English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For January 06/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
John the Baptis Baptizes Jesus at The Jordan River
Luke 03/15-22/The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in
their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I
baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the
straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing
floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with
unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and
proclaimed the good news to them. But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch
because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil
things he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was
praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form
like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with
you I am well pleased.”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on January 05-06/2025
Elias Bejjani/Video and Text: "Astrologers Have Lied, Even If They Speak the
Truth"
L’épiphanie, the Epiphany, الظهور الالهي /Charles Elias Chartouni
Lebanon ‘Seriously’ Dealing with Israeli Threat to Maintain its Occupation of
Southern Regions
Israel Accuses Hezbollah of Violating Ceasefire Agreement
Katz warns ceasefire in jeopardy if Hezbollah doesn't withdraw beyond Litani
Israel Accuses Hezbollah of Violating Ceasefire Terms
Truce Violations Persist... Adraee: "Hezbollah Will Not Be Allowed to Rearm"
Safa: No veto on army chief, only veto on Geagea
UN accuses Israel of ceasefire breach as Qassem says Hezbollah losing patience
South Lebanon updates: Lebanese Army faces hurdles as Israel stalls withdrawal
amid buffer zone talks
Blasts from Israeli demolitions reach Tyre amid border operations
Report: Israel to tell US it won't withdraw from Lebanon post 60-day period
Lebanese Army reopens blocked roads by Israeli forces in Taybeh and Marjaayoun
in South Lebanon
Rai Emphasizes the Need for a President
Hezbollah leader Nasrallah was killed last year inside the war operations room,
aide says
Israel warns that ceasefire in Lebanon is at risk
How decades of Assad regime interference left lingering scars on Lebanon’s
political life/ANAN TELLO//Arab News January 05/2025
Lebanon should not be a security threat for the new Syria/Dr. Dania Koleilat
Khatib/Arab News January 05/2025
Lebanon is not serious about disarming Hezbollah/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/Asia
Times/January 05/2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on January 05-06/2025
Hamas and Israel wrangle over talks as Israeli strikes in Gaza intensify
Hamas official says ready to release 34 hostages in ‘first phase’ of exchange
deal
Hamas approves Israeli list of hostages for potential exchange: Reuters
Palestinian population in Gaza Strip decreased by 6% in 2024 during Israeli war
Israel releases Jordanian doctor detained during relief mission to Gaza
Israel blocks food supply to northern Gaza’s Indonesian hospital to force out
doctors
Israeli helps former soldier leave Brazil over investigation into alleged war
crimes in Gaza
Israeli forces kill Palestinian security member
Israeli soldiers face growing risk of arrest abroad after Gaza service
Israeli army says missile from Yemen intercepted
Gaza truce talks resume in Qatar as violence shows no let-up
Post-Assad economy: Syria's currency stabilizes as challenges persist
Syria monitor reports blasts at arms depots near Damascus
Syrian caretaker government to hike public sector salaries by 400 percent next
month
KSrelief and UNHCR officials discuss enhanced humanitarian support in Syria
Syria's new Islamist rulers urge US to lift sanctions during visit to Doha
Syria's foreign minister visits Qatar as new authorities seek regional and
global diplomatic ties
Red Cross Says Determining Fate of Syria’s Missing ‘Huge Challenge'
Fighting Intensifies between Pro-Türkiye Factions, SDF Near Syria’s Manbij
Erdogan Expects Support from Syria in Türkiye's Battle with PKK
New Orleans attacker's movements included trip to Ontario in July 2023, FBI says
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on January 05-06/2025
German Government Covering Up Islamist Attack?/Robert Williams/Gatestone
Institute/January 5, 2025
2025 New Year's Resolution: Do Something Honorable Today and Every Day/Lawrence
Kadish/Gatestone Institute./January 5, 2025
What next for the Palestinian Authority?/Dr. Ramzy Baroud/Arab News/January 05,
2025
Saudi Arabia and Syria: History and Reality/Abdulah bin Bijad Al Otaibi/Asharq
Al-Awsat/January 05/2025January 05, 2025
The Significance of Christians in Our Societies/Ahmed Al-Sarraf/Al-Qabas/January
05/2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on January 05-06/2025
Elias Bejjani/Video and Text:
"Astrologers Have Lied, Even If They Speak the Truth"
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/01/138623/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qeu7gwAElnw
/02 January 2025
Have those who practice astrology, prophecies, lies, and hypocrisy replaced
Almighty God?
Have they truly become capable of reading the future and knowing the unseen?
There is no doubt that in Lebanon, almost all the owners of media facilities (TV
stations, radio stations, YouTube channels, newspapers, and online websites)
neither fear Almighty God nor the hour of His last reckoning. They brazenly
promote infidelity, hoaxes, and lies through programs that epitomize spiritual
decadence. These programs—whose stars are alleged astrologers claiming to know
and predict the future—are mere swindlers and hypocrites. Some of them are even
linked to regional and local intelligence groups that use misinformation to
propagate various conspiracies.This heretical media status is deeply flawed,
sad, disgusting, and frightening. Many Lebanese media institutions have sunk
into a mire of faithlessness and immorality.
To those responsible for these outlets—who promote the lies and trivialities of
heretics practicing magic, astrology, and false prophecies—we ask: Do you fear
God?
Do you believe in the Holy Scriptures? Are you aware of the dire consequences
awaiting those who engage in such satanic practices, condemned by Christian,
Jewish, and Islamic teachings alike?
We also ask Lebanese religious authorities: Why do you not take a firm stand
against every media outlet that promotes infidelity and Satanism through
programs of predictions, prophecies, and claims of knowledge of the unseen?
These programs blatantly defy all heavenly laws. Similarly, we question the
inaction of MPs, ministers, and other state officials: Why have you not enacted
laws to prevent these heresies, which are sinful according to all monotheistic
religions?
For those who follow the heresies promoted by most Lebanese media during the New
Year—whether in the homeland or the diaspora—this situation evokes memories of
the sinful eras of Sodom, Gomorrah, Noah, and Nimrod's arrogance. Have
astrologers, false prophets, and hypocrites replaced God Almighty, claiming to
read the future and uncover the unseen? Do clerics, politicians, media
professionals, and heretics not understand that only God knows the future? Even
the prophets and messengers were not granted this grace. The holy books of
monotheistic religions unequivocally condemn practices such as spirit
preparation, sorcery, divination, astrology, and the reading of horoscopes.
These are considered satanic acts, and believers are urged to reject and avoid
anyone who engages in them. Such practices divert believers from God, leading
them toward darkness and deception.
In Islam, astrology and all forms of fortune-telling are explicitly prohibited
and forbidden (haram). As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated in
Sahih Muslim: “Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about anything, his
prayers will not be accepted for forty nights.” If merely consulting a
fortune-teller results in such consequences, what fate awaits the
fortune-tellers themselves?
Christianity and Judaism similarly denounce these practices. The Bible teaches
that Satan often masquerades as good, using astrologers, magicians, and
fortune-tellers to deceive people and lead them astray. Those who fall into
these traps risk distancing themselves from God and embracing satanic deception.
Astrologers and fortune-tellers often become victims of their own delusions,
unknowingly serving as tools of Satan. As humans created in God’s image, we are
called to seek His will through prayer, faith, and adherence to His teachings,
not through sorcery or astrology.
Anyone who believes in the false claims of astrologers and fortune-tellers
commits a grave sin, as these acts defy the core tenets of all monotheistic
religions. It is no wonder our country faces tribulations, hardships, and divine
wrath. As our society mirrors the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, it should come as
no surprise that we endure God’s righteous judgment.
In conclusion, all who practice astrology, divination, and similar acts stand in
direct opposition to the teachings of heavenly religions. They defy God’s will,
becoming tools of Satan and slaves to sin, infidelity, and ingratitude. Those
who believe in or promote such practices are complicit in these acts and share
in their guilt.
We end with a verse from Leviticus 20:27 (Old Testament): "A man or a woman who
is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them;
their blood will be on their own heads."
L’épiphanie, the Epiphany,
الظهور الالهي
Charles Elias Chartouni
Le temps de Noël s’organise sur le plan liturgique sur la base d’une structure
sémantique isomorphe qui se déploie en quatre temps: la nativité (Matthieu, 1-2
Luc 1-2), l’épiphanie (Matthieu, 3/13…), le baptême (Matthieu 3/11, Luc 3/16, AC
1/ 5), et les noces de Cana( Luc, 2, 1-7). Dans la scène évangélique de la
visite des mages et des bergers, l’évangéliste Matthieu s’inscrit dans la
tradition vétérotestamentaire du Midrashim (la chaîne de transmission dans
laquelle s’inscrivent les énoncés du nouveau testament/second testament).
L’épiphanie se définit à partir du registre de la manifestation de la divinité
qu’on retrouve indistinctement dans toutes les religions (hiérophanie).
L’épiphanie ou la théophanie qu’on célèbre s’inscrit dans le corpus de l’ancien
testament (premier), où Dieu se manifeste dans maints écrits de la Genèse à
travers les trois mystérieux visiteurs à Abraham (Gn, 18/1-15), le combat de
Jacob avec l’ange (Gn, 32), du livre de l’Exode dans lequel Moïse connaît deux
épiphanies, le buisson ardent (Exode 3/17) et la remise des Tables de la loi au
Mont Sinaï (les dix commandements, 34/1), le livre des Rois où Élie entend Dieu
lui parler sur le Mont Horeb dans le « murmure d’une brise légère » (1 Rois,
19)...,. Dans le nouveau testament (second) Dieu ne se manifeste plus par
l’intermédiaire des anges ou des signes, mais en prenant la condition humaine (l’incarnation)...
“lorsqu’est venue la plénitude des temps, Dieu a envoyé son fils, né d’une
femme.... Dieu a envoyé l’esprit de son fils dans nos cœurs...." (Paul, Galates
4/ 4-7). C’est ce que célèbre la fête de l’épiphanie (VI Siècle), Dieu se
manifeste en Jésus Christ à l’humanité représentée par les mages et les bergers
venus de contrées éloignées du monde (Matthieu, 3/13-17, Luc, 3/21-22, Marc, 1/
11-19).
Lebanon ‘Seriously’ Dealing
with Israeli Threat to Maintain its Occupation of Southern Regions
Beirut: Youssef Diab/Asharq Al Awsat/January 5, 2025
Israel announced that it may not withdraw from regions of southern Lebanon that
it occupied during its latest war with Hezbollah, sparking alarm in the country.
Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv may inform Washington that it may not pull
out from the South at the end of the 60-day deadline stipulated in the ceasefire
agreement that ended the war. Yedioth Ahronoth said Israel is hoping that the
American officials will “understand’ this position, especially since Lebanon has
not met its commitments towards the ceasefire. Lebanese military sources told
Asharq Al-Awsat that they have not received any information about the
withdrawal. Meanwhile, a Lebanese ministerial source stressed that the reports
may be Israel’s attempt at “testing the waters” and perhaps an attempt “to
pressure the Americans and Lebanon to complete the Lebanese army’s deployment in
the South at a faster pace”. The Lebanese government is “seriously” handling
these reports and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati is intensifying his
internal and international contacts to warn against Israel’s attempt to remain
in the South, added the source. He will bring up this issue at cabinet after
completing his talks, which include the US, it went on to say. The US heads the
committee tasked with monitoring the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Hezbollah
Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem warned that his party was ready to
retaliate to the Israeli violations of the truce. “Our patience may run out
during or after the end of the deadline,” he warned, while holding the Lebanese
state responsible for implementing the ceasefire. “The resistance (Hezbollah) is
not bound by any time schedule. The resistance’s leadership decides when and how
to resist,” he stated. “Our morale remains high despite the wounds and pain,” he
went on to say. Moreover, he noted that throughout the 64-day war with
Hezbollah, Israel only managed to advance “a few hundred meters” in Lebanon. “It
failed to advance deeper thanks to the power of the resistance,” he declared.
“We confronted an unprecedented attack, persevered and broke Israel’s
might.”Member of parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s Liberation and Development
bloc MP Qassem Hashem stressed that Lebanon will not allow Israel to remain an
hour more in the South as soon as the deadline expires.
“We will be confronted by a very dangerous situation should Israel fail to
withdraw from the territories it occupied,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat. He noted
Israel’s incursion into Syrian territories and Lebanon’s commitment to the
ceasefire; and yet, it seems that Israel is keen on occupying more areas.
“Lebanon has not officially received any request to amend the pullout date.
Should Israel remain in Lebanon beyond the deadline, then all international
norms and treaties give Lebanon and its people the right to fully liberate their
territories through all means necessary,” he stressed. Hezbollah MP Mohammed
Raad said Israel is “committing shameful violations to compensate for its losses
on the field.”“It is everyone’s duty to preserve national sovereignty,” he
stated after meeting with Berri. Talks with the speaker focused on the ceasefire
committee’s work, as well as the upcoming presidential elections. On the ground
and after 40 days since the ceasefire took effect, Israel continued its
violations of Lebanese sovereignty. It blew up houses in the towns of Hayyan,
Markaba, al-Taybeh and Rab Thalathin. Israeli artillery targeted the vicinity of
the Imam al-Sadr sports complex west of Mays al-Jabal town. Lebanon’s National
News Agency reported that an Israeli unit advanced on the town of Bourj al-Mamlouk
and took up position in the area, blocking a road with barbed wire.The Lebanese
army, in turn, closed three roads in the town that would give access to the
Marjeyoun plain, thereby preventing any Israeli advance there.
