English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For August 01/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven
and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands
Acts of the Apostles 17/16-20./22-24.30-34/:"While Paul was waiting for
them in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in
the market-place every day with those who happened to be there. Also some
Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him. Some said, ‘What does this
babbler want to say?’ Others said, ‘He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign
divinities.’ (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the
resurrection.) So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus and asked him,
‘May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? It sounds rather
strange to us, so we would like to know what it means.’ Then Paul stood in front
of the Areopagus and said, ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in
every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of
your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, "To an unknown
god." What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who
made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does
not live in shrines made by human hands, While God has overlooked the times of
human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has
fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man
whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him
from the dead.’When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed;
but others said, ‘We will hear you again about this.’ At that point Paul left
them. But some of them joined him and became believers, including Dionysius the
Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them."
Titles For The
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on July 31-August 01/2025
Text and Video: Exposing and Discrediting the Delusional and Detached Speech of
Naim Qassem/Elias Bejjani/July 31/2025
The jihadist al-Julani regime and the mullahs' regime are two sides of the same
coin/Elias Bejjani/July 30/2025
Israel Says it Struck Hezbollah Missile Factory in Lebanon
Lebanon's President Aoun Urges Hezbollah to Give Up Arms
Lebanese president vows to disarm Hezbollah, calls for constructive dialogue
Israeli airstrikes target Brital's outskirts and Jezzine heights
No fuel, no wheat and bombs all over if Lebanon keeps Hezbollah arms, report
warns
Aoun discusses military cooperation with senior US general
Berri says Lebanese pinning their hopes on army
Salam says no turning back on arms monopoly decision
State over arms: Lebanon seeks unity ahead of crucial Cabinet meeting
Lebanese expatriates voice concern: What’s next for the 2026 elections?
Lebanon's Parliament approves bank restructuring law tied to financial gap
legislation
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on July 31-August 01/2025
US, Allies Condemn Iranian Intelligence Threats
Iran Foreign Minister Tells FT: US Must Agree Compensation Before Nuclear Talks
Canada, NATO allies warn of 'growing number' of state threats from Iran
Iranian president says country is on brink of dire water crisis
This city could run dry ‘within weeks’ as it grapples with an acute water crisis
Jordanian authorities summon individuals suspected of hiding banned Muslim
Brotherhood’s assets
Russia's Lavrov Meets Syrian FM in Moscow, Invites Sharaa to Russia-Arab Summit
Egypt's FM Meets Rubio, Holds Phone Talks with Witkoff on Intensifying Efforts
for Gaza Ceasefire
Trump’s envoy in Israel as Gaza criticism mounts
Palestinian President Welcomes Success of Two-State Solution Conference
US sanctions Palestinian Authority officials, PLO members
Germany to respond to any unilateral Israeli moves on Palestinian territories,
minister warns
Swedish Man Convicted for Role in 2015 Killing of Jordanian Pilot by ISIS
UN Experts: ISIS and al-Qaida Threat is Intense in Africa, with Growing Risks in
Syria
Morocco’s King Expresses Readiness for ‘Frank and Responsible Dialogue’ with
Algeria
Syria's new rulers set up a committee to probe attacks on civilians in recent
sectarian violence
Russia’s Putin meets Syrian FM in Moscow, Sharaa invited to Russia-Arab summit
Trump signs order imposing new tariffs on a number of trading partners that go
into effect in 7 days
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources
on July 31-August 01/2025
Who
will be the winners in the AI revolution?/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/July 31,
2025
Is it Time for a ‘Syrian Taif’ under Saudi Auspices?/Yousef Al-Dayni/Asharq Al-Awsat/31
July/2025
For All These Reasons, Syria is Still Being Monitored Internationally/Eyad Abu
Shakra/Asharq Al-Awsat/31 July/2025
Nothing Can Prevent the Two-State Solution/Jebril Elabidi/Asharq Al-Awsat/31
July/2025
Choose the Druze ...Syria’s endangered minorities deserve protection/Clifford D.
May/The Washington Times/July 31/2025
Despite war and sanctions, Iran’s oil exports surge/Saeed Ghasseminejad and
Behnam Taleblu/The Hill/July 31/2025
MARK DUBOWITZ: Don't believe the spin about starving Gazans. Trump could end the
'genocide' with four words/MARK DUBOWITZ AND BEN COHEN/DAILYMAIL/30 July 2025 |
Diplomatic Terrorism?: France's Recognition of an Imaginary Palestinian State/Drieu
Godefridi/Gatestone Institute/July 31, 2025
Selected Tweets for 31 July/2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on July 31-August
01/2025
Elias Bejjani – Text and Video: Exposing and Discrediting the Delusional and
Detached Speech of Naim Qassem
Elias Bejjani/July 31/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/07/145835/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKHmEBYkhG4&t=93s
In a speech full of repeated slogans, hollow bravado, and foolish denial of
defeat and irrelevance, Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, on
Wednesday, July 30, 2025, proudly defended the group’s terrorist,
Iranian-backed, and militant weapons. He falsely claimed these weapons are
“protecting Lebanon” and accused anyone demanding their removal of being
traitors or agents of Israel. But the truth is that
Hezbollah’s insistence on keeping its weapons is a blatant violation of the will
of the majority of Lebanese people. It also defies national agreements,
especially the Taif Agreement, which clearly demands the disarmament of all
militias—without exception—and the extension of state authority over all
Lebanese territory through official state forces.
Refusing to Disarm: A Betrayal of the Constitution and All Agreements
Qassem claims that Hezbollah’s weapons are an “internal matter,” and that calls
for disarmament help Israel dominate Lebanon. In reality, Hezbollah’s weapons
are the main obstacle to establishing a sovereign state that holds the exclusive
power to declare war and maintain national security.
Hezbollah even begged for a ceasefire after realizing its military collapse.
That ceasefire agreement, signed by the Mikati government and Parliament Speaker
Nabih Berri, clearly demanded Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the south, the
dismantling of its military infrastructure, and the handover of all its weapons
to the state. It explicitly named who could bear arms—from the army to municipal
police—but mentioned nothing about “resistance” or “opposition.”So how does
Qassem now deny the terms of a deal his party approved and once called a
“political victory”? This contradiction between words and actions exposes his
hypocrisy.
Empty Victories: No Triumph, Just Total Defeat
Qassem’s talk of “resistance strength” is nothing more than desperate cover-up
attempts for Hezbollah’s and Iran’s massive failures. Lebanese people and the
world have seen southern Lebanon, the Bekaa, and Dahiyeh reduced to rubble. Top
Hezbollah leaders have been killed, and tens of thousands of Shiite civilians
were displaced—not by Israel—but by Hezbollah’s reckless decisions and its use
of civilians as human shields. Iran, the group’s
regional backer, is also losing everywhere: in Syria, Assad’s regime is
collapsing; in Yemen, the Houthis are being crushed; and inside Iran, the
currency is collapsing while public uprisings rise. Hamas is also under heavy
attack. The whole “axis of resistance” is falling apart.
Hiding Behind the Government: Deep State Rules, Presidents Are Puppets
Qassem claimed Hezbollah handed everything to the state and that it’s now the
state’s responsibility to act. But who’s really blocking the state? Isn’t it the
so-called Shiite Duo—Hezbollah and Amal—that forms Lebanon’s deep state and
dominates power and decision-making?
Presidents Joseph Aoun and Nawaf Salam have shown nothing but weakness and
submission. They surrendered their sovereign responsibilities to Hezbollah’s
agenda, instead of defending the constitution and fulfilling the mission
assigned to them by international sponsors—both Arab and Western.
The “Defense Strategy”: A Trick to Justify the Militia
Hezbollah’s so-called “national defense strategy” is nothing but a political
trick to keep its weapons under a fake legal cover. There is no country in the
world that shares its military authority with a group outside its state
institutions. A nation cannot be built on a system that splits weapons between
the army and a militia.
Qassem Welcomes the Criminal George Abdallah: Birds of a Feather
In one of the clearest signs of Hezbollah’s alliance with terrorism, Qassem
warmly welcomed convicted terrorist George Abdallah, calling him an
“international struggler.” Abdallah was convicted of assassinating diplomats and
still refuses to recognize the law or the state.This wasn’t just a political
gesture—it was proof of the shared identity between Hezbollah and every outlaw,
whether they carry bombs or so-called “resistance” rifles. Qassem’s praise for
Abdallah reveals Hezbollah’s true mentality: full alignment with violence, total
contempt for legal institutions, and complete rejection of justice.
Once again, the saying fits perfectly: "Birds of a feather flock
together." A terrorist praises another terrorist. Both are a disgrace to
Lebanon, enemies of its sovereignty, and a threat to the state.
Conclusion: No Reconstruction, No Peace, No State While Hezbollah Exists
Lebanon will never see peace, recovery, or rebirth as long as Hezbollah controls
the weapons, dominates institutions, and imposes its ideology, security
apparatus, and false narratives.
What’s needed isn’t coexistence with Hezbollah—but a complete dismantling of its
military, institutional, cultural, and intelligence infrastructure. Its fake
“sacred” image must be stripped away to reveal the destructive Iranian
expansionist project behind it.
All party leaders and officials who accepted Hezbollah’s terrorism must face
justice. Presidents Joseph Aoun and Nawaf Salam have proven themselves mere
tools in Hezbollah’s hands.
To the judges, MPs, and officials too afraid to confront Hezbollah: your
political courage—not your silence—will protect Lebanon.
Author: Elias Bejjani, Lebanese Diaspora Activist
Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com
Email: phoenicia@hotmail.com
The jihadist al-Julani
regime and the mullahs' regime are two sides of the same coin.
Elias Bejjani/July 30/2025
Al-Jolani’s regime is satanic, jihadist, and Salafist — no matter how much it is
whitewashed by Arabs and USA. Like the terrorist Hezbollah and the regime of its
murderous mullah masters, it poses a threat to everything human, to humanity
itself, to peace, and to civilization. Different faces of one barbaric reality.
Israel Says it
Struck Hezbollah Missile Factory in Lebanon
Asharq Al Awsat/31 July/2025
Israel said it carried out strikes on Thursday on sites used by Hezbollah to
manufacture and store missiles in Lebanon, where Israel has launched multiple
attacks despite a November ceasefire. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the
targets included "Hezbollah's biggest precision missile manufacturing site,” and
the military said it had hit "infrastructure that was used for producing and
storing strategic weapons" in south Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley. The
attacks came after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stepped up his calls for
Hezbollah to disarm, suggesting failure to do so would give Israel an excuse to
continue attacks and saying the issue would be on the agenda of a cabinet
meeting next week. The comments reflect mounting pressure over the issue of
Hezbollah's arms, which has loomed over Lebanon since the Iran-aligned group was
pummeled in a war with Israel last year. Washington wants Hezbollah disarmed - a
demand echoed by the Beirut government as it aims to establish a monopoly on
weapons. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said in a televised speech on Wednesday
that calls for its disarmament served only Israel. In a speech to army officers,
Aoun said the government would next week discuss Lebanon's amendments to a US
roadmap to disarm Hezbollah. Lebanon's counter proposal demands an immediate
halt to Israel's attacks, its withdrawal from positions held in the south, the
establishment of state control over all Lebanon and the disarmament of armed
groups including Hezbollah, he said. Aoun urged all parties "to seize this
historic opportunity ... and push for the exclusivity of weapons in the hands of
the army and security forces.” He said the government would set a timeframe to
implement the steps.
Lebanon's
President Aoun Urges Hezbollah to Give Up Arms
Asharq Al Awsat/31 July 2025
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun called on Hezbollah and other political parties
on Thursday to hand over their weapons to the army, a move the powerful militant
group is resisting as Washington ramps up pressures for it to remove its
arsenal. "It is the duty of all political parties... to seize this historic
opportunity without hesitation and push for the exclusivity of weapons in the
hands of the army and security forces and no one else," Aoun said in a televised
speech in the defense ministry's headquarters. Hezbollah, which emerged badly
damaged from its war with Israel last year, has said calls for the Iran-aligned
group to disarm only serve Israel. "Those who call for submitting arms
practically demand submitting them to Israel ... We will not submit to Israel,"
the group's chief Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Wednesday. The US has been pushing
Lebanon to issue a formal cabinet decision committing to disarm Hezbollah before
talks can resume on a halt to Israeli military operations in the country, five
sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Aoun said a proposal to
Washington that will be presented to the cabinet next week stated that Israel
should stop its attacks on Lebanon and withdraw from the posts it occupies in
the south of the country, along with Hezbollah handing over its weaponry to the
Lebanese army. The proposal seeks to secure $1 billion annually for 10 years to
support the army and the security forces and includes plans for an international
conference to take place later in the year to support reconstruction efforts in
Lebanon.
Lebanese
president vows to disarm Hezbollah, calls for constructive dialogue
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/July 31, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, addressing Hezbollah and its allies on
Thursday, called for a return to state legitimacy as the foundation of national
resilience.
In a speech, Aoun demanded the disarmament of Hezbollah and extension of the
Lebanese state’s authority over all its territory. Addressing the militant group
on Army Day, he said: “To those who have confronted aggression, and to their
honorable national community, your reliance should be only on the Lebanese
state. Otherwise, your sacrifices will be in vain, and the state, or what
remains of its institutions, will collapse.”The Lebanese president stressed the
precarious moment the country faces, describing the region as suspended between
chaos and opportunity. Lebanon is grappling with a years-long economic crisis
and a fragile sectarian political system that have further eroded the state’s
ability to exercise its authority.
For Lebanon, Aoun said, the choice is between a return to stability, or total
collapse.
Detailing recent negotiations with the US, Aoun revealed that Lebanon has made
substantial amendments to draft proposals on Hezbollah’s disarmament, which will
be presented to the Council of Ministers early next week as part of efforts to
implement the fragile November 2024 ceasefire agreement with Israel. Lebanon has
demanded an immediate cessation of Israeli hostilities, including
assassinations, a full Israeli withdrawal behind the internationally recognized
borders, the release of Lebanese prisoners, and the full implementation of
Lebanese state authority over all its territory in exchange for the disarmament
of all armed groups, including Hezbollah, and the transfer of their resources to
the Lebanese Army. He also called for $1 billion annually for 10 years from
friendly countries to support Lebanese security forces. Beirut plans to hold an
international donor conference for postwar reconstruction efforts next autumn.
Aoun urged loyalty to victims of the Israel-Hezbollah war and “to the cause they
gave their lives for,” calling for an end to the bloodshed and destruction. The
nation “should stop this path of self-destruction, especially when wars become
senseless, pointless, and prolonged for the benefit of others,” he urged.
