English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For December 05/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
The Faith Of The Canaanite woman Cured Her Daughter
into the borders of Tyre and Sidon
Mark07/24-30/From there he arose and went away into the borders
of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house and didn’t want anyone to know it,
but he couldn’t escape notice. For a woman whose little daughter had an unclean
spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a
Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. She begged him that he would cast the demon out
of her daughter. But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for
it is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
But she answered him, “Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the
children’s crumbs. He said to her, “For this saying, go your way. The demon has
gone out of your daughter.” She went away to her house, and found the child
having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.
Titles For The
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on
December 04-05/2025
Reflections and Faith Narrative on the Life of Saint Barbara on the
Anniversary of Her Annual Feast/Elias Bejjani/December 04/2025
The upcoming "Mechanism" goes into more detail. Negotiation Under Fire
A National Appeal
Lebanon president says Israel talks to resume Dec. 19
Lebanon ‘far from’ diplomatic normalization or economic relations with Israel,
prime minister says
Israel renews south Lebanon attacks as Beirut’s military chief gives Hezbollah
arms
Israel Strikes South Lebanon Towns
All you need to know about Lebanon-Israel Naqoura talks
Lebanese, Israeli negotiators discussed 'small joint projects', long-term vision
is 'Trump economic zone'
Lebanese Army defends loyalty of its soldiers
US says inclusion of civilians in Mechanism can lead to 'durable peace'
Issa lauds Lebanon's 'unity' and 'progress toward peaceful regional engagement'
UN Security Council begins Syria-Lebanon mission, says Damascus talks focus on
rebuilding trust
Karam Steers South Lebanon into New Phase as Mechanism Chief
Lebanon Appoints Civilian for Israel Talks to Avert Escalation
Learning the lessons of 2025’s extreme climate events/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab
News/December 04, 2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on
December 04-05/2025
Iraq to Correct Asset-freeze List that Included Hezbollah and Houthis,
Citing Publication Error
Israel Identifies Body of Returned Hostage, Remains of Israeli Officer Still in
Gaza
UN Chief Guterres Says Israel's Conduct of War in Gaza 'Fundamentally Wrong'
Israel says it killed around 40 Hamas militants trapped in Gaza tunnels
New Hamas Security Measures amid Fears of Overseas Assassinations
Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Tribal Clashes Behind Killing of Yasser Abu Shabab
Xi Says China to Provide $100 Million Humanitarian Aid for Gaza
Syrian authorities in Aleppo arrest former MP and police chief under Assad
regime
Gulf Summits: Strengthening Regional Cooperation over Four Decades
Macron, Merz voiced concern that US may compromise Ukraine in peace efforts
Putin Says Russia Will Take All of Ukraine's Donbas Region Militarily or
Otherwise
Syria’s growth accelerates as sanctions ease, refugees return: Central Bank
governor
Syria Tightens Security Ahead of First Liberation Anniversary
Iran’s IRGC warns US vessels during drill in Gulf
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published on
December 04-05/2025
Sudan’s Army… Not The ‘Kizan Army’/Osman Mirghani/Asharq Al Awsat/December
04/2025
Syrian aid workers have local trust and capacity — we just need the resources
Dr. Abdulkarim Ekzayez, Faddy Sahloul, Dr. Aref Razouk, Abdullatif Alzalek and
Alaa/AlBakour/Arab News/December 04, 202
Why Trump's Gaza Plan is Not a Peace Deal/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone
Institute/December 04/2025
Pope Leo’s First Apostolic Journey Delivers Real-World Results/Alberto M.
Fernandez/National Catholic Register/December/December04/2025
UNRWA in Gaza Has Been Replaced; It’s Time to Shutter the Agency/Enia Krivine/The
Algemeiner/December04/2025
Is Qatari Money Corrupting American Education?/Natalie Ecanow/Townhall/December
04/2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on
December 04-05/2025
Reflections and Faith Narrative on the Life of Saint Barbara on the
Anniversary of Her Annual Feast
Elias Bejjani/December 04/2025 /(From the Archive of 2013)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/12/149880/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngwM5c_E7LU&t=310s
The Universal Church commemorates the memorial of Saint Barbara on December 4th
and seeks her intercession. However, historians differ in determining the time
of her birth and martyrdom. Some believe that she received the crown of
martyrdom in 235 AD during the seventh persecution instigated by Emperor
Maximinus Thrax against Christianity. What supports this opinion is that her
story mentions that she corresponded with the scholar Origen, who died in 255
AD.
Her Birth and Upbringing
Barbara was born in the early third century AD in the city of "Nicomedia." She
was the only daughter of her father, "Dioscorus," a fanatic pagan known among
his people for his excessive wealth, prestige, hard-heartedness, and hatred of
Christianity. His only daughter, Barbara, was gentle in manners, kind, and
humble, loving all people. Barbara's mother died when she was young, so her
father placed guards on her to keep her in the magnificent palace out of extreme
fear for her. He also brought in brilliant tutors to teach her all kinds of
linguistic, philosophical, and historical sciences, so that she would grow up
like other wealthy girls of her era. Her father also filled the corners of the
palace with idols of various deities that he worshipped so that his only
daughter would imitate him in prostration and worship.
Her Conversion to Christianity
Barbara received a high secular education, but she felt a great emptiness in her
mind and heart. Among her servants were some Christians, so she inquired of them
about their God who does not dwell in stones. They explained to her the
principles of the Christian religion and suggested that she correspond with the
great scholar Origen, the teacher of the School of Alexandria, who could
simplify the truths of the Christian faith for educated people like her. Barbara
wrote to Origen about the philosophical and religious thoughts running through
her mind. She asked him to condescend to be her teacher. He rejoiced at this and
answered her letter, clarifying the truths of the Christian faith. He sent her a
book by the hand of his disciple, "Valentianus," whom he instructed to explain
the teachings of the Lord Jesus to Barbara. When Barbara read his letter, she
was filled with the Holy Spirit. With exceptional courage, she brought
Valentianus into her palace to be one of her teachers. He instructed her in the
principles of the Christian faith and explained to her the doctrine of the
Divine Incarnation and the perpetual virginity of Mary, the Mother of God. After
deepening her understanding of Christianity, she requested the grace of baptism.
The priest Valentianus baptized her, and she consecrated herself to the Lord
Jesus. She was diligent in prayer and meditation on the life of the Redeemer day
and night, and her disdain for the idols with which her father filled the palace
increased.
Her Refusal to Marry a Pagan
One of the sons of the nobles in "Nicomedia," a pagan, asked for Barbara's hand
in marriage. Her father broached the subject with her, but she refused to marry
him, claiming her desire to remain by her father's side and the difficulty of
parting from him and moving away. Her father then decided to accustom her to
separation, so he traveled to another city for a few days.
Her Destruction of Idols and Sanctifying the Trinity
Barbara took advantage of her father's absence from the palace by increasing her
fasting, prayer, and meditation on the Holy Scriptures and the lives of the
saints. She also destroyed the many idols of her father scattered throughout the
palace. Her father had ordered a special bathhouse to be built for her in the
palace with two windows. She ordered the builders to open a third window so that
the number of windows through which light entered would correspond to the number
of the Holy Trinity.
The Appearance of the Lord Jesus to Her
The Lord Jesus appeared to her in the form of a very beautiful young child. She
was happy for a few moments, but then her joy turned into deep sorrow when the
form of the Divine Child changed, as His body was covered in blood. She
remembered the Redeemer and His enduring the suffering and crucifixion for the
redemption of humanity. Angels appeared to her, comforting and encouraging her.
Thus, Barbara lived heaven while still on earth, resembling the angels in purity
and innocence.
