel, saw a building linked to that program destroyed. “Like with Iran's nuclear program, you don’t build the system itself, you build all the technology under cover of a civilian program,” Hinz said. Then, Iran could make the decision to pursue the weapon — or use its knowledge as a bargaining chip with the West over international sanctions. But for now, the satellite photos suggest Iran is still trying to assess the aftermath of Israel's attack. “The picture that is emerging is one of significant damage to Iranian air defenses as well as missile launch facilities, both of which would be intended to show the Iranians that they are vulnerable to further strikes if they attempt retaliation,” an analysis published Monday by two experts at Britain’s Royal United Services Institute said.

Israel Says It Will Continue Talks with Mediators on Potential Hamas Ceasefire
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024
Israel’s government said it would continue its discussion with international mediators about a potential ceasefire deal in its war with Hamas, as the head of the Mossad spy agency returned from Qatar on Monday after taking part in the latest round of in-person talks. David Barnea met with the head of the CIA, Bill Burns, and the Prime Minister of Qatar in Doha, Israel’s prime minister’s office said in a brief statement. “In the coming days, the discussions between the mediators and with Hamas will continue to examine the feasibility of talks and the continuation of attempts to advance a deal,” the statement said.
Washington and Qatar have been key mediators in the stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The new round of talks was announced by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week. Neither Hamas nor Israel has shown any sign of softening their demands since the negotiations sputtered to a halt over the summer.

EU Preparing to Appoint Envoy to Syria to Address Migration Crisis
Brussels: Shawki al-Rayyes/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024
The European Union is preparing to appoint a special envoy to Syria, with officials from the Commission and the External Relations Department emphasizing that this move is not intended to “normalize relations with the regime” but rather to address the escalating migration crisis, which is expected to become increasingly complex after recent developments in Lebanon. Lebanon has seen nearly a quarter of its population displaced, with many of their homes destroyed in border villages and parts of Beirut due to Israeli attacks. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in coordination with her Austrian counterpart, has been active in recent months, pushing the EU toward normalizing relations with Syria to facilitate the return of refugees. However, some member states, led by France, have strongly opposed this approach, ultimately agreeing—after extensive negotiations within the European Council—to appoint a special envoy whose mandate is limited to addressing the refugee crisis. The issue of refugees and displaced persons was central to Meloni’s recent discussions during her regional visit, with Beirut as her final stop. There, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged her to intervene to help resolve the crisis, which poses significant challenges as winter approaches. In July, Italy, currently holding the G7 presidency, decided to appoint an envoy to Damascus to “shed light” on Syria, as Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani put it. Italy had withdrawn all its diplomatic staff from Damascus in 2012 and suspended its diplomatic activities in Syria in protest against the “unacceptable violence” by Bashar al-Assad’s regime against its citizens, who were holding peaceful rallies against his rule.
Earlier this summer, Italy and seven other EU countries sent a letter to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, urging a more active European role in Syria to help return a number of Syrian refugees from EU countries, particularly Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia. The signatories called for an end to the EU’s “three no’s” policy: no lifting of sanctions, no normalization, and no reconstruction under the current regime, emphasizing that peace in Syria is impossible as long as the current government remains in power. Reports from the EU Migration Department indicate that Syrians continue to leave their country in significant numbers due to worsening economic conditions. Many Syrian refugees in Lebanon are also joining irregular migration routes to Europe, as living conditions have deteriorated in Lebanon in recent years. Italy, Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, and Slovakia signed the letter. Most of these countries have recently reopened their embassies in Damascus, with Italy the only G7 nation, to resume diplomatic activities in the Syrian capital. Italian sources have expressed concerns that Israel’s war on Lebanon could spill over into Syria or expand regionally, potentially triggering another large-scale migration crisis that the EU may not be prepared to handle under current conditions. However, the new European policy, spearheaded by Italy amid the ongoing regional shifts, aims for a broader objective: enhancing the EU’s presence in Syria to compete with Russia, contain the Iranian regime, which has recently faced significant setbacks, and counter Türkiye's expanding influence. Syria has been under sanctions from the United States, the EU, and several other countries since 2011.

Israeli strikes in northern Gaza kill at least 88, officials say
Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy And Bassem Mroue/DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) /October 29, 2024
Two Israeli airstrikes in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday killed at least 88 people, including dozens of women and children, Gaza’s Health Ministry said. Israel has escalated its airstrikes and waged a bigger ground operation in northern Gaza in recent weeks, saying it is focused on rooting out Hamas militants who have regrouped after more than a year of war. The intense fighting is raising alarm about the worsening humanitarian conditions for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians still in northern Gaza. Concerns about not enough aid reaching Gaza were amplified Monday when Israeli lawmakers passed two laws to cut ties with the main U.N. agency distributing food, water and medicine, and to ban it from Israeli soil. Israel controls access to both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, and it was unclear how the agency known as UNRWA would continue its work in either place. “The humanitarian operation in Gaza, if that is unraveled, that is a disaster within a series of disasters and just doesn’t bear thinking about," said UNRWA spokesperson John Fowler. He said other U.N. agencies and international organizations distributing aid in Gaza rely on its logistics and thousands of workers. In Lebanon, the militant group Hezbollah said Tuesday it has chosen Sheikh Naim Kassem to succeed longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last month. Hezbollah, which has fired rockets into Israel since the start of the war in Gaza, vowed to continue with Nasrallah’s policies “until victory is achieved.”A short while later, eight Austrian soldiers serving in the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon were reported lightly injured in a midday missile strike. The peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, said the rocket that struck its headquarters in Lebanon was “likely” fired by Hezbollah, and that it struck a vehicle workshop.