Aoun announced plans to deploy over 4,500 additional troops south of the Litani
River, where forces, as confirmed by the international military oversight
committee, have successfully collected and destroyed weapons and established
state authority in non-occupied areas, despite Israel’s failure to honor its
commitments to the ceasefire.
Israel was meant to pull all of its troops out of Lebanon, but has kept them in
five areas it deems strategic. The president called for constructive dialogue on
weapons monopolization, emphasizing that political differences must remain
within bounds of mutual respect and legitimate competition under the
constitution. “This is a decisive moment that cannot tolerate provocation from
any quarter or destructive political maneuvering. Whether the threats are
security or economic in nature, no single faction will be immune from their
consequences,” he warned. Aoun’s comments came ahead of Tuesday’s high-stakes
Cabinet meeting, with the state’s monopoly on arms on the agenda. Hezbollah
Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem preemptively rejected any disarmament
discussion Wednesday night. “Our arsenal is non-negotiable,” he declared,
characterizing such demands as an attempt to “dismantle Lebanon’s defensive
capabilities.”Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pushed back against claims of
provocation, noting that all parliamentary blocs — including Hezbollah and Amal
— had previously endorsed the government’s commitment to the state’s monopoly on
weapons. Adding to regional complications, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel
Smotrich made provocative remarks on Wednesday, asserting that Israeli forces
would maintain their grip on five strategic positions seized during recent
ground operations in southern Lebanon. Beirut rejected this, voicing concerns
that Israel will indefinitely occupy the elevated positions regardless of
Lebanese compliance with its ceasefire obligations.
Among Lebanon’s demands in the response to the US proposal was the demarcation
and consolidation of the land and maritime borders with Syria with the
assistance of the US, France, Saudi Arabia, and specialized teams at the UN; the
resolution of the Syrian refugee issue; the fight against smuggling and drugs;
and support for alternative agriculture and industries.“We are tired of fighting
others’ wars on our soil, of risking everything on uncertain bets and reckless
adventures,” Aoun said. “It’s time to stop making excuses for the ambitions of
those who exploit our divisions and fears. At times, some of us have confronted
these threats alone, outside the framework of the state, hoping, sometimes with
good intentions, that the state is too weak to resist, that the enemy is within
us, or that other allies will fight our battles for us. All these illusions have
now been shattered,” he stated. Underscoring the toll the conflict has taken on
Lebanon, Aoun emphasized that only state-held arms can ensure national security
and unity, urging full support and unity behind the Lebanese Armed Forces.
“Nothing is safer in the face of aggression than the weapons of the Lebanese
Army — an institution backed by a state rooted in justice, institutions, and the
public interest,” he said. “We must all rally behind the Army, whose weapons are
the strongest, leadership the most trusted, and soldiers the most
resilient.”Speaking at the Defense Ministry after laying a wreath at the Army
Martyrs’ Monument, Aoun outlined the challenges facing Lebanon since the
November 2024 ceasefire. He detailed thousands of Israeli violations, killing
hundreds and preventing residents from returning to their homes, while praising
the Lebanese Army’s resilience despite suffering casualties in implementing
ceasefire terms with limited resources. “Together, we seek to rebuild a state
that safeguards all citizens,” Aoun said, “one where no group relies on outside
powers, arms, foreign alliances, external backing, or changing geopolitical
dynamics for strength. Rather, our collective power should come from national
unity, mutual agreement, and our armed forces.”In a second appeal to Hezbollah,
Aoun said: “You possess too much honor to jeopardize our nation-building
efforts, and too much dignity to give enemies justification for continued
aggression while we remain trapped in tragedy and self-destruction.”He warned
that delays in disarmament “would be willingly forfeiting international and Arab
backing while sacrificing our national unity — an outcome neither you nor we
desire.”The president also addressed Lebanon’s efforts to reconnect with Arab
nations and the broader international community, welcoming a Saudi proposal to
accelerate border stabilization measures along the Lebanese-Syrian frontier.
“Lebanon remains committed to fostering strong relationships with Syria, our
neighbor, for our mutual benefit,” he said.
Israeli
airstrikes target Brital's outskirts and Jezzine heights
Naharnet/July 31, 2025
Israeli warplanes on Thursday bombed areas in northeastern and southern Lebanon,
a day after a defiant speech by Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem. In the Bekaa,
the airstrikes targeted the outskirts of the town of Brital in two waves and the
peripheries of the town of Janta near Syria's border. Israeli warplanes also
carried out strikes on the heights of the al-Mahmoudiyeh and al-Jarmaq areas in
south Lebanon’s Jezzine region. The Israeli army said the strikes targeted
“Hezbollah military sites in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.”“Among the
infrastructure targeted were a facility for the production of explosives used in
the development of Hezbollah weapons and an underground site for the production
of missiles and the storage of strategic weapons,” the Israeli army added.
Hezbollah “has been working to restore the sites, and these activities
constitute a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” the
Israeli army said. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said strikes in the
Bekaa targeted Hezbollah's "biggest precision missile production plant" in the
country, threatening that any attempt by Hezbollah to “restore, reestablish
itself or pose a threat will be met with uncompromising force."
"As I have emphasized, the policy of maximum enforcement against Hezbollah will
continue," he added. Israel has frequently bombed the aforementioned areas since
the November ceasefire, alleging the presence of Hezbollah military bases. Such
airstrikes have become regular after Qassem’s speeches. This time they come amid
a debate in the country over Hezbollah’s controversial arsenal of weapons.
Earlier in the day, President Joseph Aoun said that Lebanon is determined to
disarm Hezbollah, a step it has come under heavy U.S. pressure to take, with the
Iran-backed group insisting that doing so would serve Israeli goals. In a key
speech marking Army Day on Thursday, Aoun said Lebanon was demanding "the
extension of the Lebanese state's authority over all its territory, the removal
of weapons from all armed groups including Hezbollah and their handover to the
Lebanese Army." He added it was every politician's duty "to seize this historic
opportunity and push without hesitation towards affirming the army and security
forces' monopoly on weapons over all Lebanese territory... in order to regain
the world's confidence."On Wednesday, Qassem had said that "anyone calling today
for the surrender of weapons, whether internally or externally, on the Arab or
the international stage, is serving the Israeli project."He accused U.S. envoy
Tom Barrack, who has visited Lebanon several times in recent months for talks
with senior officials, of using "intimidation and threats" with the aim of
"aiding Israel."Lebanon has proposed modifications to "ideas" submitted by the
United States on Hezbollah's disarmament, Aoun added, and a plan would be
discussed at a cabinet meeting next week to "establish a timetable for
implementation." Aoun also demanded the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the
release of Lebanese prisoners and "an immediate cessation of Israeli
hostilities."
No fuel, no wheat
and bombs all over if Lebanon keeps Hezbollah arms, report warns
Naharnet/July 31, 2025
The threats against Lebanon due to failing to hand over Hezbollah’s arms will
not be limited to military action, Al-Arabiya’s Al-Hadath channel quoted unnamed
diplomatic sources as saying Thursday. “Lebanon risks being put on the
(Financial Action Task Force’s) black list and facing economic pressure due to
Hezbollah’s arms,” the sources said. “Lebanon risks being prevented from
importing fuel and wheat and facing restrictions on financial transfers due to
Hezbollah’s arms,” the sources warned. “All Lebanese areas, including Beirut,
will face the threat of bombardment if Hezbollah refuses to hand over its arms,”
the unnamed diplomatic sources cautioned. Earlier in the day, President Joseph
Aoun said that Lebanon is determined to disarm Hezbollah, a step it has come
under heavy U.S. pressure to take, with the Iran-backed group insisting that
doing so would serve Israeli goals. In a key speech marking Army Day on
Thursday, Aoun said Lebanon was demanding "the extension of the Lebanese state's
authority over all its territory, the removal of weapons from all armed groups
including Hezbollah and their handover to the Lebanese Army."He added it was
every politician's duty "to seize this historic opportunity and push without
hesitation towards affirming the army and security forces' monopoly on weapons
over all Lebanese territory... in order to regain the world's confidence."On
Wednesday, Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem had said that "anyone calling
today for the surrender of weapons, whether internally or externally, on the
Arab or the international stage, is serving the Israeli project." He accused
U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, who has visited Lebanon several times in recent months
for talks with senior officials, of using "intimidation and threats" with the
aim of "aiding Israel."Lebanon has proposed modifications to "ideas" submitted
by the United States on Hezbollah's disarmament, Aoun added, and a plan would be
discussed at a cabinet meeting next week to "establish a timetable for
implementation."Aoun also demanded the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the release
of Lebanese prisoners and "an immediate cessation of Israeli hostilities."
Aoun discusses military cooperation with senior US general
Naharnet/July 31, 2025
President Joseph Aoun met Thursday in Baabda with U.S. Central Command chief
General Michael Kurilla, who was accompanied by a U.S. military delegation and
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson. A Presidency statement said the talks
tackled “the ongoing cooperation between the Lebanese Army and the U.S. army and
means to develop it in all fields.”“Discussions also addressed the situation in
the South, with Kurilla lauding what the Lebanese Army has so far achieved after
its deployment in most southern towns and villages, pending the continuation of
its deployment after the Israeli enemy forces withdraw from the Lebanese
territory they are occupying,” the statement added. It said the talks also
tackled “President Aoun’s firm stances on the monopolization of arms and the
domestic and foreign responses to them.”“The president stressed the need for
boosting U.S. support for the Lebanese Army, which alone reflects the will of
the Lebanese to see their country free, sovereign and independent. The talks
also addressed the situation in Syria and the development of relations between
the two neighborly countries,” the statement added.
Berri says
Lebanese pinning their hopes on army
Naharnet/July 31, 2025
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday hailed the Lebanese Army on the 80th
anniversary of its founding. “Eighty years have passed since the creation of
this unifying national institution and it still baptizing our holidays with
loyalty, safeguarding sovereignty through great sacrifices, and protecting unity
with the honor of belonging," Berri said in a statement. He added: "I salute
with pride and appreciation the Lebanese Army with its command, officers,
non-commissioned officers, soldiers, martyrs and wounded. It is the bet and
focus of the Lebanese people's hopes for security, safety, defending the land
and people, and creating Lebanon's revival." Berri’s remarks come after
President Joseph Aoun said that “nothing represents a guarantee more than the
army's weapons in the face of aggression.”“Let us all stand behind the army, for
experience has proven that its weapons are the most powerful, its leadership is
the most reliable, and loyalty to it is the firmest,” Aoun added. He accordingly
called on Hezbollah and its “environment” to "bet on the Lebanese state alone,"
saying he "will not be lenient with those not concerned with rescuing the
country" or those who "don't care" for it.
Salam says no
turning back on arms monopoly decision
Naharnet/July 31, 2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said there will be no turning back on the state's
decision to be the sole bearer of arms, as pressure increases from Washington
and domestically to disarm Hezbollah.In an interview, published Thursday in
Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Salam said that it is natural for the state's
monopoly on arms to be discussed in the next cabinet session, in implementation
of the Taif Agreement and the ceasefire agreement reached in late November with
Israel. He said U.S. envoy Tom Barrack's paper provided practical ideas for
this. President Joseph Aoun also called Thursday for Hezbollah to give up its
weapons, a day after the group’s chief doubled down on its refusal to disarm.He
said the U.S. presented Lebanon with "draft ideas to which we have made
fundamental amendments that will be presented to the Cabinet early next
week."Under the Lebanese proposal, there would be an "immediate cessation of
Israeli hostilities" in Lebanon, including airstrikes and targeted killing, a
full withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the release of
Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, Aoun said. Lebanon, for its part, would
implement the "withdrawal of the weapons of all armed forces, including
Hezbollah, and their surrender to the Lebanese Army."Salam denied any
disagreements between the Lebanese officials regarding the state's monopoly on
arms and said he is in "full and continuous consultations" with Aoun and
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. He added that disarming Hezbollah and other
armed groups is "not a provocation to anyone but a fundamental part of the
President's inaugural speech and the government's ministerial statement."
Hezbollah and ally Amal MPs gave twice their confidence to Salam's government
and backed President Aoun in a second round of voting last January.
State over arms:
Lebanon seeks unity ahead of crucial Cabinet meeting
LBCI/July 31, 2025
In a firm address, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed the state's
exclusive right to hold arms, emphasizing this principle as a cornerstone of
Lebanon's national policy. The statement comes amid mounting internal and
international pressure following the Lebanese government's response to a U.S.
proposal concerning the escalating situation with Israel. The president outlined
eight key points in Lebanon's official response, placing immediate emphasis on
halting all Israeli hostilities, including targeted assassinations, securing
Israel's withdrawal behind internationally recognized borders, and the release
of Lebanese detainees. The response also addressed broader concerns, including
the return of Syrian refugees and measures to combat smuggling and drug
trafficking.With Hezbollah's position central to the debate, attention now
shifts to the upcoming Cabinet session scheduled for Tuesday. According to LBCI
sources, the group is currently leaning toward participating in the session.
Intense consultations are expected to take place in the meantime to avoid
confrontation and secure consensus. Hezbollah remains steadfast in its stance,
maintaining that Israel must cease its aggressions and fully withdraw from
occupied Lebanese territory before any discussions regarding the party's
remaining arsenal can proceed. Whether the Cabinet can agree on this sequence of
priorities remains uncertain. The president's decision to bring the issue before
the Cabinet is seen by many as a move to regain control over the national
security agenda amid increasing domestic and foreign pressure. His remarks
reaffirm his constitutional commitment to a national defense strategy, though
the U.S. is not giving guarantees. Political actors close to Hezbollah have
signaled a preference for dialogue and de-escalation, warning that any rushed
concessions, such as prematurely handing over arms, could cost Lebanon valuable
negotiating leverage. While there is no official call to boycott the Cabinet
session, its delay is aimed at facilitating ongoing talks among the country's
top leadership in hopes of finding a peaceful path forward.
Lebanese expatriates voice concern: What’s next for the
2026 elections?
LBCI/July 31, 2025
A month ago, lawmakers from the Lebanese Forces, Kataeb Party, and several
independent MPs attempted to break the quorum of a legislative session in
protest over Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's refusal to include a proposal on
the agenda to amend the electoral law and scrap the six parliamentary seats
allocated to the Lebanese diaspora.The proposal was also not referred to a
parliamentary subcommittee. While the attempt to break quorum during last
month's legislative session ultimately failed, it's equally valid that the MPs
pushing to amend the electoral law either forgot—or deliberately ignored—the
issue of expatriate voting. This omission prompted several Lebanese expatriates
to stage a sit-in outside Nejmeh Square during the session, calling on the
General Assembly to amend the articles governing diaspora voting. Many
expatriates now fear that the political forces holding sway over Parliament may
work to derail the 2026 elections altogether—or at the very least, block the
participation of overseas voters. These suspicions were only reinforced by an
admission from Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab. In reality, the parliamentary
subcommittee tasked with reviewing electoral law proposals hasn't convened in
over a month. This comes with just 112 days left before the November 20 deadline
for expatriate voter registration. With the clock ticking, the question remains:
which political party is willing to shoulder responsibility for safeguarding the
credibility of the upcoming elections?