Her Father Learns of Her Conversion to Christianity
When her father, "Dioscorus," returned from his trip and found that she had
destroyed his idols, he raged like a wild beast and, in his fit of anger, nearly
killed her with beating and cutting. But she fled from his presence. After a few
days, he spoke to her again about marrying a pagan young man. She refused,
declaring that she had dedicated herself to the Lord Jesus. He lost control and
almost murdered her, considering her words an insult to him and his pagan
religion. He tried to explain to her that if she remained this way, she would
cause him to lose his prestigious position in the state. He threatened that if
she remained a Christian, he would wash away his shame by shedding her blood
with his own hands. Here, Barbara asked him to listen to her, just for once, and
she explained to him the futility of idol worship. At that, he was infuriated
and reported her to the city governor.
Her Public Confession of Christ
Based on her father's complaint, the governor summoned her to be tried publicly.
He tried to lure her with golden promises if she recanted her faith in Christ,
but he failed when she expressed her disdain for all the wealth and power in the
world, and her pride in Christ Jesus... The governor then ordered Barbara to be
chained, stripped of her clothes, and scourged with whips barbed like knives.
Her body was torn, yet she endured without complaint, but glorified Christ and
asked Him to grant her the strength to confess Him before the court. The next
day, the governor ordered her to be interrogated publicly. The attendees were
very surprised to see her body free of the marks of the scourges. The governor
tried to tempt her again, and since his promises and threats did not affect her,
he ordered her legs to be lacerated with iron combs. They also burned her with
lit torches, severely beat her head, cut off her breasts, and then salted her
wounded body... All this happened while she was praising God and proclaiming her
faith in Jesus.
Her Continued Struggle and Endurance of Torment
They returned Barbara to her dark prison, and the next day they led her before
the governor. Great was the astonishment of the people as they saw her in
perfect health. The governor attributed her healing to his gods. The latter said
to her: "See how the gods were able to protect you!" Barbara replied: "If your
idols had life, they could have protected themselves the day I destroyed them in
my father's palace. The living God is the one who bandaged my wounds." The
governor became furious and asked his soldiers to behead Barbara after dragging
her naked through the streets. God covered her with a heavenly light.
Her Martyrdom at the Hands of Her Father
Her father asked the governor to allow him to cut off her head with his own
hand, and he allowed him to do so. Her father led her outside the city, foaming
with rage. When they reached the top of the hill, Barbara knelt on the ground,
crossed her hands over her chest in the shape of a cross, and bowed her head.
Her father took the axe, swung it at her neck, and cut it off.
The Life of Saint Barbara of Baalbek and "Hashle Barbara"
In her book about Saint Barbara, entitled in French Barbara of Baalbek, the
writer and artist Lina Mor Nehmé asserts that Saint Barbara belongs to Phoenicia
(and specifically to Baalbek). In a special interview in Anwar newspaper, Nehmé
considered this book a "revolution" against the material celebrations that the
Feast of Saint Barbara is limited to today, as it is overshadowed by the feast
of demons and fairies known as Halloween, imported from the Celtic groups who
settled in Britain and Ireland, and brought with them by the Irish to the United
States, where it overshadowed All Saints' Day, which coincides with it, as it is
considered a pagan holiday. Although Lebanon is still less affected than other
countries, Nehmé says, it has begun to catch the contagion little by little, as
many practice the customs of the Western holiday just to have fun. It is
important to emphasize that the rituals of Halloween are an act of devil
worship, and it is important to spread the true story of the holiday among
people.
Despite the existence of many stories about Saint Barbara, with details varying
according to the region and the locals, Nehmé chooses the story of the people of
Baalbek and explains in the end that it is the most convincing among others. She
narrates the story in the voice of "Master Abdullah," a Phoenician engineer who
inherited his profession in building the Baalbek complex, which his ancestors
started, and who is responsible for one of the main working teams in 235 AD. The
author adds some details for dramatic necessity, as he fell in love with Barbara
and asked for her hand.
Abdullah and the Story
Abdullah opens the story by introducing himself and pointing out that the
Phoenicians built the Baalbek complex, not the Romans, as is commonly rumored.
The writer expands on this in a French book from 1997, entitled Baalbek, a
Phoenician Mark, in which she works to prove that the temples of Baalbek were
built by Phoenicians, and that these transferred their art to the Romans, who
gave their name to what (they could not carry back to their country) as was
customary at the time. Abdullah then introduces the Phoenician merchant "Dyxorus,"
one of the most important and powerful aristocrats in the region, who offered
him a job for his daughter Barbara. The engineer describes the man's cruelty and
his love for the Romans in a style similar to comic books, showing the
educational side of the writer, as it seems she is telling a story for children,
wrapped in simplicity and humor, and including the necessary basic meanings. In
the following four chapters, the narrator describes Barbara's struggle to
believe in gods who demand the sacrifice of the innocent, her search for answers
to her cosmic questions, and her finding them with the Egyptian theologian
Origen. He also describes her rebellion against her father's gods and against
him, and her defense of her faith in (the God of Christians), despite the
hardships that awaited her, which did not push her to change her mind, but led
her to death. But the story of Saint Barbara does not end here, but with what
she did after her death to the souls of the living, especially Abdullah, the
engineer who loved her before he knew her, and learned the love of Christ
through her, as many have done and continue to do to this day. Today is
connected to yesterday for Nehmé, who published the first part of a study on
Prophecies of the Bible on Contemporary Lebanon last July (2000), which sparked
controversy.
"Bsiyeh Barbara"
For her part, in an article by the writer Zina Khalil about Saint Barbara, "Bsiyeh
Barbara," she says: The Lord Jesus said, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the
earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." The
wheat, or the grain of wheat, is the symbol of this night, "St. Barbara's Eve,"
which is celebrated by the majority of Christians in Lebanon in memory of "Saint
Barbara," who was martyred on December 4, 303 AD, and whose body is currently in
a church in Old Cairo. Her father, Dioscorus, was fiercely attached to
paganism... Saint Barbara, however, received knowledge from the Christian
scholar Origen, and her heart became attached to the Lord Jesus. She dedicated
her life to Him and received baptism without informing her father, deciding to
live as a virgin devoted to worship. When her father realized the matter, he
flogged her until blood flowed from her, and tore her body with sharp awls while
she remained silent and praying... After this incident, "Barbara" fled to the
wheat fields and wore clothes to hide her features... Since then, the Christian
world has celebrated her feast. On the night of December 3rd every year, adults
and children leave their homes in costumes, each chosen according to their
taste. Over time, the costumes have evolved according to the trends of the era,
which have an impact on the clothes and masks used on this occasion... After
dressing up, they roam the houses of neighbors, relatives, and friends, greeting
them, dancing joyfully, and chanting the song, "Hashle Barbara with the girls of
the neighborhood, I recognized her by her eyes, by the touch of her hands, and
by this bracelet, Hashle Barbara"... We also don't forget the "Eid Sweets" from
every house they visit (candies, Qatayef with cream and almonds or walnuts)...
After the hospitality, they complete the song if the hostess was generous,
saying: "Argheeli fawq Argheeli, the house people are generous." But if she was
stingy, they leave the house with angry looks on their faces, saying: "Argheeli
fawq Argheeli, the house people are stingy."
We also remember some sayings that people repeat on this occasion:
Barbara, you have spoken (or glittered), before the Lord you have strutted. Your
father, the infidel, the worshiper of stones, brought the sword to kill you, the
sword became a fishhook. He brought the rope to hang you, the rope became a
belt. He brought the ember to burn you, the ember became incense.
Bsiyeh Barbara, and the wheat is in the cave, O my teacher, open the bag, may
God send you a groom, by the grace of the Virgin and Christ. And a tile above a
tile, the mistress of the house is a seamstress, a hook above a hook, the
mistress of the house is wealthy. Bsiyeh Barbara, two columns and a saw, if it
weren't for the Sheikh (master/lady), we wouldn't have come or entered this
neighborhood.
