English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For September 06/2024
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
‘Take care that you do not despise one of these
little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of
my Father in heaven
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
18/01-05.10./:”At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’He called a child, whom he put among them,
and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you
will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my
name welcomes me.‘Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones;
for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in
heaven.
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on September 05-06/2024
Israel kills brother of key Hezbollah member
Report: US and Israel quietly discuss options to cool tensions with Lebanon
Le Drian to meet al-Aloula in Riyadh over Lebanon president crisis
Quintet Committee to meet in Beirut on September 14: Le Drian’s visit to follow?
Report: Quint's ambassadors to meet soon in Doha or Cairo
Report: Europe to help Lebanon and Gaza, Borrell to visit Beirut
Tensions Persist on the Southern Front
One person killed in Israeli strike on Kafra
Hajjar Denies Ghada Aoun’s Inappropriate Request in Salameh’s Case
Investigative Judge begins review of case against former BDL governor Riad
Salameh
Helena Iskandar sues ex-central bank governor Riad Salameh amid financial probe:
LBCI sources
Israeli airstrike on Kafra leaves one dead, another injured
Ex-FPM MPs meet al-Rahi, discuss ways to 'save the country'
Report: US, KSA, France may convince LF to accept Berri's initiative
General Aoun Meets his Italian Counterpart
Correspondent Banks: Transfers Safe Despite Potential Grey Listing
Teachers’ Compensation Fund: The Issue Is Back on the Table
Lebanese Justice Ministry Accuses Former C.bank Chief Salameh of Financial
Crimes
US and Israeli Officials Discuss Tensions at the Israel-Lebanon Border
Hezbollah Keeps Threat to North Alive in Latest Rocket Barrage Against Israel
Lebanese must pursue real change no matter the obstacles/Khaled Abou Zahr/Arab
News/September 05, 2024
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on September 04-05/2024
Police Shoot Suspicious Person near a Museum and
Israeli Consulate in Munich
Justice Department Unseals Terrorism Charges Against Hamas Leaders
US: Gaza deal 90% done, hostages-prisoners swap a sticking point
Hamas urges US pressure on Israel as Netanyahu says ‘no deal in the making’
We’re not scrapping existing Gaza hostage deal, time of essence,’ US envoy says
US hostages' families request White House to negotiate with Hamas, excluding
Israel
IDF eliminates son of Fatah leader Zakaria Zubeidi during counterterrorism
operation in West Bank
Second Stage of Gaza Polio Campaign Begins While War Goes on in Other Areas
Hamas Says Netanyahu Trying to 'Thwart' Gaza Truce
Netanyahu's Gaza gambit: Why he won't let go of the Philadelphi Corridor - An
analysis
Israeli Strikes Kill Several Palestinians in Occupied West Bank
Sisi, Erdogan Affirm Egypt-Türkiye Alignment on Regional Issues
Putin Says Russia Backs Kamala Harris in US Election
Macron Names EU Former Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s New Prime
Minister
Pope and Imam of Southeast Asia's Largest Mosque Make Joint Call to Fight
Violence, Protect Planet
Kamala Harris' campaign raises $300 mln in August, NBC reports
Trump vows to make US the 'world capital' in cryptocurrency
US charges five Russian military officers over Ukraine cyberattacks
New France PM vows to 'respond to challenges' of French people
Putin says Russia ready for talks with Ukraine
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on September 05-06/2024
Israel Complied with UN Resolutions; Peace Never Came/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/The
Algemeiner/September 05/2024
Murder of six Israeli hostages was ordered directly by Iranian leadership/Vahid
Beheshti/Jerusalem Post/September 05/2024
Iran's New Plan: Lost Gaza, So Take West Bank/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone
Institute/September 05/2024
Unsheathe the ‘Two Swords’ of Christianity/Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream/September
05/2024
They Knew…And They Led Lebanon to Destruction/Hanna Saleh/Asharq Al Awsat/September
05/2024
The Next War: Israel vs. Iran/Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/September
05/2024
They Knew…And They Led Lebanon to Destruction/Hanna Saleh/Asharq Al Awsat/September
05/2024
New nuclear deal unlikely despite Khamenei’s intervention/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab
News/September 05, 2024
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on September 05-06/2024
Israel kills brother of key Hezbollah
member
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/September 05, 2024
BEIRUT: The Israeli army on Thursday morning launched an intensive aerial attack
on Kafra, southern Lebanon, in which the brother of an important Hezbollah
member was killed. In a statement, Hezbollah’s military media wing announced the
death of Abbas Anis Ayoub, who was born in 1988 and is from Selaa, southern
Lebanon. The Ministry of Health’s Emergency Operations Center confirmed Ayoub’s
death, adding that the attack injured another person. Security reports said that
the Israeli army carried out at least three raids to target Ayoub. Footage on
social media showed a house on fire as a result of the attack, which was
followed by further Israeli raids, increasing the intensity of the fire. It
seems Abbas Ayoub is the brother of Hussein Ayoub, who is considered the founder
of Hezbollah’s air force. Abbas worked as an engineer before joining the
militant group. Hussein Ayoub was 24 when he was killed by an explosive device
during a Hezbollah operation against an Israeli patrol in southern Lebanon,
which was under Israeli occupation at the time. Israeli warplanes and artillery
continued operations in southern border villages, including Aita Al-Shaab,
Kfarkila and Mays Al-Jabal. A woman was killed and two civilians were injured on
Wednesday night by Israeli shelling of residential neighborhoods in Qabrikha and
in the vicinity of Tallouseh, Bani Haiyyan, Qantara and Wadi Saluki. Three
people were injured in an Israeli raid on Houla and the Health Ministry said a
12-year-old child was among the injured in Qabrikha.
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said that its aircraft attacked sites
in Jebbayn, Zawtar Al-Charkieh, and Ramyeh. He added that "more than 10
Hezbollah military infrastructures and launch pads were attacked, as they were
posing a threat to Israeli civilians.”Israeli media reported “an explosion of a
drone in the Yara area in Western Galilee,” and “damage inside the settlement of
Ramot Naftali in Upper Galilee after rockets fell inside the settlement.”
A new statistic circulated by Israeli media revealed that, between January and
the end of August, “the total number of rockets fired (toward Isarel) was 6,611,
with the lowest number of rockets in January when 334 rockets were fired.”
Israeli Army Radio said that 1,307 rockets were launched from Lebanon toward
Israel during August, “averaging 40 rockets a day,” the highest rate of rockets
fired since the start of the war. Statistics on rocket fire from Lebanon toward
Israel since the beginning of the year show 1,091 rockets were fired in July,
855 in June, 1,000 in May, 744 in April, 746 in March, and 534 in February. Maj.
Gen. Mohammed Khair, head of the Higher Relief Committee, ruled out conducting a
damage survey in southern Lebanon at present or calling on people to return
“because Israel is treacherous, and the psychological war has become one of its
constant characteristics.”Khair added: “We cannot expose the lives of HRC
employees and Lebanese Army personnel to the risk of Israeli shelling while they
are conducting inspection, survey and assessment work. Until we are sure that
everything is over and the situation is under control, we will not tell the
people of the south to return to their homes and institutions. Otherwise, we
would jeopardize their lives and put them at risk.”He emphasized “the necessity
of securing the financial coverage for their return ‘internationally’ as a first
step and making a clear, correct decision regarding their return. Then, we will
call on the displaced citizens to return to their villages.”Khair denied the
existence of any funds allocated by HRC or the government to compensate
southerners affected by the Israeli aggression. But he said funds had been
allocated to help displaced people from the south to the villages of Sidon and
the north, to support them. Regarding the possibility of securing compensation
for those affected, Khair said: “Nothing is clear yet. It is not known from
where the required funds will be secured.”
Report: US and Israel quietly discuss options to cool
tensions with Lebanon
Naharnet/September 05/2024
Senior officials from the U.S. and Israel held a low-profile virtual meeting on
Tuesday to discuss how to ease tensions with Lebanon and prevent an all out war
between Israel and Hezbollah, four Israeli and U.S. officials told U.S. news
portal Axios. “The meeting, which hasn't been announced by the White House or
the Israeli government, was initiated by the Biden administration to take the
pulse on the Israeli side and coordinate their policies about the situation in
Lebanon,” officials said. The virtual meeting lasted an hour. The U.S. team was
led by White House national Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. President Joe
Biden's advisers Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk also participated. The Israeli
team was led by the Minister for Strategic Affairs and Netanyahu confidant Ron
Dermer, officials say. According to an Israeli official, the parties discussed
how to reach a long-term diplomatic solution to end the fighting between Israel
and Hezbollah in a scenario where a ceasefire deal is reached in Gaza and
hundreds of thousands of displaced Israelis and Lebanese are allowed to return
to their homes along the border. But the official said the parties also
discussed how to de-escalate the fighting in the more likely scenario at the
moment of no Gaza ceasefire deal in the near term. The main Israeli demand is
that any diplomatic deal with Lebanon will include the withdrawal of Hezbollah's
elite Radwan force at least 10 kilometers from the border. “The Israeli side
stressed during the meeting that the key to such a deal is how to verify that
Hezbollah's militants have indeed left the area near the border and don't come
back,” the officials said. “The Israelis demand the U.S. pledge to support
Israeli military action against Hezbollah forces if they do return,” the
officials say. An Israeli official meanwhile told Axios that Hochstein said in
the meeting that a Gaza ceasefire deal would lead to de-escalation in Lebanon
and as a result, allow Israel to focus again its normalization deal with Saudi
Arabia.
Le Drian to meet al-Aloula in Riyadh over Lebanon president
crisis
Naharnet/September 05/2024
French special envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian will meet with Saudi Royal
Court adviser Nizar al-Aloula within hours, Lebanese television station MTV said
Thursday. Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari will attend the meeting in
Riyadh, the TV channel added. Diplomatic sources had told al-Liwaa newspaper
that Le Drian will likely visit Lebanon soon, by early October, and that
mid-September will witness intense efforts to break Lebanon's presidential
deadlock. Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper said the meeting will discuss ways to
reconcile viewpoints between the Lebanese parties, especially Speaker Nabih
Berri and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.
Quintet Committee to meet in Beirut on September 14: Le
Drian’s visit to follow?
LBCI/September 05/2024
Regarding the ongoing political crisis in Lebanon, particularly concerning
finding solutions for the presidential file, a meeting was held in Saudi Arabia
between French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian and advisor Nizar Al-Aloula.
Reports indicated that an agreement was reached for the Quintet Committee to
convene in Beirut at the ambassadorial level on September 14. Following this
meeting, a decision will be made on whether Le Drian will visit Beirut.
Report: Quint's ambassadors to meet soon in Doha or Cairo
Naharnet/September 05/2024
The ambassadors of the five-nation group for Lebanon will soon meet in Doha or
Cairo to crystallize new ideas regarding Lebanon’s presidential file, informed
sources said. The ideas will be aimed at “reconciling viewpoints and setting a
date for an electoral session and consultations that would be held at the same
time,” the sources told the PSP’s al-Anbaa news portal. “The sessions would
remain open until an agreement is reached over one or more candidates for the
presidential vote,” the sources added.
Report: Europe to help Lebanon and Gaza, Borrell to visit
Beirut
Naharnet/September 05/2024
The European arena will witness efforts aimed at contributing to a solution that
would secure a ceasefire in Gaza and another between Hezbollah and Israel as
soon as possible, in light of the looming U.S. presidential election, diplomatic
sources in Paris said.
“European leaders will fill this void until the beginning of next year and EU
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell will
visit Lebanon this September to discuss with Lebanese officials the latest
developments in the local and regional arenas to help Lebanon overcome its
crises,” the sources told Annahar newspaper in remarks published Thursday.
“Several European nations will hold international conferences aimed at helping
Gaza and Lebanon overcome their crises, with Spain calling for a
ministerial-level conference for Gaza and Lebanon in mid-September in which
European, Arab and foreign nations and organizations will take place,” the
sources said. “On the sidelines of the Francophonie Summit that will be held in
Paris on October 4 and 5, French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a
conference with the participating countries to discuss all aspects of the
Lebanese situation and help pull Lebanon out of its crisis,” the sources added.
Macron will call for “a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel” as well as for
facilitating the election of a new president and the formation of a government
that would carry out necessary reforms, the sources added.
Tensions Persist on the Southern Front
This Is Beirut/September 05/2024
Israeli shelling of South Lebanon continued on Thursday afternoon, with Israel
targeting Ras al-Dahr, the western quarters of the locality of Mays al-Jabal, as
well as the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab in the central sector. A Hezbollah
combatant, identified as Abbas Anis Ayoub, was killed and another wounded in an
Israeli airstrike earlier Thursday on an area between Kafra and Seddiqin. For
its part, Hezbollah stepped up its operations against Israeli positions,
carrying out three attacks with a squadron of drones. The targets included “the
new headquarters of the Western Brigade 300 south of the Yarra barracks, as well
as the places where its officers and soldiers are positioned, hitting the target
with precision,” according to a statement by the pro-Iranian group.
Additionally, Hezbollah attacked the Ramot Naftali barracks and the headquarters
of the Sahel Battalion in the Beit Hillel barracks. Earlier, alarm sirens
sounded in the vicinity of Doviv in the Upper Galilee. The Israeli army had
announced the “interception of four shells fired from Lebanon towards Ramot
Naftali in the Upper Galilee, while a fifth shell crashed in the area.”Israel
also reported the “fall of a drone near Yarra in the Western Galilee and the
interception of a drone fired from Lebanon in the Doviv region.” The Israeli
army claimed responsibility for “attacking a Hezbollah military infrastructure
in the Qana region” and intercepting “two aerial targets launched from Lebanese
territory, without causing any casualties.”The Israeli Channel 12 reported
“material damage following the fall of three shells in Ramot Naftali in the
Upper Galilee.”During the Israeli strikes, warplanes broke the sound barrier
over the regions of Jezzine, Saida, Zahrani and Marjayoun. On the other hand,
the Israeli Army radio revealed that “a total of 6,611 rockets were fired at
Israel between last February and the end of August. The lowest number recorded
during this period was in January, with 334 rockets, compared with over 1,300 in
August.” “Last August, 1,307 rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel, an
average of 40 rockets per day,” which represents the highest rate of rocket fire
since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah on October 8, 2023.
Since the beginning of the year, rocket fire statistics from Lebanon show a
marked escalation: 534 in February, 746 in March, 744 in April, 1,000 in May,
855 in June, 1,091 in July and a peak of 1,307 in August, the army radio added.
One person killed in Israeli strike on Kafra
Naharnet/September 05/2024
One person was killed Thursday and another one was wounded in an Israeli strike
on the southern town of Kafra, nearly 11 months since hostilities broke out
between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah later announced the death of one of its
fighters "on the road to Jerusalem." In the afternoon, the group said it carried
out three separate attacks with suicide drones and rockets on Israeli military
barracks in Ramot Naftali, Beit Hillel and Ya’ara. It noted that the Ya'ara
attack was in response to the Kafra strike. An Israeli drone also raided on
Thursday morning the southern border town of Aita al-Shaab, after warplanes
struck overnight the outskirts of Yater, Shihine, al-Jebbayn, al-Salhani, Zawtar,
Ramia and Alman in south Lebanon. A woman was killed Wednesday and five other
people including a child were wounded in airstrikes on Qabrikha and Houla. In
response to the strike on Qabrikha and other southern villages, Hezbollah
launched Katyusha rocket salvos on Neot Mordechai, attacking the northern
Israeli settlement for the first time since October 8. Hezbollah has exchanged
near daily cross-border fire with Israeli forces since Palestinian militants
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, triggering war in the Gaza Strip.