Lebanon's Parliament approves bank restructuring law tied to financial gap
legislation
LBCI/July 31, 2025
The Lebanese Parliament has passed the long-awaited banking sector reform law,
adopting the version submitted by the Finance and Budget Committee with minor
amendments. However, the implementation of the law has been linked to the
approval of a separate draft law addressing the country's financial gap.
Lebanon’s UN
refugee agency chief hopes at least 200,000 Syrian refugees return under new
plan
AP/July 31, 2025
BEIRUT: The UN refugee agency’s representative in Lebanon said Thursday he hopes
that at least 200,000 Syrian refugees return from Lebanon by the end of the year
under a new government-backed return plan. Before former President Bashar Assad
was ousted in a lightning insurgent offensive in December, only about 1 percent
of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon said they were planning to return, UNHCR’s
outgoing Lebanon Representative Ivo Freijsen said. “That has now changed ... 24
percent of the Syrian refugee community in Lebanon is now thinking or planning
about going back during the next 12 months. So that’s a very positive shift,”
Freijsen told The Associated Press in an interview. Syria’s
uprising-turned-conflict displaced half of the country’s prewar population of 23
million over the last 14 years. Lebanon hosted an estimated 1.5 million
refugees, making up roughly a quarter of Lebanon’s six million people at one
point. Officials estimate that at least 1 million refugees are still in the
country today.
Scaling up a new return plan
The UNHCR had said for years that Syria was not yet safe for return, despite
mounting pressure from Lebanese authorities since the country plunged into an
economic crisis in 2019. That policy has changed since the Assad dynasty’s
decades-long autocratic rule came to an end. Many of the refugees in Lebanon had
fled because they were political opponents of Assad or to avoid forced
conscription into his army. Freijsen said that the agency was able to confirm at
least 120,000 Syrian refugees leaving Lebanon since Assad’s fall without any
help from UN groups or charities. “But we now have this scheme available, and we
hope to be able to scale up,” Freijsen said. “Collectively, we have now made it
as easy as possible for Syrians to go back to Syria, to their home
country.”Under the plan, the UNHCR and International Organization for Migration
will provide $100 for each family member and transportation by bus, while the
Lebanese authorities would waive any outstanding fees or fines that they owe for
violating residency requirements. Once they cross the border, the UN agencies
will help the returning refugees secure missing documents, offer legal and
mental health support, and some aid.At least 17,000 Syrians have signed up so
far, with most opting to take their own vehicles. Freijsen observed a small test
run on Tuesday of 72 Syrians leaving by bus through Lebanon’s Masnaa border
crossing with Syria. He said about a quarter of surveyed Syrian refugees want to
return or plan to do so in the next year, a surge from almost none less than a
year ago. “We have a most ambitious target, objective and hope, of 400,000
(returns) by the end of this year. Again that’s most optimistic,” he said. “But
if we get a final figure by the year between 200,000 and 400,000, that would be
very positive.”Syria’s economy still far from recovered. The UN estimates it
will cost hundreds of billions of dollars to rebuild Syria and make its economy
viable again, when 90 percent of its population lives in poverty. A new
administration led by interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa has restored diplomatic
ties with Arab Gulf nations and Western nations. US President Donald Trump
recently announced that Washington would lift sanctions from Syria, which
swiftly paved the way for large business deals with Turkiye, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia. But Syria will need time for its economy to bounce back, and its new
authorities are still struggling with exerting their authority across the entire
country as they try to reach a settlement with various groups. UN agencies have
also faced massive budget cuts which have scaled down the size of their teams
and the amount of aid they can give. All that could hamper the sustainability of
refugees returning home, Freijsen warned. “People are prepared to go back with
lots of issues and struggle and issues to overcome, provided that they can also
earn a living. And that is still difficult,” said Freijsen.
The
Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on July 31-August 01/2025
US,
Allies Condemn Iranian Intelligence Threats
London: Asharq Al Awsat/31 July 2025
Britain and 13 allies including the United States and France condemned on
Thursday what they called a surge in assassination, kidnapping and harassment
plots by Iranian intelligence services targeting individuals in Europe and North
America. "We are united in our opposition to the attempts of Iranian
intelligence services to kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe and North
America in clear violation of our sovereignty," the countries said in a joint
statement. They said such actions were increasingly carried out in collaboration
with international criminal networks. “These services are increasingly
collaborating with international criminal organizations to target journalists,
dissidents, Jewish citizens, and current and former officials in Europe and
North America. This is unacceptable,” said the statement. “We consider these
types of attacks, regardless of the target, as violations of our sovereignty,”
the countries said. “We are committed to working together to prevent these
actions from happening and we call on the Iranian authorities to immediately put
an end to such illegal activities in our respective territories,” added the
statement released by the governments of the United States, Britain, Albania,
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden.
Iran Foreign
Minister Tells FT: US Must Agree Compensation Before Nuclear Talks
Asharq Al Awsat/31 July 2025
The US must agree to compensate Iran for losses incurred during last month's
war, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing Iran's foreign minister,
as Tehran adopts a tougher stance and sets new conditions for restarting nuclear
negotiations with the Trump administration. "They should explain why they
attacked us in the middle of...negotiations, and they have to ensure that they
are not going to repeat that (during future talks)," Abbas Araghchi told FT in
an interview in Tehran. "And they have to compensate (Iran for) the damage that
they have done."The report said Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff
exchanged messages with each other during and since the war, with the Iranian
official emphasizing to his American counterpart the need for a "win-win
solution" to end the long-running standoff over Iran's nuclear program. Iran's
chief nuclear negotiator told the newspaper that Iran needs real
confidence-building measures from their side after Witkoff proposed resuming
talks. He said this should include financial compensation, without giving
details, and assurances that Iran would not be attacked during negotiations
again, according to FT. The US launched strikes last month on Iranian nuclear
facilities that Washington says were part of a program geared towards developing
nuclear weapons. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is for purely
civilian purposes. The White House and the US State Department did not
immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.
Canada, NATO
allies warn of 'growing number' of state threats from Iran
Catherine Morrison/The Canadian Press/July 31/2025
OTTAWA — Canada and many of its NATO allies released a joint statement Thursday
condemning a "growing number" of state threats from Iranian intelligence
services. The joint statement said the countries are united in their opposition
to attempts to "kill, kidnap and harass" people in North America and Europe. The
statement was also signed by the governments of Albania, Austria, Belgium, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the
United Kingdom and the United States. It said Iranian intelligence services are
increasingly collaborating with international criminal organizations to target
journalists, dissidents, Jewish citizens and current and former government
officials. The statement did not cite any specific incidents but said the
attacks violate the countries' sovereignty and calls on Iranian authorities to
"immediately" put an end to illegal activities. The Canadian Press has reached
out to Global Affairs Canada for comment but has not yet received a response. In
2022, Ottawa declared Iran's leaders — including senior government and security
agency officials — inadmissible to Canada due to involvement in terrorism and
human rights violations. The Canada Border Services Agency said last month that
three people were found ineligible to remain in Canada in recent years because
they were senior officials of the Iranian regime. Deportation orders were issued
for all three and one has been removed from Canada. Hostilities in the Middle
East have drawn more attention to the possible activities of Iranian regime
representatives in Canada. The border agency has said it works very closely with
domestic and international partners by sharing relevant information on border
and national security issues.
Iranian president
says country is on brink of dire water crisis
Reuters/July 31, 2025
Faced with resource mismanagement and over-consumption, Iran has faced recurrent
electricity, gas and water shortages during peak demand months. "In Tehran, if
we cannot manage and people do not cooperate in controlling consumption, there
won't be any water in dams by September or October," Pezeshkian said on
Thursday. The country has faced drought conditions for the last five years
according to the director of the Environmental Protection Organisation Sheena
Ansari and the Meteorological Organisation recorded a 40% drop in rainfall over
the last four months compared to a long-term average.
"Neglecting sustainable development has led to the fact that we are now facing
numerous environmental problems like water stress," Ansari told state media on
Thursday. Excessive water consumption represents a major challenge for water
management in Iran, with the head of Tehran province's water and wastewater
company Mohsen Ardakani telling Mehr news agency that 70% of Tehran residents
consume more than the standard 130 litres a day. Natural resource management has
been a chronic challenge for authorities, whether it is natural gas consumption
or water use, as solutions require major reforms, notably in the agricultural
sector which represents as much as 80% of water consumption. On Wednesday,
Pezeshkian rejected a government proposal to impose a day-off on Wednesdays or
having a one-week holiday during the summer, saying that "closing down is a
cover-up and not a solution to the water shortage problem".In the summer of
2021, protests took place against water shortages in southwestern Iran.
This city could run dry ‘within weeks’ as it grapples with
an acute water crisis
Laura Paddison, CNN/July 31, 2025
Iran’s capital Tehran could be weeks away from “day zero,” experts say — the day
when taps run dry for large parts of the city — as the country suffers a severe
water crisis. Key reservoirs are shrinking, authorities are scrambling to reduce
water consumption and residents are desperately trying to conserve it to stave
off catastrophe. “If we do not make urgent decisions today, we will face a
situation in the future that cannot be solved,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said
at a cabinet meeting Monday. Water is inherently short in supply in this arid
nation. The difference is this crisis is hitting the capital, said Kaveh Madani,
director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and
Health. Tehran, home to around 10 million people, could run out of water
altogether if consumption levels are not reduced, experts fear. “We are talking
about a possible day zero within weeks,” said Madani, who previously served as
the deputy head of Iran’s Department of Environment. The roots of the crisis lie
in a tangle of factors including what engineers describe as decades of poor
water management and an increasing imbalance between supply and demand. It’s all
compounded by climate change. Iran is experiencing one of its worst droughts on
record, and its fifth consecutive year of drought. The country is also baking
under brutal heat. Temperatures spiked above 122 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of
the country this month, according to climatologist and weather historian
Maximiliano Herrera. “Iran seems almost perennially in a record-heat status,” he
told CNN. In response to the crisis, authorities have reduced water pressure in
Tehran by almost half, affecting around 80% of households, the governor of
Tehran Province Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian said Monday. For people living in
tall apartment buildings, that can mean no water supply at all. One man who
lives on the 14th floor in Tehran says his taps often run dry. Water is being
delivered to the capital by tankers, and residents who can afford it are rushing
to install storage tanks, Madani said. “We have never had a situation like this…
this is new to Tehran.”Last week, the Iranian government declared a one-day
public holiday in Tehran Province, as well as other regions across the country,
in an effort to save water and electricity. It’s now considering giving people
in Tehran a week’s public holiday, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani
said in a press briefing Monday, in hopes people will temporarily leave the
city, cutting water demand.
Water experts point to mismanagement as a big factor in the crisis.
Human activities, including excessive groundwater pumping, inefficient farming
practices and unchecked urban water use have pushed the region “toward what can
only be described as water bankruptcy,” said Amir AghaKouchak, a professor of
civil and environmental engineering and Earth system science at the University
of California, Irvine. Madani echoes this. It is “water bankruptcy, because it’s
not a crisis anymore… (it’s) a situation where some of the damages are
irreversible,” he said. In Tehran, so much water has been pumped from aquifers
to support its increasing population that parts of the city are sinking,
sometimes by more than 10 inches a year. The capital “is grappling with a
systemic, long-term imbalance that threatens the very foundations of water
security for its residents,” AghaKouchak told CNN. Climate change is making a
bad situation much worse. Iran has seen a more than 40% decrease in rainfall
this year compared to the long-term average, and the Tehran Regional Water
Company says dams that supply the capital are at about 21% of their capacity,
according to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency. All but one of Iran’s 31
provinces are experiencing water stress, said Iran’s energy minister Abbas
Aliabadi, as reported by Mehr News. When asked about the possibility of water
rationing, he said: “I hope this does not happen.”Experts say there are no easy
answers to this crisis.
The government is opting for “band aid” measures, such as new water transfer
projects, Madani said. Technical solutions such as desalination and wastewater
recycling must be part of picture, he added, but “these address the symptoms for
a while without curing the cause.”
He advocates for a wholesale overhaul of the economy to move away from
water-intensive agriculture — which currently accounts for about 90% of Iran’s
water use — toward services and industry with a much lighter water footprint.
This kind of reform is likely to be painful and costly, both economically and
politically, and highly unlikely under the current government and given the
sanctions imposed on Iran by the US and others, he said. Ultimately, the roots
of the crisis are not just environmental or technical but “deeply political and
systemic,’ AghaKouchak said. “Iran’s water crisis cannot be separated from its
broader governance crisis.” For now, the country is waiting for the fall and
hoping it will bring rain. “If Tehran survives until the end of September then
there is hope for avoiding day zero,” Madani said.
Jordanian
authorities summon individuals suspected of hiding banned Muslim Brotherhood’s
assets
Arab News/July 31, 2025
LONDON: Jordanian authorities have begun summoning individuals suspected of
hiding assets belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood group who did not resolve
their status during a grace period. Jordan’s Public Prosecution is targeting
individuals who are found to be knowingly concealing assets for the banned group
and could face criminal charges such as money laundering and breach of trust,
especially if they refuse to confess the truth after being presented with
financial report evidence. The move follows a one-month grace period that ended
on June 14, allowing those holding assets for the Muslim Brotherhood to
regularize their status before the case went to the judiciary. During the grace
period, several individuals submitted written declarations to authorities,
indicating that they held, either solely or jointly with others, properties and
funds on behalf of the group, according to an informed source who spoke with the
Petra news agency. Settlements were reached, and the assets were subsequently
transferred to the Associations Support Fund at the Ministry of Social
Development. In April, Jordan banned the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood
after authorities thwarted a series of plots that posed a threat to the
country’s national security. Individuals connected to the group were found to be
involved in the manufacturing of missiles and amassing a cache of weapons. In
mid-July, Jordanian authorities cracked down on the complex financial network of
the Muslim Brotherhood, both domestically and internationally, seizing financial
assets worth more than 30 million Jordanian dinars ($42.3 million).
