English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For January 21/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from
now on you will be catching people.’When they had brought their boats to shore,
they left everything and followed him
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
05/01-11/:"Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the
crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at
the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their
nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to
put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from
the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the
deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’Simon answered, ‘Master, we have
worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let
down the nets.’When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets
were beginning to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat
to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began
to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go
away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’For he and all who were with him were
amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and
John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon,
‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’When they had
brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on January 19-20-21/2025
Video & Text: Commemorating the Annual Brutal Damour
Massacre/Elias Bejjani/January 21, 2024
Text & Video/The Danger, Sin, and Foolishness of Worshiping and Idolizing
Politicians and Leaders/Elias Bejjani/January 20/2025
President Aoun Congratulates Trump on Assuming Presidency
Tensions and Military Deployment in South Lebanon Ahead of Ceasefire Expiry
LF says Hezbollah 'disavowing' ceasefire agreement
Portfolio distribution emerges, Aoun wants veto right over 3 key nominations
Will new government be formed before January 27?
Salam met Shiite Duo over the weekend. What did they discuss?
Lebanese man confesses to passing information to Israel
Cracks appear between Hezbollah and Amal amid political setbacks
UN special coordinator discusses Lebanon ceasefire in Israel
Bassil says Hezbollah destroyed itself and country
Yassin Inspects Progress at Karantina Sorting Plant
FAO Assesses Damage to Lebanon’s Agricultural Sector
Fayad Says Sanctions on Petroleum and Energy Derivatives Will Be Lifted
Lebanon's Ceasefire: What Will Happen on January 26, 2025?/Natasha Metni Torbey/This
is Beirut/January 20/2025
The New Middle East: A Struggle Between Two Visions/Pierre Nahas/This is
Beirut/January 20/2025
Tug of War Ahead of Government Formation to Address Upcoming Challenges/Bassam
Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/January 20/2025
The Deferred Normalization/Charles Elias Chartouni/This is Beirut/January
20/2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on January 19-20-21/2025
What Donald Trump’s return to the White House means for the Middle East
Arab Gulf leaders, Jordan’s king, Palestine’s president congratulate Trump on
his inauguration
Trump Sworn in a Second Time, Vows ‘Golden Age of America’
Trump’s Foreign Policy: End Ukraine War, Buy Greenland, Target Mexican Cartels
Trump returns to power after unprecedented comeback, emboldened to reshape
American institutions
Trump declares 'only two genders' to be official US policy
FACT FOCUS: A look at false and misleading claims Trump made during his
inaugural address
Bill and Hillary Clinton Share a Snarky Reaction to Trump’s Inauguration Speech
Hamas ‘ready for dialogue’ with Trump administration, senior official says
Israelis want Trump to ‘make Israel normal again’
Palestinian president Abbas ‘ready to work’ with Trump on two-state solution
Middle East Must Emerge from Turbulence with Peace and Horizon of Hope, UN Chief
Says
Türkiye Reopens Consulate in Syria's Aleppo
EU Announces Aid for Syria and Countries Hosting Syrian Refugees
Mother of Missing Journalist Austin Tice Says Trump Team Offered Help in Search
Qatar Pledges Aid for Gaza as More Trucks Cross into the Territory
After Debate, Iraqi Armed Factions Refuse to Disband
Relatives of freed Gaza hostages call for release of remaining captives
Israel releases 90 women and teens, fires at celebrating crowds
Relatives of freed Gaza hostages call for release of remaining captives
Hamas says next hostages will be released on Saturday as scheduled
Mediators on Standby for Obstacles as Gaza Ceasefire Starts
Gaza Faces Multi-billion-dollar Reconstruction Challenge
Yemen's Houthis signal they'll now limit their attacks in the Red Sea corridor
to Israeli ships
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on January 19-20-21/2025
A Deal That Keeps Hamas in Power Is Meaningless/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone
Institute/January 20/2025
President Trump, Urgently Needed: Maganomics 'Manhattan Project' for a Nuclear
Fusion Reactor Superior to China's Tokamak/Lawrence Kadish/Gatestone
Institute/January 20/2025
Trump is Back, Please Fasten Your Seatbelts/Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/January
20/2025
The Region and Trump/Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
Dispute with Iran: The Issues at Stake/Michel Touma/This is Beirut/January
20/2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on January 19-20-21/2025
Video & Text: Commemorating the Annual Brutal Damour Massacre
Elias Bejjani/January 21, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/01/126200/
The memory of the Damour Massacre, perpetrated by the Syrian Assad regime,
Palestinian terrorism, leftist and Arab nationalist groups, and jihadists on
January 20, 1976, remains etched in the Lebanese, Christian, moral, national,
and faith-based consciousness. It serves as a painful reminder of a brutal
chapter in Lebanon’s history and the resilient struggle of its free Christian
community.
This anniversary reflects a dark period where internal traitors and mercenaries
aligned with Palestinian, Arab, leftist, and jihadist terrorism executed brutal
and barbaric massacres against the peaceful inhabitants of the Damour Town, and
the Christian residents along the Shouf region coast. This period culminated in
the siege of President Camille Chamoun in the town of Saadiyat.
The Damour Massacre anniversary symbolizes a bloody chapter in the ongoing evil
attempts to uproot Christians from Lebanon, dismantle Lebanon’s entity, disrupt
coexistence, undermine its role, erode identity, and attack its civilization.
Enemies of Lebanon, civilization, and humanity destroyed homes and churches in
Damour and its neighboring coastal towns, burning fields and displacing the
Christian population.
The innocent victims of the Damour Massacre, estimated at 684 individuals,
including children, women, elders, and fighters, will not be forgotten.
planners and executors of this atrocity, along with their demonic objectives to
uproot and displace Christians from Lebanon, remain ingrained in our collective
memory.
These sinister schemes persist today, targeting not only Christians, but various
Lebanese sovereign and independent groups through local, regional, and
international entities, each with its distinct identity, yet united under
hostile, sectarian, and terrorist concepts.
In the present time, the Iranian Mullahs’ regime, through its terrorist proxy
Hezbollah, the criminal Assad regime, and numerous local mercenaries from
leftists, jihadists, and resistance traders, continue the chapters of the Damour
Massacre.
The occupation faced by Lebanon goes beyond Damour to encompass the entire
country and its social community fabrics. The Mullahs’ regime seeks, through
force and terrorism, not only to uproot Christians from Lebanon, but also to
destroy its entity, overthrow its coexistence and civilized system, aiming to
replace it with an Islamic Republic annexed to Tehran’s rulers. This serves as a
base to overthrow all Arab regimes and establish the Persian Empire.
On this painful anniversary, all Lebanese sovereign, independent, and peaceful
social and denominational groups, led by the Christians, will not forget the
heroism of our noble, honorable, and brave people who stood against invaders and
mercenaries, sacrificing themselves for their sacred homeland.
No, we will not forget our Lebanese righteous Damour martyrs, and we will not
forget their sacrifices. On this somber day, we raise prayers, humbly asking for
their souls to rest in peace in God’s eternal heavenly mansions.
Text & Video/The
Danger, Sin, and Foolishness of Worshiping and Idolizing Politicians and Leaders
Elias Bejjani/January 20/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/01/133977/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlo5Wh_hwfg&t=148s
Worshiping and idolizing
politicians and leaders is not merely dangerous; it is a grave sin and an act of
profound foolishness that imperils and puts at risk the very essence of human
freedom. When we elevate politicians or leaders to the status of idols, we don’t
just admire them—we surrender our critical faculties and relinquish the
sovereignty of our own minds and souls. This misplaced worship extinguishes and
kills the spirit of critique and accountability within us, which are the
bedrocks and pillars of any true democracy and free society.
True freedom is not merely the ability to make choices; it is the courage to see
and acknowledge the flaws and errors of those in power, no matter how
influential or revered, valued, well regarded they may be. When we idolize
leaders, we willingly strip ourselves of this courage, becoming submissive
followers who march in lockstep without question or reflection. This kind of
voluntary blindness doesn’t just empower leaders; it emboldens them, placing
them on a perilous pedestal where they begin to see themselves as above the law,
unaccountable, and immune to criticism.
It is vital to understand that the instinct to worship is deeply embedded in
human nature. We are instinctively driven to seek something greater than
ourselves—be it in the form of religious faith, ideals, or leaders—toward which
we can direct our love and devotion. However, the true measure of wisdom lies in
how we channel this instinct. The wise individuals direct their worship toward
enduring values and principles, not fallible-mortal human beings. To do
otherwise is to surrender our intellect and emotions to mere mortals who are as
susceptible to error and corruption as any of us.
Idolizing human beings, particularly those in positions of political power, is
not just a mistake—it is a dangerous abdication of our responsibility to hold
them accountable. Politicians and leaders are inherently fallible, and when we
place them on a pedestal of worship, we create a toxic environment of unchecked
power. This paves the way for tyranny, where the leader becomes seen as
infallible in the eyes of their followers, enabling them to commit grave
injustices without opposition or restraint.
President Aoun Congratulates
Trump on Assuming Presidency
This is Beirut/January 20/2025
President Joseph Aoun extended his congratulations to US President Donald Trump
following his official inauguration on Monday, wishing him success in leading
the United States “toward greater progress and prosperity.”In a congratulatory
cable, Aoun emphasized the mutual commitment to strengthening bilateral
relations between Lebanon and the US across various sectors. He also
acknowledged the pivotal role that Washington played in helping Lebanon recover
its stability and engage on the path of rehabilitation. “Your presence in the
White House reflects a shared desire to deepen cooperation, particularly in
terms of your support for Lebanon, its stability, the extension of its
sovereignty, and its resurgence after the challenging circumstances of recent
years,” President Aoun stated.
Tensions and Military Deployment in South Lebanon Ahead of
Ceasefire Expiry
This is Beirut/January 20/2025
Search and rescue teams from the Lebanese Civil Defense recovered five bodies on
Monday in the town of Khiam, the General Directorate of Civil Defense announced
in a statement. Four bodies were found in the Jalahiya neighborhood, while
another was recovered in the eastern neighborhood of al-Faour. The remains have
been transferred to Marjayoun Governmental Hospital, where they will undergo
laboratory testing, including DNA analysis, to confirm their identities in
coordination with the relevant authorities. The Civil Defense confirmed that
search operations will resume on Tuesday morning in collaboration with the
Lebanese Army (LAF), aiming to locate all remaining missing persons.
Israeli violations of the 60-day ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel
continued Monday, only six days ahead of the truce expiry on January 27, 2024.
Israeli forces rolled into Wadi Saluki (Marjayoun), carrying out a sweeping
operation with gunfire. After spotting three Israeli Merkava tanks, the Lebanese
Army, which was heading to Talousseh (within the same district), was forced to
retreat. An Israeli infantry unit also infiltrated the town of Dhayra, where a
bulldozer has been uprooting trees, while Israeli drones hovered over south
Lebanon relentlessly.
Deployment of the Lebanese Army at the Border
As part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement, Lebanese Army units are reinforcing
their positions in the villages of Ain Ebel, Debel and Rmeish in Bint Jbeil, as
well as Ainata (Baalbeck), following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from these
areas.
The army’s repositioning is closely coordinated with the United Nations Interim
Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the committee monitoring the ceasefire
implementation. Additionally, the Lebanese Army has moved into the Naqoura port,
where military engineers begun surveying munitions left behind from Israeli
operations. Also on Monday, the Lebanese Army has repositioned itself at the
newly established al-Salhani checkpoint, with the help of a Ghanaian UNIFIL
patrol, following Israel’s withdrawal. Meanwhile, specialized Army units are
mobilized to conduct engineering surveys, clear roads, and remove debris as well
as carry out demining operations. The Lebanese Army announced it would detonate
unexploded munitions in Qlayaa (Marjayoun) on Monday between 10 AM and 6 PM. The
Army urged citizens to avoid hazardous areas and follow military instructions
until deployment operations are completed.
Supervisory Committee Meeting
A technical surveillance committee meeting is scheduled for Monday in Naqoura to
finalize the steps required for the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the
Lebanese Army's deployment in southern Lebanon's central sector.The committee
will address the situation in the eastern sector on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a drone
continues to monitor Bint Jbeil and Aitaroun, providing real-time surveillance
as tensions rise. This further heightens the precarious situation as the
ceasefire deadline approaches.
LF says Hezbollah 'disavowing' ceasefire agreement
Naharnet/January 20/2025
The Lebanese Forces accused Hezbollah Monday of contradicting the stances of
Lebanon's new president and prime minister by refusing to be disarmed,
"disavowing the ceasefire agreement."Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem had said the
group’s weapons should be part of a national defense strategy that is discussed
in a national dialogue and warned that no Lebanese side should try to take
advantage of the Israel war to make gains internally. He warned that Hezbollah’s
patience "should not be tested", accusing Israel of violating the truce
"hundreds of times" since it went into effect on Nov. 27.
The LF party said in a statement that Qassem's remarks on the resistance
contradict with the stances of President Joseph Aoun and PM-designate Nawaf
Salam and represent a "blatant disavowal" of the ceasefire agreement. He said
Qassem's statement would block the way to Arab and international support for
Lebanon. Hezbollah’s opponents in Lebanon have been calling for the disarmament
of the group saying only Lebanese state institutions should have weapons, and
Aoun and Salam vowed in their fist speeches to extend state authority over all
Lebanese soil.
The LF said the ceasefire does not only require Hezbollah to pull its forces
north of the Litani River "as Qassem falsely claimed" but across all Lebanon
starting from al-Litani. "Sheikh Naim’s remarks belong to an era that has
ended," the statement added.
Portfolio distribution emerges, Aoun wants veto right over
3 key nominations
Naharnet/January 20/2025
Preliminary leaks indicate that Nawaf Salam’s government will comprise five
representatives of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement (five portfolios, including
finance). The Lebanese Forces will meanwhile get four portfolios, the Free
Patriotic Movement will get two and the Progressive Socialist Party will also
get two, while the Marada Movement, the Kataeb Party, the ex-FPM MPs and the
Tashnag Party will each get one portfolio, the reports said. As for the rest of
the portfolios, there are talks aimed at merging the Change and independent MPs
in a single 15-member bloc, which would grant them three portfolios, while the
Sunni MPs of the north will be tacitly merged in a manner that would give them a
single portfolio, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday. “There is Sunni
wrangling among a number of figures who are insisting on the interior portfolio,
seeing as it is the only sovereign portfolio that will be allotted to the Sunni
community and that will also oversee the parliamentary elections,” the daily
said. President Joseph Aoun has meanwhile told his visitors that he does not
want any share in the government, al-Akhbar added. He has, however, insisted to
have a veto right on the candidates nominated for the foreign affairs, defense
and interior portfolios, the newspaper said.
“There are reports that Paul Salam will be nominated for foreign affairs, the
lawyer Mohammad al-Alem (close to the president’s adviser Rabih al-Shaer) will
be nominated for the interior portfolio, while a former Maronite officer will be
nominated for defense,” al-Akhbar added. The Nidaa al-Watan newspaper meanwhile
said that Aoun wants the defense portfolio and that the name of a retired
brigadier general is being circulated in this regard. "The finance portfolio
will go to Amal (either to Central Bank acting governor Wassim Mansouri or ex-MP
Yassine Jaber), the foreign minister will be nominated by the PM-designate
(reportedly a former ambassador), while the interior portfolio will be allocated
to a Sunni figure (a former judge or officer)," the daily added. "And while
Hezbollah is reportedly demanding the health portfolio for a doctor who is close
to the party, there are growing reports that the energy portfolio will be
allotted to someone who is close to the Lebanese Forces," the newspaper said.
Will new government be formed before January 27?
Naharnet/January 20/2025
A week after Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam was tasked with forming the
new government, meetings and contacts have intensified to reach a cabinet
line-up in a swift manner, perhaps prior to the Israeli army’s Jan. 27 deadline
for withdrawing from the south, media reports said. Al-Akhbar newspaper however
reported Monday that possible obstacles might “not be limited to” Salam’s
negotiations with Hezbollah and the Amal Movement. “There is competition over
Sunni representation, not to mention the hurdles related to the distribution of
Christian portfolios, amid the reports about the Lebanese Forces’ demand to get
the foreign affairs and energy portfolios, which were part of the Free Patriotic
Movement’s share” in Najib Mikati’s government, the daily said.
Salam met Shiite Duo over the weekend. What did they
discuss?
Naharnet/January 20/2025
The past two days witnessed the first direct communication between Prime
Minister-designate Nawaf Salam and Hezbollah, after such contacts used to be
conducted through Speaker Nabih Berri, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday.