Strike in northern Gaza comes as Israel wages a major operation there
The Gaza Health Ministry's emergency service said at least 70 people were killed and 23 were missing in the first of Tuesday's strikes in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya. More than half of the victims were women and children, the ministry said. A mother and her five children — some of them adults — and a second mother with six children, were among those killed in the attack on a five-story building, according to the emergency service.A second strike on Beit Lahiya on Tuesday evening killed at least 18 people, according to the Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its count. The nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital was overwhelmed by the wave of wounded people, according to its director, Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya. Israeli forces raided the medical facility over the weekend, detaining dozens of medics. The Israeli military said it was investigating the first Beit Lahiya strike; it did not immediately comment on the second. Israel’s recent operations in northern Gaza, focused in and around the Jabaliya refugee camp, have killed hundreds of people and driven tens of thousands from their homes. The Israeli military has repeatedly struck shelters for displaced people in recent months. It says it carries out precise strikes targeting Palestinian militants and tries to avoid harming civilians, but the strikes often kill women and children.On Tuesday, Israel said four more of its soldiers were killed in the fighting in northern Gaza, bringing the toll since the start of the operation to 16, including a colonel. As the fighting raged, Hamas signaled it was ready to resume cease-fire negotiations, although its key demands — a permanent cease-fire and full withdrawal of the Israeli military — do not appear to have changed, and have been dismissed in the past by Israel. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Tuesday the group has accepted mediators’ request to discuss “new proposals.”
Hezbollah's new leader has vowed to keep fighting Israel
Hezbollah said in a statement that its decision-making Shura Council elected Kassem, who had been Nasrallah's deputy leader for over three decades, as the new secretary-general. Kassem, 71, a founding member of the militant group established following Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, had been serving as acting leader. He has given several televised speeches vowing that Hezbollah will fight on despite a string of setbacks. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel, drawing retaliation, after Hamas’ surprise attack out of Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, triggered the war there. Iran, which backs both groups, has also directly traded fire with Israel, in April and then again this month. The tensions with Hezbollah boiled over in September, as Israel unleashed a wave of heavy airstrikes and killed Nasrallah and most of his senior commanders. Israel launched a ground invasion into Lebanon at the start of October. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel on Tuesday, killing one person in the northern city of Maalot-Tarshiha, authorities said. Israeli strikes in the coastal city of Sidon killed at least five people, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. Israeli laws targeting UN agency could further restrict aid. UNRWA and other international groups continued to express outrage Tuesday about the Israeli parliament's decision to cut ties to the agency. Israel says UNRWA has been infiltrated by Hamas and that the militant group siphons off aid and uses U.N. facilities to shield its activities, allegations denied by the U.N. agency.
Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer vowed that aid will continue to reach Gaza, as Israel plans to coordinate with aid organizations or other bodies within the U.N. “Ultimately, we will ensure that a more efficient replacement for UNRWA takes its role, not one which is infiltrated by the terrorist organization,” he said. Multiple U.N. agencies rallied Tuesday around UNRWA, calling it the “backbone” of the world body’s aid activities in Gaza and other Palestinian areas. UNRWA provides education, health care and emergency aid to millions of Palestinian refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation and their descendants. Refugee families make up the majority of Gaza’s population. Nearly a quarter of UNRWA’s roughly 13,000 staff are health workers who provide services like immunizations, disease surveillance, and screening for malnutrition, according to World Health Organization spokesman Tarik Jasarevic. UNRWA’s work “couldn’t be matched by any agency -- including WHO,” he said. Israel has sharply restricted aid to northern Gaza this month, prompting a warning from the United States that failure to facilitate greater humanitarian assistance could lead to a reduction in military aid. In its attack on Israel last year, Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 as hostages. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. Around 90% of the population of 2.3 million have been displaced from their homes, often multiple times.
**Magdy reported from Cairo and Mroue from Beirut. Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Jamey Keaten in Geneva, contributed to this report.

Iran moves to triple military budget amid Israel tensions
AFP/October 29, 2024
TEHRAN: Iran’s government has proposed to triple its military budget, its spokeswoman said Tuesday, as tensions with arch-rival Israel rise following recent tit-for-tat missile strikes. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh MoHajjerani outlined the move that would see “a significant increase of more than 200 percent in the country’s military budget” at a news conference in Tehran. She did not elaborate and Tehran has not disclosed any figures, but according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think tank, Iran’s military spending in 2023 was about $10.3 billion. The proposed budget will be debated, with lawmakers expected to finalize it in March. Iran and Israel on Monday accused each other of endangering Middle East peace in a heated exchange at a UN meeting. It came days after Israel carried out strikes on Iran in response to an October 1 missile barrage that the Islamic republic launched against Israel. The Iranian army reported four soldiers killed and damage to “radar systems.”Iran’s October 1 strike, involving 200 missiles, was in retaliation for attacks that killed the leaders of the Iran-backed groups Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as one of its own commanders.“All efforts have been made to meet the country’s defense needs and special attention has been paid to this issue,” the government spokeswoman MoHajjerani said. The regional tensions flared after Israel launched a military offensive in the Gaza Strip to eliminate the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in response to the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Since last month, Israel has also been battling Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement.

Saudi Arabia Hopes Two-State Solution Alliance Meeting Would Reach Practical Steps in Backing Peace
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024
The Saudi government hoped on Tuesday that the first meeting of the first high-level meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution would reach practical steps supporting UN efforts and peace initiatives and establish a timeline for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and end the Israeli occupation. The meeting will be held in Riyadh on Wednesday.Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh. At the beginning of the session, Crown Prince Mohammed briefed the Cabinet on the details of the telephone call he received from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and on his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.The Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of Saudi Arabia's recent participation in international meetings. This is a testimony to Saudi Arabia's commitment to strengthening partnerships and expanding cooperation in all fields to support multilateral efforts for development, prosperity, and addressing global challenges. It reiterated the Kingdom's stance at the BRICS Plus 2024 Summit, emphasizing its rejection of the escalation in the region. It highlighted the severe threat posed by the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip to both regional and international security and underscored the urgency of an immediate ceasefire, the need of unhindered humanitarian aid, and a firm commitment to achieving lasting peace. The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's emphasis at the International Conference in Support of Lebanon's People and Sovereignty on the need for collective assistance for Lebanon in facing its current crisis, mitigating its humanitarian consequences, and aiding the Lebanese state institutions in fulfilling their constitutional duties to establish sovereignty over all of Lebanon's territories.