Russia's Lavrov Meets Syrian FM in Moscow, Invites Sharaa to Russia-Arab Summit
Asharq Al Awsat/31 July 2025
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met Syria's foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani
in Moscow on Thursday, the first visit by a top official from Syria's new
government following the toppling of longtime Russian ally Bashar al-Assad in
December. Lavrov said Moscow hoped that Syria's new President Ahmed al-Sharaa
would attend a summit between Russia and Arab League member states in Moscow in
October, reported Reuters. "Of course, we hope that President al-Sharaa will be
able to take part in the first Russia-Arab League summit, which is scheduled for
October 15," Lavrov said. Sharaa led opposition factions into Damascus in
December and installed a new government. Assad fled the capital and was granted
asylum in Russia. Moscow has since attempted to preserve ties with Syria's new
authorities, including offering Damascus diplomatic support over Israeli strikes
on Syrian territory. At a joint news conference, Shibani said his trip to Moscow
was intended "to start a necessary discussion ... based on the lessons of the
past, to formulate the future". He said he had agreed with Lavrov on
establishing two committees tasked with re-evaluating past agreements between
Syria and Russia. "There are many opportunities for a united strong Syria, we
hope Russia stands with us on this pathway," Shibani said. Lavrov thanked Syrian
authorities for ensuring the security of two Russian bases in the country, where
Moscow continues to maintain a presence, as well as backing the removal of
sanctions on Syria. In May, the Russian foreign minister warned of "ethnic
cleansing" of Syrian religious minorities by "radical militant groups".
Egypt's FM Meets Rubio, Holds Phone Talks with Witkoff on Intensifying Efforts
for Gaza Ceasefire
Asharq Al Awsat/31 July/2025
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. They discussed regional crises mainly the need
to achieve a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. They also discussed the Egypt-US
strategic partnership, and Egypt's water security. “Productive meeting between
FM Badr Abdelatty and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington D.C.
Discussions covered strengthening Egypt - US strategic partnership, key regional
crises including developments in Gaza, Sudan, and Egypt’s water security”,
Ambassador Tamim Khallaf Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Egypt said on X. Abdelatty also held a phone call with US special envoy Steve
Witkoff and discussed intensifying pressure to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza,
the Egyptian foreign ministry said. Witkoff is set to travel to Israel on
Thursday to address the situation in Gaza as mediators including Cairo, Doha and
Washington push for talks.
Trump’s envoy in Israel as Gaza criticism mounts
AFP/July 31, 2025
JERUSALEM: US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff held talks in Israel
on Thursday on ways to end the crisis in Gaza, where nearly 22 months of
grinding war and dire shortages of food have drawn mounting international
criticism. Witkoff, who has been involved in months of stalled negotiations for
a ceasefire and hostage release deal, met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
shortly after his arrival, the Israeli leader’s office said. The envoy may also
visit a US-backed group distributing food in Gaza, according to Israeli reports.
Gaza’s civil defense agency reported at least 58 Palestinians killed late
Wednesday when Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd attempting to block an aid
convoy — the latest in a spate of near-daily incidents of desperate aid seekers
being shot. The Israeli military said troops had fired “warning shots” as Gazans
gathered around the aid trucks. An AFP correspondent saw bullet-riddled corpses
in Gaza City’s Al-Shifa hospital. Jameel Ashour, who lost a relative in the
shooting, told AFP at the overflowing morgue that Israeli troops opened fire
after “people saw thieves stealing and dropping food (and) the hungry crowd
rushed in hopes of getting some.”Witkoff has been the top US representative in
indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas but the discussions broke down
last week when Israel and the United States recalled their delegations from
Doha. Israel is under mounting international pressure to agree a ceasefire and
allow the world to flood a hungry Gaza with food, with Canada the latest Western
government to announce plans to recognize a Palestinian state. Prime Minister
Mark Carney said the worsening suffering of civilians in Gaza left “no room for
delay in coordinated international action to support peace.”Trump criticized
Canada’s decision and, in a post on his Truth Social network, placed the blame
for the crisis squarely on Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose October 7,
2023 attack on Israel triggered the war. “The fastest way to end the
Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE
HOSTAGES!!!” declared Trump, one of Israel’s staunchest international
supporters. Earlier this week, however, the US president contradicted
Netanyahu’s insistence that reports of hunger in Gaza were exaggerated, warning
that the territory faces “real starvation.”UN-backed experts have reported
“famine is now unfolding” in Gaza, with images of sick and emaciated children
drawing outrage and prompting first France, then Britain and now Canada to line
up in support of Palestinian statehood.Portugal on Thursday said it was
“considering recognition of the Palestinian state.”
Israel is also under pressure to resolve the crisis from other traditional
supporters. Germany’s top diplomat Johann Wadephul, who met Israeli Foreign
Minister Gideon Saar in Jerusalem on Thursday, warned before setting off that
“Israel is finding itself increasingly in the minority.”Wadephul noted that
Germany’s European allies increasingly favor recognizing Palestinian statehood,
which Israeli leaders generally oppose. Reacting to Canada’s announcement,
Israel decried a “distorted campaign of international pressure.” The US State
Department said it would deny visas to officials from the Palestinian Authority,
which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank —
the core of any future Palestinian state. The Hamas attack that triggered that
war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to a
tally based on official figures. Of the 251 people seized in the attack, 49 are
still held in Gaza, including 27 declared dead by the Israeli military. The
Israeli offensive, nearing its 23rd month, has killed at least 60,249
Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Hamas-run Gaza’s health
ministry. This week UN aid agencies said deaths from starvation had begun. The
civil defense agency said Israeli attacks across Gaza on Thursday killed at
least 32 people. “Enough!” cried Najah Aish Umm Fadi, who lost relatives in a
strike on a camp for the displaced in central Gaza. “We put up with being
hungry, but now the death of children who had just been born?“ Further north,
Amir Zaqot told AFP after getting his hands on some of the aid parachuted from
planes, that “this is what death looks like. People are fighting each other with
knives.”“If the crossings were opened... food could reach us. But this is
nonsense,” Zaqot said of the airdrops. Media restrictions in Gaza and
difficulties accessing many areas mean AFP cannot independently verify tolls and
details provided by the civil defense and other parties.
Palestinian
President Welcomes Success of Two-State Solution Conference
Asharq Al Awsat/31 July/2025
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the success of the International
Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the
Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held recently in New York City, the
Saudi Press agency said on Thursday. He stressed the great significance of the
outcomes of the conference, expressing confidence that the event witnessed
dynamic diplomatic and political momentum that will yield tangible positive
results in ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian
state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also expressed his gratitude for
the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic as co-chairs
throughout all stages of preparation, coordination, and hosting of this historic
conference. He praised the positions of the participating countries, which
affirmed in their statements their support for a just and comprehensive
peace—reflecting a unified international will to end the occupation, achieve the
two-state solution, and recognize the State of Palestine.
US sanctions
Palestinian Authority officials, PLO members
AFP/July 31, 2025
WASHINGTON: The US imposed sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and
members of the Palestine Liberation Organization on Thursday, saying the groups
are undermining peace efforts as American officials separately seek to salvage
ceasefire talks in Gaza.
The move prevents those targeted from receiving visas to travel to the United
States, the US State Department said, although it did not list any specific
individuals.“It is in our national security interests to impose consequences and
hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and
undermining the prospects for peace,” the department said in a statement. The
State Department said the two Palestinian groups had “taken actions to
internationalize its conflict with Israel,” including through the International
Criminal Court, and said both had continued “to support
terrorism.”Representatives for the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine
Liberation Organization could not immediately be reached for comment. The
sanctions come as US special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to arrive in
Israel on Thursday in a bid to save Gaza ceasefire talks and tackle a
humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave. Israel faces growing world
pressure over the war in Gaza, and several Western powers have said they will
recognize a Palestinian state.
Germany to
respond to any unilateral Israeli moves on Palestinian territories, minister
warns
Sarah Marsh/Reuters/July 31/2025
BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's foreign minister said on Thursday recognition of a
Palestinian state should come at the end of talks on a two-state solution but
Berlin would respond to any unilateral actions, after citing "annexation
threats" by some Israeli ministers. Johann Wadephul issued the statement before
heading off to Israel and the Palestinian territories on a trip Berlin has
billed as a fact-finding mission amid heightened alarm over starvation in Gaza.
His remarks marked Germany’s strongest warning yet to Israel as Western nations
intensify efforts to exert pressure. In recent weeks, Britain, Canada and France
have all signaled their readiness to recognise a Palestinian state in
Israeli-occupied territory at the United Nations General Assembly this
September. However, critics argue that Germany’s response remains overly
cautious, shaped by an enduring sense of historical guilt for the Holocaust and
reinforced by pro-Israel sentiment in influential media circles, weakening the
West’s collective ability to apply meaningful pressure on Israel. In his
statement, Wadephul reiterated Germany's stance that a sustainable resolution to
the Gaza war can only be achieved through a negotiated two-state solution - a
Palestinian state co-existing in peace alongside Israel. "In light of open
annexation threats from parts of the Israeli government, a growing number of
countries - including many in Europe - are now prepared to recognise a
Palestinian state even without a prior negotiation process. The region and the
Middle East peace process are therefore at a crossroads," Wadephul said. "That
process must begin now. Should unilateral steps be taken, Germany too will be
compelled to respond."Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition
includes two far-right parties that call for the outright conquest of Gaza and
re-establishment of Jewish settlements there. Two senior government ministers
also voiced support on Thursday for annexing the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The
death toll from almost two years of war between Israel and Palestinian militant
group Hamas in Gaza surpassed 60,000 this week. A growing number of civilians
are dying from starvation and malnutrition, Gaza health authorities say, with
images of starving children shocking the world and intensifying criticism of
Israel over its curbs on aid into the enclave. Germany, together with the United
States, has long remained one of Israel's staunchest allies and largest arms
suppliers. German officials say their approach to Israel is governed by a
special responsibility, known as the "Staatsraison", arising from the legacy of
the Nazi Holocaust. They say they can achieve more through diplomatic back
channels than public statements.
PRO-ISRAEL GERMAN MEDIA
The largest media group in Germany, Axel Springer, which owns its best-selling
daily Bild as well as other publications like Welt and Politico, includes a
specific pro-Israel commitment in its core corporate principles. The clause
commits Axel Springer and its employees to a pro-Israel editorial stance. Bild
published a story on Thursday, for example, denouncing a "hunger campaign"
against Israel and moves by Western countries to raise pressure on the country
which it said had prolonged the war in Gaza by emboldening Hamas to leave
ceasefire talks. The paper praised Germany for not doing so. Another Bild story
on Thursday denounced a "campaign designed to morally destroy Israel".
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has long been pro-Israel. In February, he said he
would find a way for Netanyahu to visit Germany without being arrested under a
warrant by the International Criminal Court. But the tone has shifted in Berlin
in recent weeks, in tandem with a shift in public opinion, with a poll released
on June 4 showing 63% of Germans saying Israel's military campaign in Gaza has
gone too far. Merz said on Monday that steps like suspending the European Union
pact governing relations with Israel were on the table now, in order to raise
pressure on the country over the "catastrophic" situation in Gaza. The EU's
executive body recommended on Monday curbing Israeli access to its flagship
research funding programme but the proposal does not yet have enough support to
pass, with heavyweight Germany in particular still uncertain.
Swedish Man Convicted for Role in 2015 Killing of Jordanian Pilot by ISIS
Asharq Al Awsat/31 July/2025
A Swedish man was convicted and sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for his
role in the 2015 killing of a Jordanian pilot by ISIS, Swedish media reported.
1st Lt. Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh, 26, was taken captive after his F-16 fighter jet
crashed near the extremists’ de facto capital of Raqqa in northern Syria. He was
forced into a cage that was set on fire in early 2015. The suspect, identified
by Swedish prosecutors as Osama Krayem, 32, is alleged to have traveled to Syria
in September 2014 to fight for ISIS. Krayem, armed and masked, was among those
who forced al-Kaseasbeh into the cage and to his death, prosecutors say. He can
still file an appeal. Krayem was indicted by Swedish prosecutors in May on
suspicion of committing serious war crimes and terrorist crimes in Syria. He was
previously convicted in France and Brussels for fatal ISIS attacks in those
countries.
Al-Kaseasbeh was the first known foreign military pilot to fall into the
militants’ hands after the US-led international coalition began its aerial
campaign against ISIS in Syria and Iraq in 2014. Attorney Mikael Westerlund, who
represented the pilot's family, said his clients were happy with Thursday's
verdict after they had lost hope there would be justice for al-Kaseasbeh, TT
reported. In 2022, Krayem was among 20 men convicted by a special terrorism
court in Paris for involvement in a wave of ISIS attacks in the French capital
in 2015, targeting the Bataclan theater, Paris cafés and the national stadium.
The assaults killed 130 people and injured hundreds, some permanently maimed.
Krayem was sentenced to 30 years in prison, on charges including complicity to
terrorist murder. French media reported that France agreed in March to turn
Krayem over to Sweden for the investigation and trial.
In 2023, a Belgian court sentenced Krayem, among others, to life in prison on
charges of terrorist murder in connection with 2016 suicide bombings that killed
32 people and wounded hundreds at Brussels airport and a busy subway station in
the country’s deadliest peacetime attack. Krayem was aboard the commuter train
that was hit, but did not detonate the explosives he was carrying. Both the
Paris and Brussels attacks were linked to the same ISIS network.
UN Experts: ISIS and al-Qaida Threat is Intense in Africa, with Growing Risks in
Syria
Asharq Al Awsat/31 July 2025
The threat from ISIS and al-Qaida extremists and their affiliates is most
intense in parts of Africa, and risks are growing in Syria, which both groups
view as a “a strategic base for external operations,” UN experts said in a new
report.
Their report to the UN Security Council circulated Wednesday said West Africa's
al-Qaida-linked Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin group, known as JNIM, and
East Africa's al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab have continued to increase the territory
under their control.
The experts monitoring sanctions against the two groups said “the organization’s
pivot towards parts of Africa continued" partly because of ISIS losses in the
Middle East due to counterterrorism pressures. There are also “increasing
concerns about foreign terrorist fighters returning to Central Asia and
Afghanistan, aiming to undermine regional security,” they said. The ISIS group
also continues to represent “the most significant threat” to Europe and the
Americas, the experts said, often by individuals radicalized via social media
and encrypted messaging platforms by its Afghanistan-based Khorasan group.
In the United States, the experts said several alleged terrorist attack plots
were “largely motivated by the Gaza and Israel conflict,” or by individuals
radicalized by ISIS. They pointed to an American who pledged support to ISIS and
drove into a crowd in New Orleans on Jan. 1, killing 14 people in the deadliest
attack by al-Qaida or the ISIS in the US since 2016. In addition, they said,
“Authorities disrupted attacks, including an ISIS-inspired plot to conduct a
mass shooting at a military base in Michigan,” and the ISIS Khorasan affiliate
issued warnings of plots targeting Americans.