“Two meetings were held Saturday and Sunday between Salam, the head of the
Loyalty to Resistance bloc Mohammad Raad, Hezbollah secretary-general’s
political aide Hajj Hussein al-Khalil, and MP Ali Hassan Khalil,” who is Berri’s
political assistant, the daily said. Informed sources described the two meetings
as “positive,” during which Salam “delivered a lengthy statement about the
political system that started with the 1943 formula all the way to the Taif
Agreement to which he stressed adherence. He also talked about the ‘lost
chances’ and about the ‘current chance for salvation,’ while also emphasizing
that he is keen not to exclude any political component or party.”The sources
added that Hezbollah and the Amal Movement “have put behind them the problem
that accompanied the designation (of Salam) in the (binding) parliamentary
consultations, stressing their readiness for cooperation.”
Salam for his part asserted that he was “not a provocation candidate against
anyone” and that lawmakers were behind his designation, the sources told al-Akhbar.
He also said that he “acknowledges the Duo’s Shiite representation and the
impossibility to bypass it.”“The issue of granting the finance ministerial
portfolios to Shiites has becomes behind us and the discussion is not revolving
around shares, because the issue of Shiite representation has been settled,” the
sources added.
“The discussion is revolving around governance management in the coming period,
the means to address the key issues, and the government’s vision for that,” the
sources went on to say. “The other part of discussions is related to the
ministerial statement and the format that is supposed to be endorsed regarding
the resistance’s role in a manner that would be in line with what was mentioned
in the Taif Agreement, especially that governments since ex-PM Tammam Salam
formed his government in 2014 have used a unified phrase about the right of the
Lebanese to resist in order to liberate the occupied land,” the sources said.
“There are also talks about the implementation of Resolution 1701, in terms of
the government’s commitment to its enforcement south of the Litani River, and
the need for a clear commitment that any discussions over weapons outside this
region would be referred to national-level consultations led by the president of
the republic,” the sources added. In addition to the finance portfolio,
Hezbollah and the Amal Movement meanwhile demanded a services-related
ministerial portfolio, such as public works or health, but the PM-designate
“does not have an initial vision for the cabinet line-up until now and he is yet
to begin discussions with the rest of the parties, during which obstacles might
arise,” the sources said.
Lebanese man confesses to passing information to Israel
Associated Press/January 20/2025
Judicial and security officials in Beirut say a Lebanese man has confessed on
giving information to Israel about Hezbollah in return for money and has been
referred to the country’s prosecutors. The three judicial and three security
officials said Monday that the man, who is from the border village of Beit Leef,
crossed into Israel recently where he gave information about Hezbollah posts and
some members in the area before returning to Lebanon. He entered and left Israel
with the help of an Israeli drone that led him into the way from where he
crossed the border.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to speak about security matters to the media, said the man received
$2,500 as well as a laptop and a cellphone to communicate with them. The
officials said that Lebanese military intelligence agents had been monitoring
his moves before detaining and questioning him, when he confessed. The officials
said prosecutors will question him further and will decide on whether to file
charges against him or not.
Israel and Hezbollah fought a 14-month war until a U.S.-brokered 60-day
ceasefire went into effect on Nov. 27.
Cracks appear between Hezbollah and Amal amid political
setbacks
Naharnet/January 20/2025
Shiites allies Hezbollah and the Amal Movement are trying to prove that
consensus between them will continue in the new political phase in Lebanon, with
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem saying that “the selection of the new
president came after consensus between Hezbollah and the Amal Movement.”
Sources informed on the relation between the Shiite duo have however said, in
remarks to the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper, that “a crisis confidence is growing”
between the two parties regarding the management of the political file.
“Hezbollah is wary of the monopolization of indirect negotiations through
Speaker Nabih Berri’s political aide MP Ali Hassan Khalil after the series of
setbacks, and it wants to open direct communication channels and intervene where
needed in an attempt to make up for its major military and political losses,”
the daily said.
Moreover, sources close to the Hezbollah-led camp revealed to Nidaa al-Watan
that “after Hezbollah informed the presidential palace of the postponement of
its appointment until the next day during the binding parliamentary
consultations, it turned out that Ain el-Tineh did not officially request the
postponement of the Development and Liberation bloc’s appointment, which pushed
Hezbollah to head to the Baabda Palace, especially that the Presidency was not
in favor of any postponement.” “The weak coordination also appeared in a
flagrant way in the boycott of the non-binding parliamentary consultations,
seeing as Hezbollah was informed of the boycott decision through MP Ali Hassan
Khalil,” the newspaper said. To play a bigger role in political negotiations,
Hezbollah is meanwhile “preparing a replacement for Hajj Hussein al-Khalil” and
“MPs Ali Fayyad and Hassan Fadlallah are nominated to play a direct role in
managing files on behalf of Hezbollah, while the head of Hezbollah’s
Coordination and Liaison Unit Wafiq Safa wants to monopolize the direct
political role and the management of political files,” the sources told Nidaa
al-Watan.
UN special coordinator discusses Lebanon ceasefire in Israel
Naharnet/January 20/2025
United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert today
began a visit to Israel, where she is set to meet with senior Israeli officials.
Her discussions will focus on steps being taken towards the implementation of
the cessation of hostilities understanding, which came into force on 27 November
2024, as well as on remaining challenges. The need to catalyze the
implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) will
also be a central theme of her engagement. The Special Coordinator, in advance
of her trip, welcomed progress seen through the withdrawal of the Israel Defense
Forces (IDF) from and the redeployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to
positions in southern Lebanon, while calling for continued commitment from all
parties.
Bassil says Hezbollah destroyed itself and country
Naharnet/January 20/2025
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has addressed fresh criticism to
Hezbollah in a video that has circulated on social networking websites.
“We did not want the war (with Israel) and we warned against it, but they did
not listen to us, because they are linked to foreign forces and they don’t
listen to local parties,” Bassil says in the video in a speech before
supporters. “They (Hezbollah) endorsed a foreign project that destroyed them,
destroyed the country and destroyed us all,” Bassil laments.
Yassin Inspects Progress at Karantina Sorting Plant
This is Beirut/January 20/2025
Caretaker Minister of Environment Nasser Yassin, accompanied by Beirut Governor
Marwan Abboud, inspected the Karantina waste sorting plant to assess ongoing
restoration efforts. The facility sustained severe damage during the Beirut port
explosion on August 4, 2020. According to Yassin, the plant is expected to
resume operations by the end of June. Representatives from the World Bank and
the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) also attended the visit. Yassin
explained that the rehabilitation includes construction work and equipment
upgrades to restore the plant's capacity to process 1,250 tons of waste daily.
Once operational, it will serve both Beirut and the Metn district. The minister
emphasized that the facility will play a crucial role in reducing the volume of
waste sent to the Jdeideh landfill and enhancing overall solid waste management
in the region.
FAO Assesses Damage to Lebanon’s Agricultural Sector
This is Beirut/January 20/2025
Lebanon’s Caretaker Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan met on Monday with a
delegation from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), led by
Ambassador Veronica Quattrola. The meeting focused on key issues concerning
Lebanon’s agricultural sector, especially assessing the damage caused by Israeli
bombings on agricultural areas. The discussions aimed to determine the extent of
the damage across various agricultural zones and explore ways to support
affected farmers. In addition, the progress of the Farmers’ Registry project in
Lebanon was reviewed. This initiative aims to centralize data on Lebanese
farmers, making it easier for them to access future support. The talks also
covered the technical and operational measures needed to enhance the registry
and ensure it can be effectively used for relief operations. Minister Hassan
expressed gratitude to the FAO for its ongoing cooperation and dedication to
supporting Lebanon, stressing the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure
the sustainability of the country’s agricultural sector and achieve food
security amid the challenging circumstances Lebanon is facing.
Fayad Says Sanctions on Petroleum and Energy Derivatives
Will Be Lifted
This is Beirut/January 20/2025
Caretaker Minister of Energy Walid Fayad said on Monday that “sanctions on the
trade of petroleum and energy derivatives will be lifted.”Fayad made this
statement following a meeting with the US Ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson.
The minister reiterated that “the funds allocated for fuel purchases were
limited,” but were secured through donations. He also highlighted that
"increasing supply hours in the future will necessitate the construction of new
plants, as well as the importation of electricity and gas through Syria."
Additionally, Fayad confirmed in an interview with Al-Jadeed that "the World
Bank has approved a project to bolster Lebanon's energy sector. This marks the
first time such support has been granted by the Bank, based on reforms carried
out in the sector."
Lebanon's Ceasefire: What Will Happen on January 26, 2025?
Natasha Metni Torbey/This is Beirut/January 20/2025
The deadline for the 60-day ceasefire agreement, established on November 27,
2024, is about to expire. However, diplomatic sources suggest that the truce may
be extended, as the ceasefire has not yet tackled the root causes fueling the
conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
Lebanon remains a key geopolitical flash point as Hezbollah and Israel continue
to exchange threats. The situation along the border remains volatile, with
Israeli forces violating the ceasefire agreement.
As Lebanon takes steps toward recovery, following the election of Joseph Aoun as
President and the designation of Nawaf Salam as Prime Minister, the country
cannot afford to return to open conflict. Yet, tensions remain high on the
ground.
“We are not ruling out the possibility of extending the ceasefire once the 60
days expire,” says a diplomatic source to This is Beirut. “This situation may
persist for several months until the full implementation of the agreement's
terms,” adds the source.
Factors and Obstacles to a Potential Ceasefire Extension
Several factors strongly support the idea of extending the ceasefire. One of the
key factors is growing international pressure, particularly from major powers
such as the United States and France, which are increasingly invested in
ensuring long-term stability in Lebanon. They see an extension of the ceasefire
as a way to maintain an equilibrium while awaiting more enduring political
solutions. According to diplomatic sources, these solutions may involve renewed
discussions that include all relevant stakeholders.
On the ground, the Lebanese Army has not yet completed its deployment south of
the Litani River, and Hezbollah's military infrastructure in the region has not
been fully dismantled. Socially, extending the ceasefire would provide crucial
relief to a population worn down by years of violence, displacement and
shortages. It would also help limit further destruction and facilitate the
delivery of international aid.
However, several challenges could hinder a potential ceasefire extension.
Hezbollah, who is determined to preserve its arsenal at any cost, may resist any
agreement without security assurances and acknowledgment of its interests.
On the other hand, Israel may be opposed to prolonging the ceasefire if security
conditions along its borders remain uncertain.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Israeli authorities have emphasized the
need to secure long-term security, particularly regarding potential Hezbollah
attacks originating from Lebanon. At this stage, the prospect of extending the
ceasefire in Lebanon appears to be a pragmatic compromise, driven by the need to
maintain stability in a highly volatile region. This stability remains fragile
and is heavily influenced by the shifting regional power dynamics and Lebanon's
internal political developments. If an extension is to be considered, its
successful implementation will require delicate compromises and a renewed
diplomatic commitment to ensure both Lebanon's security and lasting peace in the
region.
The New Middle East: A Struggle Between Two Visions
Pierre Nahas/This is Beirut/January 20/2025
Over the past 80 years, the Middle East has consistently defied the predictions
of analysts and commentators. The impulsive decisions of individual autocrats,
and the complex interplay of geopolitics, wealth, religion, and great-power
rivalry have made the region uniquely vulnerable to rapid and often catastrophic
upheavals.
We can cite countless cataclysms that are shaping the world we live in today
which originated in the Middle East: Iran’s 1979 revolution, Iraq’s invasion of
Kuwait in 1990, the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, the
Arab Spring, the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and most recently,
the October 7 attacks in Israel.
It is thus a laborious affair to see through the mist in this part of the world.
Yet, decades of bloodshed might now be heading toward a final consummation, as
it becomes increasingly clear that the struggle for the Middle East is no longer
defined by sects and ethnicities. It is no longer between Arabs and Jews or
Shiites and Sunnis. The struggle has evolved into an ideological battle between
two visions: one that seeks to stabilize and build, and another that aims to
upend and destroy.
Today, for the first time, there is hope that the former vision might prevail.
October 7, 2023
When Yahya Sinwar, the late Hamas leader, ordered an attack on Israel on October
7, 2023, he had pictured a region embroiled in a final showdown between good and
evil, one in which the good triumphantly prevails. Sinwar’s romantic plan had
three main elements: a multi-frontal assault led by Iranian proxies, a
Palestinian uprising in the West Bank and timid US assistance to Israel as a
result of diminished American interest in the region. This recipe was supposed
to bring about the decisive military defeat of Israel. A Middle East without
Israel was Sinwar’s vision. As it turned out, Hamas deeply overestimated its
allies’ strength, who refused to participate in any spectacular fashion, except
when Iran launched 300 rockets into Israeli territory.
Nevertheless, members of the axis of resistance preferred to aid Gaza by
fighting from within their borders, rather than invading, a decision that did
not live up to Hamas’ goal of destroying Israel. Palestinians in the West Bank
similarly failed to mobilize in any significant way, partly due to the IDF quick
and effective deployment in the area, but also because Israel’s intense military
campaign in Gaza probably dissuaded many West Bankers from aiding their
brethren. Moreover, Hamas misinterpreted America’s realignment away from the
Middle East as a desire to fully disengage from the region. In reality, the US
still views the Middle East as vital to global stability and trade, and still
considers Israel not only a natural ally but also a nation it has a moral duty
to protect. Contrary to Hamas’ expectations, in Israel’s time of need, America
came in great force.
An Opening
This miscalculation eventually led to the decapitation of Hezbollah’s
leadership, compelling the Lebanon-based group to accept ceasefire terms it had
long rejected. Two weeks later, the Assad regime, which ruled Syria for more
than half a century, collapsed. As a result, Iran lost the land corridor
connecting its borders to Israel’s, a corridor that Iran had spent significant
treasure, time, and lives to establish over the past four decades. The military
defeat of the axis has created an opening for regional players like Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates to advance their
vision for the region.
What Is the New Middle East Based On?
But what does this vision entail? Saudi Arabia’s modernization efforts serve as
a compelling proxy for the broader regional ambitions. They starkly contrast
with Iran’s trajectory since the 1979 Khomeinist revolution: Saudi Arabia
reopened movie theaters in 2018 and is investing heavily in arts and
entertainment. Tourism is surging in the Kingdom, while Iran continues taking
foreign hostages. Saudi women are gaining rights, whereas Iranian women face
more restrictions than their grandmothers. Saudis are much wealthier, with a GDP
twice that of Iran despite a smaller population. Iran struggles with soaring
inflation, while Saudi Arabia maintains a steady 2% rate and holds $450 billion
in foreign reserves—20 times Iran's. More than 150,000 Iranian professionals
leave Iran annually, costing Iran’s economy $150 billion, surpassing its 2023
oil revenue. Meanwhile, most of the 70,000 Saudi students studying abroad
return, benefiting their economy. At its core, the Arab vision aims at openness,
development and prosperity. It is forward looking, modern and ambitious.
Meanwhile, Iran’s project remains mired in outdated grievances and isolation.
For the Middle East to truly transform, it must embrace the former vision.
Decades of disastrous wars and short-sighted policies have exhausted Arab
populations and leaders alike. With Iran’s retrenchment and the fall of the
Assad regime, regional players like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have a historic
opportunity to increase their influence and help their people realize
aspirations for stability and prosperity in a new Middle East. The situation
however is still delicate. Machiavelli noted that there is nothing “more
perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in
the introduction of a new order of things.” It is therefore crucial that this
vision be executed gradually and in a measured way.
Tug of War Ahead of Government
Formation to Address Upcoming Challenges
Bassam Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/January 20/2025
The process of forming the first government under the new presidential term
remains focused on defining the qualifications and criteria for appointing
ministers. While it is acknowledged that ministers cannot be entirely detached
from political considerations—even if they are not directly affiliated with
parties—the challenge lies in balancing this political dimension with the
standards of competence, professional expertise, integrity, and a firm
commitment to prioritizing national interests over sectarian and partisan
agendas.
Sources familiar with the cabinet formation process suggest that the Amal-Hezbollah
duo is backing this approach, having prepared a list of candidates for several
ministries expected to be assigned to them, with the Ministry of Finance as a
top priority. Discussions are reportedly focused on three potential nominees:
Salah Osseiran, Yassine Jaber, and Wassim Mansouri. Meanwhile, other political
parties have been reaching out to assess the willingness of various figures to
assume ministerial positions. For instance, the Lebanese Forces (LF) have
reportedly contacted several potential candidates, including lawyers, to gauge
their readiness to take on the Ministry of Justice—a portfolio the LF is eager
to reclaim.
