English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For September 14/2024
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Exaltation of the Cross/The message about the cross is
foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the
power of God.
First Letter to the Corinthians 01/18-25: "The message about the cross is
foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the
power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the
discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ Where is the one who is wise?
Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish
the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know
God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to
save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we
proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to
Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human
wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength."
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on September 13-14/2024
Elias Bejjani/Video/.The Assassination of Bashir Gemayel Targeted the
Entire Lebanese Nation.
Elias Bejjani/Video & Text/.The Assassination of Bashir Gemayel Targeted the
Entire Lebanese Nation
The 9/11 Anniversary and the Willful Blindness to Its Perpetrators: Shia and
Sunni Political Islam and Leftist Complicity/Elias Bejjani/September 11, 2024
Nasrallah has suffered severe, painful blows in recent days/Avi
Ashkenazi/Jerusalem Post/September 13/2024
Sinwar thanks Hezbollah for support in letter reportedly sent to Nasrallah
An eye for an eye’: Hezbollah targets two Israeli military bases in Safed
Report: Hochstein to visit Lebanon, not only Israel
Hezbollah retaliates to Kfarjoz 'massacre' with barrages of drones and rockets
Israeli Raid on Western Bekaa Kills One and Injures Seven
Israeli airstrike in Kfarjoz, southern Lebanon, kills three
Report: Hezbollah strike on Glilot killed 22, wounded 74
Fuel Tanks near Burj Hammoud’s Fire?
Jdeideh landfill damaged after overnight fire; environmental, health concerns
rise
Geagea rules out any new presidential initiative
Budget 2025: A Major Gap Between Theory and Reality/Liliane Mokbel/This Is
Beirut/September 13/2024
Quintet Sets Deadline for Presidential Election Before 2025/Bassam Abou Zeid/This
Is Beirut/September 13/2024
Lebanon's FM Bou Habib meets French ambassador, UNHCR official to discuss return
of 30,000 Syrian refugees
Cholera bacteria detected in Litani River, authorities warn of health risks
UN Humanitarian Fund Allocates $24 Million for Lebanon
Egyptian ambassador tells Speaker Berri: Dialogue between Quintet, Lebanese
parties will lead to progress on presidential issue
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on September 13-14/2024
IDF destroys Iran’s 'Deep Layer' facility in Syria in boldest operation yet -
Axios/Walla/Jerusalem Post/September 13/2024
Israeli military says it acted against targets in Syria
Israel maintains silence after Syria raid amid growing tensions
On tour of war-scarred Gaza, Israel army renews vow to save hostages
How a strip of land in Gaza that borders Egypt has become an obstacle to a
cease-fire
Spain hosts meeting on Israel-Palestinian two-state solution
US blames Iran-linked group for attack on Iraq diplomatic compound
SAfrica says it is determined in its Israel ‘genocide’ case
UN official says the war in Sudan is ‘one of the ugliest’ she has ever seen
Biden, Starmer put off Ukraine missiles decision
Iraqi and US forces kill a top Daesh commander and other militants in joint
operation
Former Public Security chief jailed 20 years over forgery, bribery and
embezzlement
Tunisian authorities escalate election season crackdown and arrest Islamists
Trump will address IAC summit next week, Harris and Biden also invited
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on September 13-14/2024
Islam’s Forgotten Victims: Enslaved Child Soldiers and Suicide Bombers/Raymond
Ibrahim/PJ Media
Yahya Sinwar: The evolution of Israel's greatest enemy, right under our
noses/Jacky Hugi/Jerusalem Post/September 13/2024
October 7 couldn’t kill the Abraham Accords/Yaara Segal/Jerusalem Post/September
13/2024
France at War with Itself/Drieu Godefridi/Gatestone Institute./September 13,
2024
Can Turkiye now be part of the Arab regional system?/Sinem Cengiz/Arab
News/September 13, 2024
Can the Jordanian Islamists Make a Change?/Mario Chartouni/This Is
Beirut/September 13/2024
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on September 12-13/2024
Elias Bejjani/Video/.The Assassination of Bashir Gemayel Targeted the Entire
Lebanese Nation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rarA0MNV-hc&t=3s
Elias Bejjani/September 14/2024
Elias Bejjani/Video & Text/.The Assassination of Bashir Gemayel Targeted the
Entire Lebanese Nation
Elias Bejjani/September 14/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/09/134399/
The Assassination of Lebanon’s President-Elect Bashir Gemayel: A Target on the
Entire Nation
Elias Bejjani/September 14/2024
On September 14, 1982, Lebanon was struck by a political earthquake: the
assassination of President-elect Bashir Gemayel that was not merely an attack on
a man; but an evil and Trojan assault on the very soul of Lebanon, a calculated
blow aimed at destroying the fragile dream of an independent and sovereign
nation. Bashir Gemayel was more than a leader—he was the embodiment of hope, a
symbol of escape from the devastation of war of others, and the promise of a
unified Lebanon, free from the iron grip of foreign manipulations. Bashir
Gemayel did not just represent a political faction; he carried the torch of a
national project, a vision to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty and place it firmly
in the hands of its people. In the chaos of a Lebanon torn apart by regional and
international powers, Gemayel stood as a bulwark against foreign meddling. As
the leader of the Lebanese Forces, he spearheaded the formation of a military
force with one purpose: to protect Lebanon’s integrity and independence.
Elected on August 23, 1982, Gemayel’s rise to the presidency sparked a renewed
sense of hope in a population battered by civil wars since 1975. For many
Lebanese, his election was a lifeline—an opportunity to rebuild a nation at the
brink of disintegration. His presidency was poised to usher in a new era of
security, sovereignty, and unity, a direct challenge to the factions and foreign
actors who profited from Lebanon's fragmentation. In one of Lebanon’s darkest
hours, just days before assuming presidential office, Bashir was assassinated in
a bomb attack that obliterated the Phalange Party headquarters in Ashrafieh.
This wasn’t just the murder of a man—it was the assassination of a vision and a
dream for a free and independent Lebanon. Those responsible weren’t merely
seeking to eliminate Gemayel; they sought to snuff out the dream of national
sovereignty. His killers sent a brutal message: Lebanon would remain a
playground for foreign interests, and any attempt to wrest control back into the
hands of its people would be met with violence, plots, assassinations, wars and
destruction.
The heinous crime was a calculated move by forces that thrived on Lebanon’s
instability, who saw Gemayel’s vision and dream of a strong Lebanon as a threat
to their grip on power. His assassination was a dagger plunged into the heart of
every Lebanese citizen who longed for a future free from foreign domination and
internal division.
Bashir Gemayel’s assassination sent shockwaves through the country, deepening
the fractures in Lebanon’s social and political landscape. It was a blow not
just to the Lebanese people, but to the very idea of a cohesive, sovereign
state. The murder of Lebanon’s president-elect symbolized the unraveling of a
nation already teetering on the edge of collapse. It opened the door to more
foreign meddling, more chaos, and a renewed cycle of violence that would grip
the country for years to come.
Even today, the reverberations of this assassination are felt across Lebanon.
Gemayel wasn’t just another political leader; he was a unifying force, the
embodiment of a national project to reclaim Lebanon’s independence. His
assassination serves as a stark reminder that Lebanon’s battle for sovereignty
is not merely an internal struggle, but a perpetual fight against external
powers that seek to divide and exploit it.
The assassination of Bashir Gemayel stands as a sobering lesson for all
Lebanese: the road to a truly independent state is long and fraught with danger.
Lebanon’s future can only be secured through unity and an unyielding commitment
to sovereignty. The forces of division are relentless, but the people’s resolve
must be stronger. The murder of Bashir Gemayel was not the end of Lebanon’s
struggle—it marked the beginning of new challenges. Today, remembering this
crime should inspire current and future generations to redouble their efforts in
securing a sovereign, peaceful, and united Lebanon, free from the chains of
foreign control and internal discord.
In conclusion, the assassination of Bashir Gemayel is not merely a chapter in
Lebanon’s history; it is a deep and unhealed wound in the nation’s fabric. His
death was a direct assault on a project of national revival—a deliberate attempt
to crush the possibility of a Lebanon where sovereignty, stability, and peace
could reign. The memory of his assassination should serve as a rallying cry for
all Lebanese, a reminder that the fight for independence is ongoing and must be
pursued with unwavering determination.
The 9/11 Anniversary and the Willful Blindness to Its
Perpetrators: Shia and Sunni Political Islam and Leftist Complicity
Elias Bejjani/September 11, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/09/134323/
On September 11th, we remember one of the most harrowing moments in human
history when Al-Qaeda executed a meticulously planned act of pure evil in the
heart of the United States. This atrocity was not merely about destroying
buildings and killing thousands of innocent people; it was a calculated attempt
to terrorize the world and impose a radical Islamic agenda steeped in violence
and terror. Al-Qaeda’s objective was unmistakable: to spread chaos, dismantle
democratic systems, and replace them with a tyrannical Islamic rule that defies
basic human values, legitimizing murder and the enslavement of Christians and
other "infidels" worldwide.
Today, as we commemorate this tragedy, we are confronted with a disturbing
reality. The current U.S. administration, under Democratic leadership, is taking
steps that not only betray the spirit of the war on terror initiated after 9/11
but actively undermine it. Instead of intensifying the fight against terrorism
in all its manifestations, we witness them extending support and aid to
extremist Islamic factions, both Shia and Sunni. The Biden administration,
following the perilous path charted by Obama, is empowering the terrorist
Iranian regime—a regime that had a hand in the 9/11 attacks and is now on the
brink of acquiring nuclear weapons, posing an existential threat not just to
Israel and the Arab countries, but to the entire civilized world.
As the U.S. administration turns a blind eye to Iran's escalating crimes and its
terrorist proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, it allows the Houthis to
unleash chaos in the region, disrupting maritime transport without consequence.
Simultaneously, we see a troubling alliance with Sunni political Islam, embodied
by groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and Boko Haram—terrorist organizations
determined to destabilize not just the Middle East, but the world, spreading
chaos and destruction.
Even more concerning is the silent complicity with the Muslim Brotherhood both
within and outside the United States, where they continue their extremist
activities with minimal interference. On the contrary, these groups are granted
the influence to shape U.S. policy from within, an alarming reality that cannot
be ignored.
In conclusion, we must rise against these catastrophic policies. The Biden
administration, much like Obama’s before it, stands as an adversary to the
American people and global peace, bolstering terrorism in both its Sunni and
Shia incarnations. Peace advocates must urgently work to remove Kamala Harris
and any figure behind this destructive agenda. Concurrently, the U.S. must stand
firmly with Israel in its efforts to neutralize Iran's nuclear ambitions and
eliminate the terrorist threat posed by Hamas. Furthermore, a resolute stance
must be taken against Hezbollah in Lebanon by enforcing international
resolutions such as the Armistice Agreement and UNSC Resolutions 1559, 1680, and
1701.
The anniversary of September 11th must not pass without a clear and unyielding
reminder of who the real enemies of peace and stability are: the political
Islamists, both Shia and Sunni, and the radical left, epitomized by the Biden
and Obama administrations. Peace lovers must unite against this
existential threat to ensure a secure and peaceful future for generations to
come.
The intent of this piece is to spotlight the grave dangers posed by destructive
leftist elements across all spectrums and the looming threats from both Sunni
and Shia political Islamists. It also underscores the disastrous impact of
certain political decisions on global stability, urging a steadfast stand
against terrorism in all its forms and the critical need to prevent the Iranian
Mullahs from obtaining nuclear capabilities.
Nasrallah has suffered severe,
painful blows in recent days - opinion
Avi Ashkenazi/Jerusalem Post/September 13/2024
Nasrallah is relying on the 'Nahariya test' barely receiving a passing grade.
Secretary-general of the Hezbollah terror group, Hassan Nasrallah, has
understood the extent of the fracture in his organization following recent
events that occurred. An Iranian drone launched by the Houthis from Yemen struck
a residential building in Tel Aviv on July 18, killing 50-year-old Yevgeny
Pridder. Less than 30 hours later, dozens of Israel Air Force planes flew from
the Israeli border and destroyed facilities in the port of Hodeidah in Yemen - a
crucial supply route for the Houthis. On Monday, September 9, at noon, an
Iranian drone operated by Hezbollah struck a building in Nahariya, about 130 km
north of Tel Aviv. The question is: Will the situation in Nahariya be treated
the same as in Tel Aviv? Will the political leadership instruct the IDF to
deploy around 100 fighter jets for a powerful attack on the port of Beirut? Or
perhaps direct attacks on another strategic site in Lebanon?
Choosing to overlook the Nahariya attack
The answer is, most likely, no. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will probably
prefer to overlook the attack in Nahariya. The current assumption for residents
of the north is that IDF strikes will continue to show restraint and that "the
Hodeidah effect" is unlikely to be replicated in Beirut or another city in
Lebanon. Netanyahu has many things on his plate right now: a trip to the UN in
New York, budget, and trying to navigate the Jewish high holidays without
escalating the region into a religious war, as some of his coalition members aim
for. The last thing he needs right now is a high-intensity war with Iran’s
Lebanese branch. On a serious note, Netanyahu is in real trouble. He has become
entangled in a political, military, and public quagmire that even a magician
like him has found challenging to unravel. Luckily for Netanyahu, Nasrallah is
also in a similar problematic situation. He, too, is entangled with himself, the
desires of Iran, and internal resistance from Lebanese citizens. Major General
Ori Gordine. Netanyahu’s fortune is that Major General Ori Gordin leads the
Northern Command. The man is no fool. Gordin is an individual who can, at any
time, restrain and curb aggressive intentions. This is why the IDF has managed
to control the intensity of the clashes between Israel and Iran, Hezbollah,
Syria, and Iraq over the past 11 months. Gordin has managed to cause damage to
the other side while preventing them from considering wild offensive intentions.