In the West, Christians turn to prayer and supplication to Saint Barbara to
protect them from misfortunes and dangers, especially during lightning strikes
and at the hour of death... This martyr is honored by those in dangerous trades
and industries, such as those who fire cannons, make gunpowder, work with
weapons, and smelt metals. Also, all those who risk their lives have taken the
saint as their special patroness, such as builders, firefighters, and others. It
is mentioned in the life of Saint Stanislaus, the Jesuit monk, that he sought
the intercession of Saint Barbara when he was approaching death and had no one
to feed him with the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. She answered his call and
appeared to him with two angels, and one of them administered the food of the
angels to him. He says: "I have a custom that, upon arriving at Father Joseph
Yammine's office, we open the 'Synaxarion' to discover which saint's feast we
are under. It happened once that there was confusion about the origin of a
saint, as the information about him conflicted, as is the case with Saint
Barbara, whom the Maronite Synaxarion says was born in Nicomedia, while Lebanese
traditions and Father Boutros Daou confirm that she is from the city of Baalbek,
as stated in his book History of the Maronites."
NOTE: The information in this study is cited from various documented
ecclesiastical, theological, research, and media references.
The upcoming "Mechanism" goes into more detail.
Negotiation Under Fire
A National Appeal
Neda Al-Watan/December 05/2025 (Translated from Arabic)
Proceeding from the premise that the negotiation track has become an urgent
national necessity, the mandate given to former Ambassador Simon Karam to head
the Lebanese delegation in the "Mechanism" committee meetings at this precise
time acquires exceptional importance, if not a major turning point, moving the
pending issues between Lebanon and Israel to a political negotiation platform
under US auspices.
Karam's mandate has injected seriousness into the process of addressing the
lingering points of contention. The next phase is no longer just about technical
military procedures, but a phase of political negotiation open to new
possibilities, especially since Karam possesses precise diplomatic experience
that allows the discussion to move to deeper and more effective levels. The
first "Mechanism" session attended by Karam, in which President Nawaf Salam set
the tone, was naturally not highly productive, but it paved the way for upcoming
sessions starting on the 19th of this month, as announced by President of the
Republic Joseph Aoun during the Cabinet session held at Baabda Palace.
Therefore, the only available choice for the Lebanese state is to pursue
negotiations to emerge from the dark tunnel that Lebanon has entered, which
President Aoun confirmed by saying: "We stress the necessity for the language of
negotiation to prevail instead of the language of war, and there will be no
compromise on Lebanon's sovereignty. When we reach an agreement, it will become
clear whether there was a compromise, and then we will bear the responsibility."
President Aoun clarified that the broad title of the directives he and President
Nawaf Salam gave to Ambassador Karam is security negotiation.
The Next "Mechanism" Meeting Will Be Different
In this context, a high-ranking political source revealed to Nidaa Al-Watan that
the tasks of the Lebanese delegation to the military-technical "Mechanism"
committee are confined to discussing security arrangements, including: cessation
of hostilities, exchange of prisoners, Israeli withdrawal, and rectifying
disputed points along the Blue Line. The source denied any intention to discuss
files related to economic cooperation with Israel. While the source confirmed
the intensification of the committee's meetings in the coming period, it
suggested that France might name a diplomatic figure to the "Mechanism" meetings
in the next phase. In response to a question about whether the name of the
French figure was former Ambassador Bernard Émié, the source simply said,
"Everything is possible." Nidaa Al-Watan's information indicates that the next
"Mechanism" meeting will be different from the first: a clear agenda in line
with the step of indirect negotiation, a shift to details, and a focus on the
security situation. Lebanon will raise the issue of halting the raids to
complete the army's deployment work in the South. In the same session, President
Salam touched upon the visit of a delegation of representatives from the member
states of the Security Council, with whom several files will be discussed,
including the options available to Lebanon after the end of UNIFIL's mission. He
clarified that these options might include the presence of international forces
to monitor the border, or a small international force similar to the one present
in the Golan. Information suggests that the appointment of a political figure to
the "Mechanism" committee will be one of the items present at the meeting of the
ambassadors of the Security Council member states with President Aoun, who will
respond to all inquiries. The issue of UNIFIL and the reduction of its numbers,
leading to how to fill the void after the end of its mission, will also be
discussed. Army Commander General Rudolph Hekal participated in part of the
session to present the stages that the Lebanese Army's plan to confine weapons
to the state has reached. In this context, Information Minister Paul Murkos, who
read the session's decisions, said: "The Army Commander is committed to the
deadlines set by the government and to the phases as well, but there are some
difficulties he pointed to that are still present, the first of which relates to
the Israeli aggressions and the continued occupation, and some objective needs
of the army to enable it to carry out these great tasks entrusted to it."
Clarity in Approach and Timing
After presenting the Lebanese Army's monthly report, the "Lebanese Forces"
ministers stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to the weapons file and
full commitment to the government's decision across all Lebanese territories.
The ministers emphasized that "it is impossible to continue without clarity in
the approach and timing." In this context, Nidaa Al-Watan learned that Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raje registered two observations: the
first was not against the name of former Ambassador Simon Karam but against the
manner in which a civilian negotiating delegate was appointed without the
knowledge of the concerned ministry. Raje also registered a second observation
on the statement in the Army's monthly presentation that if the Israeli
aggressions continue, the army will not be able to move to the second phase,
which Minister Raje considered a prelude to not completing the implementation of
the plan.
"The Party's" Confusion
In contrast, it was not surprising that Hezbollah's media launched a campaign
against the Presidency and President Nawaf Salam, reaching Speaker of Parliament
Nabih Berri himself, despite Berri's approval of Ambassador Karam's appointment.
"The Party," by its nature and strategic philosophy, rejects any form of
negotiation (except for the maritime border demarcation negotiation). However,
its objection this time is a "necessary formality" that will not affect the
state's direction as long as there is clear agreement among the three
presidencies to proceed with the negotiation option until its conclusion.
Lebanon's entry into this track is not a political luxury, but an existential
necessity to curb the military escalation that is now threatening most Lebanese
regions. Nidaa Al-Watan learned that there has been no direct contact between
Hezbollah and Baabda in the past hours after Ambassador Karam's appointment, and
that the party's anticipated stance will be officially announced by Sheikh Naim
Qassem in his speech today. Informed sources affirmed that "The Party's"
objection will remain within the framework of formalities and within the
acceptable ceiling, as it realizes the sensitivity and seriousness of the
situation, and thus will not reach the point of internal escalation that would
disrupt the atmosphere or affect the work of the Cabinet. Thus, while Hezbollah
maintained a "no-decision" option due to the state of confusion within its
leaderships and the division over adopting an explicit stance on how to approach
the "Mechanism" meetings, welcoming stances towards the negotiation option
followed. The US Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, praised both Lebanon and
Israel for taking the courageous decision to open a channel for dialogue at this
sensitive moment. He noted in a statement that this step indicates a sincere
desire to seek peaceful and responsible solutions based on good faith. He also
welcomed the Lebanese government's decision to adopt dialogue after decades of
uncertainty. "This represents a constructive step toward identifying pathways
that may one day allow both countries to coexist in peace, respect, and
dignity." While awaiting the arrival of the French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian next
Monday and what he will carry in his diplomatic pouch for the Lebanese
officials, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the talks between
Lebanese and Israeli civilian officials as important to avoid any new escalation
and to move forward in efforts to consolidate peace.
Escalation with a Double Message
In contrast to the negotiation track, an Israeli escalation placed the South (Jbaa,
Mahrouna, Majadel, Baraachit, and the outskirts of Yarine and Rmeish) under a
new barrage of raids, in a double message saying that Israel wants to imprint
the negotiation table with the character of the field and deliberately separates
the negotiation track from the issue of handing over Hezbollah's weapons, which
it considers a "need and necessity" that cannot be bypassed in any future
settlement. Therefore, it continues the raids to tell the Lebanese state that
the resumption of negotiations does not mean halting the targeting of "The
Party's" military structures inside the villages. This was pointed out yesterday
by Israeli Army Spokesman Avichay Adraee, who said that the Israeli Air Force
carried out raids on sites in southern Lebanon, alleging that they were
Hezbollah weapons depots. Adraee clarified that the depots are located inside
civilian residential areas, considering this an "example of the use of civilian
buildings for military purposes." He indicated that the army took steps to avoid
hitting civilians before carrying out the raids.