Furthermore, sources close to the matter have pointed to increasing competition
among political parties over several key ministries, including the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, which both president Joseph Aoun and designated Prime Minister,
Nawaf Salam are keen to secure. The LF have also expressed a strong interest in
having one of their own take on this portfolio. Meanwhile, significant attention
is being given to the Ministry of Energy, with reports suggesting that
international stakeholders have advised President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam
against assigning this portfolio to the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) or the
Ministry of Public Works to Hezbollah. Information regarding the cabinet
formation suggests that if the Ministry of Finance remains under the control of
the Shia community, specifically the Amal Movement, the so-called sovereign
ministries will remain with the religious communities currently overseeing them.
These include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held by a Maronite, the Ministry
of Interior, held by a Sunni, and the Ministry of Defense, held by an Orthodox
Christian. A shift in this distribution would only occur if the Christian
factions agree to a reshuffling, allowing ministerial portfolios to be
redistributed among the religious communities, including these two ministries
and others. The outlook on government formation is expected to become clearer by
the beginning of the week. In fact, the new cabinet must be established without
delay given the significant local, regional, and international expectations.
Lebanon also faces critical challenges, and observers hope that the new
government will be in place before the 60-day period stipulated by the ceasefire
expires on January 27. This would ensure Lebanon has a stable government capable
of addressing any emerging developments, particularly if Israel delays its full
withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories as planned.
The Deferred Normalization
Charles Elias Chartouni/This is Beirut/January 20/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/01/139282/
The election of a president and the
nomination of a new prime minister in Lebanon were good omens, but the process
of political normalization doesn’t seem to be moving in the right direction. The
ongoing negotiations in Gaza about the release of Israeli hostages and the swap
of Palestinian prisoners are stumbling as well. The smooth transition in Syria
is not yielding a consensual agreement on its political future amongst the
different aisles of the Islamist coalition. This state of political stalemate
traces to multiple factors that summarize the inability of these different
political environments to move forward towards negotiated political
arrangements, the deficient democratic credentials and the lingering
geostrategic dilemmas.
These different political environments are still under the sway of Iran’s
political influence at a time when its geopolitical footholds are eroding and
its political and ideological dynamics are subsiding. In parallel, these
environments have not evolved their political antidotes against authoritarian
backlashes and the looming hazards of chaos and the resurgence of political
violence. In spite of their idiosyncrasies, they all partake of the frozen
conflicts model, where societies are victims of their self-generated political
toxins and their instrumentation by the vying regional and international power
brokers.
The formation of a new government in Lebanon, rather than proceeding on a
consensual basis, reproduces the same ideological and political stumbles that
have undermined democratic governance and led to the collapse of state
institutions and their instrumentalization by the competing power players. Aside
from the legal equivocations bequeathed by the Taif agreements, the Shiite power
contentions, the murkiness of Sunnite political positioning and the
indecisiveness of the Christian political actors and their fractured political
scenery are not, by any means, helpful to dissipate the hardly wired
fractiousness of the Lebanese political landscape or help moderate their
respective political agendas.
We should add to the internal equivocations the conventional psychotic blinders
that prevent Lebanese political actors from acknowledging realities and tackling
them accordingly. Hezbollah is still adamant about its ability to overturn its
defeat at a time when its whole strategic scheme based on the integrated
operational platforms has gone into smithereens, its strategic heartland in
Lebanon reduced into rubble and the political fortunes of the Iranian regime are
relics of the past.
The Sunnite prime minister is operating as if his communal platform is coherent
enough to facilitate his outsized political projections, ideological whims and
non-revised outlooks on how to deal with Israel, which undercut his ability to
operate in a consensual manner. The Christian constituencies, while applauding
heartily the political evolutions, have not yet come to terms with new political
dynamics elicited by the Israeli counteroffensive and its implications. By and
large, Lebanese have a hard time dealing with disruptions and severing ties with
their oligarchic entanglements, political prejudices and ideological blinders,
but not with their fallacies and malevolent opportunism.
The Gaza political scene is still jockeying and swayed by the toxic influence of
its self-generated monsters. In spite of the 42,000 victims and the mass
destruction bequeathed by the criminal and reckless undertaking of Hamas and
acolytes, they are still manipulating the trump card of the Israeli hostages,
trying to outmaneuver Israel and restore their undisputed authority over the
district. Put in other words, they are indifferent to the tragic plight of the
civilians and put ahead their political interests above any other consideration.
The prospective political swap doesn’t seem to usher in a new political phase
and set this conflict back on the road to a negotiated solution. The Palestinian
political scenery is unable to rebuild itself beyond its fractiousness and
debilitating dependencies and inaptitude to reengage Israel on a new negotiating
course away from the delirious nihilism and the zero-sum game scenarios. In
contrast, Israeli radicals are strengthening and imposing themselves as a major
political player to reckon with.
The transition in Syria is hobbled since the Islamist coalition rifts are
reemerging after the peaceful interlude, the ideological consensus doesn’t seem
to prevail and the justice of transition is superseded by the boisterous claim
for revenge and score settling. The liberalizing views of Ahmad al-Sharaa are
not only contested, but they are being challenged by a politically driven
criminality fed with the regained salience of ideological pronouncements.
The meteoric metamorphosis of Syria betrays the weaknesses of a profoundly
flawed society where structural breakdowns have yielded a state of endemic
violence, trivialized savagery and death of civility. The inability of the
Syrian regime to extract itself from these interlocked sources of political
destructiveness and rampant dehumanization is quite discernible but not dooming.
Otherwise, the issues of ethno-political pluralism and the de facto Kurdish and
Druze autonomies are still not well understood by the newly emerging Sunnite
power brokers and left unto the discretionary interventions of regional power
brokers. Before setting its strategic choices, the new regime in Syria is in no
position to define its final political course.
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on January 19-20-21/2025
What Donald Trump’s return to the White House means for the Middle East
Jonathan Gornall/January 20, 2025
LONDON: On Monday, the 47th president of the US will be sworn in at a ceremony
at the US Capitol in Washington D.C., marking perhaps the greatest political
comeback in American history. For the Middle East, the second inauguration of
Donald Trump is expected to usher in a new era of US engagement, overseen by an
instinctively disruptive president who is as hard to read as he is
transactional. If any evidence was needed that the incoming administration is
eager to wield its influence in the region, it came on January 15, when the
outgoing president announced the long-awaited Israel-Hamas
ceasefire-for-hostages deal had finally been agreed. For the now former
president, Joe Biden, announcing the breakthrough “after eight months of nonstop
negotiation by my administration,” it should have been a triumphant,
legacy-defining moment. Instead, he was blindsided by the first question hurled
at him by the media. “Who will the history books credit for this, Mr.
President?” a reporter called out. “You or Trump?”
Biden, clearly shocked, paused before replying: “Is that a joke?”
But it wasn’t a joke. The only thing that had changed about the ceasefire deal
that his administration had been pushing for since May last year was that
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had finally agreed to it. And the only
thing that had changed for Netanyahu was that the man he sees as his friend and
most important ally was about to return to office. For Netanyahu, this seemed
the right moment to present Trump with a gift — vindication of the new
president’s boast that he would end the war as soon as he took office. Trump
even dispatched Steve Witkoff, his newly appointed envoy to the Middle East, to
join Biden’s man, Brett McGurk, for the last 96 hours of talks in Doha, to
ensure that the incoming US administration had its mark on the deal. The
appointment of Witkoff came as a surprise to many, as he does not have a
diplomatic background. Witkoff does, however, have a reputation as a formidable
dealmaker, which fits with Trump’s fondness for transactional foreign policy.
But quite what deal Witkoff might have offered Netanyahu on Trump’s behalf
remains to be seen. “The ceasefire in Gaza is something Trump has claimed credit
for, which is unclear. But we shouldn’t think his arrival is good news,” said
Kelly Petillo, MENA program manager for the European Council on Foreign
Relations.
“We have no idea what Trump has in mind for day-after plans in Gaza. And we
don’t know what Trump and his Middle East envoy have promised to Netanyahu in
return for him accepting to move forward with the ceasefire. “We don’t even know
if the ceasefire will hold until the next, second phase. The ceasefire does not
involve the release of all the hostages and Trump has declared he will ‘unleash
hell’ if not all of them are released.” Unlike Biden, said Ahron Bregman, a
former Israeli soldier and senior teaching fellow in the Department of War
Studies at King’s College London, “Trump is not someone Netanyahu can easily
ignore. “Even before Trump assumed office, he pressed Netanyahu to strike a deal
with Hamas. As a result, Netanyahu surprisingly showed a willingness to concede
assets — such as the Philadelphi route — which he had previously deemed critical
to Israeli security.”
When the ceasefire deal was announced, Trump wasted no time taking to Truth
Social to tell his 8.5 million followers: “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could
have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it
signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and
negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies.”
Itamar Rabinovich, a former Israeli ambassador to the US, anticipates a gear
change in US relations with the region. “I expect greater involvement in the
Middle East by the Trump administration,” said Rabinovich, professor emeritus of
Middle Eastern history at Tel Aviv University. “In the Arab-Israeli context
(there will be a) continuation of the effort to end the war in Gaza and possibly
to move on to a more ambitious effort to resolve the larger Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.” However, Trump’s natural affinity with Israel, expressed most keenly
through the Abraham Accords, to which he is expected to return with renewed
energy, does not bode well for the Palestinian cause. Neither do some of the
appointments to Trump’s top team. His appointment of former Arkansas governor
Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel indicates that any “resolution” of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict favored by the incoming US administration will
favor Israel, at Palestine’s expense.
Huckabee, an evangelical Christian with deep, biblically inspired connections to
Israel, a country he has visited more than 100 times since 1973, is an open
opponent of Palestinian sovereignty. He is an ardent supporter of settlements,
stating during a 2017 visit to Israel that “there’s no such thing as a
settlement — they’re communities, they’re neighborhoods, they’re cities. There’s
no such thing as an occupation.” He has also said “there’s really no such thing
as a Palestinian.”Trump’s new Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is another
staunch ally of Israel who has called for a clampdown on pro-Palestinian
protesters in the US and condemned “the poison” of the boycott, divestment, and
sanctions movement. He has also said there should be no ceasefire in Gaza until
Israel has destroyed “every element” of Hamas. The nomination of pro-Israel
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as ambassador to the UN bodes ill for attempts to
pursue Palestinian sovereignty through the UN General Assembly. Last May, on one
of many trips she has made to Israel, she addressed members of the Knesset, “in
your eternal capital, the holy city of Jerusalem,” declaring herself “a lifelong
admirer, supporter, and true friend of Israel and the Jewish people.”
In the wake of Trump’s scene-stealing intervention in the Gaza ceasefire deal,
all eyes in the region will be on his wider agenda for the Middle East. At the
top of that agenda is Iran. How that plays out could have serious repercussions
for Tehran’s neighbors. Around that, said Petillo, “there is huge
unpredictability. Trump is highly unpredictable and likes to remain that way.
But we also know that much of what he will do depends on who whispers in his ear
at the right time before he is making a decision. “There are different people in
his administration that might push him to go either in the most destructive
direction — for instance seeking other maximum pressure style policies to
support Israel and address their security concerns vis-a-vis Iran — and others
who want to end US involvement in the region and are in favor of deals.”But any
chance that the Iran nuclear deal will be reinstated surely evaporated with
Trump’s re-election. It was, after all, Trump who unilaterally withdrew America
from the deal in 2018, instituting new sanctions. He has signalled his intention
to return to a policy of “maximum pressure.”“More widely on Israel-Palestine,
Trump will likely pick up where he left off — the Abraham Accords, which he
deems a success and which have largely held so far despite rifts caused by the
war in Gaza,” said Petillo. “The big prize of course is a Saudi deal — and I
think this will impact whether he will do another round of maximum pressure on
Iran as he said he would.”
Saudi Arabia has made clear that any move toward normalization of relations with
Israel would be dependent on clear steps towards Palestinian sovereignty. In
September, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the Kingdom “will not stop its
tireless work towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with
East Jerusalem as its capital, and we affirm that the Kingdom will not establish
diplomatic relations with Israel without that.” Shortly after, Saudi Foreign
Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud announced the formation of a global
alliance to push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Implementing the two-state solution, he said, was “the best solution to break
the cycle of conflict and suffering, and enforce a new reality in which the
entire region, including Israel, enjoys security and coexistence.”But according
to Petillo: “Trump’s arrival is not good news for the chances of a two-state
solution. Trump and his new administration simply don’t care about Palestinian
rights, annexation is likely to be used as a threat and settlements are likely
to expand, and the whole issue risks becoming a big real-estate project, with
huge consequences for Palestinian security, but I think also for that of
ordinary Israelis.”In November, Bader Mousa Al-Saif, an associate fellow on the
MENA program at Chatham House and a historian at Georgetown University, wrote
that Trump would find the Gulf region much changed since he last engaged with
it. Since then, “the Arab Gulf states have made strides in the intervening years
by taking matters into their own hands — reconciling intra-Gulf discord,
freezing the Yemen conflict, and making overtures to regional neighbours like
Iran, Syria, and Turkiye.”
Moreover, he added, “the Saudis have banked on a clear precondition for
normalization — the end of Israeli occupation and establishment of a Palestinian
state.”However, according to Ibrahim Al-Marashi, associate professor in the
Department of History at California State University San Marcos, a different
kind of deal could break the deadlock. “Trump’s repudiation of the Iran nuclear
deal served as the primary causal factor in intensifying tensions, escalating
into direct violence,” he said. “This violence played out primarily on Iraqi
soil, albeit with a brief period of clashes in Syria. “Trump wants a nuclear
deal on his terms that he can claim credit for. If he gets that and sanctions
are lifted on Iran, then tensions might finally subside.”Burcu Ozcelik, a senior
research fellow on Middle East security at the Royal United Services Institute,
believes “the Trump administration will be unlikely to backtrack on, or
jeopardize, the progress that has been made to weaken Iran’s status in the
Middle East. “The region is transforming in ways unimaginable 15 months ago,
with new political futures possible in Lebanon and Syria,” he said. “The
weakening of both Iran and Russia in the Middle East represents a success story,
and Trump will want this dynamic to continue — and to take credit for it.” And
to be recognized for it, as a main plank of his legacy. “Trump’s desire for a
Nobel Prize might push him toward pursuing a peace deal or normalization between
Israel and Saudi Arabia,” said Bregman. “Achieving this would require Netanyahu
to make some progress toward a Palestinian state, a prerequisite for advancing
Israeli-Saudi relations. This won’t be easy. But Netanyahu’s wariness of Trump
might compel him to act.”
Arab Gulf leaders, Jordan’s king,
Palestine’s president congratulate Trump on his inauguration
Arab News/January 21, 2025
LONDON: Arab Gulf leaders, the king of Jordan, and Palestine’s president have
congratulated Donald Trump on his inauguration as the 47th president of the US.
The leadership of the UAE, including President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan;
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the prime minister and ruler of Dubai;
and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE’s deputy prime minister and
chairman of the Presidential Court, each sent a congratulatory message to Trump
on Monday.Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq expressed his wish for Trump’s success
in his second term as US president. Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa
expressed his wishes for Trump’s good health, happiness, and success in his
role, highlighting his pride in the relations and close partnership between the
US and Bahrain. Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the emir of Kuwait,
affirmed in his message to Trump the aspiration to strengthen the
well-established relations between the two countries. Jordan’s King Abdullah II
said on X that Jordan highly valued its partnership with the US and was
committed to working with Trump toward a peaceful world. In his speech at the
Capitol Rotunda, Trump said he wanted to be a “peacemaker and unifier,” while
mentioning the recently released hostages in a deal between Hamas and Israel
which brought a ceasefire to the Gaza Strip this week. Mahmoud Abbas, the
president of the Palestinian Authority, said in a message that the PA was ready
to work with Trump to achieve peace during his administration, based on the
two-state solution.
Trump Sworn in a Second Time,
Vows ‘Golden Age of America’
Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
Donald Trump vowed to usher in a new era of American greatness, minutes after he
was sworn in as president for the second time to complete an extraordinary
political comeback following two assassination attempts, a felony conviction and
an indictment for attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss.
"The golden age of America begins right now," he said. Trump took the oath of
office to "preserve, protect and defend" the US Constitution at 12:01 p.m. ET
(1701 GMT) inside the US Capitol, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts.