Hajjar Denies Ghada Aoun’s Inappropriate Request in
Salameh’s Case
This Is Beirut/September 05/2024
Ghada Aoun, the Attorney General of the Mount Lebanon Court of Appeal, attempted
to reclaim the financial cases she had been removed from after her dismissal by
Judge Jamal Hajjar, the Acting Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation.
However, her efforts were destined to fail. Information obtained by Houna
Loubnan indicates that the acting public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation,
Jamal Hajjar, denied a request she had sent him to “instruct agents from the
Criminal Investigation Department to bring the former governor of the Central
Bank, Riad Salameh, to her office so that she can interview him as part of her
investigation into three files pending with her.”Hajjar also refused to allow
Salameh to be questioned in the place where he is currently being held.
According to judicial sources, Hajjar’s response is a direct result of his
decision, made some months ago, to end Aoun’s responsibilities in the bank cases
because of her capricious actions, which run counter to fundamental justice
standards. Judge Hajjar placed Salameh in detention, on Monday, as part of the
inquiry into the Optimum Invest affair. On Tuesday, the Financial Public
Prosecutor’s Office initiated proceedings against the former Central Bank
Governor and handed the case over to the first acting investigating judge in
Beirut, Bilal Halawi.
Investigative Judge begins review of case against former
BDL governor Riad Salameh
LBCI/September 05/2024
The acting First Investigative Judge in Beirut, Bilal Halawi, has officially
received the case file of former Banque du Liban (BDL) Governor Riad Salameh on
Thursday and has begun reviewing it. A hearing session for Salameh is expected
to be scheduled for next week.
This development follows the indictment of Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim, who
charged Salameh with crimes including embezzlement, theft of public funds,
forgery, and illicit enrichment.
Helena Iskandar sues ex-central bank governor Riad Salameh
amid financial probe: LBCI sources
LBCI/September 05/2024
Judge Helena Iskandar filed a lawsuit against former central bank governor Riad
Salameh, according to LBCI sources. The lawsuit also targets others who may be
implicated in the ongoing investigation, in line with a claim filed by the
Financial Public Prosecution.
Israeli airstrike on Kafra leaves one dead, another injured
LBCI/September 05/2024
An Israeli airstrike on Kafra, south Lebanon, on Thursday morning killed one
person and injured another, according to a statement from the Public Health
Emergency Operations Center.
Ex-FPM MPs meet al-Rahi, discuss ways to 'save the country'
Naharnet/September 05/2024
Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab and MPs Ibrahim Kanaan, Alain Aoun and Simon Abi
Ramia met Thursday in Diman with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi. Bou Saab
and Aoun have been recently expelled from the Free Patriotic Movement while Abi
Ramia and Kanaan have resigned from it. A rift with FPM chief Jebran Bassil was
the main reason behind the departures, with the MPs accusing Bassil of
monopolizing decisions and the FPM accusing them of violating the Movement’s
charter and policies.”“We came to take the patriarch’s blessings to know how we
can save the country,” Kanaan said from Diman.” “Loyalty is for the cause and
we’re still in our position and have not changed,” Kanaan added. Aoun for his
part told MTV that “those who lack loyalty and have betrayed the cause are the
ones hurling insults at us.” “I call on them to pray and meditate because our
work is patriotic,” Aoun added. Speaking after the meeting, Kanaan said that
“the first required breakthrough is a presidential breakthrough, via a national
alliance that we are seeking to create, in order to rescue Lebanon from the
state of chaos and current collapse and rebuild the governing institutions.”“Our
objective is to create a domestic, Christian and national dynamism that would
create a breakthrough in the stalemate and we are extending our hands to
everyone,” the MP added.
Report: US, KSA, France may convince LF to accept Berri's
initiative
Naharnet/September 05/2024
A U.S.-Saudi-French endeavor might focus in the coming period on convincing
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to agree to Speaker Nabih Berri’s
presidential initiative, which would secure “a significant parliamentary
majority enjoying full respect for the National Pact,” sources said. “Should a
parliamentary majority be secured for the electoral session, especially a
Christian one, the chances of Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh will
decline in favor of a consensual president enjoying strong Christian support
that would allow him to manage the coming phase without problems,” the sources
told al-Liwaa newspaper in remarks published Thursday. “Franjieh might remain a
presidential candidate and would enjoy the support of some parliamentary blocs,
but inter-Christian consensus might affect his wining chances in the presence of
the votes of the LF, the Free Patriotic Movement and other blocs that are
rejecting his nomination,” the sources added.
General Aoun Meets his Italian Counterpart
This Is Beirut/September 05/2024
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chief of Staff of the Italian Armed Forces, was
welcomed by his Lebanese counterpart, General Joseph Aoun, in his Yarzeh office,
on Thursday. The discussions centered on how to develop bilateral relations
between the two armies, as well as the broader situation in Lebanon,
particularly in southern Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah have been fighting
for almost ten months. It is worth noting that the two generals had previously
met last April 20, in Paris at the invitation of the French Chief of Staff, Army
General Thierry Burkhard, who had invited them specifically as part of efforts
to calm the situation in South Lebanon.
Correspondent Banks: Transfers Safe Despite Potential Grey
Listing
Maurice Matta/This Is Beirut/September 05/2024
Wassim Mansouri, Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL), is
meeting in London with officials from correspondent banks that interact with
Lebanese banks. The goal is to address potential impacts of any negative
decisions taken by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) ahead of its crucial
meeting to assess countries’ compliance with anti-money laundering and
counter-terrorism financing standards.
Lebanon is closely watching the FATF meeting set for October 24 in Paris. The
decision on whether Lebanon will be placed on the grey list for insufficient
compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures
remains uncertain, depending on developments and last-minute efforts in the
coming days. Wassim Mansouri, Acting Governor of BDL, met with major
correspondent banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Bank of New York and
Morgan Stanley.
These banks have increased in number in the past few months and resumed their
transactions with Lebanon. Mansouri received assurances that the relationship
between these banks and the Lebanese banking sector, including BDL, will remain
stable even if Lebanon is placed on the FATF grey list. This stability is
crucial for maintaining international banking transfers between Lebanon and
other countries. Nevertheless, avoiding inclusion on the grey list is
increasingly difficult, as the FATF views Lebanon’s judicial efforts as
inadequate in addressing critical threats and risks, particularly customs
enforcement, anti-smuggling, tax evasion and trafficking in drugs and humans.
Additionally, the FATF is concerned about Lebanon’s lack of a clear mechanism
for identifying, freezing and seizing the proceeds of financial crimes according
to its standards.
Moreover, and despite ongoing efforts, Lebanese judicial authorities have yet to
implement effective mechanisms for seizing the proceeds of such financial crimes
or establish clear procedures for recovering assets that have been confiscated
or moved to other jurisdictions. Meanwhile, the potential threats posed by major
local militant groups remain unresolved and poorly addressed.
It is important to note that Lebanon has overcome significant challenges,
including its 2000 designation by the FATF as a non-cooperative country in
combating money laundering. This was due to banking secrecy laws that hindered
international investigations and the lack of a dedicated anti-money laundering
law at that time.
Subsequently, Lebanon took crucial steps, including enacting an anti-money
laundering law in accordance with FATF recommendations, establishing a
comprehensive regulatory framework, creating a specialized authority for money
laundering investigations and enhancing coordination among security and judicial
agencies to define responsibilities and allocate roles effectively. In 2002,
Lebanon was removed from the list of non-cooperative countries, marking the
beginning of its improved standing in the international arena. In 2015, the
Lebanese Parliament enacted several key laws, including accession to the United
Nations International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of
Terrorism, amendments to the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism
financing laws, the law on cross-border cash declarations and the law on tax
information exchange. In 2020, Lebanon introduced the Anti-Corruption in the
Public Sector Law, establishing the National Anti-Corruption Commission. In
2021, Parliament passed legislation for the recovery of assets obtained from
corruption-related crimes. The Central Bank of Lebanon has also issued necessary
circulars to align with these laws and strengthen the resilience of Lebanese
banks and financial institutions.
The crisis in Lebanon has driven economic activity outside the formal banking
sector, resulting in a shift to a cash-based economy and an increase in informal
economic activity. Such a cash-based economy poses challenges for the global
financial system and is subject to scrutiny from international financial
institutions and correspondent banks, notably highlighted by the FATF in its
anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing evaluation report. To
address these issues, the Central Bank of Lebanon issued Circular 165, which
allows the opening of new accounts for cash deposits in both US dollars and
Lebanese pounds. These accounts are designed to facilitate the electronic
settlement of cash transfers and the clearing of checks exchanged in cash. This
measure aims to mitigate money laundering and terrorism financing, reduce
reliance on cash and encourage the adoption of electronic payment methods.
Sources close to Mansouri confirm his strong emphasis during meetings with
correspondent banks on revisiting the recent Middle East and North Africa
Financial Action Task Force (MENAFAT) report. Issued in recent months, the
report highlights the critical importance of the measures implemented by BDL and
Lebanese banks to strengthen controls against suspicious activities including
money laundering, terrorism financing and corruption-related financial crimes.
The regional group’s evaluation report also emphasizes the necessity for local
authorities to make significant improvements based on several key
recommendations. This includes amending existing laws to align more closely with
international standards for combating money laundering and terrorism financing.
The report particularly stresses the need for stronger measures to pursue and
seize criminal proceeds and related assets, as well as for more consistent and
effective legal actions against money laundering crimes. It highlights the
importance of implementing proportional and deterrent penalties to address these
risks adequately. Sources close to Mansouri emphasize the need for the Lebanese
government to develop a collaborative action plan with all relevant local
stakeholders, supported by the legislative authority and policymakers. This plan
should address existing gaps and enhance the effectiveness of Lebanon’s
anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework.
Teachers’ Compensation Fund: The Issue Is Back on the Table
This Is Beirut/September 05/2024
On the eve of the new school year, the issue of the compensation fund for
teachers in private schools has resurfaced. The issue at stake remains the
devaluation of the indemnities and retirement pensions paid to teachers. In this
context, the Secretary-General of Catholic Schools, Father Youssef Nasr, called
for a meeting between the school administrations and the fund’s administrative
board. During a televised intervention on Thursday on LBCI, Nasr proposed
forming an audit council to monitor the compensation fund and the arbitration
councils and to support schools located in the border regions of South Lebanon.
He also insisted on establishing a monthly account statement to control the
payments that should be made by schools to the fund. Stressing the importance of
developing a set of new decrees, he called upon the state and the Ministry of
Education to act in this regard. He also called on Parliament to develop new
laws, given that “the current laws are outdated and no longer adapted to the
exceptional circumstances” the country is going through. Head of the Private
School Teachers Union Nehmeh Mahfoud announced that the general assemblies will
meet on Friday, September 20, to vote on authorizing the union to act in defense
of teachers’ rights for respectable indemnities and retirement pensions. Mahfoud
blamed the government for not issuing a decree to appoint a new board of
directors for the compensation fund. According to him, this step is necessary to
“develop a financial rescue plan.”At the end of a meeting of the union’s
executive council, Mahfoud expressed regret that the protocol established
between private educational institutions and the teachers’ union, under the
patronage of the Ministry of Education, has not been renewed. This protocol was
concluded on January 16, 2024, setting an increase in the contribution paid by
schools to the compensation fund to improve teachers’ indemnities and retirement
pensions.
Lebanese Justice Ministry Accuses Former C.bank Chief
Salameh of Financial Crimes
Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
Lebanon's justice ministry formally accused former central bank governor Riad
Salameh on Thursday of financial crimes, the state news agency reported. Salameh,
73, was arrested on Tuesday over alleged financial crimes including illicit
enrichment through public funds. According to Reuters, he has long denied all
accusations of wrongdoing. He will remain in detention at least until a hearing
is scheduled, probably next week, two judicial sources told Reuters on
Wednesday.
US and Israeli Officials Discuss Tensions at the Israel-Lebanon Border
Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Israeli Minister of
Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer held a virtual meeting Wednesday to discuss the
ongoing tensions at the Israel-Lebanon border, according to a US official
familiar with the matter.
The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly, said that senior White
House national security officials Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein also took part
in the discussions about concerns that the tensions with the Lebanese militant
group Hezbollah could cause the war in Gaza to spread into a regional conflict.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said White House officials
on Wednesday continued conversations with Israeli officials in hopes of sealing
a cease-fire deal. US officials also spoke with Egyptian and Qatari officials,
who have served as intermediaries for Hamas. But Kirby declined to confirm that
Sullivan and other senior White House officials spoke with Dermer on Wednesday.
Hezbollah Keeps Threat to North Alive in Latest Rocket
Barrage Against Israel
FDD/September 05/2024
Latest Developments
The Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah on September 4 launched its
heaviest barrage of rockets against Israel in the past 10 days. Hezbollah fired
more than 65 rockets at targets in northern Israel, sparking fires and causing
severe damage to at least one home, but no injuries were reported. According to
the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), “some rockets were also intercepted and others
hit open areas. Hezbollah takes responsibility for the barrage, claiming to have
targeted Israeli military positions,” The Times of Israel reported. The
Jerusalem Post, meanwhile, observed that “compared to the average of less than
20 rocket sirens per day over the last week, the Lebanese terror group …
re-upped its threat level against Israel.” Several of the rockets impacted the
northern city of Kiryat Shmona. Eliezer Peretz, whose home in the city sustained
a direct hit, said that the latest onslaught reminded him of his childhood when
his parents’ house had been struck by a rocket fired from Lebanon. “I grew up in
this reality,” Peretz told The Times of Israel. Peretz and his family are among
the tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated from their homes in the north in the
wake of Hezbollah’s decision to support Hamas following the October 7
atrocities. More than 8,000 rockets have been fired from Lebanon at Israel
during the last 11 months.
Expert Analysis
“Hezbollah has often escalated its attacks in order to support Hamas in Gaza as
well as terrorist groups in the West Bank. This is a crucial element of the
larger Iranian strategy to try to ring Israel with threats as Israel battles on
multiple fronts.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow
“Jerusalem’s superior intelligence and weapons capabilities have allowed Israel
to dominate Hezbollah in this low-simmering war. But the Iranian proxy has shut
down Israel’s north, effectively shifting the Jewish state’s border southward.
Israel cannot tolerate another academic year with students from the north
dislocated from their homes, schools, and friends.” — David May, FDD Research
Manager and Senior Research Analyst
Iran Proxy in Iraq Claims Attempted Drone Strike
Hezbollah’s latest escalation — notably less intense compared to the almost
1,000 rockets fired at Israel on August 25 — coincided with claims from other
Iranian proxies to have launched attacks against Israel. According to the
state-run Iranian news agency IRNA, the Tehran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq
launched a drone that the IDF said it had downed. According to IRNA, the
“Islamic resistance in Iraq has stressed that it continues to target the enemy
as the resistance groups have already warned the occupying regime that they will
heighten anti-Israel operations if the regime does not halt aggression.” The IDF
also responded on September 4, striking rocket launchers in Kounine and Qabrikha
in southern Lebanon that had been used for previous attacks on Israel.