Iranian Message to Minister Raje
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi addressed a written message to Lebanese
Foreign Minister Youssef Raje, in which he emphasized the depth of the
historical and friendly relations between the two countries and affirmed Iran's
continued support for Lebanon's sovereignty, national unity, territorial
integrity, security, and stability, especially in the face of Israeli
aggressions. Araqchi invited Raje to visit Iran to discuss ways to develop
bilateral relations and review regional and international developments. He also
expressed his confidence that the Lebanese people and their government will be
able to successfully overcome the current challenges and threats.
Lebanon president says Israel talks to resume Dec. 19
AFP/December 04, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday said the next round of talks
with Israel will begin on December 19, calling the reaction to initial
negotiations this week “positive.”“It is natural that the first session would
not be highly productive, but it paved the way for upcoming sessions that will
begin on the 19th of this month,” he said, according to information minister
Paul Morcos at the end of a cabinet meeting. Aoun also said reactions to the
first round of talks on Wednesday were “positive” and said the direct talks
between Israeli and Lebanese civilian representatives, the first in decades,
were aimed at avoiding a “second war.”The Lebanese head of state stressed,
according to Morcos, “the need for the language of negotiation — not the
language of war — to prevail,” and that there would be no concession over
Lebanon’s sovereignty. “There is no other option but negotiation. This is the
reality, and this is what history has taught us about wars,” he said, according
to Morcos. On Friday Aoun will receive members of the UN Security Council and US
envoy Morgan Ortagus, when he said he would urge them to help talks with Israel
succeed. His comments came as Israeli raids hit southern Lebanon on Thursday,
with its military saying it was striking Hezbollah weapons storage facilities.
Despite a November 2024 ceasefire, Israel has kept up strikes on Lebanon.
Lebanon’s government has committed to disarming Hezbollah, but the Iran-backed
group has rejected the idea. Aoun said the UN delegation would head to southern
Lebanon to check “the situation on the ground and see the real picture of what
is happening there,” while the army continues its work to implement the plan to
dismantle Hezbollah’s weapo
Lebanon ‘far from’ diplomatic normalization or economic
relations with Israel, prime minister says
AP/December 04/2025
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s prime minister said Wednesday that his country was “far from”
diplomatic normalization or economic relations with Israel, despite a move
toward direct negotiations between the two countries aimed at defusing tensions.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s comments to a small group of journalists in Beirut
came in contradiction to a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu that Israel would send an envoy to talks with Lebanese diplomatic and
economic officials, which he described as an “initial attempt to create a basis
for relations and economic cooperation” between the two countries. Lebanon and
Israel both announced the appointment of civilian members to a previously
military-only committee monitoring enforcement of the US-brokered ceasefire that
halted the latest war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah a
year ago. The civilian members — Simon Karam, an attorney and former Lebanese
ambassador to the US, and Uri Resnick, the Israeli National Security Council’s
deputy director for foreign policy — took part in Wednesday’s meeting of the
mechanism. Along with Israel and Lebanon, the committee includes representatives
of the US, France and the UN peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL. Lebanon and
Israel don’t have diplomatic relations and have been officially in a state of
war since 1948. The move to hold civilian talks appeared to be a step toward the
direct bilateral talks between Israel and Lebanon that Washington has pushed
for. However, Salam said Lebanon is still committed to the 2002 Arab peace plan
that conditions normalization of diplomatic relations with Israel on the
creation of a Palestinian state — a prospect to which Netanyahu’s administration
has been adamantly opposed. “Economic relations would be part of such
normalization, so then obviously anyone following the news would know that we
are not there at all,” Salam said.
A debate over weapons
His comments also come amid fears of a new escalation by Israel against
Hezbollah in Lebanon. Since the November 2024 ceasefire, Israel has continued to
launch near-daily attacks in Lebanon that it says aim to stop the group from
rebuilding its capabilities after suffering heavy blows in the recent war.
Lebanon has been deeply divided over calls for Hezbollah to disarm. In August,
the Lebanese government announced a plan to consolidate all weapons in the hands
of the state by the end of the year, but it later backed off of the deadline.
Hezbollah officials have said the group will not consider disarmament until
Israel withdraws from all Lebanese territory and halts its attacks. Salam said
Lebanon is on track to implement the first phase of the disarmament plan — under
which the Lebanese army should have a monopoly on arms in the area south of the
Litani river, near the border with Israel — by the end of the year. The
exception is several border points that Israeli forces are still occupying, he
said. The remaining phases of the five-phase plan, which would cover the rest of
the country, currently “don’t have a time frame,” he said. The lack of a firm
timeline is unlikely to satisfy Israel, which has been threatening to escalate
its military actions in Lebanon if Hezbollah is not fully disarmed. Salam said
that Lebanon had appointed a civilian representative to the ceasefire committee
at the request of the US and Israel. “We are ready to negotiate with civilian
participation,” he said. “I hope that this will help defuse the tension.”
A ceasefire with vague enforcement
Salam also said Lebanon is ready to put in place a “verification mechanism” to
investigate alleged violations of the ceasefire. The November 2024 agreement
required Lebanon to stop armed groups from attacking Israel and Israel to halt
“offensive” military actions in Lebanon. It said Israel and Lebanon can act in
“self-defense,” without elaborating. Under the ceasefire agreement, both sides
can report violations to the monitoring committee, but the deal is vague on
enforcement. In practice, Israel has largely taken enforcement into its own
hands and has maintained that its ongoing strikes are in self-defense. Hezbollah
has claimed one attack since the ceasefire. Salam said that in many cases,
Israel strikes without reporting violations via the monitoring committee.
“Clearly, we cannot be responsible for information that wasn’t shared with us,”
he said. He added that Lebanon is willing to have US and French troops on the
ground to investigate and verify reported violations. Salam said that Israel
should fully implement its part of the ceasefire by withdrawing from several
points on the Lebanese side of the border that its forces are still occupying
and should release Lebanese citizens captured during and after the war who are
currently detained in Israel. While he insisted that Hezbollah is required to
disarm under the ceasefire and in accordance with the plan adopted by the
government, the Lebanese state’s options appear to be limited if the group
refuses to do so.
“We have lived civil war — civil wars — in Lebanon. I don’t think anyone is
tempted to repeat that,” Salam said. Meanwhile, the country is facing the end of
UNIFIL’s peacekeeping mandate in southern Lebanon, which expires in just over a
year, leaving greater uncertainty over the situation in the border area. Salam
said he would be discussing “what will come post-UNIFIL” with a delegation of
representatives of the UN Security Council that is set to visit Lebanon later
this week.
Israel renews south Lebanon attacks as Beirut’s military chief gives Hezbollah
arms
Najia Houssari/Arab News/December 04, 2025
BEIRUT: The Israeli army targeted several buildings on Thursday in towns across
southern Lebanon after issuing evacuation warnings, including maps, to
residents. The strikes came as the army commander briefed the president and
prime minister on the latest developments regarding placing weapons under state
control. The locations targeted were Mahrouna, a small agricultural village; Al-Majadel
in Tyre, south of the Litani River; Jbaa in Nabatieh, which lies north of the
Litani River and 64 km from Beirut; and Baraachit, a large mountainous town
located between Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil, roughly 80 km from Beirut.
At least one of Mahrouna’s residents received a call from someone claiming to
speak on behalf of the Israeli army, instructing him to evacuate immediately. In
the phone call recording, which was shared on social media, the Lebanese citizen
can be heard telling the Israeli that what they intended to target was “a clinic
for treating the poor.”Citing a security source, Israel’s Channel 12 said that
“the attacks targeted weapon depots belonging to Hezbollah.”
The expanded Israeli attack came 24 hours after the ceasefire mechanism
committee’s meeting in Naqoura, in which civilian Israeli and Lebanese
representatives engaged in direct talks for the first time in over four decades.
The attack also coincided with a meeting of the Lebanese Cabinet, headed by
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, which was attended by President Joseph Aoun. Gen.