The attacks this past week in Syria attributed to Israel were highly
significant. It was a severe blow to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Hezbollah’s
armament, and the pro-Iranian forces in Syria. Nasrallah has suffered
several painful blows in recent days. The Israel Air Force has carried out over
a hundred strikes in Lebanon since last Wednesday. The IDF has been
systematically targeting Hezbollah’s launchers in Lebanon, causing severe damage
to the organization’s arms depots. Thanks to Israel, Hezbollah has gone from a
well-organized, trained army to an organization struggling to maintain a
structured system. In other words, orders from Nasrallah are not being
transmitted to the field in an organized and precise manner. Nasrallah
understood that he was in a bind: How would he escape this situation without
being hurt even more?
The Nahariya test
He may have relied on the fact that the “Nahariya test” will only pass with a
passing grade.
Simply put, Nasrallah relied on Netanyahu continuing to treat situations along
the northern and southern borders as less important than central Israel.
Sinwar thanks Hezbollah for support in letter reportedly sent to Nasrallah
Jerusalem Post/September 13/2024
Sinwar has not appeared in public since the October 7 attacks and is widely
thought to be running the war from tunnels.
A letter that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar allegedly sent to Hezbollah's
secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, in which Sinwar expressed his gratitude to
the terror group, was published on Hezbollah's official Telegram on Friday
morning. In the letter, Sinwar expressed his gratitude for Nasrallah's
condolences following the assassination of former Hamas political head Ismail
Haniyeh. Haniyeh was killed in a blast in Tehran in July, in what some claim was
an assassination by Israel, however Israel has never officially confirmed this.
Sinwar has not appeared in public since the October 7 attacks and is widely
thought to be running the war from tunnels beneath Gaza. This letter is the
second he has allegedly sent this week, after Hamas said on Tuesday that Sinwar
had sent one congratulating Algerian President Abdulmadjid Tebboune on his
reelection.
Sinwar's letter to Nasrallah
"Honorable Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-General of Hezbollah in Lebanon, peace
and blessings," the letter begins. "We, in the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas,
have received your letter with great respect and appreciation, which included
blessings and condolences for the fall of our martyrs, including your comrade in
the struggle and resistance, the martyred leader Ismail Haniyeh 'Abu Abed,' head
of the political bureau of the movement, and his companion, the martyr Wasim Abu
Shaban 'Abu Anas.'""We sincerely thank you for your noble solidarity, as
reflected in your actions to help the axis of resistance, and your support and
involvement in the [Palestinian] struggle. We pray that God blesses your efforts
and protects you and your country from harm," the letter continued. "Our martyr,
the leader and symbol of the nation of Palestine, 'Abu Abed,' fell in the battle
of 'Al-Aqsa Storm,' one of the most historic and significant battles of our
Palestinian people," it added. At the end of the letter, Sinwar declared the
continuation of the fight until the "expulsion of the occupation" and the
establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
He also emphasized the importance of defending the holy sites, especially the
Al-Aqsa Mosque.
An eye for an eye’: Hezbollah targets two Israeli
military bases in Safed
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/September 13, 2024
BEIRUT: Hezbollah launched a swarm of assault drones on Filon Base — the
headquarters of Israel’s 210th Division — and its warehouses in the southeast of
Safed on Friday, the second attack on Safed in less than 12 hours. Hezbollah
said it had “targeted the positions and locations of the base’s soldiers and
officers, striking them directly.”Israeli media outlets confirmed the attack,
stating that “20 rockets were launched from Lebanon toward Safad.”
FASTFACT
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza announced the allocation of
$24 million as an aid package from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund ‘to support the
country’s most vulnerable groups.’This came hours after Israeli raids on Friday
morning that targeted several houses in Bint Jbeil, the largest city in the area
of the Israel-Lebanon border. The impact of the explosions destroyed some
residential buildings and caused damage to other structures. The Israeli army
also raided the outskirts of Yaroun and Aita Al-Shaab, with heavy artillery
targeting the forests of Alma Al-Shaab and the outskirts of Kfarshouba.
Israeli forces also targeted two motorcycles in Nabatieh on Thursday night,
killing three people, including a four-year-old child identified as Mehdi
Mubarak, along with his father, Sadeq Mubarak from Markaba, and Sajed Mustafa,
Hezbollah announced.
Hezbollah immediately responded by targeting a major air-defense base in Safad
with dozens of Katyusha missiles, setting parts of it ablaze and leading to a
complete power outage in Safad and nearby areas. Around 50,000 settlers fled to
shelters after hearing the sound of sirens, according to Israeli media outlets.
European and US calls to prevent the expansion of war in Lebanon have yet to
have any effect. In his Friday sermon, the head of Hezbollah’s Shariah Council,
Sheikh Mohammed Yazbek, said “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and the
initiator is the aggressor.” He added: “Hezbollah stands up to the Israeli
enemy’s attacks, the monstrous and destructive bombing of houses, and killing of
civilians, by launching rocket and drone operations against more settlements.”
Yazbek highlighted “the Israeli escalation,” and said that Hezbollah “is fully
prepared to teach the enemy a lesson it hasn’t dreamed of, and won’t stop before
the attack against Gaza stops.”Israeli media outlets reported on Thursday night
that the US presidential envoy to Lebanon and Israel, Amos Hochstein, will head
to Israel with a message calling for it to avoid “carrying out an expanded
military operation in Lebanon.”The Lebanese authorities have yet to receive
confirmation of whether Hochstein intends to visit Beirut. According to
Information International, the death toll from confrontations on the southern
front between Oct. 8, 2023, and the morning of Sept. 13, 2024, was 626. Among
them are 431 Hezbollah members and 97 civilians. A total of 2,050 homes have
been completely destroyed, 1,800 homes have been partially destroyed, and around
8,000 homes have suffered minor damage, while more than 110,000 people have been
displaced, with many losing their livelihoods. Meanwhile, UN Humanitarian
Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza issued a statement announcing the allocation
of $24 million as an aid package from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund “to support
the country’s most vulnerable groups, and address the needs of those affected by
the escalating hostilities in southern Lebanon.”Riza said: “As the escalation of
hostilities in south Lebanon drags on longer than we had hoped, it has led to
further displacement and deepened the already critical needs. The long-term
consequences on vulnerable groups are particularly worrying — schools are
closing, healthcare services are under strain, and basic services are being
stretched thin.”He continued: “We are allocating these funds from the LHF at a
time of unprecedented challenges. Lebanon is grappling with multiple crises,
which have overwhelmed the country’s capacity to cope. Despite our best efforts,
only 25 percent of our annual appeal has been met. We urgently call on the
international community for more support. “The LHF has allowed us to support
over 200,000 people, but this is still far from enough. Without sufficient
funding, we are not only limited in addressing those immediate needs but also
risk weakening our preparedness efforts and our capacity to address the other
urgent crises Lebanon is currently facing.” The LHF clarified that the new
funding will “provide urgent support to those in need, including food, shelter,
healthcare, WaSH and protection. Specifically, $10 million from the LHF will be
directed toward emergency relief for those affected by the hostilities in south
Lebanon. “Additionally, $13 million will be allocated to support vulnerable
communities across Lebanon, and the remaining $1 million will be dedicated to
empowering local NGOs, enhancing their ability to respond effectively to the
multifaceted crisis.” In November 2023, in response to the escalation of
hostilities on Lebanon’s southern border, the LHF allocated $4.1 million to
support advanced preparedness and immediate response efforts for those displaced
and in need. This response was further bolstered in February, when the UN’s
Central Emergency Response Fund allocated an additional $9 million to address
the urgent needs of vulnerable populations, particularly in southern Lebanon.
Report: Hochstein to visit Lebanon, not only Israel
Naharnet/September 13, 2024
U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein will soon visit Tel Aviv as well as Lebanon, al-Jadeed
television quoted sources as saying. “His agenda involves pressing (Israeli PM
Benjamin) Netanyahu not to expand the war on Lebanon, because its cost will be
hefty for both sides,” al-Jadeed said.He will also call for calming the southern
front and will tackle Lebanon’s presidential file, the TV network added.
“Hochstein might propose separating the Gaza-linked southern front from the
presidential file,” al-Jadeed said. Israel’s Channel 12 has reported Thursday
that “Hochstein will carry a U.S. message to the political leadership in Israel,
asking it not to go to an adventure in the north because it will be very
costly.”“Hochstein will exert an extra effort to reach a settlement in the
north, but the problem is that such a settlement is also linked to a ceasefire
in Gaza,” the channel said.
Hezbollah retaliates to Kfarjoz 'massacre' with barrages of
drones and rockets
Naharnet/September 13, 2024
Hezbollah targeted Friday military positions in northern Israel and in the
occupied Shebaa and Kfarshouba regions with suicide drones and other weapons
while Israeli warplanes raided twice the southern town of Bint Jbeil. The jets
targeted early Friday a house and later the al-Wadi region in Bint Jbeil,
causing no casualties, the National News agency said. Later in the day,
artillery shelled the southern border town of Kfarshouba. Hezbollah for its part
targeted Friday the al-Marj and the Bayyad Blida posts in northern Israel, and
the Zebdine barracks in the occupied Shebaa Farms. Hezbollah has been trading
near-daily cross-border fire with Israeli forces since Palestinian militant
group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, sparking war in the Gaza Strip. A
strike Thursday on the village of Kfarjoz near Nabatieh, around 10 kilometers
from the border with Israel, had killed three people, including a child. In a
statement posted to Telegram early Friday, Hezbollah said it had fired a barrage
of Katyusha rockets at Israel's Northern Command "in response to the attack and
assassination carried out" in Kfarjoz. Also in response to the Kfarjoz
"massacre", Hezbollah attacked with an array of suicide drones the Filon
military base, southeast of Safad. The cross-border violence since early October
has killed about 622 people in Lebanon, mostly fighters but also including at
least 142 civilians, according to an AFP tally. On the Israeli side, including
in the annexed Golan Heights, authorities have announced the deaths of at least
24 soldiers and 26 civilians.
Israeli Raid on Western Bekaa Kills One and Injures Seven
This Is Beirut/September 13, 2024
One person was killed and seven others were injured, including four children, in
an Israeli drone attack targeting a residential apartment in Al-Ahmadiya, West
Bekaa, on Friday, according to the Ministry of Public Health Emergency
Operations. The Israeli army had previously stated “working intensively on the
northern front (with Lebanon) during the last week and attacking more than 140
targets on Lebanese territory.”Israeli artillery shelled Aita al-Shaab and
Kfarchouba, while flares were launched at the Labbouneh forests. Israeli fire
also targeted the outskirts of Tayr Harfa, Al-Jebbayn, and Majdal Zoun, during
intense low-altitude surveillance flights above Tyre. Additionally, the Israeli
army declared “intercepting projectiles fired from Lebanon towards Maskaf Aam.”
Israel also announced that “20 rockets were fired from Lebanon at the city of
Safad.”For its part, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for “launching an aerial
drone attack at Filon base (headquarters of the 210th division) and achieving
direct hits.” In another statement, the pro-Iranian group announced raiding “a
military force at Birkat Risha with appropriate weapons and achieving direct
hits.”On Friday morning, Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting
various locations in Bint Jbeil, the outskirts of Alma al-Shaab, Dhayra and al-Salhani.
Israeli airstrike in Kfarjoz, southern Lebanon, kills three
LBCI/September 13, 2024
An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon killed three people, including a child,
according to the Health Ministry. A source close to Hezbollah confirmed to
Agence France-Presse (AFP) that one of the victims was a fighter for the group.
The ministry's statement said the airstrike "targeted the village of Kfarjoz,
near Nabatieh, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to three
others."
Report: Hezbollah strike on Glilot killed 22, wounded 74
Naharnet/September 13, 2024
Hezbollah’s response to the assassination of its military chief Fouad Shukur
killed 22 and wounded 74 others from Israel’s Unit 8200 intelligence department,
the pro-Hezbollah al-Mayadeen TV quoted “credible European security sources” as
saying.
Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had on August 25 announced that his
group had managed to strike the Glilot intelligence base in Tel Aviv’s suburbs
with suicide drones, as Israel's military said there were "no hits" on the base.
Israel launched massive air strikes into south Lebanon on the dawn of August 25,
saying it destroyed hundreds of Hezbollah rocket launchers and thwarted a major
attack, while the Lebanese group insisted it had been able to deliver a drone
and rocket barrage of its own. The Israeli military said around 100 of its
fighter jets had struck more than 270 targets, "90 percent" of which "were
short-range rockets aimed at northern Israel." Hezbollah denied that thousands
of launchers had been destroyed or that Israel had thwarted a larger attack. It
said its own operation "was completed and accomplished."Hezbollah said its
militants launched "a large number of drones" and "more than 320" Katyusha
rockets targeting "enemy positions" across the border. Nasrallah named the "main
target" as the Glilot military intelligence base near Tel Aviv, which Israeli
media reported is home to the headquarters of the Mossad spy agency. A secondary
target, said Nasrallah, was Ein Shemer, a military airport used by Israeli
drones.