Lebanese must pursue real change no matter the obstacles
Khaled Abou Zahr/Arab News/September 05, 2024
The debates on Lebanon’s neutrality and on federalism have been reignited
following Hezbollah’s unilateral decision to join Hamas — albeit modestly — in
the current war with Israel. The demand for neutrality has reemerged on Lebanese
social media. Many rightly claim Lebanon has suffered enough from war and
economic decay and that it needs to insulate itself from all sides of the
conflict. This is also a debate about the identity or identities of the country.
And, as it is built today on sectarianism, it is important to note that a
majority of Christians are favorable to neutrality, while a vast majority of
Shiites oppose it and a soft majority of Sunnis and Druze are against it too.
It was in this context that the former leader of the Progressive Socialist
Party, Walid Jumblatt, rejected the idea of Lebanon adopting neutrality. He
argued that neutrality is impossible for Lebanon due to its ongoing state of
hostility with Israel, which has persisted since the 1949 truce. He also noted
that neutrality would require international consensus, similar to Switzerland’s
experience in 1815, but emphasized that Lebanon, as an Arab country and a member
of the Arab League, cannot discuss neutrality while it remains in conflict with
Israel. Some analysts attributed this stance to the July rocket attack on Majdal
Shams, which killed 12 children from the Druze community and for which Jumblatt
rejected the Israeli statements. However, the Druze leader asserted that his
position on this matter has been consistent and unchanged since the beginning of
his political career. Jumblatt reads geopolitical shifts extremely well. After
all, he famously foresaw the degradation of the anti-Syrian and anti-Hezbollah
movements coming with the loss of Western support. He was not wrong.
Many rightly claim Lebanon has suffered enough from war and economic decay and
that it needs to insulate itself
The timing of his declaration came with a tentative aim to ease tensions
internally, but I am convinced that he sees that the current US administration
and a potential Harris presidency would be tougher on Israel. Despite a few
contradictions, most US declarations and actions reveal this shift. The decision
by the UK to stop allowing the export of key military components to Israel is a
clear signal. Yet, the reality is that this will never benefit Lebanon, only
Hezbollah. Moreover, Lebanon has gained nothing but destruction from this
engagement. Jumblatt, in that scenario, seeks survival in case of this
turnaround. But the Druze and Lebanese deserve more than to just get by and
survive simply because the struggle is from within. Can neutrality bring
stability and is it possible to achieve? If we were to consider Lebanon’s
status, we realize that Israel withdrew unilaterally from South Lebanon. And,
when it comes to the Shebaa Farms, the Syrian regime has kept it in limbo,
refusing to acknowledge whether it is Syrian or Lebanese. And so, there is in
theory no reason for Lebanon to continue its resistance. But the Syrian hook
reveals how external geopolitical struggles translate into battles from within.
It is also evident that neutrality alone is not a solution. There needs to be a
new political system that dissipates the risk of implosions or that pushes the
country to follow any new confrontational political ideology. Lebanon can and
should become immune to this historical cycle, which has kept destroying the
country, but only if change comes from within. And this in no way extracts it
from the region, but rather soothes all sides.
Everyone agrees on the need for change. Those hoping for it to come through
foreign interference and the application of UN Security Council Resolution 1701
live in a delusional world — especially on the article aimed at ending the
presence of all armed militias. No one is coming to save Lebanon. Not a single
soldier will come to force the application of any UN resolution. Hence, as long
as Hezbollah carries weapons and is legitimized by the international community,
there is little hope of change unless the Lebanese take the matter into their
own hands. No one is coming to save Lebanon. Not a single soldier will come to
force the application of any UN resolution.
Waiting for regional powers to grant Lebanon neutrality or even federalism is a
useless exercise. It is the presence of a strong movement on the ground that
will make it a reality. And this movement needs to bond across each religious
community in Lebanon. It is high time to reestablish sovereignty in Lebanon and
unite for its flag. It is interesting to notice that, while Jumblatt mentions
Switzerland as a difficult example to follow, that country is now dipping its
toes outside of neutrality. A Swiss security commission last week recommended
revising Switzerland’s traditional military neutrality to allow for closer
defense cooperation with NATO and the EU. The report, prompted by heightened
security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, suggests a more
flexible application of neutrality, aligning it with the UN Charter and
emphasizing the distinction between aggressor and victim.
The commission urged deeper cooperation with NATO and the EU to enhance defense
capabilities, increase the defense budget and strengthen the arms industry to
address emerging threats, such as hybrid warfare. This report sent shock waves
through the population, especially as the Swiss parliament voted against closer
ties with NATO only in June. It is indeed a difficult geopolitical and military
environment that once again puts Lebanon on a dangerous path. Just as
Switzerland is analyzing a historical change, there is a global sentiment of an
impending clash that will shake the current world order. This increases the
urgency for Lebanon to transform, starting from its political system and its
approach to foreign policy. Unfortunately, the Lebanese cannot even start a
debate because they state that Hezbollah controls everything and abiding by its
rule is an even worse solution. I urge them to debate and mobilize regardless of
this status and discuss the possibilities of neutrality and federalism across
religious groups. The past and present are so bleak that there is nothing wrong
with trying to aim for a better future through real change.
*Khaled Abou Zahr is the founder of SpaceQuest Ventures, CEO of EurabiaMedia,
and editor of Al-Watan Al-Arabi.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on September 05-06/2024
Police Shoot Suspicious Person near a Museum and Israeli Consulate in
Munich
Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
Police in Munich said officers fired shots at a suspicious person on Thursday in
an area near the Israeli Consulate and a museum on the city's Nazi-era history.
Police said on the social network X that the person was hit in the shooting, but
didn't give further details. They said there was no evidence of any more
suspects connected to the incident, The Associated Press said. There was no
immediate information on why the person was considered suspicious. The incident
took place in the Karolinenplatz area, near downtown Munich. Police said they
had increased their presence in the city, Germany's third-biggest, but they had
no indication of incidents at any other locations or of any other suspects.
Justice Department Unseals Terrorism Charges Against Hamas
Leaders
FDD/September 05/2024
Latest Developments
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed terrorism, murder conspiracy, and
sanctions evasion charges against six Hamas leaders on September 3 in connection
with the Iran-backed terror group’s October 7 atrocities. The defendants are
Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, Marwan Issa, Khaled Meshal, and Ali
Baraka. Issa died in a targeted Israeli strike in Gaza in March, followed by
Deif in July. Haniyeh was eliminated on July 31 while on a visit to Tehran, in
an attack widely presumed to have been carried out by Israel. However, Sinwar,
Meshal, and Baraka remain at large. Baraka is based in Lebanon, while Meshal
resides in Qatar, frequently traveling to Turkey to liaise with Turkish
officials. Qatar and Turkey are both American allies, and Turkey is also a
member of NATO, raising questions as to whether Washington will exert due
pressure on Doha and Ankara.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated on September 3 that the “Justice
Department has charged Yahya Sinwar and other senior leaders of Hamas for
financing, directing, and overseeing a decades-long campaign to murder American
citizens and endanger the national security of the United States.” Referencing
the murder of 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin in Hamas
captivity, Garland said that the United States is “investigating Hersh’s murder,
and each and every one of Hamas’ brutal murders of Americans, as an act of
terrorism.”
Expert Analysis
“These indictments should have been made public more than 10 months ago. The
question now is what comes next. Will there be a massive reward issued for
Sinwar? Will Qatar, Turkey, and Lebanon be pressured to turn over Mashal and
Baraka? Will there be more indictments, including a crackdown on the Hamas
networks inside the United States?” — Richard Goldberg, FDD Senior Advisor
“Under normal circumstances, an allied NATO country like Turkey would not
provide a safe haven and material support to an entity like Hamas and its
leadership. Instead, it would work with the United States to ensure that the
extremist organization has no place on Turkish soil and in the region. However,
Turkey has opted to espouse Hamas’s murderous values, which Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan frequently professes. Turkey will not work to apprehend
Mashal or any other Hamas operative that resides in or transits through the
country. On its airwaves recently, Turkey’s TRT public broadcaster augmented
Mashal’s call for more suicide bombers to strike Israel. The Turkish government
sides 100 percent with team Hamas.” — Sinan Ciddi, FDD Non-Resident Senior
Fellow
Qatar and Turkey Sponsor Hamas
Qatar sided with Hamas and endorsed its takeover of Gaza in 2007. Since then,
Doha has provided political and financial assistance to the Islamist group,
pumping at least $1.8 billion into Gaza’s Hamas-run government. Hamas also
maintains a political office in Doha, where several of the group’s senior
leaders live in luxury. Doha held “Israel alone responsible” for Hamas’s October
7 terrorist atrocities and hosted Haniyeh’s funeral in early August.
Hamas established a presence in Turkey in 2011 with the permission of the
Turkish government. Since then, Ankara has provided Hamas with significant
funding, materiel, and political support. Erdogan considers Hamas terrorists
“freedom fighters” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “butcher” and
“war criminal.” In a display of solidarity, Turkish embassies in Israel and the
United States lowered their flags to half-mast last month to mourn Haniyeh’s
death.
Yahya Sinwar, Khaled Meshal, and Ali Baraka
Yahya Sinwar has served as Hamas’s leader in Gaza since 2017. Israel considers
him to be the main mastermind of Hamas’s October 7 assault. Sinwar was serving
multiple life terms for the killing of two Israeli soldiers when Israel released
him in 2011 as part of a deal to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, whom Hamas
had held captive for five years. Last month, Sinwar replaced Haniyeh as Hamas’s
political chief, consolidating his control of the terrorist group.
Khaled Meshal is a founding member of Hamas. He became the group’s external
political chief in 2004 and was appointed in 2021 to fill a new role within
Hamas, effectively its foreign minister. Israel attempted to assassinate Meshal
in Jordan in 1997.
Ali Baraka is the head of Hamas’s National Relations Abroad and previously
served as Hamas’s representative in Lebanon. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Baraka
in December 2023 in coordination with the United Kingdom.
US: Gaza deal 90% done, hostages-prisoners swap a sticking
point
Jerusalem Post/September 05/2024
Of the deal's 18 total paragraphs, 14 have been completed, with three alone
dealing with the hostage-prisoner swap, the official said.
Ninety percent of the Gaza deal is done, with the sticking points being the
hostage-prisoner swap and the Philadelphi Corridor, a senior Biden
administration official told reporters on Wednesday. “Basically, 90% of this
deal has been agreed on,” the official said, as he drew a picture of talks that
were nearing completion - but still had significant challenges - as to ones that
were stalled or falling apart. In Israel, the debate on the hostage deal has
focused on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence that Israel would not
agree to Hamas’s demand that the IDF withdraw its forces from the critical
buffer zone known as the Philadelphi Corridor. Netanyahu himself has given two
press conferences on consecutive nights in Hebrew and English to underscore the
importance of this buffer zone between Egypt and Gaza. Proponents of the deal
have accused Netanyahu of thwarting it, arguing that a deal could have been
reached if only he would agree to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor. The US
official, however, drew an opposite picture that focused on problems over the
hostage-prisoner swap, while accusing Hamas of harming the chances of a deal. At
issue in particular, the official explained, was Hamas’s execution of six of the
hostages while it was engaged in talks about releasing such captives. “Before
the events of this weekend, we had been working together with Egypt and Qatar,
particularly on the arrangements of the prisoner exchange and putting together a
package by which you would basically have everything worked out,” the official
said. Then there were the executions over the weekend, "which has kind of
changed the character of some of that discussion,” the official explained. “It
has brought a sense of urgency to the process, but it's also called into
question Hamas's readiness to do a deal of any kind,” the official explained.
“There's a list of hostages, and we all have it, and Hamas has had it, and all
the parties have had it, and there are now fewer names on the list,” the
official said. “It’s horrific” particularly with Hamas “threatening to execute
more hostages," the official explained.
Such actors were a reminder that “we're dealing with a terrorist group,” the
official stated.
Nature of a prisoner exhchange
He placed the number of Palestinian security prisoners and terrorists who would
be freed in exchange for hostages at 800, including those serving life sentences
for killing civilians. It’s been expected that some 18-32 hostages would be
freed in the first phase of the three-phase deal. The official said that most of
the talk in Doha earlier this week was on the issue of the hostage prisoner
exchange. The deal has 18 total paragraphs, of which 14 have been completed,
with three of those paragraphs dealing with the hostage-prisoner swap, the
official said. The deal can not move forward until this issue of hostage and
prisoner exchange has been worked out, he explained.
Issues around Philadelpi
The official also spoke about the Philadelphi Corridor explaining that an
agreement can not be reached until the issue of hostage and prisoner exchange
has been worked out. Nothing in the original May 31 agreement mentions the
Philadelphi corridor. The deal stipulated that the IDF withdraw from all densely
populated areas. “And a dispute emerged,” the official said, over “whether the
Philadelphi corridor, which is effectively a road on the border of Gaza and
Egypt, is a densely populated area."“Israelis over the course of the last couple
weeks, produced a proposal by which they would significantly reduce their
presence on the corridor,” the official said, describing it as a “fairly
significant reduction,” he said. The US official stressed that there were
options to secure the border that did not involve an IDF presence along the
Philadelphi. “We are going to make sure and certain that Israel's security is of
the primary interest in this deal, I have seen some Israeli ministers say this
deal somehow would sacrifice Israel's security. That is just fundamentally,
totally untrue,” the official said. “If anything, I would argue that not getting
into this deal is more of a threat to Israel's long-term security than actually
concluding the deal,” the official stated. “Ultimately, the final decision maker
is Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar,” he said.
Hamas urges US pressure on Israel as Netanyahu says ‘no
deal in the making’
AFP/September 05, 2024
GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories: Hamas called on the United States Thursday
to “exert real pressure” on Israel to reach a Gaza ceasefire agreement as Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there is no deal in the making. The two sides
have traded blame over stalling talks for a ceasefire and hostage exchange as
Netanyahu faces pressure to seal a deal that would free remaining captives,
after Israeli authorities announced on Sunday the deaths of six whose bodies
were recovered from a Gaza tunnel. “If the US administration and its President
(Joe) Biden really want to reach a ceasefire and complete a prisoner exchange
deal, they must abandon their blind bias toward the Zionist occupation,” Hamas’s
Qatar-based lead negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya said, calling on the US to “exert
real pressure on Netanyahu and his government.”But Netanyahu told US talk show
Fox & Friends: “There is not a deal in the making... Unfortunately, it’s not
close but we will do everything we can to get them to the point where they do
make a deal and at the same time we prevent Iran from resupplying Gaza as this
great terror enclave.”Netanyahu insists that Israel must retain control over the
Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border to prevent weapons smuggling to
Hamas, whose October 7 attack on Israel started the war. Hamas is demanding
complete Israeli withdrawal from the area and on Thursday said Netanyahu’s
position “aims to thwart reaching an agreement.”