Rodolphe Haykal, commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, presented a detailed
briefing at the meeting on the army’s third report, which outlined progress in
containing weapons south of the Litani River during the penultimate month of the
deadline. This timeline was set by the army for completing the confiscation of
Iran-backed Hezbollah’s weapons in the area, barring exceptional circumstances.
The report also noted that the mission was expected to continue north of the
Litani at the beginning of next year. According to an official source, the
army’s report, supported by pictures and field data, focused on “demonstrating
the progress made on the ground, both south of the Litani River and in
containing weapons north of it.” This came as a response to “the Israeli
allegations claiming that the army is failing to execute its mission of
disarming Hezbollah, or is allowing it to rebuild its military capabilities and
smuggle weapons into the region.”The report added that “the number of soldiers
south of the Litani (has) reached 10,000.” It also said that “the army is now
deployed in over 200 points south of the Litani River, in addition to
repositioning itself in 11 border areas,” while the Israeli army continued to
occupy five strategic positions, in addition to two isolation points, with four
new violations recorded in Yaroun and Rmaych.
It said: “Nine areas remain occupied among the positions where the Israeli army
was present before its latest ground maneuver.” The report explained that “over
11,000 joint missions were conducted with UNIFIL, in addition to 30,000
individual military missions amid Israeli violations along the border.”
It added: “The number of tunnels that the army entered and handled reached 177,
in addition to closing 11 crossings along the Litani River and seizing hundreds
of rocket launchers, dozens of rockets, and other weapons and ammunition.”It
also pointed out that “despite Israel’s repeated allegations regarding
Hezbollah, it didn’t find any tangible evidence proving that Hezbollah (had)
resumed its military activity south of the Litani, or is systematically
rebuilding its fighting capabilities.”The army commander highlighted that UNIFIL
(UN Interim Force in Lebanon) forces had begun reducing their personnel south of
the Litani River in preparation for a full withdrawal scheduled by the end of
2026. He said: “Equipment and naval vessels have been withdrawn, and 640 members
of the Blue Helmets have left Lebanon. The army is working on developing the
model regiment and other units that are supposed to replace UNIFIL in the 90
sites it occupies.”Regarding the mission to restrict weapons in the Palestinian
camps, the report pointed to “tightening measures on several sensitive camps
such as Rashidieh in the south and Baddawi in the north, with weapons to remain
confined inside them unless they are handed over.”It was confirmed that “the
army will not request an extension of the deadline set for completing its
mission south of the Litani River.”
Salam has been briefed by Simon Karam, the head of the Lebanese delegation to
the mechanism meetings and former ambassador of Lebanon to the US. According to
his media office, Salam affirmed that “Karam’s chairing of the Lebanese
delegation constitutes an important step in advancing the work of the
mechanism.”Israel and Lebanon engaged on Wednesday in their first direct
negotiations since 1983, following the peace talks that took place after
Israel’s invasion of Lebanon which resulted in an agreement that aimed to
normalize relations but was never ratified.
Civilian representatives from both countries met at the UN peacekeeping force’s
headquarters in Naqoura, near the Israeli border, in the presence of Morgan
Ortagus, the US’ special envoy for Lebanon. Michel Issa, the US ambassador to
Lebanon, commended both countries on Thursday for “taking the courageous
decision to open a channel of dialogue at this sensitive moment. This step
signals a sincere willingness to pursue peaceful, responsible solutions grounded
in good faith.”Issa stressed that “durable progress can only be achieved when
both sides feel their concerns are respected and their hopes recognized.
Compromise, understanding, and principled leadership remain essential.”He
welcomed what was described as the Lebanese government’s decision to “embrace
dialogue after decades of uncertainty. This represents a constructive move
toward identifying pathways that may one day allow both nations to coexist
peacefully, respectfully, and with dignity.”Issa reaffirmed Washington’s
commitment to supporting all peace, stability, and security initiatives. The US
said it was prepared to assist efforts that alleviated the profound physical and
moral suffering endured by communities, a “hardship no society should ever have
to face.”The US Embassy said that the 14th session in Naqoura — attended by
Karam and Uri Resnick, Israel’s National Security Council’s senior director —
demonstrated the group’s dedication to facilitating political and military
dialogue for lasting security and peace among conflict-affected communities. “It
is an important step toward ensuring that the work of the pentalateral is
anchored in lasting civilian, as well as military, dialogue,” it added. An
official source told Arab News that “the significance of what took place is that
everyone sat together and that the discussions were, for the first time,
conducted directly between the Israeli and Lebanese sides.”The move toward
diplomatic negotiations is considered a response to a US request made by Ortagus
during her visit to Beirut last March which noted that Lebanon,
constitutionally, remained in a state of war with Israel.
Sami Gemayel, the head of the Lebanese Kataeb Party, said that “the state, after
43 years, is once again taking the same course of negotiation, and Lebanon’s
demands require firmness on the part of the Lebanese state in the process of
asserting sovereignty. The Shiite community must speak its word on this matter,
so that Hezbollah does not speak in the name of the entire community or hold
everyone hostage.”
Israel Strikes South Lebanon Towns
Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
Israel's military said it struck targets in two southern Lebanese towns on
Thursday after ordering the evacuation of two buildings it alleged were being
used by Hezbollah. About an hour after the initial warning, the army's Arabic
spokesperson issued another notice instructing residents of buildings in two
other towns to leave. The strikes came a day after Israel and Lebanon sent
civilian envoys to a committee overseeing a fragile ceasefire agreed a year ago
that both sides have accused the other of breaking. The envoys would broaden the
scope of talks between the long-time adversaries, both sides said. Lebanese
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Wednesday Lebanon was open to the committee
taking on a direct verification role to check Israeli claims that Hezbollah is
re-arming, and verify the work of the Lebanese army in dismantling the group's
infrastructure.
All you need to know about Lebanon-Israel Naqoura talks
Naharnet/December 04/2025
Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives met for the first time in decades
on Wednesday under the auspices of a year-old ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
The two sides met at the U.N. peacekeeping force's headquarters in Lebanon's
Naqoura near the border with Israel, where the guarantors of the November 2024
ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah regularly convene. Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the atmosphere at the talks was "positive", and
that there had been agreement "to develop ideas to promote potential economic
cooperation between Israel and Lebanon". Israel also said it was "essential"
that Hezbollah disarm regardless of any progress in economic cooperation.
However, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon was "far from"
diplomatic normalization or "economic relations" with Israel and Berri's
visitors quoted Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri as saying that Karam's mission is
"technical" and that the talks are not economic and only revolve around the halt
of Israeli attacks and occupation, and the liberation of Lebanese prisoners from
Israeli jails. President Joseph Aoun had appointed former Lebanese ambassador to
the U.S. Simon Karam to lead the delegation to the Naqoura meeting. His office
said the choice was taken after consultations with Salam and Berri. Berri's
visitors told pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper that Berri is not against
including experts in the Lebanese delegation when there is need for them and
that including experts does not mean Lebanon is going to direct negotiations
with Israel or paving the way for future normalization or economic cooperation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said Wednesday that the inclusion
of Israeli National Security Council official Uri Resnick is "an initial attempt
to establish a basis for a relationship and economic cooperation between Israel
and Lebanon." He described the Naqoura talks as a "government-economic" meeting.
Al-Liwaa newspaper meanwhile reported that Hezbollah will leave the decision to
Berri, although the group is displeased with Karam's inclusion in the
delegation. The daily added that Iran has told Amal MP Ali Hassan Khalil that it
does not object to direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel and that the
decision is up to Amal and Hezbollah. Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel, who met
Thursday with Aoun, lauded for his part the negotiations and said he hopes they
would be fruitful and would lead to a halt to the Israeli attacks and
occupation. Gemayel also called for a complete disarmament of Hezbollah and for
a full state control on all territories.