Israel Accuses Hezbollah of
Violating Ceasefire Agreement
Asharq Al Awsat/January 5, 2025
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, accused Lebanon’s Hezbollah group of
violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement reached between the two sides
late in November, warning of the consequences. Katz said if Hezbollah does not
withdraw from southern Lebanon, there will be no agreement,” and Israel will be
forced to act. The Israeli minister emphasized that Hezbollah has not yet
withdrawn “beyond the Litani River” in south Lebanon, believing this would
reduce the threat by about 40 kilometers from its settlements. He added, "If
this condition is not fulfilled, there will be no agreement, and Israel will be
forced to act alone to ensure the safe return of the residents of the north to
their homes," according to AFP. The deal struck on Nov. 27 to halt the
Israeli-Hezbollah war required Hezbollah to immediately lay down its arms in
southern Lebanon and gave Israel 60 days to withdraw its forces there and hand
over control to the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers. So far, Israel has
withdrawn from just two of the dozens of towns it holds in southern Lebanon. And
it has continued striking what it says are bases belonging to Hezbollah, which
it accuses of attempting to launch rockets and move weapons before they can be
confiscated and destroyed, The AP reported. Hezbollah, which was severely
diminished during nearly 14 months of war, has threatened to resume fighting if
Israel does not fully withdraw its forces by the 60-day deadline. Yet despite
accusations from both sides about hundreds of ceasefire violations, the truce is
likely to hold, analysts say. That is good news for thousands of Israeli and
Lebanese families displaced by the war still waiting to return home.
Katz warns ceasefire in
jeopardy if Hezbollah doesn't withdraw beyond Litani
Naharnet/January 5, 2025
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Sunday that if Hezbollah does not
withdraw beyond the Litani River “there will be no agreement,” and Israel will
be forced to act. “Israel is interested in the implementation of the agreement
in Lebanon and will continue to enforce it fully and without compromise to
ensure the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,” Katz said
during a visit to a military base in northern Israel where the army has set up a
display of captured Hezbollah weapons. “But the first condition for the
implementation of the agreement is the complete withdrawal of the Hezbollah
terror organization beyond the Litani River, the dismantling of all weapons, and
the [removal] of the terror infrastructure in the area by the Lebanese Army,
something that hasn’t happened yet,” he added. “If this condition is not met,
there will be no agreement, and Israel will be forced to act independently to
ensure the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,” Katz went
on to say.
Israel Accuses Hezbollah of Violating Ceasefire Terms
This is Beirut/With AFP/January 5, 2025
Israeli Defense Minister Israël Katz accused Hezbollah on Sunday of not meeting
the terms of a ceasefire, warning that if the militants continued to breach the
deal, Israel would "be forced to act".Katz issued his warning after visiting the
military's northern command, and it followed a similar accusation against Israel
by Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Saturday. Katz said Hezbollah had still not
withdrawn "beyond the Litani river" in southern Lebanon, as stipulated in the
ceasefire deal. He added that "if this condition is not met, there will be no
agreement, and Israel will be forced to act on its own to ensure the safe return
of residents of the north to their homes." Other provisions had not been
implemented, Katz said, such as the "dismantling of all (Hezbollah) weapons and
the thwarting of terrorist infrastructures in the area by the Lebanese army".
"We will not allow the creation of a renewed threat to the northern communities
and the citizens of the state of Israel," Katz said in a statement issued by his
office. On Saturday, Qassem accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and said
the group was prepared to respond even before the expiry of a 60-day deadline
for Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon.
"We have said that we are giving an opportunity to prevent Israeli violations
and to implement the agreement, and we will exercise patience," Qassem said. The
fragile truce, which took effect on November 27 after two months of full-blown
war between Israel and Hezbollah, has been marked by accusations of violations
from both sides. Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Lebanese army is to
deploy alongside UN peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws over
a 60-day period. Hezbollah is to withdraw its forces north of the Litani river
—some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border—and dismantle any remaining
military infrastructure in the south. A committee composed of Israeli, Lebanese,
French, and US delegates, alongside a representative of the UN peacekeeping
force UNIFIL, is tasked with ensuring any ceasefire violations are identified
and dealt with. The UN peacekeeping force has also repeatedly accused Israel of
violating the ceasefire terms.
Truce Violations Persist... Adraee: "Hezbollah Will Not Be
Allowed to Rearm"
This is Beirut/January 5, 2025
The Lebanese army reopened three roads that had been blocked by Israel at dawn
after the latter infiltrated the Taybeh-Marjeyoun area and obstructed the roads
with dirt barriers, the Lebanese army said in a statement. The Israeli army
advanced on Sunday toward the town of Taybeh, where it demolished several houses
using explosives and conducted sweeps with automatic weapons. By the end of the
day, Israeli bulldozers carried out razing operations on the outskirts of the
border village of Dhayra. Additionally, Israeli forces demolished several houses
in Aitaroun in the al-Zaqaq area. Earlier, around midday, the Israeli army
bombed several houses in the Tayr Harfa-Jebbayn area. The explosions were heard
as far as the city of Tyre and its surroundings. Israeli artillery also shelled
the outskirts of Kfarchouba. Meanwhile, Avichay Adraee, the Arabic-language
spokesperson for the Israeli army, reiterated in the evening that "Israeli
forces will not allow Hezbollah to rearm and rebuild its capabilities to
threaten Israel." Addressing Hezbollah directly, he added, "Do not test us."
These remarks followed the Israeli army's confiscation of Hezbollah weapons in
southern Lebanon. Citing informed sources, the Israeli website Walla reported
that "the Israeli army will withdraw from Ras al-Naqoura in the coming days and
hand it over to the Lebanese army under American supervision." However, the
report added that "with the exception of Naqoura, Israel will not withdraw from
Lebanon before the end of 60 days," contradicting the terms of the ceasefire
agreement that took effect on November 27, 2024. “The withdrawal of the Israeli
army from southern Lebanon is tied to the deployment of the Lebanese army and
developments on the ground,” the sources cited by Walla added.
Safa: No veto on army chief, only veto on Geagea
Naharnet/January 5, 2025
The head of Hezbollah's Coordination and Liaison Unit, Wafiq Safa, announced
Sunday that his party does not have a "veto" on electing Army chief Joseph Aoun
as president. "The only veto to us is on (Lebanese Forces leader) Samir Geagea,
because he is a strife and destruction scheme for the country," Safa added, from
the site of the Sep. 27 airstrike that killed Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan
Nasrallah in Dahieh. "Hezbollah is stronger and firmer than iron and it is
stronger than before," Safa added. "Hezbollah's capabilities have been repaired
and it has the ability to confront any attack in the way it sees appropriate and
let no one test us anymore," Safa went on to say, noting that "Speaker Nabih
Berri will have a talk with U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein over the Israeli
violations."Asked about Hezbollah's reaction if the Israeli army does not
withdraw from Lebanon after the 60-day deadline, Safa said: "The Lebanese Army
and the monitoring committee have not been informed of this matter, but after
the 60 days expire, the issue will be left to Hezbollah and the resistance to
decide what to do, and as Sheikh Naim Qassem said, this is the responsibility of
the (Lebanese) state that signed the agreement and it will follow up on the
ceasefire measures or violations."
UN accuses Israel of ceasefire breach as Qassem says
Hezbollah losing patience
Agence France Presse/January 5, 2025
The U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon has accused Israel of a "flagrant
violation" of the 2006 Security Council resolution that forms the basis of its
November ceasefire with Hezbollah. The statement from the U.N. Interim Force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL) came as Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem warned the group's
patience with Israeli violations could run out before the end of the ceasefire's
60-day implementation timeframe. The fragile truce, which took effect on
November 27, has been marked by mutual accusations of violations from both
sides. "This morning, peacekeepers observed an (Israeli military) bulldozer
destroying a blue barrel marking the line of withdrawal between Lebanon and
Israel in Labbouneh, as well as an observation tower belonging to the Lebanese
Armed Forces immediately beside a UNIFIL position there," the peacekeeping force
said. "The (military's) deliberate and direct destruction of both clearly
identifiable UNIFIL property and infrastructure belonging to the Lebanese Armed
Forces is a flagrant violation of Resolution 1701 and international law." The
force, which is represented on the panel overseeing the ceasefire's
implemenation, called on "all actors to avoid any actions, including the
destruction of civilian property and infrastructure, that could jeopardize the
cessation of hostilities." Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Lebanese Army
is to deploy alongside U.N. peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army
withdraws over a 60-day period. Hezbollah is to withdraw its forces north of the
Litani River -- some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border -- and dismantle
any remaining military infrastructure in the south. In late December, the U.N.
peacekeeping force expressed concern at the "continuing" damage being done by
the Israeli military in south Lebanon. Detailing its latest air strikes in
Lebanon on Thursday, the Israeli military said it was acting to remove any
threat to Israel "in accordance with the ceasefire understandings." Qassem said
Hezbollah had decided to show patience, but warned that would not last
indefintely. "We have said that we are giving an opportunity to prevent Israeli
violations and to implement the agreement, and we will exercise patience," he
said, stressing: "This does not mean that we will wait for 60 days. "The
leadership of the resistance determines when to exercise patience, when to take
initiative, and when to respond," he said.
South Lebanon updates: Lebanese Army faces hurdles as
Israel stalls withdrawal amid buffer zone talks
LBCI/January 5, 2025
Officially, Lebanon has not been informed about the growing rhetoric in Israel
suggesting that Israeli forces will not withdraw from South Lebanon by the end
of the 60 days stipulated in the ceasefire agreement. Amid these Israeli
declarations, calls for establishing a buffer zone in southern Lebanon are
growing louder, while Israeli delays and incursions persist across several areas
south of the Litani River. The Israeli military has failed to withdraw from key
points such as Naqoura, Tayr Harfa, and other locations, contrary to earlier
assurances that the Lebanese Army would take over these areas by 10 a.m. on
Sunday. Despite preparing for a swift deployment into the vacated areas,
Lebanese forces were met with renewed Israeli actions. Instead of
withdrawing, Israeli troops advanced into the Wadi Hamoul area in the western
sector, occupied the Cyprianna Hotel, and continued demolition, arson, and
bulldozing operations in Tayr Harfa and Aitaroun. Israeli machinery also moved
towards Taybeh, conducting sweeping operations. On Saturday, Israel carried out
demolitions in Chihine and Jebbayn while pushing into areas previously
untouched, such as Aqabat Maroun near Bint Jbeil. In recent days, Israeli forces
have penetrated deeper than ever into areas like Beit Lif, Wadi Al-Hujair,
Qantara, and Aadchit El Qsair. These actions coincide with Israeli accusations
against the Lebanese Army for allegedly slow deployment and failure to
confiscate weapons or take control of Hezbollah-linked sites.
However, Lebanese military sources argue that their forces have promptly moved
into every location vacated by Israeli troops, including Khiam, Biyyadah, and
Shamaa. They argue that the delay stems from Israel's reluctance to follow
through on its withdrawal commitments. Additionally, the Lebanese Army cannot
operate in areas still under Israeli occupation. The Lebanese Army, in
coordination with UNIFIL, has actively fulfilled its responsibilities south of
the Litani River. Joint operations have targeted dozens of sites, with oversight
from the ceasefire monitoring committee. U.S. committee head Jasper Jeffer
commended the Lebanese Army for its professionalism, highlighting the removal of
9,800 explosive remnants from over 80 sites. Despite these efforts, large
swathes of land south of the Litani remain under Israeli control or inaccessible
to Lebanese forces. Israel is reportedly using this time to dismantle alleged
Hezbollah infrastructure, including tunnels, weapons caches, and operational
sites while continuing to demolish and booby-trap homes. These developments set
the stage for the upcoming meeting of the ceasefire committee, which is expected
to include U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein.
Blasts from Israeli demolitions reach Tyre amid border
operations
LBCI/January 5, 2025
The Israeli army has conducted demolition operations since Saturday, targeting
homes on the outskirts of the Lebanese town of Aitaroun. Explosions were also
reported at the "Tayr Harfa-Jebbayn triangle," destroying several houses, with
the blasts heard as far as the city of Tyre and its surrounding areas.
Report: Israel to tell US it won't withdraw from Lebanon
post 60-day period
Naharnet/January 5, 2025
Israel is not expected to withdraw its army from south Lebanon when the 60-day
period stipulated in the ceasefire agreement expires, Israel's state-run Public
Broadcasting Corporation has reported. "Israel will inform Washington that it
will not pull out because the Lebanese Army is not abiding by the agreement and
Hezbollah is reorganizing its ranks," the report said. "Israel is also expected
to tell the United States that it will not allow the residents of the Lebanese
towns near the border to return to their homes," the report added. Lebanon's
pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper meanwhile reported that some Lenanese Army
officials received "serious signals" from the co-chair of the truce monitoring
committee, U.S. general Jasper Jeffers, that "Israel intends to extend the
60-day deadline to 90 days, which might also be extended to April." "The matter
hinges on Israel's realization of its goals as to guaranteeing the elimination
of the resistance's abilities to launch an attack," the daily quoted Jeffers as
telling the officials.
Lebanese Army reopens blocked roads by Israeli forces in
Taybeh and Marjaayoun in South Lebanon
LBCI/January 5, 2025
The Lebanese Army announced that Israeli forces violated the ceasefire agreement
early on January 5 by infiltrating the area of Taybeh-Marjaayoun in South
Lebanon.
According to the statement, the Israeli forces blocked three roads in the area
using earthen barriers. In response, a Lebanese Army patrol was dispatched to
the incursion site to address the situation in coordination with the committee
overseeing the ceasefire agreement. The army successfully reopened the blocked
roads.
Rai Emphasizes the Need for a President
This is Beirut/January 5, 2025
On the first Sunday homily of the year, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai
reiterated the importance of electing a President of the Republic. Rai called
for “praying for the parliamentary blocs for the success of identifying a
President of the Republic.” He noted that “four days separate us from the ninth
of this month when Parliament will meet to elect a president who will gain the
trust of citizens and the confidence of the international community, work for
national reconciliation, consolidate internal unity, plant hope in hearts and
peace in souls, and draw his ideas and principles from the holy year of the
Great Jubilee and World Peace Day.”Rai proposed three actions that can restore
dignity to the lives of the people: The first act is to significantly reduce or
forgive the international debts of impoverished nations, relieving them of
burdens that hinder their progress and dignity.
