English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For April 01/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
Jesus Cures The Man With Unclean Spirit
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 05/01-20/They came to the other side of the lake, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him.Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.’ For he had said to him, ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He replied, ‘My name is Legion; for we are many.’ He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; and the unclean spirits begged him, ‘Send us into the swine; let us enter them.’So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned in the lake. The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it.Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. But Jesus refused, and said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.’And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 31-April 01/2025
Nawaf Salam does not deserve Saudi Arabia's warm welcome./Elias Bejjani/March 30/2025
The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic & The Power of Praying for Others/Elias Bejjani/March 30/2025
Palestinian Refugee Camps in Lebanon: Mini-States and Hotbeds for Terrorist Organizations, Islamists, and Fugitives from Justice/Elias Bejjani/March 30/2025
Devastating Morning Raids on the Southern Suburb
The Israeli strike on Dahiyeh so far:/Hanin Ghaddar/X site/April 01/2025
Link to a video interview from the "DNA" website with Dr. Charles Chartouni
Lebanese Authorities Arrest Suspects Linked to Rocket Attacks on Israel
Lebanon Caught Between the Hammer of Hezbollah and the Anvil of Israeli Strikes
Kabalan Calls for Full Mobilization in Favor of Hezbollah and Amal for Parliamentary Elections
Confronting Suicidal Radicals: Full Resolve, No Half-Measures
New Border Agreement Between Lebanon and Syria Following Jeddah Agreement?
Devastated Lebanon village marks Eid among its dead
Pope Approves Canonization of Blessed Ignatius Maloyan
What Lies Behind Nawaf Salam's Visit to Saudi Arabia?/Mario Chartouni/This is Beirut/March 31/2025
Irresponsibility Is the Name of the Game/Dr. Charles Chartouni/This is Beirut/March 31/2025
Open Letter from Claudia Hillar-Hajjar to PM, Nawaf Salam: We, the Lebanese Patriots, Demand Peace Through the Abraham Accords With Israel/Claudia Hillar-Hajjar/April 01/2025

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 31-April 01/2025
Syria President Says New Authorities Can't Satisfy Everyone
Trump’s Saudi visit planned for mid-May: Axios sources
Trump Says 'Real Pain is Yet to Come' for Houthis and Iran
Iran Will Have 'No Choice' but to Get Nuclear Weapon If Attacked
Khamenei warns of 'strong' response after new Trump 'bombing' threat
Hamas calls on ‘anyone who can bear arms’ worldwide to fight Trump’s Gaza plan
Israeli troops killed 15 Palestinian medics and buried them in a mass grave, UN says
At least 322 children reportedly killed in Gaza in 10 days: UN
Macron presses Netanyahu to 'strictly respect' Lebanon ceasefire
Israel orders evacuation of most of Gaza's southern city of Rafah
Israeli Army Dismantle Hamas Tunnel and Rocket Workshop
Top Aide to Israel's Netanyahu Arrested in 'Qatargate' Probe
Trump says 'not joking' about possible third term as president
Political Reactions to Marine Le Pen's Conviction
Ineligibility and Prison: The End of Marine Le Pen’s Presidential Dreams?/Soumia Benmerzoug/This Is Beirut/March 31/2025

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on March 31-April 01/2025
Do Not Be Fooled by the 'Anti-Hamas' Protests/Bassam Tawil/ Gatestone Institute/March 31, 2025
Hamas and Turkey: Partners in Terror/FDD/March 28, 2025/Memo
Turkey’s History of Hamas Support/By Jonathan Schanzer/FDD/March 28, 2025/Memo
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Political Calculus/By Sinan Ciddi/FDD/March 28, 2025/Memo
The Web of Hamas Operatives and Businesses in Turkey/By Melissa Sacks/FDD/March 28, 2025/Memo
Turkey’s Trail of Terror and American Foreign Policy/By Michael Rubin/FDD/March 28, 2025/Memo
The Neo-Ottoman Moment/By Amb. Alberto M. Fernandez/MEMRI Daily Brief No. 748/March 31/2025
A bad week for the Muslim Brotherhood/Ben Cohen/Jewish News Syndicate
How Saudi diplomacy can help resolve region’s crises/Hassan Al-Mustafa/Arab News/March 31, 2025
Who will step in to save the Palestinians?/Chris Doyle/Arab News/March 31, 2025
Gazans deserve a future free from fear/Hani Hazaimeh/Arab News/March 31, 2025
The imminent threat of civil war in Israel/Ramzy Baroud/March 31, 2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 31-April 01/2025
Nawaf Salam does not deserve Saudi Arabia's warm welcome.
Elias Bejjani/March 30/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141764/
In both the political and national spheres, with a loud voice and firm conviction, and based on Nawaf Salam’s history, practices, positions, and dealings, it is evident that this Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated, leftist, and spiteful figure harbors a deep-seated complex toward Rafik Hariri and Riad al-Solh. He is entirely undeserving of the warm reception he received in Saudi Arabia. As we and many others see him, he is ungrateful and unworthy of trust. Politicians like him are nothing but treacherous snakes, ruled by their deceitful and destructive instincts—no matter how many times they shed their skins. Simply put, one who lacks something cannot give it.

The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic & The Power of Praying for Others
Elias Bejjani/March 30/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/73457/
On the fifth Sunday of Lent, Catholic Maronites reflect with great reverence on the Gospel of Saint Mark (2:1-12), which recounts The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic. This powerful miracle underscores the immense value of intercession, affirming that prayers and supplications for others are faith-driven acts that Almighty God attentively hears and graciously answers.
Notably, the paralytic man in this Gospel passage did not personally seek Jesus' help, nor did he ask for healing, forgiveness, or mercy. Many theologians believe that Jesus frequently preached in Capernaum’s synagogue, the very town where this man lived, yet he remained distant—lacking faith, hope, and spiritual awareness. He did not believe that the Lord could cure him.
What makes this miracle particularly remarkable is the unwavering faith of the paralytic’s friends, relatives, or perhaps some of Jesus' disciples. They were convinced that if Jesus merely touched him, the man who had been crippled for 38 years would be healed. Their deep faith and determination compelled four of them to carry him on a mat to the house where Jesus was preaching. When they could not break through the crowd, they climbed onto the roof, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic before Jesus, pleading for his healing.
Moved by their faith, Jesus first forgave the man’s sins: "Son, your sins are forgiven." Only afterward did He heal his body, commanding: "Arise, take up your bed, and walk."
Like the scribes in the Gospel, many today question why Jesus prioritized the forgiveness of sins over physical healing. His divine wisdom reveals that sin is the true death, leading to eternal suffering in Hell. Sin cripples the soul, destroys faith and hope, erodes morals and values, and numbs the conscience, separating individuals from God. Jesus sought to restore the man’s soul before curing his body, teaching an eternal truth: "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37).
Our merciful God never turns away those who seek Him in faith and humility. He listens with boundless love and responds in His divine wisdom, time, and manner:"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up." (James 5:15)
Within this divine context of mercy and intercession, prayers for others—whether they are living or deceased, loved ones or enemies, relatives or strangers—are acts of faith and compassion. God listens and responds because He never abandons His children, provided they turn to Him with sincere repentance and trust. Numerous biblical passages demonstrate God’s acceptance of prayers offered on behalf of others:
Jesus healed the Centurion’s servant at the request of the Centurion, not the servant himself. (Matthew 8:5-13)
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in response to the pleas of his sisters, Mary and Martha. (John 11:1-44)
Praying for others—whether family, friends, strangers, or even nations—reflects faith, love, and hope. Almighty God, as a loving and merciful Father, hears these prayers and answers them according to His divine wisdom, which often transcends human understanding:
"Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22)
God is always waiting for us, His children, to seek His mercy—whether for ourselves or for others. He never leaves us alone. Moreover, it is our duty of faith to extend a helping hand to those who cannot pray for themselves—the lost, the suffering, the unconscious, and the paralyzed. This spirit of intercession is why we also pray to the Virgin Mary and the Saints—not as objects of worship, but as intercessors who bring our pleas before the Lord.
O Lord, grant us the grace of faith, hope, wisdom, and patience.Help us to be loving, humble, and compassionate.Guide us on the path of righteousness.May we stand with the just on the Day of Judgment.God sees and hears us always—let us live in reverence to Him in all we think, say, and do.

Palestinian Refugee Camps in Lebanon: Mini-States and Hotbeds for Terrorist Organizations, Islamists, and Fugitives from Justice
Elias Bejjani/March 30/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141716/
Refugee Camps or Armed Strongholds?
No country in the world—especially within Arab and Islamic nations—permits refugee camps to transform into armed mini-states beyond the authority of the state. However, in Lebanon, the 13 refugee Palestinian camps have been a glaring exception since the 1970s. These camps have become lawless zones, controlled by armed groups that operate beyond state control. They serve as hotbeds for terrorism, extremism, fugitives from justice, smuggling networks, and illicit drug trafficking.
A Historical Attempt to Occupy Lebanon
Since the eruption of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975, armed Palestinian factions allied with leftist and Arab nationalist forces attempted to impose their control over Lebanon, seeking to replace the Lebanese state with a Palestinian entity. These groups waged brutal wars against state institutions, security forces, and particularly Christian areas, turning Lebanon into a regional battlefield. Despite the official end of the war, the Taif Agreement, and the forced disbanding of Christian, Druze, and Sunni militias, Palestinian camps remained militarized strongholds. Similarly, terrorist factions such as Hezbollah, Amal Movement,, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, the Ba'ath Party, and radical Islamist organizations never surrendered their arms. This was due to the influence of the Syrian Assad regime, which occupied Lebanon until 2005. After Assad's withdrawal, Hezbollah—an Iranian armed terrorist proxy—took over, ensuring that Palestinian camps remained armed and outside state authority, perpetuating the same destabilizing agenda. What were supposed to be humanitarian refugee settlements instead became closed military zones.
Palestinian Camps: Epicenters of Terrorism and Crime
The Palestinian camps—most notably Ain al-Hilweh in Sidon and Rashidieh in Tyre—have become safe havens for terrorist groups such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, ISIS, and Al-Nusra Front. These factions stockpile weapons inside the camps, turning them into direct threats to Lebanese security and regional stability.
The 13 Palestinian Camps and the Armed Organizations that controls them
Lebanon’s Palestinian camps are distributed across various regions:
Sidon: Ain al-Hilweh, Mieh Mieh
Tyre: Rashidieh, Burj al-Shamali, Al-Bass
North Lebanon: Nahr al-Bared, Beddawi
Beirut: Burj al-Barajneh, Shatila, Mar Elias
Metn: Dbayeh
Baalbek: Al-Jalil, Wavel
Several armed organizations operate within these camps, including:
Hamas
Islamic Jihad Movement
Abdullah Azzam Brigades
ISIS
Al-Nusra Front
Jamaat Ansar Allah
Fatah Movement (armed factions)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command
Fatah al-Islam (eliminated after the Battle of Nahr al-Bared but left a dangerous security legacy)
The Battle of Nahr al-Bared: A Case Study in Armed Anarchy
In 2007, a fierce battle erupted between the Lebanese army and the terrorist group Fatah al-Islam, which had entrenched itself inside the Nahr al-Bared camp. Hundreds of Lebanese soldiers were martyred, and numerous civilians lost their lives. The Syrian regime, which was still exerting control over Lebanon, provided political cover, weapons, and funding to the militants, obstructing state efforts to restore sovereignty.
The Taif Agreement and the Failure to Disarm the Camps
The Taif Agreement, which ended the Lebanese Civil War, stipulated the disarmament of all militias and the extension of state control over all Lebanese territory. However, under Syrian occupation, this was selectively enforced—only Christian and Druze militias were disarmed, while Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, the Ba'ath Party, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, and Islamist factions were allowed to keep their weapons. Palestinian camps also remained outside state control, despite national consensus on the need to disarm them.
The Lebanese National Dialogue: A Useless Exercise
In 2006, the Lebanese National Dialogue, chaired by Nabih Berri and attended by Hassan Nasrallah and other political leaders, agreed on the necessity of disarming the camps. However, Hezbollah deliberately obstructed any implementation, as it benefits from the continued existence of these armed enclaves, which serve as rear bases for its fundamentalist allies.
UN Resolutions Ignored
United Nations Resolutions 1559, 1701, and 1680, as well as the Lebanese Armistice Agreement, mandate the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon. However, Hezbollah’s dominance, along with continued chaos in the camps, has prevented any enforcement. As a result, these camps remain breeding grounds for extremism and organized crime, endangering Lebanon and its people.
Palestinian Authority’s Calls for Disarmament Ignored
For years, the Palestinian Authority has urged Lebanon to disarm the camps and reassert full state control. However, Lebanon—whose political and military decisions are controlled by Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy—has failed to act. Iran, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime have exploited these camps for decades to serve their expansionist and terrorist agendas, at the expense of Lebanon’s security and sovereignty.
The Only Path Forward: Restoring Lebanese Sovereignty
Lebanon cannot achieve stability and sovereignty unless it decisively disarms Palestinian camps—just as Christian and Druze militias were forcibly disarmed after the war. The continued existence of these lawless enclaves ensures that Lebanon remains a hostage to armed chaos, foreign interference, and perpetual instability. The Lebanese people must demand an end to this dangerous anomaly. The state must reclaim its authority and enforce a monopoly on arms to build a sovereign, independent nation capable of protecting its citizens and ensuring lasting peace.

Devastating Morning Raids on the Southern Suburb
LCCC Website/April 1, 2025
This morning (Tuesday), the Israeli Air Force launched a series of raids targeting a building in the southern suburb of Beirut. Israeli statements said the target was a Hezbollah member involved with Hamas  in potential attacks at northern Israel. Initial Lebanese estimates indicated that three people were killed and seven wounded, two of whom were in critical condition. Israel has not yet identified the targeted individual.

The Israeli strike on Dahiyeh so far:
Hanin Ghaddar/X site/April 01/2025
The Israeli strike on Dahiyeh so far:
- Location: Hay Madi.
- IDF: the strike targeted a Hezbollah member - TBD.
- first assassination in Dahiyeh since ceasefire.
- second strike on Dahiyeh since ceasefire.
- happened a couple days after the second round of rockets fired from Lebanon to Israel.
- resumption of Israeli strikes on Dahiyeh could continue if Lebanon doesn’t step up the implementation of ceasefire agreement.

Link to a video interview from the "DNA" website with Dr. Charles Chartouni
March 31/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141788/
Link to a video interview from the "DNA" website with Dr. Charles Chartouni: Hezbollah and Iran behind it want Israel to return to war to justify the lies and heresy of their failed resistance. They do not care about the fate of the South or what befalls its people, which Israel may turn into a permanent buffer zone devoid of residents.
**It appears that Nawaf Salam has reached an internal agreement and settlement with Nabih Berri—backed by Hezbollah and Iran—that completely contradicts the terms of the ceasefire agreement. This war is inevitable, and Wafiq Safa is nothing more than a war contractor.
Key Takeaways from Charles Chartouni’s Interview with the DNA Website
(Transcribed and written by Elias Bejjani, with complete freedom)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141788/
Nawaf Salam has entered into an internal agreement and settlement with Nabih Berri, with Hezbollah and Iran standing behind him, contradicting the ceasefire terms.
Salam is powerless, and his statements are filled with contradictions. On one hand, he aligns with Tamara Al-Zein and Tarek Mitri in their appeasement of Hezbollah’s weapons—positions that oppose the ceasefire agreement. On the other hand, he contradicts the Foreign Minister’s call for implementing the agreement and setting a timetable for disarmament.
Figures like Nawaf Salam, shaped by outdated ideological backgrounds, belong to the past. They are detached from reality and oppose concrete plans for stability and lasting peace. This exposes the depth of his failure.
If the Lebanese government cannot implement the ceasefire agreement and dismantle Hezbollah’s military presence—and if Hezbollah refuses to comply, as expected—then Israel will take matters into its own hands. War is inevitable.
Hezbollah perpetuates crises, and its weapons are incapable of confronting Israel. However, it insists on keeping them to topple the Lebanese government and manipulate the Syrian border. This aligns with Iran’s clear and aggressive agenda, well known to those who follow Tehran’s war-driven and terrorist policies.
The crucial question remains: Is the Lebanese government able—and willing—to abide by the ceasefire agreement? The reality suggests it is not, and herein lies the disaster. This is why war is inevitable, bringing unprecedented destruction.
Hezbollah and Iran behind it seek to push Israel into war to justify the deception and myths of their failed resistance. They do not care about the South or its people’s suffering. If necessary, Israel may transform the area into a permanent, uninhabited buffer zone.
Lebanon’s ruling class and political elites must abandon the absurd pretense of a "defensive strategy" under any excuse—national or otherwise. This fraudulent narrative has persisted for 40 years, yielding only defeat, destruction, state collapse, poverty, oppression, and mass displacement.
Based on concrete assessments, the U.S., the West, and regional players are working relentlessly to secure lasting peace—without compromise. The era of postponed wars is over, but Iran and its terrorist proxies, particularly Hezbollah, refuse to accept this reality.
Wafiq Safa, the war contractor, is the primary force behind preserving Hezbollah’s weapons. He is orchestrating internal coups and destabilizing Lebanon’s border with Syria.

Lebanese Authorities Arrest Suspects Linked to Rocket Attacks on Israel
This is Beirut/March 31/2025
Three suspects—two Lebanese nationals and one Syrian—have been arrested in connection with the rocket launches toward Israel on March 22 and 28, according to information reported by LBCI on Monday. Authorities are conducting investigations and scientific analyses, including fingerprint and DNA testing, to confirm suspicions and determine their actual involvement in the case. The suspicions stem primarily from the individuals' geographic presence at the rocket launch site, particularly the Syrian suspect, who was found at the location at 3 a.m., despite residing far from the area. However, no definitive accusations will be made until the investigations are complete and the scientific analyses are validated.​ On Sunday evening, the General Security Directorate's public relations office announced that it had intensified its intelligence operations to identify those involved in the rocket launches. "In the context of monitoring the security situation and maintaining stability, particularly in light of recent events in southern Lebanon, which included the launching of rockets of unknown origin on March 22 and 28, the General Security Directorate has intensified its intelligence operations to discover those involved in these acts," the office stated. "Under the supervision of the competent judicial authorities, the General Directorate of General Security has arrested a number of suspects, and the relevant authorities have begun investigations to determine responsibility and take appropriate legal measures," it added.​
On Saturday, General Rodolphe Haykal, commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Army, announced the arrest of several individuals suspected of being involved in the recent rocket launches. These attacks prompted Israel to retaliate by striking Beirut's southern suburb on Friday. During a visit to the South Litani Sector Command at the Benoît Barakat barracks in Tyre, General Haykal emphasized that such actions "serve the enemy" and assured that the army is continuing its investigations to identify those responsible, while reiterating the armed forces' commitment to protecting Lebanon and its citizens.​
The Lebanese Army also reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the ceasefire and implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701. It emphasized that it will not tolerate any attempts to violate this truce, continuing its patrols and surveillance operations discreetly.

Lebanon Caught Between the Hammer of Hezbollah and the Anvil of Israeli Strikes
Bassam Abou Zeid/his is Beirut/March 31/2025
Morgan Ortagus, Deputy US Special Envoy for the Middle East, is preparing to visit Lebanon, potentially right after Eid al-Fitr. She has laid the groundwork for this visit through a series of interviews with Arab and Lebanese media, where she emphasized a central message: Hezbollah must be disarmed. This issue is expected to be central to her discussions with Lebanese officials, particularly President Joseph Aoun, whose recent remarks in France about Hezbollah’s weapons have drawn significant attention. President Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s national security strategy, emphasizing that it includes a defense strategy which, he stressed, requires internal consensus. Official Lebanese sources have interpreted Ortagus’s comments in her interviews as setting tough conditions on disarmament and negotiations. This came especially after she told Lebanese officials who contacted her following Friday’s Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon and the southern suburb of Beirut that Israel had every right to respond to the rocket fire, and that Hezbollah bore full responsibility. Lebanese officials, however, expressed concern over Ortagus’s hardline conditions, arguing that Israel has not reciprocated Lebanon’s de-escalation efforts. They highlight that Lebanon neither occupies Israeli land nor holds Israeli captives, yet faces persistent negotiation hurdles. These talks, framed diplomatically, appear to steer toward a political resolution that could normalize relations.
Caught between Israeli strikes and Hezbollah’s influence, Lebanon struggles to implement the ceasefire with Israel and UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Israel accuses Beirut of failing to curb the pro-Iranian group, and the latter criticizes the state for not taking stronger action against Israel. In light of this complex situation, Western diplomatic sources have argued that the best course of action for Hezbollah would be to genuinely adopt a neutral stance, surrender its weapons to the Lebanese state, dismantle its military organization, and relinquish the projects that have entangled it to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
These sources rightly pointed out that the Lebanese state, currently criticized by Hezbollah, played no role in initiating hostilities or negotiating the ceasefire, which was handled directly by Speaker Nabih Berri with US and Israeli counterparts. Hezbollah fully endorsed the agreement, including its disarmament clause, and any contrary actions would constitute a violation of the agreement. The sources reveal that Hezbollah pushed for an immediate ceasefire due to devastating losses, only to later attempt bypassing it—a tactic that has failed, prompting continued Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets.
In this context, Hezbollah has had no choice but to persist in its attacks on the Lebanese state, blaming it for the ongoing Israeli strikes. Western diplomatic sources have not ruled out the possibility that Hezbollah members were behind the Friday rocket fire on Israel. As a result, they are closely monitoring the investigation to determine whether their concerns prove to be correct. Western diplomats question what more the Lebanese state can do beyond diplomacy, given its military limitations against Israel. They challenge Hezbollah: What does it expect from the state? And if the state is unable to retaliate, what is Hezbollah prepared to do? Is it willing to reignite hostilities, especially with supply routes from Syria cut off and airspace over Beirut airport restricted? They have cautioned against repeated statements suggesting Hezbollah's intention to take to the streets, stir tensions among the population, and pressure the government. They questioned whether inciting internal unrest would deter Israel from continuing its military actions or facilitate the inflow of reconstruction funds into Lebanon.
The sources warned that such actions would further undermine Lebanon’s stability, igniting internal divisions and clashes. This could also signal the definitive end of any remaining Arab and international engagement with Lebanon.

Kabalan Calls for Full Mobilization in Favor of Hezbollah and Amal for Parliamentary Elections
This is Beirut/March 31/2025
In his sermon on Monday, marking Eid al-Fitr celebrations, Jaafarite Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Kabalan cautioned against the political and strategic stakes of the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for May 2026. He emphasized that Lebanon’s political and strategic survival depends on full mobilization in favor of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement. "Electing these forces with discipline and cohesion is a national, moral, and even legal duty," he insisted. Stressing the importance of this electoral deadline, he pointed out that it is not merely a competition between individuals but "a crucial battle for the country’s future."He urged voters to recognize the significance of the upcoming elections and to make a decisive choice for Lebanon’s future. "Do not disappoint your country," he urged, underlining the need for massive mobilization to preserve national sovereignty and stability. Furthermore, Sheikh Kabalan described the elections as a battle between parliamentary blocs, highlighting the exceptional nature of the moment. In this context, he warned against any attempts to weaken the electoral momentum. He also denounced foreign influences that, according to him, "seek to manipulate the election and weaken the forces of resistance."
Hezbollah’s Weapons: A Red Line
Addressing the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, the mufti warned that challenging them would be a mistake with incalculable consequences. "The issue of resistance weapons goes beyond Lebanon itself," he stated, adding that any attempt at disarmament would plunge the country into an even more perilous situation. He also condemned international pressures and sanctions imposed on Lebanon, calling them a "disguised war" aimed at strangling the population and weakening Hezbollah. Kabalan Blames International Community for Lebanon’s Crisis
In his solemn speech, Sheikh Kabalan criticized foreign interference and the role of Western powers in Lebanon’s ongoing crisis. He accused those who, in his view, are contributing to Lebanon’s political and economic suffocation by collaborating with external actors. "We want a state that protects its people, not one that colludes with foreign powers to strangle them," he declared, calling for genuine Lebanese sovereignty. He stressed the need for a strong state capable of defending its people’s interests and resisting international pressures, asserting that Hezbollah "will not yield to sanctions or attempts at marginalization."Finally, the Jaafarite Mufti addressed all political forces and the Lebanese population, warning against any attempts to create division and calling for solidarity among the country’s different sects.

Confronting Suicidal Radicals: Full Resolve, No Half-Measures
Michel Touma/March 31/2025
When a country is gripped by a deep existential crisis and confronted with an armed conflict sparked by external aggression, polarized positions often become unavoidable. This is especially true – and bears repeating – when it comes to the actions of Iran’s proxies and their regional backer, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Once again, it is essential to keep emphasizing that Lebanon, along with the broader region, is facing a regressive societal project – driven by a faction rooted in a destructive conception of space and time, one that shows little regard for the individual or for “the human being as an absolute value,” as the late Melkite bishop of Beirut and founder of the Social Movement, Grégoire Haddad, often stressed. To provide a more concrete illustration of the current context, one need look no further than the remarks made – on various occasions – by figures who are now, or were until recently, central to the actions of the Iranian axis. Let us give credit where credit is due… Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem – who is occasionally capable of clarity – delivered yet another rhetorical display a few days ago. Though clearly intended for internal consumption (on the occasion of “Jerusalem Day,” established by Khomeini), his words reflect the mindset of a faction increasingly disconnected from the realities of the world.
“We are not weak in standing up against the projects of the United States and Israel (!),” he stated confidently, before adding, “The resistance is here and will remain (…), and if Israeli aggression continues, we will resort to other options.”
The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, Mohammad Raad, was even more explicit on this matter, openly criticizing – without any subtlety – the position of the president and the government regarding the monopoly on arms held by legitimate forces and the authority over the decision of war and peace, which should be exclusively in the hands of the central state. The MP went even further in his trademark arrogance, insisting that those who defend this sovereign position should not be fooled or blinded by power, which he described as “temporary,” and added, laying it bare, that “the state alone is not capable of defending the country and its people.”
In just a few short sentences, Raad outright dismissed both President Joseph Aoun’s inauguration speech, the ministerial declaration, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s latest interview, the terms of the ceasefire agreement concluded with Israel on November 27, and UN Security Council Resolutions 1701, 1559 and 1680. This unwavering commitment to militarism is clearly in line with a broader, extremist and self-destructive trend, likely rooted in Tehran, and most certainly within the ranks of the IRGC. Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (who held office from 2013 to 2021) recently denounced what he referred to as “radicals” (Iranians), stating in an interview published a few days ago in the daily Iran that they had engaged in several terrorist operations in 2015 to undermine the nuclear deal. Rouhani further emphasized that these “radicals” constantly insisted that the only viable path against the West was through fight and confrontation. His comments echo those made by former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who also publicly criticized the actions of these Iranian “extremists,” accusing them of secretly working to thwart efforts to secure the nuclear agreement.
The existence of a broad transnational radical movement advocating for “war for the sake of war,” with no clear or achievable goal, is far from a mere illusion. These radicals, in decline but still presenting a genuine threat, have a clear counterpart in Lebanon, where they too disregard the legitimate aspirations of the vast majority of Lebanese. These aspirations stem from a simple yearning to live a “normal” life after decades of enduring endless, fruitless wars with no clear end in sight, while the true balance of power is ignored..
In light of the grim, deadly and self-destructive course forcefully imposed by the warmongers of the Iranian camp, certain members of the government must now fully align with the sovereigntist stance of the new regime, without hesitation, compromise or half-measures…

New Border Agreement Between Lebanon and Syria Following Jeddah Agreement?
Natasha Metni Torbey/This is Beirut/March 31/2025
The issue of borders between Lebanon and Syria remains one of the most complex aspects of relations between the two countries. Today, this topic has resurfaced, particularly following Saudi Arabia’s intervention, as the Kingdom increasingly asserts itself as a key mediator in the region. In fact, a significant step was taken in this regard last Friday. Lebanon and Syria, which were gathered in Jeddah under the auspices of the Saudi Kingdom, signed a preliminary agreement on the delimitation of their shared border. This commitment aims to outline a boundary that has long been marked by ambiguity and tension, especially since Lebanon’s independence in 1943. No official and comprehensive demarcation has ever been established, leaving room for gray areas, particularly in the Beqaa region, Akkar, and some mountainous zones. These ambiguities have led to land disputes, uncontrolled cross-border smuggling and, on several occasions, security tensions. Although the issue has been raised multiple times over the past decades, Lebanon’s internal conflicts, Syria’s dominance over Lebanon until 2005, and geopolitical upheavals in the region have continuously delayed its resolution.
Saudi Arabia: A Vector for Peace?
The announcement of this agreement comes at a time when relations between Damascus and several regional actors, including Gulf states and Iran, are being redefined. “We are witnessing a shift in dynamics,” a reliable source noted. “Saudi Arabia, the host of the negotiations, has played a central role in resolving several Middle Eastern issues in recent months. It is also working to curb Iranian interference and facilitate rapprochement between Lebanon and Syria in an effort to stabilize the region,” the source continued, highlighting that the first official visit of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun after his election was to Saudi Arabia. The same was true for Ahmad al-Sharaa, who succeeded Bashar al-Assad following the fall of his regime on December 8, 2024. “This confirms Riyadh’s prominent role as it embarks on a diplomatic mission to establish peace in the region,” the source added.
The Agreement’s Framework and Implications
The Jeddah agreement sets a general framework for the future demarcation of the border, though it does not establish final details. Further meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks to finalize the matter. Nevertheless, one of the key aspects of this agreement is that “for the first time, Syria may actually agree to definitively delineate its borders with Lebanon, which would mark a historic turning point,” the source emphasized. Notably, in August 2008, during an Arab summit in Damascus, former Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad discussed the necessity of defining their borders and announced the reactivation of joint committees to address the issue. They also addressed the disputed Shebaa Farms, a contested area at the intersection of Lebanon, Syria and Israel, which was occupied by Israel and considered Lebanese by Syria at the time. However, the initiative collapsed when Syrian authorities halted the process. When asked about the details of the current agreement, the source suggested that it “should, in principle, include the establishment of a joint commission tasked with studying disputed points and proposing a demarcation line, a mutual commitment to respect each other’s territorial sovereignty, measures to combat cross-border smuggling, and enhanced security cooperation to prevent unauthorized incursions and local tensions.” The key question remains: will this preliminary agreement translate into concrete actions, or will it simply join the long list of diplomatic commitments that never materialize?

Devastated Lebanon village marks Eid among its dead
AFP/April 01, 2025
AÏTAROUN, Lebanon: In the war-devastated southern Lebanese village of Aitaroun on Monday, residents marked the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Fitr among their dead. Relatives crowded the village’s cemeteries to pray for the more than 100 residents, including fighters from Hezbollah, killed during the war between the militant group and Israel that ended with a fragile ceasefire in November. “We defied the entire world by being here in Aitaroun to celebrate Eid with our martyrs,” Siham Ftouni said near the grave of her son, a rescuer with an Islamic health organization affiliated with Hezbollah. “Their blood permitted us to come back to our village,” she said. During the war, Lebanese state media reported that Israeli troops used explosives in Aitaroun and two nearby villages to blow up houses. The town square is heavily damaged. Few people have returned to live or to reopen businesses.
The story is the same in other villages in southern Lebanon. In Aitaroun, more than 90 of the village’s dead — including some who died from natural causes — were buried only a month ago when Israeli troops pulled out. Under the ceasefire, Israel had 60 days to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, but it did not pull most of them back until February 18 after the initial deadline was extended. On Monday, beneath yellow Hezbollah flags, Ftouni and other women clad in black let their grief pour out. A young girl sat near the grave of a woman, holding her photo surrounded by flowers. Other pictures, of infants and young men in military uniform, lay on top of graves, and the sound of funeral orations triggered tears. Some visitors handed out sweets and other foods to mourners who came from further away. “This year, Eid is different from the years before,” said Salim Sayyed, 60, a farmer originally from Aitaroun. “Aitaroun, which lost more than 120 martyrs including many women and children, is living a sad Eid.” He added: “The will to live will remain stronger than death.”The war saw the killing of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah and other commanders, and the group’s military infrastructure was devastated. Yet it continues to proclaim victory after more than a year of conflict that escalated to full-blown war and killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon. Despite the ceasefire deal, Israeli troops remain inside Lebanon at five points it deems strategic. Both Hezbollah and Israel have accused each other of truce violations.
Israel has regularly carried out often-deadly air raids in south and east Lebanon since the ceasefire, striking what it says are Hezbollah military targets that violated the agreement. On Friday Israel bombed southern Beirut for the first time since the truce after rockets were fired toward its territory.
Imad Hijazi, 55, a taxi driver, said the security uncertainty was no deterrent to those wanting to spend Eid beside the graves of their loved ones. “The sadness was immense. Everyone was shaken by the loss of loved ones. I lost 23 members of my family in an Israeli strike,” Hijazi said.
“I was ashamed to convey Eid greetings to my relatives or my friends.”

Pope Approves Canonization of Blessed Ignatius Maloyan
This is Beirut/March 31/2025
The Media Office of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate announced on Monday that “Pope Francis has approved the vote from the regular session of cardinals and bishops to declare the beatified martyr Bishop Ignatius Maloyan (1869-1915) a saint.”
“This historical event will be officially announced at a later time,” according to the Patriarchate’s statement. Bishop Maloyan’s beatification process was initiated in 1966 and officially concluded in 2001. On October 7 of the same year, Pope John Paul II declared him blessed during a grand ceremony held in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. The Armenian Catholic Church commemorates his feast day annually on June 11.
A Brief Biography
Blessed Bishop Ignatius Maloyan (1869-1915) was born in the city of Mardin, in the Ottoman Empire, in April 1869. He received his primary education at a school run by the Mardin Armenian Diocese, under the guidance of Bishop Melkon Nazarian, who quickly recognized his brilliance and deep faith.
In 1883, the bishop sent him to the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Bzommar in Kesrwan, Lebanon, to grow up in a monastic environment that deepened his faith and solidified the foundations of his future priesthood. On August 6, 1896, the Feast of the Transfiguration, he received the sacrament of priesthood through the laying on of hands by Catholicos Patriarch Stepanos Petros X Azarian. After his ordination, he began his priestly service at the Monastery of Our Lady of Bzommar, where he stayed for about a year and a half before being assigned to serve in Egypt, moving between Alexandria and Cairo. He was then sent to Constantinople, where he spent nine months before returning to his hometown of Mardin. In 1911, he was elected by the Patriarchal Synod of the Armenian Church, convened in Rome, as the Archbishop of Mardin. On October 22 of the same year, he received the episcopal rank through the laying on of hands by Catholicos Patriarch Boghos Bedros XIII Terzian. Bishop Maloyan was distinguished by his holiness and virtues, and his exemplary pastoral service was reflected in his care for his people and his invaluable services, even to the Ottoman Empire. This earned him high honors from the Ottoman authorities in Istanbul, who awarded him medals in recognition of his contributions. However, these same authorities, amid the Ottoman massacres against Armenians, awarded him on June 11, 1915, another medal: the Medal of Martyrdom for Christ, the Church and the Nation. He was martyred, along with a group of priests and faithful, after remaining steadfast in his faith until his last breath.

What Lies Behind Nawaf Salam's Visit to Saudi Arabia?
Mario Chartouni/This is Beirut/March 31/2025
The lavish reception for Nawaf Salam during his recent visit to Saudi Arabia has raised many questions. This high-profile welcome, marked by exceptional hospitality, is more than a simple protocol gesture and reflects significant political stakes. To shed light on the real motives behind this meeting, This is Beirut spoke with political analyst Ali Hamadeh, a leading expert on Middle Eastern affairs.
Saudi Interests
According to Hamadeh, Saudi Arabia's main priority is to “preserve the unity of Lebanon’s government and its new ruling class, namely the president and prime minister.” This aligns with a broader strategy to “steer Lebanon out of its political, security and economic crisis.” However, the kingdom is setting clear limits on its role, making it clear that “playing Santa Claus” is “out of the question,” as the analyst puts it. For Lebanon, weakened by years of political and economic instability, Saudi Arabia’s renewed engagement presents a crucial opportunity. “Lebanon has every interest in engaging with such overtures,” Hamadeh notes. Riyadh serves as the “primary gateway” to the Arab world and the dominant Arab power in Lebanese affairs. This position gives the kingdom considerable leverage: if Saudi Arabia remains disengaged, the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council is expected to do the same.
The regional stakes of this diplomatic initiative should not be overlooked. Hamadeh explains that “Saudi Arabia has a vested interest in stabilizing Syria” and that by “promoting stability in both Syria and Lebanon,” it seeks to “facilitate a rapprochement between the two countries.” This mediation effort was reflected in the recent meeting between the Lebanese and Syrian defense ministers in Jeddah. This significant step highlights Riyadh’s ambition to assert itself as a key player in reshaping Syrian-Lebanese relations.
The Unity of Lebanon’s Executive Authority
The invitation extended to Nawaf Salam has fueled speculation about a possible Saudi attempt to align him with President Joseph Aoun's camp. However, Hamadeh offers a more nuanced view. “No. It is not necessarily about positioning Nawaf Salam in the president’s camp,” he clarifies. “Rather, it’s about doing everything to preserve unity, ensure smooth cooperation and safeguard the new balance in Lebanon.” This “new balance,” as the expert emphasizes, is defined by its sovereignist orientation. Therefore, the key issue is to “prevent the executive authority from imploding in the coming weeks if this clash is not contained.”Rather than interpreting this invitation as targeted pressure on Nawaf Salam, as some analyses suggest, Hamadeh argues that it is “pressure on the entire Lebanese executive authority.” The primary message Saudi Arabia seeks to convey is one of “unity,” aimed at reinforcing “the unity of Lebanon’s executive authority.” This effort is directed at “all the key political players,” with Riyadh clearly signaling that “the presidency of the Council is under the aegis, or protection, of Saudi Arabia.” The expert describes this message as “very important,” in line with a well-established political tradition.
The main goal of this diplomatic maneuver is to maintain “a balance and preserve that balance between President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam.” According to Hamadeh, Saudi Arabia is convinced that this institutional harmony “must happen,” that it “is far from impossible” and is “the most natural outcome.”
The potential consequences of a failed Saudi mediation could have serious implications for Lebanon’s balance of power. Hamadeh is clear in his assessment, “Any conflict between the president of the republic and the prime minister would benefit Hezbollah, the Shiite duo of Amal-Hezbollah and all the parties feeling sidelined by the new political and geopolitical dynamics in Lebanon.” In this context, institutional stability is of paramount strategic importance, and all parties “have a vested interest in restoring order.”Ultimately, the welcome extended to Nawaf Salam transcends simple diplomatic protocol and is a symbol of the influence Saudi Arabia aims to wield in the region. As political dynamics continue to grow more complex, this invitation could be a key moment in ushering in a new era of dialogue between Lebanon and its Arab neighbors, with Riyadh closely monitoring the developments. The question remains: Will this diplomatic maneuver succeed in restoring the much-needed harmony within the Lebanese government, or will it merely be a brief interlude in an unfinished political narrative?

Irresponsibility Is the Name of the Game
Dr. Charles Chartouni/This is Beirut/March 31/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141780/
The repeated truce breakdowns and the rising state of violence at the borders with Syria call into question the ability of the Lebanese state to regain control of its borders and oversee the gradual stabilization of Lebanese territory. The equivocations of the new government betray its inconsistencies and incapacity to come up with an integrated national security plan. The externalization of blame and the proliferation of security voids abound at a time when the Lebanese were preparing themselves for a postwar era with reconstruction and developmental concerns as the overriding concern. The ideological blinders of the prime minister and his pliability to the blackmailing of the Shiite power brokers have paved the way for complacency.
What’s worrisome is the open disregard for the international mandates and the childish sheltering behind victimization rhetoric at a time when the international community is striving to uphold Lebanon’s ability to improve its diplomatic credentials and rehabilitate its political stature. The new executive is failing to uphold the country’s moral and political autonomy and to reopen the channels of communication with the international community. The litany of complaints echoed by Prime Minister Salam and President Joseph Aoun was quite illustrative of the diplomatic ineptitude and the inability to take responsibility before the international community that resolutely backed the emerging executive and entrusted it with implementing implementation of the international resolutions (1701, 1680, 1559).
Rather than facing up to security challenges and the incendiary rhetoric of Hezbollah and its acolytes, the new executive restated its denial and its complacency – if not its complicity – toward Hezbollah’s open politics of subversion. The ideological blinders and the unwillingness to confront Hezbollah are manifestly degrading the legal and political stature of the State of Lebanon and jeopardizing its ability to get its act together and restore its sovereignty. The Lebanese government cannot blame its powerlessness on Israel and hold it responsible for the inwardly generated security hazards. Ideology and well-entrenched prejudices can never make up for political deficiencies.
This state of political prostration has proven destructive in the past decades, leading to the gradual unraveling of civil peace, democratic politics and constitutional statehood. Unfortunately, the same script seems to reemerge in the current political course and undermine the viability of civil concord and its political and institutional correlates. Hezbollah is quite adamant about its extraterritoriality, vocal about its domination politics, and determined to
challenge regional stability at both Syrian and Israeli borders, while reasserting the flimsy narrative of the integrated fronts after its collapse. The political blindness is unlikely to change the raw facts of geostrategic mutations.
The overt manipulation of the Iranian regime is obvious at a time when its security pillars at the regional level have floundered. The whims of the restored military capacities are matched with the open threats to domestic stability, the completion of the nuclear military conversions, and the delusion of overturning the current dynamics, while the corrosive entropies eat away at the very roots of the Iranian imperial projections and the decaying legitimacy of religious totalitarianism.
The new power incumbents have a hard time positioning themselves within the new military and political dynamics and have failed to understand the urgency to break away from their ideological lenses and review their policy foundations. Hence, their incapacity to distance themselves from the dictates of previous eras and their outdated agendas. They failed to open up to the new perspectives elicited by the strategic transformations brought about by the Israeli counteroffensive and the destruction of the operational platforms of the Iranian expansion strategy and its battlements.
The reckless headlong pursuit of these debunked strategies is short-sighted, and its overall reverberations are highly damaging to both the regional and national geostrategic textures and shall inexorably lead to the endemic civil wars earnestly sought by the Iranian regime, its proxies (Hamas, Hezbollah, Popular Mobilization Forces, congregated Shiite militias operating throughout the Near East), and terrorist panhandlers (Houthis, organized criminality in Africa, South America, etc.). The new theater of operations in Syria is no coincidence; it falls within the same scope: the ultimate attempt at salvaging the fledgling defenses of a routed Iranian strategy.
The new executive doesn’t seem prepared to deal with the complexities of the new dynamics, instead preferring to dwell in its ideological entrenchment, disengage from realpolitik and the challenges of a negotiated peace with Israel. In the meantime, Lebanon is risking its civil concord, the viability of its statehood and its survival. Joseph Aoun’s recent visit to France and its false expectations, the ideological inwardness and Nawaf Salam’s psychotic defenses nurture the tendency to overlook the surrounding strategic realities.

Open Letter from Claudia Hillar-Hajjar to PM, Nawaf Salam: We, the Lebanese Patriots, Demand Peace Through the Abraham Accords With Israel
Claudia Hillar-Hajjar/April 01/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141813/
It seems, Mr. Prime Minister, that you have a long list of "No’s":
No reform.
No disarmament.
No dismantling.
No normalization.
Tell me, Mr. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, what did you come for?
Peace or terrorism?
There is no middle ground!
You had one choice—peace or terrorism.
And from day one, you made yours.
We, the people, made ours.
Now, there’s only one thing left for you to do:
Resign.
Dismantle your cabinet.
And get out!
We refuse to stay silent.
We demand the total dismantling and disarmament of the Palestinian terrorist camps and the Hezbollah terrorist organization and drug cartel.
We will tear down the corruption entrenched in every past government.
No more lies.
No more excuses.
And no more wars!
Fifty-five years of others’ wars on our sacred land are more than enough!
Khalassss bi qaffe!!!
So, Mr. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, speak for yourself.
We, the Lebanese Patriots, demand peace through the Abraham Accords with Israel.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 31-April 01/2025
Syria President Says New Authorities Can't Satisfy Everyone
AFP/March 31, 2025
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Chareh said Monday a new transitional government would aim for consensus in rebuilding the war-torn country but acknowledged it would be unable to satisfy everyone. The transitional 23-member cabinet – without a prime minister – was announced Saturday, more than three months after Chareh's Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led an offensive that toppled longtime president Bashar al-Assad. The autonomous Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria has rejected the government's legitimacy, saying it "does not reflect the country's diversity". Sharaa said the new government's goal was rebuilding the country but warned that "will not be able to satisfy everyone". "Any steps we take will not reach consensus – this is normal – but we must reach a consensus" as much as possible, he told a gathering at the presidential palace broadcast on Syrian television after prayers for the Eid al-Fitr Muslim holiday. Authorities are seeking to reunite and rebuild the country and its institutions after nearly 14 years of civil war. Some of Chareh's closest supporters and other figures aligned with him make up the majority of the new cabinet. Chareh said the ministers were chosen for their competence and expertise, "without particular ideological or political orientations". Most members are Sunni Muslim, reflecting the demographic make-up of Syria, ruled for decades by the Assad clan which belongs to the Alawite minority. Amid international calls for an inclusive transition, the new government has four ministers from minority groups in Syria – a Christian, a Druze, a Kurd and an Alawite, none of whom were handed key portfolios. Chareh said the new government's make-up took into consideration "the diversity of Syrian society" while rejecting a quota system for religious or ethnic minorities, instead opting for "participation". "A new history is being written for Syria... we are all writing it," he told the gathering. This month, Chareh signed into force a constitutional declaration regulating the country's transitional period, set for five years. Some experts and rights groups have warned that it concentrates power in Chareh's hands and fails to include enough protections for minorities. This month also saw the worst sectarian bloodshed since Assad's overthrow, with civilian massacres in Alawite-majority areas. Chareh has previously vowed to prosecute those behind the "bloodshed of civilians" and set up a fact-finding committee.

Trump’s Saudi visit planned for mid-May: Axios sources
Arab News/March 31, 2025
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is planning to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May on his first foreign trip of his second term, Axios reported on Sunday, citing two US officials and a source with knowledge of the president's travel. Saudi Arabia has been taking a more prominent role in US foreign policy. The country has hosted talks between the US and Russia and Ukraine as Trump seeks a ceasefire to the war and the White House has singled out the country as a possible participant in the Abraham Accords. Trump said earlier this month he would likely make his first trip abroad to Saudi Arabia. He said on March 6 he would probably travel there in the next month and a half. He noted the first overseas trip of his first term was to Riyadh in 2017. One source said April 28 was discussed as a potential date for the visit but was postponed, while an official and a source familiar said the current plan is for Trump to travel to Saudi Arabia in mid-May, according to Axios. The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, while no official announcement or confirmation was made from the Saudi side regarding the potential dates of the visit.

Trump Says 'Real Pain is Yet to Come' for Houthis and Iran
AFP/March 31/2025
US President Donald Trump vowed Monday that strikes on Yemen's Houthis will continue until they are no longer a threat to shipping, warning the rebels and their Iranian backers of "real pain" to come. Trump's threat on the Truth Social network comes as his administration battles a scandal over a chat between senior US officials on the Yemen strikes that was accidentally leaked to a journalist. It also comes amid a sharpening of Trump's rhetoric towards Tehran, with the president threatening that "there will be bombing" if Iran does not reach a deal on its nuclear program. "The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at US ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran," said Trump. Trump added that the Houthis had been "decimated" by "relentless" strikes since March 15, saying that US forces "hit them every day and night—harder and harder." "Our attacks will continue until they are no longer a threat to freedom of navigation," he said on his social network. In recent days, Trump has repeatedly insisted on what he calls the success of the US strikes on the Houthis whenever he is asked about the so-called "Signalgate" scandal that has rocked his administration. The Atlantic magazine revealed last week that its editor was mistakenly included in a chat on the commercially available Signal app as top officials discussed the Yemen strikes. The officials, including Trump's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, revealed details of air strike timings and intelligence. Trump has rejected calls to sack Waltz or Hegseth and branded the scandal a "witch hunt." "This case has been closed here at the White House as far as we are concerned," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday. Waltz and Hegseth both reposted Trump's Truth Social message about the Houthis on Monday.

Iran Will Have 'No Choice' but to Get Nuclear Weapon If Attacked
This is Beirut/March 31/2025
An adviser to Iran's supreme leader on Monday said the country would have no alternative but to acquire a nuclear weapon if attacked, following a threat by US President Donald Trump. "We are not moving towards (nuclear) weapons, but if you do something wrong in the Iranian nuclear issue, you will force Iran to move towards that because it has to defend itself," Ali Larijani, adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in an interview with state TV. US President Donald Trump vowed earlier that strikes on Yemen's Houthis will continue until they are no longer a threat to shipping, warning them and their Iranian backers of "real pain" to come. "The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at US ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Khamenei warns of 'strong' response after new Trump 'bombing' threat
Agence France Presse/March 31/2025
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Monday of a forceful retaliation if the Islamic republic is attacked, following a threat by U.S. President Donald Trump. "They threaten to do mischief," Khamenei said of Trump's latest threat, during a speech on Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. "If it is carried out, they will definitely receive a strong counterattack." In an interview on Saturday, Trump said Iran will be bombed if it does not reach a deal on its nuclear program. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," he said, according to NBC News, which said he also threatened to punish Iran with what he called "secondary tariffs". It was not clear whether Trump was threatening bombing by U.S. planes alone or perhaps in an operation coordinated with Israel.
Since taking office in January, Trump has reinstated his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran.Under that policy in his first term as president, Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark agreement on Iran's nuclear program in 2018 and reimposed biting sanctions on Tehran. Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapon, which Tehran has denied, insisting its enrichment activities were solely for peaceful purposes.
Open to 'indirect' talks
The deal, sealed in 2015 between Tehran and world powers, required Iran to limit its nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief. On March 7, Trump said he had written to Khamenei to call for nuclear negotiations and warn of possible military action if Tehran refused. The letter was delivered to Tehran on March 12 by UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash. On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country has delivered to Oman the response to Trump's letter, without delineating its content. Araghchi maintained Iran's position of not seeking to directly engage in negotiations with the United States "under maximum pressure and the threat of military action", but left open the door for "indirect negotiations." Oman has served as an intermediary in the past, in the absence of U.S.-Iranian diplomatic relations severed after the 1979 Islamic revolution. The West also accuses Iran of using proxy forces widely proscribed as terrorist organizations to expand its influence in the region, a charge Iran denies. Iran leads the so-called "axis of resistance" against Israel, which includes Hamas in the Palestinian territories, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi rebels in Yemen and armed groups in Iraq. "There is only one proxy force in this region, and that is the corrupt usurper Zionist regime," Khamenei said, calling for Israel to be "eradicated". Iran does not recognize Israel, its arch enemy and the United States' main ally in the region, and frequently calls for attacks against it.

Hamas calls on ‘anyone who can bear arms’ worldwide to fight Trump’s Gaza plan
AFP/March 31, 2025
CAIRO: A senior Hamas official on Monday called on supporters worldwide to pick up weapons and fight US President Donald Trump’s plan to relocate more than two million Gazans to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan. “In the face of this sinister plan — one that combines massacres with starvation — anyone who can bear arms, anywhere in the world, must take action,” Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement. “Do not withhold an explosive, a bullet, a knife, or a stone. Let everyone break their silence.”Abu Zuhri’s call comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered to let Hamas leaders leave Gaza but demanded that the Palestinian militant group disarm in the final stages of the war in Gaza. Hamas has expressed a willingness to relinquish Gaza’s administration, but has warned its weapons are a “red line.” Netanyahu said Israel was working toward a plan proposed by Trump to displace Gazans to other countries. Netanyahu said that after the war, Israel would ensure overall security in Gaza and “enable the implementation of the Trump plan” — which had initially called for the mass displacement of all 2.4 million people living in the Palestinian territory — calling it a “voluntary migration plan.”Days after taking office in January, Trump floated a proposal to move Gaza’s population out of the war-battered territory, suggesting that Egypt or Jordan could take them in. Both countries, along with other Arab allies, governments around the world and the Palestinians themselves, have flatly rejected the notion.
Trump later appeared to backtrack on the proposal, saying he was “not forcing” his widely condemned plan. “Nobody’s expelling any Palestinians,” Trump said at the White House in mid-March, remarks welcomed by Egypt, Jordan and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Arab nations have since come up with an alternative plan for rebuilding the Gaza Strip without relocating its people, which would take place under the future administration of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority. For Palestinians, any attempts to force them out of Gaza would evoke dark memories of what the Arab world calls the “Nakba,” or catastrophe — the mass displacement of Palestinians during Israel’s creation in 1948.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz in February said that a special agency would be established for the “voluntary departure” of Gazans.
A defense ministry statement said an initial plan included “extensive assistance that will allow any Gaza resident who wishes to emigrate voluntarily to a third country to receive a comprehensive package, which includes, among other things, special departure arrangements via sea, air, and land.” Israel resumed intense bombing of Gaza on March 18 and then launched a new ground offensive, ending a nearly two-month ceasefire in the war with Hamas.
Since the fighting restarted, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says that at least 1,001 people have been killed. The war was sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 50,357 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.

Israeli troops killed 15 Palestinian medics and buried them in a mass grave, UN says
AP/March 31, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Palestinians held funerals Monday for 15 medics and emergency responders killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza, after their bodies and mangled ambulances were found buried in an impromptu mass grave, apparently plowed over by Israeli military bulldozers. The Palestinian Red Crescent says the slain workers and their vehicles were clearly marked as medical and humanitarian personnel and accused Israeli troops of killing them “in cold blood.” The Israeli military says its troops opened fire on vehicles that approached them “suspiciously” without identification. The dead included eight Red Crescent workers, six members of Gaza’s Civil Defense emergency unit and a staffer from UNRWA, the UN’s agency for Palestinians. The International Red Cross/Red Crescent said it was the deadliest attack on its personnel in eight years. Since the war in Gaza began 18 months ago, Israel has killed more than 100 Civil Defense workers and more than 1,000 health workers, according to the UNHere is what we know about what happened.
Missing for days
The emergency teams had been missing since March 23, when they went at around noon to retrieve casualties after Israeli forces launched an offensive into the Tel Al-Sultan district of the southern city of Rafah. The military had called for an evacuation of the area earlier that day, saying Hamas militants were operating there. Alerts by the Civil Defense at the time said displaced Palestinians sheltering in the area had been hit and a team that went to rescue them was “surrounded by Israeli troops.”“The available information indicates that the first team was killed by Israeli forces on 23 March,” the UN said in a statement Sunday night.
Further emergency teams that went to rescue the first team were “struck one after another over several hours,” it said. All the teams went out during daylight hours, according to the Civil Defense. The Israeli military said Sunday that on March 23, troops opened fire on vehicles that were “advancing suspiciously” toward them without emergency signals. It said “an initial assessment” determined that the troops killed a Hamas operative named Mohammed Amin Shobaki and eight other militants. Israel has struck ambulances and other emergency vehicles in the past, accusing Hamas militants of using them for transportation.
However, none of the dead staffers from the Red Crescent and Civil Defense had that name, and no other bodies were reported found at the site, raising questions over the military’s suggestion that alleged militants were among the rescue workers.
The military did not immediately respond to requests for the names of the other alleged militants killed or for comment on how the emergency workers came to be buried.
After a ceasefire that lasted roughly two months, Israel relaunched its military campaign in Gaza on March 18. Since then, bombardment and new ground assaults that have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry’s count does not distinguish between militants and civilians, but it says over half those killed are women and children. Aid workers say ambulance teams and humanitarian staff have come under fire in the renewed assault. A worker with the charity World Central Kitchen was killed Friday by an Israeli strike that hit next to a kitchen distributing free meals. A March 19 Israeli tank strike on a UN compound killed a staffer, the UN said, though Israel denies being behind the blast.
Mass grave
For days, Israeli forces would not allow access to the site where the emergency teams disappeared, the UN said. On Wednesday, a UN convoy tried to reach the site but encountered Israeli troops opening fire on people. The convoy saw a woman who had been shot lying in the road. The dashboard video shows staff talking about retrieving the woman. Then two people are seen walking across the road. Gunfire rings out and they flee. One stumbles, apparently wounded, before he is shot and falls onto his face to the ground. The UN said the team retrieved the body of the woman and left. On Sunday, the UN said teams were able to reach the site after the Israeli military informed it where it had buried the bodies, in a barren area on the edges of Tel Al-Sultan. Footage released by the UN shows workers from PRCS and Civil Defense, wearing masks and bright orange vests, digging through hills of dirt that appeared to have been piled up by Israeli bulldozers. The footage shows them digging out multiple bodies wearing orange emergency vests. Some of the bodies are found piled on top of each other. At one point, they pull out a body in a Civil Defense vest out of the dirt, and it is revealed to be a torso with no legs. Several ambulances and a UN vehicle, all heavily damaged or torn apart, are also buried in the dirt.
“Their bodies were gathered and buried in this mass grave,” said Jonathan Whittall, with the UN humanitarian office OCHA, speaking at the site in the video. “We’re digging them out in their uniforms, with their gloves on. They were here to save lives.”
“It’s absolute horror what has happened here,” he said.
Funerals
A giant crowd gathered on Monday outside the morgue of Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis as the bodies of the eight slain PRCS workers were brought out for funerals. Their bodies were laid out on stretchers wrapped in white cloth with the Red Crescent logo on it and their photos, as family and others held funeral prayers over them. Funerals for the seven others followed. “They were killed in cold blood by the Israeli occupation, despite the clear nature of their humanitarian mission,” Raed Al-Nimis, the Red Crescent spokesperson in Gaza, told the AP. Israeli troops have killed at least 30 Red Crescent medics over the course of the war. Among them were two killed in February 2024 when they tried to rescue Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old girl who was killed along with six other relatives when they were trapped in their car under Israeli fire in northern Gaza. From Geneva, the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Jagan Chapagain, said the staffer killed last week “wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked.”
“All humanitarians must be protected,” he said.

At least 322 children reportedly killed in Gaza in 10 days: UN
AFP/March 31, 2025
UNITED NATIONS: Israel’s renewed offensive in Gaza has reportedly left at least 322 children dead and 609 wounded in the Palestinian territory in the past 10 days, UNICEF said Monday. The figures include children who were reportedly killed or wounded when the surgical department of Al Nasser Hospital, in southern Gaza, was hit in an attack on March 23, the UN children’s agency said in a statement. UNICEF said most of these children were displaced, and sheltering in makeshift tents or damaged homes. Ending a nearly two-month ceasefire in the war with Hamas, Israel resumed intense bombing of Gaza on March 18 and then launched a new ground offensive. “The ceasefire in Gaza provided a desperately needed lifeline for Gaza’s children and hope for a path to recovery,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
“But children have again been plunged into a cycle of deadly violence and deprivation.”Russell added: “All parties must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect children.”The UNICEF statement said that after nearly 18 months of war, more than 15,000 children have reportedly been killed, over 34,000 reportedly injured, and nearly one million children have been displaced repeatedly and denied basic services. UNICEF called for an end to hostilities and for Israel to end its ban on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, which has been in force since March 2. It also said children who are sick or wounded should be evacuated to receive medical attention. “Food, safe water, shelter, and medical care have become increasingly scarce. Without these essential supplies, malnutrition, diseases and other preventable conditions will likely surge, leading to an increase in preventable child deaths,” UNICEF said. “The world must not stand by and allow the killing and suffering of children to continue,” it added.

Macron presses Netanyahu to 'strictly respect' Lebanon ceasefire
Agence France Presse/March 31/2025
French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a phone call, to "strictly respect the ceasefire" in Lebanon, a former French protectorate where Israel on Friday bombed the southern Beirut stronghold of Hezbollah for the first time after four months of truce. The Beirut strike came after rockets were fired from Lebanon towards Israel on Friday, testing the fragile truce. Hezbollah, which is backed by Israel's arch-rival Iran, has denied involvement. Netanyahu has insisted Israel will target anywhere in Lebanon it deems a threat, warning in a statement on Friday that "the equation has changed."Macron had previously denounced the Beirut strike as an "unacceptable" violation.

Israel orders evacuation of most of Gaza's southern city of Rafah
Associated Press/March 31/2025
The Israeli military on Monday issued sweeping evacuation orders covering most of Rafah, indicating it could soon launch another major ground operation in the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip. Israel ended its ceasefire with the Hamas militant group and renewed its air and ground war earlier this month. At the beginning of March it cut off all supplies of food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid to the territory's roughly 2 million Palestinians to pressure Hamas to accept changes to the truce agreement. The evacuation orders appeared to cover nearly all of the city and nearby areas. The military ordered Palestinians to head to Muwasi, a sprawl of squalid tent camps along the coast. The orders came during Eid al-Fitr, a normally festive Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Israel launched a major operation in Rafah, on the border with Egypt, last May, leaving large parts of it in ruins. The military seized a strategic corridor along the border as well as the Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gaza's only gateway to the outside world that was not controlled by Israel.
Israel was supposed to withdraw from the corridor under the ceasefire it signed with Hamas in January under U.S. pressure, but it later refused to, citing the need to prevent weapons smuggling. Israel has vowed to intensify its military operations until Hamas releases the remaining 59 hostages it holds — 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Israel has also demanded that Hamas disarm and leave the territory, conditions that were not included in the ceasefire agreement and which Hamas has rejected.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel would take charge of security in Gaza after the war and implement U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to resettle Gaza's population in other countries, describing it as "voluntary emigration."
That plan has been universally rejected by Palestinians, who view it as forcible expulsion from their homeland, and human rights experts say it would likely violate international law.
Hamas, meanwhile, has insisted on implementing the signed agreement, which called for the remainder of the hostages to be released in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli pullout. Negotiations over those parts of the agreement were supposed to have begun in February but only preliminary talks have been held. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, rampaging through army bases and farming communities and killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians. The militants took another 251 people hostage, most of whom have since been released in ceasefires or other deals.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants. At its height, the war had displaced some 90% of Gaza's population, with many fleeing multiple times.
Large areas of Gaza have been completely destroyed, and it's unclear how or when anything will be rebuilt.

Israeli Army Dismantle Hamas Tunnel and Rocket Workshop
This Is Beirut/March 31/2025
The Israeli army on Monday dismantled a one-kilometer underground tunnel by the elite Yahalom Unit, a tunnel identified as part of Hamas’ network. This comes as part of an intensification of targeted operations in northern and central Gaza. In addition to neutralizing the tunnel, the troops also discovered and disrupted a workshop dedicated to the production of rockets and launchers, further crippling the operational capabilities of Hamas. To date, the 252nd Division has successfully eliminated over 50 Hamas militants as part of their ongoing operations.

Top Aide to Israel's Netanyahu Arrested in 'Qatargate' Probe
AFP/March 31/2025
Israeli police announced on Monday the arrest of two individuals, one of whom was confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling Likud party as a senior aide to the long-serving leader. Israeli media identified the two men as Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, both reportedly aides to the prime minister and allegedly linked to what has been dubbed locally as the "Qatargate Affair." The arrests ratchet up political tensions in the country, where the government is trying to fire both the domestic security chief and attorney general while expanding the power of politicians over the appointment of judges. The moves have reignited a protest movement in Israel, coinciding with the government's resumption of fighting this month in the Gaza Strip.Feldstein had separately been arrested late last year and released to house arrest on accusations of leaking a classified document related to hostage negotiations in Gaza to shift critical media coverage of the Israeli leader. Media reports on Monday further indicated that Netanyahu himself is expected to be questioned by police in connection with the Qatargate case . Netanyahu is separately on trial over corruption allegations that he denies.
"Following an investigation being conducted by the National Unit for International Investigations (YAHBAL)... two suspects were arrested today for questioning," the police said in a statement, noting that the case remains under a court-imposed gag order.
'A new low'
Israeli media also reported that a journalist from a prominent Israeli publication had been summoned for questioning. AFP was unable to independently verify the identities of those arrested. Requests for confirmation from Netanyahu's office were not immediately answered.
Qatar, a gas-rich Gulf state, has no diplomatic ties with Israel and has long hosted leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose 2023 attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war.
"The brutal arrest of Yonatan Urich marks a new low in the political witch hunt to topple a right-wing prime minister and to prevent the dismissal of the failed head of the Shin Bet," said a statement released by Likud. Two weeks ago, the Israeli government unanimously approved Netanyahu's proposal to fire the head of the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, Ronen Bar. The Supreme Court froze Bar's dismissal and is to hold a detailed hearing on the case April 8. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who faces a similar dismissal, said the top court's initial ruling prevents the hiring of a new security chief, but Netanyahu did so anyway on Monday. In its statement on Monday, the Likud party linked the Qatargate investigations to efforts to prevent Bar and Baharav-Miara's dismissals, saying, "for weeks, the prosecution and the head of the Shin Bet have been conducting baseless investigations in the dark under a gag order, trying to prevent the dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet while using Urich and others as cannon fodder."Earlier this month, the Shin Bet agency announced it had started investigating Netanyahu's aides in relation to the case, barring the publication of any details.
Bar has accused Netanyahu of "personal interest" in firing him to "prevent investigations into the events leading up to October 7 and other serious matters" being looked at by the Shin Bet.
In a letter, Bar referred to the "complex, wide-ranging, and highly sensitive investigation" involving people close to Netanyahu who allegedly received money from Qatar.

Trump says 'not joking' about possible third term as president
Agence France Presse/March 31/2025
Donald Trump on Sunday repeated his suggestion he might seek a third term as president, which would defy the two-term limit stipulated in the U.S. Constitution. In a Sunday morning phone call with NBC News, Trump said "I'm not joking," when asked to clarify a remark on seeking another term, adding: "There are methods which you could do it."The 78-year-old billionaire has a long history of suggesting he might serve more than two terms, but Sunday's remarks -- followed by comments to reporters aboard Air Force One -- were the most concrete in terms of referring to plans in place to achieve the goal. Trump has launched his second presidency with an unprecedented demonstration of executive power, using the world's richest man Elon Musk to dismantle swaths of the government, and said his supporters want even more. "We have almost four years to go and that's a long time but despite that so many people are saying you've got to run again. They love the job we're doing," Trump said Sunday aboard the presidential jet, apparently referring to his political allies and supporters. Trump appeared to wave off a reporter's question about whether he is planning not to leave office on January 20, 2029, the next Inauguration Day, saying: "I'm not looking at that, but I'll tell you, I have had more people ask me to have a third term."Earlier in the day Trump told NBC he had been presented with plans that would allow him to seek reelection. When the network asked Trump of a possible scenario whereby Vice President JD Vance would run for president and then abdicate the role to Trump, the president said "that's one" method. He added that "there are others," but refused to share further details. Amending the U.S. Constitution to allow a third presidential term would require a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and Senate, which Trump's Republican Party does not have, or a constitutional convention called by two thirds of the states that would propose changes to the charter. Both routes appear to be unlikely, given the current number of states and Congressional seats under Republican control. Whether he goes through Congress or the states, he would then require ratification from three-quarters of all state legislatures. A constitutional convention has never been successfully called in the United States, where all 27 constitutional amendments have been passed by the congressional method.
In January, days after Trump took office, Republican Andy Ogles of Tennessee introduced a House joint resolution to amend the constitution to allow presidents up to three terms.

Political Reactions to Marine Le Pen's Conviction
AP/March 31/2025
Here are various political reactions to Marine Le Pen's conviction on Monday, including a five-year immediate ineligibility sentence in the European parliamentary assistants' case.
US President Donald Trump's administration said it was "concerning" to exclude candidates from politics, in response to a French court's ruling against French far-right leader Marine Le Pen. "We have got to do more as the West than just talk about democratic values. We must live them," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters when asked about Le Pen. The Kremlin on Monday slammed a French court's ruling to bar far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running for office for five years as a demonstration of Europe's politically motivated "violation" of democratic norms. Le Pen has long faced accusations of being too close to the Kremlin, of advancing Russian narratives, and of relying on Moscow for political and financial support. A French court barred her from running for office for five years after she was convicted over a fake jobs scheme, throwing into doubt her bid to stand for president in 2027. When asked about the court's decision on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "More and more European capitals are going down the path of violating democratic norms." Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders voiced shock on Monday at a court ruling against France's Marine Le Pen, banning her from running for office with immediate effect and pledging his "100 percent" support. Elon Musk, the billionaire top adviser to US President Donald Trump, called a French court ruling barring far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running for election in 2027 "abuse" and said it would "backfire.""This will backfire, like the legal attacks against President Trump," Musk wrote on X.
Right-Wing Parties
Jordan Bardella (RN): “Today, it's not just Marine Le Pen who's being unjustly condemned; it's French democracy that's being executed.” (on X)
Eric Ciotti (UDR): “Is France still a democracy? Our nation's democratic destiny has been confiscated by an outrageous judicial cabal (...) this is not a simple malfunction; it's a system for capturing power that systematically rules out any candidate too far to the right who is in a position to win.”

Ineligibility and Prison: The End of Marine Le Pen’s Presidential Dreams?
Soumia Benmerzoug/This Is Beirut/March 31/2025
A thunderbolt for Marine Le Pen. The president of the National Rally has been sentenced to five years of ineligibility, effective immediately, and to a four-year prison term—two of which are suspended—in the case of fake jobs at the European Parliament. This decision, described as a “judicial earthquake,” disrupts the political landscape just two years ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Five years of ineligibility with immediate effect and four years in prison, two of which are to be served, in the fake jobs scandal at the European Parliament. This ruling, handed down today by the Paris Criminal Court, may well wipe out Marine Le Pen’s chances of running in the 2027 presidential election. It’s nothing less than a major upheaval in the French political scene.
A Judicial Earthquake
The Paris Criminal Court followed the public prosecutor’s recommendations, who had called for a severe sentence against Marine Le Pen and several senior officials of the National Rally (RN), found guilty of diverting EU funds to pay parliamentary assistants who were, in reality, working for the party. The ineligibility with immediate execution means that she cannot run in 2027, unless the sentence is overturned on appeal or by the Court of Cassation.
She was also fined €100,000. Her party, also found guilty, was ordered to pay €2 million, including €1 million in fixed fines, and to forfeit €1 million seized during the investigation.
At the Heart of the Scheme
After nearly two hours of reading the judgment, the court concluded that a “centralized, optimized system” had indeed been put in place to allow the National Rally (formerly the National Front) to “save money” by paying “fictitious” parliamentary assistants who were actually working for the party between 2004 and 2016.
Speaking of a “double deception” toward both the European Parliament and voters, the presiding judge, Bénédicte de Perthuis, emphasized that the scheme amounted to “circumventing the rules of political parties and democratic functioning.”
At the start of the hearing, with Marine Le Pen seated in a blue jacket in the front row next to party vice president Louis Aliot, the court quickly announced that the nine MEPs on trial were guilty of misappropriation of public funds, and the twelve assistants were guilty of concealment.
“It was established that all of these individuals were in fact working for the party, that their MEPs had assigned them no tasks,” the judge explained. “They moved from one MEP to another.” “It wasn’t about pooling the assistants’ work, but rather pooling the MEPs’ budgets” to “save money” for the party by being “directly financed by the European Parliament,” she added, as Marine Le Pen muttered her protest under her breath.
What Future for the RN?
Despite the severe punishment, Marine Le Pen retains her mandate as a Member of Parliament for Pas-de-Calais. The Constitutional Council considers that a sentence of ineligibility does not automatically result in the loss of a parliamentary seat unless the decision becomes final. However, she is expected to lose her position as a departmental councilor.
This case also opens the door for a possible 2027 presidential run by Jordan Bardella. “It’s not just Marine Le Pen who has been unfairly sentenced—French democracy itself is being executed,” said Bardella, president of the RN and widely seen as her likely successor.
Possible Appeals
Marine Le Pen announced that she will appeal. However, the immediate enforcement of the ineligibility sentence remains in effect unless suspended by the appeals court. A retrial could take place within a year, with a decision potentially landing just before the presidential election. If the appeal fails, a cassation appeal would still be possible, though time constraints may complicate her participation in the race. As for the prison sentence, it will be served under electronic monitoring. However, this will only take effect once all legal avenues have been exhausted.
A Turning Point for the French Far Right
These convictions—although appealable—raise serious questions about the credibility of the party and its political future. Doubts linger not only over Marine Le Pen’s prospects, but also her ability to take on new roles, including that of prime minister. According to some legal experts, the ineligibility may bar her from holding any public office, including the premiership.
Others argue she could still be appointed prime minister, as that decision lies solely with the president of the republic. If the Constitutional Council confirms a ban on holding ministerial positions, it could definitively shut the door on her ambitions for 2027—not just for the presidency, but also for the role of prime minister.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on March 31-April 01/2025
Do Not Be Fooled by the 'Anti-Hamas' Protests
Bassam Tawil/ Gatestone Institute/March 31, 2025
Those who are rushing to celebrate the protests in Gaza need to consider that they are most likely nothing but a show by the Iran-backed Hamas to fool the world into thinking that there is an uprising against the terrorist group.
After all, this is the same Hamas that kept signaling to everyone, years before its terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, that it was not interested in another round of fighting. Then it murdered and brutally tortured 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 251.
What would Norway or Denmark do if ISIS or Al-Qaeda were on its border, seeking to destroy it?
According to some reports, Hamas members have been spotted leading some of Gaza's demonstrations.
Last year, Israel tried to encourage anti-Hamas clans to play a role in managing the Gaza Strip -- without success. Regrettably, several clans have, over the past year, issued statements expressing support for Hamas as the "sole representative of the Gaza Strip."
The current protests are taking place for one reason only: Hamas is conspicuously losing the war... The protesters are just angry that Israel retaliated so hard.
All Hamas would have to do for Israel to stop is to free the 59 remaining hostages, only 24 of whom possibly remain alive – but all of whom are victims of a kidnapping that should not have happened in the first place.
Sadly, there is no alternative to the complete removal of Hamas.... [T]here is no difference between Hamas's political wing and its military wing. Hamas's political wing, in fact, requires the military wing, to be able to stay in power.
If the West falls for Hamas's latest ploy, the terror group will simply soon be able to take control of the Gaza Strip with a rebranded name. Hamas's primary goal, after all, is to remain in power.
It is time to stop projecting Western values and aspirations onto Islamist societies. The protests in the Gaza Strip are not a shift toward peace. Instead, they are a symptom of the Palestinians' failure, once again, to achieve their goal of murdering Jews and eliminating Israel.
Make no mistake: Once the Palestinians recover from the war, they will continue their jihad against Israel. Many of the "anti-Hamas" protesters will then reappear, this time complete with masks, weapons and military gear.
The current protests are taking place for one reason only: Hamas is conspicuously losing the war. It is time to stop projecting Western values and aspirations onto Islamist societies. The protests in the Gaza Strip are not a shift toward peace. Instead, they are a symptom of the Palestinians' failure, once again, to achieve their goal of murdering Jews and eliminating Israel.
The recent anti-Hamas protests in the Gaza Strip are seen by some Western and Arab political analysts as a positive and encouraging development.
Those who are rushing to celebrate the protests in Gaza need to consider that they are most likely nothing but a show by the Iran-backed Hamas to fool the world into thinking that there is an uprising against the terrorist group.
After all, this is the same Hamas that kept signaling to everyone, years before its terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, that it was not interested in another round of fighting. Then it murdered and brutally tortured 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 251.
One of Hamas's tactics has been to try to protect its terrorists by hiding them among civilians. According to some reports, Hamas members have been spotted leading some of Gaza's demonstrations.
Hamas, in addition, is undoubtedly seeking to undermine the legitimacy of Israel's war against terrorism by sending "innocent" civilians to the streets to protest the humanitarian and economic crisis in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is probably hoping that the world will see the poor "anti-Hamas" civilians peacefully protesting, then exert pressure on Israel to halt its fight against the terrorists.
What would Norway or Denmark do if ISIS or Al-Qaeda were on its border, seeking to destroy it?
Notably, most of the protesters appear to be fighting-aged men, thereby reinforcing the belief that they are terrorists who took off their military uniforms and suddenly became "civilians."
Even if some of the protesters are not members of Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups, it is vital not to be fooled by what appears to be a sudden change of heart.
The protesters, like many of the residents of the Gaza Strip, are, in all probability, just trying to avoid more death and destruction now that they see Israel, fully backed by the Trump administration, resuming its counter-terrorism operations.
The fighting in the Gaza Strip picked up again on March 18, after Hamas breached the US-brokered ceasefire-hostages deal reached earlier in the year.
This is certainly not a change of heart: there has yet to be a single Palestinian criticism of Hamas's October 7 massacre of Israelis. The protesters are not saying they are bothered by Hamas terrorists (and thousands of "ordinary" Palestinians) brutally murdering, raping, beheading, and burning alive hundreds of Israelis that day.
Please recall, thousands of Palestinians took to the streets on October 7, 2023, to cheer as Israeli hostages were dragged back into the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians not only chanted slogans in support of Hamas and the Palestinian "resistance," many were filmed beating and spitting on the abducted Israeli men, women and children.
It is highly likely that many of the "anti-Hamas" protesters now are the same people who celebrated the October 7 carnage.
It would also be entirely wrong to assume that those who are demonstrating against Hamas are in favor of peace and coexistence with Israel. We did not hear or see one "anti-Hamas" protester hold a banner calling for peace or recognizing Israel's right to exist.
If the protesters would really want to end the war, they would be urging Hamas to release the 59 Israelis hostages still held captive in the Gaza Strip. If the protesters were really eager to see an end to the war, someone would have tipped off Israel as to the whereabouts of the hostages. It is crucial to remember that in November 2024, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a $5 million reward for the release of each hostage. Not one person in the Gaza Strip has come forward to this day.
At the "anti-Hamas" protests, we have not heard a single person call for an end to the genocidal jihadist fantasies of Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups. If elections were held in Gaza tomorrow, most of the protesters would, without doubt, vote for any Islamist terror group that seeks the destruction of Israel through slaughter, terrorism and jihad (holy war).
The talk about local clans possibly revolting against Hamas is an old fantasy that unfortunately never materialized. In the past, a small number of clans did openly challenge Hamas's rule, but they were quickly suppressed and discredited by other, pro-Hamas, clans. Last year, Israel tried to encourage anti-Hamas clans to play a role in managing the Gaza Strip -- without success. Regrettably, several clans have, over the past year, issued statements expressing support for Hamas as the "sole representative of the Gaza Strip."
The current protests are taking place for one reason only: Hamas is conspicuously losing the war. Israel's military force is working. The protesters are just angry that Israel retaliated so hard.
All Hamas would have to do for Israel to stop is to free the 59 remaining hostages, only 24 of whom possibly remain alive – but all of whom are victims of a kidnapping that should not have happened in the first place.
These Palestinian demonstrations are not going to bring down Hamas.
The demonstrators know full well that Hamas does not tolerate any form of criticism. Earlier this week, Hamas terrorists reportedly kidnapped, tortured and executed Odai al-Rabei, a 22-year-old Gazan who participated in an anti-Hamas protest. The murder presumably aims to send a warning to anyone who dares to speak out against the terror group. It also could be part of Hamas's effort to distract attention from its involvement in the protests, which lasted only three days.
At present, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is the only army capable of destroying Hamas's political and military infrastructure. So far, Israel seems to be doing an excellent job, especially, since October 7, with the destruction of most of Hamas's military capabilities, and the elimination of several senior Hamas officials over the past two weeks.
Sadly, there is no alternative to the complete removal of Hamas. As noted earlier on these pages, there is no difference between Hamas's political wing and its military wing. Hamas's political wing, in fact, requires the military wing, to be able to stay in power.
If the West falls for Hamas's latest ploy, the terror group will simply soon be able to take control of the Gaza Strip with a rebranded name. Hamas's primary goal, after all, is to remain in power.
It is time to stop projecting Western values and aspirations onto Islamist societies. The protests in the Gaza Strip are not a shift toward peace. Instead, they are a symptom of the Palestinians' failure, once again, to achieve their goal of murdering Jews and eliminating Israel.
Make no mistake: Once the Palestinians recover from the war, they will continue their jihad against Israel. Many of the "anti-Hamas" protesters will then reappear, this time complete with masks, weapons and military gear.
**Bassam Tawil is a Muslim Arab based in the Middle East.
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21521/anti-hamas-protests

Hamas and Turkey: Partners in Terror
FDD/March 28, 2025/Memo
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/03/28/hamas-and-turkey-partners-in-terror/
Jonathan Schanzer/Executive Director
Sinan Ciddi/Non-Resident Senior Fellow
Melissa Sacks/Senior Research Analyst
Michael Rubin/American Enterprise Institute
Download Memo
https://www.fdd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/fdd-memo-hamas-and-turkey-partners-in-terror.pdf
Turkey’s History of Hamas Support
By Jonathan Schanzer/FDD/March 28, 2025/Memo
Thousands of people rallied at Istanbul’s iconic Galata Bridge on New Year’s Day 2025 in support of the Palestinian cause and to protest Israel. Bilal Erdogan, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son, was among its speakers. Bilal spoke of the “martyrs” of Palestine, including Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7, 2023, slaughter of 1,200 Israelis. This is, by now, barely newsworthy given Ankara’s long track record of pro-Hamas rhetoric. But the son of Turkey’s strongman leader caught the attention of international observers when he stated, “we are here for … Al-Aqsa Mosque, for Jerusalem.”1
A quarter century ago, such a rally would be unimaginable. Turkey viewed itself as a pillar of stability. It was largely democratic and sought to tie its future to Europe and the United States. Turkey and Israel cooperated to defeat terror groups. Much has since changed.
Turkey’s antipathy toward Israel and its affinity for Hamas is now so well established that diplomats accept it as fact. The open romance between the NATO member and the terror group began in 2006 when Erdogan stunned the West by inviting top Hamas leaders to visit Ankara just weeks after he privately assured world leaders that he would not do so until Hamas, fresh from its win in the Palestinian Authority elections, accepted the terms of the Oslo Accords. Three years later, Erdogan clashed with Israeli President Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum in Davos. After berating the Nobel laureate as a murderer due to Israel’s counter-terror operations, Erdogan returned to Turkey in the predawn hours to a “spontaneous” outburst of support. There was little spontaneous about it. The day before Erdogan’s Davos eruption, the Istanbul subway announced it would remain open through the night the following day. Thousands of Palestinian flags suddenly materialized well after shops closed. When Erdogan’s plane landed, thousands of Turks waving Palestinian flags greeted him, chanting, “Turkey is proud of you.”2
The following year, Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) sponsored a flotilla to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip. Israel imposed the blockade to prevent Hamas from importing weaponry after the terror group seized the entire Mediterranean coastal enclave by force.3 To organize the flotilla, the Turkish government partnered with Turkey’s Humanitarian Relief Foundation (Insani Yardim Vakfi, IHH), a group banned in Israel and viewed by U.S. intelligence with suspicion due to its ties to Hamas, al-Qaeda, and other extremists.4 While Israel successfully intercepted several ships from the flotilla, when commandos attempted to board the Mavi Marmara, Turks attacked the Israelis. In the ensuing clashes, ten Turks, one a dual American citizen, died.5
By 2011, Palestinian sources reported that Erdogan promised $300 million to Hamas.6 While never confirmed, this dollar amount would cover nearly half of Hamas’s budget at the time, making Turkey perhaps Hamas’s primary benefactor. As Syria — for decades a safe haven for Hamas — descended into civil war, top Hamas leaders not only migrated to Qatar, but some also began to operate from Turkey.7 Erdogan welcomed them. “I don’t see Hamas as a terror organization,” he stated. “Hamas is a political party.”8
The Obama administration did not just ignore Turkey’s support for Hamas; it embraced Turkey’s ties to the terrorist group. The U.S. president spoke to the Turkish strongman more than nearly every other world leader as Muslim Brotherhood factions rose up and challenged the Middle East’s traditional regimes.9 Obama sought to steer the “Arab Spring” to a soft landing, and he believed that Turkey, as an “Islamic democracy,” could assist. It was a failed experiment, but it would take years for Obama to acknowledge this failure.
But the United States was not entirely to blame for the normalization of Turkey’s Islamist and pro-Hamas leanings. In the U.S.-backed hostage diplomacy deal that saw the release of more than 1,000 Hamas operatives in exchange for kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Israel released dozens of Hamas operatives to Turkey who then openly began to operate a headquarters.
By 2012, it was clear that Hamas was merely a symptom of the Erdogan government’s terrorism support. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) threatened to add Turkey to its blacklist that, at the time, only included Iran and North Korea.10 A multinational FATF team first notified Ankara about its deficiencies in 2007, finding that Turkey had neither adequately criminalized terrorism finance in the country nor had it done enough to establish infrastructure to identify and freeze terrorist assets.11 This came amidst reports that Turkey was helping Iran illegally evade sanctions in a “gas-for-gold scheme.” A whopping $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds held in escrow in Turkey was illegally sent onward to Iran, either directly or by way of the United Arab Emirates. Turkey did this at the height of the U.S.-led sanctions regime designed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.12
In 2013, Obama brokered a phone call between Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to repair ties between Ankara and Jerusalem. Israel ultimately apologized for the Mavi Marmara incident, but Erdogan continued to meet openly with and support senior Hamas officials.13
Erdogan’s bad faith ultimately contributed to more war. In 2014, Turkey-based Hamas operative Saleh al-Arouri in the West Bank prompted Israel’s 50-day “Operation Protective Edge” counter-terror campaign. Arouri planned, financed, and ordered the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teens.14 Rather than punish Turkey, then Secretary of State John Kerry leaned on Ankara and Hamas-patron Qatar to broker a ceasefire.15 Erdogan repaid the favor by likening Israel’s operation against Hamas to the “barbarism” of Hitler.16
Israel was not the only victim of Turkey’s Hamas support. In the waning days of Operation Protective Edge, Israel’s Shin Bet security service thwarted a Hamas-led coup plot in the West Bank to topple Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The Shin Bet arrested more than 90 Hamas operatives, confiscated weapons, and seized $170,000 in cash. Here, too, the Turkey-based Arouri was central to the plot.17 Arouri was not alone; at least nine other senior Hamas leaders called Turkey home.18
Turkey’s terror embrace expanded beyond the Palestinian cause. By 2014, Turkey selectively loosened enforcement at its Syrian and Iraqi borders to enable Islamic State fighters to transit. Ankara also helped the violent jihadi group raise money and run businesses to fund its caliphate. Illicit oil sales and the trade of stolen antiquities were among the businesses that Turkey supported.19
Among Western diplomats, however, there was wishful thinking that these problems were temporary. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoglu played on this naivete, telling the media that Turkey was one or two meetings away from normalizing ties with Israel. Dangling the possibility of better ties led many in Washington and Jerusalem to put off more robust actions to counter Turkey’s turn toward terror.
Meanwhile, Turkish entities were working with Hamas to expand terror even further. In 2017, the Shin Bet announced the arrest of Muhammad Murtaja, the Gaza coordinator of the state-funded Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency. He allegedly attempted to travel to Turkey to divert funds to Hamas. Israeli officials further said he passed intelligence to Hamas, including information about Israeli military sites.20 The Shin Bet also announced, despite Hamas denials, that Hamas was working with the IHH to access advanced satellite mapping programs to improve the accuracy of Hamas rockets.21
Erdogan’s attitude toward Israel in many ways made Israel the canary in the coal mine. Erdogan has been willing to act in other ways to undermine the West. In 2019, for example, the Turkish government acquired the Russian S-400 air defense system, triggering a crisis within NATO.22 The United States ultimately deprived Turkey of its ability to acquire F-35 fighter jets for this transgression. Ankara is trying to reverse this policy by way of a charm offensive in Washington.
The 2021 war between Israel and Hamas further ratcheted up tensions between Turkey and Israel. Erdogan called Israel a “terror state” and implored the United Nations to step in on behalf of Hamas.23 This was, of course, a prelude to the war that Hamas launched in 2023. In September 2023, just weeks before the October 7 assault, Israeli customs authorities seized 16 tons of explosive material sent from Turkey to Gaza, hidden behind construction supplies.24 Other similar shipments may have gotten through.
After Hamas slaughtered 1,200 Israelis and abducted another 254 individuals, Erdogan threw the Turkish government’s support behind the Palestinian group. In December 2023, as the war in Gaza escalated, Israeli authorities again seized illicit goods from a Turkish ship at the port of Ashdod. Inspectors found weapons and components hidden inside an industrial weaving machine destined for the West Bank.25 Nearly one year into the war, Erdogan called for an Islamic coalition against Israel.26 It was a call for a religious war — a jihad.
In March 2024, the Shin Bet thwarted a terrorist plot inside Israel planned by Hamas operatives in Turkey.27 The Israeli security service arrested Hamas operative Anas Shurman in Nablus and charged him in the bomb plot.28 At his interrogation, Shurman admitted that Turkey-based Hamas operative Imad Abid recruited him in December 2023.29
Months before he was killed in the heart of Tehran in July 2024, Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was hosted by Erdogan in Istanbul, where the two allegedly discussed the possibility of relocating Hamas’s political headquarters from Qatar to Turkey.30
For Erdogan, there is no turning back. He has invested more than 15 years to legitimize, fund, and support the Palestinian terrorist organization. He transformed Turkey into a global financial hub for Hamas.31 While the U.S. Department of the Treasury has added new Turkish individuals and entities to its terrorism list due to their financial ties to Hamas, these designations are only a drop in the bucket.
With the Trump administration prepared to shatter norms, there are ample opportunities to target Hamas financial assets in Turkey, regardless of what Turkish diplomats might plead. However, a full paradigm shift is needed. Only by calibrating U.S. policy toward the reality of Turkey today, rather than the wishful thinking of what Turkey could be under better leadership, will Washington be able to push Turkey to quit its support for Hamas and bring Ankara back into the Western fold.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Political Calculus
By Sinan Ciddi/FDD/March 28, 2025/Memo
In the days that followed the October 7, 2023, massacre of over 1,200 Israeli civilians, Turkish Erdogan remained silent, refusing to condemn the attacks.32 The Turkish Foreign Ministry’s response was both weak and fell short of a condemnation.33 By October 23, however, Erdogan could not contain his pro-Hamas and anti-Israeli sentiments. “Hamas is not a terrorist organization … [but rather] a liberation group, ‘mujahideen’ waging a battle to protect its lands and people” Erdogan declared.34
No other member of NATO, or country in the West, has characterized Hamas in such a way. When Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi perished in a helicopter crash, Turkey flew its flags at half-mast in the capital city of Ankara, the only NATO member to do so, for the man nicknamed “the butcher of Tehran.”35 Three months later, Erdogan declared another day of mourning for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, whom he called a “fallen martyr.”36 When a Turkish citizen rebuked the day of mourning, Erdogan ordered her arrested.37
What motivates Erdogan to embrace Hamas? It is not complicated. Erdogan may be an ideologue, but he is also a politician; he wants to win elections.
Erdogan may have the presidency wrapped up until at least 2028, but his AKP Party must still compete in local elections. The right to control the country’s local governments is the lifeblood of any political party in Turkey. Ruling major cities, especially Istanbul and Ankara, provides AKP elites control over lucrative public construction projects and permits, as well as welfare services, winter fuel, hardship income, and daycare.
In recent years, however, Erdogan has found it difficult to attract voters to the AKP due to growing dissatisfaction with his economic stewardship.38 Seven years ago, one dollar bought just over four Turkish lira. As of April 2025, one dollar purchases about 38 Turkish lira. The unofficial inflation rate is 81 percent, with falling consumer incomes and stagnant wages constantly depreciating the lira against the U.S. dollar.39
The Hamas-Israel war allowed Erdogan to change the subject.40 Erdogan has won the hearts and minds of voters by spewing anti-Zionism imbued with the most virulent antisemitic conspiracy theories, mixed with a healthy dose of anti-Westernism. Erdogan has used pro-Hamas public rallies as the bread and butter of the AKP’s electioneering drive.41 Erdogan delivers polemical speeches calling Israel a “terror state” and comparing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “Adolf Hitler.”42 At some rallies, individuals donned the fatigues of Hamas fighters, carrying mock-up Hamas rockets and grenade launchers.43
Some of the Turkish government’s anti-Israel activity has been less coordinated. An angry mob of protestors surrounded the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul on October 9, 2023, shooting fireworks at the building with little interference by Turkish law enforcement officials. Huda-Par — a radical Islamist party and partner in Erdogan’s governing coalition — held a celebratory rally outside the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, chanting “Israel be damned!”44 A day later in Istanbul, IHH held a rally in Istanbul in which supporters vowed to kill U.S. troops deployed in the region and denounced the United States as the “Great Satan” for its support of Israel.45 The AKP hung a giant banner from a historic tower, glorifying the Izz ad-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, the self-described military wing of Hamas, in the center of Istanbul.46
Some of the activity was even more dangerous. On October 17, a Turkish mob charged the perimeter of a sensitive NATO radar installation located in Kurecik, demanding that U.S. forces leave Turkey immediately.47 IHH leader Fehmi Bulent Yildirim embraced that demand. He urged Turks on November 1 to “march to Incirlik base from every part of Turkey, from every district and neighborhood,” a dangerous prospect given that the United States reportedly stores nuclear warheads at the base.48
Erdogan even prioritized championing Hamas over celebrating Turkey’s most important national holiday commemorating the founding of the Turkish Republic. In 2023, Erdogan canceled the reception at his palace in Ankara to celebrate Turkey’s centenary, citing Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.49 Ilber Ortayli, a well-known historian, was among those to express disappointment in Erdogan, remarking “We are in the 100th year of our Republic … No republic has celebrated its 100th anniversary like this.”50
Erdogan’s policies have not fully matched his pro-terror virtue signaling, however. In late 2023, Erdogan began calling for a boycott of Israeli goods in addition to international brands that he identified as supporting Jerusalem: Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Burger King, to name a few.51 Yet the volume of trade between Turkey and Israel was more than $5 billion in 2023, with a 30 percent increase in the last quarter of 2023 compared to 2022.52 Ankara attempted to blame this on existing contracts between Turkish manufacturers and Israeli buyers. Digging deeper, however, journalists discovered that elites close to the AKP were profiting from Israel trade: Erdogan’s eldest son, Ahmet Burak Erdogan, as well as Erkan Yildirim — the son of former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, are beneficiaries of business ties with Israel.53
Opposition parties, including Islamists in the New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi), condemned such hypocrisy. Election results show that Erdogan lost 7 percent of the conservative vote to the New Welfare Party.54 To win back favor, Ankara announced new trade restrictions on 54 categories of strategic exports to Israel, including concrete, steel, aluminum, and explosives, on April 9, 2024.55 The government announced a total suspension of trade with the Jewish state on May 2, 2024.56
Turkey still, however, facilitates the sale of goods to Israel by way of third countries such as Slovenia and Greece.57 As of May 2024, Turkey still transshipped Azerbaijani oil via Turkish tankers to Israel. In other words, Erdogan’s economic rhetoric appears to be more bark than bite. Erdogan may want to project himself as the protector of Palestinian Muslims, but he does not want this to affect his country’s bottom line. Perhaps this provides an opening to coerce Erdogan to back away from the terrorism support that has brought Turkey and the United States to the brink of a full rupture.

The Web of Hamas Operatives and Businesses in Turkey
By Melissa Sacks/FDD/March 28, 2025/Memo
After his almost two-decade open dalliance with Hamas, Erdogan may believe that the West cannot do anything to stop his support for one of the Middle East’s deadliest and most destabilizing terror groups. He is wrong. The presence of multiple Hamas terror leaders in Turkey opens the door for numerous sanctions.
Former Hamas West Bank leader and deputy chief of Hamas’s Political Bureau Saleh al-Arouri helped lay the foundation for the Hamas base in Turkey following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Arouri in 2015.58 Turkey then deported the Hamas leader, but he did not stay outside Turkey for long.59 In 2018, the State Department added Arouri to its “Rewards for Justice” program, issuing a bounty for information leading to his arrest.60 Undeterred, Arouri was one of the masterminds of the October 7 terror attacks. That morning, he was in Istanbul “prostrating in gratitude.”61 An Israeli airstrike killed Arouri in Lebanon on January 2, 2024, but the network he established inside Turkey remains.62
Today, the commander of the Hamas financial office inside Turkey is Zaher Jabarin. Released in the 2011 prisoner swap only to become Arouri’s right-hand man, Jabarin manages Hamas’s financial ties with Iran and other countries. Jabarin manages a network in Turkey that allows Hamas to raise, invest, and launder money prior to transferring it to Gaza and the West Bank.63 He holds stakes in several companies, including some traded on the Turkish stock exchange, such as Redin Exchange. Jabarin also served as the primary point of contact between Hamas and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.64 In 2019, the U.S. Treasury designated Jabarin, creating a precedent that the United States could apply to other Turkey-based terrorists.
Occasional action against Hamas leaders will likely not be enough, simply because so many Turks and Hamas operatives are involved in terror finance and supply. According to a Kuwaiti newspaper, Hamas operative Bakri Hanifa has moved “tens of millions of dollars” from Qatar to Turkey and then onward to Hamas’s political and military wings.65 Maher Ubeid, another key financier, reportedly received funds from Turkish official sources and transferred them to Hamas in Gaza via Turkish money changers.66
By 2019, the four children of an American and his Israeli wife Hamas killed in 2015 filed suit against Turkey’s Kuveyt Turk Bank in a New York court, alleging that the bank helps Hamas finance its terrorism. The complaint came two weeks after the U.S. Treasury sanctioned 11 Turkey-linked entities and individuals for supporting Hamas and other jihadist outfits and months after Treasury sanctioned six individuals and a Turkish money exchange for their role in bankrolling the Islamic State.67
Treasury sanctions in recent years offer a glimpse of the Hamas financial operations in Turkey. Jihad Yaghmour is one key figure to emerge. Originally from eastern Jerusalem, Israel arrested Yaghmour in 1994 for the abduction and murder of an Israeli soldier but subsequently released him to Turkey as part of the Shalit prisoner exchange.68 Over the last decade, Yaghmour has become crucial to Hamas operations in the West Bank. He coordinated this through a nongovernmental organization (NGO) named KUTAD, or “Association of Jerusalem and Our History,” which maintains offices in Istanbul and Ankara. In 2015, Hamas reportedly appointed Yaghmour to be the official representative of Hamas in Turkey and the primary liaison between Hamas and the Turkish National Intelligence Organization.69 Yaghmour has also used the organization to host high-profile Hamas leaders to speak at public events in Turkey, including Haniyeh and Nesim Yassin, the nephew of Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.70 Zaher Albaik (a.k.a. Zaher Elbek) helps Yaghmour run KUTAD’s Ankara office.71 Albaik and KUTAD have met with current and former members of the Turkish government to further their cause.72 In December 2023, the U.S. Treasury, in coordination with the United Kingdom, sanctioned Yaghmour and seven other Hamas operatives for representing Hamas interests abroad and for managing its finances.73
Kuwaiti-born Amer al-Shawa is a board member of several Turkey-based companies that provide financing for Hamas, including Trend GYO, Uzmanlar Company, and Advancity Company. In October 2023, the U.S. Treasury designated al-Shawa as one of nine key managers of Hamas investments.74 In January 2024, the U.S. Department of State, through its Rewards for Justice Program, offered a reward of up to $10 million for information on five Hamas financial facilitators, including Al Shawa.75
Designated by the U.S. Treasury in November 2024 for his role as a Hamas financier in Turkey, Musa Daud Muhammad Akari has helped facilitate flows of funds from Turkey to Hamas since at least 2011.76 In 1992, Akari was part of a Hamas terrorist squad that kidnapped and murdered Israeli Border Police officer Nissim Toledano.77 Sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for his role in the attack, Israel freed him as part of the Shalit prisoner exchange and deported him to Turkey. Several days after the October 7 attack, Akari was part of a Hamas delegation that met with Turkish politicians to recount the situation in the Gaza Strip and “the Zionist savagery.” He urged the parliament to condemn Israel at a hearing just five days after the attack.78 Akari has been pictured in the past with Hamas leaders Khaled Meshal and Ahmed Jabari.79
Yaghmour and Akari’s close Hamas associate, Mahmoud Muhammad Ahmad Attoun (Abu al-Ezz), also roams freely. Attoun was also involved in the operation to kill Toledano. He too was deported to Turkey in 2011 with his associates. His brother, Ahmad Attoun, is a Hamas operative and a former member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. In April 2023, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Ahmad Attoun for his Hamas affiliation.80 Unlike his brother and despite being an active member of Hamas in Turkey, the United States has yet to designate Mahmoud Attoun.
Hasan Turan, head of the Turkish parliament’s Turkey-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group, is another figure that has not been targeted by Treasury. Turan has organized high-level meetings between senior Hamas leaders and Turkish political elites. In 2019, Turan, along with Yaghmour, hosted a delegation that included Taher al-Nunu, a senior advisor to Haniyeh.81 On October 12, 2023, five days after the Hamas attack on Israel, Turan hosted Bassem Naim at the Turkish National Assembly. Naim was the “health minister” for the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry that allowed Hamas to run military operations out of hospitals across the Gaza Strip.82
Turan is also the vice president of the League of Parliamentarians for al-Quds and Palestine.83 In November 2023, the League hosted Hamas leader Ahmed Bahr at an event titled “Ways to Protect Al-Aqsa Mosque from Israeli Aggression.”84 After the Hamas assault on October 7, League director Mohammad Makram Balawi spoke at a rally in India with Khaled Meshal.85
On November 8, 2023, members of the League held a meeting with speaker of the Turkish Parliament and AKP member Numan Kurtulmus, a close Erdogan lieutenant. The group also held discussions with Huda-Par, the Iran-backed party that is part of Erdogan’s electoral alliance.86 In January 2024, League leader Hamid al-Ahmar spoke at the “International Conference in Support of Gaza” in Istanbul featuring Haniyeh and several Turkish parliamentarians.87 In October 2024, OFAC sanctioned League leader al-Ahmar for being a key member of Hamas’s once secret investment portfolio but has yet to sanction the League itself.88
Turkish-based NGO Filistin Dayanişma Dernegi (The Turkish Society for Solidarity with Palestine, or FIDDER) also has troubling ties to Hamas. The group’s website acknowledges it exists to “build cultural and social bridges between the Turkish people and Palestine.”89 FIDDER and some of its partner organizations are part of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World, founded in Istanbul in 2005 to coordinate Islamist NGOs on a more global level.90 Under the leadership of Mohammed Mushanish, FIDDER has hosted senior Hamas members on delegations, both in Turkey and abroad.91
Turkey-based NGO Khir Ummah is another organization with direct ties to Hamas. Headquartered in Istanbul and licensed under Turkey’s Charitable Societies Law, Khir Ummah maintains offices in southern Turkey, Syria, and the Gaza Strip. In 2021, Khir Ummah received $110,000 from Igatha 48 Association (“AID 48”), the fundraising arm of the Islamic Movement in Israel, an organization with ties to Hamas. Israeli authorities highlighted Khir Ummah’s alleged ties to terror by filing an indictment against Rami Habiballah, an Arab from northern Israel who sent money to the group. The association also received the money via Abdel Jaber Shelbi, who manages Khir Ummah in Turkey.92
Hamas’s Berlin representative, Majed al-Zeer, is linked to Khir Ummah events in Turkey.93 In December 2023, German authorities accused al-Zeer of being one of Hamas’s key liaisons in Europe and planning attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets.94 On October 7, 2024, the U.S. Treasury designated al-Zeer as a Specially Designated National for his role as a Europe-based Hamas fundraiser.95
On several occasions, Khir Ummah has also worked collaboratively with IHH. Khir Ummah also cooperates with Al-Wafaa Campaign, a Dutch organization whose founder, Amin Abou Rashed, is in a Dutch prison for funding Hamas.96 Al Wafaa’s member organizations are part of the Union of Good, a global coalition of entities fundraising for Hamas.97 The U.S. Treasury sanctioned the Union in 2008, but the European Union has not followed suit.
Businesses based in Turkey, such as Trend GYO, are also important nodes in the Hamas financing network. Designated in May 2022 as part of Hamas’s investment portfolio, Trend GYO is a key component of Hamas’s global asset holdings which had previously been estimated to be worth over $500 million.98 According to the U.S. Treasury, “as of 2018, Hamas elements held about 75 percent of issued capital at Turkey-based company Trend GYO. Additionally, Hamas planned to privately issue more than $15 million of Trend GYO’s shares to senior officials in the investment portfolio.”99
In November 2023, just one month following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Brian Nelson, undersecretary of the U.S. Treasury Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence warned that the United States is “profoundly concerned with Hamas’s ability to continue to fundraise or find financial support for its operations for potential future terrorist attacks here in Turkiye.”100 Since then, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has released several tranches of sanctions designations targeting Hamas financial networks and operatives in Turkey.101
That is the good news. The bad news is that Turkey has not wavered in its support for Hamas. If the United States seeks to change Ankara’s calculus, more pressure is necessary. Targeting Hamas operatives and businesses may not be enough. Indeed, it may be time to impose sanctions on Turkish nationals, businesses, and even officials involved in supporting one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist organizations.

Turkey’s Trail of Terror and American Foreign Policy
By Michael Rubin/FDD/March 28, 2025/Memo
In 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led the Islamic Revolution that swept away Iran’s shah and replaced the Iranian monarchy with a clerical rule. Overnight, Iran transformed from a pillar of American partnership in the region to an adversary and terror sponsor. The change was undeniable, even to Iran’s most ardent supporters.
Prior to his ascent to power, Khomeini denied any ambition to rule Iran. He spoke of bringing democracy and renounced interest in ruling Iran. “I don’t want to have the power of government in my hand; I am not interested in personal power,” he told one gullible journalist.102
There is an irony today that while policymakers recognized the obvious regarding Iran’s transformation, too many remain in denial about Turkey’s equally momentous shift.
The pragmatism that Western officials ascribed to Recep Tayyip Erdogan was always a ruse that Erdogan embraced to allay concerns while he consolidated power. It worked. And not just with the Obama administration. Daniel Fried, George W. Bush’s assistant secretary of state for European affairs, described Erdogan’s AKP Party as “a kind of Muslim version of a Christian Democratic party,” while Bush’s secretary of state, Colin Powell, praised Turkey as a “Muslim democracy.”103 Erdogan played to Western naivete as he consolidated control. The Turkish leader’s authoritarian tendencies were on full display after the March 2025 arrest of Turkish opposition figure Ekrem Imamoglu on spurious charges. Erdogan’s subsequent crackdown on protestors only exacerbated Western concerns that Turkey’s window to join the club of liberal democracies has all but closed.
In hindsight, Ankara’s European Union accession process had less to do with a desire to join Europe than with serving as a mechanism to consolidate Erdogan’s autocracy. Indeed, Erdogan was only too happy to accede to European demands that he unravel any internal military role in Turkish society. In theory, this was good for democracy given the military’s role in toppling previous regimes. In 1960 and 1980, the Turkish Army interceded to end governments that violated the constitution or failed to maintain law and order. In 1971 and 1997, the threat of intervention was enough to force governments to resign. But the European Union unraveled the military’s role to protect the constitution before establishing a check on Erdogan’s power. In retrospect, this may have been the final nail in the coffin for Turkey’s democracy.
Erdogan’s first step in consolidating his dictatorship was to hijack the technocratic bodies. His first move was to replace every member of the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) with veterans of Islamist finance. The TMSF is analogous to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in the United States, but it also has a broader purview and is more powerful. Erdogan weaponized it to audit banks and corporations affiliated with his competitors and often saddled them with ruinous fines. He soon moved the TMSF under the purview of the prime minister’s office and, when he assumed the presidency, it accompanied him.
Erdogan also created a new Revenue Administration (GIB) that, in practice, imposed punishing tax assessments not only on political rivals but also on anyone who donated to them. In one famous case, a news report about a Turkish-German charity transferring money illegally to Islamists in Turkey infuriated Erdogan. Tax authorities punished the Dogan Group, the newspaper’s owner, with a spurious $600 million tax lien. When Dogan paid the penalty and the newspaper continued to report critically on the Turkish strongman’s governance, authorities slapped Dogan with a $2.5 billion fine.104 Ultimately, Dogan offloaded his media holdings to pro-Erdogan interests.
This was the rule rather than the exception: The Erdogan government confiscated the high-circulation independent daily Sabah, for example, and transferred its control to his son-in-law after forcing all other potential bidders to back out of the auction for Sabah and its assets.105 By gaining full control over not only newspapers but television and radio as well, Erdogan was able to shape a media narrative that only reinforced his efforts to consolidate domestic power. The fawning coverage of Erdogan’s endless incitement against Israel and promotion of terror groups like Hamas has further fundamentally changed Turkey’s public opinion on foreign affairs.
None of this should have surprised. Erdogan’s Islamist ideology was always there for those who cared to see. While mayor of Istanbul, Erdogan said “Thank God almighty, I am a servant of Shari’a [Islamic law].” He later described himself as “the Imam of Istanbul.”106 But his jihadi leanings were not the only ideological red flag. The Turkish strongman famously likened democracy to a streetcar. “Democracy is like a tram ride: when you reach your stop, you get off.”107 As Erdogan consolidated control, he shed any pretense of moderation.
As this FDD research memo makes clear, Turkey today qualifies as a state sponsor of terrorism. Across administrations and political parties, two faults undermine U.S. policy. The first is a tendency to ignore ideology. Erdogan has a core set of beliefs. It is a mistake to confuse tactical moderation with sincere conversion. Second, U.S. officials consistently calibrate American policy to wishful thinking about what they hoped Turkey is or believed it once was rather than what it is now.
A corollary error is to believe that Turkey can return to the status quo ante. More than 35 million Turkish children have matriculated through the education system since Erdogan came to power; Turkish media have incited tens of millions more. Erdogan has staffed the civil service with men in his image. He has also used coup plots, real and imagined, to replace the leadership of the Turkish General Staff. Even if Erdogan dies tomorrow, it will take decades to wash Erdoganism out of the system. And that assumes that his successors and the political opposition do not look at his populist formulas as keys to their own future success.
The Islamic Republic of Iran deserved its terror designation. It cheerleads Hamas, funds it, trains its leaders and smuggles weaponry to it. Turkey now does the same. And just as Iran supports other terrorist groups around the Middle East, so does Turkey.
The Islamic Republic does not limit its terror sponsorship to Hamas; it supports Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Kashmiri terrorist groups based in Pakistan that target India. There is overwhelming evidence that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force also supported the al-Qaeda-led insurgency in Iraq.108
Likewise, there is ample evidence that Turkey does not limit its terror sponsorship to Hamas. In 2015, the center-left daily Cumhuriyet published photos of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) transferring weaponry to an al-Qaeda affiliate on the Syrian border. Turkey’s reaction was not to investigate its intelligence operatives but rather to launch a legal case against Cumhuriyet’s editor-in-chief, Can Dundar. He later survived an assassination attempt. Today, the Turkish-backed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rules large swaths of Syria, and it remains to be seen whether this group engages in aggression against its neighbors after consolidating power.
The Islamic State, meanwhile, found safe haven in Turkey at the height of its caliphate. Syrian Kurdish forces who were defending Kobane, a city that abuts the Turkish border, have videos of Islamic State fighters enjoying free passage into Turkey and then firing on the Kurdish defenders from Turkish territory. On February 28, 2025, Lebanese authorities announced they intercepted $2.5 million carried by a Turkish man arriving at Beirut’s international airport.109 The intent was to distribute those funds to the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
There should be no free pass for NATO members to engage in terror. Nor is it undiplomatic to sanction allies if their behavior merits it. Designating Turkey a state sponsor could certainly have downsides. There are elements of the Turkish-U.S. relationship that still benefit Washington and the West. But there are limits to how long Washington can turn a blind eye to Ankara’s longstanding support to jihadi terror groups.
Terrorism sanctions against Turkey would infuse credibility into the State Department’s terror designation process by demonstrating that objective factors trump subjective ones. Just as designations regarding money laundering led Cyprus and Armenia to work with Washington to reform and reverse the designation, so too should the goal of any Turkey terror designation be to provide a roadmap for Turkish officials, under Erdogan or any future administration, to understand what they must do should they wish for Turkey to rejoin the U.S.-led alliance.
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/03/28/hamas-and-turkey-partners-in-terror/

The Neo-Ottoman Moment
By Amb. Alberto M. Fernandez/MEMRI Daily Brief No. 748/March 31/2025
It must have been a bittersweet moment. Days after seeing Turkey lauded by the European Union as an important ally, as the EU seeks to push back against the United States and keep the Ukraine War going, the Erdoğan regime was rocked by massive demonstrations after a government crackdown on the political opposition.
Things had been going, at least on the international stage, extremely well for Ankara. Indeed, it is almost as if Turkey had reached an inflection point in its battle for influence.[1] Despite the EU warning Turkey that it needed to "uphold democratic values," it is quite likely that Turkey will continue to benefit greatly from its relations with the Europeans, including the Ukrainians, and with both Russia and the United States.[2]
The fact that the regime is growing internally even more authoritarian than it already was seems like a minor obstacle on the path to international influence. Turkey is a substantial country with a large army and burgeoning defense industry located strategically between Europe and Asia (something that the Romans knew long ago about Anatolia and Constantinople). It is also a frontline border state into the EU and so it can turn off or open wide the spigot of illegal immigration into the West and has not been shy about doing so. It expects to be paid and will continue to be.
But a variety of factors – Iran's proxy war with Israel, local civil wars, Erdoğan's own vaulting ambition – have led to the acquisition of a kind of informal empire in the Middle East and Africa allowing Turkey to project power and influence far beyond its borders. For a while, it looked as if Erdoğan had been too bold, causing a range of potential adversaries to draw together – Greece, Egypt, Israel, the UAE. But a few years ago, the Erdoğan regime decided that direct ideological confrontation with Arab states like Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia was too costly.[3] Ankara toned down the rhetoric, silenced its Arab Islamist proxies, and made the necessary obeisance required to restore, if not warm relations, at least better relations with those states.
This "kind of empire" that Turkey has acquired is mostly made up of failed, pariah, or kleptocratic states ranging from the Caspian Sea to the Sahara. The exception and jewel in the crown of this dark constellation is Qatar, not a satellite or puppet at all, but a full partner, especially financial, with Turkey sharing the same ambitious, hardcore Islamist worldview. Both countries are key allies of the Hamas terrorists in Gaza.[4]
But beyond Qatar are Turkey's intimate, ongoing relations with regimes in Azerbaijan, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Syria. The relationship varies from place to place. Some, like wealthy Azerbaijan, are not dependencies but ethnic, political allies that could conceivably go elsewhere but will not. Azerbaijan and Turkey allied against the Armenians and Russians and in many other endeavors but Azerbaijan has much warmer ties with Israel than Turkey does. Azerbaijan's oil flows to Israel through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline and then by tanker from Turkey to Haifa. Despite Turkey's support for Hamas and rabid frenzy against Israel, the oil has continued to flow uninterrupted throughout the Gaza War.
It is likely that the Islamist regime in Tripoli, Libya would have fallen to the forces of Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar long ago without Turkish intervention. This is an oil-rich Turkish dependency on the North African coast, a reincarnation of Libya before the Italo-Turkish War of 1911.
Libyan soldiers undergoing Turkish training.
Sudan under the former dictator Omar Al-Bashir was a close Erdoğan ally and those ties have been strengthened and revived during the Sudanese Civil War by the Sudanese Army (SAF). SAF is closer than ever before to outright victory in the conflict with the RSF Janjaweed militia. One reason for this is that SAF has been able to cobble together military and political support from Turkey, Russia, China, and Iran. That, plus the mobilization of fighters drawn from Islamist cadres and various warlords (including former Darfur rebels), seems to have turned the tide.[5] A future Sudan directly under SAF generals or, more likely, under Islamist politicians serving at the pleasure of the army will have cordial, close ties with Ankara. Sudan is devastated as never before from this conflict but the country still remains – potentially – a source of great wealth for its ruling elites and foreign allies.
Somalia has benefited greatly from Turkey's support for well over a decade and that is poised to continue across a broad range of fields, including Turkey's training and equipping of the local military for the fight against al-Shabab Jihadists. Turkey is also exploring for oil and gas offshore Somalia.[6]
The latest piece in this useful, if at times ramshackle, empire is, of course, Syria, where Turkish-supported Islamist rebels succeeded in overthrowing the 50-year Assad regime in December 2024. Like Sudan, Syria is devastated by war, but also has great potential. Like Sudan, it is also strategically located. Turkey's role in shaping the future Syrian military will be significant.[7]
Turkey has other areas of influence – Central Asia is one – and is also seeking to compete with Russia and China (in different ways) in Africa to take advantage of the recent decline of French, and more broadly Western influence, in the continent.[8]
While not directed against a specific single adversary, as Iran's own proxy network in the Middle East was (it was directed against Israel and the United States), Turkey's chain of outposts allows it to project power against a range of potential foes. It can have a presence in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. It can – through Syria – confront Israel and overawe Lebanon and Jordan. It hems Egypt in from the South and West. And it faces off against UAE-supported proxies in Libya, Sudan, and Somaliland.
The challenge for Ankara will be to keep these neo-imperial relationships mutually beneficial and profitable, rather than draining, for Turkey's ruling elite.[9] Here the role of those allies with money – Qatar, Libya, and Azerbaijan – is important. Turkey cannot rebuild Syria and Sudan, and profit from that rebuilding, on its own without help. It also needs to maneuver carefully when it comes to Russia, China, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates – all countries with their own agendas and equities – and with a resurgent United States under President Trump. But despite the obnoxious bluster and the many missteps, Turkey may have found a model of influence, war and politics that could prove to be more lasting and consequential to the region, and more damaging to Western interests, than Iran's much more vaunted proxy network.[10]
*Alberto M. Fernandez is Vice President of MEMRI.
[1] Apnews.com/article/turkey-rubio-fidan-ukraine-peace-defense-f35-21d69518e2b5748da3ecf7380f1065f5, March 26, 2025
[2] Politico.eu/article/turkey-crisis-recep-tayyip-erdogan-ekrem-imamoglu-arrest-eu-accession-funds, March 27, 2025.
[3] Middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-egypt-end-decade-long-rift-Erdoğan-visit-sisi, February 13, 2024.
[4] See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 11899, Qatari Defense Minister In Past Tweets: 'We Are All Hamas'; 'We Must Plan How To Influence The Decision-Makers In The U.S.', March 27, 2025.
[5] 3ayin.com/kickle, March 24, 2025.
[6] Aa.com.tr/en/energy/general/turkiye-signs-deal-for-oil-and-gas-exploration-in-somalian-offshore/42542#, July 18, 2024.
[7] Longwarjournal.org/archives/2025/03/turkey-increasing-military-assistance-to-syria.php, March 27, 2025.
[8] Turkiyetoday.com/turkiye/turkiye-expands-presence-in-chad-with-deployment-at-former-french-bases-121893, February 20, 2025.
[9] See MEMRI Daily Brief No. 600, Turkey's Syrian Mercenaries Come To The Sahel In Africa, May 17, 2024.
[10] See MEMRI TV Clip No. 11918, Commemorating Ottoman Victory In Gallipoli, Turkish President Erdoğan Outlines 'Our Spiritual Geography': 'From Syria To Gaza, From Aleppo To Tabriz, From Mosul To Jerusalem', March 24, 2025.

A bad week for the Muslim Brotherhood
Protests against Hamas and Turkey's president are roiling the Middle East.
Ben Cohen/March 28, 2025 | Jewish News Syndicate
Senior Analyst and Rapid Response Director
It’s not been a good week for two of the Muslim Brotherhood’s most prominent affiliates. In Gaza and in Turkey, the final days of the holy month of Ramadan have been marked by angry demonstrations calling for an end to the rule of, respectively, Hamas and the Justice and Development (AKP) Party.
The demonstrations are not connected and are not referencing each other. Their targets, however, are intimately connected—through their ideological fealty to the Muslim Brotherhood, a pan-Islamist movement that emerged nearly a century ago seeking to impose Sharia law, and, more immediately, through the energetic backing for Hamas provided by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s regime.
In the Turkish case, the protests were sparked by the regime’s arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu—the mayor of Istanbul who had planned to challenge Erdoğan for the presidency—on fabricated charges of corruption. A member of the secular Republican People’s Party who has said that he considers Hamas to be a terrorist organization, Imamoglu has been vilified by the regime, to the point of having his Istanbul University degree annulled. Under Turkey’s constitution, presidential candidates must possess a college degree, so Erdoğan’s move was an effective if slimy way of shifting his most credible opponent out of the running—for now, at least. The Turkish authorities have responded violently to the protests, arresting nearly 2,000 people. Such behavior is consistent with Erdoğan’s record, particularly since he overcame an alleged coup attempt a decade ago. According to the U.S. State Department’s most recent report on the woeful state of human rights in Turkey, Erdoğan’s regime is guilty of such crimes as torture, enforced disappearance, pursuing and harassing opponents based abroad, gender-based violence and persecution of the Kurdish minority. Media freedom is heavily restricted, with Turkey prominently listed among those countries where journalists are routinely imprisoned.
Despite its dreadful domestic record, its support for terrorist proxies in neighboring Syria and its lionizing of Hamas, Turkey remains a member of NATO and a candidate member of the European Union. Should the threat posed by Iran to the Middle East eventually be neutralized, Turkey stands ready to assume Tehran’s mantle, with the notable advantage that, unlike Iran’s rulers, Erdoğan shamelessly participates in the institutions created by Western democracies while decrying and undermining the values and policies these same institutions represent.
Over in Gaza, Hamas—lauded by Erdoğan as a “resistance organization that strives to protect its lands”—is separately facing the wrath of its own people. During its long reign in Gaza since 2007, Hamas has periodically faced local opposition over its corruption and the brutal character of its rule. Yet the current demonstrations, which began after Israel issued evacuation orders for the northern part of the enclave following the resumption of rocket attacks against Israeli communities adjacent to the Gaza border, are unprecedented. Protestors are calling for an end to Hamas rule during a time of war no less. Their chants include “Out, out Hamas,” “Our children’s blood is not cheap” and the simple “Stop the war.”As I noted on the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas pogrom in southern Israel, a distinct sense of war fatigue was already settling in among many ordinary Palestinians. Even so, fatigue at being relentlessly bombed by Israel has not translated into serious regret for the Oct. 7 atrocities, during which thousands of Palestinian civilians crossed the border alongside Hamas to take part in the slaughter and the mass rapes. Quite a few commentators have pointed out that, even under Nazi rule, there were many Europeans who risked their lives to save beleaguered Jews, yet in Gaza—as borne out in the testimonies of some of the freed hostages—not a single Palestinian has done the same on behalf of the abducted Israelis. Even now, as the current wave of protests highlights widespread dissatisfaction with their Hamas rulers, Palestinians have refrained from demanding the release of the remaining hostages and a definitive end to terrorist provocations and attacks upon Israel. Doing so would, of course, secure an end to the war that has destroyed their homes and livelihoods.
Even at this stage, it’s possible to draw two conclusions from the Gaza protests.
First, the very fact that they are taking place at all demonstrates the degree to which Israel’s military campaign has degraded Hamas’s enforcement capabilities. As a result, Hamas has been compelled to issue contradictory messages regarding its view of the protests. On the one hand, Hamas spokesman Bassem Naim tried to spin them as demonstrations of anger against Israel. But on the other—and perhaps this is a more truthful reflection of the terror group’s view—a statement issued by the “Factions of Resistance,” which includes Hamas, claimed that the protests “persist in blaming the resistance and absolving the occupation, ignoring that the Zionist extermination machine operates nonstop,” threatening that “these suspicious individuals are as responsible as the occupation for the bloodshed of our people and will be treated accordingly.”
Second, the protests are an acknowledgment by the exhausted Gazans that Israel cannot be defeated militarily and that any future attempts at a pogrom will be met with a similarly devastating response. If Israel cannot be defeated on the battlefield, then how will Hamas fulfill its goal of eliminating the Jewish state as a sovereign entity? Through democratic means? It’s hard to see many Israelis voting for the dissolution of their own state to live under the rule of those who would rape their daughters and murder their babies.
The realization is dawning among Palestinians that the Oct. 7 pogrom was a tactical success but a long-term failure. Israel isn’t disappearing. And maybe that’s the best we can hope for at this juncture—a peace based on grudging acceptance of Israel’s reality, combined with the fear that any attempt to undo that reality will result in the kind of military campaign that we have witnessed over the last 17 months. In a Middle East without Hamas and without Erdoğan—neither an easily attainable prospect, but far more so than the aim of wiping Israel from the map—that cold peace could blossom into something with more meaningful value.
*Ben Cohen is a senior analyst with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD) and director of FDD’s rapid response outreach, specializing in global antisemitism, anti-Zionism and Middle East/European Union relations.

How Saudi diplomacy can help resolve region’s crises
Hassan Al-Mustafa/Arab News/March 31, 2025
Under King Salman’s directives, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman last week attended a meeting with the defense ministers of Syria and Lebanon in Jeddah. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the parties signed an agreement emphasizing “the strategic importance of demarcating the borders between the two countries, forming legal and specialized committees and activating coordination mechanisms to address security and military challenges, particularly those that may arise along the shared border. Additionally, the parties agreed to hold a follow-up meeting in Saudi Arabia in the near future.”
This meeting came after direct communication channels between the Syrian and Lebanese governments broke down following clashes that took place along their shared border, resulting in injuries among both military personnel and civilians. These developments were accompanied by growing fears of further escalation and concerns related to the possible exploitation of these security flaws by gangs involved in drug smuggling and trafficking.
A Saudi source pointed out that Riyadh is committed to creating the best “conditions to resolve the dispute through diplomatic and political means that guarantee the restoration of security and stability. This aims to protect civilians from any harm or damage that could result from armed clashes along the shared border and to mitigate the humanitarian impact and negative repercussions of such events on the security and stability of both countries.” The source also stressed that Saudi Arabia firmly believes that “dialogue is the only way to reach a peaceful resolution to any dispute between Syria and Lebanon.”
Saudi Arabia has a vested interest in resolving the dispute between Beirut and Damascus, as the Kingdom has been a primary target of drug smuggling and trafficking operations originating from the shared border between the two countries. However, the meeting held in Jeddah was not solely focused on curbing drug and arms smuggling. It also aimed to “promote regional and international security and stability,” which is a key driver of Saudi diplomacy.
Meanwhile, a Saudi delegation, led by Ambassador Ali bin Hassan Jafar, arrived in Sudan. The delegation also included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Saudi Fund for Development and the Saudi aid agency KSrelief. Riyadh considers that there is an ongoing large-scale humanitarian crisis affecting the Sudanese people and strongly believes that it cannot be resolved without halting the armed conflict and working toward a political solution. This move comes as a continuation of the joint Saudi-US efforts initiated in Jeddah at the outset of the fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. Sudan is not only a neighboring country but also a key part of Saudi Arabia’s security landscape, particularly since millions of Sudanese nationals have lived and worked in the Kingdom in recent decades. Additionally, both countries border the Red Sea, which presents shared security risks if the conflict persists. The security of the Red Sea and the countries surrounding it is a priority for Saudi Arabia. This is especially true given the numerous economic and tourism projects it is implementing along its western coast, as well as the presence of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.
Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic efforts are not limited to neighboring and Arab states, as they also extend to hosting Russia-US and Ukraine-US peace talks, which were praised by both US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Saudi Arabia is also communicating and coordinating with Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky, who visited Jeddah and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It is important to recall, in this context, the broader Arab and Islamic diplomatic efforts led by Saudi Arabia since the events of Oct. 7, 2023, along with the international efforts it has exerted to end the Israeli aggression against Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, and to contribute to the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been a key player in these efforts, serving not only as a policymaker but also as an executive body that implements royal directives. This means that the statements issued by the ministry, along with the positions expressed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, are an expression of the Saudi leadership’s positions and a practical interpretation of them.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs started out as a small office in Makkah during the reign of King Abdulaziz, before relocating to Jeddah and eventually to Riyadh. This carries a spiritual and cultural significance, as the ministry initially operated from the holy city, home to the Kaaba, toward which Muslims direct their prayers five times a day. Consequently, Saudi Arabia’s foreign policies are grounded in a moral and ethical framework that cannot be disregarded.
This compels the Kingdom to shoulder a greater responsibility as the leader of the Muslim world, providing Saudi Arabia with considerable symbolic power and capital. However, it also reinforces its commitment to principled approaches, making it less pragmatic when addressing issues that concern Muslims in general, such as the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. In this context, the crown prince has reaffirmed Riyadh’s commitment to this goal, stating that there will be no normalization with Israel without it.
Along with the broader values related to Islamic responsibilities, Saudi diplomacy is also characterized by a strong commitment to noninterference in the internal affairs of other nations.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign policies are grounded in a moral and ethical framework that cannot be disregarded. These policies rely on a participatory approach and amicable solutions, avoiding ruptures and conflicts as much as possible. They also prefer communication and dialogue over security and military confrontations. This principle has become evident in Saudi Arabia’s effective recent de-escalation efforts, whether with Iran, the Houthis in Yemen or neighboring Arab countries like Iraq, where the Kingdom has pursued containment policies despite the presence of hostile militias. Flexibility in its positions is another hallmark of Saudi diplomacy, enabling the Kingdom to simultaneously engage with China, Russia, the US, Ukraine and the EU, despite their often conflicting interests. This flexibility showcases Saudi Arabia’s strength and effectiveness. Despite being surrounded by nations facing chronic crises and armed conflicts, Riyadh has consistently demonstrated its ability to swiftly adapt to these changing circumstances. Its relationship with Syria’s new rulers stands as a prime example of this flexibility, which is based on realism, strength and caution at the same time, as it moves neither too hastily nor too slowly.
**Hassan Al-Mustafa is a Saudi writer and researcher interested in Islamic movements, the development of religious discourse and the relationship between the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Iran. X: @Halmustafa

Who will step in to save the Palestinians?
Chris Doyle/Arab News/March 31, 2025
The Israeli government is engaging in three processes that are shaping the future of Palestinians: ethnic cleansing, genocide and apartheid. This is what Palestinians face. Emphasis should be on the word “process.” All three take place over time. All three were at play prior to Oct. 7, 2023, for those who were not paying attention. And all this occurs as international law is being ripped up, alongside the legal institutions established to deal with these very atrocities. In Gaza, Israel is now offering a US-endorsed choice: ethnic cleansing or genocide. Stay and be killed, that is via bombing, starvation or disease. Or Palestinians can leave, to a third country, never to return — textbook ethnic cleansing. Palestinians in the West Bank have faced a regime of apartheid for years. The systematic discrimination against Palestinians is only getting worse. Sunday’s decision to push ahead with the so-called fabric of life road to the east of Jerusalem will create yet another example of Israeli citizens benefiting from a first-class road and Palestinians being forced on to riskier, slower routes, while being denied access to yet more areas around Jerusalem. Ethnic cleansing is a feature in the West Bank too, as it was within what is now Israel between 1947 and 1949. Israeli settlers and the military authorities drive this process. About 50,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced since mid-January, with sites like the Jenin refugee camp rendered uninhabitable. Settler-army attacks on Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills have only escalated since the Oscars triumph for the film “No Other Land.”Israel is on the cusp of annexing all or part of the West Bank. Annexation, no doubt endorsed by the US, will be the formal confirmation of this apartheid. We can be certain that Palestinian residents of the West Bank will not be offered the vote in Israel or equal rights, or anything close. With these terminal processes heating up and the White House actively encouraging them, who can step in to save the Palestinian people? That sounds stark and it is meant to. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ilk within Israel have never accepted Palestinians have rights as a people. For him, they do not have any collective rights but might be allowed temporary status if they behave. If some Palestinians do survive these processes, they will be foreigners living in a state of Israel — tolerated guests.
The most powerful force likely to prevent such a scenario is within Israel itself. A recent poll showed that 73 percent of Israelis want January’s Gaza ceasefire deal to enter the second phase; in other words, for the pause in the bloodshed to resume. The unhappiness with Netanyahu’s imperial rule is also escalating, as he trashes the vestigial remains of Israel’s institutions. Arab states lack the clout on their own. Too many key states — from Iraq to Syria and Libya — are in too fragile a condition to offer any genuine support. The wider Islamic world is an option but here too there are divisions.
China and Russia are not seriously engaged. Besides, both enjoy the benefits of the US trashing its own reputation across much of the world. Israel’s grave breaches of international law — all Washington-approved — also give them the cover to commit the same breaches when needed.
Perhaps Europe is the only bloc that might make a difference. Europe has punched below its weight for so long in this conflict. It has considerably more power than its leaders let on. Most of Israel’s trade is with Europe. Already at odds with most of the Middle East, Israel can hardly afford to fall out with Europe too. Could leading Arab states and European powers work together? A few signs of this have sprouted. On March 8, the UK, France, Germany and Italy put out a joint statement welcoming the Arab League’s reconstruction plan for Gaza. It was never stated explicitly, but it was a clear repudiation of President Donald Trump’s “riviera” plan.
This is a watershed moment. Europe has to be prepared to challenge Israel’s total impunity. Follow-up is vital. European powers can get even more involved in backing the plan, including pledging serious funds for it and helping shape some of the detail. It could become an Arab-Euro plan, with the emphasis on the former. Others like Canada could also get involved. This coalition plan would be far harder for the US and Israel to dismiss in the arrogant fashion they have exhibited thus far. It also requires a joint Euro-Arab call to return to the January ceasefire and enter phases two and three of that plan. This would tie Europe to the broader sway of Israeli public opinion. This is a watershed moment. Europe has to be prepared to challenge Israel’s total impunity. Netanyahu will not stop unless there is a serious cost to him continuing down this path. This could range from disengagement with Israel, such as reducing the scale of ties, to all-out sanctions. Protesters throughout the world have for years been screaming “Free Palestine.” Soon, it will have to be “Save Palestine.”
**Chris Doyle is director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding in London. X: @Doylech

Gazans deserve a future free from fear
Hani Hazaimeh/Arab News/March 31, 2025
As the crescent moon began rising, signaling the arrival of Eid Al-Fitr, millions across the Muslim world prepared to celebrate. At this usually joyful time, streets are adorned with colorful lights, families gather for festive meals and children run through neighborhoods, their laughter echoing through the night. But in Gaza, there is no celebration — only silence, grief and the relentless sound of warplanes overhead. The only lights piercing the darkness are those of explosions, the only gatherings are funerals and the only thing children receive is the unbearable trauma of war. How can one celebrate when Palestinians in Gaza are burying their loved ones? How can one embrace joy when there is unimaginable grief? The contrast is too painful to ignore. Eid is meant to be a time of reflection, gratitude and renewal of faith. It marks the end of Ramadan, a month of patience, sacrifice and devotion. But for the people of Gaza, fasting was not by choice — it was forced upon them by an unrelenting siege, by bombed-out bakeries, by an economic stranglehold designed to starve them into submission.
For decades, the Palestinian people have endured dispossession, displacement and systematic violence. But what the world is witnessing today is an escalation of brutality that surpasses even the horrors of the past. Hospitals have been turned into graveyards. Entire families have been wiped out. Children who survived one bombing wake up to find themselves orphaned after the next. The land beneath them is scorched, their dreams shattered before they even have the chance to imagine a future.
Yet, despite the scale of the tragedy, the response from much of the world remains woefully inadequate. Statements of outrage flood social media, yet the siege remains unbroken. Protests erupt in capitals across the world, but governments still hesitate to take decisive action.
Diplomatic pressure is no longer enough. Economic sanctions, arms embargoes and political isolation should be on the table.
The suffering of Gaza is not an accident of war. It is the result of a deliberate strategy of occupation, blockade and collective punishment. Every airstrike, every demolished building, every restriction on food, water and medical supplies is part of a calculated effort to break the will of an entire people. And yet, despite clear evidence of war crimes, Western powers continue to supply Israel with weapons, diplomatic cover and unwavering political support.
Where is the decisive action that matches the gravity of the moment? Diplomatic pressure is no longer enough. Economic sanctions, arms embargoes and political isolation should be on the table. There must be consequences for a regime that commits war crimes with impunity. If Western powers refuse to act because of their own strategic interests, then it falls upon the Arab and Islamic world to lead the way.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and other regional bodies must take coordinated, concrete steps — whether through legal action at the International Criminal Court, the severing of economic and trade relations or the provision of direct and sustained support to the Palestinians. The world must understand that the Palestinian struggle is not just a regional issue — it is a moral and humanitarian crisis that demands global intervention.
While governments and institutions bear the greatest responsibility, individuals cannot afford to be passive observers. Silence is complicity. The power of collective action has already shown its strength. Protests in cities across the world have kept Palestine in the global consciousness. Student movements, labor unions and civil society groups have mobilized in ways that challenge governmental and corporate complicity. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has proven that economic pressure works. The fight for Palestinian liberation does not end with a ceasefire — it ends only when occupation, apartheid and oppression are dismantled. The children of Gaza deserve to live, to laugh and to celebrate, just as every child should. They deserve more than temporary aid; they deserve a future where they are free from fear, where they are not trapped in an open-air prison, where they can dream beyond the next airstrike. Until that day comes, our joy will always be incomplete and our celebrations will carry the weight of their suffering.
**Hani Hazaimeh is a senior editor based in Amman. X: @hanihazaimeh

The imminent threat of civil war in Israel
Ramzy Baroud/March 31, 2025
The words “civil war” are among the most dominant used by Israeli politicians today. What began as a mere warning from Israeli President Isaac Herzog is now an accepted possibility for much of Israel’s mainstream political society. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is ready to sacrifice everything for his survival and we are closer to a civil war than people realize,” former PM Ehud Olmert stated in an interview with The New York Times last week.
The assumption is that the feared civil war reflects the political polarization in Israel: two groups divided by strong views on war, the role of government, the judiciary, budget allocations and other issues. However, this assumption is not entirely accurate. Nations can be divided along political lines, but mass protests and security crackdowns do not necessarily indicate that a civil war is imminent. In Israel’s case, references to civil war stem from its historical context and social-ethnic makeup. An important but largely concealed CIA report, titled “Israel: The Sephardi-Ashkenazi Confrontation and Its Implications,” was almost prescient in its ability to detail future scenarios for a country with deep socioeconomic and, therefore, political divisions. The report was prepared in 1982 but only released in 2007. It followed the 1981 elections, in which the Likud Party, led by Menachem Begin, won 48 seats in the Knesset, while Labor under Shimon Peres won 47. Ashkenazi (European) Jews had for decades dominated all aspects of power in Israel. This dominance makes sense: Zionism was essentially a Western ideology and all elements of the state — military (Haganah), parliamentary (the Knesset), colonial (the Jewish Agency) and economic (Histadrut) — were largely composed of Western European Jewish classes.
Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews, of Arab Middle Eastern backgrounds, arrived in Israel mostly after its establishment on the ruins of historic Palestine. By then, the Ashkenazim had already established dominance, controlling the country’s political and economic institutions, speaking the dominant languages and making major decisions. Begin’s election victories in 1977 and 1981 came after an arduous battle against Ashkenazi dominance. The Likud, a coalition of several right-wing factions, was established four years before the first of those triumphs. Through appealing to and manipulating the grievances of fringe ideological and ethnic groups, Likud managed to remove the Ashkenazi-dominated Labor Party from power.
The 1981 elections represented a desperate Labor attempt to regain power and thus class dominance. However, the almost perfect ideological split only highlighted the new rule that would govern Israel for many elections — and decades — to come, where Israeli politics became dominated by ethnic orders: East versus West, religious fanaticism versus nationalistic extremism, though often masked as “liberal” and the like.
Since then, Israel has either managed — or, more accurately, manufactured — external crises to cope with internal divisions. For example, the 1982 war on Lebanon helped, at least for a while, to distract from its shifting social dynamics.
Though Begin and his supporters reshaped Israeli politics, the deep-rooted dominance of Ashkenazi-led institutions allowed Western liberals to continue their control over the army, the police, the Shin Bet and most other sectors. The Sephardic political resurgence mainly focused on populating Israel’s illegal settlements in the Occupied Territories and increasing privileges and funding for religious institutions.
It took nearly two decades after Begin’s 1977 victory for the Sephardic constituency to expand its power and establish dominance over key military and political institutions.
Netanyahu’s 1996 coalition marked the beginning of his rise and the start of coalition-building with Sephardic and Mizrahi alliances.
To maintain that newfound power, the political core of Likud had to change, as Sephardic and Mizrahi representation increased exponentially within Israel’s now-dominant party.
Though it is accurate to argue that Netanyahu has managed Israeli politics ever since by manipulating the grievances of disadvantaged socioeconomic, religious and ethnic groups, the fundamental change in Israel, as correctly predicted in the CIA document, was likely to happen based on the country’s own dynamics. Netanyahu and his allies accelerated Israel’s transformation. To permanently marginalize the Ashkenazim, they needed to take control of all institutions that had largely been dominated by European Jews, starting with altering the system of checks and balances that had existed in Israel since its inception.
In Israel’s case, references to civil war stem from its historical context and social-ethnic makeup. This battle preceded the Israeli genocide in Gaza. It largely began when Netanyahu rebelled against the Supreme Court and attempted to fire then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in March 2023. The mass protests that followed highlighted the growing chasm.
The war on Gaza further widened these divisions, with Netanyahu and his allies deflecting all blame and using the events of Oct. 7 and the subsequent failed war as an opportunity to eliminate their political rivals. Once again, they turned their gaze toward the judiciary, reordering the system to ensure that Israel, as envisioned by Western Zionists, was transformed into a completely different political order. Though the Ashkenazim are losing most of their political power, they continue to hold most of the economic cards, which could lead to disruptive strikes and civil disobedience. For Netanyahu and his supporters, a compromise is not possible because it would only signal the return of the balancing act that started in the early 1980s. For the Ashkenazi power base, submission would mean the end of Israel’s David Ben-Gurion, Chaim Weizmann and others — essentially, the end of Zionism itself.
With no possible compromise in sight, civil war in Israel becomes a real possibility — and perhaps an imminent one. **Dr. Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and author. He is editor of The Palestine Chronicle and nonresident senior research fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs. His latest book, co-edited with Ilan Pappe, is “Our Vision for Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders and Intellectuals Speak Out.” X: @RamzyBaroud