Fuel Tanks near Burj Hammoud’s Fire?
This Is Beirut/September 13, 2024
These fuel tanks, located just a few hundred meters from the Bourj Hammoud
landfill site, are a source of great concern following the fire that broke out
there on Thursday. This event rekindled fears of a potential explosive
catastrophe, given the proximity of these flammable tanks to the landfill. The
ongoing investigation, inconclusive at this stage, does not rule out the
possibility of a deliberate act.
Jdeideh landfill damaged after overnight fire;
environmental, health concerns rise
LBCI/September 13, 2024
The Jdeideh landfill was devastated after a fire erupted around 6 p.m. Thursday
and burned through the night. Despite Civil Defense efforts to control the
blaze, the harmful effects on the environment and air quality in this densely
populated area remain difficult to manage.
Smoke blanketed surrounding streets throughout the night, creating hazardous
conditions. Emissions from the fire are expected to persist for several days.
Inhaling toxic substances released from burning waste poses significant health
risks.Established in 2016, the Jdeideh landfill was part of a temporary 40-month
plan to handle household waste following the closure of the Naameh landfill that
May. The site has undergone several expansions and was constructed near oil
tanks, raising concerns about a potential disaster if the fire were to spread to
them.
Geagea rules out any new presidential initiative
Naharnet/September 13, 2024
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has accused Hezbollah of “attempting to
promote the idea that it would seize control of the various joints of the state
in return for it (Hezbollah) offering concessions in the South.”“But this notion
is untrue, neither at the level of diplomatic circles nor inside the country,”
Geagea added, in an interview on Sky News Arabia. Ruling out any new
presidential initiative despite the current efforts of the five-nation group for
Lebanon, the LF leader said “everyone has realized that the Axis of Defiance is
blocking the presidential election.”Geagea also denied that the LF has rejected
Speaker Nabih Berri’s call for dialogue over the presidency, noting that his
part is “in a state of daily dialogue with all parliamentary blocs.”“Berri wants
a formal dialogue table under his chairmanship, and this violates the articles
of the constitution that clearly stipulate how to carry out the presidential
vote,” Geagea added. “Every time the Axis of Defiance blocks the election to
exert pressures on the Lebanese people with the aim of securing its candidate’s
election. It succeeded the last time but it won’t succeed this time,” the LF
leader went on to say. Separately, Geagea said he does not expect the
Israel-Hezbollah conflict in the South to last for another year, noting that “we
will witness a solution within weeks or months.”“As for the comprehensive
solution, it will begin from the Mediterranean and reach Iran, and it is
currently on the table but it will await the U.S. presidential election,” Geagea
added.
Budget 2025: A Major Gap Between Theory and
Reality
Liliane Mokbel/This Is Beirut/September 13/2024
The reinstatement of fiscal and budgetary discipline remains an unattainable
goal. By submitting the 2025 draft budget to the government, caretaker Finance
Minister Youssef Khalil once again bypassed the laws and regulations governing
the preparation of the state budget. In early September, caretaker Finance
Minister Youssef Khalil launched a new tax census aimed at expanding the
taxpayer base, as part of his ongoing efforts to fight tax evasion. Last year,
Khalil had already implemented a similar project, recruiting university students
paid in fresh dollars for the task. However, the results of that first census
were never disclosed, keeping the public ill-informed. Unofficial estimates
suggest that tax evasion could be as high as 65%. Meanwhile, the 2025 draft
budget, submitted to the government for review, suggests an increase in spending
of approximately $1.8 billion compared to the 2024 budget. This increase will be
financed by registered taxpayers through new taxes and levies. Additionally, the
draft budget plans to double direct taxes, based on an unsubstantiated
assumption of better revenue collection, even though 80% of taxes are indirect.
As a result, everyone will pay the same amount, rather than imposing a higher
burden on those with greater income.
Lack of data
In terms of budgetary discipline, violations of laws and regulations are
increasingly common. The Finance Ministry has effectively normalized the failure
to close the previous fiscal year’s accounts. Since 2017, on five occasions, the
finance minister has missed the May 15 deadline to submit the accounts’ closure
to the Court of Accounts, as mandated by Article 19 of the General Accounting
Law. In 2025, this issue persists, with revenue and expenditure estimates
lacking substantiation, thereby compromising fiscal transparency. Furthermore, a
key problem in preparing the draft budget is the Finance Ministry’s inability to
produce and provide reliable macroeconomic data and indicators. As a result, the
rating agency Standard & Poor’s has announced it will no longer assign a rating
to Lebanon due to this data shortfall. Moreover, the reports released by the
Finance Ministry before 2019 were based on Treasury figures, although they
should have relied on account closure data.
Off-budget expenditures
The public budget does not accurately capture the actual scope of the public
sector, primarily due to the lack of reports on off-budget expenditures and the
redundancy in budget classification. In addition to these discrepancies, the
shortage of personnel makes it challenging to determine the exact revenue
amounts for each tax.
Budget reform
Lebanon’s outdated itemized budget model needs to be reformed. To restore
budgetary discipline, adopting a program-based or performance-based model is
essential. This would enable effectively monitoring spending efficiency, rather
than simply verifying how funds were spent.
Quintet Sets Deadline for Presidential Election Before 2025
Bassam Abou Zeid/This Is Beirut/September 13/2024
French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian will reportedly visit Beirut at the
end of September to continue his efforts related to the presidential election.
This tour is part of his coordination with the Quintet (comprising the United
States, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt). It follows recent meetings with
Saudi advisor Nizar al-Aloula and the Quintet’s ambassadors in Beirut. According
to sources involved with the Quintet’s efforts, it seems that a presidential
election in Lebanon is unlikely before the end of this year. However, the last
quarter will be pivotal for paving the way for an election early next year. The
primary responsibility for this falls on the Lebanese parties, and any failure
will be their own, not the Quintet’s, especially since Lebanon will face
significant challenges, including potential regional political negotiations and
resolution as well as upcoming parliamentary elections. It is worth noting that
all Quintet members, particularly Saudi Arabia, remain committed to keeping
Lebanon a top priority. Furthermore, the Quintet is actively working to achieve
Lebanon’s presidential election as a means to help the country escape the
ongoing regional conflicts. The successful election of a president and the
formation of a government are seen as opportunities for Hezbollah to shift its
focus from the current war to addressing Lebanon’s deteriorating situation.
According to some information, Quintet members believe Hezbollah has become more
pragmatic regarding the presidential election, having effectively delegated this
responsibility to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. This has facilitated the
Quintet’s efforts to find a breakthrough, especially as the gap between Berri’s
proposals and those of the Lebanese Forces (LF) has narrowed. The Lebanese
Forces propose holding an electoral session and, if it fails, transitioning to
brief consultations, followed by an open-ended election process with successive
rounds until a president is elected. This proposal has received the endorsement
of Quintet members and Le Drian.Within the Quintet, all parties have reached a
consensus that no specific presidential candidate should be proposed or
endorsed. The committee will instead concentrate on outlining the ideal
qualifications for the future president. The priority is to identify a neutral
candidate who is uninvolved with the country’s corrupt network and possesses the
economic expertise required to develop a comprehensive solution to Lebanon’s
crisis.
Lebanon's FM Bou Habib meets French ambassador, UNHCR
official to discuss return of 30,000 Syrian refugees
LBCI/September 13, 2024
Lebanon's Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Abdallah Bou Habib held talks
on the issue of Syrian refugees with Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, UNHCR's assistant
high commissioner for protection. Menikdiwela noted that the UN has observed a
positive change in how the Syrian government handles refugees. She highlighted
growing momentum that could be leveraged to support early recovery and
facilitate the return of refugees. Menikdiwela also mentioned that UNHCR plans
to facilitate the voluntary return of 30,000 Syrian refugees from Lebanon to
Syria in the near future. The Syrian displacement issue was also discussed
between Bou Habib and French Ambassador Hervé Magro, with Bou Habib emphasizing
the need to reconsider the European approach to the matter. They also discussed
the situation in southern Lebanon and the region, as well as France's efforts to
de-escalate tensions and prevent a full-scale war.
Cholera bacteria detected in Litani River, authorities warn
of health risks
LBCI/September 13, 2024
The Litani River National Authority announced that it had detected cholera
bacteria in the river’s upper basin during regular tests of samples collected
from various locations. In a statement, the authority explained that water
contaminated with cholera is the primary cause of its spread, particularly as
the Litani River receives sewage laden with various types of bacteria. On
September 9, 2024, samples were taken from seven locations in the upper basin
and analyzed at the authority’s laboratory in Kherbet Qanafar. The results
showed cholera contamination at two points: the sewage collection site in
Chtaura and the Litani River at Dalhamiya Bridge. Notably, these two locations
had also recorded cholera contamination during the outbreak in 2022. The Litani
River National Authority warned that the current situation poses a serious
public health risk to nearby communities and called for an immediate halt to all
activities that could worsen the problem or spark a new outbreak. “If cholera
bacteria reach surface water, they will spread to all points, threatening the
health of everyone in the upper Litani basin,” the authority cautioned in its
statement.
UN Humanitarian Fund Allocates $24 Million for Lebanon
This Is Beirut/September 13, 2024
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, has allocated a $24
million emergency aid package from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF) to
support the country’s most vulnerable populations and address the urgent needs
of those impacted by the ongoing hostilities in southern Lebanon. “We are
allocating these funds from the LHF at a time of unprecedented challenges.
Lebanon is grappling with multiple crises, which have overwhelmed the country’s
capacity to cope. Despite our best efforts, only 25% of our annual appeal has
been met. We urgently call on the international community for more support,”
Riza emphasized in a statement. The statement highlighted that the new LHF
funding will provide “urgent support to those in need, including food, shelter,
healthcare, WaSH, and protection. Specifically, $10 million from the LHF will be
directed towards emergency relief for those affected by the hostilities in
southern Lebanon. Additionally, $13 million will be allocated to support
vulnerable communities across Lebanon, and the remaining $1 million will be
dedicated to empowering local NGOs, enhancing their ability to respond
effectively to the multifaceted crisis.”
Riza warned that the prolonged escalation in southern Lebanon is exacerbating
displacement and critical needs, with schools closing, healthcare services under
strain, and basic services stretched thin. He noted that while the LHF has
helped over 200,000 people, this is insufficient. Without adequate funding, they
risk not only failing to meet immediate needs but also weakening their
preparedness and response to other urgent crises in Lebanon. In November 2023,
the LHF allocated $4.1 million for immediate response and preparedness due to
hostilities on Lebanon’s southern border. This was complemented by an additional
$9 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in February 2024
to support vulnerable populations in southern Lebanon, the statement reads.
Egyptian ambassador tells Speaker Berri: Dialogue between Quintet, Lebanese
parties will lead to progress on presidential issue
LBCI/September 13, 2024
The Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, briefed Parliament Speaker
Nabih Berri on the latest developments regarding the negotiations on Gaza.
Moussa said, "What is happening in Gaza affects all of us, especially the
situation in southern Lebanon, and this topic was a major focus of the
discussions."
Moussa noted, "We had an in-depth discussion about the presidential issue,
focusing on the ideas Berri previously put forward and recently expanded upon
last week." He added, "We discussed breaking the current deadlock, and I believe
there is a shared understanding of the urgency. Everyone agrees that electing a
president is crucial, and action is needed sooner rather than later to move this
issue forward." Moussa said Berri emphasized his commitment to separating the
Gaza developments from the presidential process. He explained that if this
separation is maintained, it could help unlock progress on the presidential
issue. "We also discussed the efforts of the Quintet Committee and our upcoming
meetings, along with our hopes for the outcome. I assured Speaker Berri that we
will stay in close contact regarding the Quintet's actions. Dialogue between the
Quintet and Lebanese parties is key to achieving progress on this issue," Moussa
said. Moussa expressed hope that there would be a breakthrough in Gaza in the
coming days, positively impacting the situation in southern Lebanon. He
emphasized ongoing efforts by Lebanon and its allies to take all necessary
measures to prevent the conflict from escalating further. In response to a
question about the upcoming Quintet meetings, the Egyptian ambassador said,
"We'll be meeting soon, now that the focus has shifted back to the presidential
issue. Previously, our main concern was calming the situation in southern
Lebanon." He added, "The ambassadors were out of the country, but now that
they've returned, we'll convene to evaluate recent developments and explore
future actions. We won't discuss any specific ideas until we've had the chance
to consult with the other Quintet members."
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on September 13-14/2024
IDF destroys Iran’s 'Deep Layer' facility in Syria in boldest operation yet -
Axios
Walla/Jerusalem Post/September 13/2024
The IDF's General Staff Reconnaissance Unit destroyed a Syrian underground
missile factory built by Iran, a significant blow to their covert operations.
The IDF's General Staff Reconnaissance Unit destroyed on Sunday a Syrian
underground factory for precision missiles built by Iran, according to a
Thursday Axios report. According to the report, this was the boldest operation
the IDF has carried out in recent years against Iranian targets in Syria. The
destruction of the factory was reportedly a significant blow to Iran and
Hezbollah's covert effort to produce medium-range precision missiles in Syria.
