English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For April 20/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Great Sunday of the Resurrection
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark
16/01-08:”When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of
James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very
early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the
tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us
from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone,
which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb,
they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and
they were alarmed.But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for
Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look,
there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he
is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’
So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized
them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on April 19-20/2025
Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen! We are witnesses to His
Resurrection./Elias Bejjani/April 20/2025
Text & Video: The Delusions and Insanity of Naim Qassem, Wafiq Safa, Mahmoud
Qmati, Qassem Qasir, and the Rest of the Iranian Puppet Choir/Elias Bejjani/April
19, 2025
Holy Saturday: When Light Triumphed Over Darkness, and Hope Over Despair/Elias
Bejjani/April 19/2025
Good Friday: The Day of Greatest Love and Perfect Sacrifice/Elias Bejjani/April
18/2025
Holy Thursday – A Celebration of Love, Sacrifice, and Divine Mysteries/Elias
Bejjani/April 17/2025
Lebanese leaders criticize Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm/NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arabic
News/April 19, 2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on April 19-20/2025
Israeli PM says to return hostages without giving in to ‘Hamas dictates’
Jordan participates in Palestine reconstruction forum in Istanbul
Hamas says ‘no’ to new Israeli bid to rewrite Gaza truce
Gaza aid delivery focus of talks in Turkiye
Gazans resort to turtle meat in hunt for food
President Ahmad Al-Sharaa hosts first US Congress member to visit post-Assad
Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin announces an Easter ceasefire in Ukraine
Suspected herders kill at least 17 in
Nigeria
Pompeo airs skepticism of Iran, US nuclear talks
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sourceson
on April 19-20/2025
Iran's Endless Rounds of Negotiation: Delay, Deceive, Cheat/Majid
Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/April 19, 2025
A balanced perspective on Saudi-American relations/Dr. Turki Faisal Al-Rasheed/April
19, 2025
Israeli army is more divided than ever/Yossi Mekelberg/April 19, 2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on April 19-20/2025
Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen! We are witnesses to His
Resurrection.
Elias Bejjani/April 20/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142519/
Our resurrection with the Lord Jesus Christ begins today and continues every day
of our lives, through the power of the Holy Spirit—just as it began in the lives
of the apostles on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon
them. This is what we experience and express through our diverse liturgical
celebrations, especially in the procession of the triumphant and redemptive
Cross, and in the Rite of Peace during the Feast of the Resurrection, the Feast
of Feasts.
The risen Christ is present in every word spoken by our tongues—for in the
beginning was the Word, and the Word is God, and God has granted us this Word so
that we may glorify Him. He is present in our freedom, our choices, our
decisions, and our actions—blessing all we do with divine purpose. Yet worldly
matters often tempt and mislead us, ensnaring us with our instincts and desires.
As a result, our faith weakens, our hope falters, and we drift from the
teachings of the Gospel. We begin to neglect our duties toward our Heavenly
Father and toward our fellow human beings.
Theologically, if we do not believe in the Resurrection, we are not truly
Christians. Our faith becomes void, for the central mystery of Christianity lies
in the incarnation, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus
Christ. The core of our belief is that Christ, who was crucified and died, has
truly risen and lives among us forever. He is alive in our conscience, in our
hearts, in our thoughts, and He constantly watches over us, guiding us.
The Resurrection of Christ from the dead is, in truth, the resurrection of all
humankind who seek new life. It is a fundamental truth: “He is not here; He has
risen.” (Luke 24:6)
We firmly believe that Christ rose from the dead and lives within us. Because no
one witnessed the exact moment of His resurrection, it remains a matter of
faith—a faith rooted in the witness of the holy apostles and passed down through
every generation of the Church. The Resurrection is not just a historical
event—it is a spiritual eruption, a volcano of faith igniting the heart, mind,
and soul of the believer. Through this faith, we are justified and emboldened to
walk steadfastly on the path of salvation.
When God raised Jesus from the dead, it was not simply a miraculous act for
Christ alone—it was for all people, so that they might believe in Him as the Son
of God and see God as a loving and forgiving Father. God offered His only Son to
redeem us. If our Heavenly Father did not withhold His Son but handed Him over
for our sake, should we not, in return, be grateful, devoted, and faithful?
Easter—the Feast of Hope, Life, and Renewal—calls us all to renew our faith in
the victorious Christ who triumphed through suffering, death, and resurrection.
It invites us to strengthen our trust in the Church and the successor of Saint
Peter. It invites us to sincere repentance through which we gain God’s grace and
to cultivate true brotherhood, without which we cannot attain dignity, peace, or
stability.
How urgently we need today to reflect on the deep meanings and mysteries of the
Resurrection. Our selfishness, greed, and shallow priorities have paralyzed us,
leading us to forget that we are children of God—created in His image and
likeness, our bodies temples for His Spirit. He gave His only Son to redeem us
and lead us out of the darkness of original sin.
Through His crucifixion and death, Christ conquered death, and on the third day,
He rose, lifting us with Him into new life—clothed in the renewed and purified
self, freed from burdens and sins. His Resurrection is ours, too. As Saint Paul
declared: “Christ lives in me.”
Through Christ’s Resurrection, we become the new human, reborn in baptism,
filled with love, forgiveness, peace, purity, gentleness, and respect for human
dignity and freedom.
Let us roll away the stone from our hearts—the stone of sin, corruption,
selfishness, hatred, and division—and cast out all that belongs to the Evil One.
Let us ask the victorious Christ to bless our beloved Lebanon and its
people—both in the homeland and across the world—so that they may live in peace
and well-being. Let us bear witness today to the truth of the Resurrection and
declare with a loud voice: “Christ is alive in us!”
Let us greet one another with the holy kiss of peace, in firm and unwavering
faith. We conclude with the words of Saint Paul to the Colossians (3:1–5):
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above,
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things
above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with
Christ in God.”
Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen! We are witnesses to His Resurrection.
Text & Video: The
Delusions and Insanity of Naim Qassem, Wafiq Safa, Mahmoud Qmati, Qassem Qasir,
and the Rest of the Iranian Puppet Choir
Elias Bejjani/April 19, 2025
To begin with, we must make it clear: Hezbollah is a terrorist, militant,
criminal, defeated, and foolish mafia-style gang. Its leaders and followers are
fully brainwashed by Iran’s Wilayat al-Faqih ideology. They are not a
resistance, not Lebanese, not Arabs, and not even part of normal, rational
humanity.
They are mercenaries and hired guns—slaves, servants, and soldiers for the
Iranian regime. Their behavior, speeches, and twisted thinking show they are
mentally ill and in need of professional treatment. They are completely
disconnected from reality, lost in delusions, hallucinations, and fantasy
dreams.
They are detached from all real military, financial, scientific, and healthcare
capabilities—both their own and Iran’s. What’s worse is their blind
underestimation of their enemies: Israel, the U.S., the West, Arab countries,
and 99% of the world.
Hezbollah’s core problem—among both leaders and members—is stupidity, ignorance,
and a complete lack of human emotion or compassion. Their terrorist actions show
no logic, no responsibility, and no foresight. They hate their own people, using
them as tools, shields, and sandbags—sacrificing them in insane, losing wars,
just like Hamas did in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen.
Hezbollah, like all branches of political Islam—both Shiite and Sunni—is fully
detached from reality and trapped in outdated ideas dating back to the Stone
Age.