The second act is to uphold the sanctity of human life by abolishing the death
penalty and fostering a culture that values life from conception to natural
death. The third act is to redirect a portion of military spending to establish
a global fund to eradicate hunger, advance education and promote sustainable
development in the poorest regions.
Hezbollah leader Nasrallah was
killed last year inside the war operations room, aide says
KAREEM CHEHAYEB/Associated Press/January 5, 2025
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike last year
while inside the militant group's war operations room, according to new details
Sunday disclosed by a senior Hezbollah official. A series of Israeli airstrikes
flattened several buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sept. 27, 2023,
killing Nasrallah. The Lebanese Health Ministry said six people died. According
to news reports, Nasrallah and other senior officials were meeting underground.
The assassination of Nasrallah, who had led Hezbollah for 32 years, turned
months of low-level strikes between Israel and the militants into all-out war
that battered much of southern and eastern Lebanon for two months until a
U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect Nov. 27. “His Eminence (Hassan Nasrallah)
used to lead the battle and war from this location,” top Hezbollah security
official Wafiq Safa told a news conference Sunday near near the site where
Nasrallah was killed. He said Nasrallah died in the war operations room. He did
not offer other details.Lebanese media had reported that Safa was a target of
Israeli airstrikes in central Beirut before the ceasefire but appeared
unscathed. During the first phase of the ceasefire, Hezbollah is supposed to
move its fighters, weapons and infrastructure away from southern Lebanon north
of the Litani River, while Israeli troops that invaded southern Lebanon need to
withdraw all within 60 days. Lebanese army soldiers are to deploy in large
numbers and alongside United Nations peacekeepers be the sole armed presence in
southern Lebanon. Lebanon and Hezbollah have been critical of ongoing Israeli
strikes and overflights across the country and for only withdrawing from two of
dozens of Lebanese villages it controls. Israel says that the Lebanese military
has not done its share in dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure. Hezbollah’s
current leader Naim Kassem in a televised address Saturday warned that its
fighters could strike Israel if its troops don’t leave the south by the end of
the month. Safa said that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who negotiated the
ceasefire deal with Washington, told Hezbollah that the government will meet
with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein soon. “And in light of what happens, then there
will be a position,” said Safa. Hochstein had led the shuttle diplomacy efforts
to reach the fragile truce.
Israel warns that ceasefire in Lebanon is
at risk
Israel's defense minister warned
Sunday that the truce that ended more than a year of fighting with Lebanon's
Hezbollah is at risk. Israel Katz said the agreement requires Hezbollah to
withdraw to the north of the Litani River and Lebanese troops to eliminate
militant infrastructure in the buffer zone — “something that hasn’t happened
yet.” “If this condition is not met, there will be no agreement, and Israel will
be forced to act on its own to ensure the safe return of the residents of
(Israel's) north to their homes,” he said. Both sides have accused the other of
violating the ceasefire agreement. Israel has withdrawn from just two of the
dozens of towns it holds in southern Lebanon. And it has continued striking what
it calls Hezbollah targets, accusing the militant group of attempting to launch
rockets and move weapons before they can be confiscated and destroyed. The deal
struck on Nov. 27 required Hezbollah to immediately lay down its arms in
southern Lebanon. It gave Israel 60 days to withdraw its forces and hand over
control to the Lebanese army and U.N. peacekeepers. Hezbollah, severely degraded
after Israeli strikes, has threatened to resume fighting if Israel does not
fully withdraw its forces by the 60-day deadline.
How decades of Assad regime interference left lingering scars on
Lebanon’s political life
ANAN TELLO//Arab News January 05/2025
LONDON: After nearly half a century of Assad family rule in Syria, there is a
glimmer of hope for neighboring Lebanon, which for decades endured military
occupation, persistent interference in its political affairs, and a legacy of
assassinations linked to the regime. Bashar Assad, who succeeded his father
Hafez in 2000, was overthrown on Dec. 8, marking the conclusion of a devastating
13-year civil war. His ousting is likely to have major implications for
neighboring countries — few perhaps more so than Lebanon. The Assad regime’s
interest in Lebanon dates back to the period after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war,
when it became part of Syria’s strategy to avoid being flanked by Israel through
the Bekaa Valley, according to a 2005 paper by Bassel Salloukh of the Lebanese
American University. But Israel was not the only perceived existential threat.
The late Hafez Assad, who seized power in 1970, “lived in constant fear of coup
and conspiracy,” Syrian historian Sami Moubayed told Arab News. “Lebanon was
where many of his worst threats had been based.”These threats included Yasser
Arafat’s Palestinian Liberation Organization, the Palestinian Fatah Movement,
the Iraq-backed Fatah Revolutionary Command Council, and Assad’s comrade turned
rival, Mohammad Umran, believed to have been killed by Syrian intelligence in
1972. In addition, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein “invested heavily in Lebanon
and would go on to support Michel Aoun’s War of Liberation against Syria during
the last stage of the civil war,” Moubayed said. As such, Moubayed said, Hafez
“simply could not afford to lose Lebanon.” “Due to its proximity with Syria and
lax borders, anything could be smuggled to and from Lebanon; arms, spies,
saboteurs, assassins, and revolutionary ideas,” he said. “If Lebanon fell to any
of Assad’s abovementioned enemies, then his regime in Damascus would become
endangered.” Rooted in Assad’s paranoia, the regime’s involvement escalated and
became more pronounced with the Syrian army’s intervention in the Lebanese civil
war, eventually leading to a 29-year Syrian occupation of Lebanon. In late
spring 1976, a year into Lebanon’s 15-year civil war, Assad deployed troops to
rescue the Maronite Christian militias under attack by the PLO and the Lebanese
National Movement.
The National Movement coalition, formed in 1969 and dissolved in 1982, included
leftist, pan-Arabist and pro-Syria groups. It was led by Druze leader Kamal
Jumblatt, whose killing on March 16, 1977, is widely attributed to Assad’s
brother Rifaat.
Assad’s alliance with the Maronite militias against the National Movement and
the PLO might seem perplexing given the regime’s anti-Israel stance at the time.
Indeed, Syria’s actions appeared to align with Israel’s main objectives in its
1982 invasion of Lebanon; destroying the PLO and installing a Maronite-led
government. But Assad’s concerns about, and enmity toward, the National Movement
had deep and complex roots, which ultimately led to his brief alliance with the
Maronites. “The National Alliance actually predates the Lebanese civil war, and
so does Hafez Assad’s annoyance with it,” Moubayed said. “On paper, however,
they ought to have been inseparable allies, given their mutual support for the
Palestinians. “There were many components in the National Alliance that Assad
never liked, like Lebanese Baathists backed by Iraq and Kamal Jumblatt’s
Progressive Socialist Party.”Moubayed added: “The Lebanese civil war came at a
time when Assad was in the midst of a major standoff with the Iraq Baath, which
had a spillover into Lebanon. “In mid-1975, and while the war was just starting
to unfold in Lebanon, Iraq had mobilized its army and threatened to invade Syria
(over water rights). Assad suspected that then Vice President Saddam Hussein
would use the National Alliance to create trouble for Syria.” Moreover,
according to Moubayed, the National Alliance’s relationship with Yasser Arafat
was “troubling” for Assad, who feared a “Palestinian mini-state in Lebanon”
could provoke Israeli intervention and allow Saddam Hussein “to corner him from
both Iraq and Lebanon.”“When Christian leaders came seeking his help to clip the
wings of Arafat in Lebanon, Assad saw it as a lifetime opportunity to destroy
Abu Ammar (Arafat).” This may explain why Assad quickly turned against two
Christian factions that defied Damascus by demanding its withdrawal and
collaborating with Israel against a common Palestinian and Muslim enemy. In the
summer of 1978, Syria launched rockets and artillery at the East Beirut
strongholds of two Christian factions, the Phalangists and followers of former
President Camille Chamoun, The New York Times reported. A third faction, led by
former Lebanese President Suleiman K. Frangieh, broke with the others over their
alliance with Israel.
Israel came to its Maronite allies’ rescue, then soon retreated, leaving behind
a buffer zone controlled by the Southern Lebanon Army. Fearing a similar
alliance between the Lebanese Forces in Zahle, eastern Lebanon, and local allies
that could threaten the Syrian army’s presence in the nearby Bekaa Valley, Assad
cracked down on the LF. This led to the Battle of Zahle, which lasted from
December 1980 to June 1981. Israel invaded Lebanon again in 1982, capturing
Beirut and forcing Syrian troops to retreat to the Bekaa Valley. The majority of
the PLO, including its leader Arafat, were expelled on Aug. 30 that year as part
of an international agreement to end the violence. Meanwhile, Assad, who used
the rhetoric of resistance against Israel to strengthen his rule, seized the
opportunity to gain control of the Palestinian issue in Lebanon.
For Assad, Moubayed said, controlling Lebanon was “almost as important as
controlling Syria itself, and if it came at the expense of the Palestinians,
then this was a price he was willing to pay.” In late 1982, Arafat’s stance was
reportedly becoming more moderate toward Israel, and PLO dissidents in Lebanon’s
northern city of Tripoli began organizing with Assad’s support. Within a year,
and after Arafat returned to Lebanon, the Battle of Tripoli erupted between
pro-Syrian Palestinian militant factions and the PLO. Arafat accused Assad of
orchestrating the rebellion against him among PLO forces in Lebanon.
The conflict ended the PLO’s involvement in the Lebanese civil war.
“For Assad, it was as much about controlling the Palestinian issue as it was
about controlling Lebanon,” Lebanese economist and political adviser Nadim
Shehadi told Arab News. “Control of Lebanon gave Assad leverage over the
resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He held the cards and controlled
the camps. “After Israel’s withdrawal in 1983 and the departure of the PLO,
Syria systematically took control of PLO assets and organizations. Every party
(in Lebanon) saw this, even the Kataeb (Phalangist) Party. “In each institution,
pro-Fatah/PLO members were replaced by pro-Syrian ones,” he added, highlighting
that this had culminated in the War of the Camps, the War of Brothers, and the
takeover of Ras Beirut by the Amal Movement and pro-Syrian factions. Having
influence over the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict means that
“Assad would hold the key variables, and no peace process would succeed without
his conditions, approval, or the right price being extracted,” Shahadi said. “It
gives him power over the region. This was demonstrated by the privileges he
received in Lebanon through the Taif Agreement and the concessions made for
Syria’s participation in the Gulf War coalition to expel Saddam from Kuwait. “In
a nutshell, it gives him veto power and blocking power.”The Taif Accord,
negotiated in Saudi Arabia in September 1989 and approved by Lebanon’s
Parliament in November 1989, ended the civil war in 1990. While it called for
the withdrawal of all foreign troops, it allowed Assad to impose a de facto
protectorate over Lebanon and its political life. Between 1991 and 2005, the
Assad regime had total control over Lebanon’s domestic and foreign policies. It
capitalized on the leeway it was given, skillfully balancing relations between
Lebanon’s many sects and factions and playing a key role in fueling many of the
tensions that persist today. The Assads’ involvement in Lebanon was marked by a
series of attacks that killed or wounded many anti-Syrian journalists and
politicians. In 2005, during Bashar Assad’s reign, the wave of killings
intensified. Under international pressure, the last Syrian soldiers withdrew
from Lebanon on April 26 that year. In 2005 alone, at least six anti-Syrian
Lebanese figures were assassinated, including former Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri, who was killed in a car bombing. His death, along with 21 others, was
investigated by a UN-backed tribunal, which found no evidence linking
Hezbollah’s leadership or Syria to the attack. However, the assassination
occurred as Hariri and his political allies were debating whether to call for
Syria’s withdrawal of forces from Lebanon, the AP news agency reported. The 2005
attacks on prominent anti-Syria figures also targeted journalists who were vocal
in criticizing Assad’s policies in Lebanon, including history professor Samir
Kassir; former MP Gebran Tueni, the editor and publisher of Annahar newspaper;
and TV anchor May Chidiac, who survived an assassination attempt but lost an arm
and a leg. Throughout their rule, both Hafez and Bashar Assad were notorious for
maintaining tight control over the media, a practice that became especially
evident during Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011. Although less pronounced,
this strategy also extended to Lebanon during their reign. The withdrawal of
Syrian troops from Lebanon, nonetheless, did not end Assad’s influence over
political life in Lebanon.
Lebanon should not be a security threat for the new Syria
Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News January 05/2025
In a speech announcing the move, Bashar Assad said: “Syria’s withdrawal from
Lebanon does not mean the absence of a Syrian role. This role is governed by
many geographic and political and other factors. On the contrary, we (will be)
more at liberty and more forthcoming in our dealings with Lebanon.”Through
strategic political and military alliances, including with the Iran-backed
Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, and under the guise of resistance against
Israel, the Assad regime maintained significant influence over Lebanon’s
domestic and foreign policies. In 2011, Lebanon found itself with a mainly
pro-Syrian cabinet. The formation of this government came months after the
eruption of anti-regime protests in Syria, making it critical for Assad to
secure a friendly cabinet in Beirut. Although Assad’s demise signals a potential
turning point for Lebanon as it approaches a long-awaited conclusion to its
presidential election — ongoing since 2022 and potentially concluding on Jan. 9
— decades of Assad interference still loom large over Lebanese politics.
The Syrian regime “cloned itself in Lebanon” by penetrating “every institution
and political party, including ministries, the army, the security services and
even religious organizations,” Shehadi wrote in a recent op-ed for Arab News.
“Syria also facilitated the creation of Hezbollah, sponsored by its ally Iran,
and balanced it out with Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.”
And despite Hezbollah being weakened by its recent war with Israel and the
waning of Iran’s regional influence since Assad’s downfall, Shehadi predicts “a
crisis over the formation of the Cabinet and the ministerial declaration
following the election of a president.”He told Arab News: “The main variable
here would be whether the Amal Movement can act independently of Hezbollah. I
personally doubt it can, or that (Parliament Speaker) Nabih Berri would take the
risk.