His vice president, JD Vance, was sworn in just before him.
Trump intends to sign a raft of executive actions in his first hours as
president, incoming White House officials said on Monday, including 10 focused
on border security and immigration, his top priority. The president will declare
a national emergency at the southern border, send armed troops there and resume
a policy forcing asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their US court dates,
officials told reporters. He will also seek to end so-called birthright
citizenship for US-born children whose parents lack legal status, a move some
legal scholars have said would be unconstitutional. The inauguration completes a
triumphant comeback for a political disruptor who survived two impeachment
trials, a felony conviction, two assassination attempts and an indictment for
attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss. The ceremony was moved inside the
Capitol due to the extreme cold, four years after a mob of Trump supporters
breached the building, a symbol of American democracy, in an unsuccessful effort
to forestall Trump's loss to Joe Biden. Biden and outgoing Vice President Kamala
Harris, who lost to Trump in November, were on hand inside the Capitol's
Rotunda, along with former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill
Clinton. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in 2016,
arrived with her husband Bill, but Obama's wife, Michelle, chose not to
attend.Numerous tech executives who have sought to curry favor with the incoming
administration - including the three richest men in the world, Tesla and SpaceX
CEO Elon Musk, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg - had
prominent seats on stage, next to cabinet nominees and members of Trump's
family. Trump, the first US president since the 19th century to win a second
term after losing the White House, has said he will pardon "on Day One" many of
the more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.
He skipped Biden's inauguration and has continued to claim falsely that the 2020
election he lost to Biden was rigged. Biden, in one of his last official acts,
pardoned several people whom Trump has targeted for retaliation, including
former White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci, former Republican US
Representative Liz Cheney and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark
Milley. Trump will not immediately impose new tariffs on Monday, instead
directing federal agencies to evaluate trade relationships with Canada, China
and Mexico, a Trump official confirmed, an unexpected development that unleashed
a broad slide in the US dollar and a rally in global stock markets on a day when
US financial markets are closed. Some of the executive orders are likely to face
legal challenges.
Even as he prepared to retake office, Trump continued to expand his business
ventures, raising billions in market value by launching a "meme coin" crypto
token over the weekend that prompted ethical and regulatory questions.Shortly
before 10 a.m. ET (1500 GMT), Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump
arrived at the White House, where Biden and outgoing first lady Jill Biden
greeted them with handshakes.
"Welcome home," Biden said.
DISRUPTIVE FORCE
As he did in 2017, Trump enters office as a chaotic and disruptive force, vowing
to remake the federal government and expressing deep skepticism about the US-led
alliances that have shaped post-World War Two global politics.The former
president returns to Washington emboldened after winning the national popular
vote over Harris by more than 2 million votes thanks to a groundswell of voter
frustration over persistent inflation, though he still fell just short of a 50%
majority. In 2016, Trump won the Electoral College - and the presidency -
despite receiving nearly 3 million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton. Trump, who
surpassed Biden as the oldest president ever to be sworn into office, will enjoy
Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress that have been almost
entirely purged of any intra-party dissenters. His advisers have outlined plans
to replace nonpartisan bureaucrats with hand-picked loyalists. Even before
taking office, Trump established a rival power center in the weeks after his
election victory, meeting world leaders and causing consternation by musing
aloud about seizing the Panama Canal, taking control of NATO ally Denmark's
territory of Greenland and imposing tariffs on the biggest US trading partners.
His influence has already been felt in the Israel-Hamas announcement last week
of a ceasefire deal. Trump, whose envoy joined the negotiations in Qatar, had
warned of "hell to pay" if Hamas did not release its hostages before the
inauguration.Unlike in 2017, when he filled many top jobs with institutionalists,
Trump has prioritized fealty over experience in nominating a bevy of
controversial cabinet picks, some of whom are outspoken critics of the agencies
they have been tapped to lead. The inauguration took place amid heavy security
after a campaign highlighted by an increase in political violence that included
two assassination attempts against Trump, including one in which a bullet grazed
his ear.
'AMERICAN CARNAGE'
Eight years ago, Trump delivered a bleak inaugural address vowing to end the
"American carnage" of what he said were crime-ridden cities and soft borders, a
departure from the tone of optimism most newly elected presidents have
adopted.Foreign governments will be scrutinizing the tenor of Trump's speech on
Monday after he waged a campaign laced with inflammatory rhetoric. The
traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House will now take
place indoors at the Capital One Arena, where Trump held his victory rally on
Sunday. Trump will also attend three inaugural balls in the evening. Some
diehard Trump followers slept in the street in frigid conditions to make sure
they were in line to get a seat at the arena. A desk and chair sat on the stage,
where Trump was expected to sign some of his first executive orders in front of
his supporters before heading to the White House.Trump will be the first felon
to occupy the White House after a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying
business records to cover up hush money paid to a porn star. Winning the
election also rid Trump of two federal indictments - for plotting to overturn
the 2020 election and for retaining classified documents - thanks to a Justice
Department policy that presidents cannot be prosecuted while in office. In a
report last week, Special Counsel Jack Smith said he had enough evidence to
convict Trump in the election case if Trump had reached trial.
Trump’s Foreign Policy: End Ukraine War, Buy Greenland, Target Mexican Cartels
Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
Republican President-elect Donald Trump says he plans to acquire Greenland,
bring the war in Ukraine to a close and fundamentally alter the US relationship
with NATO during his second four-year term. In recent weeks, he has also
threatened to seize the Panama Canal and slap Canada and Mexico with 25% tariffs
if they do not clamp down on the flow of drugs and migrants into the United
States. Here is a look at the foreign policy proposals Trump has pledged to
advance once he takes office on Monday:
NATO, UKRAINE AND EUROPEAN ALLIES
Trump has said that under his presidency, the United States will fundamentally
rethink "NATO's purpose and NATO's mission."
He has pledged to ask Europe to reimburse the United States for "almost $200
billion" in munitions sent to Ukraine, and he has not committed to sending
further aid to the Eastern European nation. Trump cut defense funding to NATO
during the latter part of his first term, and he has frequently complained that
the United States was paying more than its fair share. In recent weeks, he has
said NATO members should be spending 5% of gross domestic product on defense, a
figure well above the current 2% target. On the war in Ukraine, Trump said
during the 2024 election campaign that he would resolve the conflict even before
his inauguration. But since his election, he has not repeated that pledge and
advisers now concede it will take months to reach any peace agreement. Trump has
indicated that Kyiv may have to cede some territory to reach a peace agreement,
a position backed by his key advisers. While there is no fully fleshed-out Trump
peace plan, most of his key aides favor taking NATO membership off the table for
Ukraine as part of any peace agreement, at least for the foreseeable future.
They also broadly support freezing the battle lines at their prevailing
location. While Trump signaled in early April that he would be open to sending
additional aid to Ukraine in the form of a loan, he remained mostly silent on
the issue during contentious congressional negotiations over a $61 billion aid
package later that month.
TERRITORIAL EXPANSION
In mid-December, Trump said he planned to acquire Greenland, an idea he briefly
floated during his 2017-2021 term. His previous efforts were foiled when Denmark
said its overseas territory was not for sale. But Trump's designs on the world's
largest island have not abated. During a January press conference, Trump refused
to rule out invading Greenland, portraying the island as crucial for US national
security interests. Trump has also threatened to seize the Panama Canal in
recent weeks, blaming Panama for overcharging vessels that transit the key
shipping route. Trump has also mused about turning Canada into a US state,
though advisers have privately portrayed his comments regarding the United
States' northern neighbor as an example of trolling, rather than a true
geopolitical ambition.
CHINA, TRADE AND TAIWAN
Trump frequently threatens to impose major new tariffs or trade restrictions on
China, as well as on many close allies. His proposed Trump Reciprocal Trade Act
would give him broad discretion to ramp up retaliatory tariffs on countries when
they are determined to have put up trade barriers of their own. He has floated
the idea of a 10% universal tariff, which could disrupt international markets,
and at least a 60% tariff on China. Trump has called for an end to China's most
favored nation status, a designation that generally lowers trade barriers
between nations. He has vowed to enact "aggressive new restrictions on Chinese
ownership of any vital infrastructure in the United States," and the official
Republican Party platform calls for banning Chinese ownership of American real
estate. On Taiwan, Trump has declared that it should pay the United States for
its defense as, he says, it does not give the US anything and took "about 100%
of our chip business," referring to semiconductors. He has repeatedly said that
China would never dare to invade Taiwan during his presidency.
MEXICO, CANADA AND NARCOTICS
Trump has said he would slap Mexico and Canada with broad 25% tariffs if they do
not stem the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. Mexican and
Canadian leaders have sought to prove they are serious about taking on illegal
immigration and the narcotics trade, though Trump's actual Day One plans for
tariffs on the country's neighbors are unclear. Trump has said he would
designate drug cartels operating in Mexico as foreign terrorist organizations
and order the Pentagon "to make appropriate use of special forces" to attack
cartel leadership and infrastructure, an action that would be unlikely to obtain
the blessing of the Mexican government. He has said he would deploy the US Navy
to enforce a blockade against the cartels and would invoke the Alien Enemies Act
to deport drug dealers and gang members in the United States. Civil rights
groups and Democratic Party senators have pushed for the repeal of that act,
passed in 1798, which gives the president some authority to deport foreign
nationals while the country is at war. The Republican Party platform also calls
for moving thousands of troops deployed overseas to the US-Mexico border to
battle illegal immigration.
CONFLICT IN GAZA
Trump's Middle East envoy-designate, Steve Witkoff, worked closely alongside
officials in the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden to hash out
the peace deal announced earlier in January between Israel and Palestinian
militant group Hamas. Sources close to the talks said he applied significant
pressure on both sides to strike an accord quickly, though the precise details
of his involvement are still coming out in the press. After first criticizing
Israeli leadership in the days after its citizens were attacked by Hamas on Oct.
7, 2023, Trump later said the group must be "crushed." Trump had said there
would be "hell to pay" if Israel and Hamas did not reach a ceasefire deal
resulting in the return of hostages held by the Palestinian militant group in
Gaza before he takes office.
IRAN
Trump's advisers have indicated they will renew the so-called maximum pressure
campaign of his first term against Iran. The maximum pressure campaign sought to
use vigorous sanctions to strangle Iran's economy and force the country to
negotiate a deal that would hobble its nuclear and ballistic weapons programs.
The Biden administration did not materially loosen the sanctions that Trump put
in place, but there is debate about how vigorously the sanctions were enforced.
CLIMATE
Trump has repeatedly pledged to pull out of the Paris Agreement, an
international accord meant to limit greenhouse gas emissions. He pulled out of
it during his term in office, but the US rejoined the accord under Biden in
2021.
MISSILE DEFENSE
Trump has pledged to build a state-of-the-art missile defense "force field"
around the US. He has not gone into detail, beyond saying that the Space Force,
a military branch that his first administration created, would play a leading
role in the process.
In the Republican Party platform, the force field is referred to as an "Iron
Dome," reminiscent of Israel's missile defense system, which shares the same
name.
Trump returns to power after unprecedented comeback, emboldened to reshape
American institutions
ZEKE MILLER, CHRIS MEGERIAN and MICHELLE L. PRICE/Updated Mon, January 20, 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president Monday,
returning to power with a promise to end America’s decline and to “completely
and totally reverse” the actions of the man who drove him from office four years
ago. Trump overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of
assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, and he planned to
act swiftly after the ceremony. Dozens of executive orders were prepared for his
signature to clamp down on border crossings, increase fossil fuel development
and end diversity and inclusion programs across the federal government. The
orders from the incoming Republican president will begin the process of
unraveling the Democratic agenda of Joe Biden, whose term ended at noon, moments
before Trump took the oath of office. Declaring that government faces a “crisis
of trust,” Trump said in his inaugural address that under his administration,
“our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of
justice will be rebalanced.” Trump claimed “a mandate to completely and totally
reverse a horrible betrayal," promising to “give the people back their faith,
their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom.”
“From this moment on,” he added as Biden watched from the front row, "America’s
decline is over.”The executive orders are the first step in what Trump calls
“the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense." Other
goals will prove more difficult, perhaps testing the patience of supporters who
were promised quick success. Trump has talked about lowering prices after years
of inflation, but his plans for tariffs on imports from foreign countries could
have the opposite effect. Frigid weather rewrote the pageantry of the day.
Trump’s swearing-in was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda — the first time
that has happened in 40 years — and the inaugural parade was replaced by an
event at a downtown arena. Trump supporters who descended on the city to watch
the ceremony outside the Capitol from the National Mall were left to find other
places to view the festivities.
At the Capitol, Vice President JD Vance was sworn in first, taking the oath read
by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on a Bible given to him by his
great-grandmother. Trump followed, using both a family Bible and the one used by
President Abraham Lincoln at his 1861 inauguration. Chief Justice John Roberts
administered his oath. A cadre of billionaires and tech titans — including Mark
Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai — were given prominent
positions in the Rotunda, mingling with Trump's incoming team before the
ceremony began. Also there was Elon Musk, the world's richest man, who is
expected to lead an effort to slash spending and federal employees. Stopping at
the White House on their way to the Capitol, Trump and his wife, Melania, were
greeted by Biden and first lady Jill Biden for the customary tea and coffee
reception. It was a stark departure from four years ago, when Trump refused to
acknowledge Biden’s victory or attend his inauguration.
“Welcome home,” Biden said to Trump after the president-elect stepped out of the
car. The two presidents, who have spent years bitterly criticizing each other,
shared a limo to the Capitol. After the ceremony, Trump walked with Biden to the
building's east side, where Biden departed via helicopter to begin his
post-presidential life. Trump followed Biden's departure with freewheeling
remarks to supporters, revisiting a litany of conspiracy theories about voter
fraud and grievances against perceived enemies such as former Republican Rep.
Liz Cheney, whom he called “a crying lunatic.”He spoke for even longer than in
his inaugural address, saying, “I think this is a better speech than the one I
gave upstairs.”Trump's inauguration realized a political comeback without
precedent in American history. Four years ago, he was voted out of the White
House during an economic collapse caused by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Trump
denied his defeat and tried to cling to power. He directed his supporters to
march on the Capitol while lawmakers were certifying the election results,
sparking a riot that interrupted the country’s tradition of the peaceful
transfer of power. But Trump never lost his grip on the Republican Party and was
undeterred by criminal cases and two assassination attempts as he steamrolled
rivals and harnessed voters’ exasperation with inflation and illegal
immigration. Trump used his inaugural address to repeat his claims that he was
targeted by political prosecutions, and he promised to begin “fair, equal and
impartial justice.” He also acknowledged that he was taking office on Martin
Luther King Jr. Day, which honors the slain civil rights hero. “We will strive
together to make his dream a reality,” he said. Now Trump is the first person
convicted of a felony — for falsifying business records related to hush money
payments — to serve as president. He pledged to “preserve, protect and defend”
the Constitution from the same spot that was overrun by his supporters on Jan.
6, 2021. He’s said that one of his first acts in office will be to pardon many
of those who participated in the riot, and he referred to them as “hostages” on
Monday.
“It’s action, not words, that count, and you’re going to see a lot of action,"
Trump said. Eight years after he first entered the White House as a political
newcomer, Trump is far more familiar with the operations of federal government
and emboldened to bend it to his vision. Trump wants to bring quick change by
curtailing immigration, enacting tariffs on imports and rolling back Democrats’
climate and social initiatives.
He has also promised retribution against his political opponents and critics,
and placed personal loyalty as a prime qualification for appointments to his
administration. With minutes to go before leaving office, Biden issued
preemptive pardons to his siblings and their spouses to shield them from the
possibility of prosecution. Earlier in the day, he also pardoned current and
former government officials who have been the target of Trump's anger. Biden
said "these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do
nothing.” Trump has pledged to go further and move faster in enacting his agenda
than during his first term, and already the country's political, business and
technology leaders have realigned themselves to accommodate him. Democrats who
once formed a “resistance” are now divided over whether to work with Trump or
defy him. Billionaires have lined up to meet with Trump as they acknowledge his
unrivaled power in Washington and his ability to wield the levers of government
to help or hurt their interests. Long skeptical of American alliances, Trump's
“America First” foreign policy is being watched warily at home and abroad as
Russia's invasion of Ukraine will soon enter its third year, and a fragile
ceasefire appears to be holding in Gaza after more than 15 months of war between
Israel and Hamas. Trump, who had promised to end the Ukraine war even before he
was sworn in, did not mention the conflict in his inaugural address. Trump said
he would lead a government that “expands our territory,” a reference to his
goals of acquiring Greenland from Denmark and restoring U.S. control of the
Panama Canal. He also said he would “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars"
by launching American astronauts to Mars. Musk, the owner of a space rocket
company with billions of dollars in federal contracts, cheered and pumped his
arms above his head as Trump spoke.