Its leaders and members are filled with arrogance and delusions of grandeur.
They blindly follow the orders of their Iranian masters without question. This
is a mental catastrophe for Hezbollah, and the same applies to all forms of
political Islam.
Any sane Lebanese who listens to the nonsense, lies, and disgusting talk of
Wafiq Safa, Mahmoud Qmati, Qassem Qasir, Naim Qassem, and the rest of their
mouthpieces will immediately realize that they are nothing but tools. Iran gives
the orders, and they obey like slaves—ready to fight to the last man and woman
from their Shiite community in particular, and the Lebanese population in
general—because their lives mean nothing to them or to their masters, the
Iranian mullahs.
In conclusion, Hezbollah’s leaders, members, propagandists, and their Iranian
masters, the mullahs, are not part of sane and rational humanity. No one can
deal with them in any way except through force, because that is the only
language they understand. This is the language Israel used in Gaza, leaving
behind only destruction. It used the same language in Lebanon, leaving most of
the South, the Bekaa, and the Dahieh in ruins, full of corpses. And surely,
Israel will continue using this method to eliminate Hezbollah and uproot what’s
left of its hijacked and suffering environment.
Tragically, Hezbollah is offering Israel every excuse to do so—because human
life means nothing to its leaders or to their Iranian masters.
In summary, the Lebanese government must take its responsibilities seriously. It
must act decisively, without tricks, excuses, Dhimmitude, or cowardice, to
confront Hezbollah’s criminal gang and implement all U.N. resolutions and
ceasefire accord with force. If they can’t—or won’t—the president and the
government must resign and make way for brave leaders with vision and
determination, who want to liberate Lebanon, not entrench Iran’s occupation
through its proxy party.
Holy Saturday: When Light Triumphed Over Darkness, and Hope Over Despair
Elias Bejjani/April 19/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142476/
Each year, in the stillness of contemplation and the sacred anticipation of the
Resurrection, the Church commemorates one of the most profound and spiritually
rich moments in the journey of redemption: Holy Saturday—the day that stands
between the agony of the Cross and the glory of the Resurrection.
This is not a day of mourning, but a day of radiant hope. It is the silent
threshold before Easter dawns—the moment when Christ passed through death to
illuminate humanity’s path to eternal life. On this sacred day, the earth may
have closed over the body of Jesus, but heaven remained open, and hope was alive
and burning.
Even in death, Jesus was not absent from the world. He descended into Hades,
into the depths of human suffering and death, to break the chains of bondage and
liberate the souls held captive.
“For You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to
see decay.”(Acts 2:27, quoting Psalm 16:10)
These prophetic words, spoken by St. Peter in his sermon at Pentecost, remind us
that even as Christ lay in the tomb, the work of salvation was still unfolding.
Holy Saturday was not an empty pause between death and life, but rather a sacred
fullness, a divine mystery where the first rays of resurrection pierced the
heart of darkness.
On the dawn of that first Easter Sunday, the women came to the tomb with sorrow
in their hearts and spices in their hands. But what they found there changed
everything: “And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it... But
the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus
who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.’”(Matthew 28:2,
5–6)
Fear and confusion turned to awe and sacred joy. The One who was crucified was
no longer in the grave. The tomb was not a symbol of absence, but rather of
divine presence revealed in a new and glorious way. Christ's resurrection became
the eternal flame of hope—igniting faith in hearts and dispersing every shadow
of despair.
Holy Saturday is a sacred invitation to every believer not to remain in the
shadow of the cross, but to look forward to the radiance of the promised glory.
As Jesus foretold: “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of
men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise on the third
day.”
(Mark 9:31)
On this day, we contemplate the eternal conflict between life and death, and we
rejoice in the victory of light over darkness. The Resurrection was not merely a
past event—it is the foundational truth of our Christian faith. It proclaims
that love is stronger than hatred, that forgiveness triumphs over vengeance, and
that hope rises above every fear and despair.
“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who
raised Christ Jesus will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit
who dwells in you.”(Romans 8:11)
On Holy Saturday, we do not simply recall an ancient story—we renew our hope in
the promise of the Resurrection. We draw strength to face the struggles, pain,
and disappointments of this world, knowing that injustice may crucify the
righteous, but the light of Christ will rise from the grave.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing
with the glory that is to be revealed in us.”(Romans 8:18)
Let us remember, in the sacred silence of this day, that the grave is never the
final word. The sorrow will give way to joy, and the darkness will bow before
the eternal dawn. Christ is alive forever, and He calls us to walk as children
of the light, never surrendering to hopelessness, but clinging always to the
promise of the empty tomb.
Let us ignite within our hearts today the unquenchable flame of faith and hope.
Let us rejoice, because darkness has not and will never overcome the light.
Christ is risen—not as a memory, but as a living and eternal presence in the
life of every believer.
“Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in
the tombs bestowing life.”
Glory to You, O Lord, who turned the sorrow of Holy Saturday into the dawn of
Resurrection, and who transformed the darkness of the grave into a light that
never fades.
Good Friday: The Day of Greatest Love and Perfect Sacrifice
Elias Bejjani/April 18/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142417/
At the heart of history, on a hill called Golgotha outside the
walls of Jerusalem, the greatest scene of divine love was written: Jesus Christ,
the incarnate Son of God, was crucified to redeem humanity from the bondage of
sin and death. This is Good Friday — a day of sorrow, yes, but also a day of
hope; a day of the Cross, yet in essence, a day of complete love.
The cross, once a tool of shame and torment, was transformed in Christ into a
throne of the Kingdom and an altar of redemption. Jesus carried the cross not
for any sin He had committed, but for the sins of the whole world. As the
prophet Isaiah wrote: “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for
our iniquities…” (Isaiah 53:5).
In the cross we see the full revelation of divine love — a love without limits,
one that moved Jesus to willingly offer Himself: “Greater love has no one than
this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). This is perfect
sacrifice: God giving Himself on our behalf so that we may return to Him free
and justified.
The Word Became Flesh: God With Us in Our Pain.
Good Friday is not just a commemoration of the crucifixion. It is also a
proclamation of the mystery of the Incarnation. God did not remain distant in
the heavens but “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Jesus
shared in everything human — in joy and sorrow, in hunger and fatigue, in cries
and tears, even in death itself.
Christ’s suffering on the cross bears witness that God does not observe human
suffering from afar — He enters into it. He is the God who understands human
pain — not in theory, but through experience. “For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in
every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
In the peak of His agony, Christ forgave His executioners: “Father, forgive
them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). From the cross, He
opened the doors of forgiveness to all — to the thief on the right, to the
soldiers, to all of humanity. This is the essence of Good Friday: love stronger
than death, and forgiveness more powerful than hate.
Though Good Friday appears to be a day of grief, it is not the end of the story
— it is its beginning. The cross is never separate from the resurrection.
Christ’s death is the seed through which eternal life blossoms. Through His
suffering, we passed from death to life, from darkness to light.
Good Friday calls us not only to weep for the crucified Christ but to open our
hearts to the risen One — the One who loved us to the end and rose to give us
life. It is a call to faith, to hope, and to walk with Jesus on the path of the
cross, knowing that suffering is not the end, but the beginning of resurrection.
Let us carry our crosses each day with trust and hope, knowing that the One who
died for us is alive, and that “the love of Christ compels us…” (2 Corinthians
5:14).