The Palestinian militant group says a new deal is unnecessary because they
agreed months ago to a truce outlined by Biden. “We do not need new proposals,”
Hamas said in a statement. “We warn against falling into the trap of
Netanyahu... who uses negotiations to prolong the aggression against our
people,” the group said. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby
nonetheless said that Washington believes a ceasefire deal is 90 percent agreed.
But he added that “nothing is negotiated until everything is negotiated, and the
things that are still in play right now are very, very detailed... issues, and
that’s when things get difficult.”At Israeli protests in several cities this
week, Netanyahu’s critics have blamed him for hostages’ deaths, saying he has
refused to make necessary concessions for striking a ceasefire deal. “We’ll do
everything so that all hostages will be with us. And if the leaders don’t want
to sign a deal, we’ll make them,” said Gil Dickmann, cousin of Carmel Gat, one
of the six hostages whose bodies were found in a Gaza tunnel last week. Dickmann
took part in an anti-government rally at Tel Aviv on Thursday evening, where
crowds of demonstrators carried symbolic coffins in a procession, an AFP
journalist reported.Key mediator Qatar has said that Israel’s approach was
“based on an attempt to falsify facts and mislead world public opinion by
repeating lies.” Such moves “will ultimately lead to the demise of peace
efforts,” Qatar’s foreign ministry warned.
The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly
civilians including some hostages killed in captivity, according to official
Israeli figures. Of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the
attack, 97 remain in Gaza including 33 the Israeli military says are dead.
Scores were released during a one-week truce in November. Israel’s retaliatory
offensive in Gaza has so far killed at least 40,878 people, according to the
health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. Most of the dead are women and
children, according to the UN rights office. Strikes continued across Gaza on
Thursday, with medics and rescuers reporting a total of 12 dead in separate
attacks in the north and south of the territory. While Israel presses its Gaza
offensive, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the military should use its “full
strength” against Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank. “These
terrorist organizations that have various names, whether in Nur Al-Shams,
Tulkarem, Faraa or Jenin, must be wiped out,” he said, referring to cities and
refugee camps where an Israeli military operation is underway.
The Israeli military said Thursday its aircraft “conducted three targeted
strikes on armed terrorists” in the Tubas area, which includes Faraa refugee
camp.
A strike on a car killed five men aged 21 to 30 and wounded two others, the
territory’s health ministry said. Eyewitnesses told AFP they saw a large number
of Israeli troops storming Faraa camp, where explosions were heard. The
Palestinian Red Crescent said the Israeli military handed over the dead body of
a 17-year-old, after medics were prevented from reaching him when he was
wounded. Israel has killed at least 36 Palestinians across the northern West
Bank since its assault there started on August 28, according to figures released
by the health ministry, including children and militants. One Israeli soldier
was killed in Jenin, where the majority of the Palestinian fatalities have been.
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has left the territory in ruins, with the
destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure blamed for the spread of
disease. The humanitarian crisis has led to Gaza’s first polio case in 25 years,
prompting a massive vaccination effort launched Sunday with localized
“humanitarian pauses” in fighting. Nearly 200,000 children in central Gaza have
received a first dose, the World Health Organization said, and a second stage
got underway Thursday in the south, before medics move north. The campaign aims
to fully vaccinate more than 640,000 children, with second doses due in about
four weeks. Louise Wateridge, spokeswoman for the UN agency for Palestinian
refugees (UNRWA), warned however that the vaccination drive in the south may not
reach all children, as some do not reside in the designated humanitarian zones
where Israel has agreed not to strike.
We’re not scrapping existing Gaza hostage deal, time of essence,’ US envoy says
Jerusalem Post/September 05/2024
“I think this plan A still has a very feasible path towards being accomplished,”
US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew stated. The United States can’t scrap the
existing Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal that has been under debate since May
31, US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew said on Thursday, as negotiations continued
without an end date in sight. “We can't begin working on a plan B because the
minute you say that there's going to be focus on a Plan B, Plan A becomes
impossible,” Lew said during a public appearance at the International Institute
for Security Studies at Tel Aviv University.
“I think this plan A still has a very feasible path towards being accomplished,”
he stated. Lew spoke toward the end of a dramatic week in Israel, which saw the
return of the bodies of six hostages Hamas had executed just days earlier. Hope
had been high for a conclusion to hostage deal talks after US officials
described a Sunday summit in Doha as end-game negotiations, but the talks
dragged on beyond that summit. Netanyahu has been accused of sabotaging those
talks with his very public insistence that Israel must retain an IDF presence in
the Philadelphi Corridor, a critical buffer zone. Security officials have warned
that his stance has delayed the talks, with some saying that a deal could be
quickly reached if Netanyahu would for the temporary evacuation of the IDF the
Philadelphi, a critical buffer zone between Egypt and Gaza. US hostage families
call on Washington. Relatives of hostages with dual Israeli-American citizenship
have called on Washington to make a separate deal with Hamas. Washington “can't
skip over this plan quite that quickly because we're devoting most of our
energy… from the President of the United States down through the entire foreign
policy team, including myself,” to finalizing this deal, he said. “So we're
treating Plan A not as something that it would be nice to have. It's something
that we have to devote our 24/7 efforts to making happen,” Lew said He dismissed
reports that talks were stalled, explaining that “progress continues to be made”
on issues of disagreement and very senior-level talks continue, he said.
“We're not prepared to take the view that plan A is not achievable,” he said.
Attempting to 'bridge gaps'
Qatar, Egypt, and the US are working with Israel to present another document to
Hamas that attempts to bridge the gaps between the two parties, he said. Both
sides, Israel and Hamas, have to be flexible here. “Very strong public comments
sometimes coexist with residual flexibility… and we're going to press on that
flexibility,” Lew explained. He recalled the agreement had three stages and the
current debate was only about about Phase One, which covers a six-week period.
“I think there's a pathway on Phase One to have an agreement if Egypt and Israel
can agree on something. Obviously, the question remains: can Hamas agree to
it?"“We’ll never find out unless we present a full plan to Hamas. And that's
what the goal of these next days and hopefully very short number of weeks is,”
Lew said. He dismissed the significance at this junction on speculation
regarding what would be involved in Phase Two of the deal because that is “going
to be beyond what the current negotiation is about.”
Starting Phase One
The conversation now is about the start of the process, which is Phase One, Lew
said, adding that the killing of the six hostages underscored how imperative it
was to move quickly. “From our vantage point, it is absolutely essential to get
into phase one. That's how you save lives,” Lew said, referring to the remaining
101 hostages in Gaza, of which 66 are esteemed to be alive. “Time is of the
essence,” he stressed, adding that, “these lives will not be there to save if we
wait too long. That should motivate everybody not to give up on Phase One.”
US hostages' families request White House to negotiate with Hamas, excluding
Israel
Jerusalem Post/September 05/2024
American families of Gaza hostages urge President Biden to consider a deal with
Hamas excluding Israel, amid stalled negotiations.
American families of hostages held in Gaza have urged US President Joe Biden to
consider a deal with Hamas that does not include Israel, NBC News reported on
Thursday morning. During a meeting on Sunday, the relatives of the remaining
American hostages called for the White House administration to look for options
concerning their loved one's return, which does not include Israel. Talks about
a possible unilateral deal show growing doubts among family members and some
officials about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreeing to a
cease-fire with Hamas for the release of hostages, NBC News noted in their
report. This is not the first time the subject of an agreement between the US
and the terrorist organization Hamas. In June, NBC reported that the Biden
administration began discussions on the matter, though the initiative did not
succeed, with key administration figures strongly opposing the idea. However, By
creating a list of five US prisoners that Hamas might want in exchange for
freeing American hostages, according to current and former administration
officials, one could argue that the Biden administration had explored a possible
unilateral deal that does not include Israel.
Israel's key role in cease-fire and hostage deal
Moreover, approximately six months ago in March, the US reached out to Hamas
through Qatari officials to discuss this option, since broader talks with Israel
had stalled. However, this effort did not lead to any results. Despite seemingly
attempting to deal with the terrorist organization and the family's call for a
unilateral deal that excludes Israel, one administration official claimed the
idea of dealing with Hamas without Israel is unrealistic as the terrorist
organization wants something the US cannot offer, NBC noted in their report.
“Hamas wants two things that only Israel can deliver: a cease-fire and nearly
1,000 Palestinian prisoners currently in Israeli jails. Every other proposal has
gone nowhere because that is what Hamas demands for the hostages,” NBC cited the
official. The Biden administration is seeking to return the four remaining
American hostages believed to be alive: Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Omer
Neutra, and Keith Seigal, as well as the bodies still held by Hamas of Itay
Chen, Gadi Haggai, and Judith Weinstein Haggai, all of which were confirmed
dead.
IDF eliminates son of Fatah leader Zakaria Zubeidi during counterterrorism
operation in West Bank
Jerusalem Post/September 05/2024
IDF operations in Tubas and Far'a resulted in the elimination of Muhammad
Zakaria Zubeidi and several other terrorists and the discovery of explosives
under roads. The IDF eliminated the terrorist Muhammad Zakaria Zubeidi during
overnight counterterrorism operations in the Tubas and Far’a region, the IDF
reported on Thursday. IDF forces, with Israel Prison Service forces and under
the direction of the Israel Security Authority, targeted an armed tell that
operated in the area, the IDF reported. The IDF reported that several terrorists
linked to past attacks against Israel were also eliminated, without specifying
how many. However, according to multiple Palestinian reports, including the
Palestinian Red Crescent, five terrorists were eliminated In a counterterrorism
operation in Far'a, IDF aircraft struck terrorists who were attacking security
forces with explosives and gunfire. During the operation, Israeli Prison Service
forces also eliminated a terrorist carrying an explosive device. Additionally,
the IDF discovered and neutralized explosive devices planted under roads, which
were intended to harm the Israeli forces. Among the terrorists eliminated was
Muhammad Zakaria Zubeidi, both the IDF and Arab media confirmed. Zubeidi was a
key Fatah terrorist from the Jenin area and took part in terrorist activity
against IDF soldiers across the West Bank. Additionally, he is the son of
Zakaria Zubeidi, a prominent Fatah leader. In the past, Zakaria Zubeidi planned
and carried out attacks, including suicide bombings, operated a Palestinian
terror cell in the Jenin area, and maintained close ties with Hezbollah members
as well as radical left-wing activist Tali Fahima, who became known for her
involvement with extremist groups and her outspoken criticism of Israeli
government policies. Fahima has also been linked with various anti-Israel
activities and has faced legal issues related to her activism.
Who was Zakaria Zubeidi
Zakaria Zubeidi was born in 1976 in Jenin to a family of nine. His father died
of cancer shortly after his birth. From a young age, Zakaria Zubeidi was
involved in conflicts with the Israeli military, including being shot by
soldiers after throwing stones at civilian vehicles, which he claimed caused him
a lasting limp. At 14, he was imprisoned for six months and later sentenced to
four and a half years for throwing a Molotov cocktail. While serving his first
sentence, he was recruited by Fatah. After his release, he joined the
Palestinian police, worked as a builder in Tel Aviv, and drove a truck in Jenin.
Following the death of his mother by IDF gunfire and his brother's death during
Operation Defensive Shield, he turned to terrorism, joining Fatah's terrorist
groups and fighting against the Israeli army during the operation. Eventually,
he decided to join the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the special arm of the Palestinian
terror organization. Since joining, Zakaria Zubeidi has been responsible for a
series of terrorist attacks, including many in the Samaria region such as
shooting at Israeli vehicles, and eventually a suicide bombing at a Likud branch
in Beit Shean, where six people were killed.
Second Stage of Gaza Polio Campaign Begins While War Goes on in Other Areas
Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
Crowds of Palestinians gathered at medical centers in the south of the embattled
Gaza Strip on Thursday to have their children vaccinated against polio, the
start of the second stage of a campaign that has so far seen 187,000 youngsters
inoculated. The UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA said the campaign,
facilitated by Hamas and Israel agreeing on limited pauses in their fighting,
was so far successful but complex, reported Reuters. But the war continued
elsewhere in the enclave, with Gaza health authorities reporting several people
killed in Israeli airstrikes, including a hit on a hospital in central Gaza. And
despite the success of the polio campaign, diplomatic efforts to secure a
permanent ceasefire in the war, the release of hostages held in Gaza, and the
return of Palestinians jailed by Israel have faltered. On Thursday, vaccinations
began in Rafah and Khan Younis in the south of Gaza, both areas that have been
battered by the war and have hosted tens of thousands of people who have fled
other parts. "The #polio vaccination campaign has moved to #Gaza southern areas
today. @UNRWA teams are in Khan Younis this morning, working with partners to
provide the vaccine to children," UNRWA said in a statement. "At this critical
time, area pauses must be respected to protect families and humanitarian
workers," it said. Most of the activity will be conducted in Khan Younis and
will include residents who had been forced by the Israeli military to leave
Rafah, near the border with Egypt, where Israeli forces have been operating
since May. The Israeli military said it has killed hundreds of Palestinian
gunmen in Rafah and located dozens of tunnels and military infrastructure in
that time. Health officials aim to reach 640,000 Gaza children for vaccinations
against polio in a campaign launched after the discovery of a case in which a
one-year-old baby was partially paralyzed. This was the first known case of the
disease in Gaza - one of the world's most densely populated places - in 25
years. It re-emerged as Gaza's health system has virtually collapsed and many
hospitals have been knocked out of action due to the war. Footage circulated by
the Gaza Health Ministry showed large crowds of Palestinians arriving at medical
facilities in Khan Younis to get their children vaccinated. UNRWA said on
Wednesday good progress was being made in rolling out the vaccine to children in
Gaza but a permanent ceasefire in the 11-month-old war is needed to ease
humanitarian suffering.
DEADLOCK AND FIGHTING
Meanwhile, Israeli forces pressed on with operations in several areas across the
Palestinian enclave, battling fighters from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant
group. Gaza health officials said an Israeli airstrike killed five Palestinians
at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday.
The victims were in a tent encampment inside the hospital compound where
displaced people had sought shelter, they said. The Israeli military said the
airstrike hit a command center there used by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad to plan
and direct attacks against Israeli forces. On the diplomatic front, the United
States was trying to put forward a new proposal for a ceasefire and the release
of hostages held by Hamas in the coming days, two US officials, two Egyptian
security sources, and an official with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The
proposal aims to work out the major sticking points behind a months-long impasse
in talks mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, the US officials said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war can only end when Hamas
is eradicated. Hamas wants any agreement ending the war to include a withdrawal
of all Israeli forces from Gaza. The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7
attack on southern Israel, when its fighters killed 1,200 people and captured
more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, more than
40,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the enclave's health
ministry.