Furthermore, during a conference hosted by the Kingdom, the Cabinet expressed its appreciation for the pledges of countries and donor entities to provide financial and in-kind contributions to support displaced people and refugees in the Sahel and Lake Chad region. The conference hosting is part of Saudi Arabia's keenness to respond to all efforts serving humanitarian causes and assisting affected and devastated communities worldwide. The Cabinet welcomed the participants in the 8th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII8) conference, which kicked off in Riyadh on Tuesday under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The Cabinet looks forward to the conference contributing to boosting efforts to achieve economic stability and just development, combat climate change globally, and address issues related to artificial intelligence, innovation, and health. The Cabinet highlighted the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed during the Energy Localization Forum involving 117 entities from the public and private sectors. The deals, worth around SAR104 billion, aim to bolster localization efforts in the energy sector and develop human capital. Additionally, the Cabinet commended the outcomes of the Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum (MIPF) organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The Cabinet underlined discussions during the forum on the role of industrial policies in boosting industrial integration between countries, empowering global supply chains, encouraging entrepreneurship, and leveraging modern and emerging technologies.
The Cabinet lauded the recent launches and agreements worth more than SAR55 billion announced at the Global Health Exhibition held in Riyadh, which aim to invest in the latest global technologies, strengthen international partnerships, localize pharmaceutical industries, and support research and development, showcasing the Kingdom's leadership in the health sector. Additionally, the Cabinet highlighted the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of the inaugural Global Corporate Social Responsibility Forum. It commended the forum for facilitating the signing of memoranda of understanding and discussions expected to open new horizons for sustainable social development, further boosting the Kingdom's achievements in this area.

Kurdish leader in Syria calls for diplomatic solutions to conflict with Turkey
Hogir Abdo/The Associated Press/October 29, 2024
The leader of the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in northeast Syria in an interview with The Associated Press called for international mediators to push for diplomatic solutions to the complex web of conflicts in the Middle Eastern country, including the escalating Turkish bombardment of Kurdish areas. Turkey has intensified its airstrikes in northern Iraq and northeastern Syria following an Oct. 23 attack on a defense company in Ankara that killed five people and wounded more than 20. Turkish airstrikes targeted dozens of sites believed to be linked to or affiliated with the Kurdistan’s Worker’s Party (PKK), which claimed responsibility for the attack. Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said that the attack in Ankara served as an excuse for a long-planned Turkish operation in Syria. “The Turks claim that these attacks are a response to the recent activity in Ankara. But that is not the reason, because the type and continuity of the attacks now entering their sixth day show that this is not a mere response. The Ankara incident was just an excuse,” Abdi told the AP in an interview Monday evening.
He alleged that the Turkish strikes, which have damaged electricity and oil facilities and bakeries, have had severe consequences for civilians and are part of a broader strategy by Turkey to force a demographic shift by pushing Kurdish residents out of the area. The strikes killed at least 18 people, mostly civilians, and injured more than 60. Abdi said in some cases Turkish strikes had targeted emergency teams responding to the initial strike.Turkish bombardment hinders fight against Islamic State group. Despite the strikes, Abdi said: “We are open to dialogue with all parties, including Turkey, even though their attacks persist.”He appealed to the U.S.-led coalition, formed to fight the Islamic State militant group, and to other mediators to push for diplomatic solutions. The PKK is considered a terror organization by Turkey’s Western allies, including the United States. Turkey and the U.S., however, disagree on the status of the Syrian Kurdish groups, which have been allied with Washington in the fight against IS in Syria. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the site of last week's attack at Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) on Tuesday.
“We will not hesitate to use all the means, tools, and resources at our disposal to end terrorism,” Erdogan declared to TUSAS employees, gathered for the unveiling of a new domestically produced helicopter. "Such treacherous and nefarious actions are the last gasps of the separatist organization,” he said. “They have no place in the future of our region or our country.”The escalation in northern Syria comes as the United States has agreed to a gradual troop reduction in Iraq, part of a larger drawdown expected to conclude by the end of 2026. While the withdrawal applies solely to Iraq, with no immediate plans to exit Syria, Abdi expressed concern over how the coalition’s diminishing presence in the region could affect operations in Syria. “We, along with coalition forces, conduct daily activities to neutralize ISIS cells, and if the coalition withdraws, the threat level would rise across the region,” Abdi said. He added that Turkish bombardment has hindered the SDF’s ability to conduct anti-IS operations, delaying two planned campaigns against cells in Syria. U.S. officials have yet to announce any specific timeline for troop reductions in Syria, though discussions continue amid rising tensions. Analysts have said that a U.S. departure could lead to increased pressure on the SDF from both Turkish and Syrian government forces, exacerbating the region’s security vacuum and the conflict’s toll on civilians.