The Israeli government has thus far maintained silence on the matter and is not
taking responsibility to avoid provoking Syria, Iran, or Hezbollah into
retaliation. The IDF spokesperson, the Defense Ministry, and the Prime
Minister's Office have all declined to comment. The operation took place on
Sunday night, with official Syrian media and the Syrian opposition reporting
heavy Israel Air Force airstrikes in several areas of western Syria, including
near the city of Masyaf, close to the Lebanese border. On Wednesday, a Syrian
opposition TV channel and Greek Middle East expert Eva J. Kalluriotis reported
that the airstrikes were merely a cover for an Israeli ground operation in
Masyaf. Three sources familiar with the operation confirmed to Axios that the
IDF General Staff Reconnaissance Unit conducted a ground raid and destroyed a
precision missiles manufacturing facility. Destroying 'Deep Layer' Two sources
stated that Israel had informed the Biden administration in advance about the
sensitive operation, and the US did not object. The Israeli special forces unit
surprised the Syrian guards at the facility and killed several of them during
the raid. The Israeli forces used explosives they brought with them to blow up
the underground facility from within, including advanced machinery, according to
two sources who spoke to Axios. The airstrikes carried out on Sunday night were
intended to prevent the Syrian army from sending enforcement troops back to the
area. According to the Axios report, the Iranians began constructing the
underground facility in coordination with Hezbollah and Syria in 2018 after a
series of Israeli airstrikes destroyed most of Iran's missile production
infrastructure in Syria. The Iranians decided to build a deep underground
factory within a mountain in Masyaf to be impervious to Israeli airstrikes. The
Iranian plan was to produce precision missiles in a protected facility near the
Lebanese border, allowing for quicker delivery to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
According to the report, Israeli intelligence discovered and monitored the
construction process for over five years, code-naming the Iranian facility "Deep
Layer." According to Axios' report, an airstrike alone would not be sufficient
to destroy the facility, so the IDF opted to coordinate such an alleged attack
with a ground operation. The IDF considered carrying out the operation at least
twice in recent years, but it was not approved due to the high risks involved.
Israeli military says it acted against targets in Syria
Reuters/September 13, 2024
The Israeli military rarely comments on allegations that it acts in Syria
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said Friday that over the source of the week it
had acted in Syria against targets, just days after Syrian state media reported
Israeli airstrikes killed 16 people in western Syria and wounded dozens more.
“In southern Syria, the IDF targeted several terrorists who were advancing
terror activities against Israel,” a statement from the military said Friday but
did not give further detail. The Israeli military rarely comments on allegations
that it acts in Syria and declined to comment on a New York Times report that
Israeli special forces raided a weapons manufacturing site near the
Syria-Lebanon border on Sunday. On Sunday, Syrian state news agency SANA
reported that Israel launched the strikes on “a number of military sites in the
central region,” without elaborating on what was struck.
Israel maintains silence after Syria raid amid growing
tensions
LBCI/September 13, 2024
As is customary with deep-strike operations against adversaries, Israeli
officials have remained silent following the recent raid on Masyaf, Syria.
Reports indicate that Israeli military intelligence had been tracking the
facility—referred to as “Deep Layer”—for five years, and that the elite Shaldag
unit had specifically trained for this mission. A security official revealed
that the military proposed the operation to political leaders twice before the
Gaza conflict erupted, but both times it was rejected due to the operation’s
complexity and sensitivity. The Masyaf strike, which reportedly received U.S.
support, was discussed by U.S. Central Command Chief Gen. Michael Kurilla during
his recent visit to northern Israel. Tel Aviv views the operation as part of its
broader strategy to neutralize Iranian influence and prevent its expansion in
the region. The raid involved both air and ground forces and utilized explosive
drones to destroy the military facility. While there are concerns about
potential Iranian or Hezbollah retaliation, Israeli security and military
officials expressed relief at removing a significant threat. Former Military
Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. (Res.) Tamir Hayman confirmed the operation before
it was officially acknowledged, marking an unusual move for a former security
official. He described the operation as a clear message that, following the
dismantling of Hamas’s military wing, Israel is entering a new phase of combat
targeting Iran and its allies. While some view the raid as a significant success
for Israeli intelligence and the air force, others see it as a setback for
achieving a prisoner swap and ceasefire. Residents in northern Israel and the
Golan Heights, who have been spending hours near safe zones due to heavy
Hezbollah shelling, interpret the strike as a sign of ongoing neglect.
On tour of war-scarred Gaza, Israel army renews vow to save
hostages
AFP/September 14, 2024
RAFAH, Palestinian Territories: The Israeli army will use all means to bring
back hostages still held in Gaza, its spokesman told a group of foreign
journalists on Friday in the war-scarred city of Rafah. “We need to do
everything, everything we can, in all means, to bring them back home,” military
spokesman Daniel Hagari told the journalists embedded with the Israeli army.
“This is one of the goals of the war, and we will achieve it.”Rear Admiral
Hagari was speaking in front of a shaft in the Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood of
Rafah that connects to a tunnel where Israel says Hamas shot dead six hostages
late last month. Their deaths spurred an outpouring of grief in Israel as well
as anger at the government, which critics say is not doing enough to reach a
deal that would end the war in Gaza and secure the remaining hostages’ release.
The war was triggered by Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel, which resulted
in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based
on Israeli official figures. The count includes hostages killed in captivity.
The militants also seized 251 hostages, 97 of whom are still in Gaza, including
33 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel’s retaliation has killed at least
41,118 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry. The UN
human rights office says most of the dead have been women or children. Israel
has denied independent access to Gaza for international media during the war,
now in its 12th month. Rafah, in the far south of Gaza, has been hit hard by the
fighting, and AFPTV footage on Friday showed streets lined with the bombed-out
shells of buildings, many partially collapsed with rubble spilling into the
streets. Hagari said the destruction was intended to wipe out the network of
tunnels under the city.
“You have a maze of tunnels here, a maze of tunnels here in Rafah,
underneath the houses. This is why the destruction,” he said. “There is even not
one point left without a tunnel here in Rafah. “In order to defeat (Hamas) we
need to take control of this underground system.” The army also showed
journalists the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip of land that has emerged as
a key sticking point in talks toward a possible ceasefire mediated by Egypt,
Qatar and the United States. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last
week that retaining control of the corridor was important to stop any arms
smuggling into Gaza from Egypt. Hamas is demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal
from the territory.
How a strip of land in Gaza that borders Egypt has
become an obstacle to a cease-fire
Joseph Krauss/The Associated Press/September 13, 2024
A narrow strip of scrubland and sand dunes on the Gaza side of the border with
Egypt has emerged as a major obstacle in talks aimed at halting the Israel-Hamas
war and freeing scores of hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
says Israel must maintain control over the so-called Philadelphi corridor to
prevent Hamas from replenishing its arsenal through smuggling tunnels under the
border. He says that’s necessary to ensure the group can never again launch an
attack into Israel like the one on Oct. 7 that ignited the war. However, Israeli
media have cited military officials saying any tunnels into neighboring Egypt
had been sealed from the Egyptian side for years before the war, making
smuggling through them unlikely. Many Israelis, including the defense minister,
say Israel should relinquish the corridor, at least for a short period of time,
in order to secure an agreement to bring back around 100 hostages still held in
Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead. The debate reached a fever
pitch at the beginning of September after Israel recovered the bodies of six
hostages the military says Hamas killed as troops closed in. Critics say they
could have been returned alive in a cease-fire deal and accuse Netanyahu of
sabotaging the talks for his own political interests. Hamas has demanded a full
withdrawal from Gaza and says Netanyahu only raised the demand for the
Philadelphi corridor in recent weeks to derail the talks. Netanyahu blames Hamas
for the lack of a deal and says the demand is not new. Egypt, which has served
as a key mediator, is also opposed to any Israeli presence along the Gaza side
of its border and says it would threaten the decades-old peace treaty between
the two countries, a cornerstone of regional stability.
What is the Philadelphi corridor and why does Israel want it?
The Philadelphi corridor is an empty strip — only 100 meters (yards) wide in
some places— that runs the 14-kilometer (8.6-mile) length of the Gaza side of
the border with Egypt. It includes the Rafah crossing, which was Gaza’s only
outlet to the outside world not controlled by Israel until the army captured the
entire corridor in May. At a Sept. 2 news conference, Netanyahu said Hamas had
been using tunnels under the border to import arms, allowing it to build up the
military machine it deployed on Oct. 7. He said the smuggling under the corridor
provided “oxygen” for Hamas.
Israel’s Haaretz news outlet, however, cited military officials this week saying
there was little chance the tunnels had been used for years. It reported that
Israeli troops had found nine tunnels running under the Philadelphi corridor,
all sealed from the Egyptian side since Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi
came to power in 2013 and launched a campaign to destroy tunnels. It said the
army believes most weapons in Gaza were produced locally, using some materials
smuggled through the Rafah crossing and the nearby Kerem Shalom crossing, which
is controlled by Israel. Egypt denied Netanyahu’s allegations, saying it
destroyed hundreds of tunnels on its side of the border years ago and set up a
military buffer zone of its own that prevents smuggling.
What do Netanyahu’s critics say about the corridor?
For weeks, Israeli media have quoted unnamed security officials lambasting
Netanyahu, saying the corridor is not essential to Israel’s security and should
not hold up a deal to return hostages. Some have suggested an international
force could patrol the border, perhaps with remote Israeli sensors. The dispute
sparked a shouting match at a security Cabinet meeting in late August, in which
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused Netanyahu of favoring border arrangements
over the lives of the hostages, according to an Israeli official who spoke on
condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting. Gallant was the lone
dissenting voice in a subsequent vote in favor of maintaining control over the
Philadelphi corridor and has since called on the government to reverse it.
Families of hostages have led months of mass protests calling on Netanyahu to
make a deal with Hamas to return their loved ones. The killing of the six
hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, triggered some of the
biggest yet. Netanyahu maintains that only relentless military pressure can
defeat Hamas, return the hostages and bring about a deal that ensures Israel’s
security.
What do Palestinians say about the corridor?
Any Israeli presence inside Gaza would be widely seen as a military occupation,
likely prolonging the conflict. It could also extend, perhaps indefinitely, the
closure of the Rafah crossing, which has been a lifeline for Gaza since Egypt
and Israel began imposing various degrees of a blockade on the territory after
Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. For 16 years, it was
the only way for most Palestinians to exit or enter Gaza. During the first seven
months of the war, it was also the only route available for medical evacuations
and the main entry point for desperately needed humanitarian aid.
Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war,
territories the Palestinians want for their own state. It withdrew soldiers and
settlers from Gaza in 2005 but continued to control the territory’s airspace,
coastline, and all of its border crossings except Rafah. Hamas has adamantly
rejected any Israeli presence in Gaza, including in the Philadelphi corridor and
the Netzarim corridor, a zone carved out by Israel separating northern from
southern Gaza. Israel says it needs that corridor to search Palestinians
returning to their homes in the north to keep militants from slipping in.
Israel denies its demands regarding the two corridors are new, referring to them
as “clarifications” of an earlier proposal endorsed by President Joe Biden in a
May 31 speech and by the U.N. Security Council. Israel also accuses Hamas of
making unacceptable demands since then, and says the militant group is hindering
a deal, including by killing hostages who would be part of it.
What is the position of the mediators?
Biden’s original outline for a cease-fire referred to a complete Israeli
withdrawal. Egyptian officials and Hamas say the demands regarding the corridors
were not included in subsequent versions of the proposal, including one Hamas
said it accepted in early July. Egypt is deeply opposed to any Israeli military
presence along the Gaza border and has refused to reopen its side of the Rafah
crossing unless the Gaza side is returned to Palestinian control. It has accused
Israel of violating provisions of the landmark 1979 peace treaty that regulate
the deployment of forces along the border. Israeli officials did not immediately
respond to a request for comment. The United States, which is providing crucial
military support to Israel while also serving as a mediator, has not taken a
public position on the corridors.
Spain hosts meeting on Israel-Palestinian two-state
solution
AFP/September 13, 2024
MADRID: Ministers from Muslim and European countries along with the European
Union’s foreign affairs chief gathered Friday in Madrid to discuss how to
advance a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “Together, we
want to identify the concrete actions that will enable us to make progress
toward this objective,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on social
network X. “The international community must take a decisive step toward a just
and lasting peace in the Middle East,” the Socialist premier added. Sanchez
welcomed participants at his official residence before the start of the meeting
at the foreign ministry in central Madrid, hosted by his top diplomat Jose
Manuel Albares. In attendance were Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa
and the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye —
all members of the Arab-Islamic Contact Group for Gaza — as well as the heads of
the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The European Union
was represented by its foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell as well as the
foreign ministers of Ireland, Norway and Slovenia in addition to Spain. “The
implementation of the two-state solution is the only way to ensure a just and
lasting peace in the region through the peaceful and secure coexistence of the
state of Palestine and the state of Israel,” Albares told a news conference.