On Good Friday, we do not only see a raised cross — we hear the voice of divine
love calling us: “Behold, I have loved you to the uttermost.”
Holy Thursday – A Celebration
of Love, Sacrifice, and Divine Mysteries
Elias Bejjani/April 17/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/38445/
On the Thursday preceding Good Friday—the day when Jesus was crucified—Catholics
around the world, including our Maronite Eastern Church, commemorate Thursday of
the Holy Mysteries. This sacred day is also known as Washing Thursday, Covenant
Thursday, and Great and Holy Thursday. It marks the Last Supper of Jesus Christ
with His twelve Apostles, as described in the Gospels. It is the fifth day of
the Holy Week of Lent, followed by Good Friday, Saturday of the Light, and
Easter Sunday.
At its core, Christianity is a faith of love, sacrifice, honesty, transparency,
devotion, hard work, and humility. During the Last Supper, Jesus reaffirmed and
embodied these divine values. In this solemn and meaningful setting, He
performed several key acts that laid the spiritual foundation of our faith:
He ordained His Apostles as priests, commanding them to proclaim God's message:
“You are the ones who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a
kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at
my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
(Luke 22:28–30)
He warned against betrayal and spiritual weakness, teaching that temptation and
evil can overcome those who detach themselves from God, lose faith, or worship
earthly treasures. Even Judas Iscariot, whom Jesus Himself had chosen, fell to
Satan’s temptation:
“But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. The Son of
Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” (Luke
22:21)
He washed His Apostles’ feet, setting an eternal example of humility, love, and
service:
“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me
‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your
Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s
feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
(John 13:12–15)
When the Apostles began arguing about who among them was the greatest, Jesus
responded with a powerful lesson in modesty:
“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them... But you are not to be like that.
Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who
rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table
or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you
as one who serves.” (Luke 22:24–27)
Thursday of the Holy Mysteries is so named because during the Last Supper, Jesus
instituted two of the most sacred sacraments of the Church: the Eucharist and
the Priesthood.
“Then He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, ‘Take this and share it among
yourselves. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine
until the kingdom of God comes.’ And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it,
and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in
remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying,
‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’” (Luke
22:17–20)
On this Holy Day, the Maronite Church relives the spirit of the Last Supper
through reverent prayers, liturgies, and longstanding sacred traditions:
The Patriarch blesses the Holy Chrism (Myron), along with the oils used for
baptism and anointing, which are then distributed to all parishes.
During the Holy Mass, the priest washes the feet of twelve parishioners—often
children—to symbolize Jesus’ act and the humility of service.
The faithful visit seven churches, a ritual signifying the fullness of the seven
sacraments of the Church: Priesthood, Eucharist, Holy Oil, Baptism,
Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Service.
It also honors the seven stations believed to be visited by the Virgin Mary as
she searched for her Son after His arrest: the place of detention, the Council
of the Priests, Herod’s palace (twice), Pilate’s headquarters (twice), and
finally Calvary.
This tradition is believed by some scholars to have originated in Rome, where
early Christian pilgrims visited the Seven Pilgrim Churches as a form of
penance: Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter, Saint Mary Major, Saint Paul Outside
the Walls, Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls, Holy Cross in Jerusalem, and
traditionally Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls. For the Jubilee Year 2000, Pope
John Paul II substituted the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Divine Love for Saint
Sebastian.
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is marked by the ringing of bells, which then fall
silent until the Easter Vigil. Worshipers spend the evening in prayer and
contemplation before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, meditating on the Agony in
the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent His final night before His
crucifixion.
Following the homily and foot washing, the Eucharist is solemnly processed to
the Altar of Repose, where it remains throughout the night. The main altar is
then stripped bare—along with all others in the church—symbolizing Christ’s
humility and the anticipation of His Passion.
Before celebrating the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, Christians live the
Paschal Mystery beginning with Thursday of the Sacraments, continuing through
Good Friday, and culminating in Saturday of the Light.
Because He loves us and desires our eternal salvation, Jesus Christ willingly
endured suffering, pain, humiliation, and death on the Cross—for our sake.
Let us pray on this Holy Day that we may always remember His love and sacrifice,
and strive to live lives of true faith, humility, forgiveness, and service.
Lebanese leaders criticize Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arabic News/April 19, 2025
BEIRUT: The Lebanese army on Saturday continued to detonate munitions left over
from the Israeli war in southern Lebanon, as well as confiscating ordnance in
the area south of the Litani River. Explosions were heard across southern
Lebanon, accompanied by reconnaissance flights from Lebanese army Cessna
aircraft south of the Litani River. During the most recent cabinet session, Army
Commander Gen. Rudolph Haykal confirmed that it was no longer possible to cross
the Litani River from north to south without passing through Lebanese Army
checkpoints. The commander also reviewed the seizure and confiscation of
equipment, weapons, and ammunition, presenting statistics from more than 5,000
missions. In a statement earlier this week, President Joseph Aoun announced that
weapons would be brought under state control this year. However, campaigns by
Hezbollah officials threaten to disrupt the path outlined by President Aoun and
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to achieve this end. On Saturday, several Lebanese
politicians came out against Hezbollah’s attempt to retain its weapons. The
Hezbollah leaders have not learned from the lessons of the catastrophe caused by
their party.
Ashraf Rifi, MP and former justice minister
“The remaining Hezbollah leaders have not learned from the lessons of the
catastrophe caused by their party,” said MP and former Justice Minister Ashraf
Rifi, claiming that Hezbollah was being “reckless” and holding on to weapons “in
support of Tehran, which is negotiating with the US at the expense of the
Lebanese.”He added: “These people appear to have lost essential wisdom and
reasoning skills. Sooner or later, the weapons will be surrendered and
dismantled; history does not move backward.”Rifi’s comments followed a series of
statements from Hezbollah in recent days, in which the group rejected the notion
of surrendering its weapons to the state. They issued a threat to “cut off the
hand” of anyone who tried to disarm them. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim
Qassem said on Friday: “Remove this issue from your vocabulary, as no one will
disarm us.”He added that an Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction efforts must
come before any discussions of a defense strategy. Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon
Mojtaba Amani endorsed Hezbollah’s stance, stating on Saturday that “the
disarmament project is a clear plot against countries,” and warning against
“falling into Israel’s trap.”
The Iranian diplomat posted on X: “While the US supplies the Israeli regime with
the latest weapons and missiles, it simultaneously prevents other countries from
strengthening and arming their militaries. Using various pretexts, it pressures
them to reduce or destroy their arsenals.”He added that when countries agree to
disarmament demands, they become vulnerable to attacks and occupations, citing
Iraq, Libya, and Syria as examples. Amani stressed that Iran was aware of the
dangers posed by “this conspiracy and its threat to regional nations’ security.”
He said: “We warn others not to fall into Israel’s trap, as maintaining
deterrence is the first line of defense for sovereignty and independence, and it
should not be put at risk.”Hezbollah’s position has drawn widespread criticism,
however. MP Paula Yacoubian characterized it as a strategy to enhance Iran’s
negotiation position with the US, and said Lebanon was being used as a
bargaining chip. “Iran, which has poured billions into Hezbollah, now seeks
greater returns,” she said. “To preserve the regime, it is time to make
concessions, and the party must stop repeating outdated rhetoric while
reclaiming its Lebanese identity.”Former President Michel Suleiman said in a
statement: "No to threats of cutting off hands. No to hints of civil war. No to
discussions about the army's weaknesses. No to claims regarding the strength of
the resistance. No to the idea of keeping weapons in the south, the mountains,
the Bekaa, the north, or Beirut in the hands of anyone other than the state.