Hamas Says Netanyahu Trying to 'Thwart' Gaza Truce
Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
Hamas on Thursday accused Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to "thwart" a Gaza truce
deal, after the Israeli premier said the Palestinian group has "rejected
everything" in negotiations. The blame trading comes as Netanyahu faces pressure
to seal a deal that would free remaining hostages, after Israeli authorities
announced on Sunday the deaths of six whose bodies were recovered from a Gaza
tunnel, said AFP. "We're trying to find some area to begin the negotiations,"
Netanyahu said Wednesday. "They (Hamas) refuse to do that... (They said) there's
nothing to talk about." Netanyahu maintains that Israel must retain control over
the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border to prevent weapons
smuggling to Hamas, whose October 7 attack on Israel started the war. Hamas is
demanding complete Israeli withdrawal from the area and on Thursday said
Netanyahu's insistence on the border zone "aims to thwart reaching an
agreement."The Palestinian group says a new deal is unnecessary because they
agreed months ago to a truce outlined by US President Joe Biden. "We do not need
new proposals," the group said on Telegram. "We warn against falling into the
trap of Netanyahu and his tricks, who uses negotiations to prolong the
aggression against our people," the Hamas statement added. US State Department
spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that Washington thinks "there are ways
to address" the impasse.
'Not in coffins'
At Israeli protests in several cities this week, Netanyahu's critics have blamed
him for hostages' deaths, saying he has refused to make necessary concessions
for striking a ceasefire deal. "We are just waiting for them to come back to us,
to come back alive and not in coffins," said Anet Kidron, whose community of
Kibbutz Beeri was attacked on October 7. Key mediator Qatar said on Tuesday that
Israel's approach was "based on an attempt to falsify facts and mislead world
public opinion by repeating lies". Such moves "will ultimately lead to the
demise of peace efforts," Qatar's foreign ministry said.
The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly
civilians including some hostages killed in captivity, according to official
Israeli figures. Of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the
attack, 97 remain in Gaza including 33 the Israeli military says are dead.
Scores were released during a one-week truce in November. Israel's retaliatory
offensive in Gaza has so far killed at least 40,861 people, according to the
health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. Most of the dead are women and
children, according to the UN rights office. Widespread Israeli bombardment
overnight into Thursday included a strike which killed four people sheltering in
tents near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, a medical source told AFP.
The military said it hit a "command and control center" used by Hamas and
Islamic Jihad militants in Deir al-Balah. In a separate strike in the southern
Al-Mawasi area, a missile killed one and wounded several others, Palestinian Red
Crescent Society medics said.
'Blowing everything up'
While Israel presses its Gaza offensive, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the
military should use its "full strength" against Palestinian militants in the
occupied West Bank. "These terrorist organizations that have various names,
whether in Nur al-Shams, Tulkarem, Faraa or Jenin, must be wiped out," he said,
referring to cities and refugee camps where an Israeli military operation is
currently underway. The Israeli military said Thursday its aircraft "conducted
three targeted strikes on armed terrorists" in the Tubas area, which includes
Faraa refugee camp. A strike on a car killed five men aged 21 to 30 and wounded
two others, the territory's health ministry said. Eyewitnesses told AFP they saw
a large number of Israeli troops storming Faraa camp, where explosions were
heard. The Red Crescent said the Israeli military handed over the dead body of a
17-year-old in Faraa camp, after medics were prevented from reaching him when he
was wounded. Israel has killed at least 35 Palestinians across the northern West
Bank since its assault there started on August 28, according to figures released
by the health ministry, including children and militants. One Israeli soldier
was killed in Jenin, where the majority of the Palestinian fatalities have been.
"Panic spread as the army was blowing up everything around without taking into
consideration that there were children," Hanan Natour, a resident of Jenin
refugee camp, told AFP on Wednesday. Israeli troops have destroyed
infrastructure in Jenin and elsewhere in the West Bank, with the United Nations
reporting the military restricting hospital access and using "war-like tactics".
Polio vaccination drive
Israel's bombardment of Gaza has left the territory in ruins, with the
destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure blamed for the spread of
disease. The humanitarian crisis has led to Gaza's first polio case in 25 years,
prompting a massive vaccination effort launched Sunday with localized
"humanitarian pauses" in fighting. Nearly 200,000 children in central Gaza have
received a first dose, the World Health Organization said, with a second stage
set to get underway Thursday in the south before medics move north. The campaign
aims to fully vaccinate more than 640,000 children, with second doses due in
about four weeks.
Netanyahu's Gaza gambit: Why he won't let go of the
Philadelphi Corridor - An analysis
LBCI/September 05/2024
In a controversial speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed
that Israel will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza
border until it is ensured that the route is not used to smuggle weapons to
Hamas. Historically, the Philadelphi Corridor issue dates back to 2005 when
Israel withdrew from Gaza as part of the "disengagement plan" and handed control
of the corridor to Egypt under international agreements to prevent smuggling.
However, smuggling activities through tunnels increased, with Grad rockets and
mortar shells smuggled between 2006 and 2008 and heavy weapons between 2011 and
2013. During Operation Protective Edge in 2014, Israel destroyed more than 30
tunnels, and Egypt continued to destroy the tunnels until 2021.
Netanyahu's supporters recall this context to justify his decision to prevent
the rearmament of Hamas and protect the southern border. Meanwhile, Hamas, which
opposes Israel's presence in the corridor, told LBCI that Netanyahu was
initially one of those who voted in favor of withdrawing from the corridor in
2004. Despite his party, the Israeli army, the defense minister, and its ally,
the United States, all supporting the withdrawal, Netanyahu remains committed to
controlling the corridor for personal and political reasons, not for security
concerns. Hamas sources added that 80-90 percent of Hamas' weapons are locally
manufactured, and if Netanyahu was serious in his stance, he would have set the
condition of controlling the corridor at the start of the war.
However, as of last July 2, the corridor was not part of the negotiations and
was only brought up to stall its progress. Netanyahu received support from some
officials who viewed his position as a guarantee for Israel's security, while
others criticized this strategy. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was one of the
most prominent critics, proposing a partial withdrawal from the corridor to
facilitate negotiations, arguing that the insistence on full control over it
hinders diplomatic efforts. Israeli analysts also saw the cabinet's support for
Netanyahu as a direct challenge to Gallant and Military Chief of General Staff
Herzi Halevi, who recommended a temporary withdrawal to secure the release of
hostages. They also believe that Netanyahu, by dismissing the security leaders'
assessments, aims to push Gallant into resigning. Therefore, the Philadelphi
Corridor remains a central point of contention in the ongoing negotiations, as
Netanyahu faces pressure to make decisive decisions that could impact the future
of these talks.
Israeli Strikes Kill Several Palestinians in Occupied West Bank
Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
Palestinian health officials say Israeli strikes in the occupied West Bank
killed five people, including the son of a prominent jailed militant. Israel has
been carrying out large-scale raids in the territory over the past week that it
says are aimed at dismantling militant groups and preventing attacks. The
Palestinians fear a widening of the war in Gaza. The strikes overnight in the
northern West Bank town of Tubas killed five people, including Mohammed Zubeidi,
the Palestinian Health Ministry said Thursday. His father, Zakaria Zubeidi, was
a well-known militant commander during the second Palestinian uprising in the
early 2000s and took part in a rare jail break in 2021 before being arrested and
returned to prison days later. The Israeli military said it conducted three
airstrikes in Tubas on gunmen who threatened its soldiers.
Sisi, Erdogan Affirm Egypt-Türkiye Alignment on Regional Issues
Ankara: Saeed Abdulrazek Cairo:/Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
Egypt and Türkiye have confirmed their agreement on key regional issues,
including a ceasefire in Gaza, delivering humanitarian aid, and ensuring
Palestinians can establish a state with East Jerusalem as its capital, while
opposing Israeli actions that block this solution. Talks between Egyptian
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in
Ankara on Wednesday— in Sisi’s first visit to Türkiye since 2014—showed common
ground on issues like Gaza, Israeli violations of Palestinian rights, and
conflicts in Syria, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa. There were minor differences
on Libya, especially regarding foreign forces and militias. At the first
High-Level Strategic Council meeting, Sisi and Erdogan oversaw the signing of
agreements in energy, industry, transport, trade, investment, finance, and
defense. At a joint press conference with Sisi, Erdogan affirmed they had
discussed enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, and industry. He called
his February visit to Cairo a “turning point” in their relations, noting that
since then, dialogue and cooperation have continued at the highest level.
Erdogan added that economic ties have grown, with Turkish businesses investing
in Egypt, and encouraged Egyptian investors to explore opportunities in Türkiye.
He also mentioned the strong Egyptian interest in Turkish culture and language,
highlighting that next year marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between the
two countries. Erdogan expressed confidence that improving ties with Egypt would
also boost tourism. “We want to expand cooperation in natural gas, nuclear
energy, and renewables,” he said, noting that several agreements had been signed
to strengthen relations after his visit to Cairo. He added that Egypt is one of
Türkiye’s top five trade partners, and they are working to increase trade
further. On regional matters, Erdogan highlighted the need for Egypt and Türkiye
to collaborate for peace and stability.“We discussed regional issues and agreed
to keep consulting,” he said, with a focus on the Palestinian situation. Both
leaders called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urgent delivery of
humanitarian aid. “We share the same position and are closely coordinating on
this,” affirmed Erdogan. The Turkish leader also noted that his country had
provided 32% of the aid sent to Gaza and thanked Sisi for his role in ensuring
aid delivery. On his part, Sisi highlighted the growing ties between Egypt and
Türkiye in recent years, particularly through tourism, trade, and investment. He
noted the steady increase in Turkish investments in Egypt, especially in
manufacturing. “We signed several memorandums of understanding today during the
Strategic Cooperation Council meeting,” Sisi said, adding that the agreements
aim to enhance cooperation in investment, trade, transport, agriculture, and
tourism. These deals, he explained, will create a new framework for relations
between the two nations.
Putin Says Russia Backs Kamala Harris in US Election
Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
Russia wants Kamala Harris to win the US presidential election, President
Vladimir Putin said on Thursday in an apparently ironic comment, citing her
"infectious" laugh as a reason to prefer her over Donald Trump. Putin was
speaking a day after the US Justice Department charged two Russian media
executives over an alleged illegal scheme to influence the November election
with pro-Russian propaganda. The Kremlin leader had said earlier this year,
before President Joe Biden withdrew from the race - also with apparent irony -
that he preferred him over Trump because Biden was a more predictable "old
school" politician. Asked how he viewed the election now, Putin told an economic
forum in Russia's far east that it was the choice of the American people. But he
then added that as Biden had recommended his supporters to back Harris, "we will
do the same, we will support her,” Reuters reported. "She laughs so expressively
and infectiously that it means that everything is fine with her," Putin said,
adding that maybe this meant she would refrain from further sanctions against
Russia. US intelligence agencies believe Russia wants Trump to win because he is
less committed to supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia. But Putin said
Trump, as president, had introduced more sanctions against Russia than anyone in
the White House before him.
Macron Names EU Former Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s New Prime
Minister
Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
President Emmanuel Macron named EU former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as
France’s new prime minister on Thursday after more than 50 days of caretaker
government, The AP reported. The appointment of the 73-year-old Barnier follows
weeks of intense efforts by Macron and his aides to find a candidate who might
be able to build loose groupings of backers in parliament and survive possible
attempts by Macron’s opponents to quickly topple the new government that Barnier
will now put together and lead. A statement from Macron's office announcing
Barnier's appointment said he'd been tasked “with forming a unifying government
to serve the country and the French people.” “This appointment comes after an
unprecedented cycle of consultations during which, in accordance with his
constitutional duty, the president ensured that the prime minister and the
future government would meet the conditions to be as stable as possible and give
themselves the chances of uniting as broadly as possible,” the statement said.
Barnier, a career politician proud of his humble roots in France’s Alpine region
of Haute-Savoie, is no stranger to complex and difficult tasks: He was the
European Union’s chief negotiator in the difficult talks with Britain over its
Brexit departure from the bloc. Barnier replaces Gabriel Attal, who resigned on
July 16 following quick-fire legislative elections that produced a divided and
hung parliament, plunging France into political turmoil. But Macron kept Attal
and his ministers on in a caretaker capacity, handling day-to-day affairs, so
political instability wouldn’t overshadow the July 26-Aug. 11 Paris Olympics,
when France was in the global spotlight. In political career over more than 50
years, Barnier has served as French foreign, European affairs, environment and
agriculture minister — and twice as a European commissioner. Influential
far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon immediately came out against Barnier’s
appointment and predicted the new prime minister would not get a majority
backing in the bitterly divided National Assembly. Melenchon said the
appointment flew in the face of the July 7 legislative election results that
left parliament’s lower house split between three main blocs — the left,
including Melenchon’s party; the center where Macron has based his support, and
the far right, converging around anti-immigration leader Marine Le Pen.“The
election has been stolen,” Melenchon asserted.
Pope and Imam of Southeast Asia's Largest Mosque Make Joint
Call to Fight Violence, Protect Planet
Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
Pope Francis and the grand imam of Southeast Asia’s largest mosque vowed
Thursday to fight religiously inspired violence and protect the environment,
issuing a joint call for interfaith friendship and common cause at the heart of
Francis’ visit to Indonesia. In an encounter rich with symbolic meaning and
personal touches, Francis traveled to Jakarta’s iconic Istiqlal Mosque for an
interreligious gathering with representatives of the six religions that are
officially recognized in Indonesia: Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism,
Catholicism and Protestantism. There, he and the grand imam, Nasaruddin Umar,
stood at the ground-level entrance to the “Tunnel of Friendship,” an underpass
which connects the mosque compound with the neighboring Catholic cathedral, Our
Lady of the Assumption. Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim
population, has held out the tunnel as a tangible sign of its commitment to
religious freedom, which is enshrined in the constitution but has been
challenged by repeated instances of discrimination and violence against
religious minorities. Approaching the elevator to the tunnel, Francis said it
was a potent sign of how different religious traditions “have a role to play in
helping everyone pass through the tunnels of life with our eyes turned towards
the light.”He encouraged all Indonesians of every religious tradition to “walk
in search of God and contribute to building open societies, founded on
reciprocal respect and mutual love, capable of protecting against rigidity,
fundamentalism and extremism, which are always dangerous and never
justifiable.”Francis traveled to Indonesia, at the start of an 11-day,
four-nation trip to Asia and Oceania, to encourage Indonesia to combat
religiously inspired violence and pledge the Catholic Church’s commitment to
greater fraternity.
The meeting at the mosque showed the personal side of that policy, with Francis
and Umar — the 87-year-old pope and the more youthful 65-year-old imam — showing
a clear affinity for one another. As Francis was leaving in his wheelchair, Umar
bent down and kissed Francis on the head. Francis then grasped Umar's hand,
kissed it and held it to his cheek. The event began with a similarly moving
moment, as a visually impaired Indonesian teenage girl, Kayla Nur Syahwa,
chanted verses from the Quran about tolerance among believers of different
faiths. Francis has made improving Catholic-Muslim ties a hallmark of his papacy
and has prioritized travel to majority Muslim nations to further the agenda. The
interfaith gathering was the highlight of Francis’ visit to Indonesia, which
concludes later Thursday with a giant Mass in Jakarta’s stadium expected to draw
some 60,000 people. Francis is seeking to encourage their faith by becoming the
third pope to visit Indonesia, after Paul VI in 1970 and John Paul II in 1989.
On Friday, Francis heads to Papua New Guinea for the second leg of his trip, one
of the longest and farthest in papal history, which will also take him to East
Timor and Singapore before it ends Sept. 13.