“The ministerial declaration upon the formation of the new government will have
to address Hezbollah’s arms and the army’s prerogatives to take over and prevent
rearming in south Lebanon.”It will also “have to reference (UN Security Council)
Resolutions 1559,” which calls for the disbanding and disarmament of all
militias in Lebanon. “Hezbollah will try to block this, and it will take a long
time to find a suitable language that satisfies all parties.”Although the Assads
are gone, their legacy is likely to linger. “For over 50 years, the Assad regime
flourished by creating problems for its neighbors,” Shehadi said. “It will not
be missed.”
Lebanon is not serious about disarming Hezbollah
Topping the list of reasons for lack of Lebanese interest, all presidential
hopefuls need Hezbollah votes
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/Asia Times/January 05/2025
Lebanon is not serious about enforcing the UNSC Resolution 1701 mechanism
agreement that it signed with Israel on November 27 and that ended 14 months of
war.
Before the ceasefire, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) watched Hezbollah hollow
out 1701. The military justified its idleness by blaming the executive power for
not issuing orders. After Lebanon’s caretaker cabinet endorsed the deal, LAF
continued to drag its feet, for no obvious reason other than the political
ambitions of its chief, presidential hopeful Joseph Aoun.
US Envoy Amos Hochstein is scheduled to visit Beirut on Monday to discuss
Lebanese failure in meeting deadlines set by the ceasefire’s timetable.
Hezbollah now seems to have a new tactic. Instead of boasting about its
capabilities in warring with Israel, the Iran-backed militia has instructed
caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to pretend that Lebanon has lived up to
its part of the deal, and that it is now incumbent on the Jewish state to stop
its “violations” and accelerate its withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
What Mikati called violations were in fact Israel enforcing 1701 by striking
Hezbollah’s rearmament shipments, an arrangement that Lebanon had signed on to.
The deal also stipulated that the Israeli military would control up to five
miles of Lebanese territory as long as Hezbollah maintains its ability to
reconstitute. Israel promised to return the no-man’s land when the LAF has
disarmed Hezbollah and neutralized its threat.
From the sliver of Lebanese territory that Israel controls, the Israel Defense
Forces (IDF) dug up Hezbollah arms caches, confiscating 85,000 items, including
missiles, rockets and launchers, enough to arm a mid-size army.
Meanwhile, Mikati and Aoun visited the southern town of Marjaayoun, signaling
that the state had now restored its sovereignty south of River Litani. But the
Lebanese state and its army have yet to show a single bullet that they have
confiscated from Hezbollah.
Unlike the IDF, the Lebanese army busted rings of narcotics trade and petty
crime. The LAF posted pictures of the arms that it had confiscated, not enough
to field a neighborhood militia.
In its social media posts, the LAF went farther by depicting Israel not as a
partner in disarming Hezbollah but as an aggressor that was prompting the LAF to
deploy reinforcements to contain the Israeli “aggression on Lebanon.”
Five weeks after Lebanon promised to enforce the 1701 mechanism, the LAF has yet
to bust a single Hezbollah arms depot. Even a busload of explosive drones that
Lebanese civilians had wrestled from Hezbollah’s fighters during the war and
handed over to Lebanese authorities was released back to the Iran-backed militia
by order from a pro-Hezbollah judge. Not only did the state of Lebanon and its
army fail to find a single Hezbollah handgun, the militia carried on with its
efforts of rearmament – forcing the IDF to strike Hezbollah assets on more than
one occasion. Israel warned that war might resume if Lebanon failed to disarm
the Iran-backed militia as agreed upon in the ceasefire deal.
Reasons behind Lebanon’s unwillingness or inability to disarm Hezbollah are
many.
First are the political ambitions of presidential hopefuls like Aoun. Election
requires two thirds of lawmakers, and that is impossible without the
Hezbollah-led parliamentary bloc.
Second is Hezbollah’s bullying of Lebanese politicians and the general
population. Wafiq Safa, Hezbollah’s fearsome tsar of Lebanese domestic affairs,
emerged as the only survivor from the militia’s top echelons. Safa had cut his
teeth on bullying opponents and twisting arms. His presence continues to be
felt. Third is the utter incompetence of Hezbollah’s opponents. Even though the
parliament has a solid bloc of 31 (out of 128 lawmakers) that calls for the
militia’s disarmament, the opposition has failed to expand its ranks or to pose
any serious political threat to Safa or his militia.
Fourth is the failure of world capitals to agree on a coherent strategy. These
capitals also disagree over who should be elected president. France has $30
billion worth of contracts with Iran that it hopes to see revived one day and
has thus emerged as an ally of Hezbollah.
America’s “de-escalation” band-aid policy, under which it has endorsed the
appeasing Aoun as its candidate for president, has undermined Saudi Arabia’s
support for Lebanese Forces Party chief Samir Geagea, the most serious
anti-militia candidate and one who has survived a Hezbollah attempt on his life.
Lebanon has yet to understand that Israel is dead serious about disarming
Hezbollah, and that the Jewish state is not in the mood for pretend games.
Unless Beirut understands this, its policy risks reigniting the deadly and
devastating war.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of
Democracies (FDD). Follow him on X @hahussain
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/lebanon-is-not-serious-about-disarming-hezbollah/
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on January 05-06/2025
Hamas
and Israel wrangle over talks as Israeli strikes in Gaza intensify
Reuters/January 05, 2025
CAIRO/GAZA: Israel and Hamas wrangled on Sunday over the details of a deal to
halt fighting in the Gaza Strip and return hostages home, as Palestinian
officials said intensified Israeli bombardments had killed more than 100 people
over the weekend. A Hamas official said the group had approved a list of 34
Israeli hostages to be returned as part of a deal that could eventually lead to
a ceasefire. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office swiftly issued a
statement saying Hamas had not provided a hostage list. A renewed push is
underway to reach a ceasefire in the 15-month war between Israel and Hamas, and
return Israeli hostages who were taken to Gaza, before US President-elect Donald
Trump takes office on Jan. 20. The effort comes amid a surge in Israeli military
action in the enclave. This weekend, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed 105
Palestinians, medics said. The Israeli military said it had killed dozens of
Hamas militants.The US State Department said Israel must comply with
international law and do “significantly more to ensure the protection of
civilians.” It added, however, that it supports Israel’s right to defend itself.
Israeli negotiators were dispatched on Friday to resume talks in Doha brokered
by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, and US President Joe Biden’s administration,
which is helping to mediate, has urged Hamas to agree to a deal. Hamas said on
Friday it was committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible, but it was
unclear how close the two sides were. A Hamas official told Reuters any
agreement to return Israeli hostages would hinge on a deal for Israel to
withdraw from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire or end to the war. “However, until
now, the occupation continues to be obstinate over an agreement over the issues
of the ceasefire and withdrawal, and has made no step forward,” the official
said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Netanyahu has consistently said the
war will only end once Hamas is eradicated as a military and governing force.
Israel launched its assault on Gaza in response to an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by
Hamas militants on communities in southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people
and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s military
campaign has since leveled swathes of the enclave, driving most people from
their homes, and has killed 45,805 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health
ministry.
Fighting rages
Israeli military strikes continued throughout the Gaza Strip on Sunday, with an
airstrike killing five people in a house in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza,
Gaza health officials said, and another killing four in Jabalia in the north of
the enclave. Later in the day, an airstrike hit a police station in Khan Younis
in southern Gaza, killing five people, medics said. It was not immediately clear
if all the dead were police officers. At nightfall, medics said an Israeli
airstrike had killed three people in Bureij camp in central Gaza, bringing
Sunday’s death toll to 17. The Israeli military said it had struck Hamas
militants operating from the humanitarian area in Khan Younis, and an Islamic
Jihad militant who it said had carried out attacks from the humanitarian area in
Deir Al-Balah. In Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, relatives and
neighbors rushed to the Zuhd family’s house, which was struck by an Israeli
airstrike late on Saturday, killing seven people, medics said. The search
continued on Sunday morning for four others believed to be trapped under the
rubble. Three men dug away debris with their bare hands to retrieve bodies and
search for possible survivors. The Israeli military said on Sunday its forces
had attacked more than 100 targets across Gaza over the weekend, killing dozens
of Hamas militants. It said it had also destroyed rocket launching sites that
had been used to wage attacks on Israel in recent days. Later on Sunday, it said
it had killed last week in the Jabalia area an Islamic Jihad militant who had
participated in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Hamas official says ready
to release 34 hostages in ‘first phase’ of exchange deal
AFP/January 05, 2025
GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories: A senior Hamas official told AFP on Sunday
that the Palestinian militant group was ready to release 34 Israeli hostages in
the “first phase” of a potential prisoner exchange deal. “Hamas has agreed to
release 34 Israeli prisoners from a list presented by Israel as part of the
first phase of a prisoner exchange deal,” the official said. The office of
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas has yet to provide a list
of hostages to be released under a deal. The Hamas official, requesting
anonymity as he was not authorized to discuss ongoing indirect negotiations with
the media, said the 34 hostages to be included in the initial swap include all
the women, children, elderly people and sick captives still held in Gaza. The
official said Hamas requires time to determine whether they were alive. “Hamas
has agreed to release the 34 prisoners, whether alive or dead. However, the
group needs a week of calm to communicate with the captors and identify those
who are alive and those who are dead,” the official said. Out of 251 hostages
seized during the October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war, 96 remain in
Gaza including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
Hamas approves Israeli list of
hostages for potential exchange: Reuters
Hira Humayun and Lauren Izso,
CNN/January 5, 2025
Hamas has approved an Israeli list of 34 hostages to be exchanged in a possible
ceasefire deal, Reuters reported, citing a Hamas official. The Israeli
government denied receiving a list of hostages from Hamas, but did not directly
respond to the substance of the Reuters report. The Reuters news agency reported
on Sunday, citing an anonymous Hamas official, that the release of the hostages
would be contingent on reaching an agreement regarding Israeli withdrawal from
Gaza and a permanent ceasefire. Israel and Hamas are also still negotiating the
number and identities of Palestinian prisoners who would be released in exchange
for the hostages. The report suggested the list had been presented by Israel.
However, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office appeared to cast doubt on the
report. “Contrary to what was claimed, Hamas has yet to provide a list of
hostages,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. CNN has asked the
Prime Minister’s Office if Israel had put forward a list of 34 hostages. It is
not clear which hostages are on the list reported by Reuters, or whether they
are living or dead. In recent weeks, Israel has told CNN they have yet to
receive a full list of living hostages from the militant group. This comes just
days after indirect negotiations for a ceasefire-for-hostages deal resumed in
Doha, talks that have so far shown few signs of progress, according to Israeli
and Egyptian officials. On Saturday, Hamas turned up the pressure on Israel at
the negotiating table, releasing a video of 19-year-old hostage Liri Albag.
Albag’s family called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seize the
opportunity to do a ceasefire deal, describing the footage as having “torn our
hearts to pieces.”CNN has reached out to Hamas and the hostage families forum
for comment. As of December 5, Hamas was still holding 100 hostages in Gaza,
most of whom were abducted during the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7,
2023. At least 36 are believed to be dead, according to the Israeli Prime
Minister’s Office.
Palestinian population in Gaza Strip decreased by 6% in 2024
during Israeli war
Arab News/January 05, 2025
LONDON: The population of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip decreased by 6 percent
in 2024, while the total number of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories,
inside Israel, and globally reached almost 15 million. The Palestinian Central
Bureau of Statistics’ 2024 consensus published on Sunday reported that the Gaza
Strip’s population decreased by 6 percent in 2024, resulting in a loss of nearly
160,000 Palestinians, bringing the total population to 2.1 million. The report
confirmed the deaths of 45,484 individuals during the Israeli war on the Gaza
Strip, as of December 2024. The casualties included 17,581 children, 12,048
women, and 11,000 individuals who were missing and believed to be dead under the
rubble. Additionally, 108,090 people were injured, and nearly 100,000
Palestinians have fled the coastal enclave since the Israeli military aggression
began in October 2023. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the figures were
“terrifying,” and showed the extent of the Israeli occupation’s “brutality and
its bloody massacres against our people,” the WAFA News Agency reported. The
total number of Palestinians reached 14.9 million in 2024, of which, according
to the Bureau of Statistics, 7.3 million lived between the Jordan River and the
Mediterranean Sea. Of these, 5.5 million resided in the West Bank, East
Jerusalem, and Gaza, with 65 percent being under 30 and only 4 percent above 65.
About 3.4 million people lived in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, 2.1
million in the Gaza Strip, while 1.8 million were Palestinian citizens of
Israel. Around 6.4 million Palestinians resided across various Arab countries,
including Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The
remaining 1.2 million Palestinians belonged to the diaspora in Western
countries, including Europe and North America.
Israel releases Jordanian doctor detained during relief mission
to Gaza
Arab News/January 05, 2025
LONDON: Israeli authorities released Abdullah Balawi, 38, a Jordanian doctor who
had been detained in December while attempting to cross into the Gaza Strip to
take part in a medical relief mission. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign
and Expatriates Affairs Sufian Al-Qudah said that Jordan engaged in “intensive”
diplomatic efforts via the kingdom’s embassy in Tel Aviv to secure the release
of Balawi on Sunday, according to the Petra agency. Israeli authorities arrested
Balawi on Dec. 19 at Allenby crossing, also known as Sheikh Hussein Bridge,
which borders Jordan with the Occupied West Bank. He was returned through
diplomatic channels at the Sheikh Hussein Bridge on Sunday, with Jordanian
Embassy staff present, Petra added. Balawi told Al-Mamlaka TV after his release
that his mission as a doctor is to relieve those who need help. His family could
not contact him for 11 days during his detention in Israel. Al-Qudah said that
Amman closely monitored Balawi’s detention and contacted his family. Since
October 2023, Jordan has launched several medical, airlift and aid relief
missions to assist Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Some of these missions have
been supervised personally by King Abdullah in response to Israeli military
operations that have damaged multiple hospitals in Gaza and resulted in almost
45,000 deaths.