Asked about Israel’s absence from the meeting, he said the country had not been
invited because it belonged “neither to the group of Europeans nor to the
Arab-Islamic contact group” but stressed he would be “delighted” if Israel took
part in discussions on the two-state solution. Calls for the solution have grown
since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, which began with Hamas’s October 7 attack
on Israel. That attack resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians,
according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. The militants also seized
251 hostages, 97 of whom are still in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military
says are dead. Israel has responded with an offensive that has killed at least
41,118 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run
territory. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children.
Sanchez has been one of the staunchest critics in Europe of Israel’s Gaza
offensive since the start of the conflict. Under his watch, Spain on May 28
along with Ireland and Norway formally recognized a Palestinian state comprising
the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Earlier this month he announced that the first
“bilateral summit between Spain and Palestine” would be held before the end of
the year. He said he expected “several collaboration agreements between the two
states” to be signed.
US blames Iran-linked group for attack on Iraq diplomatic
compound
AFP/September 13, 2024
BAGHDAD: The US embassy in Iraq on Friday blamed Iran-linked groups for an
attack this week on a US diplomatic compound at Baghdad airport, warning it
retained “the right to self-defense.”The embassy said in a statement there were
“no reported casualties” in the attack Tuesday which it said “was initiated by
Iran-aligned militia groups which operate freely in Iraq.” It called on Iraq to
protect its personnel and facilities. The compound, located within the airport
perimeter but attached to the US embassy, provides logistical support and
medical services, among other things. The attack occurred amid rising regional
tensions over the Gaza war and shortly ahead of a visit by Iranian President
Masoud Pezeshkian to Iraq. In its statement, the US embassy said Iraq had
“repeatedly committed to protect diplomatic missions” and US military personnel
in the country “at the government of Iraq’s invitation.” “We again call on the
government of Iraq, as we have done on many occasions, to protect diplomatic and
coalition partner personnel and facilities,” it added. “We reiterate that we
reserve the right to self-defense and to protect our personnel anywhere in the
world.”A senior military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP
on Wednesday that “two Katyusha-type rockets” had caused the explosion. US
military and civilian facilities in Iraq have come under repeated attack, both
by Sunni Muslim extremists and by Shiite armed groups backed by Iran.
SAfrica says it is determined in its Israel ‘genocide’ case
AFP/September 14, 2024
PRETORIA: South Africa is determined to pursue its genocide case against Israel
at the International Court of Justice and will next month file more evidence,
President Cyril Ramaphosa said Friday. South Africa filed the case in December
alleging that Israel’s Gaza offensive, launched in retaliation for Hamas’ bloody
October 7 attack, breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. Israel has strongly
denied the accusation. “We are headstrong,” Ramaphosa told journalists when
asked about the case. “We are determined to go ahead with our case.” The country
is due to file facts and evidence to the UN court next month to back up its
case. “Preparations are underway to present what they call the memorial, a huge
tome of hundreds and hundreds of pages,” the president said. “We continue
arguing that the genocide must stop and there must be a ceasefire, and
similarly, there must be a return of the hostages.” South Africa’s case has been
joined by several countries, including Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Spain and
Turkiye. Hamas’s attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly
civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. The
count includes hostages killed in captivity. Israel’s retaliation has killed at
least 41,118 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry.
UN official says the war in Sudan is ‘one of the ugliest’
she has ever seen
Ephrem Kossaify/Arab News/September 14, 2024
NEW YORK CITY: A UN official on Friday described the situation in war-torn Sudan
as “one of the ugliest” she has ever witnessed, with more than 26 million people
facing acute hunger and millions of displaced women and girls deprived of their
most essential needs. Speaking after a visit to the country, Laila Baker, the
Arab States regional director at the UN Population Fund, said: “We all know that
war is ugly but this is one of the ugliest situations that I have ever witnessed
in my entire life, certainly in my professional one.” After 500 “devastating
days” of conflict, Baker painted a dire picture of thousands of displaced women
packed into a crowded shelter. “They have no clean water, no hygiene, not enough
food for their next meal, no medical care,” she said. The UN said in August said
famine conditions were officially confirmed in the Zamzam camp for displaced
persons, located close to El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, where one
child is dying every two hours from malnutrition. Famine is probably also
present in several other camps for displaced people in and around the city, the
organization said. War has been raging in the country for more than a year
between rival factions of its military government: the Sudanese Armed Forces,
under Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces,
led by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti. More than 19,000
people have been killed since the conflict began in April 2023. The war has also
created the worst displacement crisis in the world, as more than 10 million have
fled their homes to other parts of the country or neighboring nations. Baker
choked back tears as she recounted the “horrendous” story of a 20-year old woman
named Sana who was raped and has been suffering in silence for 15 months, when
“she should be at the prime of her vibrancy and life.”Speaking from Amman in
Jordan, Baker said the UN is attempting to help deal with needs in Sudan that
are “far greater than what the international community can cope with.”
She added: “But what pains me the most is that in a country that once was the
breadbasket of the entire continent, producing wheat that they could distribute
across Africa, half of the population — slightly over half of the population, 26
million people strong — are now facing famine. “Of the 600,000 pregnant women,
18,000 are likely to die as a result of that famine. They don’t know where their
next meal is going to come from. “Let me be clear: This is a war on all of the
civilians. It’s not just the women and girls but if you take the complications
of conflict — loss, both material and human; the devastation of being displaced;
losing your loved ones; and where there is widespread sexual violence — you can
understand that we are very concerned at (the Population Fund) about the
consequences, both immediate and long-term, on the women and girls of Sudan.”
Aid workers continue to face harassment, attacks and even death, aid convoys
delivering food, medicine and fuel have been looted, and humanitarian access
continues to be obstructed. A recent escalation of fighting in Sennar has caused
further blocking of the southern route that was the main cross-lines option for
UN deliveries of humanitarian aid from Port Sudan to Kordofan and Darfur. The UN
has been calling for speedy approvals and security assurances so that its
workers can deliver life-saving supplies, including essential medicines,
nutritional aid, water-purification tablets and soap, from Port Sudan to Zamzam
and other areas in need. Baker again emphasized the urgent need for unimpeded
humanitarian access in a country where only one-in-four medical facilities are
still functioning, 80 percent of the healthcare system has been damaged or
destroyed, and where large areas of the country, especially in the west, are
completely unsafe for humanitarian work. Asked by Arab News what message she
would send to the leaders of the warring factions, Baker said: “I would say to
the generals, and everyone else who's involved in this conflict and who can
bring hostilities to a halt: the sooner, the better for everyone involved. Let
peace flourish. Let it have a chance. “The conflict is driving a stake into the
heart of Sudan. No one prospers under this situation, least of all the women and
girls.”
Biden, Starmer put off Ukraine missiles decision
AFP/September 14, 2024
WASHINGTON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden on
Friday delayed a decision to let Ukraine fire long-range Western-supplied
missiles into Russia, a plan that sparked dire threats from Moscow of a war with
NATO. Starmer told reporters at the White House that he had a “wide-ranging
discussion about strategy” with Biden but that it “wasn’t a meeting about a
particular capability.”Before the meeting officials had said Starmer would press
Biden to back his plan to send British Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine to hit
deeper inside Russia as allies become increasingly concerned about the
battlefield situation. But the Labour leader indicated that he and Biden would
now discuss the plan at the UN General Assembly in New York the week after next
“with a wider group of individuals.” As they met with their teams across a long
table in the White House, backed by US and British flags, Biden played down a
warning by Russian President Vladimir Putin that allowing Ukraine to fire the
weapons would mean the West was “at war” with Russia. “I don’t think much about
Vladimir Putin,” Biden told reporters when asked about the comments. But while
Biden said it was “clear that Putin will not prevail in this war,” he is
understood to be reluctant to grant Ukraine’s insistent demand to be able to use
long-range US-made ATACMS missiles against Russian territory. US officials
believe the missiles would make a limited difference to Ukraine’s campaign and
also want to ensure that Washington’s own stocks of the munitions are not
depleted. The two leaders said they also discussed the war in Gaza, with Britain
having recently suspended arms deliveries to Israel over concerns that they
could be used to violate international humanitarian law. The US, Israel’s main
military and diplomatic backer, has held off such a step. Biden and Starmer
agreed on their “ironclad commitment” to Israel — but stressed the “urgent need”
for a ceasefire deal and a “need for Israel to do more to protect civilians” in
Gaza, the White House said in a readout. The White House had earlier played down
the chances of a Ukraine decision coming from Friday’s visit by Starmer, the
Labour leader’s second to the White House since he took office in July. “I
wouldn’t expect any major announcement in that regard coming out of the
discussions, certainly not from our side,” National Security Council spokesman
John Kirby told reporters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky however pushed
Kyiv’s Western allies to do more. Speaking in Kyiv, Zelensky accusing the West
of being “afraid” to even help Ukraine shoot down incoming missiles as it has
done with Israel. Zelensky added that he will meet Biden “this month” to present
his “victory plan” on how to end two and a half years of war with Russia. Russia
has reacted angrily to the prospect of the West supplying long-range weapons to
the country it invaded in February 2022. In another sign of increasing tensions,
Russia revoked the credentials of six British diplomats whom it accused of
spying in what London termed “baseless” allegations. Russia’s UN ambassador
Vassily Nebenzia warned separately that letting Ukraine use long-range weapons
would plunge NATO into “direct war with... a nuclear power.”Ukraine and the
United States’s allies are all meanwhile anxiously waiting for the result of a
tense US presidential election in November that could upend Washington’s Ukraine
policy. Biden is on his way out of office while the election is a toss-up
between his Democratic political heir Kamala Harris and Republican former
president Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly praised Putin, and refused to take
sides on the war during a debate with Harris on Tuesday, saying only: “I want
the war to stop.”Starmer denied he was worried about a Trump presidency, and
said the need to help Ukraine in coming weeks and months was urgent “whatever
timetables are going on in other countries.”
Iraqi and US forces kill a top Daesh commander and other
militants in joint operation
AP/September 14, 2024
BAGHDAD: Iraqi forces and American troops have killed a senior commander with
the Daesh group who was wanted by the United States, as well as several other
prominent militants, Iraq’s military said on Friday. The operation in Iraq’s
western Anbar province began in late August, the Iraqi military said, and
involved also members of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service and Iraq’s air
force. Among the dead was an Daesh commander from Tunisia, known as Abu Ali Al-Tunisi,
for whom the US Treasury Department had offered $5 million for information. Also
killed was Ahmad Hamed Zwein, the Daesh deputy commander in Iraq. Despite their
defeat, attacks by Daesh sleeper cells in Iraq and Syria have been on the rise
over the past years, with scores of people killed or wounded. Friday’s
announcement was not the first news of the operation. Two weeks ago, official
has said that the United States military and Iraq launched a joint raid
targeting suspected Daesh militants in the country’s western desert that killed
at least 15 people and left seven American troops hurt. Five of the American
troops were wounded in the raid itself, while two others suffered injuries from
falls during the operation. One who suffered a fall was transported out of the
region, while one of the wounded was evacuated for further treatment, a US
defense official said at the time, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss
details of the operation that had not yet been made public. In Friday’s
announcement, the Iraqi military said the operation also confiscated weapons and
computers, smart phones and 10 explosive belts. It added that 14 Daesh
commanders were identified after DNA tests were conducted. It made no mention of
the 15th person killed and whether that person had also been identified. The
Daesh group seized territory at the height of its power and declared a caliphate
in large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014 but was defeated in Iraq in 2017. In
March 2019, the extremists lost the last sliver of land they once controlled in
eastern Syria. At its peak, the group ruled an area half the size of the United
Kingdom where it enforced its extreme interpretation of Islam, which included
attacks on religious minority groups and harsh punishment of Muslims deemed to
be apostates. Despite their defeat, attacks by Daesh sleeper cells in Iraq and
Syria have been on the rise over the past years, killing and wounding scores of
people. The US military has not commented on the August raid. Earlier Friday,
the US Central Command said its forces killed an Daesh attack cell member in a
strike in eastern Syria. It added that the individual was planting an improvised
explosive device for a planned attack against anti-Daesh coalition forces and
their partners, an apparent reference to Syria’s Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic
Forces.In August last year, the US had agreed to enter into talks to transition
US and anti-Daesh coalition forces from their long-standing role in assisting
Iraq in combating Daesh. There are approximately 2,500 US troops in the country,
and their departure will take into account the security situation on the ground,
and the capabilities of the Iraqi armed forces.
Former Public Security chief jailed 20 years over forgery,
bribery and embezzlement
Arab News/September 13, 2024
RIYADH: A Saudi court has sentenced the former director of Public Security to 20
years in jail and fined him SR1 million ($266,000) after he was convicted of
bribery, forgery, authority misuse, embezzling public funds and other charges.