Talks are ongoing between SDF and Assad's government
Abdi said that dialogue between the SDF and the government of Bashar Assad in Damascus has been ongoing since the early years of the 13-year-old Syrian uprising that turned into a civil war, though these discussions have yielded limited progress. “We have made numerous attempts to reach an agreement with the Syrian regime, but they have yet to produce results,” he said. The main sticking point, he said, has been the Syrian government’s reluctance to recognize the SDF’s administrative and military autonomy in the region. The Kurdish forces have called for a constitutional change that formalizes the SDF’s role in security and governance after more than a decade of self-administration. “For us, there are some red lines,” Abdi said. The prospect of reconciliation between Turkey and the Syrian government presents additional challenges. There have been several attempts at a rapprochement between Damascus and Ankara that so far have not progressed to an agreement. According to Abdi, Turkey is pushing for a deal that would dismantle the existing self-administration in northeastern Syria. “The Turkish government said clearly that they would reconcile with the Syrian regime on the basis of eliminating the existing status of this region, which makes us their target,” he said. The proposed reactivation of the 1998 Adana Agreement between Turkey and Syria, aimed at addressing security concerns along their shared border, could have serious ramifications for the Kurdish region.

UN chief writes letter to Israeli PM protesting UNRWA ban
AFP/October 29, 2024
UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres sent a letter Tuesday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu protesting a new law that could effectively cripple the UN agency responsible for aiding Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). The regulations approved by the Israeli parliament ban the UN agency from operating in Israel and occupied east Jerusalem, and prevent it from communicating and coordinating with Israeli authorities, which could essentially end its work in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Israel has long been at odds with UNRWA and has alleged that some of its employees were involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks that triggered the war in Gaza. The ban is due to start in three months. In the letter, which was seen by AFP, Guterres said the law could have “devastating consequences” for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank because there is no reasonable alternative to UNRWA for providing the aid and assistance these people need. “I appeal to you and to the government of Israel to prevent such devastating consequences and to allow UNRWA to continue carrying out its activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in accordance with its obligations under international law,” Guterres wrote. The agency was created in 1949 by the UN General Assembly after the first Arab-Israeli war, shortly after the creation of Israel in May 1948 and the mass displacement of Palestinians in its wake. Guterres argued that under international law an occupying power must implement mechanisms for aiding the people living in that occupied territory. “Israel, as the occupying power, continues to be required to ensure that the needs of the population are met,” Guterres wrote. “If Israel is not in a position to meet such needs, it has an obligation to allow and facilitate the activities of the United Nations, including UNRWA, and other humanitarian agencies, until the needs of Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are met,” he added.

Houthis attack Ashkelon, ships off Yemeni Coast
SAEED AL-BATATI/Arab News/October 29, 2024
AL-MUKALLA: Yemen’s Houthi militia said on Tuesday it launched drones at the Israeli city of Ashkelon a day after claiming to have attacked several ships in international waters off Yemen. In a statement, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said drones were launched at an industrial zone in Ashkelon, claiming they “successfully” struck their target, and vowing to carry out more attacks until Israel ends its military operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Israeli media reported explosions in Ashkelon and in Nahariya caused by another drone fired from Lebanon. The Israeli military said the drone launched from Yemen landed in a “open area” in Ashkelon.“Following an initial examination regarding the UAV that fell in an open area in Ashkelon in southern Israel earlier today, it was determined that the UAV was launched from Yemen,” it said in a statement. Previous Houthi missile and drone attacks on Israel triggered two waves of retaliatory airstrikes by Israeli warplanes, which struck power stations, ports, and fuel storage facilities in the western city of Hodeidah, which the Houthis control, in July and September. Sarea said in a broadcast on Monday night the Houthis also attacked three ships in the Arabian Sea, Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait, the latest in a series of attacks on maritime trade in a campaign the group claims is in support of the people of Palestine and Lebanon.  He identified the ships as the SC Montreal, which was attacked with two drones while sailing in the southern Arabian Sea, the Maersk Kowloon, which was attacked with a cruise missile while sailing in the Red Sea, and the Motaro, which was attacked in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait with multiple ballistic missiles. The three ships were targeted because their parent companies violated a ban on sailing to Israeli ports, Sarea said.
All three ships are Liberian-flagged vessels. The SC Montreal is sailing from the Seychelles to Oman. The Maersk Kowloon is sailing from Oman to an unknown destination, and the Motaro from Russia to China. The Houthi statement came hours after the UK Maritime Trade Operations, an agency that documents ship attacks, reported on Monday that the master of the Motaro, sailing 25 nautical miles south of Yemen’s Mocha town on the Red Sea, reported three explosions at various intervals near the ship, but that the vessel and its crew were safe.
The Joint Maritime Information Center identified the attacked ship as the M/V Motaro, “on transit” from Ust Luga in Russia to Shanghai, adding that the ship had no connection to Israel, the US, or the UK, and it could have been attacked because another ship owned by the same company visited Israel. “Indirectly (through multiple layers), within the ownership structure, JMIC has discovered a subsidiary linkage to a vessel visiting an Israeli port in the recent past,” the JMIC said. Since November, the Houthis have seized a commercial ship — the Galaxy Leader — and its crew, sunk two others, and set fire to several more, firing hundreds of ballistic missiles, drones, and drone boats at civilian and naval ships in the group’s campaign.Critics dispute the Houthi claims of support for the Palestinians or Lebanon, arguing that the beleaguered militia used the conflict to recruit new fighters, increase public support, deploy forces in contested areas, and silence voices calling on the Houthis to repair crumbling services and pay public employees.