Israel blocks food supply to
northern Gaza’s Indonesian hospital to force out doctors
Sheany Yasuko Lai/Arab News/January
05, 2025
JAKARTA: Israeli forces have blocked food and water supply to the Indonesia
Hospital in northern Gaza to force out the doctors who are refusing to leave
their patients behind, the nongovernmental organization that funded it said on
Sunday. The hospital in Beit Lahiya, a four-story building located near the
Jabalia refugee camp, was built from donations organized by the Jakarta-based
Medical Emergency Rescue Committee. It has been sheltering more than a dozen
patients, caregivers and health workers from Gaza’s Kamal Adwan hospital, which
was destroyed in December after months of relentless Israeli attacks. The
remaining doctors are defying orders to leave the Indonesia Hospital, MER-C
said, adding that they last received food aid from the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “They are still holding out. The condition
is deteriorating, there’s a lack of water and food,” Marissa Noriti, a MER-C
volunteer in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, told Arab News via WhatsApp. “The
Israeli occupation forces are blocking supply … The doctors are staying for the
patients. They refuse to leave them behind.”Indonesia Hospital is no longer in
service after it was severely damaged by frequent Israeli attacks since October
2023. But the facility was still sheltering critically ill patients, despite not
having electricity, water or supplies, according to UNOCHA. The hospital
operated under limited capacity last year, but Israeli bombardments forced the
patients and medical staff to transfer to the Al-Shifa hospital in southern Gaza
last December, with only a few doctors staying behind. On Friday, as the
hospital was surrounded by Israeli forces attacking the area, the doctors were
ordered to leave the facility and the patients. “We are monitoring the
situation. Israel’s occupation forces are cutting off all supplies to force them
out; this is their strategy to empty north Gaza, to empty all the hospitals in
the north so the people have no place to go to seek help,” Sarbini Abdul Murad,
chairman of MER-C’s board of trustees in Jakarta, told Arab News. “We ask that
the international community act by any means to save Palestine from the crimes
of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).”Israel has frequently targeted medical
facilities in the Gaza Strip, saying that they are used by Palestinian armed
groups. The attacks have pushed the enclave’s healthcare system to the brink of
collapse. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians and
wounded over 108,000 since Oct. 7, 2023. The real death toll is believed to be
much higher, with estimates published by medical journal The Lancet indicating
that, as of July, it could be more than 186,000.
Israeli helps former soldier leave Brazil over investigation into alleged war
crimes in Gaza
Sam Mednick And Wafaa Shurafa/JERUSALEM
(AP)/January 5, 2025
Israel has helped a former soldier leave Brazil after legal action was initiated
against him by a group accusing Israelis of war crimes in the Gaza Strip based
in part on soldiers' social media posts. Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday
said it had helped the former soldier safely leave Brazil on a commercial flight
after what it described as “anti-Israel elements” sought an investigation last
week. It warned Israelis against posting on social media about their military
service. The Hind Rajab Foundation, named for a 5-year-old Palestinian girl
killed in Gaza, said Brazilian authorities had launched an investigation into
the soldier after it filed a complaint based on video footage, geolocation data
and photographs showing him taking part in the demolition of civilian homes. The
foundation described the move as a “pivotal step toward accountability for
crimes committed in Gaza" during nearly 15 months of war.There was no immediate
comment from Brazilian authorities. Brazilian media reported Saturday that the
investigation was ordered by an on-call federal judge in Brazil’s Federal
District. The decision was issued on Dec. 30 but first reported over the
weekend. Israel has faced heavy international criticism over its war against
Hamas in Gaza, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. The
International Court of Justice is separately investigating genocide allegations.
The Brazil case raised the prospect that rank-and-file Israeli troops could also
face prosecution while traveling abroad. Israel adamantly rejects the
international allegations, saying its forces in Gaza are acting in accordance
with international law and that any violations are punished within its judicial
systems. It blames Hamas for civilian deaths, saying the militant group conceals
tunnels and other infrastructure in residential buildings, necessitating their
demolition. Throughout the war, Israeli soldiers have posted numerous videos
from Gaza that appear to show them rummaging through homes and blowing up or
burning residential buildings. In some, they chant racist slogans or boast about
destroying the Palestinian territory. The military has pledged to take
disciplinary action in what it says are a handful of isolated cases. The war
began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023,
killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. Some 100
hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead. Israel’s
offensive has killed over 45,800 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health
officials. They say women and children make up over half the dead but do not
distinguish between civilians and militants. Israel says it has killed over
17,000 militants, without providing evidence. Israeli airstrikes on Sunday
killed five people in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza and four in the
southern city of Khan Younis, according to health workers. Gaza's Health
Ministry said at least 88 people had been killed in the past 24 hours. The war
has caused widespread destruction in Gaza and displaced around 90% of the
population of 2.3 million people, with many forced to flee multiple times.
Israeli forces kill Palestinian
security member
(AP)/January 5, 2025
In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Israeli forces killed a member of the
Palestinian security services, calling him a wanted militant. Israel's
paramilitary Border Police said Sunday they carried out an operation in
Meithaloun village overnight to arrest Hassan Rabaiya. They said he was killed
in a shootout while trying to escape. Israeli authorities released helmet-cam
footage that showed the police shooting the suspect and blowing up what police
said was an explosives lab in his home. The Palestinian security services
identified Rabaiya as a first lieutenant in its Preventive Security force,
saying he was killed while “performing his national duty.” Meithaloun is near
the West Bank city of Jenin, an epicenter of Israeli-Palestinian violence in
recent years. The Palestinian Authority has been waging a rare crackdown on
militants in Jenin, angering many Palestinians. The internationally recognized
Palestinian Authority exercises limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank and
cooperates with Israel on security matters. But Israel has long accused it of
inciting violence and turning a blind eye to militants, while Palestinian
critics view it as a corrupt and ineffective body that aids the occupation. The
West Bank has seen a surge of violence during the war in Gaza. Israel captured
both Gaza and the West Bank, as well as east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war,
and the Palestinians want all three territories for their future state.
Israeli soldiers face growing risk of arrest abroad after Gaza service
Dana Karni and Tim Lister, CNN/January 5, 2025
A former Israeli soldier on vacation in Brazil fled the country suddenly after a
case was brought against him there alleging he was responsible for war crimes
while serving in Gaza. The case is the latest in a series of lawsuits brought by
the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) that has tracked the activities of hundreds of
Israeli soldiers serving in Gaza. Last week, a Brazilian judge ordered police to
investigate the soldier, based on the complaint brought by the HRF, accusing him
of “participating in massive demolitions of civilian homes in Gaza during a
systematic campaign of destruction.”The lawyer who brought the case on behalf of
the foundation, Maira Pinheiro, was quoted in Brazilian media as saying that as
Brazil is a signatory to the Rome Statute, it is obliged to ensure that the
crimes provided for in the statute (war crimes, crimes against humanity and
genocide) are investigated and punished.
The HRF is a pro-Palestinian NGO that says it is dedicated “to breaking the
cycle of Israeli impunity and honoring the memory of Hind Rajab and all those
who have perished in the Gaza genocide.” Rajab was a 5-year-old girl who was
killed by Israeli tank fire while in her family’s car in Gaza. The Israeli
foreign ministry said Sunday that “following an attempt last weekend by
anti-Israeli elements to investigate a discharged Israeli soldier who visited
Brazil, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar immediately activated the Foreign Ministry
to ensure that the Israeli citizen was not in danger.”The Israeli embassy in
Brazil had ensured “his swift and safe departure from Brazil.”The foreign
ministry added that it drew Israelis’ attention “to posts made by them on social
media regarding their military service, and to the fact that anti-Israeli
elements may exploit these posts to initiate baseless legal proceedings against
them.”HRF has also sought the apprehension of Israeli soldiers visiting
Thailand, Sri Lanka, Chile and other countries, according to its website. In the
Sri Lankan case, the organization posted a photograph of the soldier and said
that it had appealed to Sri Lankan authorities, the International Criminal Court
and Interpol, demanding his arrest over the killing of a civilian in Gaza. There
is no confirmation that any Israeli soldier has been detained or arrested as a
result of the cases it has brought. The Brazilian case has kicked off a
political furor in Israel. The leader of the opposition, Yair Lapid, said: “The
fact that an Israeli reserve soldier had to flee Brazil in the middle of the
night to avoid being arrested for fighting in Gaza is a monumental political
failure of a government that is simply incapable of functioning.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar shot back, saying: “Even the empty Lapid
knows that what we are witnessing is a systematic and anti-Semitic campaign
aimed at denying Israel’s right to self-defense. Countless international actors
and many countries are complicit in this.”“Moms Up,” a group of Israeli
soldiers’ mothers, has written to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the IDF
Chief of Staff following the case in Brazil, saying: “We see you as the sole
responsible party for removing the legal risk facing our children.”It added that
the Israeli military had been “forced to operate within a political vacuum and
under pressure from extremist groups, without the vital legal protection that
would safeguard its soldiers from malicious actors worldwide.”A former senior
officer in Israel’s Judge Advocate General’s department told CNN that there was
a rising number of attempts overseas to bring charges against Israelis who
served in the war, but so far none had resulted in arrest or trial. He said that
unlike in the past, activist groups were not going after high-ranking officers
and politicians but ordinary soldiers. The lawyer declined to be identified for
this report. The Foreign Affairs and Security Committee in the Israeli
parliament, the Knesset, will discuss
the action being taken against
Israeli soldiers around the world on Monday.
Israeli army says missile from Yemen intercepted
Agence France Presse/January 05, 2025
The Israeli military said Sunday it had intercepted a missile launched from
Yemen, the latest in a series of recent attacks. "Following the sirens that
sounded a short while ago in Talmei Elazar, a missile launched from Yemen was
intercepted prior to crossing into Israeli territory," the military said in a
statement posted to Telegram. Yemen's Houthi rebels, who control much of
northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, said in a statement Sunday they had
launched "a hypersonic ballistic missile" targeting a power station south of the
Israeli city of Haifa.
On Friday, Israel's military said it had shot down a missile and a drone
launched from Yemen, where Iran-backed rebels have stepped up their attacks
since a November ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and another Iran-backed
group, Hezbollah.
Like Hezbollah -- which began trading cross-border fire with Israel after Hamas'
October 7 attack last year -- the Huthis say they are acting in solidarity with
Palestinians, and have vowed to continue until there is a ceasefire in the Gaza
Strip.
While most of the missiles and drones launched from Yemen have been intercepted,
one missile wounded 16 people in Tel Aviv in December, according to Israel's
military and emergency services. In response, the Israeli air force has struck
Houthi targets in Yemen, including Sanaa's international airport. The Houthi
rebels have also been firing at ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden --
destabilizing a vital shipping lane and prompting reprisal strikes by the United
States and sometimes Britain. The group's Saba news agency and Al-Masirah TV
reported three raids on Sunday east of the city of Saada, in northern Yemen,
attributing the operations to the United States and Britain. Washington and
London did not immediately comment on that report. Iranian foreign ministry
spokesman Esmail Baghaei on Sunday said Tehran "strongly condemned the American
and British air strikes against infrastructure in Saada province."
Gaza truce talks resume in Qatar as violence shows no
let-up
Agence France Presse/January 05, 2025
Israel confirmed on Saturday that negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage
release deal had resumed in Qatar, as rescuers said more than 30 people had been
killed in fresh bombardment of the territory. The civil defense agency said a
dawn air strike on the home of the al-Ghoula family in Gaza City killed 11
people, seven of them children. AFP images from the neighborhood of Shujaiya
showed residents combing through smoking rubble. Bodies including those of small
children were lined up on the ground, shrouded in white sheets. As the violence
raged, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that indirect negotiations
with Hamas had resumed in Qatar for the release of hostages seized in the
October 2023 attacks. The minister told relatives of one of the hostages, woman
soldier Liri Albag, that "efforts are under way to free the hostages, notably
the Israeli delegation which left yesterday (Friday) for negotiations in Qatar,"
his office said. Katz said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had given
"detailed instructions for the continued negotiations."He was speaking after
Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, released a video of Albag in
captivity in Gaza. In the undated, three-and-half-minute recording that AFP has
not been able to verify, the 19-year-old conscript called in Hebrew for the
Israeli government to secure her release.
In response, her family issued an appeal to Netanyahu, saying: "It's time to
take decisions as if it were your own children there."A total of 96 Israeli
hostages remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
Campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the latest video was
"firm and incontestable proof of the urgency of bringing the hostages home."
Hamas had said late on Friday that the negotiations were poised to resume. The
militant group, whose October 7, 2023, attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war,
said they would "focus on ensuring the agreement leads to a complete cessation
of hostilities (and) the withdrawal of occupation forces."Mediators Qatar, Egypt
and the United States have been engaged in months of effort that have failed to
end nearly 15 months of war. In December, Qatar expressed optimism that
"momentum" was returning to the talks following the U.S. election of Donald
Trump, who takes office in 16 days. But Hamas and Israel then accused each other
of setting new conditions and obstacles. As the clock ticks down to the handover
of power in Washington, the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden
notified Congress of an $8 billion arms sale to Israel, a source familiar with
the plan said on Saturday. "The department has informally notified Congress of
an $8 billion proposed sale of munitions to support Israel's long-term security
by resupplying stocks of critical munitions and air defense capabilities," the
official said. The United States is Israel's largest military supplier.
'Everything was shaking'
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said the Ghoula home in Gaza City "was
completely destroyed" by the dawn strike. "It was a two-story building and
several people are still under the rubble," he said, adding Israeli drones had
"also fired on ambulance staff.".l Contacted by AFP, the Israeli army did not
immediately comment.