Trump declares 'only two genders' to be official US policy
https://ca.yahoo.com/news/trump-declares-only-two-genders-185001833.html
Mon, January 20, 2025
STORY: :: Trump declares that official U.S. policy
will recognize only two genders
:: January 20, 2025
"This week, I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer
race and gender into every aspect of public and private life. We will forge a
society that is colorblind and merit based. As of today, it will henceforth be
the official policy of the United States government that there are only two
genders male and female." President-elect Donald Trump will issue executive
orders upon taking office slashing diversity, equity and inclusion programs and
proclaiming that the U.S. federal government will only recognize two sexes, male
and female, an incoming White House official said on Monday.The official added
that more actions on DEI - as diversity and inclusion programs are often
referred to - were expected "very soon." As part of the executive orders,
federal funds will not be used to promote "gender ideology," the official said,
a loose term often used to reference any ideology that promotes non-traditional
views on sex and gender. "Gender ideology" is a term often used by conservatives
and some organizations to argue against LGBTQ+ or gender rights. It's viewed as
an anti-LGBTQ trope and dehumanizing term by rights and gender advocacy groups.
FACT FOCUS: A look at false and misleading claims Trump made during his
inaugural address
The Canadian Press/January 20, 2025
The Associated Press
In his first address after being sworn in on Monday, President Donald Trump
repeated several false and misleading statements that he made during his
campaign. They included claims about immigration, the economy, electric vehicles
and the Panama Canal. Here’s a look at the facts.
Trump repeats unfounded claim about immigrants
CLAIM: Trump, a Republican, said that the U.S. government "fails to protect our
magnificent, law-abiding American citizens but provides sanctuary and protection
for dangerous criminals, many from prisons and mental institutions that have
illegally entered our country from all over the world.”
THE FACTS: There is no evidence other countries are sending their criminals or
mentally ill across the border.
Trump frequently brought up this claim during his most recent campaign.
Inflation did not reach record highs under Biden
CLAIM: “I will direct all members of my Cabinet to marshal the vast powers at
their disposal to defeat what was record inflation and rapidly bring down costs
and prices.”
THE FACTS: Inflation peaked at 9.1% in June 2022 after rising steadily in the
first 17 months of Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency from a low of 0.1% in May
2020. The most recent data shows that as of December it had fallen to 2.9%.
Other historical periods have seen higher inflation, such as a more than 14%
rate in 1980, according to the Federal Reserve.
The average price of basic consumer goods has seen major spikes in recent years.
For example, a dozen large eggs went from a low of $1.33 in August 2020 to $4.82
in January 2023. They decreased in price to $2.07 in September 2023 but are
currently on the rise again, at $4.15 as of December, partly attributable to a
lingering outbreak of bird flu coinciding with high demand during the holiday
baking season.
A gallon of whole milk rose to a high of $4.22 in November 2022, up from $2.25
at the start of Biden’s term. As of December, it was at $4.10.
Gasoline fell as low as $1.77 a gallon under Trump. But that price dip happened
during coronavirus pandemic lockdowns when few people were driving. The low
prices were due to a global health crisis, not Trump’s policies.
Under Biden, gasoline rose to a high of $5.06 in June 2022. It has since been on
a downward trend, at $3.15 as of December.
Promise of an External Revenue Service to collect tariffs
CLAIM: Promising to establish an External Revenue Service to collect “all
tariffs, duties, and revenues,” Trump said, “It will be massive amounts of money
pouring into our Treasury, coming from foreign sources.”
THE FACTS: Nearly all economists point out that American consumers will pay at
least part, if not most, of the cost of the tariffs. Some exporters overseas may
accept lower profits to offset some of the cost of the duties, and the dollar
will likely rise in value compared with the currencies of the countries facing
tariffs, which could also offset some of the impact.
But the tariffs won’t have the desired impact of spurring more production in the
U.S. unless they make foreign-made products more expensive for U.S. consumers.
In addition, many of Trump’s supporters, and even some of his appointees, argue
that he intends to use tariffs primarily as a bargaining tool to extract
concessions from other countries. Yet if an External Revenue Service is
established, it certainly suggests Trump is expecting to impose and collect many
duties.
Calls for revocation of EV mandate that doesn't exist
CLAIM: “We will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving the auto industry
and keeping my sacred pledge to our great American autoworkers.”
THE FACTS: It's misleading to claim that such a mandate exists. In April 2023,
the Environmental Protection Agency announced strict limits on greenhouse gas
emissions from passenger vehicles. The agency says these limits could be met if
67% of new-vehicle sales are electric by 2032.
And yet, the new rule would not require automakers to boost electric vehicle
sales directly. It sets emissions limits and allows automakers to choose how to
meet them.
In 2019, Kamala Harris co-sponsored a bill as a U.S. senator called the
Zero-Emission Vehicles Act that would have required 100% of new passenger
vehicles sold to be zero-emission by 2040. The bill, which stalled in committee,
did not ban ownership of vehicles that produce emissions.
China does not operate the Panama Canal
CLAIM: Discussing his desire for the U.S. to take back the Panama Canal:
“American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any
way, shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy. And, above all,
China is operating the Panama Canal."
THE FACTS: Officials in Panama have denied Trump’s claims that China is
operating the canal and that the U.S. is being overcharged. Ricaurte Vásquez,
administrator of the canal, said in an interview with The Associated Press that
“there’s no discrimination in the fees.”
“The price rules are uniform for absolutely all those who transit the canal and
clearly defined,” he said.He also said China was not operating the canal. He
noted Chinese companies operating in the ports on either end of the canal were
part of a Hong Kong consortium that won a bidding process in 1997. He added that
U.S. and Taiwanese companies are operating other ports along the canal as well.
Vásquez stressed that the canal can’t give special treatment to U.S.-flagged
ships because of a neutrality treaty. He said requests for exceptions are
routinely rejected, because the process is clear and there mustn’t be arbitrary
variations. The only exception in the neutrality treaty is for American
warships, which receive expedited passage. Trump, complaining about rising
charges for ships transiting the canal, has refused to rule out the use of
military force to seize control of the canal.
The United States built the canal in the early 1900s as it looked for ways to
facilitate the transit of commercial and military vessels between its coasts.
Washington relinquished control of the waterway to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999,
under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat.
Bill and Hillary Clinton Share a Snarky Reaction to Trump’s
Inauguration Speech
Liam Archacki/The Daily Beast/January 20, 2025
Bill and Hillary Clinton were less than impressed by Donald Trump’s inaugural
speech, a fact which they made clear with subtle snark. The address that
followed Trump’s swearing-in on Monday was tinged with vindication. The new
president slammed the previous administration, declared that God saved him from
an assassin’s bullet, and vowed to usher in a new “golden age” in America. Asked
what his reaction to the speech was, former President Clinton told CNN, “I think
you can figure it out for yourself.” Meanwhile, his wife—the former first lady,
secretary of state, and Democratic nominee for president—smiled at the question
but said nothing. The Clintons, like all the living presidential couples
(excluding Michelle Obama), were in the audience at the Capitol Rotunda when
Trump was sworn in. During the speech itself, Hillary Clinton was observed
visibly laughing when Trump reiterated his intention to rename the Gulf of
Mexico as “the Gulf of America” with a day-one executive order. The Democratic
power couple have been vocal critics of Trump since his emergence on the
political scene. Both of the pair endorsed Trump’s rival in the 2024 race,
Kamala Harris. As the race came to a close, Hillary Clinton told CNN that Trump
was “unhinged, more unstable” than when she lost the presidency to him in 2016.
Shortly before Trump won the election, Bill Clinton remarked, “I don’t know if
we can survive or not—I think it would be a travesty if he became president
again.”
Unsurprisingly, the Clintons were booed by Trump supporters as they arrived at
the Capitol for the ceremony on Monday. After Trump concluded his speech, the
couple told CNN that they would not stay for lunch.
“We have to go,” Bill Clinton said.
Hamas ‘ready for dialogue’
with Trump administration, senior official says
Arab News/January 21, 2025
LONDON: The Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip is ready to engage in
dialogue with the US and its new administration under Donald Trump, according to
one of its senior officials Mousa Abu Marzouk. Abu Marzouk, who is a member of
Hamas’ political office, told The New York Times on Sunday that the group was
“prepared for a dialogue with America and to achieve understanding on
everything.” Abu Marzouk, 74, who is currently based in Qatar, is a native of
Gaza and a former resident of Virginia. His statement came hours after a
ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in the Gaza Strip, coinciding
with the inauguration of a new administration in the White House. It is unclear
whether Abu Marzouk’s words reflect a broad consensus among the militant group
in Gaza, which launched a cross-border attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.The US
has classified Hamas as a terrorist organization since 1997. Abu Marzouk told
The New York Times that Hamas was prepared to welcome an envoy from the Trump
administration to the Gaza Strip. He said: “He can come and see the people and
try to understand their feelings and wishes, so that the American position can
be based on the interests of all the parties and not only one party.” Abu
Marzouk praised Trump for helping to secure the ceasefire agreement in Gaza
between Hamas and Israel, adding that “without President Trump’s insistence on
ending the war and his dispatching of a decisive representative, this deal
wouldn’t have happened.”
Israelis want Trump to ‘make Israel normal again’
AFP/January 21, 2025
TEL AVIV: For many Israelis yearning for a future free from war and for the
release of hostages still held in Gaza, US President-elect Donald Trump’s return
to the White House on Monday is a source of hope. On the eve of his
inauguration, three women hostages were released after 15 months in captivity by
Hamas militants, after mediators Qatar, the United States and Egypt clinched a
Gaza ceasefire agreement. Trump, whose envoy took part in negotiations even
ahead of his return to the presidency, claimed credit for the deal following
months of fruitless negotiations.
But many Israelis have been looking forward to his return for a while, even
ahead of the ceasefire. In Tel Aviv’s Sarona commercial district, a massive
banner bearing the president-elect’s image was erected weeks ago.
It shows Trump, his fist raised in defiance. The caption, a reference to the
hostages, reads: “ALL OF THEM UNTIL THE 20.1 — OR THE FIRE OF HELL WILL OPEN.”In
early December, Trump warned of “hell” if, by his inauguration, Hamas did not
release the dozens of Israeli hostages held since its October 7, 2023 attack
that triggered the Gaza war. With the first three releases on Sunday, 91
hostages remain in Gaza. The Tel Aviv banner was the initiative of Tikva Forum,
a campaign group of hostage relatives opposed to a deal with Hamas. “Hamas has
to realize that the rules are about to change in the Middle East and that it’s
time to bring back the hostages immediately,” the group said in a statement. Its
members have been anticipating the US billionaire’s return to the helm in
Washington, Israel’s closest ally and top military backer. But it is not just
Israelis opposed to a deal that are hopeful.
In the lead-up to the inauguration, his image has become a fixture at weekly
rallies calling for the release of hostages.Red caps handed out at protests
alluded to the ones proudly worn by Trump supporters. But instead of “Make
America Great Again,” the ones worn in Israel read: “End this fuc*!ng
war.”Demonstrators carried posters that read: “Trump, thank you for handling
this,” “President Trump, bring them home,” and “Make Israel normal again.” “I
know that when he’s going to be back, things will change, but I’m not sure to
which extent,” said Gaya Omri, a protester at a recent rally in Jerusalem. “My
only hope is that he can finish this war. This is what we want,” she said.
During his first term, Trump broke with much of the international community and
moved the US embassy to Jerusalem. Israelis claim the city as their undivided
capital, while Palestinians claim its eastern sector as theirs. Trump oversaw
landmark normalization deals between Israel and three Arab countries — Bahrain,
Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. He also recognized Israeli sovereignty
over the occupied Golan Heights, again going against much of the world and
numerous UN resolutions. As a show of gratitude, an Israeli settlement in the
territory, which Israel has occupied since 1967, was renamed Trump Heights.
“President Trump put us on the map,” said Yaakov Selavan of the Golan Heights
Regional Council. “He gave us the best PR campaign we’ve ever had, and we hope
the new US administration will continue this,” he said.
This time round, some of Trump’s cabinet picks again suggest a favorable line
for Israel. The incoming president’s pick for US ambassador to Israel, Mike
Huckabee, is a staunch supporter of Israeli annexation of the occupied West
Bank.
Palestinian president Abbas ‘ready to work’ with Trump on two-state solution
Arab News/January 20, 2025
RAMALLAH: Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas congratulated US President Donald
Trump on his inauguration on Monday and said he was ready to work for peace with
Israel based on a two-state solution. “We are ready to work with you to achieve
peace during your term, based on a two-state solution,” Abbas said in a
statement published by the official Wafa news agency. Abbas said it would mean
“the State of Palestine and the State of Israel living side-by-side in security
and peace, ensuring security and stability in our region and the world.”In his
first presidential term, from 2017 to 2021, Trump’s administration put together
a peace proposal which would have involved Israel annexing much of the occupied
West Bank while handing over some territory to a future Palestinian state in
return. The Palestinians strongly rejected the proposal, and Israel abandoned
its annexation plans when some Gulf Arab states normalized ties with it under
US-brokered agreements. Trump has taken credit for securing a ceasefire deal in
the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff taking
part in negotiations that finally produced an agreement that came into effect on
Sunday. A two-state solution has been the basis for the peace negotiations
between Israel and the Palestinians going back decades, but Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly refused to countenance an independent
Palestinian state. He has also rejected any role for the Ramallah-based
Palestinian Authority, which Abbas leads, in a post-war Gaza Strip.On Friday,
Abbas had said the PA was ready to assume “full responsibility” for Gaza.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II also congratulated Trump, saying: “We greatly value
our partnership with the United States and are committed to working with you
toward a more prosperous and peaceful world.”
Middle East Must Emerge from
Turbulence with Peace and Horizon of Hope, UN Chief Says
Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
The United Nations chief says the Middle East is undergoing a “profound
transformation” and has urged all countries to ensure the region emerges from
the turbulence with peace and “a horizon of hope grounded in action.”
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a ministerial meeting of the UN Security
Council Monday that “a new dawn is rising in Lebanon,” which he just visited. He
said it was vital that Israeli troops withdraw from southern Lebanon and the
Lebanese army deploy there as required in the ceasefire agreement. In Gaza, he
urged Israel and Hamas to ensure that their newly agreed deal leads to a
permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages taken by Hamas and other
militants during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in southern Israel. The ceasefire must
also lead to four simultaneous actions on the ground, Guterres said. Unhindered
UN access including by the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees known as
UNRWA which Israel is seeking to ban is essential, he said, as well as scaled-up
aid deliveries, Palestinians’ access to aid, and protection of civilians.
Guterres expressed deep concern about “an existential threat to the integrity
and contiguity” of Gaza and the West Bank – key pieces of a future Palestinian
state – from Israeli actions and “unabated illegal settlement expansion.”“Senior
Israeli officials openly speak of formally annexing all or part of the West Bank
in the coming months,” he said. “Any such annexation would constitute a most
serious violation of international law.”The secretary-general said Syria “stands
at a crossroads of history” and told the council, “We cannot let the flame of
hope turn into an inferno of chaos.”He stressed the need for a Syrian-led
political transition, and “much more significant work in addressing sanctions
and designations” especially in light of the country’s urgent economic needs.
Türkiye Reopens Consulate in Syria's Aleppo
Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
Türkiye reopened its consulate in Syria’s largest city, Aleppo, raising its flag
at the building for the first time in 12 years, Türkiye’s state-run Anadolu
Agency reported.
The opening on Monday comes weeks after the Turkish Embassy resumed its
operations in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Dec. 14. Türkiye had closed down
its diplomatic missions in Syria in 2012 due to security concerns amid the civil
war, during which Ankara supported forces opposed to the government of ousted
President Bashar al-Assad. Prior to the Syria conflict, Aleppo, located some 50
kilometers (31 miles) from the Turkish border, was an important center for trade
between Türkiye and Syria.
EU Announces Aid for Syria and Countries Hosting Syrian Refugees
Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
A top European Union official announced an aid package of 235 million euros
($244 million) for humanitarian needs within Syria and for countries in the
region hosting displaced Syrians, especially Türkiye. Speaking alongside Turkish
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday during a visit to Ankara after her trip
to Syria, Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis
Management and Equality, said that the situation in Syria was dire, “The needs
are dramatically immense. The humanitarian crisis is affecting millions of
Syrians, and the EU will continue to work and to alleviate the suffering in
response to the basic needs of the people," Lahbib said. Türkiye hosts the
world’s largest number of refugees, including up to 3 million Syrians.
“Türkiye’s hospitality for the Syrian refugees has been crucial over the years,”
Lahbib said. “Türkiye’s role is crucial in providing humanitarian corridors for
the EU to deliver emergency assistance to Syria. “The region is in geopolitical
turmoil, and it would be important for the European Union to work together with
Türkiye and provide the adequate response by the international community.”
Mother of Missing Journalist Austin Tice Says Trump Team
Offered Help in Search
Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
The mother of American journalist Austin Tice made her first visit to Syria in
almost a decade Monday and said that the administration of President-elect
Donald Trump had offered support to help find her son, who disappeared in 2012.
Debra Tice made the remarks at a news conference in Damascus in her first visit
to the country since insurgents toppled President Bashar al-Assad last month.
She did not present any new findings in the ongoing search.
Austin Tice disappeared near the Syrian capital in 2012, and has not been heard
from since other than a video released weeks later that showed him blindfolded
and held by armed men. Tens of thousands are believed to have gone missing in
Syria since 2011, when countrywide protests against Assad spiraled into a
devastating civil war.
Qatar Pledges Aid for Gaza as More Trucks Cross into the
Territory
Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
Qatar on Monday announced plans to supply post-ceasefire Gaza with resources via
a “land bridge” at Kerem Shalom, on the border between Egypt, Israel and the
coastal Palestinian enclave. After sending 25 fuel trucks to Gaza on Monday,
Qatar plans to supply Gaza with 3.3 million gallons (12.5 million liters) of
fuel over the next 10 days, its Foreign Ministry said. The fuel is intended to
provide basic services and power hospitals and shelters. Over the course of the
16-month war, the majority of aid has crossed into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom
crossing, although it has intermittently closed amid disagreements over what
kind of aid can be allowed into the strip. Israel previously restricted entry of
some equipment, arguing it could be used for military purposes by Hamas.
Allowing more aid into Gaza is a central tenet of the ceasefire deal’s first
phase and will be key to later reconstruction efforts. The deal allows for
hundreds of trucks — more than Israel has previously allowed — to deliver aid to
Gaza. Egypt’s state-run press center said Monday that at least 300 aid trucks
entered Kerem Shalom and the Nitzana crossing to the south since the ceasefire
took effect, as well as 12 diesel trucks and four gas trucks. However, some of
those trucks have carried food aid labeled for UNRWA, the UN agency that Israel
has vowed to ban from operating even as it remains the primary distributor of
aid in Gaza. Truck drivers told The Associated Press that throughout the war,
vehicles have been turned back for minor bureaucratic infractions or not having
aid properly packaged or wrapped. “If items are approved, we unload them and
head back to Egypt ... Some trucks have to drive all the way back with packages
they left with that contain expired food aid or that the driver’s or truck
information is not listed correctly,” driver Hamdy Emad said.
After Debate, Iraqi Armed Factions Refuse to Disband
Baghdad: Hamza Mustafa/Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
Undersecretary of the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hisham al-Alawi stressed on Sunday
that the dismantling and disarmament of armed factions was an internal Iraqi
affair.He added: “Iraq is interested in amicably resolving problems with
regional countries. Regional stability is necessary for development.”
On the factions, he said it was necessary to make a distinction between the
Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and other factions that are not aligned to it.
The PMF, he explained, is an integral part of Iraq’s security and military
institutions. “Neutralizing the factions that operate outside the state is an
Iraqi affair. Iraq is concerned with neutralizing them when it comes to their
external actions,” he remarked. He made his remarks days after Iraqi Foreign
Minister Fuad Hussein told Asharq Al-Awsat that the possession of weapons
outside the control of the state was “unacceptable”. He said the government was
“trying to convince the armed factions” to lay down their arms. This has cast
doubt in the country over its actual ability to handle the issue given the
persistent internal disputes, especially between Shiite forces. Meanwhile, the
Al-Nujaba and Saraya Awliya al-Dam factions announced that they were suspending
their operations against Israel as the ceasefire in Gaza took effect. However,
al-Nujaba politburo head Ali al-Assadi said the “weapons of the resistance were
legitimate” and that his movement has not been asked to lay down its arms. This
marks the first statement in over two months over the possession of weapons by a
faction of the “Resistance Axis” that is allied with Iran. Al-Assadi said on
Saturday that the “Iraqi resistance is ready to support the military operations
should Israel resume its attacks on Gaza.”This means that all the statements and
debates about the weapons have been effectively dismissed by the factions. The
government has not called on the al-Nujaba to lay down its weapons or to
disband, al-Assadi continued. “The foreign minister’s comments about the issue
are unrealistic and all politicians know that were it not for the resistance,
they wouldn’t be in their positions,” he stressed. On Higher Shiite Authority
Ali al-Sistani's statements two months ago on the need to limit the possession
of arms to the state, al-Assadi said: “He was not referring to the resistance
factions.” He added, however, that the factions “are ready to lay down their
arms if Sistani directly and openly says so.”
Relatives of freed Gaza
hostages call for release of remaining captives
AFP/January 20, 2025
RAMAT GAN, Israel: The relatives of the three Israeli hostages released from
Gaza by Palestinian militants Hamas called on Monday for all those remaining in
the territory to be freed. Speaking at a press conference at the Sheba hospital
where the three women are being treated, they gave no details on the conditions
in which their relatives had been held for 471 days or on their health. Romi
Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were released on Sunday as part of
the first round of exchanges that also saw around 90 Palestinian prisoners freed
from Israeli jails.
Meirav Leshem Gonen, the mother of Romi Gonen, said: “We got our Romi back, but
all families deserve the same outcome, both the living and the dead. Our hearts
go out to the other families.”“We are a people who desire peace but are ready
for war when needed,” she added. Yamit Ashkenazi meanwhile passed on a message
from her sister Doron Steinbrecher. “Everyone needs to return, until the last
hostage comes home. Just as I was fortunate to return to my family, so must
everyone else.”Mandy Damari, the mother of British-Israeli Emily Damari, said
her daughter was “in high spirits.”She called for all the hostages to be
released and for humanitarian aid that was going into the Gaza Strip to also go
to the remaining captives. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7,
2023 attack on Israel, 91 remain in Gaza, including 34 the military has said are
dead. A further two hostages who are presumed alive have been held in Gaza since
2014 and 2015 respectively, as has the body of a soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza
war. The three are also due to be released as part of the deal. Before the press
conference, the Israeli military released new footage of the moment the three
freed hostages were reunited with their mothers at an Israeli military base. In
the footage, the three women are seen embracing their mothers tightly as they
meet for the first time after their release.
Israel releases 90 women and
teens, fires at celebrating crowds
Associated Press/January 20, 2025
Israel freed 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The release came early
Monday, more than seven hours after three Israeli hostages released from Hamas
captivity in Gaza returned to Israel. A large bus carrying dozens of Palestinian
detainees exited the gates of Israel’s Ofer prison, just outside the West Bank
city of Ramallah. Israel’s military, which occupies the West Bank, warned
Palestinians against public celebration, but crowds thronged the buses after
they left the prison, some people climbing on top or waving flags, including
those of Hamas. There were fireworks and whistles, and shouts of “God is great.”
Those released were hoisted onto others’ shoulders or embraced. According to a
list provided by the Palestinian Authority’s Commission for Prisoners’ Affairs,
all of those released are women or teens, the youngest 15. Israel detained them
for what it said were offenses related to Israel’s security, from throwing
stones to more serious accusations like attempted murder.
Fleeting moment of joy
Bara’a Al-Fuqha, 22, hugged her family as she stepped off the white Red Cross
bus and into the sea of cheering Palestinians welcoming the 90 Palestinians
freed by Israel early Monday. A medical student at Al-Quds University in East
Jerusalem before her arrest, she had spent around six months in Damon Prison.
She said she was held under administrative detention — a policy of indefinite
imprisonment without formal charge or trial that Israel almost exclusively uses
against Palestinians. Israel says that the cases of Palestinians released as
part of the exchange with Hamas for Israeli hostages all relate to state
security charges. Al-Fuqha said her conditions in Israeli prison were
“terrible,” her access to food and water limited. “It was like, when we tried to
hold our heads high, the guards would do their best to hold us down,” she said.
But now, reunited with her family, al-Fuqha displayed a sense of relief and
defiance. “Thank God, I am here with my family, I’m satisfied,” she said. “But
my joy is limited, because so many among us Palestinians are being tortured and
abused. Our people in Gaza are suffering. God willing, we will work to free
them, too.”
That reflected a wider feeling in the crowd, with many saying this release
offered a small, if fleeting, moment of joy, tempered by the 15 months of death
and destruction in Gaza.
Conflict over names
Hamas’ office of prisoner affairs has issued a statement saying the delay in
Israel’s release of Palestinian prisoners was the result of a last-minute
conflict over the names on the list. Seven hours after three Israeli hostages
were released from Hamas captivity in Gaza on Sunday, Palestinian crowds
gathered outside Israel’s Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah were
still waiting for the release of 90 Palestinians.The Hamas statement said:
“During the process of checking the names of the prisoners being released from
Ofer prison, there was found to be one female prisoner missing.” Hamas said that
its officials were in communication with mediators and the Red Cross in hopes of
pressuring Israel “to adhere to the agreed-upon list of prisoners.” It said that
the issue was being resolved and it expected the buses of the released prisoners
to soon depart.The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the delay.
Israel fires at crowds awaiting prisoners' release
The Israeli military has been firing projectiles and moving journalists waiting
to cover the release of Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire that
began Sunday. That’s according to AP video, which showed smoke trailing from
objects landing nearby.
The release of the 90 prisoners will take place in the Israeli-occupied West
Bank. Israel’s military has warned Palestinians against public celebration.
Relatives of freed Gaza
hostages call for release of remaining captives
AFP/January 20, 2025
RAMAT GAN, Israel: The relatives of the three Israeli hostages released from
Gaza by Palestinian militants Hamas called on Monday for all those remaining in
the territory to be freed. Speaking at a press conference at the Sheba hospital
where the three women are being treated, they gave no details on the conditions
in which their relatives had been held for 471 days or on their health. Romi
Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were released on Sunday as part of
the first round of exchanges that also saw around 90 Palestinian prisoners freed
from Israeli jails.
Meirav Leshem Gonen, the mother of Romi Gonen, said: “We got our Romi back, but
all families deserve the same outcome, both the living and the dead. Our hearts
go out to the other families.”“We are a people who desire peace but are ready
for war when needed,” she added. Yamit Ashkenazi meanwhile passed on a message
from her sister Doron Steinbrecher. “Everyone needs to return, until the last
hostage comes home. Just as I was fortunate to return to my family, so must
everyone else.”Mandy Damari, the mother of British-Israeli Emily Damari, said
her daughter was “in high spirits.”She called for all the hostages to be
released and for humanitarian aid that was going into the Gaza Strip to also go
to the remaining captives. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7,
2023 attack on Israel, 91 remain in Gaza, including 34 the military has said are
dead. A further two hostages who are presumed alive have been held in Gaza since
2014 and 2015 respectively, as has the body of a soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza
war. The three are also due to be released as part of the deal. Before the press
conference, the Israeli military released new footage of the moment the three
freed hostages were reunited with their mothers at an Israeli military base. In
the footage, the three women are seen embracing their mothers tightly as they
meet for the first time after their release.
Hamas says next hostages will be released on Saturday as
scheduled
Reuters/January 20, 2025
CAIRO/TEL AVIV: Hamas said on Monday it would next release hostages held in Gaza
on Saturday, after an official with the Palestinian militant group had said they
would be released a day later than expected. Hamas is set to release the more
than 90 hostages over the coming weeks as part of a complex ceasefire deal
reached with Israel this month that could end the 15-month war in Gaza. The
militant group said in a statement that the next group of hostages would next be
released on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees who are
held by Israel.
Earlier, Nahed Al-Fakhouri, head of the Hamas prisoners’ media office, had said
the hostages would be released on Sunday. Hamas had been expected to release
four Israeli hostages on Saturday, seven days after the ceasefire came into
effect.
A senior Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, reacted to
Al-Fakhouri’s statement by telling Reuters the deadline for the hostages to be
released was Saturday. This month, Israel and Hamas agreed to a three-phase
ceasefire that could bring an end to the 15-month war in Gaza. The ceasefire
came into effect on Sunday with Hamas releasing three Israeli hostages. Israel
also released Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The ceasefire accord outlines
a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes the gradual withdrawal of
Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and release of hostages taken by Hamas in
exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Mediators on Standby for Obstacles as Gaza Ceasefire Starts
Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
Sunday's delayed start to the Gaza ceasefire and incidents on Monday in which
Israeli troops shot at Palestinians approaching them underline some of the
hiccups likely to face a deal that will play out in the shadow of mutual
mistrust and bitterness. Qatar and Egypt, which brokered the deal alongside the
US, have set up a communications hub to tackle any problems, where officials who
worked on the deal for months hope to head off new clashes between foes locked
in a years-long cycle of Gaza wars. "These kinds of deals are never easy to
maintain," said Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry.
Particularly in a war zone the situation can shift very quickly, either by
accident or through political posturing on one side or another, he said. "Any
party could consider a threat a reason to violate the parameters of the
agreement, and therefore we would end up with having to go in and to find a way
to resume the ceasefire." With just over an hour to go before the ceasefire was
due to take effect on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that
Israel would not observe the halt to fighting until Hamas handed over the names
of the three hostages to be released later in the day. Fighting continued almost
three hours past the deadline, while a Hamas official in the coordination room
set up in Cairo discussed the delay, which Hamas put down to unspecified
"technical issues" with officials. The issue was eventually dealt with and the
three hostages were released on schedule in the afternoon in exchange for 90
Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails late that night, setting off
emotional scenes as they returned to their families. "We don't expect things to
go according to plan," said one official briefed on the negotiations, adding
that issues of this kind were not expected to derail a process that diplomats
and officials have been working on for months. "It's hard to believe that after
all the work the mediators have put in and the assurances they received, both
from the US and the mediators, that this deal would derail on day one," the
official said. The multi-phase deal will see an initial six-week ceasefire,
during which 33 hostages will be gradually exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian
prisoners, people displaced from northern Gaza will be allowed to return to
their homes and Israeli troops will pull back from some positions. During the
first phase, negotiations will begin for the release of the remaining 64
hostages, consisting of men of military age and for the full withdrawal of
Israeli troops. But few expect the process to go without problems.
OBSTACLES AHEAD
With an extremely low level of trust between both sides who have fought each
other for generations, potential pitfalls run from accidental or deliberate
confrontations during the period of withdrawal to disputes over the identity and
state of hostages to be released or returned. So far, Hamas has not said how
many of the hostages are still alive. A list of the remaining 30 hostages due
for release in the first phase and whether they are alive or dead is expected to
be handed over on Saturday. The Israeli military says it is seeking to avoid
situations in which Gaza residents come too close to Israeli troops that are
pulling back. Already on Monday, troops fired on at least eight Palestinians who
approached them, medics in Gaza said. To prevent this, it will publish maps and
guidelines as the agreement progresses, making clear which areas should not be
approached as the withdrawal proceeds, an Israeli military official said. "The
areas will change as the troops gradually withdraw from the Gaza Strip," the
military official said. In Israel, the deal is viewed with deep suspicion by
some, who say it leaves Hamas in control of Gaza and others who worry that it
effectively abandons the hostages not included in the first phase. Already,
hardliner Itamar Ben-Gvir resigned as National security Minister on the morning
of the ceasefire and pulled his party from Netanyahu's coalition and others may
follow. Israeli public radio reported that Israeli officials were shocked to see
the three hostages released in the center of Gaza on Sunday getting out of a car
in the middle of a large crowd of people held back by Hamas fighters in uniform,
and will inform the mediators that they regard such scenes as unacceptable. But
mediators are counting on positive momentum as the release of hostages and
prisoners continues over the coming weeks to ease opposition. "The pictures we
have seen yesterday of the three Israeli hostages meeting with their families,
embraced by their families. These are the pictures that would change public
opinion in Israeli politics," Ansari said. "The same goes also for the
Palestinian populace, when they see 90 of their women and children coming back
to their families." "These are the kind of pictures that change public opinion.
They apply real pressure on the leadership to maintain the deal."
Wake up and Spend More on Defense, Macron Tells Europe as
Trump Takes Office
Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
French President Emmanuel Macron called on Europe Monday to “wake up” and spend
more on defense in order to reduce its reliance on the United States for its
security, in a speech to the French military as Donald Trump returns to power.
Macron referred to expected changes in Washington’s foreign policy, especially
regarding the war in Ukraine, saying it was an “opportunity for a European
strategic wake-up call,” in his New Year’s speech to the military at the Army
Digital and Cyber Support Command based in western France. “What will we do in
Europe tomorrow if our American ally withdraws its warships from the
Mediterranean? If they send their fighter jets from the Atlantic to the
Pacific?” he asked. Trump has criticized the cost of the war in Ukraine for US
taxpayers through major military aid packages and has made it clear that he
wants to shift more of the fiscal burden onto Europe. He has vowed to bring the
conflict to a swift end, voicing hope that peace could be negotiated in six
months. France and Europe need to adapt to evolving threats and changing
interests, Macron said. “Who would have thought a year ago that Greenland would
be at the center of political and strategic debates? That’s the way it is.”He
said providing lasting support to Ukraine is key so that Kyiv is in a strong
position when engaging in any future peace negotiations. Ukraine must receive
“guarantees” against any return of the war on its territory when hostilities
cease and Europe must take “play its full role” in the process, he said. Last
week, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed with Macron
about the possibility of Western troops deploying in Ukraine to safeguard any
peace deal ending the nearly three-year war with Russia. “As one of these
guarantees, we discussed the French initiative to deploy military contingents in
Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. Potentially sending European troops as peacekeepers to
Ukraine is fraught with risk. Such a move may not deter Russia from attacking
Ukraine again in the future, which is the fear of Ukrainian officials, and could
drag European countries into a direct confrontation with Moscow. That, in turn,
could pull NATO — including the United States — into a conflict.
Gaza Faces Multi-billion-dollar Reconstruction Challenge
Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
Billions of dollars will be needed to rebuild Gaza after the war between Israel
and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, according to assessments from the
United Nations, Reuters reported. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took
effect on Sunday, suspending a 15-month-old war that has devastated the Gaza
Strip and inflamed the Middle East. Here is a breakdown of the destruction in
Gaza from the conflict prompted by the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel by
militants from Hamas, which at the time ruled the Palestinian enclave.
HOW MANY CASUALTIES ARE THERE? The Hamas attack on Israel killed 1,200 people,
according to Israeli tallies. Israel's retaliation has killed more than 46,000
people, according to Gaza's health ministry.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO CLEAR THE RUBBLE? A UN damage assessment released this
month showed that clearing over 50 million tons of rubble left in the aftermath
of Israel's bombardment could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2 billion. The
debris is believed to be contaminated with asbestos, with some refugee camps
struck during the war known to have been built with the material. The rubble
also likely holds human remains. The Palestinian Ministry of Health estimates
that 10,000 bodies are missing under the debris. A United Nations Development
Program official said on Sunday that development in Gaza has been set back by 69
years as a result of the conflict.
HOW MANY BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED?
Rebuilding Gaza's shattered homes will take at least until 2040, but could drag
on for many decades, according to a UN report released last year. Two-thirds of
Gaza's pre-war structures - over 170,000 buildings - have been damaged or
flattened, according to U. satellite data (UNOSAT) in December. That amounts to
around 69% of the total structures in the Gaza Strip. Within the count are a
total of 245,123 housing units, according to an estimate from UNOSAT. Currently,
over 1.8 million people are in need of emergency shelter in Gaza, the UN
humanitarian office said.
WHAT IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE? The estimated damage to infrastructure
totaled $18.5 billion as of end-January 2024, affecting residential buildings,
commerce, industry, and essential services such as education, health, and
energy, a UN-World Bank report said. It has not provided a more recent estimate
for that figure. An update by the UN humanitarian office this month showed that
less than a quarter of the pre-war water supplies were available, while at least
68% of the road network has been damaged.
HOW WILL GAZA FEED ITSELF? More than half of Gaza's agricultural land, crucial
for feeding the war-ravaged territory's hungry population, has been degraded by
conflict, satellite images analyzed by the United Nations show.
The data reveals a rise in the destruction of orchards, field crops and
vegetables in the Palestinian enclave, where hunger is widespread after 15
months of Israeli bombardment. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said
last year that 15,000 cattle, or over 95%, of the total had been slaughtered or
died since the conflict began and nearly half the sheep.
WHAT ABOUT SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS?
Palestinian data shows that the conflict has led to the destruction of over 200
government facilities, 136 schools and universities, 823 mosques and three
churches. Many hospitals have been damaged during the conflict, with only 17 out
of 36 units partially functional as of January, the UN humanitarian office's
report showed. Amnesty International's Crisis Evidence Lab has highlighted the
extent of destruction along Gaza's eastern boundary. As of May 2024, over 90% of
the buildings in this area, including more than 3,500 structures, were either
destroyed or severely damaged.
Yemen's Houthis signal they'll now limit their attacks in the Red Sea corridor
to Israeli ships
Jon Gambrell/January 20, 2025
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen's Houthi rebels signaled Monday they
now will limit their attacks in the Red Sea corridor to only Israeli-affiliated
ships after a ceasefire began in the Gaza Strip, but warned wider assaults could
resume if needed. The Houthis' announcement, made in an email sent to shippers
and others on Sunday, likely won't be enough to encourage global firms to
reenter the route that's crucial for cargo and energy shipments moving between
Asia and Europe. Their attacks have halved traffic through the region, cutting
deeply into revenues for Egypt, which runs the Suez Canal linking the Red Sea to
the Mediterranean. “The ceasefire is considered fragile,” said Jakob P. Larsen,
the head of maritime security for BIMCO, the largest international association
representing shipowners. “It is assessed that even minor deviations from the
ceasefire agreements could lead to hostilities, which would subsequently prompt
the Houthis to again direct threats against a broader range of international
shipping.” That was underscored by a speech aired Monday from the Houthis'
enigmatic supreme leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. We are “maintaining constant
readiness to intervene immediately should the Israeli enemy resume any
escalation, commit acts of genocide, impose a siege on Gaza or deny food and
medicine to the people of Gaza,” al-Houthi said. "We are ready to return to
escalation again alongside our brothers, the fighters in Palestine.” The Houthis
separately planned a military statement on Monday, likely about the decision,
though it still hadn't been issued hours later. The Houthis made the initial
announcement through their Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center, saying
it was “stopping sanctions” on the other vessels it has previously targeted
since November 2023. For Israeli ships, those “sanctions ... will be stopped
upon the full implementation of all phases" of the ceasefire, it added.
However, the center left open resuming attacks against both the United States
and the United Kingdom, which have launched airstrikes targeting the rebels over
their seaborne assaults. “In the event of any aggression ... the sanctions will
be reinstated against the aggressor state,” the center said. "You will be
promptly informed of such measures should they be implemented."The Houthis have
targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the
Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip started in October 2023, after Hamas’
surprise attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken
hostage. Israel's military offensive in Gaza has killed over 46,000
Palestinians, according to local health officials who do not distinguish between
civilians and combatants but say women and children make up more than half the
fatalities. The Iranian-backed Houthis have seized one vessel and sunk two in a
campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have
either been intercepted by separate U.S.- and European-led coalitions in the Red
Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have also included Western military
vessels. The rebels had maintained that they target ships linked to Israel, the
U.S. or the U.K. to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
However, many of the ships attacked had little or no connection to the conflict,
including some bound for Iran. The tempo of Houthi attacks has slowed in recent
weeks, particularly involving ships at sea. That may be due in part to the U.S.
airstrike campaign. The U.S. and its partners alone have struck the Houthis over
260 times, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
However, the rebels had continued to launch drones and missiles targeting
Israel, which has warned it will continue to strike Houthi leadership.
Another wild card is President Donald Trump after he is inaugurated Monday. He
may reapply a foreign terrorist organization designation on the Houthis that
President Joe Biden revoked, which could spark attacks again.
“Uncertainty is further exacerbated by today’s inauguration of Trump,” Larsen
said. “It remains unclear how the Trump administration will act in the conflict
with the Houthis and whether potential punitive actions against them will be
considered.”A day after the ceasefire began in Gaza, the displaced are returning
to Rafah. The border town is a shell of its former self, with many of the
buildings in ruins and remains of victims still beneath the rubble. Rather than
bodies, white bags are filled with clothes, bones and bits of hair — whatever
families can find to help with identification. Sometimes the word "unknown" is
written across the bag in blue marker. Those souls will be buried without a name
or loved ones to claim them. Zaki Shaqafa was searching through the remains
recovered from under the rubble Monday, looking for his nephew, Abdul Salam Al-Mughair.
He recognized a shoe — grey with navy blue triangles on the sides — as he pulled
up a photo of his 26-year-old nephew on his phone. Shaqafa pointed to the design
and confirmed it belonged to his nephew. "We lost him about five months ago," he
told CBC freelance videographer Mohamed El Saife. "And this is what confirmed
that this martyr is a part of our family."
Nearby, Ibrahim Solayeh, an imam at the mosque, implored civilians to come to
the European Hospital to identify bodies and help bury them. "These bodies have
been in the streets and under the rubble for a long time," he told El Saife.
"[They] reached the point of bones and decomposition."
The ceasefire, which took effect Sunday after more than 15 months of relentless
Israeli bombardment in Gaza, began with the release of the first three hostages
held by Hamas and 90 Palestinians freed from Israeli jails.
Estimated 10,000 bodies under rubble
Solayeh said he received 50 bodies recovered on Monday, half of which have been
identified.
Many still remain under the rubble across the Gaza Strip.
More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in the 15-month war, according to
the region's Ministry of Health. Due to the chaos of war, verifying the exact
number of casualties has been challenging and subject to scrutiny. A
peer-reviewed study published in The Lancet on Jan. 9 suggests that the official
figures may be significantly underestimated. On June 30, 2024, the Gaza Health
Ministry reported 37,877 deaths; the study estimated the number was likely
around 64,200 by that date. The Palestinian Civil Defence said it is searching
for an estimated 10,000 bodies believed to be remaining under the rubble.
Haitham Al-Hams, a rescue worker with the Palestinian Civil Defence, said the
agency received more than 100 calls on Monday about decomposing bodies being
uncovered under the rubble.
"This is a daily mission for the civil defence," Al-Hams told CBC News on
Monday.
Level of destruction a 'big shock'
At least 2,840 bodies were decomposed with no traces left of them, Mahmoud
Basal, Palestinian Civil Defence spokesperson said on Monday. Mohamed Gomaa, who
was displaced and lost his brother and nephew in the war, said the level of
destruction in Gaza was a "big shock."
"The amount [of people] feeling shocked is countless because of what happened to
their homes — it's destruction, total destruction," Gomaa said. "It's not like
an earthquake or a flood, no, no. What happened is a war of extermination."
Hopeful Palestinians are looking to rebuild the coastal enclave, which was
demolished by the Israeli military following Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on
Israel. That assault killed 1,200 people with around 250 hostages taken into
Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Clearing rubble could take 21 years: report
Reports estimate it will take billions of dollars to rebuild Gaza after the
level of destruction caused by Israeli bombing. A UN damage assessment released
this month showed that clearing over 50 million tonnes of rubble left in the
aftermath of Israel's bombardment could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2
billion US. Rebuilding Gaza's shattered homes, meanwhile, could take at least
until 2040, but could drag on for many decades, according to a UN report from
last year.The debris is also believed to be contaminated with asbestos, with
some refugee camps struck during the war known to have been built with the
material.
A UN Development Programme official said on Sunday that development in Gaza has
been set back by 69 years as a result of the conflict. While the ceasefire
appeared to largely hold Monday, medics said eight people were hit by Israeli
fire in Rafah in southern Gaza. The Israeli military said it fired "warning
shots against suspects who approached troops deployed," according to the
ceasefire agreement.
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on January 19-20-21/2025
A Deal That Keeps Hamas in Power Is Meaningless
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/January 20, 2025
The ceasefire-hostage deal does not require Hamas to disarm or cede control over
the Gaza Strip.... The terrorist group seems to be convinced that the deal will
enable it to keep control of the Gaza Strip and prepare for more massacres of
Jews.
Shortly after the ceasefire-hostage deal was announced on January 15, Hamas
leader Khalil al-Hayya made it clear that his group intends to pursue its Jihad
against Israel.
The new US administration, to avoid more violence and bloodshed, must insist
that Hamas be removed from power.
This can only be accomplished by applying pressure and sanctions on Hamas's
Qatari and Iranian sponsors.
The ceasefire-hostage deal does not require Hamas to disarm or cede control over
the Gaza Strip. The terrorist group seems to be convinced that the deal will
enable it to keep control of the Gaza Strip and prepare for more massacres of
Jews.
Those who think that the Iran-backed Palestinian terrorist group Hamas will
abandon its Jihad (holy war) to murder more Jews and destroy Israel in the
aftermath of the recent ceasefire-hostage agreement are mistaken.
Although the agreement may put an end to the current conflict between Israel and
Hamas, it does not, in any way, reflect a shift in the radical and dangerous
ideology of the Islamist group, as outlined in its 1988 Covenant. The document
quotes Hassan al-Banna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood organization (of
which Hamas is an offshoot), as saying: "Israel will arise and continue to exist
until Islam abolishes it, as it abolished what went before."
The main points of the Hamas Covenant state:
The Palestinian issue is a religious-political Muslim problem, and the conflict
with Israel is between Muslims and the Jewish "infidels."
All Palestine is Muslim land and no one has the right to give it up.
An uncompromising Jihad must be waged against Israel, and any agreement
recognizing its right to exist must be totally opposed.
The ceasefire-hostage deal does not require Hamas to disarm or cede control over
the Gaza Strip. As far as Hamas is concerned, this is just another deal similar
to ceasefire agreements reached with Israel after previous rounds of fighting
over the past 20 years. The terrorist group seems to be convinced that the deal
will enable it to keep control of the Gaza Strip and prepare for more massacres
of Jews.
Shortly after the ceasefire-hostage deal was announced on January 15, Hamas
leader Khalil al-Hayya made it clear that his group intends to pursue its Jihad
against Israel.
Referring to the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, resulting in the
murder of 1,200 Israelis and the wounding of thousands, al-Hayya said:
"The al-Aqsa Flood [the name Hamas uses to describe the October 7 atrocities]
constitutes a significant turning point in the history of the Palestinian cause
the resistance, and its repercussions won't stop until the liberation of
occupied Jerusalem."
He went on to hail the October 7 massacres as "a military and security
achievement that will remain a source of pride for the Palestinian people," and
praised Iran for supporting the Palestinian "resistance" and firing missiles at
Israel during the war.
In response to the ceasefire-hostage agreement, a Hamas statement said:
"This is an achievement for our people, our resistance, our nation, and the free
people of the world. It is a turning point in the conflict with the [Israeli]
enemy, on the path to achieving our people's goals of liberation and return."
"Liberation" refers to Hamas's declared goal of eliminating Israel and replacing
it with an Islamist state. "Return" refers to the Palestinian demand to flood
Israel with millions of "refugees" so that Jews would become a minority in their
own homeland.
In yet another sign of Hamas's intention to continue the fight against Israel,
supporters of the terrorist group took to the streets of the city of Khan Yunis
in the southern Gaza Strip to celebrate the ceasefire-hostage deal and chanted:
"We will go to Jerusalem, we will sacrifice millions of martyrs!"
Members of Hamas's military wing, Izz a-Din al-Qassam Brigades, also joined the
celebration and declared: "We are on the battlefield and we will remain on the
battlefield."
The celebrations spread to the West Bank, where Hamas supporters in Ramallah,
the de facto capital of the Palestinian Authority, chanted slogans in support of
slain Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, the masterminds of the
October 7 carnage.
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a former resident of the Gaza Strip and Senior Fellow with
the Atlantic Council, wrote on January 14:
"The reality is that the Islamist terrorism of Hamas, masquerading as
'resistance,' has achieved nothing for the Palestinian people except for
billions of dollars in wasted resources and tens of thousands of needless
deaths, with Gaza in ruins after 20 years following the [Israeli] withdrawal of
settlements [from the Gaza Strip] in 2005. Indeed, there will be a reckoning
with Hamas after the war is over, and the group must be put on metaphoric,
intellectual, and literal trials for its crimes against the Palestinian people's
aspirations and national project....