Canada alleges Indian minister Amit Shah behind plot to target Sikh separatists
REUTERS/October 30, 2024
Canada in mid-October expelled Indian diplomats, linking them to the 2023 murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil
The Canadian government alleged on Tuesday that Indian Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, a close ally of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was behind the plots to target Sikh separatists on Canadian soil. The Indian government has dismissed Canada’s prior accusations as baseless, denying any involvement. The Washington Post newspaper first reported that Canadian officials alleged Shah was behind a campaign of violence and intimidation targeting Sikh separatists in Canada. Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison said to a parliamentary panel on Tuesday that he told the US-based newspaper that Shah was behind the plots. “The journalist called me and asked if it (Shah) was that person. I confirmed it was that person,” Morrison told the committee, without providing further details or evidence. The High Commission of India in Ottawa and the Indian foreign ministry had no immediate comment. India has called Sikh separatists “terrorists” and threats to its security. Sikh separatists demand an independent homeland known as Khalistan to be carved out of India. An insurgency in India during the 1980s and 1990s killed tens of thousands. That period included the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that left thousands dead following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards after she ordered security forces to storm the holiest Sikh temple to flush out Sikh separatists. Canada in mid-October expelled Indian diplomats, linking them to the 2023 murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. India also ordered the expulsion of Canadian diplomats. The Canadian case is not the only instance of India’s alleged targeting of Sikh separatists on foreign soil. Washington has charged a former Indian intelligence officer, Vikash Yadav, for allegedly directing a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen and Indian critic in New York City. The FBI warned against such a retaliation aimed at a US resident. India has said little publicly since announcing in November 2023 it would formally investigate the US allegations. The accusations have tested Washington and Ottawa’s relations with India, often viewed by the West as a counterbalance to China.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on October 29-30/2024
The Media Is Implementing Sinwar's Genocidal Strategy
Alan M. Dershowitz and Andrew Stein/Gatestone Institute/October 29, 2024
Although they could easily distinguish between combatant and non-combatant deaths, Hamas refuses to do so.
They [Hamas] fail to acknowledge that many of these so-called children were also combatants.
They do the same with women, conveying the impression that only men are terrorists.
Without the support of the media, this strategy would not succeed.
And useful ignoramuses on university campuses, along with bigots in international organizations, falsely accuse Israel of genocide, despite the successful efforts of the IDF to reduce civilian casualties to the minimum possible....
In the absence of an honest accounting, the media will continue to do Sinwar's nefarious work in increasing Palestinian casualties in order to increase the pressure on Israel.
Sadly, the media's dangerous cooperation with terrorists tells us more about them than about the war about which they purport to be "reporting."
Assassinated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar weaponized the death of Gazan civilians, especially women and children. Although they could easily distinguish between combatant and non-combatant deaths, Hamas refuses to do so. They fail to acknowledge that many of these so-called children were also combatants. Without the support of the media, this strategy would not succeed. Pictured: Hamas terrorists with their child trainee at a rally in Gaza City on May 24, 2021. (Photo by Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images)
Following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, documentary evidence has emerged confirming what many observers already knew: namely, that Sinwar weaponized the death of Gazan civilians, especially women and children.
He understood that the media would emphasize these civilian deaths, attribute them all to Israel, and increase the pressure on the Israeli government to satisfy Hamas's unreasonable demands. This is how the Wall Street Journal put it, following a lengthy investigation:
"Arab mediators hastened to speed up talks about a cease-fire... Sinwar in a message urged his comrades in Hamas's political leadership outside Gaza not to make concessions and instead to push for a permanent end to the war. High civilian casualties would create worldwide pressure on Israel, Sinwar said."
This "dead baby strategy" has been used by Hamas for decades. Their leaders regard increasing the reported number of civilian casualties among Palestinians as necessary to victory, both in the court of public opinion and in the courts of law. Hence, they declare these dead civilians to be martyrs and encourage civilians to remain in dangerous places and among Hamas combatants.
This may be the first time in military history that leaders have admitted putting their own people in harm's way to increase the casualty figures (here, here, here, here and here).
Without the support of the media, this strategy would not succeed. It requires that the media report Hamas-generated civilian casualty figures uncritically and without investigating the underlying components of the reported figures.
So the media report approximately 43,000 dead Palestinians. Although they could easily distinguish between combatant and non-combatant deaths, Hamas refuses to do so. Instead, they distinguish between male adults, women and those who they describe as "children." They fail to acknowledge that many of these so-called children were also combatants. Hamas lists anyone under 19 as a child, regardless of whether they are 15, 16, 17 or 18-year-old terrorists who have been recruited and trained by Hamas to murder Israelis. They do the same with women, conveying the impression that only men are terrorists.
Moreover, they fail to distinguish friendly-fire casualties that resulted from rockets fired by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups whose rockets have a high failure rate, with many landing in Gaza.
They suggest that all non-Hamas members are innocent civilians. But many non-Hamas "civilians" were directly involved in the massacres, rapes and kidnappings of October 7, 2023. Others cheered on these barbarians as they returned to Gaza with their live and dead hostages. Still others allowed their homes to be used to imprison hostages. Many contributed to Hamas financially and in other ways. Then there are the human shields – some voluntary, some coerced – who died as a result of deliberately being placed in harm's way pursuant to the Sinwar strategy of maximizing civilian deaths.
Accordingly, no one really knows the precise number of completely innocent Palestinians who have been killed. It would not be surprising if a careful breakdown of the dead resulted in a figure below 10,000 for totally innocent Palestinians, whose deaths can reasonably be attributed to Israel, rather than to the Sinwar strategy. Even double that figure would be remarkably low in comparison with casualty figures in other urban wars fought by NATO and democratic countries. It would represent an approximate ratio of one civilian killed for every combatant killed. And it would mean that approximately one percent of Gaza's civilian population died in a war started by Hamas and fought behind civilian shields. In comparable urban wars, the ratios have been worse for civilians.
Yet the media make it seem as if Israel is the worst offender in history. And useful ignoramuses on university campuses, along with bigots in international organizations, falsely accuse Israel of genocide, despite the successful efforts of the IDF to reduce civilian casualties to the minimum possible, consistent with achieving their military goals.