The court issued an irrevocable ruling and jailed Lt. Gen. Khalid bin Qarar Al-Harbi
for an initial 10 years for forgery and bribery. His SR1 million fine and seized
embezzled funds will be deposited in the government’s treasury. Al-Harbi was
also handed an additional 10 years’ imprisonment after the court convicted him
of misusing authority for personal gains, exploiting government contracts and
embezzling public funds. On Friday, the Saudi Press Agency cited a Ministry of
Interior official source saying that the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority
(Nazaha) had questioned Al-Harbi and referred him to the pertinent court in
accordance with the Criminal Procedures Law. The source added that in reference
to a royal order, the defendant’s services were terminated. He was referred to
retirement and placed under investigation by Nazaha. According to the undated
court judgment, the bribe amount of SR10.08 million which Al-Harbi received will
be confiscated. He was also ordered to repay the SR2.82 million of public funds
that he embezzled. The court will confiscate the gifts (or the equivalence of
their value) and financial payments provided to his relatives as bribes that
amounted up to SR175,000. Two agricultural plots that he obtained as bribes will
also be confiscated. The court also ordered Al-Harbi to repay SR584,000 that he
obtained illegally. The Interior Ministry highlighted the Saudi government’s
keenness to protect public funds and combat corruption in all its forms.
Tunisian authorities escalate election season crackdown and
arrest Islamists
AP/September 14, 2024
TUNIS, Tunisia: Dozens of members of Tunisia’s largest opposition party were
arrested this week ahead of this weekend’s formal start of the campaign season
for the country’s presidential election, officials of the Islamist party said
Friday. Ennahda, the party that rose to power in the aftermath of the country’s
Arab Spring, said Friday that tallies collected by its local branches suggested
at least 80 men and women from the party had been apprehended as part of a
countywide sweep. In a statement, Ennahda called the arrests “an unprecedented
campaign of raids and violations of the most basic rights guaranteed by
law.”Former Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmed Gaaloul, a member of the party’s
executive committee and adviser to its imprisoned leader Rached Ghannouchi, said
the party had counted at least 80 arrests and was in the process of checking at
least 108 total. The arrests included high-ranking party officials and had
continued through Friday afternoon. Among them were Mohamed Guelwi, a member of
the party’s executive committee, and Mohamed Ali Boukhatim, a regional party
leader from Ben Arous, a suburb of Tunis. The mass arrests are the latest to mar
an already turbulent election season in Tunisia. With political apathy rampant
and the country’s most prominent opposition figures in prison, President Kais
Saied has long been expected to win a second term without significant challenge.
But the past few months have seen major upheaval. Saied has sacked the majority
of his cabinet and authorities have arrested more of his potential opponents.
The country’s election authority made up of members he appointed has defied
court orders to keep certain challengers off of the October 6 ballot. Those
moves came after months of cascading arrests of journalists, lawyers and leading
civil society figures, including many critics of the president charged under a
controversial anti-fake news law that human rights groups say has been
increasingly used to quash criticism. Ennahda is still in the process of
confirming the nature of each of the arrests but many of those apprehended this
week were previously facing charges, Gaaloul said.
The arrested included many senior members of the party involved in Tunisia’s
transitional justice process, which includes Ennahda members who were tortured
in the years before President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali became the first Arab
dictator toppled in the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.
Tunisia’s globally acclaimed transitional justice process is a decade-old
initiative designed to help victims who suffered at the hands of the government.
Ennahda is no stranger to having party members arrested. Ghannouchi, the party’s
83-year-old leader, has been in prison since April 2023. Multiple high-ranking
officials, including members of its shura council and executive committee have
also been arrested over the past year. This week’s arrests are the latest since
authorities arrested party secretary general Lajmi Lourimi two months ago.
Though the party has for more than three years decried arrests, detentions and
legal proceedings against its members, Gaaloul said it had not previously seen
arrests on a scale similar to this week.
The arrests came as hundreds of Tunisians protested in the North African
nation’s capital, decrying the emergence of what they called a police state
ahead of the Oct. 6 election. They were roundly condemned by other parties.
“These arrests come as a sign of further narrowing and deviation? of the
electoral process aiming at spreading fear and emptying the upcoming election of
any chance for a real democratic competition,” Work and Accomplishment, a party
led by former Ennahda member Abdellatif Mekki, said in a statement on Friday.
Mekki, who served as Tunisia’s Health Minister from 2011 to 2014, was also
arrested in July on murder charges that his attorneys decried as politically
motivated. Tunisia’s election authority has said it will defy an administrative
court order and keep him off of next month’s ballot.
Trump will address IAC summit next week, Harris and Biden also invited
Jerusalem Post/September 13/2024
IAC said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were also invited
to speak. Former President Donald Trump will address the Israeli-American
Council's National Summit as a featured speaker next week in Washington, D.C,
IAC confirmed Friday morning. IAC said President Joe Biden and Vice President
Kamala Harris were also invited to speak. "The IAC National Summit has become
America’s largest pro-Israel conference, this year expecting to draw nearly
4,000 participants from the Jewish and Israeli community, including many
students, who will honor the victims and heroes of Oct. 7 and mark nearly one
year since the massacre," according to the release from IAC. "Featured centrally
will be Oct. 7-focused programs, including tributes to the heroes, survivors,
and families of hostages; a salute to the Israel Defense Forces; a panel of
experts on IDF combat ethics; and a special appearance by former hostages who
were freed from the clutches of Hamas," the release said. IAC said other
speakers include Andrei Kozlov, who was held hostage by Hamas and freed in a
daring IDF rescue; His Royal Highness Reza Pahlavi, the Crown Prince of Iran;
U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Ambassador Deborah
Lipstadt; House Republican Conference Chair Representative Elise Stefanik
(R-NY); Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY); Israel’s Ambassador to the United
States Michael Herzog; physician, businesswoman and leading philanthropist Dr.
Miriam Adelson; Oracle CEO Safra Catz; Professor, lawyer, and author Alan
Dershowitz; Israeli Happiness Studies Academy cofounder Prof. Tal Ben-Shahar;
singer and social media Influencer Montana Tucker; influencer, author and former
Israeli Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and Delegitimization Noa Tishby;
U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler Amit Elor; Israeli Olympic bronze
medal-winning gymnast Peter Paltchik; Australian actor Nathaniel Buzolic; actor
and comedian Michael Rapaport; actor Barton Gellman; Harvard University graduate
student and activist Shabbos Kestenbaum and many others. Other VIPs are expected
to be announced in the coming days. “Over the last year, Israel and the Jewish
People have been at war on the battlefield, on college campuses, in the media,
and on social networks,” IAC CEO Elan Carr, the former U.S. Special Envoy to
Monitor and Combat Antisemitism said in the release. “This year's Summit
provides a critical opportunity for our community to unite with focus and
purpose. Together we will embrace the families of the fallen and those taken
hostage, salute the IDF heroes who defend Israel day and night, support the
students standing up for Israel on campus, and recognize those fighting for
Israel's global standing. Most importantly, as we approach the first anniversary
of the horrific massacre of Oct. 7, we will unite as one people, in one voice,
to declare: Am Yisrael Chai!”
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on September 13-14/2024
Islam’s Forgotten Victims: Enslaved Child Soldiers and Suicide Bombers
Raymond Ibrahim/PJ Media
An old jihadist tactic meant to deplete the ranks of non-Muslims while
simultaneously augmenting its own recently received minor media coverage.
According to the report, “an ISIS-affiliated armed group in northern Mozambique
is recruiting boys as young as 13 to participate in [armed] raids against
Mozambican authorities and villagers in the region.”
Not only is ISIS not “recruiting” children, but the brief report fails to
explain the prevalence and mechanics of this phenomenon.
Luckily, older reports, closer to when ISIS was in its heyday in Syria and Iraq,
shed more light on the specifics of this practice of enslaving and
indoctrinating children into becoming jihadists. These practices are still
widely in effect. Because the jihadists are not in a position to boast of it, as
they were during their peak — when the media took any interest, unlike now —
older reports clarify what is still happening, though clandestinely and
therefore wholly ignored by Western media.
For example, one 2016 report told of how a small boy had blown himself up in a
suicide attack that left at least 51 people—mostly fellow children—dead in
Turkey.
This child was one of countless nameless, faceless children who had been seized,
beaten, and indoctrinated in Islam. Known as the “cubs of the caliphate,” they
were graduates from “schools [established by ISIS] to prepare hundreds of
children and teenagers to conduct suicide attacks.”
At one point, ISIS posted a video of these “cubs,” most whom appeared to be
about 10 years of age, walking around an abandoned amusement park, where they
executed hostages tied to rides. One child, reportedly only four years old, shot
five rounds into a tied-up victim while screaming “Allahu Akbar!” Another little
boy slit the throat of his victim next to a kiddie train before planting the
knife in his back. ISIS posted another video of four children — one Russian, one
Uzbek, and two Iraqis — executing civilians.
One Christian clergyman explained ISIS’s strategy: “They dislocate the families,
they take the newborn babies, and they put them in Islamist families.” There,
they are indoctrinated in jihad and what is called in the West “terrorist
activities.”
Children who managed to escape ISIS say they were repeatedly beaten and fed
“endless propaganda,” including that they must kill their non-Muslim parents.
“We weren’t allowed to cry but I would think about my mother, think about her
worrying about me, and I’d try and cry quietly,” one little boy said.
Seizing and indoctrinating children for the jihad is hardly limited to ISIS and
is especially prevalent in Africa — where, as seen, child soldiers were most
recently deployed against Mozambique. By 2016 alone, Boko Haram, the Islamic
jihadist group terrorizing Nigeria, had kidnapped, enslaved, beaten, and
indoctrinated more than 10,000 boys — some as young as 5 years of age, and many
from Christian backgrounds — into becoming jihadists/terrorists.
“They told us, ‘It’s all right for you to kill and slaughter even your
parents,’” said a former captive who witnessed a beheading on the day he was
enslaved. Other boys held down the victim and explained, “This is what you have
to do to get to heaven.”
Girls were kept in a separate camp and raped, often by captive boys, as a way to
show the latter the boons of becoming warriors of Allah (the deity that permits
his slaves to enslave and rape “infidel” women). An escaped girl, Rachel, who
was impregnated when she was 12, told of how dozens of boys from her village
tied up a kidnapped man and beheaded him. They told the younger children
watching not to “have feelings about it.” “If you go there [Boko Haram training
camps], you can see 12-year-olds talking about burning down a village,” said
another escaped girl, adding, “They have converted.”
A boy who had served as babysitter for infants and toddlers kidnapped or
conceived by rape recalled that “The children, none older than 4, watched
jihadist propaganda videos and rehearsed a game called ‘suicide bomber’ where
they ripped open sacks of sand strapped to their torsos.”
By using children, ISIS hopes to pull on and exploit Western heartstrings to
keep targets from fighting back. During a jihadist raid on neighboring Cameroon,
for example, more than 100 screaming Nigerian boys suddenly appeared — barefoot,
unarmed, or swinging only machetes — and ran toward a military unit, which
gunned them down. As Col. Didier Badjeck explained, “It’s better to kill a boy
than have 1,000 victims. It’s causing us problems with international
organizations, but they’re not on the front lines. We are.”
Yet another older report from 2016 told of more experiences from abducted boys
and girls, including how Boko Haram showed the former to “have fun” with the
latter, including by “learning to subdue a struggling victim during sexual
assault.” One escaped 16-year-old girl said, “I was raped almost on a daily
basis by different men. When they became fed-up with me, they asked the little
boy, who has often watched them do it, to take over.”
ISIS, of course, is not the only entity to employ this practice; it is taking
place all throughout the Muslim world. For example, 300 Christian children were
abducted and forcibly converted to Islam in Bangladesh in 2012, reported
AsiaNews. After convincing impoverished Christian families to spend what little
money they had to send their children to study at supposed “mission hostels,”
Muslim conmen would “pocket the money” and “sell the children to Islamic schools
elsewhere in the country ‘where imams force them to abjure Christianity.’” The
children are then instructed in Islam and beaten. After being fully
indoctrinated, the once-Christian children are asked if they are “ready to give
their lives for Islam,” presumably by becoming suicide-bombers.
Why are Islamic jihad groups resorting to this tactic of enslaving and
indoctrinating children into becoming jihadis? Most Western analysts believe it
to be a reflection of weakened, desperate groups: “The growing trend for ISIS to
use child soldiers as suicide bombers, particularly in Iraq, has been suggested
as a sign of how stretched their resources are in the region,” noted one report.
Or it could suggest that ISIS, Boko Haram, et al., are simply following another
page from the jihadist playbook (which Western “experts” do not even acknowledge
exists). For over a millennium, Muslim caliphates specialized in seizing and
enslaving tens if not hundreds of thousands of young non-Muslim boys, converting
them to Islam, and then beating, indoctrinating, and training them into becoming
jihadists extraordinaire.
The most famous of these were the Ottoman Empire’s janissaries — Christian boys
who were seized from their homes, converted to and indoctrinated in Islam and
jihad, and then unleashed on their former families. As the author of Balkan Wars
explains, “Despite their Christian upbringing, they became fanatical Muslims and
earnestly maintained their faith as warriors of Islam. This cruel practice of
what today can be defined as the ‘brain cleansing’ of the Christian populations
of the Ottoman Empire is perhaps the most inhuman Turkish legacy.”
Western analysts would not be oblivious to this “new” jihadist tactic —
optimistically portraying the reliance on children as proof that terror groups
have “stretched their resources” — if they had Islamic studies departments that
actually disseminated facts instead of pro-Islamic myths and propaganda. As with
all unsavory aspects of Islamic history, the institution of child slave soldiers
has been thoroughly whitewashed. Although young, terrified boys were seized from
the clutches of their devastated parents, the academic narrative is that poor
Christian families were happy to see their boys taken to the caliphate where
they would have a “bright future” as “soldiers and statesmen.”