"Hamas's propaganda machine, run by Qatari-state media, Aljazeera Arabic, will
work overtime to help the terror group turn a catastrophic disaster into a
victory akin to the battles of Stalingrad and Leningrad, desperately seeking to
promote terrorism and the armed resistance narrative as one that is heroic and
valiant when it is cowardly, [and] ineffective..."
A ceasefire-hostage deal that allows Hamas to remain in power means that it is
only a matter of time before the terrorist groups attempts to launch another
October 7-style attack on Israel. The new US administration, to avoid more
violence and bloodshed, must insist that Hamas be removed from power.
This can only be accomplished by applying pressure and sanctions on Hamas's
Qatari and Iranian sponsors. Hamas must be totally defeated and eliminated, not
rewarded for committing the biggest crime against Jews since the Holocaust.
Hamas's defiant statements after the ceasefire-hostage agreement was reached,
demonstrate the terrorist group's resolve to carry on attacking Israel. The
statements also show that Hamas's leadership is willing to sacrifice more of its
people to fulfill its objective of destroying Israel. Clearly, it has not
learned any lesson from bringing disaster upon the Palestinians. Hamas leaders
do not care if tens of thousands of Palestinians are killed as part of its Jihad
against Israel. Furthermore, Hamas leaders apparently are not interested in
rebuilding the Gaza Strip and providing its residents with safety, stability and
prosperity. Rather, their primary goal, evidently, is still to murder as many
Jews as possible.
The only deal that will actually bring peace is a ceasefire where Hamas ceases
to exist.
*Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
*Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 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.
President Trump, Urgently Needed: Maganomics 'Manhattan
Project' for a Nuclear Fusion Reactor Superior to China's Tokamak
Lawrence Kadish/Gatestone Institute/January 20/2025
For President Donald Trump, prioritizing a Maganomics "Manhattan Project" to
produce nuclear fusion for clean energy -- before China beats the US to the
finish line -- is a crucial investment, well worth making. Pictured: China's
HL-2M nuclear fusion device, at a research laboratory in Chengdu, on December 4,
2020.Among the first, most urgent, orders of business for President Donald J.
Trump should be to create a Maganomics "Manhattan Project" to develop a nuclear
fusion reactor superior to China's tokamak. Communist China, which has a
head-start, has just helped place a tokamak in Thailand. This century's great
clean-energy revolution is science's newest frontier: producing inexpensive,
unlimited energy through nuclear fusion. It is done in containers, called
tokamaks, giant nuclear reactors to make and store it. Smaller reactors "barely
3 feet across" are already being developed in the US, including one in Idaho and
two in northern Nevada. Nuclear fusion consists of heating two electrons at 27
million degrees Fahrenheit, forcing them to fuse, producing clean energy similar
to the Sun's:
"When the nuclei of small atoms fuse, the resulting nucleus is slightly lighter
than the components that went into making it. The lost mass is released as
energy. By the famous equation E=mc2, a very small amount of mass becomes a
great deal of energy. When four hydrogen atoms (or two deuterium atoms) fuse to
become one helium atom, the mass loss is so tiny, the energy released is still
small. However, if you can manage to fuse a steady supply of atoms, the energy
released becomes immense."
Communist China's leader Xi Jinping has already stolen virtually all of
America's intellectual property and technology -- for which one can blame
hapless former US administrations -- and used it to build his extended military,
including cyber and space capabilities. Xi lied in assuring the US that he would
not militarize the artificial islands he was constructing, then straight away
militarized them. When the US declined to build hypersonic weapons out of
concern that other countries might then feel compelled to build them too, Xi set
about completing hypersonic missiles.
The US, if it cares to retain its position as the world's most powerful global
leader, urgently needs to catch up. We are already seeing trusting Americans,
mostly under 30, seduced into thinking it might be preferable, "cool," to live
under the grip of Communist China. Supposedly are protesting against what they
see as abuses of mind-control and censorship by the Biden administration, in
collusion with tech companies. Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, admitted to having
knowingly fed the public misinformation -- a euphemism for lies. Replacing the
US as the global superpower appears just what both Communist China's leader Xi
Jinping -- as well as up to 170 million American fans of TikTok spyware and
bolters to RedNote spyware, which is totally part of the Chinese government –
have in mind,
A Trump Maganomics Manhattan Project to develop a nuclear fusion reactor
superior to China's could be private or public -- or both. Fortunately,
entrepreneurs are already working on just that. In the US, Sam Altman is already
exploring the possibility, along with at least ten other private companies.
For Trump, prioritizing a Maganomics Manhattan Project to produce nuclear fusion
for clean energy -- before China beats the US to the finish line -- is a crucial
investment, well worth making.
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.
Trump is Back, Please Fasten Your Seatbelts
Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
This day is unlike any other. It will leave its mark on America and the world.
Neither the country nor the man at its center is ordinary. The scene is
dramatic, violent, dazzling, and impactful. As America celebrates the
inauguration of Donald Trump, the world must remain glued to its screens.
No one has the right to claim they are too busy. There is no event larger or
more consequential. Attendance is mandatory, and excuses are futile. This
includes the ordinary citizen, the emperor on Mao Zedong’s throne, the anxious
Zelensky, and the troubling czar. Attendance is required whether you are seated
in Charles de Gaulle’s office or Winston Churchill’s.
This day concerns Benjamin Netanyahu. The new master of the White House does not
compromise on his image. What was tolerable under Joe Biden is no longer
permissible. Small allies cannot toy with the empire that pumps blood into their
veins. Trump insists on managing the game by his chaotic rules. This day
concerns the Iranian Supreme Leader as well. The man who ordered the killing of
Qassem Soleimani is back in the cockpit—buckle up.
The moment is electrifying. The man is fascinating, unpredictable, and
impossible to decipher. He is capable of striking deals and flipping the table.
A man of biases and hatreds, his short phrases are bombs, his will is iron, and
his luck is golden.
Today, another mountain will be added to his towering ego. He has defeated them
all: the Republican barons who dismissed him as an outsider, his Democratic
rivals, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris. He bested Hillary Clinton and her husband,
as well as Michelle and Barack Obama. He triumphed over media moguls who
relished tearing him apart on screens and social media. He outlasted the courts
that tried him and the judges who vowed to bring the strongest man to his knees.
He overcame accusations of tax evasion, harassment, and misconduct—charges that
would have forced any other president into retirement.
Trump is a different story. He swims in a sea of accusations and emerges
unscathed. He knows how to speak to his followers, who have pledged their
allegiance and refuse to believe any accusations against him. He is skilled at
renewing the thread that binds them to him—with his slogans, his hat, his
gestures, and his dance. His raised fist, with blood streaked across his face,
is a symbol: the bullet he dodged is the one that struck his rivals.
They underestimated him. When they closed the chapter on his first term, they
thought they had consigned him to retirement, old age, and the bitterness of
wounds and memories. But the usual rules do not apply to him. His story is
unique. He crafted his own image and his own style. A man of bold moves and
deals, he appeals to an audience fearful for America’s identity, economy, and
role in the world.
Trump is not a man who enters or exits quietly. When he lost the election, he
did not accept the result. He accused his opponents of stealing the White House.
His followers believed it was a conspiracy to remove him because of his
determination to restore America’s greatness. He laid the first stone to reclaim
the “stolen” palace.
He is back. Buckle up. Do not pretend this doesn’t concern you. Do not act as
though you are distant, that your country is immune because it has weathered
previous presidents without a blink. When Americans vote, they are not merely
choosing a president—they are crowning a general for the “global village.” The
evidence is abundant. The fear of “hellfire” hastened the Gaza ceasefire
agreement. The US incubated the agreement to stop hostilities in South Lebanon,
with its implementation overseen by an American general.
The world cannot do without America, no matter how long the journey. America is
essential to understanding the future of the Middle East, Iran, Taiwan, the
Russian war in Ukraine, climate change, and much more. America is no ordinary
story. It is not just a collection of powerful fleets resembling strict, mobile
nations. It is an economy, a hub of innovation, freedom, technology,
universities, and artificial intelligence. It is a nation uniquely capable of
making mistakes and correcting them.
Its president does not wield the absolute power of Bashar al-Assad, nor does he
enjoy the aura that surrounded Saddam Hussein or the unchecked control that
Muammar Gaddafi had over his people and nation. Gaddafi mocked America as weak,
declaring “To hell with America.” Saddam believed America respected strength
regardless of style. Bashar thought he could outwit the “Great Satan” and the
“Caesar Act.” His father, Hafez, pretended to reside in Moscow’s embrace while
keeping one eye on Washington.
But where are Bashar, Saddam, and Gaddafi now? What did they do for their
countries—and to them?
America is a seasoned player. It stumbles and rises again. Fidel Castro lit its
garment on fire and nearly triggered a nuclear feast. Ho Chi Minh humiliated it,
forcing it to leave Saigon defeated. China and the Soviet Union drained it
during the Korean War.
Today, post-Castro Cuba struggles. Vietnam now courts American investors and
tourists. Korea remains divided. The North clings to poverty and missiles under
Kim Il-sung’s grandson, while the South thrives under America’s umbrella. And
the Soviet Union? It lives as a relic in history museums.
Trump’s return ensures exciting days ahead, from the challenge of Chinese TikTok
to Iran’s nuclear program, from confronting the “Chinese threat” to tackling
migration issues, from Middle East peace to peace in Ukraine—a difficult peace
at steep costs. His threats of “hell” are taken seriously.
The man will be a formidable figure. He is the master of the White House, a bold
gambler who does not accept defeat. With his election, America has thrown a
massive stone into the world’s waters. Buckle up.
The Region and Trump
Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al Awsat/January 20/2025
Donald Trump will return to the White House on Monday for a second term as
president of the United States. The Middle East is a different region from the
one he witnessed during his first time. Bashar al-Assad has now fled Syria,
Israel killed Hassan Nasrallah and forced Hezbollah to head north of the Litani
River, and so much more.
Trump will find a Gaza that has been completely destroyed. Israel’s military
machine and barbarity ran rampant in the enclave for a year and a half. He will
find a leaderless Hamas after Israel killed its military head, Yehya al-Sinwar,
and Ismail Hanieh in Tehran.
Iran will come under sharp focus under Trump, whether it comes to its nuclear
file or remaining armed proxies in the region, in Iraq and Yemen. Trump will
find an Iran without air defenses after Israel took them out during a strike
last year.
Trump will return and find few parties ready to work, invest and accomplish
anything. He will find the Gulf region, led by Saudi Arabia, ready to do that.
Syria, Lebanon and Gaza will need reconstruction and the region will need to go
through a painful process to uproot the remaining armed proxies.
Trump will return as the region is presented with a serious opportunity to
achieve real peace, which can only be possible with the establishment of a
Palestinian state. He will be confronted with the Palestinian division and
stubbornness of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who believes he
achieved a victory that does not bind him to do anything now to pursue peace.
Trump was certainly not elected to rebuild the Middle East or dedicate himself
to its issues, but post-war Gaza has imposed a new reality on the ground in the
region that cannot be ignored or taken lightly. It is an opportunity of a
lifetime.
The challenge of Iran’s nuclear file and the deadlines related to it will not
allow Trump the luxury to choose between taking a decision or not. There can be
no hesitation when it comes to a nuclear Iran.
The nuclear file also provides Netanyahu with an opportunity that he cannot pass
up, especially after the Israeli strikes left Iran in a compromised position and
after its allies were defeated in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. Netanyahu will try to
lure the United States into a confrontation with Iran.
Netanyahu has openly declared his intentions towards Iran. Trump has not, even
though he has said that his administration will once again adopt a maximum
pressure policy against Tehran. It will do so as soon as he is sworn in. This is
the most dangerous period in any US presidency as demonstrated in the past 40
years. Trump will return to the White House with the realization that he only
has this one presidential term. He will not bother himself in three years to
prepare to run for another. All he wants to do is make achievements inside the
US that will go down in the history books.
Perhaps he may not care about the Middle East. This too is dangerous. But he
will certainly attempt to portray himself as a president who changed the region,
whether it comes to Iran or the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, because Trump
always seeks to boast about his achievements.
Herein lies the opportunity - as well as the risk - to deal with Trump. There’s
no need to describe the nature of this unpredictable man. The next four years
will be equally as unpredictable, but we must work on seizing the potentially
once in a lifetime opportunities in the region and this is where wise leaders
come in.
Dispute with Iran: The Issues at Stake
Michel Touma/This is Beirut/January 20/2025
There are none so deaf as those who will not hear, and none so blind as those
who will not see. These adages resonate particularly well when reflecting on the
“puppet masters” in both Tehran and the southern suburbs of Beirut, especially
in the aftermath of significant geopolitical shifts that have reverberated
throughout the Middle East in recent months.
Since the onset of the Lebanese civil war in April 1975, the Lebanese have
become all too familiar with the recurring headlines that often grace the local
press: “A decisive week ahead,” “The next few days are crucial…”
This time, however, the week ahead — starting on Monday, January 20 — is truly
critical. With the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the progress (or
perhaps completion) of negotiations to form President Aoun’s first government,
and, perhaps most importantly, the looming expiration of the deadline for
implementing the ceasefire agreement signed with Israel on November 27, all eyes
are now focused on the upcoming developments. Additionally, the anticipated
truce in Gaza could significantly impact the broader situation.
Many deadlines are now coming up within a short period of time. Given the
shifting regional order and the volatile international climate, full of
potential surprises, several key questions arise. Has the Iranian camp, perhaps
reluctantly, finally come to terms with the fact that Lebanon — like other Arab
nations — is not its personal possession to control at will, disregarding the
well-being of the local population? And, by extension, is Hezbollah — the armed
proxy of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Lebanon and the broader Arab world
— prepared to accept that state institutions, and Lebanon itself, are not its
private domain? The answers to these questions remain uncertain…
These are undoubtedly tough questions that lead to even more profound ones. At
the “International Conference in Support of the People and Sovereignty of
Lebanon,” held in Paris on October 24, 2024, at France’s initiative, French
President Emmanuel Macron “bitterly regretted” in his speech that “Iran had
engaged Hezbollah against Israel, whereas Lebanon’s greater interest should have
been to stay out of the Gaza war.” In a separate statement made on the sidelines
of the conference, he expressed disappointment that Iran had urged Hezbollah to
reopen the southern Lebanon front, “with the aim of preserving the regime” in
Tehran.
Given this context, the Lebanese have every right to ask a series of difficult
questions to the Iranian mullahs, specifically to the leadership of the Islamic
Revolutionary Guards Corps:
Did they not realize that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is far from
being lenient, and that past experiences have shown he spares no effort in using
forceful methods during armed conflict?
Did they fail to recognize the vast technological gap separating Israel from the
Iranian camp, with the Israeli military holding absolute control of the skies,
from Beirut to Tehran?
Did they also fail to realize that, in the event of an open war, the Israeli
government is guaranteed massive and intensive military support from the United
States, as previous conflicts have clearly demonstrated?
Perhaps it is necessary to remind the mullah regime of the famous words of the
late President Anwar Sadat, who, when speaking to a Western journalist,
declared: “I am not at war with Israel, but with the United States!”
By openly criticizing the Iranian regime for using Hezbollah against Israel,
despite Lebanon’s greater interest, President Macron undoubtedly recognized the
implicit answers to these difficult questions — answers that compel us to
confront a bitter truth without hesitation or complacency: much like many Arab
leaders who have risen to power over the past 75 years of Middle Eastern
conflict, the Iranian mullah regime has no real intention of "liberating
Palestine and Jerusalem," nor of waging a total war against Israel or destroying
the Jewish state.
Its goal, rather, is to exploit the Palestinian cause — politically and through
media — as a business asset to position itself as a dominant regional power. By
claiming to be the self-proclaimed champion of the Palestinian people’s
struggle, it seeks to assert its influence within the Arab world without
translating its fiery rhetoric into meaningful or decisive actions.
For those driving the strategy of exporting the Islamic revolution, the
objective has consistently been to establish and manipulate local proxy militias
to wage limited, sporadic, and largely inconsequential battles against
Israel—often at the expense of countless Lebanese, Palestinian, and Arab lives.
Yet, meticulous effort has always been made to avoid endangering the survival of
the State of Israel. The pressing question now is whether the regime’s
strategists can acknowledge that these pragmatic rules of engagement may have
fundamentally shifted in response to the profound changes reshaping the regional
political landscape.