Lebanese, Israeli negotiators discussed 'small joint
projects', long-term vision is 'Trump economic zone'
Naharnet/December 04/2025
The Trump administration has been tying to foster dialogue between Israel and
Lebanon for nine months, U.S. news portal Axios has reported, hours after
Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives held their first talks in decades
under the auspices of a year-old ceasefire monitoring mechanism. A U.S. official
told Axios the U.S. hoped Wednesday’s meeting would help de-escalate tensions
between the two sides and help to avoid a resumption of the war in Lebanon. The
meeting took place less than two weeks after the Israeli military assassinated
Hezbollah's top military commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai in an airstrike in
Beirut’s southern suburbs. The Israeli government has told the Trump
administration in recent months that the Lebanese government isn't doing enough
to implement its decision to disarm Hezbollah, Israeli and U.S. officials told
Axios. The Israelis have warned the White House that if Hezbollah continues to
rearm at the current rate it will be forced to resume the war to degrade the
group again. A U.S. official told Axios that the Trump administration believes
the assassination of Hezbollah's top military commander gave the Israeli
government more political maneuvering space and delayed a potential major
Israeli operation in Lebanon. “The Trump administration thinks that regardless
of the rhetoric from some Israeli politicians and generals, a resumption of the
war by Israel is not in the cards in the coming weeks,” the U.S. official said.
The Trump administration has been trying to launch direct talks between Israel
and Lebanon since March, but neither party has been enthusiastic. As tensions
continued to rise in recent weeks, the Trump administration pressed both sides
to send diplomats for direct talks with U.S. participation, a U.S. official
said. “The new U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, convinced the Lebanese
government to participate despite the ongoing Israeli strikes, while U.S.
diplomat Morgan Ortagus convinced the Israelis to take part despite their claims
about Beirut's insufficient response to Hezbollah,” Axios said. On Tuesday,
Ortagus met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged him to send a
diplomat to the meeting. Ortagus told Netanyahu that while the Lebanese
government can do more to stand up to Hezbollah, it's better for Israel than any
previous Lebanese government in decades, a U.S. official said. On Tuesday
evening, both Israel and Lebanon agreed to send diplomats. A source with
knowledge told Axios that Wednesday’s meeting was mostly focused on the parties
getting to know each other. The source said the most substantive issue in the
first meeting was economic cooperation between the two sides in southern
Lebanon, especially when it comes to the reconstruction of areas affected by the
war. “While at the moment the parties are discussing small joint projects, the
long-term U.S. vision is to establish a ‘Trump economic zone’ along the border
which will be free of Hezbollah and heavy weapons,” a U.S. official told Axios.
The source briefed on the meeting said the parties agreed to meet again before
the new year and come to the table with economic proposals that will help in
confidence-building. "All parties agree that the primary objective remains
disarming Hezbollah. The three militaries will continue to work on it through
the ceasefire mechanism," the U.S. official said.
Lebanese Army defends loyalty of its soldiers
Naharnet/December 04/2025
The Lebanese Army on Thursday refuted Iranian allegations about the affiliation
and loyalty of some of its soldiers. “The Army Command categorically denies
these reports and affirms that all its members adhere to a clear and unwavering
military doctrine and are completely loyal to the military institution and the
country,” it said in a statement. “It also calls for refraining from circulating
suspicious reports aimed at damaging the reputation of the army, especially
during this critical period our nation is experiencing,” the army added. A
website affiliated with Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had
recently quoted an Iranian university professor as saying that “30% of the
Lebanese Army members are Hezbollah members.” “They wear the army uniform in the
morning and they join Hezbollah in the evening,” the professor claimed.
US says inclusion of civilians in Mechanism can lead to 'durable peace'
Naharnet/December 04/2025
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut said the inclusion of Lebanese and Israeli civilian
officials in the U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring committee, known as the
Mechanism, can lead to “durable peace.”“Senior officials convened for the 14th
iteration of the Pentalateral on December 3 in Naqoura to assess ongoing efforts
to reach an enduring cessation of hostilities arrangement in Lebanon,” the
Embassy said. “To support a durable peace and shared prosperity of both sides,
former Ambassador Simon Karam of Lebanon and National Security Council Senior
Director for Foreign Policy Dr. Uri Resnick of Israel joined (U.S.) Counselor
Morgan Ortagus at today’s meeting as civilian participants. Their inclusion
reflects the Mechanism’s commitment to facilitating political and military
discussions with the aim of achieving security, stability, and a durable peace
for all communities affected by the conflict,” the Embassy added. It said all
parties welcomed the additional participation as “an important step toward
ensuring that the work of the Pentalateral is anchored in lasting civilian, as
well as, military dialogue.” “The Committee looks forward to working closely
with Ambassador Karam and Dr. Resnick in future sessions, and to integrating
their recommendations as the Mechanism continues to promote lasting peace along
the border,” the Embassy added.
Issa lauds Lebanon's 'unity' and 'progress toward peaceful
regional engagement'
Naharnet/December 04/2025
With “heartfelt respect,” U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa on Thursday
extended his appreciation to “the Government and people of Lebanon for the
gracious welcome offered to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV during his recent visit.”
“The professionalism and unity demonstrated in preparing and hosting this
historic occasion reflect Lebanon’s enduring spirit and its ability to rise
above challenges when purpose calls,” Issa said in a statement. He also
commended both Lebanon and Israel for “taking the courageous decision to open a
channel of dialogue at this sensitive moment.”“This step signals a sincere
willingness to pursue peaceful, responsible solutions grounded in good faith.
Durable progress can only be achieved when both sides feel their concerns are
respected and their hopes recognized. Compromise, understanding, and principled
leadership remain essential,” Issa added. “I further welcome the Lebanese
Government’s decision to embrace dialogue after decades of uncertainty. This
represents a constructive move toward identifying pathways that may one day
allow both nations to coexist peacefully, respectfully, and with dignity,” the
ambassador went on to say. He added: “As the United States’ Ambassador to
Lebanon, I reaffirm our commitment to supporting all efforts that advance peace,
stability, and security. The United States stands ready to engage and assist in
initiatives that ease the burdens carried by populations who have endured deep
physical and moral hardship — hardship no society should ever have to
face.”Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives held their first talks in
decades on Wednesday under the auspices of a year-old ceasefire monitoring
mechanism, though Lebanon's premier cautioned the new diplomatic contact did not
amount to broader peace discussions. Lebanon and Israel have technically been at
war since 1948, but Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the new discussions were
strictly limited to fully implementing last year's truce. Israel has kept up
regular air strikes in Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah members
and facilities, and it has kept troops in five areas in the south despite the
ceasefire's stipulation that it pull out entirely. Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the atmosphere at the talks was "positive", and
that there had been agreement "to develop ideas to promote potential economic
cooperation between Israel and Lebanon." Israel also made it clear it was
"essential" that Hezbollah disarm regardless of any progress in economic
cooperation, Netanyahu's office added.
UN Security Council begins Syria-Lebanon mission, says
Damascus talks focus on rebuilding trust
Ephrem Kossaify/Arab News/December 04, 2025
NEW YORK CITY: Samuel Zbogar, Slovenia’s permanent representative to the UN
Security Council and its president for December, said a visit by a council
delegation to Syria on Thursday, part of a broader regional mission that will
also include time in Lebanon, is designed to rebuild confidence between Syrians
and the international community. Speaking from Damascus on behalf of the
delegation, he stressed that the future of the country must be “Syria-led and
Syria-owned.”He continued: “The word of today was the word ‘trust.’ We heard a
lot about trust, and we came here to build trust: to build our trust in your
efforts for a better future, and to build your trust in the intentions of the
Security Council and the intentions of the United Nations.”Zbogar said the
delegation took part in a wide range of meetings throughout the day, beginning
with a session with President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, his foreign minister and other
government ministers. The delegates then met the UN’s country team in Syria,
which Zbogar described as “quite a large, impressive team here in Damascus,”
before moving on to talks with religious leaders, civil society figures,
representatives of communities affected by recent violence in coastal regions
and Sweida, and governors from coastal provinces. They also met representatives
of Syria’s National Commission for Missing Persons, other investigative
commissions, and the country’s electoral committee. Zbogar described the day’s
discussions as both enlightening and sobering. “As much as painful to listen to,
(they were) at the same time presenting the reality of the situation in Syria,”
he said.. Specific topics raised included justice and reconciliation,
inclusivity within the political process, national dialogue, humanitarian needs,
reconstruction and economic development, the political transition,
counterterrorism, and Syria’s obligation not to be a source of threat to
regional security. The Security Council and President Al-Sharaa agreed on “the
importance of economic development and reconstruction of Syria,” Zbogar said.