The time has come for credible investigations and evaluations of the actual numbers of Gazans in the various categories who have been killed. In the absence of an honest accounting, the media will continue to do Sinwar's nefarious work in increasing Palestinian casualties in order to increase the pressure on Israel. The result of implementing the Sinwar strategy, even after his death, will be more Palestinian deaths, continuing warfare, and the demonization of Israel. This is precisely what Sinwar asked his followers to do after his death. He should not be permitted to achieve his murderous goals posthumously. Reporting the truth will prevent that from happening, because the Sinwar strategy relies on mendacious and selective reporting by the media.
Sadly, the media's dangerous cooperation with terrorists tells us more about them than about the war about which they purport to be "reporting."
Alan M. Dershowitz is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law, Emeritus at Harvard Law School, and the author most recently of War Against the Jews: How to End Hamas Barbarism, and Get Trump: The Threat to Civil Liberties, Due Process, and Our Constitutional Rule of Law. He is the Jack Roth Charitable Foundation Fellow at Gatestone Institute, and is also the host of "The Dershow" podcast.
Andrew Stein is an American Democratic politician who served on the New York City Council and was its last president, and as Manhattan Borough President.
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© 2024 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21065/hamas-media-genocidal-strategy

As US Election Looms, Biden Aides Struggle With Middle East Wars
Michael Crowley and Edward Wong/The New York Times//Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024
It is not where the Biden administration wants to be less than two weeks before the US presidential election. Israeli attacks with American-made bombs continue to wipe out Palestinian families in Gaza. The war in Lebanon is expanding. And Israel and Iran’s exchanges of direct attacks could escalate, following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military sites early Saturday.
With many progressive voters and Arab and Muslim Americans in battleground states furious at President Biden for his unwavering support of Israel’s offensives since the devastating Hamas assault last year, US officials had been desperate for some way to prod the Middle East toward stability.
Then came Israel’s Oct. 16 killing of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, which Biden officials saw as a fresh opportunity to try to achieve a rapid negotiated settlement to Israel’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed.
Less than three weeks before the election, Biden dispatched Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to the Middle East for that purpose. The trip this week, his 11th wartime visit to the region, had an improvised quality reflecting its last-minute origins: Blinken departed without a clear itinerary and canceled a planned stop in Jordan before carrying on to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and, unexpectedly, London. There, he met separately on Friday with officials from Lebanon, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. In Doha, Blinken announced that US and Israeli negotiators would be returning to Qatar soon in an effort to revive hostage and cease-fire talks with Hamas.
Still, any hopes of a quick, post-Sinwar breakthrough were short-lived.
Blinken found no evidence that the Hamas leader’s death had left either Hamas or Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ready to strike an immediate cease-fire deal in Gaza that would free the hostages held by Hamas.
Instead, Blinken flew out of a Middle East teetering on the brink of greater chaos and in a more precarious state than even in the aftermath of Hamas’s attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, or during his last visit in September. On his trip, Blinken’s focus seemed to be on planning the management of a post-conflict Gaza that remains hard to envision. “This is a moment for every country to decide what role it’s prepared to play and what contributions it could make in moving Gaza from war to peace,” Blinken told reporters in Doha. A necessary condition of ending the war in Gaza, he said, is “to make sure that we have the appropriate plans in place.”If Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president, have any hope that the warring parties will silence their guns before the US election, there was no sign that Blinken’s trip could pave the way for that. Netanyahu has no strong incentives to end any of the wars before the election. Throughout the Israel-Gaza war, analysts say, the Biden administration’s diplomatic efforts have failed because its goals have run counter to those of both Netanyahu and Sinwar, and because Biden has been unwilling to withhold weapons from Israel as leverage.
“The Biden administration’s steadfast refusal or unwillingness to establish guardrails or redlines for Israel has led to the expansion of this war,” said Nader Hashemi, a professor of Middle East politics at Georgetown University. “It’s clear to me that Benjamin Netanyahu realizes that he can do almost anything he wants and there will be zero consequences.”
US officials say they stand by Israel’s right to defend itself, and that Biden’s “bear hug” strategy of embracing Netanyahu has led to some shifts, however minor, in the Israeli leader’s tactical decision-making over the last year. But the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, especially its north, has plunged to such dismal levels that Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III sent Israel’s government a written warning this month that it risks triggering a cutoff of US military aid. The Biden administration has given Israel until mid-November to increase aid to Gaza. On Friday, Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s foreign minister, standing next to Blinken at a London hotel, said Israel was conducting “ethnic cleansing” in northern Gaza. And he suggested that diplomacy was failing to make a real difference. “It’s getting worse, unfortunately, every time we meet,” the Jordanian diplomat said, turning to address Blinken directly. “Not for lack of us trying, but because we do have an Israeli government that is not listening to anybody. And that has got to stop.”
In Lebanon, Israel continues to pound Hezbollah positions and, defying American admonitions, to strike targets in residential Beirut. The attacks have killed hundreds of women and children. A month ago, following the start of Israel’s offensive in Lebanon to disrupt Hezbollah rocket fire, the Biden administration tried and failed to get a cease-fire and has since stopped calling for an immediate halt to the fighting. Israel’s use of its military might — and the civilian casualties that accompany it, including young Palestinians who burned alive in tents after an Israeli strike near a Gaza hospital — have left many Democrats wringing their hands. Polls in the critical state of Michigan show a tossup between Harris and former President Donald J. Trump, the Republican contender. Many Arab American voters there say they are repulsed by the Biden administration’s unceasing weapons shipments to Israel. Some Democrats believe that losing their votes could tip the state — and perhaps the entire election.