The price of the modern West’s inability to comprehend Islam’s medieval tactics
is not just ignorance concerning the nature of the enemy, but ignorance
concerning his victims as well — in this case, countless nameless children. As
Mausi Segun, a human rights activist discussing the plight of Boko Haram’s child
jihadists, put it, “There’s almost an entire generation of boys missing. My
guess is that a large majority of them will die [as forced jihadis] in the
conflict.”
And they will die completely unknown in the West — just another victim group to
be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness, lest Islam’s reputation be
besmirched.
https://pjmedia.com/raymond-ibrahim/2024/07/30/islams-forgotten-victims-enslaved-child-soldiers-and-suicide-bombers-n4931193#google_vignette
Yahya Sinwar: The evolution of Israel's greatest enemy,
right under our noses - opinion
Jacky Hugi/Jerusalem Post/September 13/2024
The Hamas leader spent seven years in prison learning the history of Israel,
Zionism, and the Holocaust - which would later assist him in his management of
the terror group.
Between 1995 and 2002, Yahya Sinwar was imprisoned in Hadarim Prison, where he
pursued academic studies through the Open University. Reviewing the list of
subjects he chose is both surprising and unsurprising. Over time, and after a
significant delay—which has cost Israel dearly—it has become clear that Sinwar,
now Israel’s greatest enemy since Yasser Arafat, was steadily evolving.
Today, when people talk about the head of Hamas’s political bureau, it’s usually
in the context of hostages or warfare. But with hindsight, it is evident that
the strategic threat posed by Yahya Sinwar grew right under Israel’s
nose—sometimes literally in our own backyard.
Recently, I came across Sinwar’s academic records from his time in prison. Back
then, the prison authorities allowed security prisoners to pursue academic
degrees through distance learning at the Open University. Sinwar took full
advantage of the opportunity, completing 15 courses in the humanities and social
sciences departments—all studied diligently from his cell. Like other prisoners,
he funded his studies himself, using the monthly stipend provided by the
Palestinian Authority. His Hebrew was proficient and improved over time, which
helped him tackle academic challenges. Later, he even translated two books from
Hebrew to Arabic: the autobiographies of former Shin Bet heads Yaakov Peri (Kill
or Be Killed) and Carmi Gillon (Shin Bet Between the Cracks). Although these
translations were confiscated by the prison authorities, the knowledge and
insights Sinwar gained likely served him and his associates well.
Sinwar began his academic journey in 1995, seven years into his imprisonment. He
had plenty of time, and he used it—his studies spanned another seven years. He
earned good grades, with an average score of 90. This marked the second
educational framework of his life. Earlier, in the 1980s, he had earned a
bachelor’s degree in Arabic language and literature at Gaza University.
Although most of his courses were in history, Sinwar’s curriculum choices at the
Open University reveal a clear and deliberate strategy. He sought to understand
Israeli society, the foundations of Jewish existence, and the governmental
structure of the State of Israel. There’s no surprise there.
What is surprising is Israel’s failure to adopt a similar approach. How many
senior Israeli decision-makers, both civilian and military, show any curiosity
about the DNA of Palestinian existence? How many pursue in-depth knowledge of
Arab or Muslim culture? Perhaps if Israel truly understood their worldview,
relations with Palestinians would be less bloody.
Sinwar’s first course was From Jerusalem to Yavne, a history course covering the
period of the Mishnah and Talmud. It included topics like Yavne after the
destruction of the Second Temple, the Bar Kokhba revolt, and the Oral Torah. He
completed the course with a grade of 81—a solid grade, though not one of his
highest. His grades improved as his Hebrew skills sharpened.
Next, he took the course Jerusalem Through the Ages, which traces the history of
the city from its earliest days as a Jebusite settlement, through the Hasmonean,
Roman, Muslim, Ottoman, and British periods. He scored 92. In From Exile to
Sovereignty, Sinwar studied the history of the Jewish people during ancient
times, covering periods from the Persian Empire to the Greek, Roman, and
Byzantine eras. This course included discussions on the Hasmonean kingdom,
Antiochus’s decrees, and the Maccabean revolt. He completed it with a grade of
94.
Sinwar displayed a keen interest in the formative periods of Jewish history. He
enrolled in two additional courses focused on that era: The History of the
Jewish People During the First Temple Period and Judea and Rome, which delved
into the history of the Jewish people during the Roman Empire. These courses
covered subjects such as the reign of Herod, the destruction of the Second
Temple, and the Bar Kokhba revolt. From there, Sinwar continued to explore later
periods in Jewish history. He studied Jews in an Age of Change, a course about
the status of Jewish ministers in European royal courts from the 15th century
onwards. He also took Between Jews and Christians: Jews and Christians in
Western Europe until the Early Modern Era, which examined Jewish life in
Christian lands from the birth of Christianity to modern times. This course
covered theological debates, persecutions, blood libels, and the phenomenon of
Marranos. Sinwar finished with a grade of 93.
Studying the Jewish People's greatest tragedy
He didn’t skip the opportunity to learn about the Holocaust and took the course
In the Days of the Holocaust. This comprehensive study covered Jewish life in
Europe, the rise of the Nazis, the extermination plan, and how it was conceived
and carried out. He received a grade of 89. Through his studies, Sinwar also
gained in-depth knowledge about the State of Israel. He studied the history of
Zionism in the course Between Zion and Zionism 1881–1914, where he earned his
highest grade—96. Additionally, he took the course Patterns of Society in
Israel, which examined the roots of Israeli society and the relationships
between its various elements. In the social sciences, Sinwar took Government and
Politics in Israel, a foundational course in political science akin to civics
lessons. It covered Israeli democracy, the separation of powers, political
parties, the electoral system, and included a section on minorities. His studies
in the social sciences culminated in the course Experiments in Space: Chapters
in the Settlement Geography of the Land of Israel.
This course provided knowledge on settlement patterns in Israel during the 20th
century, including urban planning, settlement strategies, the creation of the
rural map, and neighborhood rehabilitation. Like other courses, this one also
included a section on minorities, specifically the transfer of Bedouins to
permanent settlements. Since 2011, security prisoners are no longer allowed to
pursue academic studies remotely. This right was revoked by then-Minister of
Public Security Yitzhak Aharonovitch. Until that point, the assumption had been
that acquiring an education would provide prisoners with a challenging focus,
potentially reducing tension with prison authorities.
It was also thought that education might moderate some prisoners’ views. It’s
tempting to say that Sinwar exploited the system—that he used his studies to
sharpen his deadly worldview. But it’s important to remember that not every
prisoner is a hardened Hamas member. Some prisoners genuinely found more
rational paths through education, both in prison and after their release.
Furthermore, his education cannot be separated from the reality outside. If, in
the 12 years since Sinwar’s release, a more constructive reality had developed
between Israel and Gaza, perhaps his academic knowledge and familiarity with
Israel wouldn’t have served as a tool for destruction. Despite his academic
prowess, Sinwar did not complete his degree. He was just a few courses short. He
didn’t finish because he didn’t need to. He had the time and the funds to
continue, but his goal was not to earn a degree from an Israeli university. His
aim was to extract the knowledge he needed. Once he had done so, he stopped.
*The writer is the Arab Affairs commentator for Army Radio (Galei Tzahal.)
October 7 couldn’t kill the Abraham Accords - opinion
Yaara Segal/Jerusalem Post/September 13/2024
The Gaza war posed a major challenge to the Abraham Accords Arab member states,
many of whom have faced criticism from a slew of Arabs and Muslims for
maintaining their relations with Israel.
Updated: SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 14:16 The participation of three senior Arab
diplomats in the recent Middle East-America Dialogue (MEAD) summit in
Washington, DC, alongside Israeli representatives, coincided with the fourth
anniversary of the historic Abraham Accords. The most prominent of the diplomats
was Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the U.S., Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, who
participated in a panel with the Moroccan and Bahraini ambassadors to
Washington.
Among the Israelis in attendance were Ambassador Mike Herzog, Minister of
Economy Nir Barkat, Chairman of the National Unity party, Benny Gantz, former
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi.
Though the content of the speeches and discussions at the summit remain
confidential, the symbolic significance of this gathering is undeniable,
especially in the wake of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel. The
participation of the three Arab ambassadors comes at a time when Israel is
facing intense efforts attempting to delegitimize and isolate the Jewish State
in the wake of the war against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Their
presence at the MEAD summit sends a message that these diplomats and their
countries oppose calls for boycotting Israel. Moreover, their willingness to
attend a summit together with Israelis is an indication of their desire to
pursue their relations with Israel. While Bahrain and Morocco, (as well as the
United Arab Emirates) have already established diplomatic ties with Israel
through the Abraham Accords, the participation of the Saudi Ambassador is of
great significance. Saudi Arabia and Israel were on the verge of finalizing a
normalization agreement in the days leading up to October 7th. Hamas has since
made it known that one of the objectives of the attack on Israeli communities
near the border with the Gaza Strip was to thwart U.S-led efforts to encourage
Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. The Saudis have
since indicated more than once that they have not abandoned the idea of making
peace with Israel, notwithstanding threats by Hamas and other Iran-backed
Islamist terror organizations.
Public meetings between Arab and Israeli officials have been almost nonexistent
since the start of the Gaza war 11 months ago. Despite this, while the war may
have disrupted Israel's relations with the moderate Arab countries in some ways,
it has failed to destroy them. Indeed, contrary to some expectations, the UAE,
Bahrain and Morocco, did not sever diplomatic ties with Israel. Rather, we have
seen an increase in their economic and trade relations with the Jewish State.
For example, according to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, the United Arab
Emirates rose to 14th place among Israel's 126 trading partners. In the first
seven months of 2024, trade in goods between Israel and the UAE reached $1.92
billion, a 4.47% increase compared to the same period last year.
Impact of October 7 on regional relations
The Gaza war posed a major challenge to the Abraham Accords Arab member states,
many of whom have faced criticism from a slew of Arabs and Muslims for
maintaining their relations with Israel. This reflects bold and pragmatic
leadership on the part of the leaders of these countries, who have refused to
succumb to the voices and threats of the extremists in the Arab and Islamic
countries. This brings to mind a quote from the signing ceremony of the Accords
at the White House in 2020, UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed,
expressed this brave stance: “Peace requires courage, and shaping the future
requires knowledge. The advancement of nations requires sincerity and
persistence." Since then, the leaders of the UAE as well as Bahrain and Morocco,
have remained faithful to this commitment and vision.
While moderate Arab countries are holding the line and attempting to balance
efforts between the Palestinian issue and securing regional stability, they also
seem to be worried about the unwillingness of the U.S and other Western leaders
to be assertive in the Middle East, especially since the beginning of the Gaza
war. These countries see how the U.S administration and some European Union
countries are exerting heavy pressure on Israel, and not nearly enough of it on
Hamas and other Iranian proxies, which effectively perpetuate the conflict but
does not end it. This leaves them wondering whether they can rely upon the West
in the battle against the Iranian-led axis of evil. Their fear is that the West
may not stand firm in the face of the threats against their countries, which has
led them to develop their own independent foreign policy, separate from the
needs and wishes of Washington. This explains why some of these Arab countries
are reaching out to more adversarial countries such as Qatar, Turkey and Iran in
search of strategic discussions and cooperation.
The past four years have shown that the Abraham Accords have weathered many
storms. The rapprochement between moderate Arab countries and Qatar, Turkey and
Iran is unlikely to affect the relations with Israel, but this does not mean
that Israel and the West should take the Arab countries' adherence or commitment
to the Abraham Accords for granted. It is imperative to take note of the
messages they are sending and find ways to deepen and expand the cooperation
with them. The UAE has recently signaled its willingness to play a key role in
the post-Gaza war, including the possibility of being part of an Arab
peacekeeping force. This is a development of unprecedented importance. The
Emirati position could pave the way for other Arab countries to join these
efforts, which would be a game-changer for the region.
Additionally, last April we saw the true face and strength of these alliances
when a U.S-led coalition which included several regional countries, came to
Israel’s aid at a crucial moment. Then, some of the Arab countries helped
intercept hundreds of drones and guided missiles that were fired by Iran towards
Israel. This demonstrates that these countries can in fact, play an important
role in securing regional stability and preventing its deterioration.
The recent MEAD summit in Washington serves as a reminder that the Abraham
Accords are still alive and well. The Saudi Ambassador's participation in the
summit is a vote of confidence that will hopefully further boost the accords and
pave the way for expanding them. But for this to happen we must remember the
brave words of the UAE’s Foreign Minister, and all hold ourselves to the highest
standard of courage, knowledge and persistence.
Yaara Segal served in the Foreign Ministry and is a former senior adviser to
Israel’s ambassador in the UAE. She is a specialist on the Abraham Accords and a
strategy and communications consultant on the MENA region.
France at War with Itself
Drieu Godefridi/Gatestone Institute./September 13, 2024
The French people, the plurality of whom voted "right-wing" in the first round,
were astonished to discover, after the second round, a "left-of-center" National
Assembly, a parliament that seemingly does not represent the real country.