The primary purpose of the delegation’s mission during its visit was to
demonstrate the international community’s backing for the country, he added. “We
reiterated our clear support for the sovereignty, unity, independence and
territorial integrity of Syria.”The unified message from Council members, Zbogar
continued, was straightforward: “We recognize your country’s aspirations and
challenges, and the path to a better future of new Syria will be Syria-led and
Syria-owned, and the international community stands ready to support you
wherever you believe that we can be helpful.”He highlighted the strong presence
of the UN in Syria and the ability of the organization to assist through the
various tools and expertise it possesses. “We want to help build a bridge to
this better future for all Syrians,” Zbogar said, and both the UN and the
Security Council “stand ready to help you do that.” The Council delegation will
continue its regional mission with a visit to Lebanon in the coming days.
Karam Steers South Lebanon into New Phase as Mechanism
Chief
Beirut: Mohamed Choucair/Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
South Lebanon is bracing for a new political stage after President Joseph Aoun
appointed former ambassador to the United States, attorney Simon Karam, to head
Lebanon’s delegation to the committee overseeing the implementation of the
cessation of hostilities, known as the Mechanism. Karam joined the committee’s
meeting in Naqoura on Wednesday alongside United States envoy Morgan Ortagus.
Ortagus will represent Washington in meetings held by the United Nations mission
at the ambassadorial level for Security Council members in Beirut on Friday. She
is scheduled to meet the three leaders, President Joseph Aoun, Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, as well as Army Commander
General Rodolphe Haykal, before travelling south the next day to meet the
Mechanism and UNIFIL command. Karam’s appointment followed a United States
request to add a civilian to the Lebanese team amid escalating Israeli threats
to expand the war at the end of this year in an attempt to enforce exclusive
weapons control from north of the Litani to Lebanon’s border with Syria. The
expectation, according to Lebanese US contacts, is that such threats would
recede under Washington’s guarantee, diffusing Israeli pressure in tandem with
Karam’s designation.
Coordinated Step
Ministerial sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Aoun’s decision to appoint Karam
was coordinated with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri with
authorization from the latter’s ally, Hezbollah. They said Aoun withheld the
announcement until he secured American guarantees preventing Israel from
widening the war. The sources added that Aoun informed Ortagus of Karam’s
appointment before her trip to Tel Aviv to meet Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. They said Aoun also contacted
Washington directly to ensure its readiness to provide guarantees curbing
Israeli actions and preventing any expansion of hostilities while keeping the
current rules of engagement intact. The sources said the significance of Karam’s
appointment lies in the political cover Aoun secured for the mission, blocking
populist criticism, particularly from Hezbollah. This, they noted, was achieved
through Aoun’s communication with the party in parallel with Berri’s efforts to
rule out any imminent expansion of the war before the announcement. They pointed
as well to the historic visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon, describing it as
having softened positions, with the mass public receptions during the visit
serving as a popular mandate by tens of thousands of Lebanese calling for peace
and stability.
Opening to Restart Negotiations
According to the sources, Lebanon’s international and Arab partners were
informed of Karam’s appointment in line with Beirut’s intention to engineer a
breakthrough that could revive negotiations and push Israel, through United
States mediation and Mechanism oversight, to halt hostilities. Discussions are
meant to proceed under the framework of paving the way for the implementation of
Resolution 1701, contingent on the state’s full authority over its territory.
They added that Karam’s appointment effectively signaled to the incoming United
Nations mission that Lebanon was responding to international demands for
peaceful negotiations with Israel, consistent with exclusive weapons control.
United Nations Mission Arrives Saturday
The sources said the United Nations mission will arrive in Beirut on Thursday
evening, coming from Damascus after meeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and
inspecting conditions in Syria. They will travel to the south on Saturday to
meet the Mechanism and UNIFIL command to review the army’s deployment in the
liberated zone south of the Litani and the removal of Hezbollah’s military
installations and infrastructure, and to discuss the post–UNIFIL mandate period
after its scheduled end next year, including support for the army in
implementing Resolution 1701. They added that UNIFIL’s leadership would continue
its mission through 2026 in line with Resolution 1701 despite funding shortages,
but did not rule out a possible extension if United States-mediated
Lebanese-Israeli negotiations make progress. UNIFIL has already begun reducing
its personnel and equipment and is preparing a new withdrawal phase.
Exclusive Weapons Control
The sources said that reactivating Mechanism meetings, if Israel responds to
United States pressure to halt any expansion of the war, should help lower
public fears in Lebanon despite continuing threats. At the same time, Lebanon
will be compelled to launch internal negotiations with Hezbollah, with Berri
playing a constructive role, to draw up a timeline for completing exclusive
weapons control from north of the Litani to the international border. The first
phase, ending this year, is considered on track according to Mechanism and
UNIFIL assessments of the army’s deployment in the liberated area.
They said Lebanon has no objection to verifying Israeli claims that Hezbollah
stores weapons in homes south of the Litani. The problem, they argued, is that
Israel has been bombing such homes instead of filing complaints to the
Mechanism, which would refer them to the army and UNIFIL for verification under
legal procedures. Several Israeli strikes flattened homes south and north of the
Litani that, according to the army, contained no Hezbollah weapons, prompting
the army to submit detailed reports to the Mechanism.
Army Requirements and Filling UNIFIL’s Gap
A Western diplomatic source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the United Nations
mission’s visit to the south is not limited to reviewing the situation on the
ground or the army’s deployment amid Israel’s continued occupation of several
frontline hills and its construction of two concrete walls that annexed about
4,500 square meters of Lebanese land.The visit, the source said, is also meant
to assess the army’s needs to fill the gap once UNIFIL withdraws. The source
asked whether an extension of UNIFIL’s mandate is possible in light of the
mission’s ground assessment and the Security Council’s ability to reconsider
ending its mission without full implementation of Resolution 1701, provided the
United States refrains from vetoing such an extension. UNIFIL remains, the
source said, the only international witness for southerners on the resolution’s
implementation unless the Mechanism’s mandate is expanded to allow Washington to
directly oversee Lebanese Israeli negotiations should the resolution remain
unimplemented.
Grace Period
The sources cautioned against prematurely drawing conclusions ahead of UNIFIL’s
mandate expiry while Hezbollah appears to be buying time. They said Karam’s
appointment effectively extended Lebanon’s grace period, giving the government
an opportunity to finalize the exclusive weapons framework and produce a
timeline that would push Hezbollah to “Lebanonize” its stance and weapons in
line with Lebanese rather than Iranian timing, as critics argue. Failure to do
so, they warned, could revive Israeli threats with American backing. Lebanon,
they said, cannot afford to waste the opportunity granted to it, which should
instead be used to secure the south and oblige Hezbollah to accept a phased
handover of its weapons to the state.
Lebanon Appoints Civilian for Israel Talks to Avert
Escalation
Beirut: Nazir Reda/Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
Lebanon on Wednesday made its most significant shift in the way it negotiates
with Israel by assigning a civilian to lead indirect talks for the first time
since 1983. The move is aimed at easing United States pressure and heading off
Israeli threats of a wider war. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
quickly reframed the step as an early attempt to build the basis for economic
cooperation between the two countries, which remain technically at war.
Lebanon's presidency announced that former ambassador Simon Karam would head the
Lebanese team in the committee known as the Mechanism, a forum that until
Tuesday had been strictly military. Karam’s designation is seen as a bold shift
in a negotiating track that has remained exclusively military for the last four
decades. Civilians have only joined in technical roles, including experts who
accompanied the military led team that negotiated the 2022 maritime border deal
with Israel. The last time a civilian headed the Lebanese side was during the
May 17, 1983 talks that produced a security agreement with Israel which
collapsed less than a year after it was signed.