Kamala Harris' campaign raises $300 mln in August, NBC
reports
Reuters/September 05/2024
Democrat Kamala Harris' campaign for US president raised more than $300 million
in the month of August, more than twice as much as her Republican opponent
Donald Trump raised during the same period, NBC News reported on Thursday,
citing two unnamed sources. Trump's campaign said on Wednesday that his campaign
and party raised $130 million in August and ended the month with $295 cash on
hand.
Trump vows to make US the 'world capital' in cryptocurrency
AFP/September 05/2024
Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump vowed Thursday to turn the
United States into the cryptocurrency capital of the world as he unveiled his
economic vision for a second term. "Instead of attacking industries of the
future, we will embrace them, including making America the world capital for
crypto and Bitcoin," he told business executives at the Economic Club of New
York.
US charges five Russian military officers over Ukraine cyberattacks
AFP/September 05/2024
The United States charged five Russian military officers on Thursday for
allegedly conducting cyberattacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine ahead of
the Russian invasion.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said the cyber campaign known as "WhisperGate"
targeted emergency services in Ukraine, the judiciary, and agencies responsible
for food safety and education.
New France PM vows to 'respond to challenges' of French
people
AFP/September 05/2024
France's new Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, on Thursday said that he would do
his best to address the "challenges," "anger," and "suffering" of French people
as he took office.
"It will be a question of responding, as much as we can, to the challenges, to
the angers... to the suffering" of the French, the 73-year-old said at a
handing-over ceremony from his predecessor, 35-year-old Gabriel Attal.
Putin says Russia ready for talks with Ukraine
Agence France Presse/September 05/2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday his main aim in Ukraine after 30
months of fighting was to capture the eastern Donbas area -- and claimed that
Ukraine's Kursk counter-offensive had made that easier. Putin was speaking a day
after Russia attacked Ukraine's western Lviv region with deadly strikes, and
after recent advances by Moscow's forces in the Donbas. Since the start of its
offensive in February 2022 when it failed to capture the Ukrainian capital Kyiv,
Russia has adapted its aims, concentrating instead on trying to conquer eastern
Ukraine. While Ukraine's surprise push into Russia's Kursk region last month
caught Russian forces off-guard, Putin stressed that the move had failed to slow
Moscow's advance in occupied Ukraine. "The aim of the enemy (in Kursk) was to
force us to worry, hustle, divert troops and to stop our offensive in key areas,
especially in the Donbas, the liberation of which is our main primary
objective," Putin said at a forum in Vladivostok, in Russia's far east. Russia
claims the eastern Donetsk region and three other Ukrainian regions, as its own.
Moscow has this summer advanced strongly and its troops are now around a dozen
kilometers from the city of Pokrovsk -- a key logistics hub in east Ukraine from
where thousands have now fled. Putin said Ukraine had sent "quite well-prepared
units" into Kursk and so had made Moscow's advance in Donbas quicker.
"The enemy weakened itself in key areas, our army has accelerated its offensive
operations," he argued.
'Holy duty'
Putin also claimed that Moscow's army has begun to push out Ukrainian forces
from the Kursk region, where Kyiv's forces have held on to towns and villages
for almost a month. "Our armed forces have stabilized the situation and started
gradually squeezing (the enemy) out from our territory," Putin said. It was not
possible to verify these claims. Russia did not mount a large-scale response in
the first days of the incursion, which became the biggest on Russian soil since
WWII. He has since played down the significance of the Ukrainian attack. But
Putin hardened his rhetoric in recent days.
"It is the holy duty of the Russian army to do everything to throw out the enemy
from this territory and to protect our citizens," he said Thursday. Earlier this
week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told US TV channel NBC that Ukraine
would hold on to the territory captured in the Kursk region. Zelensky has
previously said that one of Kyiv's "goals" in Kursk was to show Russians "what
is more important to him (Putin): occupation of the territories of Ukraine or
the protection of his population". Kyiv has also said that it wants to force
Moscow into "fair" negotiations.
Aborted deal -
While Russian officials have rushed in recent weeks to say that the Kursk
incursion makes any talks with Ukraine impossible, Putin appeared to roll back
those statements. Russia was ready to talk, he said -- but on the basis of an
aborted deal reached in Istanbul in 2022, the details of which were never made
public by either side. But Putin has repeatedly said that Moscow can only
negotiate with Ukraine if Kyiv surrenders four of its regions -- Donetsk,
Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. "Are we ready to negotiate with them? We have
never refused to do so," Putin said on Thursday. "But not on the basis of some
ephemeral demands, but on the basis of those documents that were agreed and
actually initialed in Istanbul," he added. The Kremlin has claimed Russia and
Ukraine were on the verge of a deal in the spring of 2022, shortly after Moscow
launched its offensive in Ukraine.
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on September 05-06/2024
Israel Complied with UN Resolutions; Peace Never Came
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/The Algemeiner/September 05/2024
With demands that Israel leave Gaza’s Philadelphi Corridor and limit its
operations in the West Bank, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on
the Jewish State “to comply with its relevant obligations,” adding that “only an
end to the occupation… will bring an end to the violence.”
Yet since 1993, Israel has complied with all its obligations.
Israel repeatedly conceded territory, but the only result was more terrorism and
more attacks on its citizens — a fact that seems to have escaped the UN chief.
A decade after withdrawing from the Sinai Peninsula and dismantling settlements
— which bought Israel durable peace with Egypt — the Jewish State tried, in
1993, to repeat the exercise with Yasser Arafat and the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO).
Throughout the 1990s, however, Arafat upheld the Oslo Agreement only to force
further concessions on Israel — all the while, plotting terrorism against it,
and trying to destroy modern-day Israel. Whenever Jerusalem balked, Arafat let
Hamas’ violence obstruct peace, until he wrecked the whole process in 2000 by
launching the Second Intifada.
Because negotiating peace with Arafat, Syria and Lebanon all failed, Israel
opted to unilaterally concede territory, even without prior agreement.
In May 2000, Israel left Lebanon. In June of that year, the UN certified that
Israel had met the requirements of Resolution 425, and expressed hope that this
implementation “would be seen by all people of the region, especially Syrians,
Palestinians and Israelis, as well as Lebanese, as an encouragement to quickly
move ahead in negotiating peace treaties.”
But not so fast. Hezbollah thrashed the UN.
“We [liberated the land] not because of the UN that failed, over 22 years, in
implementing Resolution 425,” said Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, in May
2000. Nasrallah called on the Palestinians to forget about the UN and its
resolutions, and instead emulate his model.
“You can reclaim your land … and force the Zionist invaders to return from where
they came from,” Nasrallah said. “The choice is yours and the model is before
your eyes — serious resistance.”Quiet on the Lebanese border with Israel did not
last long. In July 2006, Hezbollah launched a major cross-border attack. A
33-day war ensued, and ended with Resolution 1701, which forced the Lebanese
Armed Forces (LAF) and the 1978 UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to do what
Israel had requested in 2000 but never did: Deploy south of the River Litani to
enforce UNSC 1701, including disbanding Hezbollah. Yet with the LAF’s complicity
and UNIFIL’s toothlessness, Hezbollah redeployed and rearmed all the way to the
Lebanese border with Israel. Like Resolution 425 and Israel’s withdrawal from
Lebanon, Resolution1701 did not make northern Israel safe. Starting in 2022,
Hezbollah intensified its harassment, this time demanding that Israel agree to
allow Lebanon to explore the maritime border’s seabed for gas. In October, the
Biden administration gave itself a pat on the back for helping reach “a
historic” maritime border demarcation that would “advance security, stability,
and prosperity for the region,” and that demonstrated “the transformative power
of American diplomacy.”
A year later, on October 8, 2023, Hezbollah launched its war on Israel in
support of Hamas, which had just murdered 1,200 people in southern Israel the
day before. American diplomacy was not so transformative after all.
“Today, hope is greater than ever before that the liberation of Palestine, from
the sea to the river,” will happen, Nasrallah said months before his October 8
war on Israel.
This time Nasrallah did not present his “armed resistance” as a model to the
Palestinians, but declared his militia as a partner in the Iran-led “Axis of
Resistance” that was fighting to “liberate Palestine,” a clear violation of
Resolution 1701 and the Lebanese constitution.
In 2000, Israel did not foresee Nasrallah transforming his militia from
defensive to offensive. Perhaps that was why, in 2005, Israel replicated its
unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon by conceding Palestinian territories, even
without prior agreement with the Palestinian Authority (PA) under Mahmud Abbas.
Israel dismantled settlements, pulled out 10,000 Israelis, and withdrew its
forces from the Gaza Strip entirely and the northern part of the West Bank,
around Jenin and Tulkarem.
Withdrawal was expected to boost the popularity of the PA, but its corruption
and incompetence cost it the legislative election that Hamas won in 2006. By
June 2007, Hamas had violently ejected the PA from Gaza. Palestinians now had
two governments.
In the West Bank, under PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, the economy grew and
security improved. Fayyad’s competence, however, deprived Abbas and his cronies
of their public money spoils. In 2013, Abbas ejected Fayyad, causing a backslide
in the economy and security. Hamas started recruiting in Jenin, from where the
terrorist group organized attacks — such as shootings, ramming cars, and
knifings — against Israelis. The Israeli military was forced to operate in the
West Bank, thus compounding Palestinian misery. When Abbas visited Jenin in July
2023, Palestinians chased him away.
Since October 2023, Israel has had to go into most of Gaza and intensified its
incursions into the West Bank. Israel has also had to fight against Hezbollah to
restore normalcy to its north. Thirty-one years after Israel started
experimenting with coordinated withdrawals with Palestinian leaders, 24 years
after Israel unilaterally withdrew from Lebanon, 19 years after it left Gaza and
Jenin, and only one year after Jerusalem signed on to a US-sponsored maritime
border demarcation deal with Beirut, none of the deals or unilateral withdrawals
brought Israel peace.
For its concessions, Israel got a Hamas massacre of 1,200 of its citizens on
October 7, the biggest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. Then, on October
8, Israel found itself facing Hezbollah attacks that have depopulated its north.
And despite all of this, UN Secretary-General Guterres believes the end of
Palestinian and Lebanese violence against Israel will only result from more
Israeli withdrawals, as if three decades of Israeli concessions have not proven
the futility of compromising — and that Jews, Israelis, and foreign citizens
will die as a result. Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow at the
Foundation for the Defense of Democracy (FDD). Follow him on X @hahussain.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/09/04/israel-complied-with-un-resolutions-peace-never-came/
Murder of six Israeli hostages was ordered directly by
Iranian leadership - opinion
Vahid Beheshti/Jerusalem Post/September 05/2024
As tensions rise in Israel, the Iranian regime deploys a devious hybrid warfare
strategy, using psychological tactics and proxies like Hamas to deepen divisions
and weaken Israel from within. The much awaited Islamic Republic’s retaliation
in response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh seems to be
already in progress! Sadly, this is something that is only visible to those
familiar with the devious tactics of the Iranian regime. I am familiar with
these tactics and have spent years conveying the message that the Islamic
Republic will stop at nothing to achieve its goals. Over the past year and a
half, I have camped outside the Foreign Office of the United Kingdom in London,
and I have addressed the Israeli Parliament and the US Congress, invited by the
Middle East Forum, to deliver this crucial message. The Iranian regime’s Supreme
leader, Ali Khamenei, in his speech after the assassination of Haniyeh, stated
that the response will be blood vengeance against Israelis. Khamenei already
knows that a large direct attack against Israel will lead to direct Israeli
response in Iran that could destabilize his regime. Therefore, he has opted for
a more devious, tried-and-tested strategy, of seeding division within the
Israeli population through ordering Hamas to murder six Israelis who were taken
hostage during the October 7 attack. The Iranian regime has, over the last 45
years, proven to be an expert in the strategy of “divide and conquer.” It has
used this strategy, through its infiltrated agents, to create division within
the numerous Iranian opposition groups abroad. All of which has resulted in the
lack of an effective alternative to the Iranian regime in the eyes of the West.
Change will come if you welcome it
This lack of a viable opposition and the fear of a power vacuum, should the
regime fall, is something the Western leaders have stated in their opposition to
regime change in Iran. This ensures the survival of the Iranian regime – despite
its lack of legitimacy within Iran and its tyrannical control and global
extremist terrorist agenda.
THE DISCOVERY of the bodies of six Israeli hostages, one of whom held dual
American-Israeli citizenship, has sparked global outrage. This act has been
condemned worldwide, and may have seemingly weakened Hamas’s negotiation
position. But in order to understand this act, we must realize that Hamas
terrorists’ actions do not follow typical rational patterns, because they are
not in control of their own decisions. They are simply proxies, and their
behavioral patterns are determined by those who created and support them. The
death of Ismail Haniyeh in the heart of Tehran dealt such a severe blow to
Khamenei, forcing him to immediately take a hard stance by threatening revenge
with the keywords “blood vengeance.” This bold claim created unprecedented
expectations among every member under Khamenei’s command, from Rafah to Tehran.
After the April 13 thwarted military attack by Khamenei against Israel, and
particularly following the recent assault on Israel by the terrorist group
Hezbollah, it became clear to everyone that, militarily, Khamenei is in no
position to confront or strike Israel to the extent he has claimed. This
weakness is well documented in a professional report published recently in the
Associated Press. As a result, the Iranian regime has started to implement a
Hybrid Warfare strategy. This statement will become clearer when the situation
on the ground and recent events are further analyzed. Now that Khamenei has no
military means to strike Israel while his thirst for avenging Haniyeh has driven
him to the brink of desperation, he has begun a new game, attempting to exact
revenge with whatever inhumane tools he has at his disposal. Hostages and
propaganda: Iran's weapons
THE LEADER of Iran has only two means to harm Israel: first, the hostages – whom
he knows Israel considers sacred to return, potentially turning this into a
point of weakness– and second, the massive propaganda machine that he has built
over the years with significant effort and resources. He has thus planned and
executed his revenge using these two tools.
Khamenei aims to destroy Israel from within while avenging Haniyeh, ultimately
achieving his goal of annihilating the Jewish state. To this end, he ordered
Yahya Sinwar – who should be recognized as his most obedient soldier, not merely
as the leader of a terrorist group – to torture six innocent civilian hostages,
film them on camera in various ways, and then brutally execute them. Once
the Israeli army would discover the bodies, Khamenei only needed to wait for
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opponents to speak out. Then, he would
unleash his propaganda machine like gasoline on the fire, deepening societal
divisions and eroding public trust in the Israeli government. This is a massive
psychological war being orchestrated by the Iranian leader’s terrorist arm under
his direct orders. This retaliatory action by the Islamic Republic aims to
destroy Israel from within, attempting not only to overthrow the Israeli
government, but also to sever its strongest ally, the United States, from it.
The tactic appears to be effective, as protests in Israel over the government’s
failure to free hostages have led to the brink of a general strike. Tensions
rose after the bodies of six Israeli hostages were found in Gaza, sparking
national outrage. Tens of thousands protested, accusing Netanyahu of inadequate
efforts to secure the remaining hostages. The Histadrut, Israel’s largest labor
union, called for a one-day strike, with Tel Aviv’s mayor also joining,
criticizing the government for “abandoning” the hostages.