“As for Arab and Muslim voters, they view Harris as beyond redemption because of Gaza, and now Lebanon,” said Hashemi, the Georgetown professor. “Most will be voting for a third-party candidate or they will be boycotting this election. Some might naïvely vote for Trump out of frustration.”Trump has at times expressed total support for Israel, and he and Netanyahu share a transactional outlook. Trump and his aides enacted controversial policies during his administration that supported Netanyahu’s hard-line positions. But Trump has also called on Israel to “stop killing people” in Gaza. It is not clear that Blinken ever believed that Sinwar’s death would leave Hamas more willing to trade its hostages for a cease-fire.
Some US officials say the better question is whether Netanyahu might now have the political cover to declare victory and end Israel’s Gaza war. As Blinken put it on Thursday, “Israel has accomplished the strategic goals that it set out for itself” after Oct. 7.
But Netanyahu’s intentions remain opaque. The Israeli leader is on trial for corruption and widely blamed for Israel’s colossal security failure last year. He has become more popular recently because of Israel’s successful killings of militia leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah. Many US officials assess that he sees warfare as a means of political survival. Blinken insisted the United States and Israel would explore “new frameworks” for a cease-fire and hostage release. American officials said that could include piecemeal deals involving brief fighting pauses for the release of just a few hostages at a time. Of the 101 hostages still in Gaza, at least a third are believed to be dead. But during his trip, Blinken sounded more focused on a phase still well beyond the horizon: the security, governance and reconstruction of Gaza after Israel’s military withdraws from the territory, whenever that might be.
For Israel to feel confident about a withdrawal, some kind of security force — perhaps composed of units from neighboring Arab militaries — would need to be in place, US officials say. Someone would have to pay tens of billions to begin rebuilding from the rubble of Gaza. Biden and his aides have said the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority should govern the territory, if it replaces its aging leadership — a proposal that Netanyahu rejects. Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv that Netanyahu had firmly denied to him that Israel’s military was pursuing a strategy of pushing civilians out of northern Gaza. According to that strategy, the military would try to starve out or kill anyone who remained, on the grounds that they are Hamas holdouts. But starvation has been underway for months, across the entire population. Last month, levels of aid delivery dropped to the lowest since the start of the war. The death toll from bombings is still rising, and the images of Palestinian civilians burning in refugee tent camps have circulated widely on social media.

The Duty of the Lebanese… Despite Washington’s Differing Priorities
Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024
Optimism based on wishful thinking suggests that the Israeli military campaign against Lebanon may end “in a short period...” as military and political sources in Tel Aviv are saying.
However, the problem, based on readings of the past “clashes” between Lebanon and Israel, is that optimism regarding a real, positive shift in Israeli policy over the past few decades has never been founded. We always ended up with only more obstinacy and aggression.
The list of factors that reinforce this view is too extensive to cover here. The clearest of them is undoubtedly the near-total collapse of moderate Israeli forces that believe in dialogue, which has coincided with the steady rise in the influence of extremist fascist settlers advocating “population transfers.”Benjamin Netanyahu is beholden to them today. He depends on them not only in his battles with civilian political opponents but in his struggle with Israel’s military and security institutions, which have denounced his opportunism and criticized him sharply.
The painful reality is that Netanyahu has succeeded- and continues to succeed- in weakening his critics by plowing ahead, deliberately adding new fronts, and pursuing new objectives with every war adventure.
Take Gaza, for instance: it seems as though recent events have obscured what is happening as Israel’s crimes are met with painful silence and global complicity on all levels. Meanwhile, settler organizations, convinced that Gaza is theirs once and for all, are racing to “their share of the pie” as we see the rise of obnoxious advertisements for the sale of real estate in the areas from which people have been displaced in the occupied Gaza Strip.
As for the “northern front,” where Lebanese cities and villages are being bombarded and Israeli forces try to make breakthroughs in South Lebanon that allow for imposing new geographical realities, sensible Lebanese are concerned about Israel's “shifting objectives”...
The Lebanese remember what happened in Gaza, where Netanyahu’s government justified massacres, destruction, and displacement, first under the pretexts of “rescuing hostages” and “self-defense,” and then the need to destroy the military infrastructure of Hamas... Now we have the point in which it is openly threatening settlement expansion. However, Lebanon is suffering from four deadly “afflictions” that the Lebanese have learned almost nothing from.
- The first affliction is fragmentation along sectarian lines, which has prevented the Lebanese from establishing a shared identity that fosters loyalty to a shared nation for decades. Currently, it is clear that Israel’s “war planners” are eager to stir hostility and fuel mutual fears by intensifying the military campaign and aggravating the displacement from areas with a particular sectarian affiliation to other regions... And, of course, there’s always the potential of deliberate incitement of frictions and provocations in this politically and socially fragile country.
- The second affliction is the reliance of this entity’s various communities on “foreign powers” to avoid domestic consensus. They do this although it has become evident that each and every time, this incurs high costs. Domestic consensus would be a more effective and safer option; unfortunately, however, this futile reliance on others has not changed since the emergence of the first “national identity” project (centered around the Mount Lebanon region) in the 16th and 17th centuries.
- The third affliction is that the forces surrounding this entity- or “nation” as some prefer to call it- have always had a powerful impact on it. On one hand, it is not an isolated island, and on the other, its borders have always been vulnerable, which, in turn, affects demographic balances."
- The fourth affliction is that, throughout its long history- from the days of the 'city-states' in ancient times to its current status as an independent state- Lebanon has always been in contact with external forces by land and sea. Over the decades, various Asian, African, and European powers have passed through this land and held territory; this foreign influence in and over Lebanon persists to this day. Thus, the current state of affairs presents both severe existential threats and valuable opportunities that could save the country if the Lebanese tread wisely. By that, I mean... if they come to an understanding among themselves, build common ground, and agree on priorities, before losing control over their resources in a Middle East where the role of “small players” is shrinking and their fate is determined by global decision-makers.
The American election campaigns have shown us what it means for Washington to be busy with its own problems. It has also shown some regional players- specifically Israel- to be adept at exploiting this preoccupation to advance their own project to reshape the region.