In Africa’s Sahel region, the experts said, JNIM expanded its area of
operations, operating “with relative freedom” in northern Mali and most of
Burkina Faso. There was also a resurgence of activity by ISIS in the Greater
Sahara, “particularly along the Niger and Nigeria border, where the group was
seeking to entrench itself.”“JNIM reached a new level of operational capability
to conduct complex attacks with drones, improvised explosive devices and large
numbers of fighters against well-defended barracks,” the experts said. In East
Africa, they said, “al-Shabab maintained its resilience, intensifying operations
in southern and central Somalia” and continuing its ties with Yemen’s Houthi
rebels. The two groups have reportedly exchanged weapons and the Houthis have
trained al-Shabab fighters, they said. Syria, the experts said, remains “in a
volatile and precarious phase,” six months after the ouster of President Bashar
Assad, with unnamed countries warning of growing risks posed by both ISIS and
al-Qaida. “Member states estimated that more than 5,000 foreign terrorist
fighters were involved in the military operation in which Damascus was taken on
Dec. 8,” the experts’ 27-page report said. Syria’s new interim President Ahmad
Al-Sharaa has promised that the country will transition to a system that
includes Syria’s mosaic of religious and ethnic groups under fair elections. As
for financing, the experts said the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group takeover in Syria
was considered to pose financial problems for ISIS and likely to lead to a
decline in its revenues. Salaries for ISIS fighters were reduced to $50-$70 per
month and $35 per family, “lower than ever, and not paid regularly, suggesting
financial difficulties,” said the experts, who did not give previous salaries or
family payments. They said both al-Qaida and ISIS vary methods to obtain money
according to locations and their ability to exploit resources, tax local
communities, kidnap for ransom and exploit businesses. While the extremist
groups predominantly move money through cash transfers and informal money
transfer systems known as hawalas, the experts said ISIS has increasingly used
female couriers and hawala systems where data is stored in the cloud to avoid
detection, and “safe drop boxes” where money is deposited at exchange offices
and can only be retrieved with a password or code.
Morocco’s King Expresses Readiness for ‘Frank and Responsible Dialogue’ with
Algeria
Rabat: Asharq Al Awsat/31 July 2025
Moroccan King Mohammed VI has reiterated his country’s willingness to engage in
a “frank and responsible dialogue” with neighboring Algeria to resolve
outstanding issues between the two countries. In a national address Tuesday
evening marking Throne Day, the King emphasized that Morocco’s autonomy plan
remains the only viable solution to the dispute over the Western Sahara. “We are
committed to fostering good relations with the Algerian people,” the King said,
reaffirming Morocco’s determination to find a consensual resolution to the
Western Sahara conflict that preserves the dignity of all parties involved.
He stressed that this open-handed approach stems from a belief in the unity of
North African peoples and their shared ability to move beyond the current
impasse. Reaffirming Morocco’s commitment to regional integration, King Mohammed
VI stated that the Maghreb Union cannot be realized without the joint
participation of both Morocco and Algeria, alongside other neighboring states.
Since 2018, the monarch has made repeated appeals for dialogue with Algeria,
particularly in light of their decades-long tensions over the Western Sahara.
His calls have intensified following Algeria’s decision in 2021 to sever
diplomatic ties with Morocco, a move that has yet to be reversed. During his
address, the King also highlighted the growing international support for
Morocco’s autonomy plan, which proposes granting the disputed territory a
measure of self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty. He welcomed recent
endorsements from the United Kingdom and Portugal, joining earlier backers such
as the United States (since 2020) and France (since 2024), positioning the
proposal as the sole realistic path toward a lasting resolution. Beyond foreign
policy, the monarch used his speech to urge the government to ensure balanced
development across all Moroccan regions. He stressed the need for a new
generation of structural reforms aimed at equalizing access to development
opportunities. “There is no room today, or in the future, for a Morocco
advancing at two different speeds,” he declared. The King pointed to continued
disparities in rural areas, where poverty and underdevelopment persist due to a
lack of basic infrastructure and services. He called for reforms that focus on
strengthening essential social services, particularly in education and
healthcare, managing water resources sustainably, and implementing integrated
territorial development projects. Addressing the Moroccan public directly, King
Mohammed VI expressed that economic progress and improved infrastructure alone
are not enough if they do not translate into better living conditions for
citizens across all regions and social classes. He emphasized his longstanding
focus on advancing human development, expanding social protection, and
delivering direct support to families in need. The monarch also referenced the
2024 General Population Census, which revealed significant demographic, social,
and spatial shifts that must be accounted for in public policymaking. Notably,
he highlighted a sharp national decline in multidimensional poverty, from 11.9%
in 2014 to 6.8% in 2024. He also announced that Morocco has now crossed the
threshold to be officially classified among countries with high human
development, according to the global Human Development Index.
Syria's new
rulers set up a committee to probe attacks on civilians in recent sectarian
violence
The Associated Press/July 31, 2025
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria's new authorities have set up a committee tasked
with investigating attacks on civilians during recent sectarian violence in the
country's south, officials said Thursday. The fighting in Sweida province
earlier in July killed hundreds of people, displaced tens of thousands, and
threatened to unravel Syria’s fragile postwar transition. It was sparked by
tit-for-tat kidnappings between armed Bedouin clans, mostly Sunni, and fighters
with the Druze religious minority, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. Syrian
government forces intervened to end the fighting, but effectively sided with the
clans.
Disturbing videos and reports soon surfaced of Druze civilians being humiliated
and killed in public, sometimes accompanied by sectarian slurs. Druze groups
later launched revenge attacks on Bedouin communities. Syria's Justice Ministry
said the committee would work to uncover the “circumstances that led to the
events in Sweida," investigate attacks and refer those implicated in them to the
judiciary, state-run news agency SANA reported. The committee is to submit a
final report within three months. A similar committee was formed in March, when
sectarian violence on Syria’s coast killed hundreds of civilians from the
Alawite religious minority, also a Shiite offshoot. Attacks by armed groups
affiliated with former President Bashar Assad, a member of the Alawite minority,
prompted Damascus to send security forces, which descended on the coast from
other areas of the country, joined by thousands of armed civilians. That
committee found there had been “widespread, serious violations against
civilians,” including by members of Syria's new security forces and that more
than 1,400 people, most of them civilians, were killed. Its four-month
investigation identified 300 people suspected of crimes, including murder,
robbery, torture and looting and burning of homes and businesses. The suspects
were referred for prosecution, the committee said but did not disclose how many
were members of the security forces. The outbreaks of violence have left Syria's
religious and ethnic minorities increasingly suspicious of the country's new
authorities, led by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who previously led the
Islamist insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Russia’s Putin
meets Syrian FM in Moscow, Sharaa invited to Russia-Arab summit
Reuters/July 31, 2025
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met
with Syria’s foreign minister Asaad Al-Shibani in Moscow on Thursday, the first
visit by a top official from Syria’s new government since the toppling of
longtime Russian ally Bashar Assad in December. Lavrov said Moscow would like
Syria’s new President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to attend a summit between Russia and Arab
League member states in Moscow in October. “Of course, we hope that President
Al-Sharaa will be able to take part in the first Russia-Arab League summit,
which is scheduled for October 15,” Lavrov said.
Sharaa led militants into Damascus in December and installed a new government.
Assad fled the capital and was granted asylum in Russia. Moscow has since
attempted to preserve ties with Syria’s new authorities, including offering
Damascus diplomatic support over Israeli strikes on Syrian territory. Putin
received Shibani and his accompanying delegation at the Kremlin, Syria’s state
news agency SANA reported without providing further details on the meeting. At a
joint news conference, Shibani said his trip to Moscow was intended “to start a
necessary discussion ... based on the lessons of the past, to formulate the
future.”He said he had agreed with Lavrov on establishing two committees tasked
with re-evaluating past agreements between Syria and Russia. “There are many
opportunities for a united strong Syria, we hope Russia stands with us on this
pathway,” Shibani said. Lavrov thanked Syrian authorities for ensuring the
security of two Russian bases in the country, where Moscow continues to maintain
a presence, as well as backing the removal of sanctions on Syria.
Trump signs order imposing new tariffs on a number of
trading partners that go into effect in 7 days
AP/August 01, 2025
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that
set new tariffs on a wide swath of US trading partners to go into effect on Aug.
7 — the next step in his trade agenda that will test the global economy and
sturdiness of American alliances built up over decades. The order was issued
shortly after 7 p.m. on Thursday. It came after a flurry of tariff-related
activity in the last several days, as the White House announced agreements with
various nations and blocs ahead of the president’s self-imposed Friday deadline.
The tariffs are being implemented at a later date in order for the rates
schedule to be harmonized, according to a senior administration official who
spoke to reporters on a call on the condition of anonymity. After initially
threatening the African nation of Lesotho with a 50 percent tariff, the
country’s goods will now be taxed at 15 percent. Taiwan will have tariffs set at
20 percent, Pakistan at 19 percent and Israel, Iceland, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana and
Ecuador among the countries with imported goods taxed at 15 percent. Trump had
announced a 50 percent tariff on goods from Brazil, but the order was only 10
percent as the other 40 percent were part of a separate measure approved by
Trump on Wednesday. The order capped off a hectic Thursday as nations sought to
continue negotiating with Trump. It set the rates for 68 countries and the
27-member European Union, with a baseline 10 percent rate to be charged on
countries not listed in the order. The senior administration official said the
rates were based on trade imbalance with the US and regional economic profiles.
On Thursday morning, Trump engaged in a phone conversation with Mexican
President Claudia Sheinbaum on trade. As a result of the conversation, the US
president said he would enter into a 90-day negotiating period with Mexico, one
of the nation’s largest trading partners. The current 25 percent tariff rates
are staying in place, down from the 30 percent he had threatened earlier.
“We avoided the tariff increase announced for tomorrow and we got 90 days to
build a long-term agreement through dialogue,” Sheinbaum wrote on X after a call
with Trump that he referred to as “very successful” in terms of the leaders
getting to know each other better.
The unknowns created a sense of drama that has defined Trump’s rollout of
tariffs over several months. However, the one consistency is his desire to levy
the import taxes that most economists say will ultimately be borne to some
degree by US consumers and businesses. “We have made a few deals today that are
excellent deals for the country,” Trump told reporters on Thursday afternoon,
without detailing the terms of those agreements or the nations involved. The
senior administration official declined to reveal the nations that have new
deals during the call with reporters.
Trump said that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had called ahead of 35
percent tariffs being imposed on many of his nation’s goods, but “we haven’t
spoken to Canada today.”Trump imposed the Friday deadline after his previous
“Liberation Day” tariffs in April resulted in a stock market panic. His
unusually high tariff rates, unveiled in April, led to recession fears —
prompting Trump to impose a 90-day negotiating period. When he was unable to
create enough trade deals with other countries, he extended the timeline and
sent out letters to world leaders that simply listed rates, prompting a slew of
hasty deals.Trump reached a deal with South Korea on Wednesday, and earlier with
the European Union, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. His commerce
secretary, Howard Lutnick, said on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” that there were
agreements with Cambodia and Thailand after they had agreed to a ceasefire to
their border conflict.Going into Thursday, wealthy Switzerland and Norway were
still uncertain about their tariff rates. EU officials were waiting to complete
a crucial document outlining how the framework to tax imported autos and other
goods from the 27-member state bloc would operate. Trump had announced a deal on
Sunday while he was in Scotland. Trump said as part of the agreement with Mexico
that goods imported into the US would continue to face a 25 percent tariff that
he has ostensibly linked to fentanyl trafficking. He said autos would face a 25
percent tariff, while copper, aluminum and steel would be taxed at 50 percent
during the negotiating period.He said Mexico would end its “Non Tariff Trade
Barriers,” but he didn’t provide specifics. Some goods continue to be protected
from the tariffs by the 2020 US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, which Trump
negotiated during his first term.
But Trump appeared to have soured on that deal, which is up for renegotiation
next year. One of his first significant moves as president was to impose tariffs
on goods from both Mexico and Canada earlier this year. US Census Bureau figures
show that the US ran a $171.5 billion trade deficit with Mexico last year. That
means the US bought more goods from Mexico than it sold to the country. The
imbalance with Mexico has grown in the aftermath of the USMCA, as it was only
$63.3 billion in 2016, the year before Trump started his first term in office.
resident Donald Trump signed an order Thursday imposing higher tariffs on dozens
of countries in his latest bid to reshape global trade in favor of US
businesses, with duties to take effect in seven days. The order set out tariffs
on imports that ranged as high as 41 percent on Syria, alongside various levels
reflecting trade deals struck between Washington and major partners like the
European Union and Japan. Separately, the White House announced that Canadian
imports will face 35 percent tariffs come Friday, up from an existing 25 percent
level. An exemption for Canadian and Mexican goods entering the country under a
North American trade pact remained in place, according to the White House.
Mexico continues to face 25 percent tariffs. The announcement capped a flurry of
efforts to reach trade pacts with the Trump administration ahead of the
president’s initial Friday deadline. So far, Washington had announced pacts
pacts with Britain, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea and
the European Union. But details of those agreements have remained vague. Looming
over the global economy is also an unresolved trade tussle between the United
States and China.
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources
on July 31-August 01/2025
Who
will be the winners in the AI revolution?
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/July 31, 2025
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a transformative force across every
sector of the global economy. From automating manufacturing processes to
revolutionizing how we diagnose diseases or make investment decisions, AI is
fundamentally reshaping productivity, innovation and economic competitiveness.
According to estimates by the International Data Corporation, AI has the
potential to boost the global economy by an astonishing $19.9 trillion by 2030.
This figure represents a seismic shift in economic potential, equivalent to more
than the current size of China’s economy. Experts project that AI could increase
the annual growth rate of global gross domestic product by up to one full
percentage point over the next decade, rivaling the levels of economic
transformation seen during the Industrial Revolution. This anticipated surge in
economic growth is driven by several key factors: massive gains in productivity
due to automation, the ability to generate and analyze vast datasets, and the
creation of entirely new markets and services powered by AI. Industries are
already seeing the early impacts of this transformation. In the finance sector,
AI-driven algorithms are reshaping trading and risk analysis. In healthcare, AI
is assisting in early diagnosis and personalized treatment plans. In logistics
and manufacturing, autonomous systems are enhancing efficiency and lowering
operational costs. The scale and speed of change are unprecedented and AI is
increasingly seen as a general-purpose technology — akin to electricity or the
steam engine — with the power to permeate and uplift virtually every domain of
economic activity. However, while the overall global economic impact of AI is
expected to be vast, the distribution of this growth will likely be highly
uneven. A handful of industries and countries are poised to capture the lion’s
share of AI’s benefits, leaving others at risk of being left behind. Nations
that already have strong digital infrastructures, advanced research
institutions, robust regulatory frameworks and large pools of investment capital
are in the best position to lead. Countries that are dominating the AI race are
doing so due to their early investments in machine learning research,
large-scale computing power and highly skilled technical workforces. These
nations are not only producing the most AI patents and startups but they are
also setting the ethical and technological standards that others will have to
follow.
Within countries themselves, this dynamic is mirrored across sectors. High-tech
industries such as finance, biotech, defense and cloud computing are poised to
absorb and scale AI quickly. In contrast, lower-tech sectors — particularly
those in developing economies or rural regions — face significant challenges in
adoption. These include lack of infrastructure, limited access to high-speed
internet, underdeveloped capital markets and a shortage of skilled labor. As a
result, AI’s economic windfall is likely to accrue primarily to a relatively
small number of players, exacerbating existing divisions between the Global
North and Global South and between urban and rural, high-skilled and
low-skilled, and capital-rich and capital-poor populations. Collaborative
efforts to establish shared standards, address data privacy and coordinate AI
governance are vital.
This raises a critical and urgent question: Does GDP, the standard metric used
to measure a country’s economic performance, adequately capture the real impact
of AI? GDP was developed in the 20th century to track industrial production and
consumption. While it remains useful for measuring overall output, it often
fails to reflect the full social and economic implications of technological
revolutions.
For example, GDP growth driven by AI may mask increasing inequality, job
displacement or the erosion of traditional sectors. A country’s GDP might grow
robustly even as millions of workers in routine or manual labor are made
redundant by intelligent machines. Similarly, GDP cannot account for the ethical
and psychological dimensions of AI, such as surveillance, algorithmic bias or
mental health effects related to job insecurity. This disconnect raises
important questions about how policymakers should assess economic well-being in
an AI-powered world. If AI continues to drive enormous wealth creation while
simultaneously fueling inequality, social unrest and economic dislocation, then
governments, institutions and global bodies must act now. Countries that wish to
share in AI’s benefits and avoid being left on the sidelines must begin by
investing in the foundational building blocks of an AI-ready economy. This
includes not only physical infrastructure — such as data centers and broadband
access — but also legal and institutional infrastructure to promote innovation,
regulate ethical risks and foster global cooperation. Countries without these
ingredients risk becoming consumers rather than producers of AI, missing out on
the wealth and geopolitical influence that comes with leadership in this domain.
At the same time, education systems must undergo a profound transformation to
prepare the workforce for a future where AI is ubiquitous. Traditional education
focused on rote memorization and static technical skills will no longer suffice.
Nations must implement lifelong learning systems that teach adaptable skills
such as critical thinking, data literacy, ethics and problem-solving — abilities
that complement rather than compete with machines. Furthermore, targeted
reskilling programs must be developed to support those displaced by AI. These
programs must not merely teach coding or technical skills but also create
pathways into emerging sectors like AI ethics, data stewardship, human-centered
design and interdisciplinary AI applications. Investment also plays a central
role. Governments need to provide incentives for both private and public sector
investment in inclusive AI innovation. This includes funding AI startups,
supporting open-source platforms and ensuring that AI applications address
real-world problems such as climate change, food security, education and
healthcare access in underserved communities. Tax incentives, public-private
partnerships and inclusive procurement policies can help channel innovation
toward socially beneficial ends. Without such intervention, market forces alone
will likely prioritize profit-maximizing applications, further entrenching
inequality and ignoring broader human needs.Moreover, international cooperation
is indispensable. AI is a global technology and its benefits and risks cross
borders. Collaborative efforts to establish shared standards, address data
privacy and cybersecurity, and coordinate AI governance are vital. Equally
important is the need for wealthier nations to support capacity-building in the
Global South, ensuring that the developing world has a fair opportunity to
access and shape the future of AI. Otherwise, AI risks becoming yet another tool
of global dominance, deepening rather than bridging the digital divide. In
conclusion, as AI stands at the frontier of a new era in global economic
history, it holds the power to lift productivity, unlock innovation and catalyze
trillions of dollars in new economic value. But it also threatens to leave
behind those who are not prepared — intensifying inequality both within and
among nations. The challenge ahead is not just to harness AI for growth but to
ensure that this growth is inclusive, sustainable and aligned with human values.
The decisions made today — about policy, education, investment and international
collaboration — will shape not only the trajectory of global GDP but also the
kind of world we build for future generations.
• Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political
scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh
Is it Time for a
‘Syrian Taif’ under Saudi Auspices?
Yousef Al-Dayni/Asharq Al-Awsat/31
July/2025
The recent events in Sweida were not merely sectarian clashes between unruly,
radical, or tribal forces and the people of Jabal al-Druze. Rather, they were
also a window into the profound structural crisis that has been rattling Syria
since the collapse of the Assad regime that no one shed a tear for.
This violent episode showed that this new Syria, which was supposed to break the
shackles and legacy of sectarianism, is largely struggling to move toward the
“virtue of stability” and take a unifying and inclusive approach. Syria has yet
to develop an inclusive identity that moves beyond the mindset of militias and
narrow loyalties.This raises a fundamental question: Can Syria get back on its
feet and build a unified and strong state without building genuine domestic
consensus? Is there now an urgent need for a project of deep reconciliation
under Arab auspices, perhaps led by Saudi Arabia, that would become a kind of
new “Taif Agreement” that creates a bulwark against opportunistic regional and
international meddling by Israel and other rival powers pursuing expansionist
agendas? At this stage, the Gulf position, particularly that of Saudi Arabia,
has been premised on a clear principle: there can be no stability in the Levant
without a unified, strong Syria free from the diseases of sectarianism,
separatism, and extremism in all their forms. However, this vision is faced with
two major challenges. The first is the absence of the kind of consensus in Syria
needed to rebuild state institutions on inclusive, civic foundations. Second, we
have regional and international interventions by actors seeking to exploit and
reproduce divisions, from Israel with its security considerations, to Türkiye
and its northern dilemma, to Iran with proxies eager to return.
A particularly alarming recent development reported by research centers and
think tanks is the emergence of a group called "Awliya al-Baas": a paramilitary
propaganda organization linked to Iran, seeking to establish a new armed
political faction opposed to the Syrian government. The events in Sweida have
exposed the frailty of the social contract among Syria’s various communities.
The charge triggered a major explosion of violence that was followed by
reprisals. In turn, Israel exploited the situation to impose painful security
equations, with direct airstrikes in the heart of Damascus, raising the question
of Syrian sovereignty once again. More alarming than the armed clashes
themselves is a sectarian and takfiri discourse that fuels these tensions and
offers them false and dangerous political and moral legitimacy. However chaotic
armed clashes may be, they remain a phenomenon that can be contained through
political and security measures.
The culture of incitement seen in the pulpits, media, and social media is the
real threat, as they create a climate that justifies any armed transgression.
That is why any project to rebuild Syria must begin with confronting this
discourse, as weapons are merely the outcome, while this culture that hinders
the development of a national project that can rise to the forefront is the root
cause. Against this backdrop, many are repeatedly asking: Can Syria overcome its
ordeal without a comprehensive reconciliation project, or does Syria need a
comprehensive Arab agreement akin to the Taif Accord that ended the Lebanese
civil war? Such a project, if the political will needed to pursue it exists,
could shut the door to opportunistic interventions by Israel, Türkiye, and Iran.
It could also lay the foundations for a clear social contract that guarantees
minority rights, draws the outline of a cohesive decentralized state, restores
national sovereignty, allows the state to control arms, and facilitates the
expulsion of foreign fighters. Yet, succeeding in this pursuit remains
contingent on Syrians’ willingness to understand that national unity is not a
luxury but an existential need.
The roots of the crisis are not limited to the people of Jabal al-Druze. A
broader sense of insecurity, amid the absence of constitutional guarantees and
apprehensions of certain pro-government forces, has unsettled Western states and
the United States. Their approach is to create a “carrot-and-stick” dynamic, not
a genuine pursuit of a new, unified Syria that includes all Syrians. Syria is
not simply undergoing a political transition after decades of Assad rule; it is
confronted with a battle over the nature and essence of the state. Saudi Arabia
and the moderate Arab states understand that supporting a unified Syria not only
serves Syrians' interests; it is also a strategic Arab interest.The real
challenge is to build domestic legitimacy and social consensus, not getting
Western powers (that are eager to end the headache of dealing with Syria) on
side. Riyadh, by contrast, is keen on a sustainable partnership with Syria.
Yet, even this pursuit could run up against a hard fact: the final decision will
always be Syrian, no matter what others do. A durable settlement can only emerge
once Syrians themselves are convinced that the unity of their state is the last
line of defense against fragmentation and foreign dependency, as well as the
only path to a long-awaited resurgence after years of decline.
For All These Reasons, Syria is Still Being Monitored
Internationally
Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al-Awsat/31 July/2025
The recent meeting between the United States, France, and Syria remains the
subject of much speculation and debate, with much of the focus on what was
actually agreed upon...This state of affairs is neither new nor surprising,
given the unusual circumstances in which the meeting was held and the prominent
issues it addressed. Most notably, it was held after the violent and dangerous
developments in southern Syria, which followed unrest in the Alawite-majority
coastal region. It is well known that, for several months now, international and
regional powers that see themselves as directly invested in Syria’s future
(especially now that Russian and Iranian influence has waned), have been closely
monitoring how the new authorities in Damascus address a range of critical
files, from security to the economy, and notably, minority rights.
Türkiye is particularly invested in the success of an experiment it is not only
sponsoring but also expanding. Ankara believes that “managing” Syria’s mosaic in
accordance with its own interests and ideological framework is a matter of
Turkish national security. The Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, reiterated
this stance recently. Before taking charge of diplomacy, he was head of the
intelligence service; therefore, Fidan has extensive experience in handling some
of the most sensitive and dangerous issues, whether in Syria or the broader
Middle East.
Türkiye shares a border of approximately 909 kilometers with Syria, stretching
from the far northeastern edge of the Jazira region at the Iraqi border to the
shores of the Iskenderun district in the far northwest. Much of this border
roughly follows the old Berlin–Istanbul–Baghdad railway. Moreover, all Syrian
governments have refused to recognize the annexation of Iskenderun from Syrian
territory in 1939, during the French Mandate. It’s worth noting that the
majority of the district’s population, whose main city is Antakya, were Arab
Syrians- mostly Sunni and Alawite Muslims, as well as Christians, alongside
Armenians. In contrast, ethnic Turks and Turkmen made up less than 40 percent of
the population, per the 1939 census.
Beyond that, a mixed population of Arabs, Kurds, Turks, and Christians has
always lived on both sides of the border- from around Afrin in the west to the
vicinity of Qamishli in the east. This is why Ankara is adamantly opposed to any
form of partition or territorial redistribution of Syria, regardless of its
scope. Türkiye sees such a development as a threat that could fuel Kurdish
nationalism within its own borders, where Kurds make up around 20 percent of the
population. That sums up Ankara’s priorities, particularly regarding the status
of Syria’s Kurdish minority east of the Euphrates, which is currently receiving
significant attention from the United States. To the south, Syria shares a
border with Jordan, which extends westward to the occupied Golan Heights (seized
by Israel in 1967) and the northern region of Palestine, which was occupied in
1948.
Since the founding of Israel, the Golan Heights have been a focal point of its
strategic thinking. There are two main reasons for the Jewish state’s focus on
this region: first, it overlooks the northern Jordan Valley and the lakes of
Tiberias and Hula; second, it is home to significant water resources.
Thus, while Syria’s “mosaic” in the north impacts Türkiye's political
calculations, the southern mosaic has always been at the heart of Israel’s
security and demographic concerns. For decades, and likely centuries, the Golan
has been home to a diverse population made up of Druze, Christians, Sunni Arabs,
Circassian Sunnis, and Turkmens, in addition to three Alawite villages. Ismailis
are also present in the region.
Moreover, the Golan Heights is the highest point outside the Lebanese mountains
(Mount Hermon or Jabal al-Sheikh) from which one can oversee Damascus as well as
the plains of Hauran and Jaidur. To the east of Hauran rises Jabal al-Arab in
Suwayda, home to the largest concentration of Druze in the region and indeed the
world.
This Druze presence in the south is reinforced by Druze communities in and
around Damascus, Wadi al-Ajam, and northern parts of the Golan. For Israel,
however, the most significant factor is the 120,000 Druze citizens in the
Galilee, and the 20,000 Druze living in the occupied Syrian Golan villages. Just
as Türkiye uses domestic political and security “considerations” to justify its
involvement in Syria under the pretext of containing the “Kurdish threat,”
Israel bases its right to intervene in the south on the pretext of protecting
the Druze. This brings us to the Alawite and Christian questions. The Alawite
issue is, in truth, no less important than the previous ones. Indeed, Syrian
Alawites outnumber the Druze, and make up the majority in two provinces: Latakia
and Tartus, located in the coastal mountain region traditionally known as the
Alawite Mountains.
Under the Assad regime, these two provinces hosted critical Russian military
facilities: the critical Russian naval base in Tartus and an important Russian
airbase at Hmeimim, near the city of Jableh in Latakia. On another front, Wadi
al-Nassara (Valley of the Christians) is the southern boundary of the Alawite
mountain region. This area is home to a disproportionately high number of Syrian
emigrants to the United States, among them politically active individuals,
influential businessmen, and prominent figures with a voice in Washington.
All of these factors might help explain the reasons behind the intense, and even
skeptical, international attention on developments in Syria. They could also
shed light on the broad apprehensions around delays in pursuing transitional
justice, building state institutions, and coherently defining the country’s
minorities’ status (whether ethnic, like the Kurds, or religious, like the
Christians; or sectarian, like the Alawites, Druze, and Ismailis.
Nothing Can Prevent the Two-State Solution
Jebril Elabidi/Asharq Al-Awsat/31
July/2025
Additional countries could endorse the roadmap for a comprehensive vision that
ends the Israeli–Palestinian conflict through the two-state solution, while
leaving questions on the borders of the Palestinian state, settlements, and the
fate of Jerusalem to negotiations between the two sides. That is why French
President Emmanuel Macron has taken the initiative, which was followed by
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing his country’s intention to
recognize the Palestinian state and support the two-state solution. The UN
Conference on a Two-State Solution, backed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and
France, has presented a roadmap that the UN General Assembly is likely to adopt,
especially in light of what essentially amounts to a US green light. When Trump
was asked about the New York conference, he said the attendees could “Do what
they want,” despite the absence of both the US and Israel.
Looking back, the West had, at one point, encouraged Jewish citizens to migrate
to the land of Palestine and fabricated for them the story of Israel and the
Chosen People, despite the total lack evidence (in either the Old or New
Testament) that the “People of God” were the Jews who came to or were displaced
to Palestine in 1948. Even if we were to accept this erroneous premise, we would
find that the “People of God” mentioned in scripture are those who worship the
Lord- whoever worships God is one of His people. Indeed, Paul wrote to the
Romans: “For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they
are Abraham's descendants are they all his children.”
One policy that has fueled social isolation and hindered the two communities’
integration into a single state is the separation wall, which the Israeli
government tries to market to the world as a security barrier. In reality, it is
nothing but a wall of a prison that is home to a hungry and displaced population
who have suffered for more than fifty years. Moreover, a climate of rabid racism
has produced Zionist fanaticism that feeds on a distorted law claimed to have
come from the Lord in the Torah of Moses, peace be upon him. A form of racism
fueled by a legacy of religious radicalism promoted by a Zionist establishment
that has empowered terrorist groups (such as Kach, Irgun, Yeshiva, Kahane, The
Temple Mount Faithful, Stern Gangs, and many others) stands in the way of
integration. These groups view other people as inferior beings.
The extremists on both sides present a major obstacle. On the Israeli side,
there are those who reject coexistence, peace, and the very idea of a
Palestinian state on what they consider biblical land (“Judea and Samaria”). “We
must possess all the biblical land,” Moshe Dayan stressed- even Jericho, which
has always been cursed in their scripture: “Cursed is he who rebuilds Jericho
with stone.”On the other side, there are extremists who want to throw the
population of present-day Israel into the sea. For all these reasons, the idea
of living together in one state is a nonstarter. Thus, the two-state solution is
the only viable path to the future. It is for these same reasons that Yitzhak
Rabin and later, Yasser Arafat, were assassinated. The two men shared the Nobel
Peace Prize because they believed in the two-state solution. One was gunned down
by an extremist, and the other was besieged and ultimately killed by the same
military and intelligence establishment that had killed his partner in peace,
Rabin. Today, this same establishment is led by extremists who believe only in
war, on land, at sea, and in the air, against a defenseless and unarmed
population that cannot even water the crops ruined by Israeli tanks.
Historically, Israeli governments have sought to hollow out peace initiatives,
delaying implementation by splitting them into multiple phases, and ultimately
respecting less than ten percent of the agreement’s stipulations. That’s why it
is imperative to bind the Israeli government to the international consensus on
the two-state solution; otherwise, we would merely be plowing the sea.
Choose the
Druze ...Syria’s endangered minorities deserve protection
Clifford D. May/The Washington Times/July 31/2025
The Arab Spring was the media’s name for a wave of protests – some peaceful,
some violent – against various Middle Eastern dictatorships between 2010 and
2012.
Demonstrations against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad began in 2011. With
unbridled brutality, he attempted to suppress them. In what soon became a
full-blown civil war, Mr. Assad slaughtered an estimated 600,000 Syrians and
displaced more than 13 million.
Participating in these crimes were Hezbollah, Tehran’s Lebanon-based proxy, and
forces deployed by Vladimir Putin, Russia’s longtime ruler. The fall of the
Assad regime last December was an unintended consequence of the war that Hamas,
another Tehran proxy, launched against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Hezbollah soon
began rocketing Israel’s northern regions. One year ago, on July 27, 2024, a
Hezbollah attack on the Golan village of Majdal Sham killed 12 Druze children on
a soccer field.
Soon after, Israel decimated Hezbollah. Mr. Putin, meanwhile, was continuing to
wage war on Ukraine. Left on their own, Mr. Assad’s forces were no match for
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and affiliated Islamist factions. This coalition was
led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, aka Abu Mohammad al-Joulani, who for years had headed
Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaeda affiliate.
Mr. Sharaa and HTS have been backed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a
supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood and, as I’m not the first to observe, a
neo-Ottoman. Syria was for centuries a possession of the Ottoman Empire. On Jan.
29, the rebel factions’ General Command declared Mr. Sharaa Syria’s interim
president. Trading his black turban and fatigues for a suit and tie, he has been
projecting the image of a statesman intent on re-building his country under the
slogan “One Syria for all Syrians.”
His diplomatic outreach included a meeting in May in Riyadh with President Trump
who afterwards praised Mr. Sharaa as a “tough guy” with the skills to “hold
Syria together.”
That assessment is now being tested.
Syria’s Sweida governate, in the country’s south, bordering Jordan, is home to
roughly 700,000 Druze, the largest concentration of this unique ethno-religious
community in the Middle East.
The Druze don’t want to rule Syria.
What they do want is not to be persecuted; to be allowed to preserve their way
of life, traditions, and customs. In late April, armed groups affiliated with
the new Syrian government attacked Druze villages in Sweida. On July 13, a Druze
vegetable truck on the Sweida-Damascus highway was ambushed by Sunni Bedouin
Arabs. Druze reprisals against Bedouins followed. Mr. Sharaa sent his troops to
restore order. Before long, however, at least some of those troops also were
attacking the Druze. According to a report by the Druze Documentation Nexus,
what followed was “a multi-day campaign characterized by targeted killings, acts
of sexual violence, use of Turkish drones to bomb civilians, mass executions,
looting, burning down houses, and widespread desecration of cultural and
religious sites.” The number of Druze casualties climbed well beyond a thousand,
with many times that number left homeless.
The report concludes: “Despite official state media narratives portraying the
conflict as a Druze-Bedouin conflict and portraying government efforts to
restore order, independent documentation and footage confirm active
participation of Government authorities in the atrocities and ethnic cleansing.”
Many American and European commentators have echoed Damascus’s line, attributing
the carnage to “sectarianism,” and employing such phrases as “tit-for-tat
violence” to suggest moral equivalence. I don’t doubt that Syria suffers from
tribal rivalries, land disputes, and grievances galore. And no people – Druze,
Jews, Arabs, or Americans – is monolithic. For generations, however, the many
ethnic and religious minorities of the Middle East have been subject to
slaughter, slavery, forced conversions, and expulsions at the hands of Islamic
supremacists and jihadis.
Those minorities deserve concern, support, and protection – much more than
they’ve received from the “international community” and the Western media.
Israelis, by contrast, have been paying close attention to what’s happening next
door. To many, the assaults in Sweida look eerily like the atrocities carried
out by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.
Israel is home to roughly 150,000 Druze. Most are intensely patriotic citizens
of the Jewish-majority state. They serve prominently in the military,
participate in politics, teach in universities, and run businesses. As the
violence mounted in Sweida, Israeli Druze leaders turned to Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and asked him to take action in defense of their endangered
brethren. He ordered airstrikes not only against Syrian tanks and convoys
approaching Druze villages in Sweida but also against Syria’s military
headquarters in Damascus. The White House was displeased. Commentators accused
Israel of “fueling the fires.” I’d suggest Mr. Netanyahu was sending a clear
message to Mr. Sharaa: Rein in the jihadis in your coalition, or else.
A case can be made that by defending Syria’s Druze, Israel also helps prevent
jihadis from gaining ground near Israel’s eastern border, a national security
benefit. The Trump administration has since facilitated a fragile ceasefire in
Sweida, as well as direct negotiations between Damascus and Jerusalem. More
progress is possible – if Mr. Sharaa demonstrates pragmatism. That implies that
he prioritize the reconstruction of Syria’s shattered economy, does not become
Mr. Erdogan’s handmaiden (the Saudis will ask less and can give more), work out
a modus vivendi with Israel, and show tolerance toward the Druze in the south
and the Kurds in the northeast (where Kurdish troops allied with American forces
have been fighting ISIS), as well toward Christians, Alawites, Turkmen, and
other Syrian minorities. The Arab Spring never bore fruit. No one expects a
Jeffersonian flowering in Syria anytime soon. But peace, quiet, and a path out
of poverty in a gradually unifying nation-state is not beyond imagining. Is that
what Mr. Shaara wants? We should know before long.
**Clifford D. May is founder and president of the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies (FDD), a columnist for the Washington Times, and host of the
“Foreign Podicy” podcast.
Despite war and sanctions, Iran’s oil exports surge
Saeed Ghasseminejad and Behnam Taleblu/The Hill/July 31/2025
https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/5425710-despite-war-and-sanctions-irans-oil-exports-surge/
Iranian protesters hold up flags in an anti-Israeli gathering in Tehran, Iran,
June 13, 2025.
“Maximum pressure” ought to mean “maximum pressure.” Yet despite sanctions and
war, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s oil exports continued to surge in the first
six months of 2025.
No doubt, U.S. economic penalties and Israeli strikes severely dented Tehran’s
missile, military, and nuclear capabilities. But if Washington is serious about
dismantling Iran’s nuclear weapons program and rolling back the spectrum of
threats the regime poses according to President Trump’s national security
memorandum, more will be needed, and quickly.
According to data available for purchase from Tankertrackers, Iran exported
nearly 1.7 million barrels per day in June 2025 of crude oil, condensates, and
fuel oil, resulting in a total of more than 50 million barrels worth an
estimated $3.6 billion. These revenues will be used to fund oppression at home
and aggression abroad, as well as to rebuild Iran’s shattered air defenses,
missile capacity, and terror networks.
In February, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pledged to reduce Tehran’s oil
exports to nearly zero. That has not happened yet.
Tehran’s recorded oil exports under Trump 2.0 consistently exceed the levels
recorded at the end of the Biden administration in January 2025. From February
to June 2025, Iran averaged 1.67 million barrels per day in crude oil exports,
37 percent higher than the January 2025 figure. When including condensates and
fuel oil, Tehran’s total export average for the February to June period
increases to 1.84 mbpd, reflecting a 30 percent rise compared to January 2025.
This stands in stark contrast to the maximum pressure period during Trump’s
first term, when average oil exports hovered around 800,000 barrels per day,
with some months dropping as low as 300,000.
Sen. Hawley on Congressional stock trading ban
Maximum pressure was so effective in Trump’s first term that Iran’s president
and oil minister claimed that the sanctions were more damaging to oil exports
than the Iran-Iraq War had been in the 1980s. No officials are making these
claims today.
Last month, Iran exported a total of 50 million barrels of oil, around 1.7 mbpd,
with 88 percent being crude oil, 10 percent fuel oil, and 2 percent condensates.
Over 92 percent of these exports were destined for China while 6 percent went to
the United Arab Emirates.
Nearly 80 percent of these shipments came from the oil export terminal at Kharg
Island, which continued operating during the 12-Day War. In fact, despite a few
symbolic strikes against energy depots and refineries, Israel largely avoided
striking Iran’s major oil and gas production and export facilities.
Moreover, preliminary data from the first half of July indicates that Iranian
oil exports are recovering from a slight decline in June, reaching nearly 2 mbpd
with 1.8 mbpd being crude oil. The primary destinations for these exports are
China and the United Arab Emirates, both of which were jurisdictions featuring
major sanctions violations in Trump’s first term.
The reasons for Iran’s continued export capacity are many. Beyond Iran’s
evolving sanctions-busting capabilities, Washington’s insistence on a deal
throughout 2025 incentivized illicit shippers and buyers to stay in the
sanctions-busting game, assuming a deal may be close.
Additionally, Washington has taken a graduated approach toward maximum pressure,
focused on expanding the scope of Iran’s illicit oil export operations to
include its “shadow fleet,” smaller Chinese private refiners, front companies
and “shadow banking” networks financing these sales. A brief alleged “pause” in
Iran sanctions enforcement, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal in
June, may have also played a role.
Thus far, Treasury has not targeted major banks and ports, particularly in
China, that are implicated in this illicit trade. A congressionally mandated
report from the Biden administration identified 27 countries involved in Iran’s
illegal oil trade. Data from June 2025 indicates that major ports in Fujairah,
Jebel Ali, Zhoushan, Taicang, Qingdao, and Changzhou are part of this network.
The U.S. Treasury could expand its list of targets to include major ports,
banks, and any firms involved in this illicit trade, particularly those with an
international presence. Washington can also designate board members, C-suite
level executives, shareholders, and ultimate beneficial owners.
But lawfare is only one component of economic statecraft. To effectively
take-down Tehran’s oil export network as part of a comprehensive strategy
against the Islamic Republic, the U.S. will need to leverage all elements of
national power.
For example, the U.S. Navy could significantly increase its efforts to seize
tankers transporting Iranian oil. Additionally, covert operations could target
those who defy sanctions, focusing on the most egregious offenders. This will
send an unambiguous message: the cost of doing business with Iran has escalated
dramatically, and the consequences will be severe.
For Trump to achieve his policy goals and Bessent to fulfill his promise, the
cost of doing business with Iran must be raised. Otherwise, they risk
replicating the failed Biden-era approach to sanctioning Iran.
**Saeed Ghasseminejad is a senior advisor on Iran and financial economics at the
Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington DC, where Behnam Ben Taleblu
is the senior director of the Iran program.
**Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not
be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
MARK DUBOWITZ: Don't believe the spin about starving Gazans.
Trump could end the 'genocide' with four words
MARK DUBOWITZ AND BEN COHEN/DAILYMAIL/30 July 2025 |
If Western governments and their partners in the Arab world truly cared about
feeding hungry Palestinians in Gaza, their response to the current humanitarian
crisis in the coastal enclave would look very different than it does today.
On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom may soon
follow the lead of French President Emmanuel Macron and officially recognize a
Palestinian State, if – by September – Israel does not agree to a ceasefire with
Hamas and allow more aid to flow into Gaza.
'I don't mind [Starmer] taking a position,' the president told reporters.
Trump should 'mind.'
The UK's recognition of a Palestinian state would, of course, be largely
symbolic. They cannot wish a new nation into existence. Palestinian state will
only come about through a negotiated two-state solution with Israel – one which
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the majority of Israelis reeling
from decades of Palestinian terrorism reject.
But if Hamas – the current authoritarian power in Gaza – were to be destroyed
than the dynamics change. Why, then, do Western leaders – repeatedly – throw
Hamas a lifeline?
The sad reality is that the enablers of the sufferings of Gazans are not in
Jerusalem, but in France, the United Kingdom, the United States and any number
of countries where thoughtless empathy – detached from facts, history, and
responsibility – has replaced strategic, compassionate thinking.
If Western governments and their partners in the Arab world truly cared about
feeding hungry Palestinians in Gaza , their response to the current humanitarian
crisis in the coastal enclave would look very different than it does today
Starmer said that the United Kingdom may soon follow the lead of French
President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) and officially recognize a Palestinian
State, if – by September – Israel does not agree to a ceasefire with Hamas and
allow more aid to flow into Gaza. Starmer said that the United Kingdom may soon
follow the lead of French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) and officially
recognize a Palestinian State, if – by September – Israel does not agree to a
ceasefire with Hamas and allow more aid to flow into Gaza. For decades, the West
has played an indispensable role in shielding Hamas from the consequences of its
actions – and it does so again by putting the onus on Israel to solve the
escalating human tragedy in Gaza.
Whenever Hamas has embedded fighters in hospitals, launched rockets from school
yards, or hoarded fuel and food meant for civilians, it has counted on a
Pavlovian reaction from the West: pity for Palestinians, blame for Israel. But
who is really to blame when innocent Gazans, deployed by Hamas as human shields,
are killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes?
The answer from the West – in one voice – must be: Hamas.
Instead, European nations, France above all others, has shown an almost
compulsive need to virtue signal on this issue. Macron's decision to support
recognition of a Palestinian state – at the precise moment Hamas is torturing
Israeli hostages underground – is complicity, not diplomacy.
Israel's Arab neighbors do the same. Egypt publicly postures as a mediator while
quietly coordinating with Hamas. Cairo controls the Rafah border crossing –
Gaza's only outlet to the Arab world. It could open it, allow more aid through,
and even offer refuge.
But Egypt, like much of the Arab world, doesn't want to absorb Palestinian
refugees or take responsibility for Gaza. Instead, they heap pressure on Israel
and then blame it for the consequences. The list of enablers goes on: Qatari
funds that prop up Hamas salaries, UN agencies that act as de facto welfare arms
of Hamas governance, and in the United States, a vocal bloc of lawmakers who
parrot Hamas talking points with the same blockheaded certainty that underlies
the pro-Hamas encampments on college campuses.
Meanwhile, editorial pages are filled with the sort of moralizing that feeds the
eliminationist fantasies of the pro-Hamas protestors to whom the Jewish state is
the root of all evil. It is an ugly moment for our civilization, in which
narcissistic posturing has blended with classic antisemitism to generate plenty
of heat, but no light.
But it's not too late to change course by helping Palestinians and not Hamas.
Whenever Hamas has embedded fighters in hospitals, launched rockets from school
yards, or hoarded fuel and food meant for civilians, it has counted on a
Pavlovian reaction from the West: pity for Palestinians, blame for Israel
Meanwhile, editorial pages are filled with the sort of moralizing that feeds the
eliminationist fantasies of the pro-Hamas protestors to whom the Jewish state is
the root of all evil
Imagine if those same Western leaders – as well as legislators, diplomats, Arab
foreign ministries and the various organs of the United Nations – reacted
differently to the images of Palestinian suffering. Instead of issuing blanket
condemnations of Israel for fighting a war imposed upon it by the Hamas mass
atrocities of October 7, 2023, they could help shape the parameters that will
bring the bloodshed to an end. They could recognize that the humanitarian
situation in Gaza is a crisis of food distribution, not supply. Rather than
damning Israel, the international community should work with the Israelis to
ensure that food gets to those who need it – particularly poorer families
languishing in the lower ranks of the patronage network which Hamas operates in
Gaza. That means circumventing the present delivery system that has been
ruthlessly exploited by Hamas. Doing so would bring relief to tens of thousands
of Palestinians and reassure them that they have a reliable food supply.
And there's more.
World leaders could demand the immediate and unconditional release of the 50
remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive,
striking at the main source of leverage that Hamas has enjoyed throughout this
war. They could state clearly that there will be no reconstruction program for
Gaza while Hamas stays in power. All this would accelerate the removal of Hamas
– the only party to this conflict that actually wants the Gazan population to
starve, thereby allowing it to cling to power. After all, a Gaza without Hamas
is an outcome Macron and Starmer say they desire.
A Palestinian state must be conditioned on the dismantling of Hamas and the
solemn, irreversible recognition by the Palestinian leadership of Israel's right
to exist as a Jewish, democratic state. For his part, President Donald Trump and
other American leaders must call out these Western accomplices in the machinery
of Palestinian misery – and speak these four words: Hamas has no future. Trump
should make clear that the path to peace requires the dismantlement of Hamas.
Until that happens, there will be only more war, more children in rubble, and
more crocodile tears from those who helped cause the destruction. Hamas survives
on Western weakness. If the world wants the suffering in Gaza to end, nothing
less than a total inversion of the narrative is necessary: no statehood without
recognition of Israel, no aid without disarmament, no more lies about who is to
blame.
It's time the free world stopped giving Hamas what it wants.
**Mark Dubowitz is the chief executive of the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies and Ben Cohen is a senior analyst and directs FDD’s rapid response
outreach.
Diplomatic Terrorism?: France's Recognition of an Imaginary
Palestinian State
Drieu Godefridi/Gatestone Institute/July 31, 2025
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21788/france-recognizes-imaginary-palestinian-state
International law — particularly Article 1 of the 1933 Montevideo Convention —
defines the criteria for statehood: a permanent population, a defined territory,
an effective government, and the capacity to engage in relations with other
states. Yet neither of the two Palestinian political entities meets these
criteria.
By choosing to recognize a "Palestinian state" that clearly fails to meet these
established criteria, France departs from any international law. Macron's
declaration is not a matter of legal recognition, but a political gesture —
ideological and electoral — masquerading as diplomacy.
[T]his recognition serves as a reward for terrorism. It offers no humanitarian
benefit. As US President Donald Trump put it: "What Macron says is irrelevant—it
won't change anything." The sole concrete outcome is the political
legitimization of a jihadist, anti-Semitic, genocidal movement.
On 24 July 2025, France announced its decision to recognize the existence of a
"Palestinian state" in September. President Emmanuel Macron portrayed this move
as an act of "justice" and "peace." In reality, however, this recognition
constitutes a geopolitical fiction. Once again, France finds itself on the wrong
side of history. Not on the side of human rights. Not on the side of peace. But
on the side of lies, dishonor and collaboration with the enemies of humanity.
On 24 July 2025, France announced its decision to recognize the existence of a
"Palestinian state" in September. President Emmanuel Macron portrayed this move
as an act of "justice" and "peace." In reality, however, this recognition
constitutes a geopolitical fiction — contrary to international law, flagrantly
at odds with the facts on the ground, and laden with profoundly harmful moral
implications.
1. What State?
International law — particularly Article 1 of the 1933 Montevideo Convention —
defines the criteria for statehood: a permanent population, a defined territory,
an effective government, and the capacity to engage in relations with other
states. Yet neither of the two Palestinian political entities meets these
criteria.
On one side stands the Palestinian Authority (PA), headed by Mahmoud Abbas—a
feeble administrative remnant, ostentatiously corrupt, loathed by his people and
devoid of democratic legitimacy. No presidential election has been held since
2005. The PA's limited authority extends over only a portion of the West Bank,
and even there, it operates with the conditional consent of Israel and under the
close oversight of the Israeli military, on which it depends for its own
security.
On the other side lies the Gaza Strip, controlled by the Islamist organization
Hamas, designated as a terrorist group by the European Union, the United States,
Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan. Hamas, which perpetrated the
massacre of October 7, 2023, is not a state actor, but a theocratic militia. It
is waging war not only against Israel but also against Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah
faction. Hamas, in a coup, forcibly expelled the Palestinian Authority from the
Gaza Strip in 2007 in a Palestinian civil war that has claimed hundreds of lives
over the years.
Thus, the "Palestinian state" that France purports to recognize possesses no
unified government, no monopoly on the legitimate use of force, and no effective
sovereignty. It exists solely on the papers of a few diplomatic offices — not in
reality.
2. What Territory?
Recognizing a state entails recognizing its control over a territory — even if
disputed at the margins. Yet here too, confusion reigns, and for good reason:
Palestinian territorial claims are anything but coherent. The 1949 armistice
lines (frequently but mistakenly called the "1967 borders") have never been
recognized as international boundaries, either by Israel or by key UN
resolutions, including Security Council Resolution 242 of 1967. That resolution
calls for withdrawal to "secure and recognized boundaries" but leaves their
definition open.
Hamas, by contrast, rejects any notion of coexistence with Israel. Its founding
covenant from 1988 (revised in 2017) continues to call explicitly for Israel's
destruction, and the 2017 revision claims all the land "from the River Jordan in
the east to the Mediterranean in the west" — that is, all of Israel, the West
Bank and Gaza. This vision necessarily entails the eradication of the State of
Israel and the displacement — or extermination — of its people.
To recognize a state with no defined territory — and whose territorial claims
involve ethnic cleansing — is to lend legitimacy to a genocidal project.
3. What Authority?
Since the launch of Israel's Operation Swords of Iron in response to the
jihadist slaughter of October 7, 2023, Hamas has lost control over large
portions of the Gaza Strip. The IDF now conducts daily operations there,
systematically dismantling Hamas's military infrastructure and administrative
apparatus. The so-called Hamas "government" no longer possesses functioning
ministries, a budget, or significant logistical capability. Its leadership is
either dead, exiled, or in hiding.
In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority has lost credibility. It is widely
perceived as corrupt, authoritarian and subservient to Israel. It controls
neither borders nor resources. It cannot even maintain public order in many
areas, such as Jenin and Nablus, which have devolved into strongholds of lawless
paramilitary factions.
In sum, there is no Palestinian authority exercising sovereign control over any
territory.
A Legal Fiction, a Moral Disaster
Under international law, the recognition of a state is a sovereign act —
discretionary, but not arbitrary. It presupposes, in principle, the existence of
objective facts demonstrating a genuine state within the legal meaning of the
term. By choosing to recognize a "Palestinian state" that clearly fails to meet
these established criteria, France departs from any international law. Macron's
declaration is not a matter of legal recognition, but a political gesture —
ideological and electoral — masquerading as diplomacy.
The timing only compounds the problem. One year and eight months after the
atrocities of October 7, 2023 — acts of barbarism targeting civilians, including
women, children, the elderly and even babies — this recognition serves as a
reward for terrorism. It offers no humanitarian benefit. As US President Donald
Trump put it: "What Macron says is irrelevant—it won't change anything." The
sole concrete outcome is the political legitimization of a jihadist,
anti-Semitic, genocidal movement.
For those who still doubt that reality, Hamas leaders have articulated their
aims with chilling clarity. In an interview on October 24, 2023 with Lebanese
television channel LBC, Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas's political bureau,
declared:
"We must teach Israel a lesson, and we will do this again and again. The Al-Aqsa
Flood is just the first time, and there will be a second, a third, a fourth,
because we have the determination, the resolve, and the capabilities to fight."
When asked whether this meant the annihilation of Israel, he responded without
hesitation: "Yes, of course."
Once again, France finds itself on the wrong side of history. Not on the side of
human rights. Not on the side of peace. But on the side of lies, dishonor and
collaboration with the enemies of humanity.
**Drieu Godefridi is a jurist (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain),
philosopher (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain) and PhD in legal
theory (Paris IV-Sorbonne). He is an entrepreneur, CEO of a European private
education group and director of PAN Medias Group. He is the author of The Green
Reich (2020).
© 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.
Selected Tweets for 31 July/2025
ܐܠܟܣܢܕܪ Amine Bar-Julius Iskandar
Warsaw-Poland vs Beirut-Lebanon: A country where the authorities want to
safeguard the authentic identity Vs A country where the authorities want to
erase and eradicate the identity. Taef and Solidere are the two sides of the
same coin.
Walid Abu Haya
The conduct of the #UN following Oct7 on southern #Israel and now on July15 in
Al- Sweida in #Syria, both committed by radical Islamic groups, constitutes a
blatant moral and legal violation of the UN charter and foundation. This
violation is reflected in the UN’s failure to unequivocally condemn acts of
terror and the politicization of its mechanisms, mainly the Human Rights ones.
As long as the UN continues to ignore tragedies such as the massacres in
southern Israel or in Sweida, it demonstrates selective racism and support of
extreme Islamists!
U.S. State Dept - Near Eastern Affairs
The Iranian regime is intensifying repression of the Iranian people, using the
aftermath of the 12-Day War as a pretext to target opposition and dissent.
Iranians expressing anti-regime sentiments are being detained at a rapid rate
and facing unjust punishments that include the death penalty. Scapegoating its
own citizens will only lead the regime further down the path of international
isolation. The U.S. government will continue to hold Iran accountable for its
human rights violations.
Zéna Mansour
A 70y old Druze woman testifies to brutal killings including a mother&son, Tank
invasions. Despite these atrocities, Druzes & Christians inSuweida have
coexisted peacefully,welcoming displaced for14yrs, advocating for unity peace&an
end to violence.
Marc Zell
My wife and I between lost some 200 members of our families in the Holocaust in
which 6 million of our people were slaughtered. There are “only” ~ 1 million
Druze on the planet most of whom live in Syria. I simply cannot stand by and
watch Turkey and the Syrian regime carry out the destruction of the Druze.
Soldiers sent by the regime leadership openly declare that their ultimate goal
and that of their bosses is to conquer Israel and “liberate” Jerusalem. When our
enemies say they intend to destroy us, we MUST believe them.
Marc Zell
The United States announced that it has decided to impose sanctions on members
of the Palestinian Authority and the PLO. The U.S. State Department stated today
that the unusual decision was made because these organizations are undermining
efforts to achieve peace.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
There is not a single shred of doubt in my mind about it: Ahmad al-Sharaa will
be just another tyrant who will rule Syria with fire and fury. Question is, will
he be amicable to the West (as Kissinger would call him, our SOB) or align with
the enemies of the West? Sharaa might try to be like Papa Assad and play both
sides to his advantage. Such game is risky and backfires when tyrant isn’t
skilled, like Assad the child.
John Bolton
Ambassador Barrack is publicly making excuses for al-Sharaa’s reluctance to open
full diplomatic relations with Israel. It is not generally a US ambassador’s job
to justify another country’s actions. He should be warned about the symptoms he
is displaying.
John Bolton
https://x.com/i/status/1950632990511604084
It was a major mistake for the Biden Administration to have such a weak position
in the Middle East. It's in America's best interest to have a much stronger
response to attacks or the threat of attacks, especially in Kurdistan where
there are legitimate American interests.
John Bolton
It's not the moment for the U.S. to be reducing its role in the Middle East,
especially in respect to the Kurdish people who have done so much to fight
terrorism for decades.
Zéna Mansour
She states:"This isn't a problem between Druze Bedouins as portrayed inMedia.
It's a problem for those who recruited & armed them to kill & attack people.This
isn't a state,it's a stateof terrorism, Iwish the world's press would come
&document what they've done.