"A huge explosion woke us up. Everything was shaking," said neighbour Ahmed
Moussa.
"It was home to children, women. There wasn't anyone wanted or who posed a
threat."
Elsewhere, the civil defense agency said an Israeli strike killed five security
officers tasked with accompanying aid convoys as they drove through the southern
city of Khan Younis.
The Israeli army said the five had been "implicated in terrorist activities" and
were not escorting aid trucks at the time of the strike. Rescuers said strikes
elsewhere in Gaza killed 10 other people. AFP images showed Palestine Red
Crescent paramedics in Gaza City moving the body of one of their colleagues, his
green jacket laid over the blanket that covered his corpse. The health ministry
in Hamas-run Gaza said a total of 136 people had been killed over the previous
48 hours. On Sunday, the Israeli military said it intercepted a missile launched
from Yemen in the latest of a series of attacks. Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi
rebels have been firing missiles and drones at Israel -- as well as at ships in
the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden -- in what they say is a solidarity campaign with
Palestinians during the war in Gaza. The Hamas attack that triggered the war
resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP
tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory military campaign
has killed at least 45,717 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians,
according to figures from the Gaza health ministry which the United Nations
considers reliable.
Post-Assad economy: Syria's currency stabilizes as
challenges persist
LBCI/January 05, 2025
In Syria, the use of foreign currencies such as the U.S. dollar or Turkish lira
is now permitted, marking a significant shift from the strict currency controls
imposed during Assad's rule. Previously, using non-Syrian currencies was
punishable by imprisonment.
This relaxation, combined with the return of thousands of Syrians from abroad
carrying foreign currencies, has contributed to a recent improvement in the
value of the Syrian pound. The currency, which had plummeted to over 40,000
pounds per U.S. dollar in some regions during the final days of Assad's rule,
has now stabilized at around 15,000 pounds per dollar. However, economic
analysts caution that this recovery is temporary. The country faces a severe
shortage of foreign currency reserves, a critical factor for stabilizing the
exchange rate. Syria's central bank lacks sufficient reserves, leaving the
economy vulnerable. One of the primary challenges is the continued enforcement
of the Caesar Act sanctions since 2020. These sanctions have forced Syria to
rely on alternative and often illicit methods to acquire foreign currency,
including:
- Captagon trade which generates over $5 billion annually.
- Smuggling goods, including oil, from neighboring countries like Lebanon.
- Humanitarian aid was boosted after the February 2023 earthquake.
-Support from allies such as Iran.
- Remittances that Syrian expatriates send are estimated at $2 billion annually.
With the Assad regime no longer in power, sanctions remain in place. Experts
emphasize that lifting these sanctions is crucial for economic recovery.
Nonetheless, this depends on the new authority's adherence to standards set by
Western and regional nations, including inclusive governance and the protection
of minority and women's rights.
Syria monitor reports blasts at arms depots near Damascus
AFP/January 05, 2025
BEIRUT: A Syria war monitor said explosions on Sunday rocked an area near
Damascus housing weapons depots used by the toppled government of Bashar Assad.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said the blasts in Kisweh, south
of the Syrian capital, may be the result of an Israeli air strike. The Israeli
military, which has struck many military sites in Syria in recent weeks, told
AFP in Jerusalem it did not attack the site.The Britain-based Observatory, which
has a network of sources in Syria, said that “loud blasts resonated in the wider
capital area.”The explosions occurred “at ammunition depots of the former regime
forces... near the town of Kisweh,” sending a thick cloud of smoke billowing
over the site, the Observatory said. Israel, which rarely comments on its
actions in neighboring Syria, has carried out hundreds of air strikes on
military sites since Islamist-led forces ousted president Assad and seized
Damascus last month. Israel has said it was seeking to prevent weapons from
falling into hostile hands. Most recently, the Observatory said Israeli war
planes hit sites of the now defunct Syrian army in the Aleppo area on Friday. In
late December, the Observatory said 11 people died in an explosion at an arms
storage facility in the Adra area north Damascus, adding that it was possibly
the result of an Israeli strike. Israel denied any involvement.
Syrian caretaker government to hike public sector salaries by 400
percent next month
Reuters/January 05, 2025
DAMASCUS: Syria’s finance minister said on Sunday the government would hike
salaries for many public sector employees by 400 percent next month after
completing an administrative restructuring of ministries to boost efficiency and
accountability. The increase, estimated to cost 1.65 trillion Syrian pounds, or
about $127 million at current rates, will be financed by existing state
resources plus a combination of regional aid, new investments, and efforts to
unfreeze Syrian assets held abroad. “(This is) the first step toward an
emergency solution to the economic reality in the country,” Mohammed Abazeed,
the finance minister in Syria’s caretaker government, told Reuters, adding that
this month’s wages for public sector staff would be paid out this week. These
measures are part of a broader strategy by Syria’s new caretaker government to
stabilize the country’s economy following 13 years of conflict and sanctions.
Salaries of Syria’s public sector employees under toppled President Bashar
Assad’s regime were around $25 a month, putting them below the poverty line,
along with the majority of the country’s population, Abazeed said.
The hike would follow a comprehensive evaluation of up to 1.3 million registered
public sector employees to remove fictitious employees from the payroll and
would affect those with sufficient expertise, academic qualifications, and the
necessary skills for reconstruction.
Syria’s state treasury is facing liquidity challenges emerging from a war. The
majority of money available in the central bank is Syrian currency, which has
lost much of its value. However, the new government was promised assistance from
regional and Arab countries, the minister said. “The launch of investments in
the country in the near future will also benefit the state treasury and allow us
to finance this salary increase,” he said, adding the central bank currently has
sufficient funds to finance the next few months. The government expects to
retrieve up to $400 million in frozen Syrian assets abroad, which could
co-finance the initial government expenses. Syria’s caretaker government is also
discussing exempting taxpayers, as much as possible, from penalties and interest
and working on overhauling the tax system within the next three months to
achieve tax justice for all taxpayers, with a first draft expected within four
months. “By the end of this year, we expect having a well-designed tax system
that takes the interests of all taxpayers into account,” he added.
KSrelief and UNHCR officials discuss
enhanced humanitarian support in Syria
Arab News/January 05, 2025
DAMASCUS: Officials from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees met in Damascus on Sunday to discuss
coordinated efforts to assist the Syrian people, the Saudi Press Agency
reported. The meeting, focused on bolstering humanitarian and relief operations
in the region, was attended by Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Harees, charge d’affaires
of the Saudi Embassy in Syria. During the discussions, UNHCR officials praised
their strategic partnership with KSrelief, highlighting the importance of their
joint initiatives to support refugees and displaced persons in Syria. Both
parties also reiterated their commitment to ensuring that vulnerable populations
have access to essential resources and services to live with dignity. The
humanitarian crisis in Syria remains one of the most pressing in the world,
especially after the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in December of last year,
following over a decade of civil war. Assad’s ouster came after years of
intensified international sanctions and a lightning offensive across key cities
by opposition militias, culminating in his government’s collapse. An estimated
6.8 million Syrians remain displaced within the country, while more than 5.5
million have sought refuge in neighboring countries such as Turkiye, Lebanon,
and Jordan. Humanitarian organizations like KSrelief and UNHCR play a crucial
role in addressing these challenges, providing essential aid such as food,
shelter, and medical care. In Syria, UNHCR has been a critical player in
responding to the humanitarian crisis, assisting the millions of displaced
Syrians and advocating for sustainable solutions to their plight. Its
collaboration with partners such as KSrelief has been key to addressing the
evolving needs of those affected by the conflict.
Syria's new Islamist rulers urge US to lift sanctions during visit to Doha
Nayera Abdallah, Menna AlaaElDin and
Andrew Mills/DOHA (Reuters)/January 5, 2025
Syria's new Islamist rulers said on Sunday that U.S. sanctions on Syria were an
obstacle to the war-torn country's rapid recovery and urged Washington to lift
them during a visit by Syrian officials to Qatar. "These sanctions constitute a
barrier and an obstacle to the rapid recovery and development of the Syrian
people who await services and partnerships from other countries," Syria's
Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani told reporters after meeting with
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves
as foreign minister. "We reiterate our calls for the United States to lift these
sanctions, which have now become against the Syrian people rather than what they
previously were: imposed sanctions on the Assad regime," he said.Shibani, on his
second foreign trip less than a month after former President Bashar al-Assad was
ousted by rebels on Dec. 8, said that Qatar will be a partner in the new phase
in Syria. Doha had not normalised ties with Assad over his government's violent
response to 2011 protests and backed the Syrian opposition instead. Shibani, who
was joined by Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Head of Intelligence
Anas Khattab, met with other senior Qatari officials including Minister of State
for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, a Qatari official told Reuters
earlier. Shibani presented the Qataris a clear roadmap for the near future in
Syria and steps that would be taken by the new Syrian administration, Al-Khulaifi
told reporters after the meeting. "We are working together to prevent any
foreign interference in Syrian affairs," Al-Khulaifi added. Shibani said the
roadmap is meant to "rebuild our country, restore its Arab and foreign
relations, enable the Syrian people to obtain their civil and basic rights, and
present a government that the Syrian people feel it represents them and all
their components." He is expected to also visit the United Arab Emirates and
Jordan this week to "support stability, security, economic recovery and build
distinguished partnerships," according to his account on X. Shibani embarked on
his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, less than a month since
former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebels on Dec. 8, where Saudi
officials discussed how best to support Syria's political transition. (Reporting
by Andrew Mills in Doha, Nayera Abdallah in Dubai, and Menna Alaa in
Cairo.Editing by Mark Potter and Sharon Singleton)
Syria's foreign minister
visits Qatar as new authorities seek regional and global diplomatic ties
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)/January 5, 2025
Syria's new foreign minister met with his Qatari counterpart and Qatar's prime
minister in Doha on Sunday, as Syria’s new de facto authorities under Hayat
Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, establish diplomatic ties with regional and global
governments. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani posted on X that he’s also set to
visit Jordan and the United Arabs Emirates to develop strategic partnerships,
and support Syria’s security and economic recovery. Al-Shibani met with his
Saudi counterpart in Riyadh on Thursday. And he also welcomed the foreign
ministers of Germany and France in Damascus on Friday. HTS led a lightning
insurgency that ousted President Bashar Assad on Dec. 8 and ended his family's
decades-long rule. From 2011 until Assad's downfall, Syria's uprising and civil
war killed an estimated 500,000 people. Much of the world ended diplomatic
relations with Assad because of his crackdown on protesters, and sanctioned him
and his Russian and Iranian associates. Now, Syria under Islamist rule hopes to
reestablish those ties and lift sanctions slapped on HTS and leader Ahmad al-Sharaa
to help make Syria's battered economy viable again. Assad was backed by Russia,
Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. HTS now hopes Syria can strengthen
ties with Arab countries in the region. Qatar supported opposition groups that
fought against Assad and his allies, and was one of a few Arab countries that
opposed restoring ties with the ousted Assad and Syria's return to the Arab
League in 2023. “We conveyed to Doha our concerns about the challenges related
to the economic sanctions imposed on the Syrian people, and we renew our call on
the United States to lift those sanctions,” Syrian radio station Sham FM quoted
Al-Shibani as saying. Around 90% of Syrians live in poverty, while more than
half of the population doesn't know where their next meal will come from,
according to the United Nations. Al-Sharaa has said he will hold a national
dialogue summit that includes different groups across Syria to agree upon a new
political road map leading to a new constitution and an election. He vowed to
dissolve HTS during the summit and has said in an interview with Saudi
television network Al-Arabiyya that the de facto rulers are all of the same
political background during this transitional phase for the sake of efficiency
in running the country. Still, it's unclear whether Washington will lift
sanctions anytime soon. Europe, meanwhile, appears hesitant because of fears
over how religious minorities and women will be treated.
Red Cross Says Determining Fate of Syria’s Missing ‘Huge
Challenge'
Asharq Al Awsat/January 5, 2025
Determining the fate of those who went missing during Syria's civil war will be
a massive task likely to take years, the president of the International
Committee for the Red Cross said. "Identifying the missing and informing the
families about their fate is going to be a huge challenge," ICRC president
Mirjana Spoljaric told AFP in an interview. The fate of tens of thousands of
detainees and missing people remains one of the most harrowing legacies of the
conflict that started in 2011 when President Bashar al-Assad's forces brutally
repressed anti-government protests. Many are believed to have been buried in
mass graves after being tortured in Syria's jails during a war that has killed
more than half a million people. Thousands have been released since opposition
factions ousted Assad last month, but many Syrians are still looking for traces
of relatives and friends who went missing. Spoljaric said the ICRC was working
with the caretaker authorities, non-governmental organizations and the Syrian
Red Crescent to collect data to give families answers as soon as possible. But
"the task is enormous," she said in the interview late Saturday. "It will take
years to get clarity and to be able to inform everybody concerned. And there
will be cases we will never (be able) to identify," she added. "Until recently,
we've been following up on 35,000 cases, and since we established a new hotline
in December, we are adding another 8,000 requests," Spoljaric said. "But that is
just potentially a portion of the numbers."Spoljaric said the ICRC was offering
the new authorities to "work with us to build the necessary institution and
institutional capacities to manage the available data and to protect and gather
what... needs to be collected". Human Rights Watch last month urged the new
Syrian authorities to "secure, collect and safeguard evidence, including from
mass grave sites and government records... that will be vital in future criminal
trials". The rights group also called for cooperation with the ICRC, which could
"provide critical expertise" to help safeguard the records and clarify the fate
of missing people. Spoljaric said: "We cannot exclude that data is going to be
lost. But we need to work quickly to preserve what exists and to store it
centrally to be able to follow up on the individual cases."More than half a
century of brutal rule by the Assad family came to a sudden end in early
December after a rapid opposition offensive swept across Syria and took the
capital Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war
monitor, says more than 100,000 people have died in detention from torture or
dire health conditions across Syria since 2011.