The message seems to be the all-too-familiar Marxist concept of Volksrache ("the
people's revenge"): arousing hatreds in order to channel them towards the
"enemies of the regime", and, in the end, liquidate them. The murder of a
policeman, the burning of a synagogue, the death of a delinquent, a war in the
Middle East, elections, no elections: everything is used as a pretext for the
hate-filled, agitprop vituperation of the minions of La France Insoumise, who,
by stirring up hostilities and resentments, particularly anti-Semitic ones,
appear to be whipping up violent -- even terrorist -- militancy, in the
tradition of France's 18th-century terreur. France appears to be sliding, slowly
but surely, towards a version of chaos -- the ancestral breeding ground for the
violence that would be the victory, the horizon and the ultimate goal not only
of Mélenchon's phalanx, but of all those trying to take down the West.
France appears to be sliding, slowly but surely, towards a version of chaos --
the ancestral breeding ground for the violence that would be the victory, the
horizon and the ultimate goal not only of La France Insoumise leader Jean-Luc
Mélenchon's phalanx, but of all those trying to take down the West.
Since the results were announced of France's July 2024 legislative elections,
President Emmanuel Macron has been unable to build a majority in the National
Assembly, which appears more divided than at any time in the history of what the
French call "the Fifth Republic".
The elections produced three blocs, all of which appear to hate each other: the
left, coalescing around Jean-Luc Mélenchon's far-left La France Insoumise
("France Unbowed"), Macron's centrist Renaissance party, and Marine Le Pen's
right-wing Rassemblement National (National Rally).
Three factors seem to favor France's slide towards an open or latent form of
even greater internal conflict.
1. Non-democratic Republic
The purpose of any democratic or republican form of government is to keep its
citizens secure from threats foreign and domestic, and to oversee the peaceful
transfer of power. In France, the question is whether it is still possible to
change the government peacefully through the ballot box.
By having many of his party's candidates stand down in favor of candidates from
the New Popular Front (the hastily assembled coalition of left and far left
parties led by Mélenchon's La France Insoumise) in the elections, Macron and
part of the center-right held in check the democratic will of the French people
to transfer legislative power to the forces of the right, which have a majority
in the country.
The French people, the plurality of whom voted "right-wing" in the first round,
were astonished to discover, after the second round, a "left-of-center" National
Assembly, a parliament that seemingly does not represent the real country.
Between the two rounds of voting, we actually witnessed the surreal spectacle of
"right-wing" candidates (including former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe)
calling on people to vote for communists in order to "block" the "extreme
right". Only in France!
2. The most anti-Western political "left" in the world
By maneuvering to save part of his parliamentary group, Macron offered a
(relative) victory to the most anti-Western forces on the European political
spectrum, the extreme left of La France Insoumise. The antithesis of a governing
party, La France Insoumise is part of the Marxist tradition in the strict sense,
which envisages violence as a means of acquiring power and as a technique of
government.
Not a day goes by without La France Insoumise demanding to govern, demanding the
appointment of this or that Prime Minister -- a prerogative of the president
alone, according to the Constitution - calling for the impeachment of Macron and
threatening to "march on the Elysée" if its multiple demands are not met. These
extortionist demands seem to be more like those of insurrectionists attempting a
coup d'état.
Mélenchon has been courting radical Muslim voters first and foremost, and is
multiplying incendiary declarations in favor of Palestine, and hateful verbal
arabesques about Jews. Le Monde, a left-leaning newspaper, wrote:
"Over the past ten years, the founder of La France Insoumise has made a series
of remarks that borrow from anti-Semitic stereotypes. To the point of arousing
incomprehension even in his own camp and, for the past three months, causing a
large part of public opinion to tense up."
The message seems to be the all-too-familiar Marxist concept of Volksrache ("the
people's revenge"): arousing hatreds in order to channel them towards the
"enemies of the regime", and, in the end, liquidate them. The murder of a
policeman, the burning of a synagogue, the death of a delinquent, a war in the
Middle East, elections, no elections: everything is used as a pretext for the
hate-filled, agitprop vituperation of the minions of La France Insoumise, who,
by stirring up hostilities and resentments, particularly anti-Semitic ones,
appear to be whipping up violent -- even terrorist -- militancy, in the
tradition of France's 18th-century terreur. The demonstrators look as if they
are trying to incite violence against the non-submissive segments of the
population: Jews, Christians, secularists, secular and moderate Muslims, the
"right," the so-called "far right", the "center," the "center-left," and the
"bourgeoisie".
3. Is France presently ungovernable?
Through his maneuvers between the two electoral rounds, Macron may well have
succeeded in making France ungovernable. While he did indeed block the popular
will, he was unable to give the left enough of a majority to get anything
accomplished. While countries with a federal system, such as Belgium, are able
to survive and function without a central government, this is less true of
France.
The problem is not so much the historically frequent divergence between the
presidency and the National Assembly, as the parliament's inability to form a
majority within itself. It is difficult to form a coalition government when the
far-left and the center appear to hate each other, and the center and a part of
the right label the right-wing National Rally as diabolical. Without a majority
coalition, the National Assembly cannot function, and the French state apparatus
becomes necrotic.
For these three reasons -- an inability to change the government through the
ballot box, the over-representation offered by Macron to the most extreme party
in Europe, and the inability to find a parliamentary majority -- France appears
to be sliding, slowly but surely, towards a version of chaos -- the ancestral
breeding ground for the violence that would be the victory, the horizon and the
ultimate goal not only of Mélenchon's phalanx, but of all those trying to take
down the West.
*Drieu Godefridi is a jurist (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain),
philosopher (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain) and PhD in legal
theory (Paris IV-Sorbonne). He is an entrepreneur, CEO of a European private
education group and director of PAN Medias Group. He is the author of The Green
Reich (2020).
© 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.
Can Turkiye now be part of the Arab regional system?
Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/September 13, 2024
In March 2010, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa proposed expanding the
group to include Turkiye — as a friendly neighboring major power with
significant historical, cultural, and economic ties to the Arab world — in a
strategic dialogue. The proposal was postponed and was never realized because of
the Arab uprisings that began nine months later. This proposal was part of
Moussa’s “Arab neighboring policy,” which was aligned with Turkiye’s
“zero-problem with neighbors” policy, but both policies were tested by critical
regional shifts after 2011.
Thirteen years later, a Turkish foreign minister was invited for the first time
to attend the Arab League Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Cairo. Hakan Fidan’s
participation demonstrated the group’s recognition of Turkiye’s importance in
regional affairs as Ankara’s efforts to normalize relations with its Arab
neighbors since 2021 began to yield results.
As Turkiye enters a phase of normalization with regional states, there has been
a concerted effort to substantiate this new era on a more institutional basis,
with economic and security interests the main pillars. In this context, Turkey
and the GCC states adopted a joint action plan for 2023-2027, showing their
commitment to deeper relations. This was followed by an agreement to begin
formal negotiations for a free-trade agreement. Turkiye and the GCC states also
decided to resume strategic discussions, both institutionally and bilaterally.
Fidan said the next Turkish-Arab Economy Forum would be held in Istanbul in
October. This is noteworthy because, in 2013, amid severe regional polarization
over developments in Egypt —the headquarters of the Arab League — the
Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum was left in limbo, with no Arab country offering
to host that year’s meeting. The forum was set up in İstanbul in 2007 with an
agreement signed by Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and Moussa. Its first
meeting was in İstanbul in 2008, and the second in Damascus in 2009.
The forum is an avenue for foreign ministers to discuss regional and
international affairs. It was established to develop political, social, economic
and cultural relations between Turkiye and Arab League members. The forum is
important because it focuses on the non-conventional aspects of Turkish-Arab
relations, such as social and cultural interactions. Turkiye’s relations with
Arab states, especially those in the Gulf, need social and cultural elements.
The recent normalization between Ankara and Cairo has been a catalyst for
Turkiye’s reintegration into the Arab regional system. Egypt’s pivotal role and
central position in the region have influenced the Arab League’s acceptance of
Turkiye. This normalization, marked by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s
long-awaited visit to Ankara last week, facilitated Fidan’s participation in the
summit.
Syria approved Turkiye’s participation in the Arab League gathering, though it
was also claimed that the Syrian delegation left during Fidan’s speech —
something Turkish sources have denied. Nevertheless, there are continuing
efforts to normalize Turkish-Syrian relations, driven largely by Arab states
keen to reintegrate Syria into the Arab fold. Turkiye’s relationship with the
Arab League may advance Turkish-Syrian normalization within the Arab
institutional framework. Ankara’s efforts to normalize ties with Damascus are
progressing gradually, which is understandable given that the issues in Turkiye-Syria
relations are more complex than the ideological or regional dominance disputes
Turkey has had with other Arab nations. These relations are multifaceted,
involving challenges such as the Kurdish threat, refugee concerns, political
opposition, and the presence of Turkish military forces.
In the past decade, in the name of Arab solidarity and sovereignty, the Arab
League has consistently criticized Turkiye’s operations in northern Syria as
illegal. Turkiye’s military presence in Libya and Somalia was also criticized.
In this new era, it is unlikely that we will see more such criticism, since much
of it was voiced during a period of tension between Turkiye and the Arab states.
Consequently, the Arab League dissolved its committee exploring “Turkiye’s
intervention in the internal affairs of the Arab states” and dropped a related
proposed topic of debate for the summit. For the first time in years, the group
did not criticize Turkiye in the summit declaration.
The Gaza war was the central topic of Fidan’s speech. Turkiye is already part of
the joint contact group to seek an end to the violence. Fidan asked the Arab
ministers to close ranks against Israel, following Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal to form an alliance among Islamic countries with that
purpose. The Gaza war has underpinned the normalization process as Turkiye has
supported Arab efforts. This clearly echoes Turkiye’s pre-2011 policies in the
region, when Ankara aimed to win the hearts of not only the Arab public but also
elites. Whether Moussa’s “Arab neighboring policy” will finally integrate
Turkiye into the Arab regional system remains to be seen, but there is hope for
progress.
• Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s
relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz
Can the Jordanian Islamists Make a Change?
Mario Chartouni/This Is Beirut/September 13/2024
The Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood and
main opposition party in Jordan, has won the September 2024 legislative
elections by a landslide. However, this groundbreaking victory far from
undermines the state’s control over the party or changes the fact that the
Jordanian Parliament has a limited role in the country’s political life.
Islamism ‘on a Leash’
Rooted in the 1940s and founded in 1992, the IAF’s objective is “to impose Islam
in society through peaceful means,” according to its Secretary General, Hamza
Mansour. That being said, the Jordanian government spared no effort in
repressing the Islamists when they were perceived as a threat to the regime’s
stability. Indeed, in 2015, the Muslim Brotherhood was banned in Jordan; its
license was transferred to a reformist faction, the still-legal IAF. Today, two
separate organizations bear the name “Muslim Brotherhood,” the core institution
and the IAF. The 1997 boycott organized by the IAF as a reaction against the
peace agreement with Israel is a clear indication of the tense relationship
between the organization and the Jordanian State, the latter having often sought
to marginalize Islamists deemed too influential or threatening. The victory of
the Islamist party shocked the entire nation. But what are the underlying
reasons for this giant leap?
Jordanian Discontent
The IAF’s main support base is predominantly made up of Palestinian Jordanians.
During the elections, the Islamists endeavored to capitalize on the growing
anger of Jordanians — half of whom are of Palestinian descent — with regard to
the ongoing war in Gaza. To this day, there is no official census for the number
of Palestinian residents in Jordan, but some 2.18 million of them were
registered as refugees in 2016. 370,000 have been living in 10 different refugee
camps since 2014, the biggest of which is Baqa’a, which houses over 104,000
residents. The second largest camp is al-Wehdat, with 51,500 refugees. According
to estimates shared by Minority Rights Group International, some 3 million
Palestinians are currently residing in Jordan. The Gaza war has significantly
impacted tourism in Jordan, a sector that makes up 14% of the country’s GDP. The
conflict also generated a drop in revenues in a country where the public debt is
nearing 50 billion dollars and where unemployment has reached 21% in the first
quarter of this year. The Jordanian economy is largely dependent on foreign aid,
notably from the United States and the International Monetary Fund.
Parliament in Name Only
There is more to the discontent over Gaza. In fact, Jordanians remain defiant
vis-à-vis their institutions, as indicated by the record weak participation in
the elections, peaking at only 31% this year. These figures partly show the
voters’ lack of interest in an institution perceived as politically inefficient.
The IAF won 31 of the 41 seats reserved for political parties during the last
legislative elections. The Jordanian Parliament has a total of 138 seats, 97 of
which are occupied by individual candidates, independent or affiliated with
local groups. Despite having been elected, this Parliament has limited powers
compared to the King’s. Additionally, Jordanian votes are often the result of
tribal and local dynamics. While the IAF successfully secured a number of seats,
the monarchy remains the master of the house. This immutable reality makes it
difficult for the IAF to profoundly alter the country’s policies. Contrary to
parliamentary regimes where the leader of the majority party becomes the de
facto Prime Minister, the King of Jordan has no customary or constitutional
obligation to designate the head of the IAF for this position. This gives the
monarchy enough leeway to manage the balance of power and keep Islamists under
control.
Undoubtedly, the IAF’s victory is a symbolic turn of events in Jordanian
politics, but it must be relativized by taking several factors into account.
Although the IAF has become the country’s most significant political force, its
influence remains limited by a regime that cleverly controls the dynamics of
power in order to preserve the stability of the Kingdom.