This is a well-known, recurring global behavioral pattern of Iran’s The Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which attempts to exploit the capacities and
resources available in democratic societies – designed for coexistence – as
weapons to destroy those very societies. In Israel, this pattern manifests as a
large-scale, orchestrated psychological war.
SINWAR, as a loyal soldier, is fully executing Khamenei’s orders and actively
contributing to dismantling Israeli society in pursuit of the harsh revenge that
the leader has promised. The combination of this psychological warfare with a
global campaign of false propaganda ultimately seeks to create division both
within Israeli society and between Israel and its allies, especially the United
States. The Iranian regime is well versed in its use of asymmetry in regard to
the values of human life in the West versus its own views. While the life of
each of Israel and the West’s citizens is cherished, the Iranian regime is
willing to sacrifice thousands of its own people or ordinary Palestinians for
its extremist agenda. Israel must recognize that as long as it is focused on
tackling the tentacles of the octopus of global terrorism, namely the Iranian
Regime, it will always be vulnerable to such devious policies. The solution to
this dilemma for Israel and its allies is to realize that they must deal with
the head of the octopus, the evil regime of the Islamic Republic backing the
proxies that are surrounding Israel, and the leaders of the Iranian regime and
the IRGC. For as long as they remain in power, they will always try to encircle
Israel with their extremist proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah, and weaken it
through their devious hybrid strategy.
*The writer is among the leaders of the Iranian opposition in exile.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-818774
Iran's New Plan: Lost Gaza, So Take West Bank
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/September 05/2024
One of the reasons the Palestinian Authority (PA) is reluctant to crack down on
the "battalions" is because PA officials are aware that the terrorists enjoy
widespread support among the Palestinian public. The Palestinian Authority
eventually fell victim to its own passivity. In 2007, Hamas staged a violent and
brutal coup against the PA in Gaza, killing dozens of PA loyalists. According to
a Human Rights Watch report: "Hamas military forces captured 28-year-old
Mohammed Swairki, a cook for [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas's presidential guard,
and executed him by throwing him to his death, with his hands and legs tied,
from a 15-story apartment building in Gaza City."
The Israeli operation aims to prevent Iran and its Palestinian proxies from
opening a new front against Israel from the West Bank. The PA, however, has
constantly violated the terms of the Oslo Accords by, among other things,
failing to stop armed groups from operating in its territory and from attacking
Israelis. The PA has therefore become part of the problem, not the solution. If
anyone is upset with Israel for its counterterrorism operation, they need to be
more upset with the PA for not standing up to the armed groups and preventing
Iran from establishing a terror base in the West Bank.
One of the reasons the Palestinian Authority (PA) is reluctant to crack down on
armed terrorist groups, is because PA officials are aware that the terrorists
enjoy widespread support among the Palestinian public. Pictured: Gunmen from a
number of terrorist groups, including the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Izaddin al-Qassam
Brigades, Al-Quds Brigades, and Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, hold what they called
a "joint press conference" in Jenin refugee camp on February 25, 2023. (Photo by
Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP via Getty Images)
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has condemned Israel for initiating a large-scale
military operation in the northern West Bank, near Jordan, but it has purposely
chosen to overlook the reason behind the Israeli security's operation. Israel's
counterterrorism operation, called Summer Camps, targets numerous Iran-backed
armed terrorist groups, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ),
that have been operating freely in PA-controlled territories in the past few
years.
The main objective of Israel's operation is to thwart Iran's intention, with the
help of the armed groups, to turn not only Gaza, but also the West Bank into
another terror base to be used as part of the Islamists' Jihad (holy war) to
destroy Israel.
The PA should applaud Israel's security forces for pursuing the terrorists,
rather than criticizing them. These armed groups, which refer to themselves to
as "battalions," pose a direct threat not only to Israel, but the PA as well.
The gunmen have created their own state within a state in the areas under PA
administration, openly contesting the PA's legitimacy and making a mockery of
its security forces.
Most of the gunmen there belong to Hamas and PIJ, which are strongly opposed to
the Palestinian Authority and its policies, especially the security coordination
between the PA security forces and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The two
groups do not recognize Israel's right to exist and seek to replace it, through
Jihad, with an Islamist state. One of the reasons the PA is reluctant to crack
down on the "battalions" is because PA officials are aware that the terrorists
enjoy widespread support among the Palestinian public.
The Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank could have been
avoided, had the PA fulfilled its duty of combating terrorism by dismantling the
armed groups.
Article XIV, "The Palestinian Police," of the Oslo Accord signed between Israel
and the PLO in 1993 states:
"Except for the Palestinian Police and the Israeli military forces, no other
armed forces shall be established or operate in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip."
Article XV, "Prevention of Hostile Acts," states:
"Both sides shall take all measures necessary in order to prevent acts of
terrorism, crime and hostilities directed against each other, against
individuals falling under the other's authority and against their property, and
shall take legal measures against offenders."
The PA, however, has constantly violated the terms of the Oslo Accords by, among
other things, failing to stop armed groups from operating in its territory and
from attacking Israelis. The PA has therefore become part of the problem, not
the solution.
Since 2021, several "battalions" made up of hundreds of gunmen, have appeared in
the PA-controlled territories in the northern West Bank. They have carried out
countless terrorist attacks against Israelis, both within Israel and in the West
Bank. Since the beginning of this year, 30 Israelis have been murdered in
terrorist attacks. Yet, we are not aware of a single instance in which the
Palestinian security forces, tasked with maintaining law and order in the areas
under PA control, have arrested or prosecuted even one perpetrator.
Many Israeli and Palestinian lives could have been spared had the PA done its
job and taken action against the "battalion" gunmen. The PA, however, is still
reluctant, or too terrified, to take on the armed groups. That is why the
Israeli security forces were obliged to launch the current counterterrorism
operation.
The Israeli operation aims to prevent Iran and its Palestinian proxies from
opening a new front against Israel from the West Bank. Israeli Foreign Minister
Israel Katz wrote on August 29:
"Iran is working to establish an eastern terror front against Israel through
special units of the IRGC [Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps], involved
in smuggling weapons, funding, and directing terror organizations.
"In the first stage, they smuggle weapons into the Kingdom of Jordan, mainly
through the Syrian border, attempting to destabilize the regime and turn the
Israel-Jordan border from a peaceful one into a volatile front.
"From there, the weapons are smuggled into Judea and Samaria, particularly into
Palestinian refugee camps, where an Iranian-Hamas terror infrastructure is being
established, following the proxy model they've set up in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen,
and Iraq. The Palestinian Authority is unable to confront this threat, which
also endangers its existence...
"All actions must be carried out with determination and speed, alongside
tightening sanctions on the Iranian regime to curb its subversive activities."
The PA has a history of failing -- or refusing -- to take action against armed
groups operating in regions under its jurisdiction. The PA did virtually nothing
to stop Hamas from building its terror infrastructure when it controlled the
Gaza Strip. Hamas's actions included smuggling weapons across the border with
Egypt and building dozens of assault tunnels in various locations throughout the
Gaza Strip and near the Israeli border.
The Palestinian Authority eventually fell victim to its own passivity. In 2007,
Hamas staged a violent and brutal coup against the PA in Gaza, killing dozens of
PA loyalists. According to a Human Rights Watch report: "Hamas military forces
captured 28-year-old Mohammed Swairki, a cook for [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas's
presidential guard, and executed him by throwing him to his death, with his
hands and legs tied, from a 15-story apartment building in Gaza City." If anyone
is upset with Israel for its counterterrorism operation, they need to be more
upset with the PA for not standing up to the armed groups and preventing Iran
from establishing a terror base in the West Bank. Failing to do so means that
Iran's proxies may soon hurl Abbas himself from a high-rise in Ramallah, the
de-facto capital of the Palestinians in the West Bank, in addition to launching
more terrorist attacks against Israelis.
*Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
*Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 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.
Unsheathe the ‘Two Swords’ of Christianity
Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream/September 05/2024
https://www.raymondibrahim.com/2024/09/05/unsheathe-the-two-swords-of-christianity/
Wherever one looks, whatever one considers, Ecclesiastes 9:11 — which describes
the cyclical nature of human events, that “there is nothing new under the sun” —
returns to haunt. Such were my reflections while recently rereading the
following excerpt from Eusebius of Caesarea’s (263-339 AD) important history of
Christianity’s first three centuries:
Like dazzling lights the churches were now shining all over the world, and to
the limits of the human race faith in our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ was at
its peak, when the demon who hates the good, sworn enemy of truth and inveterate
foe of man’s salvation, turned all his weapons against the Church. In earlier
days he had attacked her with persecutions from without [under Emperor Nero and
others]; but now that he was debarred from this, he resorted to unscrupulous
impostors as instruments of spiritual corruption and ministers of destruction,
and employed new tactics, contriving by every possible means that impostors and
cheats, by cloaking themselves with the same name as our religion, should at one
and the same time bring to the abyss of destruction every believer they could
entrap, and by their own actions and endeavors turn those ignorant of the Faith
away from the path that leads to the message of salvation [4.7].
Eusebius was referring to the status of Christianity during the reign of Roman
Emperor Hadrian (117-138) and well into the second century AD.
What is striking about this passage is how well the double-pronged attack it
describes — external physical persecution (under Nero) and internal spiritual
subversion (under Hadrian) — conforms to the rest of Christianity’s two
thousand-year-old history, and is especially applicable today.
The logic of this “satanic” approach appears to be as follows:
Where possible to possess non-Christians to physically persecute and slaughter
Christians, that becomes the preferred method because it’s more direct. Where it
is not possible, the next best thing is to infiltrate and subvert Christians’
belief system so that they, in essence, choose death themselves.
The most obvious and paradigmatic example of physical persecution is that
referenced by Eusebius: pagan Rome’s savage persecution of Christians, which
erupted from the time of the Apostles in the first century under Nero and
sporadically continued till the rise of Constantine the Great, who outlawed
religious persecution in the fourth century (specifically with the Edict of
Milan, 313 AD).
But the physical persecution of Christians continued for well over a millennium
following Eusebius’s death in the fourth century. And its new standard bearer —
who, if not necessarily surpassing the quality of Rome’s persecution, has
certainly far surpassed its quantity — was and remains Islam.
Writing around 1220 AD — nearly a millennium after Eusebius’s times — Jacques of
Vitry, bishop of Acre, described Christianity as “besieged on all sides by
enemies.” And these enemies were also, on the one hand, physical and obvious
(Muslims) and on the other, spiritual and subversive (false Christians):
Saracens and pagans undermine the peace of Christendom, tyrants and evil
Christians attack the liberty of the Church, and false brothers undermine love.
For Jacques and most Christians of the time, the answer was to fight fire with
fire — or sword with sword, spirit with spirit:
Against the violence of the pagans and Saracens it [the Church] uses the
physical sword [hence the Crusades]. Against tyrants and false brothers it uses
a spiritual sword…. Since the Church has two swords, which the Lord said “is
enough” [Luke 22:38], one is to be exercised in a spiritual sense by the
prelates, the other by princes and military Christians.
As foretold by Ecclesiastes, nothing has changed. If the same double-pronged
attack first described by Eusebius was still evident nine centuries later, when
Jacques was writing, today — a full eight centuries after Jacques — it is worse
than ever. Indeed, Satan’s double-edged sword runs red with Christian blood —
both physically and spiritually — more so now than at any other time in history.
The primary difference is that today’s Christians, especially in the West, are
utterly clueless about this — and that itself is a reflection of the success of
their spiritual undermining. By and large they are unaware both of the physical
persecution that 365 million of their brethren are experiencing at this very
moment outside the Western world, and especially under Islam, and even more so
of the spiritual subversion to which they themselves have succumbed. It has so
desensitized and blinded them to reality that they are like well-fed and
well-entertained sitting ducks — primed for the great slaughter to come.
As such, surely it is high time that both swords of Christianity are unsheathed.
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They Knew…And They Led Lebanon to Destruction
Hanna Saleh/Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
We often hear Mohammad Raad reiterate that “the Israeli enemy is in crisis,” to
which the Hezbollah deputy always adds: “If the enemy wants to expand the
conflict, we are ready.” The longer the skirmish goes on, the more evident the
victory over Zionist arrogance, for we have only used a small sample of
Hezbollah's missile arsenal! Meanwhile, the “victories” continue to accumulate!
In painful scenes from border villages, we see residents transporting their
commercial assets and personal belongings from homes and businesses that have
remained intact. The residents asked the army for protection, prompting UNIFIL
to contact the Israeli side, which granted them a window of a few hours to
transport their things along predetermined routes from the towns where Israel’s
savagery had turned into scorched earth. Thus, the statements of Raad and other
deputies of the 'resistance' parliamentary bloc look like a dance on the debris!
The horrific outcome did not come as a surprise to Hezbollah, which anticipated
that the livelihoods of the region’s residents would be destroyed. While the
front to “support” Gaza did not succeed in protecting a single life or roof.
Rather, the effort to “harass” Israel and the boasts of a “preemptive” war
devastated the region in the south of the Litani River, where around 50 villages
have been rendered a security belt. They drove the country to this war, which
Bismarck would have described as suicidal, with their eyes wide open. Repeating
nonsense about “support” turning this into a “war of attrition” that Israel
cannot live with!
Hezbollah knew that the war would destroy the south, and it forced this
devastation on Lebanon, deepening sectarian rifts. When Hezbollah announced the
“harassment” war, they were in contact with all the factions of the Resistance
Axis. The key question posed by the party in these internal discussions was: “Do
you believe that our involvement in the war will eventually end the assault on
Gaza?” The response was decisive: there was nothing the resistance forces could
do to “prevent Israel from moving forward with its plans against the Gaza
Strip.” They also agreed that an “expansion of the war would mean drawing in the
West, which is determined to defend Israel.” Ultimately, no party could know how
things would evolve with certainty! They intervened in the war nevertheless
because Tehran calls the shots, and it prioritizes its interests over the rights
of the local people! During the first few months of the war, various
interpretations of the “support front’s” objectives were emerging. Some believed
that by opening fronts to back the war in southern Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen, the
Axis would send a message to Israel, America, and NATO, letting them know Gaza
was not alone. These imaginings and prepackaged interpretations overlook
reality. True, Hezbollah's decision to open the front did engage a significant
portion of the Israeli army and its defenses. Still, it was shortsighted to bet
that this front would stop the savage war on Gaza and create field and political
shifts that would support and strengthen Hamas's performance! All the statements
of the resistance forces and Nasrallah's fiery speeches suggested that they were
betting that Israel would not bear the economic losses in its north, where it
has over $250 billion worth of investments. Nasrallah also adds that Lebanon's
losses would be modest due to the South’s limited economic role (...). Moreover,
they have overlooked the massive financial and military support Israel has
received, over $50 billion so far. Meanwhile, Lebanon is sinking into the most
severe financial and economic collapse in its history, and it was brought about
deliberately. On top of that, Lebanon is isolated because of the Resistance Axis
and its state representatives in the remnants of the government and parliament.