Fighting Intensifies between Pro-Türkiye Factions, SDF Near
Syria’s Manbij
Ankara: Saeed Abdulrazek/Asharq Al Awsat/January 5, 2025
Fighting intensified on Saturday between the Türkiye-backed Free Syrian Army and
the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Tishrin Dam region southeast
of Manbij city in the Aleppo countryside. The Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights said Turkish jets struck SDF positions in the area, as well as in the
city of Deir Hafir southeast of Manbij. In a statement, the SDF said the pro-Türkiye
factions launched a broad attack on several villages south and east of Manbij,
but its forces managed to repel them.
The factions have for days been seeking to seize areas surrounding the Tishrin
Dam on the Euphrates River. The SDF added that the factions, with support from
Turkish drones and modern tanks, launched violent attacks on the villages of al-Atshana,
Khirbet Tueni, Khirbet Zamala, al-Mastaha, Alloush and others near Manbij. The
SDF managed to repel “all attacks”, kill several members of the factions and
destroy Turkish vehicles, stressed the statement. SDF members were killed and
eight others were wounded in the fighting. Fifty members of the factions were
also killed, said the Observatory, which confirmed the attacks on the Manbij
countryside. The SDF has since detonated mines in the area to slow down the
factions’ advance. It has also bolstered the deployment of its forces in
anticipation of air strikes, added the Observatory. The fighting has been
ongoing since December when the factions seized Manbij and Tal Rifaat. Since
then, neither side has managed to claim any major victory against the other or
capture any territory. Meanwhile, Turkish drones struck and damaged a power
plant in the Tabaqa countryside in the western Raqqa province. Two members of
the SDF security forces were also wounded in a drone strike on the municipality
building in the countryside. Türkiye has been targeting infrastructure in the
regions held by the People’s Protection Forces (YPG) - the military backbone of
the SDF - in northern and eastern Syria. Turkish artillery also targeted areas
in Hasakeh. There have been no reports so far of casualties. Elsewhere, American
forces and the US-led international coalition to fight ISIS continued to send
military reinforcements to areas held by the SDF.
A 20-truck American military convoy entered Syria through the Iraqi Kurdistan
region and headed towards the Tal Baydar and Qasrak bases in the Hasakeh
countryside on Saturday. The Observatory said the US forces sent 13 armored
vehicles, as well as fuel tankers, from these bases to Ain al-Arab, or Kobane,
in the eastern Aleppo countryside to complete the construction of a military
base there.
Erdogan Expects Support from Syria in Türkiye's Battle with PKK
Asharq Alawsat/January 05/2025
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Syria's new
leadership is determined to root out separatists there, as Ankara said its
military had "neutralized" 32 members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party,
or PKK, in the country.
A rebellion by groups close to Türkiye ousted Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad
last month. Since then, Türkiye-backed Syrian forces have occasionally clashed
in the north with US-backed Kurdish forces that Ankara deems terrorists. "With
the revolution in Syria... the hopes of the separatist terrorist organization
hit a wall," Erdogan told his party's provincial congress in Trabzon. "The new
administration in Syria is showing an extremely determined stance in preserving
the country's territorial integrity and unitary structure," he said. "The end of
the terrorist organization is near. There is no option left other than to
surrender their weapons, abandon terrorism, and dissolve the organization. They
will face Türkiye's iron fist," Erdogan added. The defense ministry separately
announced the armed forces' operation in northern Syria that it said had
"neutralized" - a term that usually means killed - the 32 PKK members. It said
Türkiye's military had also "neutralized" four PKK members in northern Iraq,
where the militants are based.
New Orleans attacker's movements included
trip to Ontario in July 2023, FBI says
CBC/January 5, 2025
FBI officials on Sunday said their investigation into the deadly truck attack in
New Orleans is now "crossing state and international borders," and that the
attacker had travelled to both Egypt and Canada. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S.
citizen from Houston, travelled to Egypt and Canada before the New Year's Day
attack, although it was not yet clear whether those trips were connected to the
attack, Christopher Raia, the agency's deputy assistant director, said at a news
conference. Jabbar travelled to Cairo from June 22 to July 3, 2023. A few days
later, he flew to Ontario on July 10 and returned to the U.S. on July 13. "Our
agents are getting answers to where he went, who he went with and how those
trips may or may not tie into his actions here," said Lyonel Myrthil, FBI
special agent in charge of the New Orleans field office. Authorities say Jabbar
had also travelled to New Orleans ahead of the attack in October. Myrthil said
video shows him riding through the French Quarter on a bicycle wearing Meta
smart glasses, which are capable of recording or livestreaming. Investigators
previously said Jabbar, a 42-year-old former U.S. army soldier, had proclaimed
his support for the Islamist militant group ISIS in online videos posted hours
before he struck on Bourbon Street early last Wednesday, killing 14 people and
injuring dozens. Police fatally shot Jabbar during a firefight at the scene.
Thirteen people remain hospitalized after the attack.
Raia reiterated on Sunday that the FBI believes Jabbar acted alone.
"All investigative details and evidence that we have now still support that
Jabbar acted alone here in New Orleans," Raia said. "We have not seen any
indications of an accomplice in the United States, but we are still looking into
potential associates in the U.S. and outside of our borders." The RCMP has not
responded to previous requests by CBC News for comment on Jabbar's movements in
Canada and whether the police force is working with the FBI on the
investigation. U.S. President Joe Biden planned to travel to New Orleans with
his wife, Jill Biden, on Monday to "grieve with the families and community
members impacted by the tragic attack." The youngest victim was 18 years old and
the oldest 63. Most victims were in their 20s. They came from Alabama,
Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey and Britain. Louisiana Gov. Jeff
Landry said the innocent lives lost will never be forgotten as he declared a
period of mourning for the victims that is scheduled to begin on Monday. A
different victim is to be remembered each day. "However, Louisiana and her
people will never cower in fear," he said. "Instead, we will unite and come back
stronger in honour of every person who lost their lives that day."
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on January 05-06/2025
German Government Covering Up Islamist Attack?
Robert Williams/Gatestone Institute/January 5, 2025
"He [Christmas market attacker Taleb al-Abdulmohsen] himself claimed to be a
Wahhabi. He had open contacts with Hamas people, as well as with supporters of
IS. He threatened ex-Muslim and secular associations, as well as women who had
fled from Saudi Arabia and renounced Islam. The association and the women
legally defended themselves against him. He attacked the Central Council of
Ex-Muslims as well as me as a member. All the major critics of Islam blocked
Taleb because everyone received confused messages and threats. He never directly
criticized Islam or its associations. While we protested in front of mosques, he
fought us. He also repeatedly defended Saudi Arabia." — Ali Utlu, German
ex-Muslim, X, December 21, 2024.
The German government, it appears, is covering up an Islamist terror attack at a
Christmas market as "Islamophobic." Perhaps the ruling coalition of Social
Democrat and Green parties is seeking new votes in next month's elections;
perhaps it is seeking to pretend away its own massive failure at stopping a
terrorist about whom the authorities were warned so many times.
Evidently, the German government does not consider disinformation a problem, so
long as it is the German government that is doing it.
The German government, it appears, is covering up Saudi Arabian Taleb al-Abdulmohsen's
Islamist terror attack at a crowded Magdeburg Christmas market as "Islamophobic."
Abdulmohsen drove 200 meters into the market on December 20, murdering a
nine-year-old boy and four women, while wounding more than 200 people, 40
critically. The German city of Magdeburg was written into the sad history of
terrorist attacks by Muslim migrants, when Saudi Arabian terrorist Taleb al-Abdulmohsen
drove 200 meters into a crowded Christmas market on December 20, murdering a
nine-year-old boy and four women, while wounding more than 200 people, 40
critically.
It has been a quarter of a century since German authorities first identified an
Islamist terrorist cell in the country. In 202, that cell was preparing a
terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Strasbourg, France. Since then, and
especially after German Chancellor Angela Merkel's policy of leaving Germany's
borders wide open to Muslim migrants in 2015, Islamist terrorism has been the
major security threat in Western Europe, especially in Germany, where Christmas
markets have been an especially coveted target. Author and journalist Douglas
Murray calls it, "one of the Continent's newest traditions: the Christmas market
terrorist attack." In December 2016, an Islamist also rammed a vehicle into a
Christmas market in Berlin, murdering 12 people and wounding 50.
What have 25 years of terrorism experience taught German authorities?
Apparently, nothing.
The German authorities, and their unofficial spokespeople in the legacy media,
would have Germans believe that Abdulmohsen was a hate filled right-winger and
ex-Muslim who hated the adherents of his allegedly former religion. While the
investigation of his attack is still ongoing, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser
nevertheless told reporters, "We can only say with certainty that the
perpetrator was obviously Islamophobic."
"With certainty"? Never mind that Saudi Arabia warned German authorities
repeatedly that Abdulmohsen posed a danger. Never mind that he reportedly
threatened a terror attack in Germany more than 10 years ago, in 2013, referring
to the Boston Marathon bombing. According to The Telegraph:
"Abdulmohsen, angry that a German medical association had requested more
paperwork before allowing him to practise as a psychiatrist, threatened the
association on the phone with the words: 'Did you see what happened in Boston?
Something similar will happen here too.'"
He made a similar threat a year later, but the German authorities appear not
even to have noticed it: In 2016, he was granted asylum in Germany.
Never mind that a Saudi woman in Germany had repeatedly attempted to warn German
authorities that he wanted to murder random Germans. Never mind that he made
Islamist postings on X, threatening, "We will return Hamas to Gaza and if you
like we can bring Hamas to your home so you can taste it." In fact, Abdulmohsen
commented on a post by Nancy Faeser on her own X account that he was going to
murder people: "It is likely that I will die this year to ensure justice," he
wrote to Faeser prior to his attack. German authorities, so zealous in
prosecuting "hate" on X that they are arresting pensioners, totally ignored a
real threat.
While Abdulmohsen posed as an ex-Muslim atheist who was a fan of the Alternative
for Germany (AfD) party and Elon Musk, a few genuine ex-Muslims saw through it
and recognized it as taqqiyah – dissimulation to advance the goals of Islam.
"I'll say it again: many people who have had contact with Taleb, like me, deny
that he was ever an atheist or ex-Muslim," wrote Ali Utlu, a German ex-Muslim.
"He himself claimed to be a Wahhabi. He had open contacts with Hamas people, as
well as with supporters of IS.
"He threatened ex-Muslim and secular associations, as well as women who had fled
from Saudi Arabia and renounced Islam. The association and the women legally
defended themselves against him. He attacked the Central Council of Ex-Muslims
as well as me as a member. All the major critics of Islam blocked Taleb because
everyone received confused messages and threats.
"He never directly criticized Islam or its associations. While we protested in
front of mosques, he fought us. He also repeatedly defended Saudi Arabia. For
what?
"Dozens of people are sharing screenshots of conversations where he threatened
people because they are ex-Muslims."
The German authorities – so desperate to prevent "hate" and "misinformation"
that they arrest German citizens over innocent internet postings, such as the
64-year-old who had his home raided, electronic devices seized and was arrested
for calling Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck an idiot on social media – apparently
decided that it would be politically opportune to amplify Abdulmohsen's taqqiyah
as incontrovertible fact. The German government, desperate to keep the AfD out
of power, jumped at the chance to make a link between Abdulmohsen and the
political party that is threatening the German Left's hold on power.
Interior Minister Faeser, apart from proclaiming Abdulmohsen's identity as an "Islamophobe"
with "certainty," appears -- as has been customary in the German government
since Merkel's time in office -- hell-bent on denying that Germany might have a
problem with Islamist terrorism. When, last summer, three people were murdered
in a stabbing attack by a Syrian in Solingen, Faeser's main concern was that the
attack not be used to "sow hatred."
"We will not allow ourselves to be divided in such times, but stand together and
will not allow such a terrible attack to divide society," she said at the time.
Faeser appears to have only one objective in mind: for the German Left to stay
in power indefinitely. In September 2023, she proposed that foreigners and
migrants who have spent as few as six months in Germany should be allowed to
vote in local elections.
The German government, it appears, is covering up an Islamist terror attack at a
Christmas market as "Islamophobic." Perhaps the ruling coalition of Social
Democrat and Green parties is seeking new votes in next month's elections;
perhaps it is seeking to pretend away its own massive failure at stopping a
terrorist about whom the authorities were warned so many times.
Evidently, the German government does not consider disinformation a problem, so
long as it is the German government that is doing it.
*Robert Williams is based in the United States.
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21270/germany-attack-cover-up
2025 New Year's Resolution: Do Something Honorable Today
and Every Day
Lawrence Kadish/Gatestone Institute./January 5, 2025
The New Year has become a traditional time to reflect on the year past and
ponder the year to come.
Invariably, the forecasters focus on the next 12 short months while failing to
appreciate the sweep of history that has brought us to this next chapter of
American history. The pessimistic "Bears" among us will warn that there are
systematic threats to our economy, our nation, and the stability of the world.
The optimistic "Bulls" will tout the enormous advances in technology, Wall
Street confidence, and a resilient American economy that continues to set the
pace for the rest of the planet.
In truth, they are both right, and the reality of America at the start of 2025
is far more nuanced than any one side would have you believe.
With an appreciation of history, one needs to look at our nation as a democracy
that has demonstrated time and time again an enormous resiliency to profound
changes that would have fractured any other country, and that has been so
literally since our independence.
As President, George Washington had to send troops to put down the Whiskey
Rebellion when a band of angry citizens of a new United States violently
protested a tax on alcohol levied to pay off Revolutionary War debts. Without a
strong response, America could have disintegrated at the start.
Economic cycles of boom and bust could have dismantled our democracy. Few
Americans recognize how close our nation came to the political edge during the
Great Depression of the 1930s, when massive unemployment led to despair among
millions.
World War II propelled America into its role of a global superpower it continues
to hold today. Its legacy created a pathway for civil rights, the expansion of
the middle class, an interstate highway system that connected us to all points
of the compass, a strong and resilient government that avoided nuclear war
through strength, leading to our ultimate victory in the Cold War. So as
forecasters hope to peer into the next 12 months, our past reminds us that if we
focus exclusively on the day-to-day ebb and flow of our nation's pulse, we miss
seeing the incredible achievements of a country that remains a beacon of freedom
and opportunity. While pundits and prognosticators will dominate our attention
during the next several days of the New Year, in the end, look to the historians
for guidance: they have studied the past and can best appreciate the enormous
future potential of a strong, dynamic and resilient America.
*Lawrence Kadish serves on the Board of Governors of Gatestone Institute.
© 2025 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.
What next for the Palestinian Authority?
Dr. Ramzy Baroud/Arab News/January 05, 2025
The latest news from the Palestinian Authority’s “Protecting the Homeland”
operation in the Jenin refugee camp paints a grim picture. Nine Palestinian
lives have been claimed in this ongoing crackdown, which began on Dec. 5,
including a young journalist, Shaza Al-Sabbagh. The assault, as reported by the
Israeli newspaper Haaretz, has expectedly received a stamp of approval from the
Israeli occupation army. Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 14 confirmed that Tel Aviv
had issued a clear deadline to the PA to finish the task — effectively
eradicating what remains of the resistance in Jenin in the name of ending
lawlessness and apprehending outlaws. It is an irony that has become all too
familiar: the Palestinian entity that was supposed to represent the will of the
people and lead them toward freedom has become complicit in crushing resistance
in one of the most marginalized and impoverished areas of the West Bank. This is
the heart of the Palestinian paradox in the West Bank. For years, the PA has
demanded unflinching obedience from the Palestinian people in the name of
preparing Palestine for sovereignty and statehood. Yet, as the years have
passed, this pledge has slipped further and further away. In its place, the PA
seems to have become complicit in the expansion of Israel’s territorial control
and the erosion of Palestinian rights. This might be a difficult conclusion to
digest, but the killing of innocent Palestinians in Jenin at the hands of
Palestinian security forces, while Israel and its settlers are cracking down on
Palestinians elsewhere in the West Bank, should be all the proof needed to
support this claim.
Moreover, the PA’s strategy of appeasing Israel through “security coordination”
has done little to hinder its systematic land grab and the continued
construction of illegal settlements. There is a deep-seated belief among some
that a public confrontation with the PA would lead to greater disunity.
The operation in Jenin is a clear manifestation of how Israel uses the PA to
carry out its dirty work. The Jenin refugee camp, which covers an area of less
than 0.5 sq. km, has always been a symbol of Palestinian resistance. According
to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israel has raided Jenin 80 times in the
last year alone, killing more than 220 Palestinians and wounding hundreds more.
But Jenin remains unbowed. What complicates this crisis even further is the
silence of many Palestinian intellectuals, both in the West Bank and the
diaspora, who have failed to confront the PA with the same vigor with which they
criticize the Israeli occupation. But why have so many prominent voices,
intellectuals and political analysts remained mute on this issue? The answer
lies in a complex mixture of fear, political pragmatism and historical inertia.
For decades, the PA has maintained a stranglehold on the political landscape of
Palestinian life. It controls the levers of power. Palestinian intellectuals,
particularly those in the West Bank, are all too aware of this reality.
Additionally, there is a deep sense of paralysis within the Palestinian
intellectual community in the West Bank, in part due to their leadership’s
failure to confront Israel over the ongoing genocide in Gaza. But there is more
to this ongoing paralysis.For years, the PA has framed itself as the “sole
legitimate representative” of the Palestinian people. Many intellectuals who
would normally criticize Israel’s occupation are unwilling to take on the PA for
fear of further fragmenting the Palestinians. There is a deep-seated belief
among some that a public confrontation with the PA would lead to greater
disunity, which could play into Israel’s hands. But can the PA be saved? The
answer may not even matter. What matters is whether the Palestinian people can,
through their collective will and resistance, liberate themselves from Israel’s
settler colonialism. The events of the coming weeks and months will be decisive.
**Dr. Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and author. He is editor of The Palestine
Chronicle and nonresident senior research fellow at the Center for Islam and
Global Affairs. His latest book, co-edited with Ilan Pappe, is “Our Vision for
Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders and Intellectuals Speak Out.” X: @RamzyBaroud
Saudi Arabia and Syria: History and Reality
Abdulah bin Bijad Al Otaibi/Asharq Al-Awsat/January 05/2025January 05, 2025
Sense and political realism oblige writers to contain their emotions and focus
on methodology and intellect, expressing joys and sorrows cautiously and only
within reason. However, if our brief time on this earth is measured against
history, we can bear witness to exceptional events worthy of expressing emotions
unconstrained by reason and realism, without undermining either. The Assad
regime is evil by every metric. It was built by Hafez and brought to its current
state by Bashar. The Syrian people have suffered from the brutality, tyranny,
and extraordinary viciousness of this regime for more than half a century, and
it was compounded by international agreements that extended its survival. Their
suffering has aggravated since 2011, when Bashar chose to fully align with
militias, abandoning Hafez's balanced strategy and leaving Syria prey to
criminal sectarian militias from Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Pakistan, and elsewhere.
The Syrian people must keep the history of this regime in the memory - its
massacres, prisons, murder, torture, and its manufacture and trafficking of
drugs. Museums should be established on these very sites, serving as historical
monuments to the most thuggish regime of the modern era. Their rule is a
disgrace to the humanity of the 21st Century. Anyone curious to better
understand Hafez’s reign can read the novels of Abdul Rahman Munif, such as East
of the Mediterranean, and dozens of similar works. Or they can read the media
leaks, complete with documents and photographs, that document Bashar's.
At the start of its modern history, Syria stood at the forefront of the
resistance to the mighty Ottoman rulers and the oppressive "Turkish Caliphate."
Al-Kawakibi wrote "The Nature of Despotism" and "Umm Al-Qura" (Mother of All
Villages). Rashid Rida fled Syria to Egypt and founded Al-Manar magazine, and
Jamal Al-Din Al-Qasimi, a tolerant jurist, was also pressured. Sultan Al-Atrash,
the Druze leader seeking independence, rose up against the French and declared
revolution, while Fares Khoury, a Christian, fought colonialism and sought
unity.
Nicholas Van Dam's “The Struggle for Power in Syria” is a seminal work that
every researcher must read. It has served as the foundation of many authors’
work, including Patrick Seale’s book on Hafez Al-Assad. Van Dam wrote that when
Syria gained its independence in 1946, it was a state but not a nation, a
political entity, but not a political society. Shortly afterward, the Baath
Party rose to power. According to Mutaa Safadi, "the Baath was originally a
sectarian movement." This deep academic discourse differs greatly from the
language of contemporary politics, delving into far more profound questions.
social convictions do not change overnight. They cannot be buried by decades of
"minority brutality" or threatened by "fundamentalist brutality." Syria was once
the seat of the Umayyad Caliphate. Founded by Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan - "the
uncle of the believers," the scribe of divine revelation, and the founder of the
Arab Caliphate. Centuries of history cannot be undone by a few deviant decades.
Throughout modern history, Saudi Arabia has always been Syria's greatest
supporter, helping both the state and its people. King Abdulaziz, the Kingdom’s
founder, would proudly say: "Most of my men are Syrians." Distinguished Syrians
held prominent roles in his court, including figures like Yusuf Yassin and Khayr
al-Din al-Zirikli. In 1928, Syrians offered to have his son Faisal rule the
country as the king of Syria, but he declined the offer because of his keen
insight, choosing instead to support Syria in every possible way. Relations
between the two nations remained special and exceptional. Even during the rule
of the sectarian Baath regime, Saudi Arabia remained the Syrian people's largest
political and humanitarian backer. Media outlets have reported the resumption of
this historic provision of aid by Saudi Arabia, led by the King Salman
Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center. Its political support was also evident from
the fact that it hosted the new administration in Riyadh for its foreign
minister’s first foreign visit. Supporting regional political stability has
always been Saudi Arabia’s policy. In our current "age of triviality" and the
culture of "sandwich knowledge," it is remarkable to see people seeking books
that offer basic knowledge about the relevant people, groups, ideas, and terms.
Even fewer turn to Google or Wikipedia. If only it stopped at their superficial
pursuit of knowledge for personal development, but no. They eagerly go on to
disseminate this rudimentary knowledge in podcasts or on social media, as though
their work were the ultimate intellectual achievement to be emulated. Finally,
the Syrian people remain Saudi Arabia and the Arab world’s strongest allies in
Syria. While the evils of the past are worth remembering, anticipating the
threat of the future is equally vital.
The Significance of Christians in Our Societies
Ahmed Al-Sarraf/Al-Qabas/January 05/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/01/138745/
(Free Translation by Elias Bejjani)
One of the often-overlooked truths in Arab countries is the vital role that
Christians have played—and continue to play—in our societies. Yet, there
persists an unjust tendency to marginalize their contributions, despite their
profound political, cultural, educational, and national impact, particularly in
Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt.
Following the unexpected collapse of Assad's Syria, an event so sudden it felt
like a dream to many, a cautious optimism began to take root among Syrians.
However, skepticism lingers, especially among the Christian community, who make
up approximately 10% of the population. Their concerns were powerfully expressed
in the moving New Year's Mass address delivered by Patriarch John X. His words,
echoing centuries of historical faith and sacrifice, resonated deeply:
"From Antioch, the beacon of light that gave the disciples the name
'Christians.' From Antioch, blessed with the glory of its Lord. From Maryam of
Damascus, where Paul heard the voice: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'
From the snows of Lebanon, whose cedars the Psalmist praised, and from Hermon,
whose melted snows baptized Christ in the Jordan. From these ancient lands,
where even the stones whisper with the echoes of Paul and the heartbeats of
Ananias.
From the heart of this East, where Christ was born—an East of Easts—we stand
today, bearing witness to two millennia of Christian presence in this land. We
are the wheat of Christ in the East, rooted in this soil that bakes its bread in
thanksgiving to the Creator, that presses its vineyards for His glory, and whose
olive trees still echo the prayers from Gethsemane. We are from the roar of the
Jordan, where He was baptized, from the snows of Hermon, and from the cedars of
Lebanon. We are from Damascus, Paul, and Ananias. From Beirut, Quartz, Tyre, and
Sidon. From the vineyards of Zahle, the authenticity of the Bekaa, and from
Baalbek, the city where eternity was carved into the stones of its fortress.
We are from Tripoli, which embraces the heart of Homs, and from Akkar, where
Syria and Lebanon beat as one. We are from the towering heights of Mount
Lebanon, which shakes hands with Aleppo's authenticity, and from Latakia,
sitting beside Antioch, city of the apostles. We are from the olives of Idlib
and the valor of Daraa, where Quneitra and the Golan bathe in the waters of
Tiberias. We are from Homs and Hama, which cradle Hauran and Suwayda. We are
from Baghdad, which kisses the faces of Mersin and Adana, and reads history in
the pages of Diyarbakir and Erzurum.
We belong to this geography, extending from the East to the entire world, where
Christianity was woven into the fabric of the souls of its people, as churches
were hewn from its stones. Through the rise and fall of kingdoms, the faith we
inherited from the apostles has endured—a Gospel nursed with our mothers' milk,
a sacrifice shaped by hardship and sweetness alike. Our survival here is not a
borrowed grace; it is our legacy."
Patriarch John X continued, addressing Syria's evolving future:
"Today, as Syria enters a new phase, we look forward, together with our Muslim
brothers, to a dawn crowned with freedom, justice, and equality. Our light
shines from the true brotherhood we have shared with Muslims through every era,
despite all the challenges. I declared it in Tartous in 2013, repeated it days
ago, and reaffirm it today: My Muslim brothers, between us and you, the dividing
'waw' (and) has dissolved. This letter falls in a society built on true
citizenship, where all faiths are respected and every group has its place in a
modern constitution crafted by all of us—Christians included.
This constitution should not be shaped by the language of minority and majority
but by the principles of partnership and shared purpose. It should draw from the
openness of Levantine Islam and the depth of Eastern Christianity, upholding
mutual respect and shared life. We seek a constitution that guarantees equality
for all Syrians—politically and socially."
He further reminded the congregation of the historic unity Christians and
Muslims have shared:
"We are from the Church of Patriarch Elias IV Moawad, the 'Patriarch of the
Arabs,' who, in February 1974, spoke on behalf of all Arabs—Muslims and
Christians—at the Lahore Islamic Summit, where his voice resounded for
Jerusalem. This legacy was reaffirmed by Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim at the Taif
Islamic Summit in 1981. Our Church has never distinguished between the faiths it
served during hardship, including during the First World War. Our cross will
forever embrace the crescent of tolerance on this land, as it has throughout
history."
Concluding his address, Patriarch John X extended a direct message to Syria's
emerging leadership:
"I personally address Mr. Ahmad Al-Sharaa, wishing him and his administration
health and strength in leading the Syria every citizen dreams of. We have
extended our hand to collaborate in building a renewed Syria, but we await a
reciprocal gesture. Despite widespread media coverage about an upcoming Syrian
unity conference, no official communication has yet reached us. It is worth
recalling that since independence, Syrian Presidents have visited this very
Patriarchal House of the Mariamites of Damascus. We welcome you here, as always,
for dialogue and reconciliation.
Is there no one who hears this voice of reason and wisdom? When will our
sectarian, tribal, religious, and racial conflicts end? Must we remain shackled
by this backwardness forever?"
The Patriarch's words echo as both a plea and a challenge—an invitation for true
national healing and a rejection of divisive ideologies. May they inspire the
dawn of a just, united Syria where all its children, regardless of faith, can
thrive together.