"Why is this important? Because if the state does not control weapons, then the
state and its institutions will not survive. "Consequently, the economy will not
prosper, and we will not restore our friendship with our sister state or the
international community."
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated that “resorting to threats,
especially regarding severing hands, has no place in a democratic state or a
country seeking civil peace.”He urged those using such rhetoric to stop, as
their actions have already caused “significant harm and damage to Lebanon and
its people,” adding that they should step aside and “allow the new leadership to
guide the country out of the tragedy” they have created. Geagea also urged
Hezbollah to focus on “rebuilding an effective state capable of restoring
dignity, pride, and a decent life for the Lebanese people, and take the
initiative to facilitate reconstruction efforts.”A political source told Arab
News that Hezbollah’s rejection of disarmament, most recently expressed by Naim
Qassem, aimed to preserve internal balance and boost morale within the party.
“Meanwhile, the Iranian position indicates that Iran is trying to control
Hezbollah. There may also be another explanation: they may be seeking to gain
time,” said the source.
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Israeli PM says to return
hostages without giving in to ‘Hamas dictates’
AFP/April 19, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Saturday to bring
home the remaining hostages in Gaza without yielding to Hamas’ demands,
insisting the military campaign in the Palestinian territory had reached a
“critical stage.”“I believe we can bring our hostages home without surrendering
to Hamas’s dictates,” Netanyahu said, in his first comments since Hamas, seeking
a permanent end to the Gaza war, rejected a new truce proposal from Israel. “We
are at a critical stage of the campaign, and at this point, we need patience and
determination to win.”The remarks drew a swift rebuttal from an Israeli campaign
group representing the hostages’ families, which accused Netanyahu of having “no
plan” for securing the captives’ freedom. “There is one clear, feasible, and
urgent solution that can be achieved now: reach a deal that will bring everyone
home — even if it means stopping the fighting,” Hostages and Missing Families
Forum said in a statement. Netanyahu, however, insisted that ending the war now
would embolden the country’s enemies. “Ending the war under these surrender
conditions would send a message to all of Israel’s enemies: that abducting
Israelis can bring Israel to its knees. It would prove that terrorism pays — and
that message would endanger the entire free world,” he said. Hamas, Netanyahu
said, was “demanding the end of the war and the continuation of its rule,” as
well as a full Israeli withdrawal, “which would enable Hamas to rearm and plan
more attacks against us.”“If we commit to ending the war, we will not be able to
resume fighting in Gaza,” he said. “So I ask you — did our soldiers fight in
vain? Did our heroes fall and suffer for nothing?“
Jordan participates in Palestine reconstruction forum in Istanbul
Arab News/April 19, 2025
AMMAN: Jordan has joined regional and international efforts to support the
reconstruction of Palestine, taking part in the Arab International Commission
for the Reconstruction of Palestine Forum, which opened Friday in Istanbul under
the theme “From the Rubble We Build Hope.”The Jordanian Contractors Association
participated in the forum’s activities under the auspices of the Higher
Committee for Reconstruction in Palestine, represented by its President Fouad
Duwairi and Vice President Marouf Ghananim, the Jordan News Agency reported. In
his address, Duwairi outlined the association’s efforts to assist reconstruction
efforts in Palestine and Gaza, highlighting the donations made by Jordanian
contractors in recent months. He also shared technical studies conducted by the
association, aimed at supporting rebuilding initiatives. Duwairi reaffirmed the
JCA’s commitment to aiding the Palestinian people, noting that Jordanian
contractors have donated machinery and construction equipment for reconstruction
efforts. A full inventory of tools and equipment earmarked for debris removal
and rebuilding has already been submitted. He explained that clearing the debris
and recycling materials in Gaza is expected to take approximately a year once
the enclave is divided into operational zones, stressing that Jordanian
contractors were fully prepared to engage in the reconstruction process. The JCA,
Duwairi added, has participated in several international conferences to explore
innovative methods for recycling construction materials for use in Gaza’s
rebuilding. Coordination continues with Jordanian contractors to secure the
necessary machinery and construction supplies in collaboration with the Higher
Committee for Reconstruction. In recognition of their contributions, the Arab
International Authority for the Reconstruction of Palestine honored Duwairi and
the JCA for their significant role in supporting reconstruction initiatives.
Hamas says ‘no’ to new Israeli bid to rewrite Gaza truce
AFP/April 19, 2025
GAZA: Hamas on Friday rejected Israel’s latest attempt to renegotiate the Gaza
ceasefire as at least 43 more Palestinians died in airstrikes. Among the victims
were 10 members of the Baraka family killed in an attack on their home near Khan
Younis. The Israeli military said its troops were operating in the Shabura and
Tel Al-Sultan areas near the southern city of Rafah, and in northern Gaza, where
it has taken control of large areas east of Gaza City. Last month Israel ended a
two-month truce that had largely halted fighting, and it has since seized about
a third of the enclave. A new Israeli offer to renew the truce for 45 days
included demands that Hamas release 10 Israeli hostages and lay down its arms.
The militants dismissed the proposal on Friday as imposing “impossible
conditions.” “Partial agreements are used by Benjamin Netanyahu as a cover for
his political agenda ... we will not be complicit in this policy,” a Hamas
spokesman said on Friday. Hamas sought “a comprehensive deal involving a
single-package prisoner exchange in return for halting the war, a withdrawal of
the occupation from the Gaza Strip, and the commencement of reconstruction,” the
spokesman said. Egyptian mediators have been trying to revive the original
January ceasefire deal but there has been little sign the two sides have moved
closer on fundamental issues.
Gaza aid delivery focus of talks in Turkiye
AFP/April 19, 2025
ISTANBUL: Turkiye’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met with Hamas leaders on
Saturday for talks about how to deliver aid to war-ravaged Gaza where Israel
resumed its military offensive last month. Kalin held talks with Mohammed
Darwish, head of the political council of Hamas, which rules Gaza, and his
delegation, Turkiye’s Anadolu state news agency reported, without saying where
the meeting took place. Media reports said it was in Turkiye. As well as
discussing ways to deliver humanitarian aid, they also spoke of initiatives to
secure a permanent ceasefire along with ways to counter Israeli plans to
displace Gaza’s population forcibly, Anadolu said, citing security sources.
Kalin reassured them of Turkiye’s ongoing support and said Ankara would firmly
oppose any new efforts to occupy or annex further Palestinian territory. After
18 months of devastating war and an Israeli aid blockade since March 2, the UN
has said Gaza is facing its most severe humanitarian crisis since the war began
in October 2023, triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel. Hamas on Thursday accused
Israel of using “starvation as a weapon” by blocking aid supplies. But Israel
has vowed to keep blocking humanitarian aid, saying it is the only way to force
Hamas to release the 58 hostages still held there.