They concluded that a prolonged war would push Israel to “seek an end to the war
on Gaza!” So, is it a war to stop a war? If so, it proved to be a failure, and
here is Netanyahu now, thwarting ceasefire initiatives, including the one
proposed by US President Biden, after having presented untenable terms and
deprioritized the return of abductees. Next, his focus shifted to maintaining
Israel’s occupation of the Philadelphi Route (Rafah), tightening the siege on
the occupied Strip, and preserving a presence at the Nitzarim crossing, which
separates the north and south of the Strip!
The only thing the resistance axis led by Tehran succeeded in was preventing
Netanyahu from expanding the scope of the war. It has been more than a month
since the assassination of Haniyeh in the heart of Tehran, and the Iranian
regime is still considering its next steps despite all the speeches about a
painful and earth-shattering response. In the end, the Supreme Leader announced
that negotiations with the US on Iran’s nuclear program would resume! Meanwhile,
Hezbollah's response was cautious, precise, coordinated, and undoubtedly subject
to prior “understandings.” The Americans played a crucial role in navigating
this highly dangerous phase, and the Axis is now hoping that the US will be
generous and protect Iran’s nuclear project! Lebanon’s tragedy cannot be blamed
on Hezbollah's arrogance and tyranny alone. The blame is shared by the country’s
political class, which didn't bat an eye as they saw the implementation of the
plan to tie the country's fate to Israel’s decisions. The disaster in the South
and Lebanon was never placed on the cabinet's agenda. There has been no genuine
accountability by a parliament hijacked by the speaker, who treats it like his
personal property. It is time to hold fully accountable those who said that “the
field has the final word,” erasing people's dreams, hopes, and right to life. It
is time to stop protesting in whispers behind closed doors!
The Next War: Israel vs. Iran
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/09/134072/
The Gaza battle appears to be nearing its end with signs of agreements emerging,
Hamas and Israel being closer in distance and Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah
announcing that there will be no retaliatory war for the deaths of around 500
Hezbollah leaders. This is in addition to the remains of dead Israeli hostages
now being handed over. However, in my opinion, the upcoming agreement won’t
prevent future confrontations between Iran and Israel. This time, war was on the
brink. Unless both nations work to avoid future conflicts, which would require
significant compromises, Iran’s strategy of encirclement will likely lead to a
war between these two regional powers. For the past four decades, the proxy
confrontations have continued, with intermittent long truces that caused limited
damage.
How do we know that a war between Tehran and Tel Aviv is no longer as unlikely
as we once thought?
The Hamas raid on October 7 was different – was a qualitative shift in the
conflict between these camps, awakening deep fears in Israel. Israel perceived
it as an existential threat, and its retaliatory attack also took a different
approach. Israel decided to dismantle the Hamas regime in Gaza. It wants to
restore its deterrence policy, where any attack on Israel comes with a high
price, and to reinforce its image as a regional superpower. During this war,
Israel has shown that it is capable of waging long battles, 11 months so far,
across multiple fronts: Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Iran, and Yemen.
Israel has demonstrated terrifying intelligence and advanced military
capabilities. Without entering even an inch of Lebanese territory, Israel
managed to eliminate half of Hezbollah’s leaders. It also targeted several
Iranian Revolutionary Guard leaders and boldly assassinated a Hamas leader in
Tehran itself.
Internally, a significant portion of Israelis, particularly the elite, may
dislike Netanyahu and his religious allies, but they have still united behind
him. Despite heavy casualties among Israeli forces, the billions of dollars
bleeding from the Israeli economy, and his failure to eliminate Hamas’
leadership, none of this has forced Netanyahu to stop the war. While the Gaza
war is an Israeli affair, any future war with Iran would involve both Israel and
the West. Israel is now more prepared than ever for a large-scale conflict, with
naval fleets stationed and ready for a major war with Iran, marking one of the
region’s largest military buildups. This is a clear signal to Tehran that Iran
and its regime will bear the cost. Despite Russia’s statements, visits from
Russian officials, and the rapid deployment of military aid to counter any
airstrikes on Iran, this escalation is unlike any previous conflict in the
region since the 1973 war. It may lead Iran to reconsider the futility of
confronting Israel, or will it push it to build up greater capabilities?
The Cairo agreement is on the verge of achieving an end to the fighting in Gaza,
but it won’t end the readiness for war with Iran and Hezbollah. Since the
beginning of last year’s war, Israel has been preparing for a conflict beyond
Gaza. It has deployed backup power generators across the country, filled water
tanks, intensified cybersecurity measures, and stockpiled several months-worth
of food supplies. Israel claims it can generate electricity from a diverse array
of sources, on land, underground, and in the sea. If the electrical grid is
destroyed, a backup system will restore power within seven minutes. Israel has
also prepared bunkers for hundreds of thousands of people as a second line of
defense, should the Iron Dome fail. The entrenchment mentality and preparing for
war plays a crucial role in driving decisions toward conflict. For decades,
Israel’s main strategy has been based on the likelihood of a regional war, once
focused on Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Today, this strategy is targeted against
Iran, which it views as the primary existential threat, due to its pursuit of a
nuclear military capability and missile development that could reach Israel’s
major cities. This makes Iran – not its proxies – the next target for Israel. In
this war, Iran was unable to save Hamas and chose to protect Hezbollah by
keeping it out of the fight. The attempt to open a front in Jordan failed, and
Syria refrained from allowing Iranian-backed armed groups to use its territory
for military action. The Houthis in Yemen were the only ones involved but pulled
back from targeting Israel after its vital facilities in the Hodeidah port were
destroyed. In my opinion, an Israeli-Iranian war is not unlikely, given the
continued military buildup, Iranian expansion, and Israel’s refusal to recognize
a Palestinian state.
They Knew…And They Led Lebanon to Destruction
Hanna Saleh/Asharq Al Awsat/September 05/2024
We often hear Mohammad Raad reiterate that “the Israeli enemy is in crisis,” to
which the Hezbollah deputy always adds: “If the enemy wants to expand the
conflict, we are ready.” The longer the skirmish goes on, the more evident the
victory over Zionist arrogance, for we have only used a small sample of
Hezbollah's missile arsenal! Meanwhile, the “victories” continue to accumulate!
In painful scenes from border villages, we see residents transporting their
commercial assets and personal belongings from homes and businesses that have
remained intact. The residents asked the army for protection, prompting UNIFIL
to contact the Israeli side, which granted them a window of a few hours to
transport their things along predetermined routes from the towns where Israel’s
savagery had turned into scorched earth. Thus, the statements of Raad and other
deputies of the 'resistance' parliamentary bloc look like a dance on the debris!
The horrific outcome did not come as a surprise to Hezbollah, which anticipated
that the livelihoods of the region’s residents would be destroyed. While the
front to “support” Gaza did not succeed in protecting a single life or roof.
Rather, the effort to “harass” Israel and the boasts of a “preemptive” war
devastated the region in the south of the Litani River, where around 50 villages
have been rendered a security belt. They drove the country to this war, which
Bismarck would have described as suicidal, with their eyes wide open. Repeating
nonsense about “support” turning this into a “war of attrition” that Israel
cannot live with!
Hezbollah knew that the war would destroy the south, and it forced this
devastation on Lebanon, deepening sectarian rifts. When Hezbollah announced the
“harassment” war, they were in contact with all the factions of the Resistance
Axis. The key question posed by the party in these internal discussions was: “Do
you believe that our involvement in the war will eventually end the assault on
Gaza?” The response was decisive: there was nothing the resistance forces could
do to “prevent Israel from moving forward with its plans against the Gaza
Strip.” They also agreed that an “expansion of the war would mean drawing in the
West, which is determined to defend Israel.” Ultimately, no party could know how
things would evolve with certainty! They intervened in the war nevertheless
because Tehran calls the shots, and it prioritizes its interests over the rights
of the local people! During the first few months of the war, various
interpretations of the “support front’s” objectives were emerging. Some believed
that by opening fronts to back the war in southern Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen, the
Axis would send a message to Israel, America, and NATO, letting them know Gaza
was not alone. These imaginings and prepackaged interpretations overlook
reality. True, Hezbollah's decision to open the front did engage a significant
portion of the Israeli army and its defenses. Still, it was shortsighted to bet
that this front would stop the savage war on Gaza and create field and political
shifts that would support and strengthen Hamas's performance! All the statements
of the resistance forces and Nasrallah's fiery speeches suggested that they were
betting that Israel would not bear the economic losses in its north, where it
has over $250 billion worth of investments. Nasrallah also adds that Lebanon's
losses would be modest due to the South’s limited economic role (...).Moreover,
they have overlooked the massive financial and military support Israel has
received, over $50 billion so far. Meanwhile, Lebanon is sinking into the most
severe financial and economic collapse in its history, and it was brought about
deliberately. On top of that, Lebanon is isolated because of the Resistance Axis
and its state representatives in the remnants of the government and parliament.
They concluded that a prolonged war would push Israel to “seek an end to the war
on Gaza!” So, is it a war to stop a war? If so, it proved to be a failure, and
here is Netanyahu now, thwarting ceasefire initiatives, including the one
proposed by US President Biden, after having presented untenable terms and
deprioritized the return of abductees. Next, his focus shifted to maintaining
Israel’s occupation of the Philadelphi Route (Rafah), tightening the siege on
the occupied Strip, and preserving a presence at the Nitzarim crossing, which
separates the north and south of the Strip!
The only thing the resistance axis led by Tehran succeeded in was preventing
Netanyahu from expanding the scope of the war. It has been more than a month
since the assassination of Haniyeh in the heart of Tehran, and the Iranian
regime is still considering its next steps despite all the speeches about a
painful and earth-shattering response. In the end, the Supreme Leader announced
that negotiations with the US on Iran’s nuclear program would resume! Meanwhile,
Hezbollah's response was cautious, precise, coordinated, and undoubtedly subject
to prior “understandings.” The Americans played a crucial role in navigating
this highly dangerous phase, and the Axis is now hoping that the US will be
generous and protect Iran’s nuclear project! Lebanon’s tragedy cannot be blamed
on Hezbollah's arrogance and tyranny alone. The blame is shared by the country’s
political class, which didn't bat an eye as they saw the implementation of the
plan to tie the country's fate to Israel’s decisions. The disaster in the South
and Lebanon was never placed on the cabinet's agenda. There has been no genuine
accountability by a parliament hijacked by the speaker, who treats it like his
personal property. It is time to hold fully accountable those who said that “the
field has the final word,” erasing people's dreams, hopes, and right to life. It
is time to stop protesting in whispers behind closed doors!
New nuclear deal unlikely despite Khamenei’s
intervention
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/September 05, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/09/134099/
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei last week made an unexpected statement to
open the door to potential negotiations with the US concerning Tehran’s nuclear
program. This move has prompted widespread speculation and raised the question:
Could it lead to a revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear
deal?
Khamenei informed President Masoud Pezeshkian’s new government that there was
“no harm” in engaging with its “enemy.” But why is Khamenei now signaling a
willingness to negotiate? To understand the significance of this shift, it is
worth reflecting on a similar moment in Iranian history. Back in 2015, during
President Hassan Rouhani’s tenure, the supreme leader made analogous comments
that laid the groundwork for the negotiations that eventually led to the nuclear
deal.
Rouhani, like Pezeshkian, was seen as a moderate figure within the Iranian
political landscape, someone who was open to dialogue with the West and who
sought to improve relations with the EU. The parallels between these two moments
may raise questions among some politicians about whether Iran is once again
preparing to engage in serious diplomatic efforts. One of the driving forces
behind Khamenei’s recent remarks may be Iran’s dire economic situation. The
country has been grappling with severe economic challenges, including
skyrocketing inflation and high unemployment rates, which have fueled widespread
public discontent. This economic downturn has had a devastating impact on the
lives of ordinary Iranians, many of whom have seen their purchasing power eroded
by the rapid devaluation of the national currency, the rial.
It is plausible that the leadership sees the lifting of sanctions as a way to
alleviate some domestic pressure.
The economic crisis has created deep dissatisfaction within the country, with
many Iranians blaming the government’s policies for their hardships. The
pressure on the regime has been mounting and it is plausible that the leadership
sees the lifting of international sanctions as a way to alleviate some of this
pressure. By reopening the possibility of negotiations with the US, Khamenei
might be seeking a path to economic relief that could help stabilize the country
and prevent potential domestic unrest.
Another factor that could be influencing Iran’s decision to reconsider
negotiations is the escalating tension with Israel. In recent months, Iran and
its proxies have been involved in a series of increasingly intense
confrontations with Israel, a close ally of the US. The situation has become so
volatile that it has sparked fears of a broader regional conflict. For Iran,
securing financial resources to support its military and proxy operations has
become more critical than ever.
Furthermore, there is growing concern within the Iranian government about the
potential for military strikes against its nuclear facilities. From Iran’s
perspective, Israel and the US are prepared to take military action to prevent
it from becoming a nuclear-armed state. This threat could be another reason why
Iran is considering negotiations.
Iran’s nuclear program has continued to advance rapidly, despite international
opposition. According to the latest confidential report by the International
Atomic Energy Agency, which was seen by the Associated Press last week, Iran has
significantly expanded its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade
levels. The agency’s Director General Rafael Grossi had previously warned that
Iran possessed enough enriched uranium to produce “several” nuclear bombs. This
alarming development suggests that Iran could soon have the necessary components
to assemble nuclear weapons, posing a serious threat to regional and global
security.
Some may argue that Iran’s sudden openness to negotiations could be a strategic
maneuver designed to buy time.
Some scholars, policy analysts and politicians may argue that Iran’s sudden
openness to negotiations could be a strategic maneuver designed to buy time. By
engaging in talks, Iran might be hoping to delay international action long
enough to complete its nuclear program and declare itself a nuclear-armed state
— a scenario that would leave the West with few options for intervention.
However, even if Khamenei’s offer is genuine, the current geopolitical context
makes a revival of the nuclear deal highly unlikely. Unlike the situation in
2015, Iran is now embroiled in a heightened conflict with Israel. The ongoing
tit-for-tat retaliations between the two nations make the prospect of the US
sitting down at the negotiating table with Iran increasingly unpalatable for
Washington. Any attempt to negotiate under such conditions could be seen as
undermining the US’ commitments to its allies in the region, particularly
Israel.
Moreover, the political landscape in both Iran and the US has shifted
significantly since the days of the Rouhani administration. Back then, there was
a strong political will on both sides to reach a deal. The Obama administration
in the US was keen on diplomacy and Rouhani, supported by a more moderate
faction in Iran, was committed to securing an agreement. Today, however, the
situation is different. President Joe Biden’s term is drawing to a close and his
administration faces considerable opposition from conservative elements, which
are staunchly against reviving the nuclear deal. Similarly, in Iran, hard-liners
have gained more influence and Khamenei himself has laid out strict red lines
for any potential talks, emphasizing his deep distrust of Washington.
In conclusion, while Khamenei’s statement about opening the door to nuclear
negotiations bears similarities to the rhetoric used during Rouhani’s tenure,
the current geopolitical environment is markedly different. The combination of
heightened tensions with Israel, political opposition in both Iran and the US
and the advanced state of Iran’s nuclear program makes the likelihood of
reaching a new deal vanishingly slim.
**Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political
scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh