English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For  December 01/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
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Bible Quotations For today
Mary said: He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 01/46-55/:"Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’"

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on November 30-December 01/2025
The First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and Its Historical and Theological Dimensions: A Study on the Occasion of the Visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Turkey and Lebanon/Elias Bejjani/November 29/2025
Who is His Holiness Pope Leo XIV?/Elias Bejjani/November 27/2025
Pope urges Lebanese to embrace reconciliation, stay in crisis-hit country
A detailed report in Arabic and English covering the events of the first day of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon
Text of the speech that Pope Leo XIV delivered a speech at 6 pm on Sunday at the presidential palace
Text Of President Aoun’s Speech that he delivered in Arabic welcoming His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in Beirut
Pope arrives in Lebanon with message of peace for crisis-hit country
Pope Leo XIV Launches "Appeal for Peace," Affirms Follow-up on Lebanese Issue and Working to Preserve and Protect Lebanon
Israel Threatens to Expand Military Operations Against Lebanon: Israel: Hezbollah is Dragging Us into War
Revealing the Zibqin Tunnels: Political Messages from the Lebanese Army or from Hezbollah!
Israel presses US for deadline on Hezbollah disarmament ahead of Morgan Ortagus' visit
The Extent of Intelligence Breaches within Hezbollah... Did It Start in Tehran?!

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on November 30-December 01/2025
Israel says killed four coming out of Gaza tunnels
Egypt training hundreds of Palestinians for future Gaza police force
Netanyahu Seeks Pardon in Years-long Corruption Trial
Palestinian State 'Only' Solution to Israeli Conflict, Says Pope Leo
Hamas Says Mediators Failing to Pressure Israel
Iran Guards Seize Foreign Ship Carrying 'Smuggled' Fuel
Arab Parliament Condemns Israeli Attacks on Syrian Territory
Al-Sharaa in Aleppo Vows Full Effort to Rebuild Syria
UN Report: Level of Hunger Rising in Yemen’s Houthi-Controlled Areas
PKK urges Turkiye to free Ocalan to advance peace process
Turkiye condemns Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil tankers off Black Sea coast
OPEC+ Holds 2026 Group-wide Oil Output Steady, Agrees Capacity Mechanism
4 Dead, 10 Wounded in Shooting at Banquet Hall in California
US and Ukrainian negotiators meet as Trump seeks to broker an end to the war
Ukraine Peace Talks Underway, Kyiv Says it is Working for 'Real Peace'

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on November 30-December 01/2025
Iran's New Race to the Bomb/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/November 30, 2025
UN road map for Gaza is littered with uncertainty/Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/November 30/2025
Trump has delivered tangible results to the region/Nadim Shehadi/Arab News/November 30, 2025
The missing ingredients for peace in Palestine/Abdullah Gul/Arab News/November 30, 2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on November 30-December 01/2025
The First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and Its Historical and Theological Dimensions: A Study on the Occasion of the Visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Turkey and Lebanon
Elias Bejjani/November 29/2025
Abstract
This study presents a concise summary of an in-depth historical and theological examination of the First Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD in the city of Nicaea (present-day Iznik) in Turkey. It analyzes the historical, political, and theological contexts that led to its assembly, the decisions issued by the Council, and the profound impact it left on the structure of Christian doctrine and the unity of the Church before major schisms emerged. This study is set against the backdrop of the apostolic visit conducted by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Turkey and Lebanon, which included a visit to the historical site of the Council—an event carrying deep symbolic significance in an age marked by ongoing persecution and demographic decline among Christians in the Middle East. The study also examines the situation of Christians in modern Turkey and the ecclesiastical divisions that arose after the Council. It concludes with an evangelical prayer for Lebanon, for Christians in the East, and for the unity of the Churches in the world.
Introduction
The visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Turkey and Lebanon constitutes a significant ecclesial and spiritual event in the realm of ecumenical relations and in the rereading of Christian history. One of the most prominent stops in the papal visit is his pilgrimage to the historic city of Nicaea in Turkey, where the first Ecumenical Council in the history of the Church was held in 325 AD, with the participation of leaders of the Orthodox Church. At the site of the original Council church, a joint prayer service was held, evoking the foundational moment in which the Nicene Creed was born and recalling the unity of faith that once linked the Churches before the schisms. It is worth mentioning that this apostolic visit opened the way for a renewed academic, historical, theological, and ecclesial reflection on the Council of Nicaea, reconnecting the contemporary Church with its early roots at a time when Middle Eastern Christians face demographic collapse and persistent persecution.
I. Historical Background of Christianity Prior to the Council of Nicaea
1. Roman Persecutions of Christians
From its earliest days, the Church endured severe waves of persecution under the Roman Empire, the most notable being:
The persecution of Nero (64 AD): during which Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome.
The persecution of Decius (249–251 AD): an attempt to force Christians to offer pagan sacrifices.
The persecution of Diocletian (303–311 AD): the harshest of all, marked by the burning of churches and Scriptures and the imprisonment of believers.
Christians suffered: imprisonment and executions, torture, confiscation of property,coercion to offer sacrifices to idols. These persecutions formed a crucial backdrop for the development of Christian theology and the shaping of the collective identity of believers.
2. The Edict of Milan (313 AD)
Emperor Constantine the Great and Licinius issued the edict guaranteeing Christians freedom of worship. The Church emerged from secrecy into public life, creating an urgent need to unify doctrine and resolve internal conflicts that had surfaced after the persecution waned.
II. Reasons for Convening the Council of Nicaea (325 AD)
The immediate cause of the Council was the teaching of Arius, a priest from Alexandria, who claimed that Christ was “created” and not equal to the Father in essence. These teachings threatened Church unity and caused widespread divisions. Emperor Constantine called the bishops to an Ecumenical Council to settle this theological dispute and secure unity of faith throughout the empire.
III. The First Council of Nicaea: Location, Participants, and Context
The Council was held in the city of Nicaea in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) between May and June 325 AD, with the participation of 318 bishops from various regions.
Prominent Participants:
St. Athanasius
Hosius of Cordoba
Alexander, Patriarch of Alexandria
Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem
Eustathius of Antioch
Spyridon of Trimythous
Nicholas of Myra
Participants came from many countries, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Greece, Rome, Cyprus, Israel, North Africa, Armenia, and the Caucasus. It is noteworthy that the Church at that time was united and undivided, rich in liturgical and cultural diversity yet firmly anchored in apostolic faith.
IV. Decisions of the Council and Its Theological Outcomes
1. Affirmation of the Divinity of Christ
The Council declared: Jesus Christ is begotten of the Father before all ages, not created, and consubstantial with the Father. Thus the teachings of Arius were rejected and condemned.
2. The Formulation of the Nicene–Constantinopolitan Creed. This creed became the cornerstone of Christian doctrine. Its full text reads: We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through Him all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried; and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life… And in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church… We confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins…We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
3. Determining the Date of Easter
The Council established a unified method for fixing the date of Easter: the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox.
V. Ecclesiastical Schisms After the Council of Nicaea
Despite the unity of the Church during the Council, major schisms emerged later:
1. The Chalcedonian Schism (451 AD)
Resulting from disagreements over the nature(s) of Christ between Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian Churches.
2. The Great Schism between Rome and Constantinople (1054 AD)
Due to doctrinal, theological, liturgical, and political differences.
VI. The Situation of Christians in Modern Turkey
Despite its rich Christian heritage, Turkey witnessed ongoing pressure on its Christian communities since the fall of Constantinople:
1. Conversion of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque
President Erdoğan’s 2020 decision to convert the mother church into a mosque became a clear symbol of the targeting of Christian heritage.
2. Confiscation of monasteries and churches
Especially in Tur Abdin and along the Anatolian coast.
3. Demographic decline
The Christian population fell from 20% at the start of the 20th century to less than 0.3% today.
VII. Geographical Structure of the Church at the Time of the Council
Within the Roman Empire, the Church was organized into major sees: Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem and Constantinople (added later). Nicaea was closely tied to the spiritual geography of the earliest centers of the Church.
VIII. Significance of Pope Leo XIV’s Visit to the Site of the Council
The visit carries academic and spiritual dimensions, most notably:
Reviving the memory of the Council and reaffirming Nicene doctrine, Emphasizing unity of faith between Catholics and Orthodox, Rereading Church history before the schisms, Supporting persecuted Christians in the East and Issuing a global call for reconciliation and peace
Conclusion:
A Prayer for Lebanon, for Peace in the East, and for the Unity of Churches and Christians:
Lord Jesus Christ, You who prayed that all may be one, we ask You to grant our Churches the light of unity
and to remove from our hearts every spirit of division. Protect Your children in the East—those who were forced to flee because of violence and persecution, losing their rights and their homelands. Look with mercy upon Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, and Turkey, and restore peace and freedom to their peoples.
May Your Holy Spirit descend upon all the Churches, to bring unity, strengthen faith, and restore to Christians their presence and their mission.
Amen.
NOTE: The information in this study is cited from various documented ecclesiastical, theological, research, and media references.

Who is His Holiness Pope Leo XIV?
Elias Bejjani/November 27/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149615/
The Birth and Roots
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, into a believing Catholic family dedicated to prayer and Church life. He grew up in a home accustomed to Mass attendance and parish service. His devout mother had a significant influence on his spiritual formation, instilling in him a love for the Church and an attachment to the Word of God from an early age. His Holiness holds both American and Peruvian citizenship (since 2015).
Childhood and the Path of Faith
His childhood was marked by a close attachment to the Church and simple pastoral service. He served as an altar boy in his local parish and participated in activities assisting the poor and marginalized. Signs of a priestly vocation appeared at a young age, and he became attached to the spiritual life and the liturgy, spending long hours in meditation and prayer, which led his parish priest to encourage him to pursue the call to the clergy.
Culture and Academic Credentials
He pursued his higher education at prestigious American Catholic universities, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University and a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union. He studied philosophy and theology, earning advanced degrees in Canon Law (JCL and JCD) from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.
He showed particular interest in the Eastern heritage and the Eastern Churches and became familiar with Oriental spirituality, particularly Maronite spirituality. He is proficient in English as his mother tongue, in addition to Italian and Latin, and has extensive knowledge of biblical Greek and Aramaic.
Deaconate and Religious Order
He was ordained a deacon in the early 1980s, and then chose to join The Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.), a religious order with a contemplative and prayerful nature, where he spent years of religious formation and took his vows. Within the Order, he distinguished himself with his calm and open spirit, and his intellectual and administrative abilities, which led him to assume early teaching, pastoral, and administrative roles. He later served as the Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013.
Positions He Held
Following his religious vows and priestly ordination, he held teaching positions in theological institutes, then progressed to assume:
Prior General of the Augustinian Order (2001–2013).
Monastic responsibilities within his Order and managing pastoral and educational institutions.
Service in South America: He served as a missionary in Peru, where he was the Bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo (from 2015 to 2023) and the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Callao (until 2023).
Subsequently, he joined Church work closely connected to the Vatican Curia, serving as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America (from 2023 until his election as Pope). He participated in initiatives to support suffering Churches and dossiers on inter-church and Christian-Islamic dialogue.
Priestly and Administrative Advancements
Priest: June 19, 1982.
Bishop: December 2014.
Archbishop: After years of episcopal service.
Cardinal: He was chosen for this rank on September 30, 2023, due to his theological experience and deep interest in the Middle East, serving as a Cardinal on essential files concerning Eastern affairs, Eastern Churches, and interreligious dialogue.
His Qualities in Pastoral Service
Pope Leo XIV is known for being close to the people, simple in his dealings, and averse to pretense and ostentation. He tends to listen before passing judgment and believes that the Church is a house of healing for the wounded, not an institution of superiority. He also pays great attention to youth and the social and humanitarian role of the Church, blending liturgical conservatism with openness to cultural and spiritual dialogue.
Personal Characteristics
Humility and a clear spirit of prayer
Theological wisdom and ability for profound dialogue
A calm yet firm reformatory vision
Love for peace and building bridges between peoples
A special attachment to Oriental spiritualities and contemplative silence
His Achievements
Establishing initiatives to support the suffering Churches in the Middle East
Promoting Ecumenical and Christian–Islamic Dialogue
Supporting studies of Eastern heritage and Oriental spiritualities
Launching educational programs for youth in several countries
His Election as Pope of the Catholic Church
The American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Successor of Saint Peter on May 8, 2025, taking the name Leo XIV, in a move that reflected the desire of the Holy See to promote dialogue and peace, support the Churches in the Middle East, and stimulate the process of spiritual and pastoral reform within the universal Church.
The Anticipated Visit to Lebanon and His Spiritual Connection to Saint Charbel
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV is preparing for a historic visit to Lebanon, a visit awaited by the Lebanese due to its spiritual and national importance amid the country's circumstances.
1. Lebanon as a Message During his anticipated visit, the Pope will affirm that Lebanon is not merely a country, but a message founded on freedom, coexistence, and respect for humanity. His speeches are expected to carry messages of support for spiritual, religious, and civil institutions in Lebanon.
2. Supporting Christians in Lebanon His Holiness places great importance on the steadfastness of Christians in Lebanon and their role in protecting the unique Lebanese model. His visit will be an occasion to renew the solidarity of the universal Church with them and to call for the protection of their presence and mission.
3. Annaya and Saint Charbel — A Key Stop in the Visit Program Pope Leo XIV holds a special spiritual relationship with Saint Charbel Makhlouf, whom he considers a “symbol of hope, silence, and prayer in a troubled world.” According to the official program, His Holiness will visit the Monastery of Saint Maron - Annaya to spend time in prayer and contemplation at the tomb of Saint Charbel, seeking his intercession for Lebanon and the world. This stop, although not yet materialized, is considered one of the most prominent points of the anticipated visit because it reflects the depth of the link between the Holy See and Lebanese spirituality.
A Prayer for Christians and Peace in Lebanon
O Lord of peace and mercy, We bow before your greatness and raise Lebanon and its people to you, especially the Christians who carry the roots of faith and the message of witness. Illuminate their hearts with strength from you, Protect them from fear and division, And grant them the courage of steadfastness and the hope of the Resurrection. Bless Lebanon with its mountains, plains, and seas, Spread the spirit of peace throughout its regions, And fill its homes with tranquility and love. By the intercession of Saint Charbel and all the saints, We ask you to heal our blessed country, And that it may transform into a land of light, glory, and coexistence.

Pope urges Lebanese to embrace reconciliation, stay in crisis-hit country
Agence France Presse/November 30, 2025
Visiting Pope Leo XIV urged the Lebanese people on Sunday to embrace reconciliation and remain in their crisis-hit country, while calling on its leaders to put themselves fully at the service of their citizens. The pope, bearing what he described as a message of peace, had previously visited Turkey, where he kicked off his first overseas tour since being elected leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics in May. Long hailed as a model of coexistence, multi-confessional Lebanon is nonetheless plagued by sectarian and political rifts, and has seen waves of emigration. Since 2019 it has been ravaged by successive crises, from an economic collapse widely blamed on official mismanagement and corruption, to a devastating Beirut port blast in 2020, to the recent war between Hezbollah and Israel -- which many Lebanese fear could return. Leo told officials, diplomats and civil society representatives in a speech at the presidential palace that "there are times when it is easier to flee, or simply more convenient to move elsewhere. It takes real courage and foresight to stay or return to one's own country."
He urged Lebanese people to take up the "path of reconciliation", and called on the country's leaders to place themselves "with commitment and dedication at the service of your people."No real reconciliation process was undertaken following Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, and the latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has deepened divisions.
'Promote peace' -
Lebanon rolled out the red carpet and a 21-gun salute for Leo, who was greeted at the airport by children and a brass band as ships at the port sounded their horns. Two Lebanese military aircraft escorted his plane on descent. Hundreds of people standing along the roadside braved heavy rain to greet the pope along his route to the presidential palace. "The pope is not just for Christians but for Muslims too, and we love him a lot... We want him to bless our land," said Zahra Nahleh, 19, from Lebanon's war-ravaged south, who was waiting to welcome the pontiff. Leo told journalists on the plane that his tour had "a special theme of... being a messenger of peace, of wanting to promote peace throughout the region." He went on to emphasize that theme in his speech at the presidential palace, using the word "peace" more than 20 times, without mentioning any specific conflicts, including the war between Hezbollah and Israel. The two-nation trip is something of a test for the first American pope, whose understated style contrasts with that of his charismatic and impulsive predecessor, Francis. Although Leo's four-day visit drew little attention in Turkey, a Muslim-majority nation whose Christian community numbers only around 100,000, his 48-hour stopover has been eagerly awaited in Lebanon, a religiously diverse country of around six million people.
Lebanon's last papal visitor was Benedict XVI in 2012.
Youth scouting groups affiliated with Hezbollah waited to welcome the pope along the road in Beirut's southern suburbs, where the Iran-backed militants hold sway and which Israel pounded during the war last year.
Posters of the group's slain chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah appeared near billboards welcoming the pontiff in the area, which Israel struck again last week, killing Hezbollah's military chief. Despite last year's truce, Israel has kept up regular raids on Lebanon, usually saying it is striking Hezbollah targets.On Saturday, Hezbollah had urged the pope to reject Israeli "injustice and aggression" against Lebanon.
'Duty for humanity'
President Joseph Aoun said that "safeguarding Lebanon" -- a unique model of coexistence among different religious communities -- "is a duty for humanity".
"If this model disappears, nowhere else can replace it," said Aoun, the only Christian head of state in the Arab world. Christians play a key political role in Lebanon, where power is shared among the country's religious communities, but they have seen their numbers dwindle, particularly due to emigration. In Turkey, Leo's visit focused on calls for greater unity among different branches of Christianity. On his last day there, he went to the Armenian Cathedral expressing encouragement for the largest of Turkey's Christian communities -- with some 50,000 members -- and thanking God "for the courageous Christian witness of the Armenian people throughout history, often amid tragic circumstances". It was an apparent nod to the massacres the Armenians suffered at the hands of the Ottoman troops in 1915-1916, which has been qualified as genocide by around 30 countries, although Turkey firmly rejects the term.

A detailed report in Arabic and English covering the events of the first day of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149724/
November 30, 2025
Link to the video of the Pope’s Speech and its text in Arabic and English
Link to the video of the speeches by the Pope and President Aoun, with Arabic and English transcripts
Link to the full video of the events and details of the first day of the visit

Text of the speech that Pope Leo XIV delivered a speech at 6 pm on Sunday at the presidential palace
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149724/
November 30, 2025
“Mr. President,
Distinguished Civil and Religious Authorities,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Blessed are the peacemakers!
It is a great joy for me to meet with you and to visit this land where “peace” is much more than just a word, for here peace is a desire and a vocation; it is a gift and a work in progress.
You are invested with authority in this country, each in your own area and with specific roles. It is in light of this authority that I wish to address to you the words of Jesus that have been chosen as the central theme of my journey: “Blessed are the peacemakers!” (Mt 5:9).
Certainly, there are millions of Lebanese, here and throughout the world, who serve peace silently, day after day. Yet you, who have important institutional tasks within this nation, are destined for a special beatitude if you can say that you have put the goal of peace above all else. In this meeting, I would like to reflect with you a little on what it means to be peacemakers in circumstances that are highly complex, conflictual and uncertain.
In addition to Lebanon’s natural beauty and cultural riches, which have been praised by those of my predecessors who visited your country, there is a shining quality that distinguishes the Lebanese: you are a people who do not give up, but in the face of trials, always know how to rise again with courage. Your resilience is an essential characteristic of authentic peacemakers, for the work of peace is indeed a continuous starting anew.
Moreover, the commitment and love for peace know no fear in the face of apparent defeat, are not daunted by disappointment, but look ahead, welcoming and embracing all situations with hope. It takes tenacity to build peace; it takes perseverance to protect and nurture life. Examine your history, and ask yourselves: from where comes that formidable energy that has never left your people downtrodden or without hope?
You are a diverse country, a community of communities, united by a common language. I am not simply referring to the Levantine Arabic, by which your great past has left inestimable treasures.
Above all, I am referring to the language of hope, which has always enabled you to start again. Almost everywhere in the world around us, a kind of pessimism and sense of powerlessness seem to have taken hold, where people are no longer able to ask themselves what they can do to change the course of history.
Major decisions appear to be taken by a select few, often to the detriment of the common good, as if this were an inevitable destiny. You have suffered greatly from the consequences of an economy that kills (cf. Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 53), from global instability that has devastating repercussions also in the Levant, and from the radicalization of identities and conflicts.
But you have always wanted, and known how, to start again. Lebanon can boast a vibrant, well-educated civil society, rich in young people capable of expressing the dreams and hopes of an entire nation. I encourage you, therefore, never to separate yourselves from your people and to place yourselves with commitment and dedication at the service of your people, who are so rich in variety. May you speak just one language, namely the language of hope that, by always starting afresh, draws everyone together.
May the desire to live and grow in unity as a people create a polyphonic voice out of each group. May you also be helped by those deep bonds of affection that tie so many Lebanese throughout the world to their country. They love their origins and pray for the people of whom they still feel a part. They also support them through the many experiences and skills that make them so appreciated everywhere.
This brings us to a second characteristic of peacemakers. Not only do they know how to start over, but they do so first and foremost along the arduous path of reconciliation. Indeed, there are personal and collective wounds that take many years, sometimes entire generations, to heal. If they are not treated, if we do not work, for example, to heal memories, to bring together those who have suffered wrongs and injustice, it is difficult to journey towards peace. We would remain stuck, each imprisoned by our own pain and our own way of thinking. The truth, on the other hand, can only be honored through encountering one another.Each of us sees a part of the truth, knowing one aspect of it, but we cannot negate what only the other knows, what only the other sees. Truth and reconciliation only ever grow together, whether in a family, between different communities and the various people of a country, or between nations.
At the same time, there can be no lasting reconciliation without a common goal or without openness towards a future in which good prevails over the evils that have been suffered or inflicted in the past or the present. A culture of reconciliation, therefore, does not arise only from below, from the willingness and courage of a few. It also needs authorities and institutions that recognize the common good as superior to the particular.
The common good is more than the sum of many interests, for it draws together everyone’s goals as closely as possible, directing them in such a way that everyone will have more than if they were to move forward by themselves. Indeed, peace is much more than a mere balance—which is always precarious—among those who live separately while under the same roof. Peace is knowing how to live together, in communion, as reconciled people. A reconciliation that, in addition to enabling us to live together, will teach us to work together for a shared future side by side.
Thus, peace becomes that abundance that will surprise us when our horizons have expanded beyond every wall and barrier. Sometimes we think that, before taking a further step, we need to clarify and resolve everything. Instead, mutual dialogue, even amid misunderstandings, is the path that leads to reconciliation. The greatest truth is that we find ourselves together as part of a plan that God has prepared so that we may become a family. Finally, I would like to outline a third characteristic of those who strive for peace. Even when it requires sacrifice, peacemakers dare to persevere. There are times when it is easier to flee or simply more convenient to move elsewhere. It takes real courage and foresight to stay or return to one’s own country and to consider even somewhat difficult situations worthy of love and dedication.
We know that here, as in other parts of the world, uncertainty, violence, poverty and many other threats are leading to an exodus of young people and families seeking a future elsewhere, even though it is very painful to leave one’s homeland. It is certainly necessary to recognize that much good can come to all of you from having Lebanese people spread throughout the world. However, we must not forget that remaining in our homeland and working day by day to develop a civilization of love and peace remains something very valuable. Indeed, the Church is not only concerned about the dignity of those who move away from their own countries. She does not want anyone to be forced to leave their country.
Moreover, the Church wants those who wish to return home to be able to do so safely. While human mobility represents an immense opportunity for encounter and mutual enrichment, it does not erase the special ties that unite each person to certain places, to which they owe their identity in a very special way. Moreover, peace always grows in a concrete living context, made up of geographical, historical and spiritual bonds. We need to encourage those who foster and nurture them, without giving in to sectionalism or nationalism. In his encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis indicated the way forward: “We need to have a global outlook to save ourselves from petty provincialism. When our house stops being a home and starts to become an enclosure, a cell, then the global comes to our rescue, like a ‘final cause’ that draws us towards our fulfilment. At the same time, though, the local has to be eagerly embraced, for it possesses something that the global does not: it is capable of being a leaven, of bringing enrichment, of sparking mechanisms of subsidiarity. Universal fraternity and social friendship are thus two inseparable and equally vital poles in every society” (n. 142).
A challenge, not only for Lebanon but for the entire Levant, is what can be done to ensure that young people in particular do not feel compelled to leave their homeland and emigrate? How can we encourage them not to seek peace elsewhere but to find guarantees of peace and become protagonists in their own native land? In this regard, Christians and Muslims together, and all religious and civil components of Lebanese society, are called to play their part and to commit themselves to raising awareness of this issue within the international community.
In this context, I would like to emphasize the essential role of women in the arduous and patient endeavor to preserve and build peace. Let us not forget that women have a special capacity for peacemaking because they know how to cherish and strengthen the profound bonds with life, people and places. Their participation in social and political life, as well as in their own religious communities, represents a factor of true renewal throughout the world, as does the energy that comes from young people.
Blessed, therefore, are the peacemakers, and blessed are the young people who remain or who return in order that Lebanon may once again be a land full of life. I conclude by drawing inspiration from another precious feature of your tradition, which stretches back thousands of years. You are a people who love music. On feast days, this becomes a dance, a language of joy and communion.
This aspect of your culture helps us to understand that peace is not only the result of human effort, however necessary. Indeed, peace is a gift that comes from God and which, above all, dwells in our hearts. It is like an interior motion pushing outwards, enabling us to let ourselves be guided by a melody greater than ourselves, namely that of divine love. Those who dance move lightly, without trampling on the earth, harmonizing their steps with those of others. So it is with peace, which is a journey inspired by the Spirit and causes our hearts to listen, making them more attentive and respectful towards others. May this desire for peace, which comes from God, grow among you; for even today, peace can transform the way you look at others and the way you live together in this land, a land that God deeply loves and continues to bless.
Mr President,
Distinguished Authorities,
I thank you once again for your welcome.
Please be assured of my prayers, and those of the whole Church, for your delicate service to the common good.”

Text Of President Aoun’s Speech that he delivered in Arabic welcoming His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in Beirut
(Translated from Arabic)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149724/
NNA/November 30/2025
President of the Lebanese Republic, General Joseph Aoun, delivered the following address this evening on the occasion of welcoming His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in Beirut:
“Your Holiness Pope Leo XIV,
With great joy, I welcome you – messenger of peace to the land of peace.
With profound honor, and in the name of the Lebanese people in all their confessions and sects, I welcome you to our homeland, small in its size, yet great in its message; Lebanon which has always been – and remains – a land that unites faith and freedom, diversity and unity, and hardship and hope.
Your Holiness,
You are not visiting an ordinary country but a country graced by the footsteps of sacred history. Lebanon is mentioned repeatedly in the Holy Scriptures, as a symbol of elevation, steadfastness, and sanctity. The Song of Songs invoked its mountains and forests as emblems of beauty, majesty, and purity—making this land a witness to God’s greatness in creation and a testament to sacred history.
With profound honor, I welcome you Your Holiness, to the land of the Canaanite woman who sought healing for her daughter, and to whom Jesus said: “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”
Our people, Holy Father, embody this Canaanite woman today. Our faith is deep, and our hope is for the healing of souls, hearts, and minds from hatred, war, and destruction.
Welcome Your Holiness, to the land protected by the Virgin Mary and dedicated to her name from the far South to the far North. And in between stands “Our Lady of Mantara” near Sidon, where the Virgin Mary waited for her Son, Jesus.
Lebanon’s devotion to the Virgin Mary is so deep, that we have made the Annunciation Day a national holiday celebrated by all confessions of the country, an observance unmatched anywhere else in the world.
Welcome to the land where the water of the Hasbani river flows into the Jordan river where Jesus was baptized.
Lebanon is not merely a historic land; it is the home of great Saints – amongst whom is Saint Charbel whose Holy Shrine You will be visiting. God endowed him with many graces and his miracles reached far beyond our borders, extending to all humanity without distinction in faith or religion – revealing the unity of the Lebanese people and the depth of their faith.
This is the Lebanon that welcomes you today, Your Holiness.
Lebanon that was conceived in freedom and for freedom, not for one religion, sect, or group. The land of freedom for every human being and of dignity for every human being.
A nation unique in its regime, where Christians and Muslims are different in beliefs but equal in rights, under a Constitution founded on equality between Christians and Muslims, and on openness to every person and every free conscience.
This is Lebanon’s uniqueness, and this is its call to the world.
Therefore, it is a fundamental human duty to safeguard and preserve Lebanon, for if this model of equal and free coexistence between people of different faiths fails, nowhere else can this model be replicated.
This was the message I delivered at the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, and I reiterate here in Beirut today:
If the Christian presence disappears in Lebanon, the equation of the nation will collapse, and its justice will fall.
If the Muslim presence disappears in Lebanon, the equation of the nation will be disrupted, and its balance will be disrupted.
And if Lebanon is disabled or altered, the alternative will inevitably be new fault lines across our region and the world—between all forms of extremism: ideological, materialistic, and even violent.
This is what the Holy See has always known, and this is why, Pope Paul VI raised his voice early on, in defense of Lebanon’s unity and sovereignty.
And Saint John Paul II immortalized Lebanon in the world’s collective memory with his historic statement: ”Lebanon is more than a country; it is a message of coexistence, pluralism and freedom for East and West” before dedicating – in an exceptional precedent – a General Synod especially to Lebanon. And He affirmed forty years ago that the presence of free Christianity in Lebanon is a condition for its continued existence and prosperity throughout our region.
Today, we affirm to you, Your Holiness, that the survival of this Lebanon—whose people surround you now—is essential for the establishment of peace, hope, and reconciliation among all the sons of Abraham.
Similarly, Pope Benedict XVI, messenger of love and wisdom, declared from Beirut that the future of the Middle East can be built only upon partnership, diversity, and mutual respect, and in a very symbolic gesture, announced from Lebanon, the Apostolic Exhortation for the Middle East.
And now we welcome you, Your Holiness—the fourth successor of Saint Peter to visit our homeland— a visit no less eloquent in message and significance, as you have honored Lebanon by choosing it as your first papal visit outside Rome.
You came directly from Nicaea, from the land of the Nicene Creed on its 1700th anniversary, to renew your faith in us and to renew together our faith in Humanity.
You come to the land of churches you described as “martyr churches”, to sow hope so we can witness the resurrection.
You come to us, Your Holiness, and in your radiant face we read your wonderful words of your latest Apostolic Exhortation, “I Have Loved You,” that touching the wounds of the oppressed, is like touching the wounds of Christ himself. And in our land today, as in our region, there is much oppression, and many oppressed people. Their wounds await your blessed touch and yearn to hear your great and courageous voice.
Your Holiness, we implore you:
Tell the world that we shall not die, nor leave, nor despair, nor surrender. We shall remain here—breathing freedom, inventing joy, practicing love, embracing innovation, striving for modernity, and creating each day a fuller life.
Tell the world that we shall remain the only place in our region and almost in the whole world, where such a community can rally behind the successor of Saint Peter, representing in harmony all the children of Abraham, with all their convictions, their sacred values and their common beliefs.
For what Lebanon brings together, no place on earth can contain; and what Lebanon unites, no one can divide. Only by this equation Lebanon lives in peace with its region, and its region lives in peace with the world.
Until the parties concerned hear us and become convinced, fear shall not find its way to our hearts, for through your prayers and blessings, and through our firm belief in our rights and our homeland, we remain here— children of hope, children of the Resurrection.
We remain here: light of the East, its beacon, the salt of its earth.
We remain here, messengers of love and of goodness.
From the beginning till the end of time, we remain the disciples of the One who told us not to fear, but to trust in Him—for by His love and His peace He has overcome the world.
And we bear witness to this and work to achieve it.
Long live love
Long live peace
Long live His Holiness
Long live Lebanon”
**Baabda Presidential Palace

Pope arrives in Lebanon with message of peace for crisis-hit country
AFP/November 30, 2025
BEIRUT: Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lebanon on Sunday with a message of peace for the crisis-hit nation, still reeling from a war between Israel and Hezbollah and the conflict’s lingering aftereffects. The pope had previously visited Turkiye, where he kicked off his first overseas tour since being elected leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics in May.
He told journalists on the plane that the visit to the two countries had “a special theme of... being a messenger of peace, of wanting to promote peace throughout the region.”
Leo was met in Beirut by officials including President Joseph Aoun, the Arab world’s only Christian head of state. Lebanon rolled out the red carpet and a 21-gun salute for Leo, who was also greeted at the airport by children and a brass band as ships at the port sounded their horns.
Two Lebanese military aircraft escorted his plane on descent.
“I came to say that the Lebanese are one people and we are united,” said Zahra Nahleh, 19, from Lebanon’s war-ravaged south, who was waiting along the road from the airport to welcome the pontiff. “The pope is not just for Christians but for Muslims too, and we love him a lot,” she told AFP. “We want him to bless our land, we wish he could visit the south.”The two-nation tour is something of a test for the first American pope, whose understated style contrasts with that of his charismatic and impulsive predecessor, Francis. Although Leo’s four-day visit drew little attention in Turkiye, a Muslim-majority nation whose Christian community numbers only around 100,000, his 48-hour stopover has been eagerly awaited in Lebanon, a religiously diverse country of around six million people.
Hezbollah scouts
Long hailed as a model of coexistence, Lebanon since 2019 has been ravaged by successive crises, from economic collapse, to a devastating Beirut port blast in 2020, to the recent war between militant group Hezbollah and Israel, which largely ended with a ceasefire last November.
The last papal visitor was Benedict XVI in 2012.
Christians play a key political role in Lebanon, where the post of president is reserved for a Maronite Christian — but they have seen their numbers dwindle, particularly due to emigration.
Leo was to hold talks with Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and parliament speaker Nabih Berri at the presidential palace, and make a speech to authorities and diplomats at 6:00 p.m. (1600 GMT). A group of traditional dancers welcomed him at the entry to the presidential palace despite the rain. Youth scouting groups affiliated with Hezbollah had waited to welcome the pope along the road in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where the Iran-backed militants hold sway and where posters of slain chief Hassan Nasrallah appeared near billboards welcoming the pontiff. On Saturday, Hezbollah had urged the pope to reject Israeli “injustice and aggression” against Lebanon. Israel has kept up regular raids on Lebanon, usually saying it is striking Hezbollah targets, despite the truce that was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities, including two months of open war with the group.
“My gratest dream”
In Turkiye, Leo’s visit was firmly focused on calls for greater unity among different branches of Christianity. He began his trip on Thursday by holding talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Then he traveled to Iznik to mark 1,700 years since the First Council of Nicaea, one of the early Church’s most important gatherings, which he celebrated at an ecumenical service alongside Patriarch Bartholomew I, leader of the world’s 260 million Orthodox Christians.
Saturday saw Leo hold mass in Istanbul with thousands of worshippers braving heavy rain, many of whom had traveled across Turkiye for the moving multilingual service.
On his last day, Leo met privately with a bereaved father whose 14-year-old Italian-Turkish son died in February after being stabbed at a market in Istanbul.
He then went to the Armenian Cathedral where he had words of encouragement for the largest of Turkiye’s Christian communities — with some 50,000 members — thanking God “for the courageous Christian witness of the Armenian people throughout history, often amid tragic circumstances.”
It was an apparent nod to the massacres the Armenians suffered at the hands of the Ottoman troops in 1915-1916, which has been qualified as genocide by around 30 countries, although Turkiye firmly rejects the term.

Pope Leo XIV Launches "Appeal for Peace," Affirms Follow-up on Lebanese Issue and Working to Preserve and Protect Lebanon
Nidaa Al-Watan/December 01/2025   (Translated from Arabic)
Yesterday, at the start of his historic visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV launched his "Appeal for Peace," a word which was repeated 28 times in his first speech at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. This appeal by the Pontiff entailed a rejection of the drums of war threatening Lebanon, serving as a message to those concerned in the region and the world that Lebanon is a country deserving of peace. This requires sparing it from a regional situation that is "highly complex, conflictual, and uncertain," as the Pope stated in his address. Hours before the Pope's arrival, huge crowds gathered along the roads leading from the airport to the Presidential Palace, waving Lebanese and Vatican flags.
Talk of Peace, But No Initiative Between Lebanon and Israel
In this context, Nidaa Al-Watan learned that the Pope's talk of peace is not accompanied by an initiative to bring about peace between Lebanon and Israel, but rather ideas and an attempt to take action to spare Lebanon and the region from war. The Pope's logic is to establish peace in Lebanon and the world, and matters will be followed up after his return to the Vatican, where the Lebanese file will occupy a large space in the Vatican's concerns.
While the President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, will accompany the Pope this morning to the sanctuary of Saint Charbel in Annaya, Nidaa Al-Watan learned that the private meeting between Aoun and the Pope focused on the situation in Lebanon after the October 27, 2024, agreement. The President explained the difficulties and dangers amidst the continuing Israeli aggressions. President Aoun provided a focused explanation of everything surrounding the Lebanese situation and the initiatives he had presented, the latest of which was Lebanon's readiness to go to negotiations with Israel, and he requested the Pope's assistance to protect Lebanon and prevent the renewal of war. For his part, the Pope affirmed his follow-up on the Lebanese issue and his commitment to working to preserve and protect the country.
In turn, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri presented the Pope with a book about the footsteps of Christ and his passage through the South, and explained the general situation and the suffering of the people in the South amidst the continued war, Israel's lack of response to initiatives, and its disregard for agreements. As for Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, he focused during his meeting with the Pope on the general situation and the effort being made to restore Lebanon's status and the presence of the state.
The Pope and the Birth of a New Lebanon
The Pope began his first speech by repeating the words of Jesus Christ, "Blessed are the peacemakers," during an address he delivered in the crowded Presidential Palace hall, packed with politicians and religious leaders from all confessions in Lebanon.
In a powerful appeal in a country that remains a target of Israeli airstrikes—and on the second stop of his first journey outside the Vatican as the leader of the Catholic Church—the Pope urged Lebanon's political leaders to make peace their highest priority. He said: "In this meeting, I would like to reflect with you for a moment on what it means to be peacemakers in circumstances that are highly complex, conflictual, and full of uncertainty. In addition to the beauty of Lebanon's nature and its cultural richness, which have been praised by all my predecessors who visited your country, a quality that distinguishes the Lebanese is evident: You are a people who do not surrender, but who stand up to difficulties and always know how to be born again with courage."
Aoun and the "Reconciliation Among All the Children of Abraham"
In his welcoming speech to the Pope's visit, President Aoun said: "In our land today, and the land of our region, there is much oppression, and many who are in pain," adding that Lebanon is a country "where Christians and Muslims live, different, but equal." He added: "We affirm today that the survival of this Lebanon, which is all around you now, is a prerequisite for the establishment of peace, hope, and reconciliation among all the children of Abraham."
Addressing the Pope, President Aoun said: "Your Holiness, tell the world about us: that we will not die, we will not leave, we will not despair, and we will not surrender... Tell the world about us: that we remain the only meeting space in our entire region, and I dare say in the whole world, where this gathering can meet around the successor of Peter. Representing agreed-upon parties for all the children of Abraham, with all their beliefs, holy sites, and commonalities... What Lebanon unites, no place on Earth can contain. What Lebanon unites, no one can divide. And with this equation, Lebanon lives in peace with its region, and its region is in peace with the world."
The Pope was given an official reception at Beirut Airport, attended by the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Parliament, and the Commander of the Army, General Rudolf Heikal. The Pope concluded the first day of his visit at the Papal Nunciature in Harissa, where he and his accompanying delegation are residing. Citizens gathered in front of the Nunciature entrance, carrying Lebanese and Vatican flags to welcome the Pope. The Pope wrote: "On the first day of my visit to Lebanon, one of two countries I am visiting on this first Apostolic Journey of my Pontificate, I joyfully wish many blessings upon all the people of Lebanon, praying that peace may prevail."
Pope's Visit Schedule
The 70-year-old Pope, who is in good health, has a packed schedule of events in Lebanon, where he will visit five cities and towns until tomorrow, Tuesday, before returning to Rome. The Pope will not visit South Lebanon, which has been targeted by Israeli strikes. His agenda includes a prayer at the site of the 2020 chemical material explosion in Beirut port, which killed 200 people and caused billions of dollars in damage. The Vatican Pope will also preside over an open-air Mass on the Beirut waterfront and will visit a psychiatric hospital, one of the few mental health facilities in Lebanon, where caregivers and residents eagerly await his arrival.
Sethrida Geagea Clarifies
In a separate matter, MP Sethrida Geagea announced the reason why the head of the "Lebanese Forces" party, Samir Geagea, did not participate in the Pope's reception ceremony: "He was not invited to participate, and we were surprised by this matter."
Pope Renews Support for Two-State Solution
The first American Pope of the Vatican arrived in Lebanon after a four-day visit to Turkey, during which he warned that the future of humanity was at risk due to the extraordinary number of bloody conflicts in the world, and he condemned violence in the name of religion. Onboard the papal plane en route from Istanbul to Beirut, the Pope said that the two-state option remains the "only solution" to end the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The Pope said that "The Holy See has publicly supported the proposal for a solution based on two states for years. We all know that Israel does not accept it yet. But we see it as the only solution capable of ending the current conflict." He mentioned that he raised this issue during his meeting last Thursday in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, "who completely agrees with this proposal," adding that "Turkey has an important role to play in this process." The Vatican has recognized the State of Palestine since 2015 and supports the two-state solution. Since his election, Leo XIV has expressed solidarity with the "martyred land of Gaza," and condemned the forced displacement of Palestinians, stressing yesterday, Sunday, that the Vatican maintains "friendly" relations with Israel and offers itself as a mediator between the two parties.
Israel Threatens to Expand Military Operations Against Lebanon
On the ground, Major General Rafi Milo, Commander of the Northern Command in the Golan Heights and the border with Lebanon, said yesterday that the army will continue to stand as a barrier between the residents and hostile targets, in his expression. This came after Milo arrived at the Golan Heights border area over the weekend for a military exercise conducted on the border with Lebanon. Tel Aviv informed Beirut of its intention to "expand attacks if it does not move effectively against Hezbollah," according to the "Israeli Broadcasting Corporation." The Israeli side also threatened to target sites it has refrained from attacking so far, due to US pressure. Furthermore, sources hinted at the possibility that this Israeli move might occur after the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon.

Israel Threatens to Expand Military Operations Against Lebanon: Israel: Hezbollah is Dragging Us into War
Al-Markaziya/November 30, 2025   (Translated from Arabic)
Major General Rafi Milo, Commander of the Northern Command in the Golan Heights area and the border with Lebanon, claimed today, Sunday, that the army will continue to stand as a barrier between the residents and hostile targets, in his expression. He added that the army will be the first to detect, respond, and defend, explaining that the reserve forces in the area successfully completed the mission, stopped the suspects, and engaged under fire, according to him. This came after Milo arrived in the Golan Heights border area over the weekend for a military exercise conducted on the border with Lebanon. Additionally, the military commander conducted a situational assessment in the Golan Heights with commanders in the field. He stressed that the forces are on high alert, both defensively and in preparation for developments on the Syrian and Lebanese fronts, pointing out that the activity in the Beit Jann area of Brigade 55 confirms the importance of proactive action to thwart terrorism in the security zone, and the value of forward defense, as he claimed.
These statements came amid an atmosphere of anticipation among the Lebanese, as Israeli sources reported that Israel had sent a warning message to the Lebanese state, via America, that it would expand its strikes on Lebanese territory if Hezbollah was not disarmed. Tel Aviv informed Beirut of its intention to "expand attacks if it does not move effectively against Hezbollah," according to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation. The Israeli side also threatened to target locations it has refrained from attacking so far, due to US pressure. Furthermore, sources hinted at the possibility that this Israeli move might occur after the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon.
An Israeli government spokesperson confirmed today, Sunday, to Al-Arabiya channel that "Israel listened to the statements of Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, in which he threatened us." He added, "Hezbollah is rebuilding tunnels and working to rearm itself." The Israeli government asserted that "Hezbollah is now working to paralyze the Lebanese state," noting that "the party—in its expression—is dragging Israel into war." The Israeli government also accused Iran of exploiting Hezbollah to ignite the fuse of war in the region. The Israeli army spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, had written in a post on his "X" account: "The Commander of the Northern Command from the Golan Heights area and the Lebanese border: The Israeli army will remain the divider between the population and the enemy, and will be the first to monitor, respond, and defend." Adraee added, "The Commander of the Northern Command to the reserve forces that participated in the arrest operation in Beit Jann: You successfully completed the mission, arrested the two suspects, and initiated engagement under fire." He continued, "The Commander of the Northern Command, Major General Rafi Milo, inspected the Golan Heights area and a military exercise held on the Lebanese border during the weekend. He also conducted a field assessment in the Golan Heights with the commanders." Adraee concluded: "The Commander of the Northern Command: The forces remain in a high state of readiness for defense and for developments on the Syrian and Lebanese fronts. The operation in the Beit Jann area confirms the importance of the preemptive operation to thwart terrorism in the advanced defense area and the value of forward protection. We must not wait; we must take the initiative. We will not allow the positioning of terrorism on our borders. We will continue to act resolutely and preemptively to thwart threats and attempts to target the citizens of the State of Israel before they materialize."

Revealing the Zibqin Tunnels: Political Messages from the Lebanese Army or from Hezbollah!
Firas Hamiyah/Janoubia/ December 1, 2025 (Translated from Arabic)
It seems that the cancellation of the Army Commander's visit to the United States has clearly yielded results. Just days later, media reports emerged showcasing Hezbollah tunnels in the Zibqin valley in South Lebanon, as part of a tour coordinated by the Lebanese Army after a year of "under the radar" work to avoid provoking some parties. The television reports showed access to these tunnels, their contents, and the road leading to them. The circulating information indicates that this tunnel is one of dozens of tunnels that the Lebanese Army, in cooperation with UNIFIL international forces, managed to seize control of in South Lebanon. Previously, the Army's movements and military missions were not made public. So, what prompted the Army Command now to display these reports and overcome the sensitivity barrier, especially since any disclosure of this kind might be met with sensitive reactions from Hezbollah supporters?
The broadcast of these media reports comes within the framework of supporting the principle of "exclusive state control over weapons," a step that is politically and militarily sensitive, particularly after the cessation of the war in 2024 and the ceasefire agreement. Displaying the tunnels to the media also seems intended to garner internal and external popular support, especially among those demanding the exclusive control of arms and the strengthening of state authority. On the other hand, the public announcement constitutes a clear message to the Arab and international communities that the Lebanese state has regained control over the South and possesses the ability to manage the security situation. Thus, the Lebanese Army has reconstructed a counter-narrative to the information that circulated about its "shortcomings," turning the tunnel disclosure into a clear message about the state's capacity to control the security situation in the South. But does the issue end here?! It is also possible that the release of these videos was mutually agreed upon between the Army and Hezbollah, with the aim of reducing political and military pressure on both parties simultaneously, at this critical moment Lebanon is going through. Why did the Army permit this media coverage specifically at this time? Couldn't it have done so months ago? It is clear that the media coverage did not provoke any sharp reaction or direct confrontation with the "party's environment" and the "residents," which makes this movement balanced and implicitly serves the interests of both parties. This disclosure came at a military moment when Israel is threatening war on Lebanon to eliminate Hezbollah, amidst information about a US green light for Israel, and messages reaching the Lebanese state that Israel will act if the Lebanese government does not move to withdraw the weapons. Most importantly, this media coverage coincided with the assassination of Hezbollah's military commander, Haitham Al-Tabaatabai, with all the implications and imbalance of power that this carries.

Israel presses US for deadline on Hezbollah disarmament ahead of Morgan Ortagus' visit
LBCI/November 30, 2025
Israel moved ahead of U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus’ visit to the region this week by urging Washington to set a firm deadline—one agreed upon with the Lebanese government during the visit—for disarming Hezbollah. The call came as new reports claimed that Hezbollah has bolstered its readiness for a confrontation with Israel, amid heightened Israeli threats to strike areas in Lebanon that were not targeted in the recent war. As part of its campaign, Tel Aviv dismissed the Lebanese Army’s media tour for local and foreign journalists of Hezbollah tunnels as nothing more than a publicity effort meant to promote the government’s implementation of an agreement to disarm Hezbollah. In parallel, Israel delivered a report to Washington alleging that Hezbollah has strengthened its capabilities, reactivated weapons-supply routes from Syria with Iranian support, and reinforced its presence in southern Lebanon. Israel considers US warning on Hezbollah disarmament as justification for escalating border actions—the details The report also claimed the group has enhanced its missile arsenal capable of striking deep inside Israel, increased its intelligence operations, and improved its capacity to wage a long war. Given this situation, Israeli security officials argued that Lebanon and Syria constitute a single front and called for the establishment of wide buffer zones along both borders to prevent threats to Israel. Following revelations of failures in the Israeli attack on Beit Jinn in southern Syria—despite extensive preparations—Israeli officials are reviewing various scenarios to counter what they describe as an escalating threat.
Iran remained central to the Israeli discussions, with Israeli officials asserting that Tehran has resumed rearming itself out of concern about the possibility of another Israeli war.

The Extent of Intelligence Breaches within Hezbollah... Did It Start in Tehran?!
Tony Jubran /Al-Markaziya /November 30, 2025   (Translated from Arabic)
This was not the first time Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem brought up the topic of the size and reason for the Israeli breach that targeted the body of "Hezbollah" two days ago. His predecessor, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, had previously addressed the same file after the "pager" and "walkie-talkie" bombing operations that preceded his death by ten days, at a time when the investigations launched in several previous operations had not reached any positive results.
This is due to the extent of the ambiguity that the party's special agencies have not been able to overcome, as investigations ran into obstacles. These obstacles were reportedly the subject of detailed mutual discussion between the Southern Suburb (Dahiyeh) and Tehran, which witnessed more than one operation that raised suspicions that the breach may have started from within the Iranian agencies or from the Southern Suburb, according to the investigations that covered many events in both countries.
Against this backdrop, informed intelligence and security sources paused at what Sheikh Qassem referred to in his latest appearance, telling Al-Markaziya that what he revealed about close cooperation between Israeli intelligence agencies and friendly countries did not bring anything new to security science or intelligence science. This is because such cooperation is logical and exists between many friendly countries, and there may even have been mutual messages between adversaries simultaneously with the aim of "mutual signaling." However, this does not diminish the importance of the responsibility placed on the internal agencies tasked with ensuring the security of leaders and sensitive centers in Lebanon and Iran, which failed to counter the successful conspiracies orchestrated by the enemy agencies.
While these sources refused to delve into some investigations that made progress in a number of precise operations targeting major Lebanese, Palestinian, and Iranian figures in Tehran, Beirut, and the Iranian consulate in Damascus, they said that the party and Iranian agencies had discovered extremely dangerous internal breaches that the official Lebanese agencies had already uncovered. If the official Lebanese agencies had implemented the preemptive measures they proposed, a number of assassinations could have been prevented as a result of the weaknesses they indicated in the party's structure and some of its financial and technical institutions. The party at the time underestimated dealing with these warnings with the required seriousness, before discovering that it had made a great mistake in dealing with precise warnings that identified the points of failure and danger in its structure—before some of its officials belatedly admitted that they had not closed some gaps whose risks they did not appreciate.
In the same context, informed sources revealed that some major assassination operations would not have been possible were it not for a breach whose threads began deep within the Iranian capital and at a high level. This facilitated the execution of some of them in Damascus and Beirut, apart from the operation carried out against the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, where the network that carried out the operation was present in Iran with all its elements and equipment for a long period preceding his last visit there to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the new Iranian president. This network had previously carried out more than one secret operation in Iran and Lebanon that should have served as an early warning of the potential to target major figures, as happened later in operations targeting Lebanese and Iranian leaders in a single operation, which they did not notice before it affected a number of their top nuclear experts and distinguished guests frequenting the private guesthouses of the Revolutionary Guard and centers belonging to other Iranian agencies.
In classifying some of the operations that targeted their second and third-tier officials, investigations indicated a breach in the party's internal ranks due to several reasons, the sources of which extend to information collected during the party's participation in the Syrian and Yemeni wars, and as a result of confessions from detainees in Arab and Western countries. Some of these were attributed to reasons related to competition for sensitive positions and sites within a party structure that has expanded greatly and is no longer easy to control against all the conspiracies being plotted against it.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on November 30-December 01/2025
Israel says killed four coming out of Gaza tunnels
AFP/November 30, 2025
JERUSALEM: The Israeli army said on Sunday it had killed four Palestinian militants coming out of tunnels in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Dozens of Hamas fighters are holed up in southern Gaza’s tunnels, underneath areas controlled by the Israeli military. Israeli troops continue operating in the eastern Rafah area, the military said in a statement. Overnight “four terrorists who exited underground infrastructure in the area were identified. Guided by the Israeli Air Force, the troops eliminated the terrorists,” it said. “IDF (Israeli army) troops in the Southern Command remain deployed in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat.”On Friday, Israel’s military said more than 30 fighters who had attempted to flee the tunnels had been killed. Multiple sources said on Thursday that negotiations were underway regarding the fate of the fighters still in south Gaza’s tunnel network. On Wednesday, Hamas called on mediating countries to pressure Israel to allow safe passage — the first time the Islamist group had publicly acknowledged the situation. The US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with Egypt, Turkiye and Qatar as mediators, entered into force on October 10. Under its terms, the Israeli army withdrew behind the so-called Yellow Line within the Gaza Strip, a boundary marked on the surface with yellow concrete blocks. The Hamas militants are in tunnels located on the Israeli-controlled side of the Yellow Line. A prominent Hamas member in Gaza said that the group estimated their number to be between 60 and 80. The ceasefire remains fragile, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violating the terms, while the Gaza Strip remains in a deep humanitarian crisis. The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people. Israel’s retaliatory assault on Gaza has killed at least 70,100 people, according to figures from the territory’s health ministry that the UN considers reliable. The ministry says that since the ceasefire came into effect, 354 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire.

Egypt training hundreds of Palestinians for future Gaza police force
AFP/November 30, 2025
GAZA CITY: Egypt is training hundreds of Palestinian police officers with an eye toward integrating them into a post-war security force in Gaza, a Palestinian official told AFP. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced the plan to train 5,000 officers for Gaza during talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in August. A first group of more than 500 officers were trained in Cairo in March and since September the two-month courses have resumed to welcome hundreds more people, the Palestinian official told AFP on condition of anonymity. He said all members of the force will be from the Gaza Strip and paid by the Palestinian Authority, which is based in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. “I’m very happy with the training. We want a permanent end to war and aggression, and we’re eager to serve our country and fellow citizens,” said a 26-year-old Palestinian police officer. He told AFP he hoped the security force would be “independent, loyal only to Palestine and not subject to external alliances or objectives.”“We received outstanding operational training, with modern equipment for border surveillance,” said a Palestinian lieutenant who also requested anonymity for security reasons, as did everyone interviewed by AFP. The lieutenant, who left Gaza with his family last year, said the training focused on the fallout of the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the war and the damage done to the Palestinian cause. Hamas’s attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people. Israel’s retaliatory assault on Gaza has killed at least 70,100 people, according to figures from the territory’s health ministry that the UN considers reliable.
‘Protecting the dream’
The training also highlighted the role of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and stressed the importance of “protecting the dream of creating” a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state.
A senior security official from the Palestinian Authority confirmed that its president Mahmud Abbas had instructed Interior Minister Ziad Hab Al-Reeh to coordinate with Egypt on the training. During talks sponsored by Egypt late last year, the Palestinian movements — including the two main ones, Hamas and Abbas’s Fatah — agreed to a force of around 10,000 police officers. Egypt would train half of them while the other 5,000 would come from the police force in Gaza, which has been under Hamas control since the militant group seized power there in 2007. Under the agreement, the security force would be supervised by a committee of technocrats approved by the Palestinian movements. A senior Hamas official confirmed to AFP that the movement supported “the details regarding security and management of the Gaza Strip” agreed during the talks. The subject was also addressed in US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, which led to last month’s fragile Gaza ceasefire, and was later endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution.
Europe too
The plan notably authorizes the creation of an international force that would be responsible for securing border areas and demilitarising Gaza. The European Union also wants to train up to 3,000 Palestinian police officers in the Gaza Strip under a scheme similar to one it already runs in the West Bank, an EU official told AFP. The EU has financed a police training mission in the West Bank since 2006, with a budget of around 13 million euros ($15 million). But many details remain up in the air. A Hamas official questioned to AFP the possibility of an agreement with Israel on the precise details of a police force in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government opposes any role for Hamas or the Palestinian Authority in Gaza after the war ends.AFP journalists have regularly observed that Hamas maintains armed men in Gaza to ensure traffic flows and to mediate disputes between residents, effectively providing a form of law enforcement. Hamas has said it no longer wants to govern Gaza but added that it does not intend to disappear and remains a central part of Palestinian political life. On the thorny issue of disarmament, Hamas has said it is not opposed to handing over part of its arsenal, but only as part of a Palestinian political process.

Netanyahu Seeks Pardon in Years-long Corruption Trial
Asharq Al Awsat/November 30/2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu submitted a request to the country's president on Sunday for a pardon in his years-long corruption trial, arguing that criminal proceedings were hindering his ability to govern and a pardon would serve the interests of Israeli society. Netanyahu, the country's longest-serving prime minister, has long denied the bribery, fraud, and breach of trust charges. His lawyers said in a letter to the president's office said that the prime minister still believes the legal proceedings would result in a complete acquittal. "My lawyers sent a request for pardon to the president of the country today. I expect that anyone who wishes for the good of the country support this step," Netanyahu said in a brief video statement released by his political party, Likud. "The continuation of the trial is tearing us apart from within, arousing fierce divisions, intensifying rifts," the premier said in the statement, referring to the split between his supporters and opponents. "I am certain, like many others in the nation, that an immediate end to the trial will greatly help to lower the flames and promote the broad reconciliation that our country so desperately needs." The request comes weeks after US President Donald Trump urged Israel to pardon Netanyahu. Netanyahu's request consisted of two documents — a detailed letter signed by his lawyer and a letter signed by Netanyahu. The president's office called it an “extraordinary request,” carrying with it “significant implications.”

Palestinian State 'Only' Solution to Israeli Conflict, Says Pope Leo
Asharq Al Awsat/November 30/2025
Pope Leo said on Sunday that the only solution in the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people must include a Palestinian state, reaffirming the Vatican's position. "We all know that at this time Israel still does not accept that solution, but we see it as the only solution," Leo, the first US pope, told journalists on a flight from Türkiye to Lebanon during his first in-flight press conference. "We are also friends with Israel and we are seeking to be a mediating voice between the two parties that might help them close in on a solution with justice for everyone," added the pope, speaking in Italian. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed opposition to a Palestinian state after even its biggest ally the US indicated support for Palestinian independence. Leo spoke in a brief eight-minute press conference focused on his visit to Türkiye, which he visited from Thursday to Sunday on his first overseas trip since election in May as leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church. The pope said he and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed both the Israel-Palestinian and Ukraine-Russia conflicts. Türkiye has an important role to play helping end both wars, Leo said. During his visit to Türkiye, the pope warned that humanity's future was at risk because of the world's unusual number of bloody conflicts and condemned violence in the name of religion. Leo, who usually prefers using careful, diplomatic language, ramped up criticism earlier this year of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

Hamas Says Mediators Failing to Pressure Israel
Gaza: Asharq Al Awsat/November 30/2025
Hamas and other Palestinian factions involved in ongoing ceasefire talks say they have lost confidence in mediators’ ability to pressure Israel to honor the truce, accusing Israel of escalating daily violations since the halt to fighting took effect on October 10. Sources in Hamas and allied factions, who are closely involved in continuous contacts with mediators, said Israel was acting “as it wishes” and signaling that it cannot be bound by any commitments, escalating its breaches without facing real deterrence. They said factions share a growing sense that patience is running out. Yet, the leadership across all levels, including the public base, acknowledges that responding militarily is not an option because it risks pulling Gaza back into a full war whose cost would be far higher. The sources insisted this does not mean accepting Israeli strikes or allowing Gaza to become an open battlefield. “Israel is trying to provoke the resistance and drag it back to square one,” one source said, adding that such a confrontation would serve Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political survival. They accused Israel of exploiting fluctuating US pressure, tightening or easing its position depending on Washington. The sources said Palestinian leaders also blame mediators for failing to exert enough influence on Israel or Washington, although in previous rounds they leveraged ties with the Trump administration to extract limited Israeli compliance. Several commitments under the first phase of the ceasefire were never implemented, including the entry of urgent relief supplies and improvement of humanitarian conditions, which remain dire with only marginal gains.
Hamas Ready for Second Phase, Says Israel Blocking Progress
Hamas informed mediators it has no objection to moving to the second phase of the agreement, the sources said, describing Israel as the main obstacle as it tries to impose conditions linked to the future of Gaza, the fate of armed groups, and who will govern the territory. They said Israel is tying reconstruction to those political demands. The sources said Hamas wants national consensus on Gaza’s future and the “resistance arena,” proposing a Palestinian meeting involving Fatah, the Palestinian Authority, and all factions. This issue is expected to be revisited soon in Cairo, though it is unclear if Fatah will participate after previously declining. Israel, meanwhile, refuses to proceed to the next stage before receiving the bodies of two remaining captives held in Gaza. Palestinian sources said recent Israeli assassinations of those responsible for the captives, as well as extensive bombardment and bulldozing, have complicated efforts to locate the remains. Israel is also linking reconstruction to the captives file and is coordinating with the United States to start rebuilding only in areas under Israeli control, particularly Rafah. Some cabinet ministers oppose the plan, according to Israeli media. US and Israeli reports in recent days said Washington has already begun clearing rubble in parts of Rafah now under Israeli control, a move the Netanyahu government has neither confirmed nor denied. Hamas and other factions also declined public comment. Hamas sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that reconstruction is being discussed with mediators and stressed that any unilateral action “has no value,” adding that reconstruction must cover all parts of Gaza and that humanitarian needs cannot be tied to political bargaining.
Escalation on the Ground
Israeli violations continued over the weekend. Two brothers from the Abu Aassi family were killed on Saturday after approaching the yellow line marking an Israeli withdrawal zone under the ceasefire, near Bani Suheila east of Khan Yunis. They were shot by an Israeli drone while collecting firewood. Their father is disabled and their mother is ill. At least 355 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured since the ceasefire began due to Israeli breaches. Israeli warplanes carried out several strikes in Rafah and Khan Yunis on Saturday, targeting Hamas tunnels and infrastructure, and detonating areas along the yellow line as well as sites east of Gaza City and in the north. Artillery fire and drone attacks continued, along with naval gunfire along parts of the coast. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said Israeli forces intensified air, land, and sea bombardment overnight, accusing the military of deliberately killing the two boys and insisting that “the genocide has not stopped, only its pace has changed.”
Humanitarian Conditions Still Desperate
The Palestinian NGO Network said it saw no real improvement in the entry of aid, which remains at minimum levels. Most trucks entering Gaza are commercial shipments sold to residents who can barely afford them, while humanitarian aid barely reaches the enclave.
UNICEF warned that worsening malnutrition and the arrival of winter threaten children’s lives. The agency said tests showed that about 9,300 children under five suffered from acute malnutrition in October, urging all parties to open Gaza’s crossings to humanitarian relief through all possible channels.

Iran Guards Seize Foreign Ship Carrying 'Smuggled' Fuel
Asharq Al Awsat/November 30/2025
Iran's Revolutionary Guards have seized a ship flying the flag of Eswatini and carrying "smuggled fuel", state media reported Sunday. "A vessel carrying 350,000 litres of smuggled fuel operating under the flag of Eswatini was seized and taken to Bushehr" in the south-west, state television said, quoting a local Revolutionary Guards commander. "There are 13 crew members on board, all from a neighbouring country and India," it added, AFP reported. Earlier this month, the Revolutionary Guards confirmed they had seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf. The company managing the ship later said Iran had released the tanker and its 21 crew members were safe. The vessel with the name Talara was heading through the Strait of Hormuz when it suddenly changed course towards Iranian waters. Its seized cargo included "Iranian petrochemical products... illegally transported towards Singapore", the Iranian news agency Fars said, adding that "the main person responsible was an Iranian individual or company". Last year, the Revolutionary Guards seized a container ship, saying it had links to Israel, following a deadly attack on Iran's consulate in Syria blamed on Israel.
However Fars said that Talara's seizure was not taken as a measure against any other nation, but was a purely local matter.

Arab Parliament Condemns Israeli Attacks on Syrian Territory
Asharq Al Awsat/November 30/2025
Arab Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Yammahi condemned the repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory, including the assaults that targeted villages in Damascus countryside, describing them as a blatant violation of Syria’s sovereignty, a clear breach of international law and the UN Charter, and a serious threat to the region’s security and stability. Al-Yammahi said in a statement on Sunday that the continuation of these aggressive attacks reflects a systematic escalation policy pursued by the oppressive occupying entity with no regard for international legitimacy, SPA reported. He called on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities to immediately stop these attacks, prevent their recurrence, and hold those responsible accountable. He reiterated his full solidarity with Syria and support for its efforts to preserve its security, sovereignty, and the unity and integrity of its territory, stressing that harming any Arab country is a harm to the pan-Arab national security.

Al-Sharaa in Aleppo Vows Full Effort to Rebuild Syria
Damascus: Souad Jarous/Asharq Al Awsat/November 30/2025
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed on Saturday to marshal every possible effort to rebuild the country, declaring from the city of Aleppo that Syria stands at the threshold of a long and demanding recovery. During a visit to the northern metropolis, he described Aleppo’s reconstruction as a cornerstone of the broader national effort, saying its ancient walls had witnessed both the city’s liberation and the advance toward Damascus. What began as a celebration of Aleppo, he added, marks the opening chapter of a new era for Syria and the wider region. Al-Sharaa told Aleppo residents that the authorities would not stop at the city’s liberation, saying the effort had begun from the first moment it was retaken. He pledged collective work to rebuild Syria. It is widely known that the opposition assault that toppled Bashar al-Assad a year ago began in the western countryside of Aleppo before reaching Damascus. His statements came as the authorities confront complex challenges at home and abroad ahead of the first anniversary of Assad’s overthrow. Domestically, the country faces security fragility and divisions across several layers of society. Externally, Israeli incursions and attacks continue inside Syrian territory.
The Interior Ministry on Saturday displayed its vehicles carrying a new visual identity, moving in a convoy from the Mezzeh highway to Umayyad Square and then to the Carlton roundabout in Damascus amid popular celebrations.
Interior Minister Anas Khattab said the new identity was not a cosmetic change but a reaffirmation of state authority, describing it as part of a broader national project. As retaliatory killings continue in different parts of the country, Syrians are demanding that the authorities impose state control, enforce the law and speed up transitional justice procedures to curb security breakdowns and improve economic conditions, according to sources close to the government who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. The sources said Damascus faces security challenges of high complexity and sensitivity, beginning with groups linked to remnants of the former regime and members of minority communities who fear the Islamic background of the current authorities, and extending to advocates of decentralization in Sweida in the south and in areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, SDF, in the northeast.
The sources stressed that the difficulties are not limited to demands for partition or calls for international protection, which Israel uses to justify continued attacks.
They said these pressures are affecting the government’s support base and sharpen its internal sensitivities to a degree that could threaten national stability and push the country toward chaos. According to the sources, the support base and its loyalists are divided into several layers. The first includes hardline supporters who say the only reason they do not go after the remnants of the former regime or opponents from minority groups is their commitment to state orders and specifically to the instructions of al-Sharaa, who insists that no component of Syrian society be targeted. The second layer includes some of the former “comrades in jihad,” among them several foreign fighters, who question the authorities’ stance toward them and claim they have been sidelined in response to international pressure.
The third layer consists of civilian revolutionaries and the traditional opposition to the Assad regime. Segments of these groups feel that the current authorities exclude them from meaningful participation in rebuilding the state and treat them as individuals rather than as political entities that contributed to the uprising against the former government. The sources also pointed to a paradox visible in the recent anniversary celebrations marking one year since the start of the campaign to topple Assad, which took place in response to a call from al-Sharaa. They said the demonstration in Damascus’s Umayyad Square on Friday appeared spontaneous and lacked organization, with chants ranging from sectarian slogans to calls for national unity and rejection of sectarianism, all under the banner of support for the new authorities and condemnation of the Israeli strike on the town of Beit Jinn in southern Syria. The Interior Ministry’s celebration of the new visual identity coincided with the first anniversary of the “Repelling the Aggression” battle that ended Assad’s rule. It came amid mass public gatherings, some of which appeared driven by momentum to counter demonstrations in Alawite areas of Homs, Latakia, Tartus and the countryside of Hama, where protesters called for decentralization and the release of detainees from the former regime. The authorities are attempting to contain rising tensions through countermeasures. In this context, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony was held at the Mar Mikhael Church in Latakia in the presence of the city’s governor, Mohammad Othman. In a parallel move, Hama Governor Abdulrahman al-Sahyan issued a decision banning the posting of any religious or legal announcements inside government or service institutions or public facilities without prior approval from the Directorate of Religious Endowments in Hama.

UN Report: Level of Hunger Rising in Yemen’s Houthi-Controlled Areas
Taiz: Mohammed Nasser/Asharq Al Awsat/November 30/2025
The levels of hunger and poverty are worsening in Yemen’s Houthi-held areas, amid an unprecedented economic slowdown and deterioration in the business environment, a recent UN report revealed. On Friday, the latest FAO-WFP Hunger Hotspots early warning report categorized Yemen among the countries of “highest concern” requiring urgent humanitarian response. “Economic capacity also exhausted nationwide, with an average Yemeni household spending more than 70% of its resources on food, leaving very little for other essential needs,” the report said. It showed that the households with poor food consumption mainly rely on cereals, sugar, and fats while meat, fruits, pulses, and dairy products were nearly absent from their diet. The latest numbers came as Houthis continue to intensify their crackdown on UN and other aid agencies in Yemen through arbitrary arrests, raids on facilities, and confiscation of assets. The FAO-WFP report noted that in October 2025, adequate food remained inaccessible for 63% of surveyed households in Yemen. “Extremely concerning is that 35% of Yemeni households are experiencing severe food deprivation,” it said.
The report also revealed that Internally Displaced People (IDPs) continue to face severe hunger, with 24% of them reporting at least one member of the family endured an entire day and night without food, a rate more than double that of residents.In government-controlled areas, it said the exchange rate remained stable at an average of YER 1,616/USD for the third consecutive month. Appreciation of Yemeni rial followed by gradual self-correction of market and effective price control led to a notable, though disproportionate, decline in food and fuel prices, with the MFB cost falling by 19% YoY.
Nonetheless, the report noted, underlying vulnerabilities persist, particularly limited foreign currency reserves despite Saudi deposits. The World Bank estimated a 30% YoY decline in IRG revenues in the first half of 2025, undermining the provision of essential services. In Houthi-held areas, the rial remained steady at YER 534/USD. However, food and fuel prices on a US dollar basis remained higher in those areas compared to the government-held areas, the report showed. Economic concerns persist, with recent observations revealing an economic slowdown and deterioration in the business environment in Houthi areas, it said, noting that the cumulative burden continues to undermine the financial capacity of traders.

PKK urges Turkiye to free Ocalan to advance peace process
AFP/November 30, 2025
KANDIL: A senior Kurdistan Workers’ Party commander told AFP the group will take no further steps in the peace process with Turkiye, urging it to advance negotiations and free PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan. “All the steps the leader Apo has initiated have been implemented... there will be no further actions taken,” commander Amed Malazgirt told AFP on Saturday in a bunker in the Qandil mountains in northern Iraq. “From now on, we will be waiting for the Turkish state and they have to be the one taking steps,” he said. The group has two demands, he added. “First, the freedom of leader Apo... without this, the process will not succeed. The second is the constitutional and official recognition of the Kurdish people in Turkiye.” Female senior commander Serda Mazlum Gabar told AFP that “as long as the leadership is inside, the Kurdish people cannot be free. Nor can we, as guerrillas, feel free.” “Our path to freedom passes through the freedom of our leadership,” she added. Ocalan, 76, has led the peace process from his cell on Imrali island, where he has been held in solitary confinement since 1999. Turkish lawmakers from a committee tasked with fleshing out the peace process with the Kurds visited Ocalan earlier this week. In recent months, the PKK, which maintains a rear base in the mountains of northern Iraq, has taken several historic steps toward ending its decades-old fight against Turkiye that has claimed some 50,000 lives. In May, the PKK formally renounced its armed struggle against Turkiye. It then held a ceremony in northern Iraq during which 30 fighters burned their weapons in a symbolic move to show their commitment to the peace process. Last month, the group said it had begun withdrawing all of its forces from Turkish soil into northern Iraq. Earlier this month, the PKK announced their forces had withdrawn from a key border area in northern Iraq. “We have committed to not using weapons against the Turkish state,” Malazgirt told AFP on Saturday. Ankara began indirect talks with the PKK late last year, with Ocalan in February urging the group’s militants to lay down their weapons and embrace democratic means to advance the Kurdish cause. Turkiye has set up the cross-party parliamentary commission to lay the groundwork for the peace process and prepare a legal framework for the political integration of the PKK and its fighters. “By establishing this committee, the Turkish state has made a positive move, but it is not the only action needed. We are closely monitoring this mission,” Malazgirt said. The PKK says it wants to pursue a democratic struggle to defend the rights of the Kurdish minority. But “the guerrilla is also the prototype of free life, the prototype of free humans, the prototype of free women,” Serda Mazlum Gabar said. “Therefore, we can continue the struggle with different methods, but the guerrilla does not end.”

Turkiye condemns Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil tankers off Black Sea coast
AP/November 30, 2025
ISTANBUL: The Turkish government has condemned Ukrainian drone attacks on two Russian “shadow fleet” oil tankers in the Black Sea. Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said the attacks on the Kairos and Virat vessels happened inside Turkiye’s exclusive economic zone and “have posed serious risks to navigation, life, property and environmental safety in the region.” In a social media post late Saturday, Keceli added that Turkiye is carrying out talks with “the relevant parties” to prevent the spread of the war in Ukraine across the Black Sea and to protect Turkiye’s economic interests.
Ukraine has said it used naval drones to hit the tankers in quick succession off Turkiye’s Black Sea coast late Friday afternoon. Crew members on board both vessels were reported to be safe.The OpenSanctions database, which tracks people or organizations involved in sanctions evasion, describes the vessels as part of a fleet of ships used to evade sanctions imposed on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine has carried out successful naval strikes against Russian shipping during the war, particularly using explosives-packed marine drones. However, Ukrainian missions have previously largely been limited to the waters of the northern Black Sea.

OPEC+ Holds 2026 Group-wide Oil Output Steady, Agrees Capacity Mechanism
Asharq Al Awsat/November 30/2025
OPEC+ countries agreed to maintain group-wide oil output quotas for 2026 in a meeting on Sunday, and also agreed on a mechanism to assess members' maximum oil production capacity, OPEC said in a statement. Eight OPEC+ countries, holding a separate meeting on Sunday, also have an agreement in principle to maintain a pause in their output hikes for the first quarter of 2026, an OPEC+ source and a person familiar with OPEC+ talks said earlier, according to Reuters. The meeting of OPEC+, which pumps half of the world's oil, comes during a fresh US effort to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal, which could add to oil supply if sanctions on Russia are eased. Ministers have started a series of online meetings, two sources said. If the peace deal fails, Russia could see its supply curbed further by sanctions. OPEC+ groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia.
OVER 3 MLN BPD OF OUTPUT CUTS STILL IN PLACE
Brent crude closed on Friday near $63 a barrel, down 15% this year.
OPEC+ has paused oil output hikes for the first quarter of 2026 after releasing some 2.9 million barrels per day into the market since April 2025. The group still has about 3.24 million bpd of output cuts in place, representing around 3% of global demand, and the Sunday meeting did not alter those. OPEC said the group had approved a mechanism to assess members' maximum production capacity to be used for setting output quotas from 2027.

4 Dead, 10 Wounded in Shooting at Banquet Hall in California
Asharq Al Awsat/November 30/2025
Four people were killed and 10 wounded in a shooting during a family gathering at a banquet hall in Stockton, sheriff’s officials said Saturday. The victims included both children and adults, said Heather Brent, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County sheriff’s office. Early indications “suggest this may have been a targeted incident,” Brent said during a news conference at the scene. Local officials said the suspected shooter has not been caught and pleaded with the public for help. Detectives were still working to identify a possible motive. “If you have any information as to this individual, reach out immediately. If you are this individual, turn yourself in immediately,” San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said during a news conference. The shooting occurred just before 6 p.m. inside the banquet hall, which shares a parking lot with other businesses, The Associated Press reported. Stockton is a city of 320,000 about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Sacramento. “Families should be together instead of at the hospital, standing next to their loved one, praying that they survive,” Mayor Christina Fugazi said. Authorities did not immediately provide additional information about the conditions of the victims. Officials said earlier that several were taken to hospitals.

US and Ukrainian negotiators meet as Trump seeks to broker an end to the war
AP/November 30, 2025
HALLANDALE BEACH: Top Trump administration officials are meeting Ukrainian negotiators in Florida on Sunday, pushing to broker an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine and setting the stage for key talks planned this week in Moscow with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, were expected to hold talks with a Ukrainian delegation to further hash out the details of a proposed peace framework. The negotiations come at a sensitive moment for Ukraine as it continues to push back against Russian forces that invaded in 2022. On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, who up until that point had been the country’s lead negotiator in talks with the US
The announcement came after Yermak’s home was searched by anti-corruption investigators. Zelensky’s government has been roiled by fallout from a scandal over $100 million embezzled from the energy sector through kickbacks paid by contractors, causing newfound domestic pressures for Zelensky. It was only a week ago that Rubio had met with Yermak in Geneva, with each side saying the talks had been positive in putting together a revised peace plan. Now, the Ukrainian delegation includes Andrii Hnatov, the head of Ukraine’s armed forces; Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister; and Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s security council, Zelensky has said. Diplomats have been focused on revisions to Trump’s proposed 28-point plan developed in negotiations between Washington and Moscow. That plan was criticized as being too weighted toward Russian demands. It had initially envisioned Ukraine ceding the entire eastern region of the Donbas to Russia — a sticking point for Kyiv. The plan, which Trump has since played down as a “concept” or a “map” to be “fine-tuned,” would have imposed limits on the size of Ukraine’s military, blocked the country from joining NATO and required Ukraine to hold elections in 100 days. Negotiators have indicated the framework has changed, but it’s not clear how its provisions have been altered. Trump said on Tuesday that he would send Witkoff and perhaps Kushner to Moscow this week to meet with Putin about the plan. Both Witkoff and Kushner, like Trump, hail from the world of real estate that values dealmaking over the conventions of diplomacy. The pair also were behind a 20-point proposal that led to a ceasefire in Gaza. Zelensky wrote on X that the Ukrainian delegation would “swiftly and substantively work out the steps needed to end the war.”
In his nightly address on Saturday, Zelensky said the American side was “demonstrating a constructive approach.” “In the coming days it is feasible to flesh out the steps to determine how to bring the war to a dignified end,” he said. Attacks continue despite diplomatic efforts to end the war
On Saturday, Russian drone and missile attacks in and around Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, killed at least three people and wounded dozens more, officials said. Fresh attacks overnight into Sunday killed one person and wounded 19 others, including four children, local officials said, when a drone hit a nine-story apartment block in the city of Vyshhorod in the Kyiv region. In a post on Telegram Sunday, Zelensky said Russia had attacked Ukraine with 122 strike drones and ballistic missiles. “Such attacks occur daily. This week alone, Russians have used nearly 1,400 strike drones, 1,100 guided aerial bombs and 66 missiles against our people. That is why we must strengthen Ukraine’s resilience every day. Missiles and air defense systems are necessary, and we must also actively work with our partners for peace,” Zelensky said. “We need real, reliable solutions that will help end the war,” he added. After Ukraine claimed responsibility for damaging a major oil terminal on Saturday near the Russian port of Novorossiysk, owned by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Kazakhstan told Ukraine on Sunday to stop attacking the Black Sea terminal. The CPC pipeline, which starts in Kazakhstan and ends at the Novorossisyk terminal, handles a large proportion of Kazakhstan’s oil exports.“We view what has occurred as an action harming the bilateral relations of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Ukraine, and we expect the Ukrainian side to take effective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future,” Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine Peace Talks Underway, Kyiv Says it is Working for 'Real Peace'
Asharq Al Awsat/November 30/2025
Talks are underway between US and Ukrainian officials on a peace deal toward ending Kyiv's war with Moscow, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council said on Sunday, Reuters reported. "We have clear directives and priorities: safeguarding Ukrainian interests, ensuring substantive dialogue, and advancing on the basis of the progress achieved in Geneva," wrote Rustem Umerov, Kyiv's lead negotiator, on X. "We are working to secure real peace for Ukraine and reliable, long-term security guarantees."

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on November 30-December 01/2025
Iran's New Race to the Bomb
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/November 30, 2025
Iran's leaders appear to see nuclear weapons not simply as a strategic tool, but as an existential necessity — a shield for the regime's survival and a sword to advance its revolutionary ideology.
Iran's leadership sees that one nuclear-armed missile aimed at Israel could accomplish what decades of proxy warfare, rhetoric, and regional maneuvering have failed to do. A nuclear weapon, in their ideological worldview, offers the possibility of wiping out Israel, fulfilling what they see as a historic, strategic, and religious prophecy.
In the minds of Iran's rulers, a nuclear weapon is doubtless the ultimate insurance policy. They believe it can secure the regime's longevity by projecting an image of strength similar to North Korea's strategy: a nuclear-armed dictatorship that cannot be toppled from within or pressured from abroad. In their thinking, nuclear weapons elevate them to invulnerability.
Iran has repeatedly used talks as a tactical pause, a chance to ease sanctions, gain financial relief, and reconstitute its nuclear capabilities behind closed doors. A flawed or partial agreement would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium, advance in missile technology, and expand its scientific base under the protection of international diplomacy. Far from slowing down Iran's nuclear ambitions, weak negotiations risk institutionalizing them. The Iranian regime clearly wants nuclear weapons – desperately – driven by strategic weakness, ideological ambition and fear for its own survival. The West must not give Iran the time or space it needs to complete its mission. The free world's objective must be to dismantle Iran's nuclear program completely, preserve no loopholes, and maintain pressure until Tehran's path to nuclear armament is permanently blocked. Anything less risks empowering a regime that seeks both regional dominance and ideological Islamist conquest under the secure shield of nuclear weapons.
Iran's leaders appear to see nuclear weapons not simply as a strategic tool, but as an existential necessity — a shield for the regime's survival and a sword to advance its revolutionary ideology. They see that one nuclear-armed missile aimed at Israel could accomplish what decades of proxy warfare, rhetoric, and regional maneuvering have failed to do.
The Iranian regime has always sought nuclear weapons, but at the moment, this ambition may have taken on an unprecedented urgency. For decades, the ruling clerics have perceived nuclear capability as a symbol of power and ideological triumph. Now, more than ever before, the regime may be prepared to use every trick, tactic, and deception it has cultivated over the years to achieve that goal. Iran's leaders appear to see nuclear weapons not simply as a strategic tool, but as an existential necessity — a shield for the regime's survival and a sword to advance its revolutionary ideology.
One of the core reasons Iran has reportedly been ratcheting up its pursuit of nuclear weapons again might be the shock it experienced during the recent 12-day war. The conflict exposed, in a brutally clear manner, how deeply inferior Iran's military capabilities are compared to Israel and the United States, especially its air force and advanced warfare infrastructure. Iran watched its proxy forces struggle and realized that in a direct confrontation, it lacks the conventional military strength either to deter or defeat its adversaries. This realization may well have intensified the regime's belief that a nuclear weapon is "the great equalizer."
Iran's leadership sees that one nuclear-armed missile aimed at Israel could accomplish what decades of proxy warfare, rhetoric, and regional maneuvering have failed to do. A nuclear weapon, in their ideological worldview, offers the possibility of wiping out Israel, fulfilling what they see as a historic, strategic, and religious prophecy. This belief is embedded in the regime's revolutionary narrative, and the recent military vulnerabilities may well have made the pursuit of nuclear arms feel both urgent and inevitable to Tehran's elite.
Iran currently faces a convergence of internal and external pressures that most likely make the regime feel cornered. Externally, renewed sanctions — particularly under Washington's tougher policies — have squeezed Iran's economy. Regionally, Iran finds itself more isolated now that the Assad regime in Syria collapsed, weakening the backbone of Tehran's influence corridor stretching from Iran through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon. With Assad's departure, Iran's regional leverage suffered a severe blow: its power projection capabilities have been disrupted.
Internally, for the regime, the situation must seem even more alarming. Domestic dissatisfaction is widespread, driven by unemployment, inflation, and the deteriorating quality of life for ordinary Iranians. The country faces a worsening water crisis that threatens agriculture, industry, and social stability. Such conditions create fertile ground for mass protests and uprisings — something the regime has repeatedly struggled to contain. In the minds of Iran's rulers, a nuclear weapon is doubtless the ultimate insurance policy. They believe it can secure the regime's longevity by projecting an image of strength similar to North Korea's strategy: a nuclear-armed dictatorship that cannot be toppled from within or pressured from abroad. In their thinking, nuclear weapons elevate them to invulnerability.
Some Western politicians and policymakers argue that negotiations remain the best path forward. Negotiations, however, which provide stretchable time, have historically empowered and emboldened the Iranian regime rather than restrained it. A diplomatic agreement that does not require dismantling Iran's nuclear infrastructure — fully, permanently, and verifiably — would only give the regime the opportunity to race to a nuclear weapons breakout, legitimacy, and room to maneuver. Iran has repeatedly used talks as a tactical pause, a chance to ease sanctions, gain financial relief, and reconstitute its nuclear capabilities behind closed doors. A flawed or partial agreement would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium, advance in missile technology, and expand its scientific base under the protection of international diplomacy. Far from slowing down Iran's nuclear ambitions, weak negotiations risk institutionalizing them.
The regime must be confronted with a clear choice. Either Tehran cooperates fully and dismantles its nuclear weapons program once and for all, or it must face escalating consequences. These consequences must be meaningful — stronger economic sanctions, greater diplomatic isolation, and, if necessary, credible military pressure. Equally important, the West needs to increase its support for the Iranian people rather than for the regime. Supporting dissidents and amplifying the voices of Iranians who seek democratic change can weaken the regime's grip and challenge its belief that nuclear weapons guarantee eternal survival. The longer the West waits, the more entrenched the regime becomes.
The Iranian regime clearly wants nuclear weapons – desperately – driven by strategic weakness, ideological ambition and fear for its own survival. The West must not give Iran the time or space it needs to complete its mission. The free world's objective must be to dismantle Iran's nuclear program completely, preserve no loopholes, and maintain pressure until Tehran's path to nuclear armament is permanently blocked. Anything less risks empowering a regime that seeks both regional dominance and ideological Islamist conquest under the secure shield of nuclear weapons.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a political scientist, Harvard-educated analyst, and board member of Harvard International Review. He has authored several books on the US foreign policy. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu
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https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22085/iran-new-race-to-the-bomb

UN road map for Gaza is littered with uncertainty
Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/November 30/2025
Combing through UN Security Council Resolution 2803, I began to question whether it is the case of the international community purposefully coming together to achieve the elusive objective of at last resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or just another mirage? The proposal’s first aim is to consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza and then outline a path for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but it is vague on details and deadlines.
Admittedly, the success of the mediators to “encourage" Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire deserves praise, even if long overdue. Yet, since the truce came into force at the beginning of October, at least 340 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed, which can hardly suggest that Gaza is more secure or that its population should be convinced by what the international community has to offer.
At the end of the day, this resolution, as many before it in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, will be judged by results, not by its good intentions. The plan’s vagueness about its objectives or the path to achieving them leaves too many doubts about the political will and readiness to invest the diplomatic, intellectual, and physical resources needed to translate them into reality. To start from the end, there is no ironclad pledge of a two-state solution, but instead it sets out a series of conditions that, if fulfilled, may be “a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”
Hardly a convincing incentive, as it suggests that even if the Palestinian Authority is reformed and Gaza’s redevelopment gets underway, Palestinian self-determination “may” lead to a process which could “maybe” lead to a Palestinian state. To make things worse, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Cabinet colleagues have repeatedly said that they will never agree to a Palestinian state, while those who voted for this resolution offered no serious condemnation of the Israeli leadership for its intransigence.
There is also a justified concern that the UN resolution, in departing from custom, fails to mention previous resolutions on the issue, thereby denying it the historical context and legal framework established by the UN in its efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Failure to mention resolutions such as 242 and 338, which are seminal for the notion of peace based on “land for peace,” leaves open to doubt whether this is the defining principle of a future agreement as understood by the authors of this resolution. Moreover, unlike Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned the construction and expansion of settlements — one of the biggest, if not the major obstacle to a lasting peace — there is no mention of this in Resolution 2803. Continuity and consistency are essential for resolving such a prolonged and stubborn conflict, and they are missing on this occasion. One of the particularly disturbing aspects of this UN effort — unwittingly, but more likely intentionally — is the removal of the agency of the Palestinians to determine their future. Creating a Board of Peace is one thing but leaving it with no clear mandate is entirely different, especially since there is no clear pathway to empowering a Palestinian leadership.
There is no clear pathway to empowering a Palestinian leadership.
Much of the language regarding the responsibilities of the board is that of a transitional administration, which facilitates the establishment of another transitional body, a Palestinian technocratic committee from the Gaza Strip, responsible for the day-to-day running of the territory’s civil service and administration. Palestinians are highly suspicious of words such as “interim” and “transitional,” and for good reason, as they have seen in the past that such terms bring them no closer to their aspirations to an independent state — and in many cases offers no improvement in their human or civil rights in the meantime. In a world saturated with crises and other challenges, there is a risk that as the situation becomes relatively calm, attention will turn elsewhere, leaving Palestinian statehood once again an unfulfilled aspiration.
And then there is the urgency of establishing an International Stabilization Force, with powers to stabilize the security environment in Gaza, including “the permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups.” Hamas is adamant in opposing its disarmament, and in any case, it is an open question whether it will give up all weapons. This aspect is a major deterrent for Arab and Muslim countries from sending troops to join this operation, as it may result in a confrontation with Hamas and other militant groups, and possibly with Israeli troops as well. With such a small population and a politically explosive situation, being part of such an operation has serious operational risks that might also become reputational ones, domestically and internationally. To make this resolution a success, the UN Security Council must move rapidly to address the lack of clear timetables for Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza, ensuring security on both sides of the border, and supporting Palestinians as they reform their institutions, and unifying the West Bank and Gaza under one governing body elected by the people of both territories.
Despite its faults, the UN proposal could de-escalate the security situation in Gaza and allow reconstruction to begin. However, regrettably, the resolution completely ignores the situation in the West Bank. More positively, the shift in Washington’s position over the past few months about the future of Gaza and the possibility of Palestinian self-determination is significant. It has gone a long way, and this should not be discounted.
Therefore, it was important that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reminded President Donald Trump during his recent visit to Washington that there must be a clear path toward a two-state solution to advance the US leader’s aspiration to expand the Abraham Accords. It was a timely reminder that translating the UN resolution into regional peace and security requires an end to fudging or delaying the Palestinian issue, while moving with a clear timetable towards a two-state solution.
*Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations and an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. X: @YMekelberg

Trump has delivered tangible results to the region
Nadim Shehadi/Arab News/November 30, 2025
The intensity of American reactions to President Donald Trump remains intriguing. I saw it in Boston among both students and faculty during the traumatic 2016 elections. His victory was totally unexpected and there was an emotional, almost visceral response that transcended normal political disagreement. He was the establishment’s worst nightmare and they projected all sorts of fears on to him. The same goes with the media. And this is still the case in his second term, with the polarization persisting beyond what I would consider rational.
Trump is unpredictable, full of contradictions, breaks every rule and it is sometimes difficult to interpret what he means from what he says. I have made the effort. I listened to 20 interviews conducted with Trump by the journalist Bob Woodward while on mountain hikes in Greece and I may have gotten a feel of some patterns. But I still cannot claim to understand him. No matter. We in the Middle East do not share America’s emotional extremes about Trump. As allies who depend on American partnership, the region’s leaders have to adjust and build a working relationship with whoever is in power. What concerns us more is the polarization itself — when foreign policy swings dramatically with each administration for what seem like purely domestic reasons.
Trump may represent something genuinely revolutionary in American politics — a fundamental challenge to established norms and institutions. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden received more than 90 percent of votes in Washington. This demonstrated how uniformly the permanent bureaucracy opposed Trump. The intelligence agencies, diplomatic corps, civil service, media and universities aligned against him with remarkable consistency. Trump’s method is familiar to people around the Mediterranean but totally alien to societies like those in Northern Europe or the US.
Trump’s response was to bypass these institutions entirely, conducting governance through personal relationships rather than bureaucratic channels. His supporters see liberation from entrenched bureaucracy; his opponents see threats to democratic guardrails. The intensity reveals deeper conflicts about who holds power and how it should be exercised. Trump did not create America’s divisions, rather he has exposed existing fault lines in the most unexpected places.
What makes Trump revolutionary is his willingness to violate every convention. He dramatically says things that provoke outrage. He bypasses normal policy processes, makes announcements via social media and uses undiplomatic language.
There is a parallel to Silicon Valley, which emerged by breaking established rules and challenging administrative authority. Rules can protect necessary standards but they can also become barriers preserving existing power structures. Americans struggle with the question: Which rules did Trump break that were arbitrary constraints and which were fragile pillars of the democratic process?
Trump operates through personal relationships, loyalty and dramatic gestures rather than institutional process. This is a method that is familiar to people around the Mediterranean but totally alien to societies like those in Northern Europe or the US. A parade of foreign leaders has been subjected to live Oval Office meetings. These would have normally been polite diplomatic photo ops for the media, but Trump turned them into reality TV on a dramatic scale.
During Trump’s recent meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince stood firm about Saudi Arabia’s conditions for normalization with Israel. Trump’s relational, theatrical approach is more Mediterranean or Middle Eastern than American institutional style.
From a regional perspective, Trump has delivered tangible results. Ending the Gaza war should have happened much earlier, but he did it as he said he would. While experts and political rivals often mock Trump’s foreign policy approach, he also delivered the Abraham Accords. Trump ignored the experts as well as the rules and whatever consensus stood in the way. He pursued direct relations with leaders, whether in Israel or the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan or Morocco. He achieved what generations of traditional diplomacy could not.
His relationship with the crown prince has followed similar patterns — partnership rather than patronage. His earlier withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal aligned with regional security concerns. His current Gaza ceasefire efforts continue the same approach: personal engagement and dramatic gestures in pursuit of the deal. Arab policymakers have achieved significant gains under Trump — the Abraham Accords, partnership resets and maximum pressure on Iran. Yet, even while welcoming these moves, they have maintained careful contact with the Democratic Party, understanding that the pendulum will swing. The fundamental question is: Is America reliable when its foreign policy reverses completely every four to eight years based on domestic cultural wars that are unrelated to the region?
• Nadim Shehadi is an economist and political adviser. X: @Confusezeus

The missing ingredients for peace in Palestine
Abdullah Gul/Arab News/November 30, 2025
Following two years of mass killings by Israel in one of the most ruthless military campaigns in recent history, the Gaza ceasefire agreed in October was an undoubtedly welcome step. But even if it holds, the root causes of the problem need to be addressed in order to achieve a just and lasting peace. Otherwise, renewed bloodshed and suffering in the region are inevitable.
Notably, the current ceasefire is US President Donald Trump’s personal project, rather than the continuation of decades of international efforts to solve the Israel-Palestine problem. It does not contain the necessary references to UN Security Council resolutions that refer to a two-state solution with pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state. Presenting the current peace deal as a “new beginning” thus risks creating the illusion of a solution. While a new UNSC resolution (2803) has legitimized the Trump plan, its references to rightful Palestinian expectations remain insufficient (unlike in the Russian draft).
An especially urgent danger is the normalization of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. According to a recent International Crisis Group report, Israeli outposts are growing more numerous and are being transformed into permanent settlements. Similarly, the introduction of a “yellow line” in Gaza raises the likelihood of partition, with Israel permanently occupying more than half of the enclave. There are too many reasons to be suspicious of Israel’s intent to withdraw from these territories.
Let us not be naive: the ceasefire is just a beginning. As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stated, the events in Palestine cannot be seen in a vacuum, independent from their past and current context. Many European countries finally took the step of recognizing the state of Palestine, mainly owing to increasing domestic pressure. Although this may be a superficial step, it signals an important shift in the global approach to the Palestinian cause. Israel remains isolated due to its extremist policies, while international sentiment for a just solution is more vocal than ever.
The platform for peace brought by the Trump plan is new but the problem at hand, and its main answers, have long been clear. The Israeli invasion and illegal settlements must end and Palestinian statehood must be achieved with due dignity.
For the ceasefire to lead to a permanent peace, the US must take charge of swaying Israel in the right direction. Solving the main conflict of the Middle East would be an immense service to humanity. The US would boost its own prestige, while ensuring the safety and prosperity of its closest ally in the region.
For the ceasefire to lead to a permanent peace, the US must take charge of swaying Israel in the right direction.
Israel’s existential worries are also understandable: it is situated in the middle of the Levant, among many hostile countries. But it should recognize what most Jewish intellectuals and elites around the world understood a long time ago: Israel needs normal relations with Palestinians and its other neighbors. If the alternative is to enforce an apartheid state or strip away Palestinian sovereignty, the conflict will only be postponed and amplified, as has been true in the past.
As long as the invasion continues, resistance will also continue. Merely destroying Hamas will not guarantee Israel’s security because, in the absence of a just peace, some similarly minded group will inevitably take its place. The only solution is to address the cause of Palestinian radicalization, which starts with allowing Palestinians to live in dignity on their own land.
Peace in Palestine would have effects well beyond the immediate region. Most of the radicalism in the Islamic world exploits claims related to the Palestinian cause. If the conflict is solved, such claims will surely lose traction.
At the same time, Palestinians need to put their own house in order by elevating leaders who are fully committed to democracy and the rule of law. Only this kind of leadership can truly represent the Palestinian people as a legitimate international interlocutor. This has become even more important since Oct. 7, 2023. The Palestinian leadership must be credible, legitimate and respectable.
Given the destruction and hardship faced by Palestinians at every level, such political objectives will not be easy to achieve. The international community must be supportive and understanding of the initial efforts to create an acceptable leadership. Israel, too, must support such efforts if it wants to weaken the role of Hamas and achieve regional normalization once and for all.
In 2006, as Turkiye’s minister of foreign affairs, I was the first one to receive and meet with Hamas leaders in Ankara following their election victory. I strongly advised them to embrace new policies and act in the way that a democratically elected political force should: they needed to follow diplomacy, adopt more moderate tactics in their struggle and become the internationally recognized representatives of Palestinians. They showed initial signs that they were willing to do so. I also told my Israeli and American counterparts that the newly elected Palestinian leadership in Gaza should be given a chance. Instead, it was immediately shunned and sanctioned.
Today, a similar opportunity presents itself. I remain convinced that only a democratic Palestinian leadership that ensures good governance, rids itself of corruption and rejects violence can receive full support from its people and become their legitimate international representative. I have spoken to prominent figures across the Middle East and many have identified the imprisoned Palestinian politician Marwan Barghouti as an example of a promising leadership candidate. But Israel must demonstrate that it truly desires peace by freeing him and other political prisoners.
The world has grown tired of helplessly watching violence and suffering in Palestine. The Trump ceasefire could be the first step toward peace, but only if it evolves into a full-fledged plan that recognizes and appreciates the decades-long Palestinian struggle. Otherwise, the suffering of Palestinians and the insecurity of Israelis will continue.
• Abdullah Gul is a former president of the Republic of Turkiye. ©Project Syndicate
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