Gazans resort to turtle meat in
hunt for food
AFP/April 19, 2025
KHAN YUNIS, Palestinian Territories: With food scarce in the besieged and
war-battered Gaza Strip, some desperate families have turned to eating sea
turtles as a rare source of protein. Once the shell has been removed, the meat
is cut up, boiled and cooked in a mix of onion, pepper, tomato and spices. “The
children were afraid of the turtle, and we told them it tasted as delicious as
veal,” said Majida Qanan, keeping an eye on the chunks of red meat simmering in
a pot over a wood fire. “Some of them ate it, but others refused.”For lack of a
better alternative, this is the third time 61-year-old Qanan has prepared a
turtle-based meal for her family who were displaced and now live in a tent in
Khan Yunis, southern Gaza largest city. After 18 months of devastating war and
an Israeli blockade on aid since March 2, the United Nations has warned of a
dire humanitarian situation for the 2.4 million inhabitants of the Palestinian
territory. Israel has accused Hamas of diverting aid, which the Palestinian
militant group denies. The heads of 12 major aid organizations warned on
Thursday that “famine is not just a risk, but likely rapidly unfolding in almost
all parts” of the territory.“There are no open crossings and there is nothing in
the market,” said Qanan. “When I buy two small bags (of vegetables) for 80
shekels ($22), there is no meat,” she added. Sea turtles are internationally
protected as an endangered species, but those caught in Gaza fishermen’s nets
are used for food. Qanan mixes the meat with flour and vinegar to wash it,
before rinsing and boiling it in an old metal pot. “We never expected to eat a
turtle,” fisherman Abdel Halim Qanan said. “When the war started, there was a
food shortage. There is no food. So (turtle meat) is an alternative for other
sources of protein. There is no meat, poultry or vegetables.”The UN’s Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned that Gaza is facing its most
severe humanitarian crisis since the war began on October 7, 2023, triggered by
Hamas’s attack on Israel. Fighting has raged in Gaza since then, pausing only
twice — recently during a two-month ceasefire between January 19 and March 17,
and in a previous one-week halt in late November 2023. The World Health
Organization’s regional chief Hanan Balkhy said in June that some Gazans were so
desperate that they were eating animal food, grass, and drinking sewage water.
Hamas on Thursday accused Israel of using “starvation as a weapon” against
Gazans by blocking aid supplies. Fisherman Qanan said the turtles were killed in
the “halal” method, in accordance with Islamic rites. “If there was no famine,
we would not eat it and leave it, but we want to compensate for the lack of
protein,” he said.
President Ahmad Al-Sharaa hosts first US Congress member to
visit post-Assad Syria
AP/April 19, 2025
Washington has already eased some sanctions on Syria affecting essential
services
DAMASCUS: Syria’s president on Saturday received a Republican member of Congress
in the first visit to the country by American legislators since the ouster of
former leader Bashar Assad in December. State news agency SANA did not give
details about the meeting between President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and Rep. Cory Mills
of Florida in the capital Damascus. It said the meeting was attended by Syrian
Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani, and comes in the wake of calls by Syria’s new
rulers for the lifting of sanctions imposed by the US and other Western nations
early in the conflict.
Since arriving in Syria on an unofficial visit Friday, Mills and Rep. Marlin
Stutzman of Indiana toured parts of Damascus, including the old quarter as well
as one of the oldest synagogues in the world that was badly damaged and looted
during the country’s 14-year conflict that killed half a million people. The
came at the invitation of the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity,
a US-based nonprofit that describes its mission as fostering “a sustainable
political, economic, and social partnership between the people of Syria and the
United States.”On Saturday, Stutzman visited the country’s notorious Saydnaya
Prison near Damascus, where tens of thousands of people were subjected to
killings and torture during the 54-year rule of the Assad family. Al-Sharaa’s
Islamist Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham group led the offensive that captured Damascus in
early December, forcing Assad and his family to flee to his ally Russia, where
he was given asylum. Days after Assad was removed from power, the then-Biden
administration decided not to pursue a $10 million reward it had offered for the
capture of Al-Sharaa, a former leader of Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria. The
announcement in December followed a meeting between Al-Sharaa and then top US
diplomat for the Middle East, Barbara Leaf, who led the first US diplomatic
delegation into post-Assad Syria.The Trump administration has yet to officially
recognize the current Syrian government and Washington has not yet lifted harsh
sanctions that were imposed during Assad’s rule.
After visiting the prison, Stutzman told reporters that he saw that the people
of Syria now have energy and optimism, adding that as the country’s new
government makes decisions, “it will be very helpful having the United States
understand what the changes are here and that the sanctions lifted would be a
huge economic boom.” Any move to lift sanctions “would be President Trump’s
decision,” he said. “As a member of Congress, I can go back home and share with
my colleagues, share with the president and others, and tell the story of the
changes that are happening in Syria and we want to be here to support that,”
Stutzman said. “We would not want to see Syria fall back in the hands of another
dictator.”After the fall of Assad, the US eased some restrictions on Syria to
allow the entry of humanitarian aid. The US Treasury issued a general license,
lasting six months, that authorizes certain transactions with the Syrian
government, including some energy sales and incidental transactions. Syrian
officials have been calling for the lifting of Western sanctions but the US
administration has been demanding steps by the country’s new authorities
including protecting the rights of religious and ethnic minorities.
“I think lifting the sanctions will be very beneficial and I understand why the
people that I’m encountering and traveling with want the sanctions lifted,”
Stutzman said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announces an Easter
ceasefire in Ukraine
AP/April 19, 2025
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday announced an Easter truce
in the conflict in Ukraine starting this evening and lasting till midnight on
Sunday. The short-term ceasefire proposal from Russia comes as President Donald
Trump has been pressing both Moscow and Kyiv to agree a truce, but has failed to
extract any major concessions from the Kremlin. “Today from 1800 (1500 GMT) to
midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian side announces an Easter truce,”
Putin said in televised comments, while meeting Russian chief of staff Valery
Gerasimov. Easter, a major holiday for Christians, is celebrated on Sunday. “I
order for this period to stop all military action,” Putin said, calling the
truce “based on humanitarian reasons.”“We are going on the basis that the
Ukrainian side will follow our example, while our troops must be ready to resist
possible breaches of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive
actions,” Putin said. He said that Gerasimov had told him Ukraine “more than 100
times... breached an agreement on not striking energy infrastructure.” Russia on
Friday abandoned a moratorium on striking Ukrainian energy targets after each
side accused the other of breaking a supposed deal without any formal agreement
put in place. The latest truce proposal will show “how sincere is the Kyiv’s
regime’s readiness, its desire and ability to observe agreements and participate
in a process of peace talks,” Putin said.Previous attempts at holding ceasefires
for Easter in April 2022 and Orthodox Christmas in January 2023 were not
implemented after both sides failed to agree on them.
Suspected herders kill at least 17 in Nigeria
Camillus Eboh/Reuters/April 19, 2025
At least 17 people were killed when suspected cattle herders attacked
communities in central Nigeria's Benue State on Thursday, police said, amid a
resurgence of deadly clashes between farmers and herders. Years of clashes have
disrupted food supplies from north-central Nigeria, a significant agricultural
area. The latest attacks came two days after 11 people were killed in the Otukpo
area of Benue and barely a week after gunmen attacked villages and killed more
than 50 people in neighbouring Plateau State. Since 2019, the clashes have
claimed more than 500 lives in the region and forced 2.2 million to leave their
homes, according to research firm SBM Intelligence. A separate group of
suspected herdsmen shot and killed five farmers around Gbagir in Benue's Ukum
Local Government Area, early on Friday, police said. The attackers opened fire
as police were moving in to confront them, police spokesperson Sewuese Anene
said in a statement. While officers were engaging the attackers at Ukum, another
12 people were killed in another attack in Logo local council area, about 70 km
away, police said.
Pompeo airs skepticism of Iran, US nuclear talks
Filip Timotija/The Hill/April 19, 2025
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo aired skepticism about the ongoing Iran-U.S.
nuclear deal talks and outlined what, in his view, a potential agreement with
the Islamic republic should look like.
“The thousands of victims of Iran’s terror machine know all too well that
‘living happily without death’ is impossible under the current regime. And a
fake deal focused solely on nuclear enrichment will result in far less happiness
and more death, not the reverse—not only for the Iranian people but for human
beings all across the world,” Pompeo wrote in an op-ed for The Free Press
published on Friday.
Pompeo, a longtime Iran hawk, said the Trump administration is negotiating a
deal while Iran is in its “weakest strategic point in decades” and the
president’s “hand could not be stronger.”Therefore, an agreement that permits
Iran to continue with its current nuclear rate of development is “not a deal
worth making,” according to the former CIA director.
Instead, similarly to what he shared in 2018, Pompeo argued a new accord with
Tehran should be based on three main conditions — Iran destroying all uranium
enrichment sites, stop providing political, military and financial support to
its proxies and striking a peace deal with its Gulf Arab neighbors, along with
doing away with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. On Saturday, the Trump
administration met for talks in Rome about Iran’s nuclear program. The meetings
were mediated by Omani officials.
Since returning to the White, Trump has said he wants to prioritize diplomatic
engagement with Iran over military action against Tehran. But the president
warned that if the talks are not fruitful, a military attack on Iran is on the
table. Pompeo said he agrees with Trump’s alternative option. “Iran’s closest
allies—the Chinese Communist Party and Vladimir Putin—are not likely to come to
Iran’s aid following such an attack, reducing risk still further. That Iran
might use all of its proxies to respond to such an attack is indeed a risk,”
Pompeo wrote. “But what’s more likely is that so long as the strikes only target
military and nuclear sites, Ayatollah Khamenei will not risk escalation.”
The former Trump officials slammed the more isolationist wing of the GOP and
those still supportive of the Obama-negotiated Iran deal, from which Trump
pulled out of in 2018, claiming they are only for two options: “war or a
deal.”“This is propaganda. It is a false choice propagated by those who would
prefer to coddle the regime in Tehran and cut a deal that will ensure that Iran
obtains a full-on nuclear weapons program over time. Ironically, this outcome
makes war more, not less, likely,” Pompeo said.
The former CIA director wrote that there are more options at the U.S.’s
disposal.
He wrote that the current administration could turn up the pressure and deter
Iran by “denying it the resources it needs to foment terror, rebuild the Shia
Crescent, and obtain weapons of mass destruction.”“Our chokehold on the Iranian
regime’s wealth in the first Trump term was effective. Iran was all but broke
after less than two years of maximum pressure,” he said. “The Ayatollah would
have faced a massive resource shortfall had President Biden and his team not
provided succor to the Iranian regime before Trump’s second term.”
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
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on April 19-20/2025
Iran's Endless Rounds of Negotiation: Delay,
Deceive, Cheat
Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/April 19, 2025
The Iranian regime's primary objective remains preserving its power. The mullahs
see their nuclear program as the key to their survival.
Any agreement should aim for nothing less than the total and permanent
dismantlement of Iran's nuclear capabilities. This means no enrichment, no
reprocessing, no heavy-water reactors, and no stockpiles – anywhere on the
planet -- of enriched uranium.
The dismantlement and enforcement processes must not be outsourced to any
international organizations or foreign governments.... Ensuring compliance must
lie directly with the United States and its most trusted regional ally, Israel.
Both countries have the intelligence capabilities, military readiness and
political will to ensure that any nuclear dismantlement is not only thorough but
irreversible.
Rounds of negotiations, verbal commitments or limited restrictions are
invitations to cheat. The mullahs' plan is one of delay and deception. America's
plan must be not to let them.
The Trump administration must not lose sight of the Iranian regime's history and
intentions. Iran has mastered the art of prolonging negotiations: appearing
cooperative while covertly advancing its strategic interests, especially
developing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. The mullahs see their nuclear
program as the key to their survival.
The Trump administration, after signaling a preference for dialogue over
confrontation, is engaging in renewed a diplomatic effort to end Iran's nuclear
program. President Donald J. Trump has made clear that he is not seeking war. "I
would prefer to make a deal," he stated recently, "because I'm not looking to
hurt Iran."
Given the devastating costs of war, focusing on negotiation rather than on
military intervention is a noble and responsible course of action. The Iranian
regime, however, is not new to such diplomatic games of chess. The mullahs have
mastered the art of prolonging negotiations: appearing cooperative while
covertly advancing their strategic interests, especially developing ballistic
missiles and nuclear weapons, and operating proxies in the region, such as
Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, not to mention Iran's own Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as well as smaller militias.
Iran, a theocratic virtual dictatorship, has remained in power for more than
four decades. It has survived revolutions, international isolation, crippling
sanctions, assassinations of military leaders, and confrontations with powerful
adversaries. The Iranian regime's primary objective remains preserving its
power. The mullahs see their nuclear program as the key to their survival.
The regime, in negotiations, invariably says all the right things, but its
actions tell a different story. The Obama administration, in 2015, imagined that
it had secured a historic deal with Iran. Subsequent reports revealed that Iran
was continuously violating the terms of that deal by secretly advancing its
nuclear work while simultaneously reaping the economic benefits of sanctions
relief. This dual-track strategy enabled Iran to strengthen its economy and its
nuclear infrastructure under the very deal meant to prevent it from doing
exactly that.
The Trump administration must not permit any proposals that merely curb or
"limit" Iran's nuclear program. A deal that focuses on temporary restrictions --
such as caps on uranium enrichment, the number of centrifuges, or oversight
timelines -- will only delay, not eliminate, the threat.
Iran has already demonstrated that it can wait out administrations, restart
halted projects, and return to nuclear activity with even more resolve once
restrictions expire. Any agreement should aim for nothing less than the total
and permanent dismantlement of Iran's nuclear capabilities. This means no
enrichment, no reprocessing, no heavy-water reactors, and no stockpiles –
anywhere on the planet -- of enriched uranium.
The dismantlement and enforcement processes must not be outsourced to any
international organizations or foreign governments. Historically, they have
failed to stop Iran or hold it accountable. Institutions such as the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Union have repeatedly
been too slow or too acquiescent in responding to violations, while Russia and
China have eagerly protected of the regime.
Ensuring compliance must lie directly with the United States and its most
trusted regional ally, Israel. Both countries have the intelligence
capabilities, military readiness and political will to ensure that any nuclear
dismantlement is not only thorough but irreversible. This, then, means that
American and Israeli experts should lead the verified destruction of Iran's
nuclear sites, with full access and no delays.
Above all, the US administration needs to resist the trap of prolonged
negotiations. Iran has used this tactic for decades: dragging talks into
multiple rounds, months, or even years, while, behind the scenes, continuing its
nuclear work. Under the guise of diplomacy, deadlines repeatedly get extended,
with no regard as to concrete outcomes. Trump, having reportedly given Iran a
strict two-month deadline to finalize a new deal, seems to recognize this
tactic. This is a crucial step in shifting leverage back to the U.S., but it
must be backed by the credible threat of consequences if Iran fails to comply.