Naturally, many questions about the future are being posed by the Lebanese, both those in their homeland and the diaspora. I believe that the result of the US elections, now only days away, will be crucial for shaping the broad trajectory of the region.
Some may argue that there are no notable differences between the policies of the two major parties, the Republicans and Democrats, regarding the Middle East, despite their clear contrast on domestic issues. This may be somewhat true. However, it is also somewhat true that we, as Lebanese, Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims, are far too weak to ensure the changes we seek within the corridors of decision-making in Washington. We don’t have a good grasp of the “deep state” there.
Our understanding of its political culture and network of interests is limited, and we are pursuing divergent goals. Our focus is on the short-term, and our short attention span is not long enough to build strong foundations for advancing our interests, preempting developments, and using our “leverage” to achieve objectives. For all these reasons, we find ourselves constantly reacting without foresight. Meanwhile, the politicians who are on the rise distance themselves from us and curry favor with our adversaries. They only come running to us for their “retirement”!

This Criminal Media!?
Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 29, 2024
More than ever, the Lebanese need to come to an understanding among themselves that complements political initiatives and reinforces diplomatic efforts. That is not a moralistic cliche, as this sense of urgency is driven by the brutality of Israel’s project and its hardening terms, which threaten Lebanon’s sovereignty and could potentially lead to the occupation of a large or small segment of the country.
This raging bull is charging ahead, deterred and afraid of nothing, in both Gaza and Lebanon. It is targeting civilians, medical teams, journalists, paramedics, schools, multinational peacekeeping forces, humanitarian institutions, and Lebanese soldiers on a daily basis, and it is targeting both the environment and urban infrastructure. We, in turn, are sinking deeper into catastrophe as the scale of death, destruction, displacement, and poverty expands, leaving the county itself on the verge of fading away.
However, for the Lebanese to come together, we must reflect on what has happened and reassess as we seek to minimize avoidable losses, rather than insisting on the same old broken record that is played in any and every context, and leaving it to hover gleefully over the scorched earth.
It seems that the kinds of reassessments needed to enhance unity are precisely the ones not being conducted. Instead of introspection and asking questions of ourselves, the Farsi mystic Bastami’s “Glory to me, how great I am” prevails as the events undermining our grandiose image of ourselves are attributed to factors totally unrelated to our actions, neither directly nor indirectly.
As usual, a significant share of the blame is placed on the shoulders of the media, especially television broadcasters: accusations, abuse, defamation, and calls for boycotts. The demand, it seems, is that we keep listening to the echo of our own voices, and that we continue to repeat our poor narrative about the developments currently unfolding, as though doing so would somehow turn our wishes into reality and dispel our anguish.
The fact is that blaming inconvenient material developments on the manipulative lies of the media, is a hallmark of authoritarian consciousness, especially in moments of unhinged conspiratorialism. It shifts the blame for disastrous outcomes from politicians and their supporters to a handful of misguided and misleading media outlets and opinion-makers who are bought and paid for... Mind you, this character assassination happens while Israel continues its physical assassinations of journalist colleagues.
Yes, there was an expressive explosion in Lebanon just over a month ago, especially as it became clear that the sacrifices made in the name of building strength and ensuring protection had been all in vain, leading to collapse without any strength or protection. Hezbollah’s preoccupation with its own concerns has allowed many of those who had previously kept quiet out of fear to voice their opinions on questions that pertain to their lives and their country.
Nonetheless, feigning surprise about this "conspiracy" was not convincing, nor was the recourse to satire in the place of understanding, which made the satirists seem like they are living on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
Hezbollah’s critics never cheated the party. They have openly spoken of their profound differences with it and their staunch opposition to its policies and wars. If Abdul-Malik al-Houthi can claim, as he did in his latest speech, that "the Lebanese people have rallied around the resistance," the people of Lebanon - including Hezbollah’s support base - know that this is nothing more than a fable.
Indeed, everyone knows that this dispute extends to almost everything and that the casualties and victims who lost their lives over it all had reservations about the policies and repercussions of the resistance. And everyone knows that large segments of Lebanese society have always believed that there could be no equality among citizens so long as Hezbollah maintained its arsenal and that this arsenal made building a state and ensuring social stability impossible.
Everyone also knows that "liberating the Shebaa Farms" is not a convincing justification, even to a plucked chicken, for perpetuating the militarization of society and politics. Everyone knows how the "opposition" grabbed the political process by the throat, cornering the government through the "blocking third," shutting down parliament, and insisting that parliament elect their single candidate - and no one else - president.
And everyone knows that a considerable majority of the population sees the policy of aligning with Iran, and ruining Lebanon’s relationships with Arab and Western countries as a push to destroy their preferred model for the country. Everyone knows that Hezbollah’s war in Syria is seen, by many in Lebanon, as an attack on a neighboring nation that displaced its people. Everyone knows that the terms Hezbollah leaders occasionally use to describe Lebanon, like calling it a country of "nightclubs and beach resorts," speak to the chasm between our views on life itself, as well as just the functions of the country and its people. Everyone knows that rethinking the virtue of "Lebanese coexistence" is beginning to become a popular demand whose weight is growing within certain communities, and that this had begun long before October 7 and 8. Insulting the media and journalists is nothing more than a pathetic inanity when measured against the magnitude of the problem, which cannot be overcome with insults or be dissipated by the naive assumption that calling on the Lebanese to "rise up and face the Zionist enemy in the field" is enough to leave us lined up as one like the strands of a North Korean comb. The country was driven to war amid this immense schism, which was created by particular actions, not the media and journalists. So, after everything that has happened, will we now think about becoming more responsible, to allow for taking the rubble of this country toward peace, with some unity, even a minimal degree of it?