While seeking a peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear threat is
commendable, the administration must not lose sight of the regime's history and
intentions. Iran's ruling elites will appear conciliatory while secretly
violating agreements and expanding their power. Rounds of negotiations, verbal
commitments or limited restrictions are invitations to cheat. The mullahs' plan
is one of delay and deception. America's plan must be not to let them.
**Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a political scientist, Harvard-educated analyst, and
board member of Harvard International Review. He has authored several books on
the US foreign policy. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu
**Follow Majid Rafizadeh on X (formerly Twitter)
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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/21565/iran-endless-negotiation
A balanced perspective on Saudi-American relations
Dr. Turki Faisal Al-Rasheed/April 19, 2025
The partnership between Saudi Arabia and the US has long been a cornerstone of
international relations, marked by both significance and contention.
The recent announcement of a visit by President Donald Trump to the Kingdom
serves as a pivotal moment, underscoring the historical roots of this alliance
and the pressing geopolitical dynamics that shape it today. As a proud Saudi
national, I perceive this relationship through the lens of Saudi nationalism,
recognizing the intertwining interests of our nation, the Arab world and global
stability. The diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and the US began in February
1945 with a meeting between King Abdulaziz and President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
This encounter established the groundwork for the post-Second World War Middle
East, characterized by mutual respect and benefit, albeit often skewed in favor
of the US. Now, we are witnessing a paradigm shift, moving beyond outdated
notions toward a future that prioritizes sustainability and mutual prosperity.
The Kingdom strives to cultivate an alliance that serves not only our two
nations but also extends promise to the entire Arab world and beyond.
Our bilateral relationship encompasses critical areas such as economic
collaboration, counterterrorism, cultural exchanges, and a commitment to
security and stability. The focus must shift toward a partnership that fosters
peace and benefits our citizens, rather than primarily advancing the interests
of a select few.
While the Saudi-US alliance presents numerous opportunities, it is not without
its challenges. Critics often highlight our reliance on oil and military
exports, raising ethical questions about governance and human rights. However,
it is essential to contextualize these criticisms within the realities facing
both nations.
The ongoing suffering in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, often exacerbated by
American arms, presents a stark contrast to the insistence on human rights. Yet,
advocating for reform is critical, and navigating the defense and survival
challenges posed by complex regional dynamics remains paramount.
Supporters of the Saudi-US alliance argue for its important role in
counterbalancing regional threats. This partnership is essential not merely in
defense of our interests, but as recognition that stability in the Middle East
relies on an integrated approach.
By collaborating with Saudi Arabia, the US secures vital energy resources while
fostering a capable partner dedicated to promoting peace throughout the Arab
world. This perspective supports a balanced view of the alliance, highlighting
mutual interests that can drive positive outcomes for both parties.
This partnership must shed outdated practices in favor of a path that emphasizes
mutual respect. However, to fully appreciate the nuances of this evolving
relationship it is imperative to consider counterarguments. Critics contend that
the foundational disparities, including those stemming from economic structures
and human rights practices, pose persistent barriers to trust and collaboration.
They argue that the US strategic support for Saudi leaders can sometimes
overshadow the Kingdom’s need for genuine reforms and respect for human rights.
The perception of the US as an enabling force for the status quo can cultivate
resentment among younger Saudi citizens, who increasingly advocate for change
and engagement on global issues.
Additionally, regional powers such as Iran and other emerging nations are
changing the dynamics of international relations, compelling both the US and
Saudi Arabia to rethink their alliances. The Kingdom’s pivot toward diversifying
its partnerships might reveal a diminishing reliance on the US, adding layers of
complexity to the bilateral relationship. Saudi Arabia is currently undergoing a
transformation as it pursues Vision 2030, an ambitious road map aimed at
diversifying the national economy away from dependency on oil. As a conservative
national, I believe that establishing a sustainable economy is vital for our
stability and growth. Yet, navigating these challenges amid an unpredictable
global landscape is no easy feat.
The reflections of economic thought leaders emphasize the intricacies present
within this transition. For example, Nobel laureate Paul Krugman has scrutinized
the trade landscape under Trump’s administration and its potential pitfalls.
While China adeptly maneuvers this complex terrain, the US faces vulnerabilities
in its reliance on imports. The unpredictability of American policies can hinder
alliance-building efforts and alter the strategic calculus for Saudi Arabia,
necessitating a cautious approach.
Ray Dalio, a prominent financial educator, warns of impending economic
challenges tied to historical imbalances. As Saudi Arabia continues to pursue
its developmental goals, we must remain vigilant and adaptable, drawing lessons
from both our historical context and broader international dynamics.
The Arab region is at a critical juncture, facing crises that could reshape its
geopolitical landscape. In this context, Saudi Arabia stands as a potential
peacemaker. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by Israel’s military
actions, deeply affects the Kingdom and fortifies our commitment to the
Palestinian cause, which is integral to our identity and values. However,
solidifying this position requires careful navigation of relationships with
allies, particularly the US. The unwavering support Washington extends to Israel
complicates our diplomatic efforts. Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia remains firm in
its assertion that normalization with Israel should hinge on the establishment
of an independent Palestinian state, reflecting our commitment to justice and
prosperity for all Arab nations.
Through diligent diplomacy and open dialogue with neighboring Arab countries, we
aim to forge a unified response to the regional chaos that threatens to
undermine our economic diversification objectives. Saudi Arabia’s proactive
diplomatic efforts have enabled us to engage constructively with other nations
while maintaining our broader vision for peace and stability in the region.
As President Trump prepares for his visit to Saudi Arabia, the focus shifts to
how the leaders of both countries can effectively address pressing regional
issues, particularly in conflict zones. Discussions are expected to center on
de-escalation efforts, and recognizing the urgency of resolving the Palestinian
occupation, which is critical for bolstering Saudi stability and enhancing
regional cooperation.
The multifaceted Saudi-US relationship undoubtedly presents significant
challenges, yet it also holds vast potential for collaboration. This partnership
must continue to evolve, shedding outdated practices in favor of a new path that
emphasizes mutual respect, shared values, and collaborative efforts toward peace
and sustainable development. However, the path forward is not without obstacles.
One of the critical challenges in our relationship arises from diverging
perceptions of American engagement in the Middle East. An increasing number of
Arab leaders and citizens perceive that the US lacks both the political will and
capability to effectively influence positive change in the region. This
disillusionment necessitates a reassessment of our bilateral ties, urging both
nations to transcend transactional interactions. Instead, there should be a
concerted effort toward forming a comprehensive partnership that incorporates
security considerations alongside socioeconomic development.
This recalibration should also account for the shifting dynamics of global
politics, highlighted by the emergence of new powers and shifting alliances.
Recognizing the need for robust, balanced relationships is vital, both to ensure
national security and foster regional prosperity.
The unwavering support Washington extends to Israel complicates our diplomatic
efforts.
Saudi Arabia’s positioning as a leader on the global stage is a crucial aspect
of our evolving relationship with the US. By addressing complex regional issues
strategically, we have cultivated an image as a key actor capable of mediating
between conflicting factions. This capability enriches our relationship with the
US and enhances our standing within the Arab world. Engagement in the
Russia-Ukraine dialogue and efforts to foster relationships across diverse
international stakeholders demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s commitment to stability
and peace. By acting as a facilitator for dialogue, we can exert a more
significant influence on efforts to shape the future of the region while
prioritizing cooperation over conflict.
In conclusion, while Saudi-American relations must navigate challenges, they
also offer numerous avenues for collaboration and progress. The Kingdom’s active
diplomacy reinforces our aspirations for peace and highlights the necessity of
collective approaches amid an increasingly intricate geopolitical landscape.
As we confront the mounting pressures caused by rising tensions, a balanced and
informed partnership with the US can help illuminate a pathway toward mutual
prosperity and sustainable conflict resolution.
As Saudi citizens, it is incumbent upon us to advocate for an approach that
safeguards our identity, values, and interests while engaging in international
partnerships. The commitment to preserving our sovereignty while fostering
global cooperation for mutual benefit should underpin our approach to redefining
Saudi-American relations. We must remain aware of the broader implications of
our actions on both the regional and global scales. Prioritizing the safety and
welfare of our citizens while reaffirming our commitment to our sovereignty will
ultimately shape the narrative of our partnership with the US. By embracing an
adaptive, strategic mindset, we can pursue a future that honors our rich
heritage while navigating the complexities of the modern geopolitical landscape
with confidence and resolve. This balanced perspective encapsulates not only the
longstanding partnership and its benefits but also the need for systemic
scrutiny and adaptive progress as we look to the future of Saudi-American
relations. A refined approach rooted in mutual respect and strategic cooperation
can pave the way for a flourishing partnership that enriches both nations and
supports greater stability throughout the region.
**Dr. Turki Faisal Al-Rasheed is an adjunct professor at the University of
Arizona’s College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, in the
Department of Biosystems Engineering. He is the author of “Agricultural
Development Strategies: The Saudi Experience.” X: @TurkiFRasheed
Israeli army is more divided than ever
Yossi Mekelberg/April 19, 2025
If ever there has been a national institution that is revered in Israel and has
the power to unite the country, at least its Jewish population, it is the
Israeli army.
Nevertheless, no one and nothing is sacred in the eyes of the corruption case
defendant, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his allies in their
desperation to cling to power — and perhaps, for some of them, to ensure they
avoid a jail sentence.
Not even the Israeli army can avoid the damage and destruction that government
officials are inflicting on their own people, because to them, and particularly
to Netanyahu, the end justifies the means, and this includes sowing the seeds of
division among security forces in the middle of a war.
This is particularly disturbing in a country whose army comprises mostly
conscripts and reservists who face unprecedented challenges and should therefore
be prevented from becoming embroiled in divisive political squabbles.
Since Israel gained independence, the Israeli army has essentially been regarded
not only as a defense force but also a great social equalizer, a melting pot of
Israeli society where people of differing backgrounds and gender were united in
the objective of defending their country. The practice of this has not always
matched the theory but, despite the cracks that have shown through the years,
the ethos has prevailed.
It is now under a severe threat, which manifests in at least two phenomena. The
first is a moral deterioration, much of which is the result of nearly 57 years
of occupation that increasingly has turned the Israeli army into a tool for
oppressing the Palestinian people, and eroded the moral fabric of the military,
from the rank and file all the way up to its commanders. It has also caused deep
divisions between those who support the occupation and its repressive measures,
and those who oppose it yet will not refuse to be part of it.
This moral erosion, accompanied by the deterioration of operational discipline,
is even more evident in the way in which the war against Hamas is being
conducted, and the behavior of some Israeli troops in Gaza since the conflict
began.
The second development, which started before the Oct. 7 attacks and is once
again gathering momentum, is the protest movement. It includes letters signed by
thousands of retired, reservist, and volunteer soldiers and officers, including
those in the highest ranks, who oppose the government’s policies but still stop
just short of announcing they will refuse to serve. An army whose soldiers no
longer believe in its mission or trust the intentions of their politicians is in
real danger of decline. Certainly, an army with a backbone of conscripts, but
particularly reservists, brings with it certain advantages in terms of
motivation and a sharing of the burden of serving in defense of one’s country.
However, those who serve in this way bring with them widely differing opinions
and attitudes, and even moral values, and at a time of deep crisis and prolonged
war this surfaces in terms of readiness to serve and behavior during the
conflict.
In the immediate aftermath of Oct. 7 it was apparent, though completely
unjustifiable, that the anger among Israelis could only lead to a war in which
military objectives were mixed up with the dark, primordial instincts for
revenge. Furthermore, these feelings were directed not only against those who
perpetrated that terrible massacre but against the entire Gazan population. The
country’s most senior politicians cultivated this permissive environment; for
some of them it was a means to deflect attention from their own failure to
defend Israel against the Hamas attack.
The murder of 15 Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers should have shaken
Israeli society. In the past year-and-a-half there have been so many devastating
cases of the killing of civilians in Gaza, including an estimated 15,000
children, and the killing and the maiming continues. The apparent murder of 15
Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers, including at least one UN employee,
committed last month by an Israeli army unit, and the burial of their bodies in
a mass grave should have shaken Israeli society and made it crystal clear what
is taking place on its behalf. Newly released postmortem results reveal that
several of those who were killed had close-range gunshot wounds to the head and
chest, and their hands or legs were tied.
Even among the endless litany of atrocities this war has produced, this incident
stands out, because the slain victims posed no risk, they were simply there to
help the victims of war. Attempts to cover up the nature of the deaths by
burying the victims and claiming that their convoy of ambulances had been moving
without headlights or flashing emergency lights before coming under fire were
proved false. Such an act, carried out by soldiers in a brigade whose commander
was once reported as saying that “there are no innocents in Gaza,” can no longer
be viewed as a mere one-off aberration, but instead reflects something that runs
much deeper in terms of discipline and morality.
At the other end of the spectrum in Israeli society there are those who had
volunteered to serve in the military, many of them in elite units, including air
force pilots, and who extended their service beyond the legal requirement. These
Israelis had already, before Oct. 7, warned that they would not serve a
government and a prime minister that was leading the country down the path of
authoritarianism. Yet still, in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack they showed
up for service and carried out the missions they were tasked with.
But a year-and-a-half later, they are, in increasing numbers, no longer showing
up when called to serve. This might be for a number of reasons, including the
toll it takes on their family and professional lives when they have to serve for
hundreds of days at a time. But one of the reasons is because more and more of
them no longer believe that the current Israeli government has the best
interests of the country and its people at heart.
It is all-too apparent that the war is being continued simply to preserve the
governing coalition and its prime minister, while abandoning the remaining 59
hostages to their fate. Letters to this effect from almost all branches of the
military, and from former Mossad operatives as well, calling for prioritization
of efforts to bring the hostages home over prolonging the war, are becoming a
regular occurrence.
In an act of cynical folly, Netanyahu, instead of constructively engaging with
those who criticize the way in which he is conducting the war, has dismissed
them and hurled insults. He has accused them of being “a small, noisy,
anarchistic and disconnected group of pensioners, a large group of whom have not
served for years,” and claimed they were “encouraging our enemy to harm us.”None
of the letters suggested any refusal to answer the call to duty, but such claims
serve the Netanyahu narrative of a prime minister standing against the elite,
against the deep state, against the world to ensure Israel’s victory and
survival. In reality, Netanyahu is standing against his own people, against the
hostages, and against ending the war, all in an attempt to ensure his own
survival.
*Yossi Mekelberg is a professor of international relations and an associate
fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. X: @YMekelberg