Domestic Consensus and Foreign Alignment
The presidency framed the decision as a response to the appreciated efforts of
the United States government, which chairs the military technical committee for
Lebanon. It said the appointment followed the American side’s confirmation that
Israel had agreed to include a civilian in its delegation, and was coordinated
with Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The move did not come
as a surprise. The decision was taken weeks ago, and the president informed the
speaker and the prime minister. According to a Lebanese source following the
process, the three leaders agreed to add a civilian expert or technician. But
the naming of Karam was announced from the presidential palace, which holds the
authority to define the technical specialty, meaning President Jospeh Aoun
handled the choice, expertise and biography of the nominee. The source said the
delegation had been military based to match the committee chaired by an American
general. But the addition of a civilian, in the form of United States envoy
Morgan Ortagus, required expanding both the Israeli and Lebanese teams to
reflect the mixed military and civilian representation.
Under the Armistice Framework
The expansion is not viewed as a step toward normalization, the source said,
stressing that the indirect talks fall under the November 2024 cessation of
hostilities agreement. Lebanon made its decision and has proceeded through the
Mechanism since then.
The source added that the enlargement stems from that agreement, and remains
within its parameters, noting that Lebanon’s negotiating ceiling will not exceed
the 1949 armistice agreement with Israel.
Netanyahu Leaps to Economic Cooperation
The decision also served as a response to what Lebanese officials see as
Netanyahu’s haste to frame the track as economic negotiations. The Israeli prime
minister’s office said he had instructed an acting national security council
chief to send a representative to Lebanon for talks with government and economic
officials as an initial attempt to lay the basis for a relationship between the
two countries, which remain officially at war. A Lebanese source denounced the
Israeli statement, saying the problem with Netanyahu is that whenever Lebanon
takes a step or offers something, he demands more, to the point of wanting
Lebanon to surrender itself. The source insisted the Mechanism talks are not
economic. Lebanon also fears Israel may seek to undermine the 2022 maritime
boundary deal and challenge Lebanon’s offshore resources by reopening them to
negotiation after Israeli officials recently warned they could revisit the
agreement.
Staving Off War
Lebanon’s move was driven by political and international considerations. Sources
familiar with Karam’s appointment said President Aoun acted to avert a fresh
Israeli escalation and to block a renewed war, while also advancing the message
he delivered in his Independence Day speech.
The sources said the coordinated step with Berri and Salam prevented a widening
of the conflict, embarrassed Israel internationally by demonstrating Lebanese
openness to international demands, and met the United States request to add a
civilian to the committee. The American sponsorship of the move, they added,
helps deter Israeli escalation. They said the delegation is a negotiating tool
but the final decision rests with the cabinet. The aim of the talks is to halt
Israel’s ongoing war and implement the principle of exclusive state control of
weapons. The sources rejected the idea that the path could expand toward
normalization. They said Hezbollah now accepts that the only way forward is a
settlement based on keeping the area south of the Litani River free of its
weapons and removing the pretexts Netanyahu uses to inflame tensions.
Mechanism Meeting
The Mechanism committee held its fourteenth meeting after the addition of
civilian participants. The United States embassy in Beirut said the session in
Naqoura assessed ongoing efforts to reach a lasting arrangement for a cessation
of hostilities in Lebanon.
The embassy said former Lebanese ambassador Simon Karam and senior Israeli
National Security Council Foreign Policy Official Dr. Uri Resnick joined United
States adviser Morgan Ortagus as civilian participants. Their inclusion, it
said, reflects the Mechanism’s commitment to facilitating political and military
discussions aimed at lasting security, stability and peace for all communities
affected by the conflict. All parties welcomed the expanded participation as an
important step toward ensuring the Mechanism’s work is grounded in sustained
civilian dialogue alongside military dialogue. The committee looks forward to
working closely with Karam and Resnick in upcoming sessions and to incorporating
their recommendations as it continues to strengthen lasting peace along the
border.
Learning the lessons of 2025’s extreme climate events
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/December 04, 2025
One important issue that the year 2025 has highlighted for the world is the
immediacy and intensity of the climate crisis. Across continents, many
communities and ecosystems have confronted a series of extreme weather events
this year. These events have demonstrated our vulnerabilities in terms of
infrastructure, governance and preparedness. The unprecedented heat waves and
catastrophic floods, droughts and storms have illustrated the consequences of
global warming, which are not only accelerating but have also become
increasingly unpredictable. As a result, we must learn to adequately address the
human, environmental and economic costs. This requires both scientific
assessments and practical methods.One of the most pervasive climate issues of
2025 was the record-setting heat waves. These were distinguished not only by
their intensity but also by their scope, as they affected millions of people in
regions previously considered less vulnerable to extreme temperatures.For
example, India and Pakistan experienced an early and severe heat wave, with
temperatures exceeding 48 degrees Celsius in multiple urban centers. The
consequences included: local infrastructure being overwhelmed, power grids
strained, water supplies disrupted and health emergencies, resulting in hundreds
of heat-related deaths.
Climate change is reshaping human societies and natural ecosystems in
significant and profound ways.
In addition to South Asia, Europe and parts of North America also recorded
unprecedented early-season heat. This highlights the fact that extreme heat
waves are not restricted to certain regions and points to the shifting patterns
of extreme temperatures. These heat waves also point to the fact that rising
global temperatures are altering the fundamental dynamics of weather. What are
the implications? Heat waves are no longer limited and isolated anomalies but a
persistent and escalating threat to human health, as well as agriculture and
energy systems.
Another alarming issue in 2025 was the devastating floods and water-related
crises that affected multiple continents. For instance, in Southern Africa in
June, torrential rain led to rivers overflowing their banks, resulting in
large-scale displacement, the destruction of infrastructure and significant loss
of life. Many communities, whether in cities or rural areas, found themselves
ill-prepared for the scale and intensity of the flooding, which reached depths
of three to four meters in the hardest-hit areas. Parts of the US also faced
flash floods of extraordinary magnitude, submerging roads, damaging homes and
disrupting essential services. Meanwhile, drought conditions intensified in
countries such as Turkiye, where rainfall deficits increased. As a result,
reservoirs fell to critically low levels, threatening water supplies and
agricultural productivity.
Such events demonstrate the dual nature of water-related climate risks, with
floods and droughts being interconnected phenomena. Both are amplified by
human-induced climate change and both require proactive measures and management.
This year was also marked by extraordinary storms. For example, hurricanes and
cyclones reached unprecedented intensities, causing widespread destruction in
the Caribbean, the Americas and Southeast Asia. While they took an immediate
human and economic toll, these storms also inflicted long-term damage on
ecosystems and displaced populations. Looking ahead, it is important that
global, regional and local actors work together and take decisive action.
In addition to heat waves, floods and storms, 2025 also witnessed a significant
rise in wildfires across multiple continents, particularly Europe, which
experienced some of its most severe fire seasons on record. Southern European
countries, including Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, were particularly
affected.
There are several key lessons to learn from the climate events of 2025. Firstly,
climate change is already reshaping human societies and natural ecosystems in
significant and profound ways. This year’s widespread and severe heat waves,
floods and storms illustrate that the planet has entered a new climate phase. In
this phase, extreme events appear to be more frequent, more intense and more
expansive than previously documented. Secondly, the damage seems to be unevenly
distributed. Marginalized communities and those in low-income countries are
bearing the heaviest burden of climate disasters. They are suffering
disproportionate human and economic consequences, mostly due to inadequate
infrastructure and limited resources.
The third lesson is that adaptation is both urgent and critical. The damage
caused in 2025 shows us that societies cannot rely solely on emissions
reductions; we need more investment in resilient infrastructure and sustainable
land and water management, while we must also have better and more efficient
community preparedness. Finally, we need global cooperation as climate-related
disasters do not respect borders. As a result, international coordination,
resource sharing and support for vulnerable nations are essential. Looking ahead
to 2026, it is important that global, regional and local actors work together
and take decisive action. This should include investment in climate adaptation
projects, particularly for the countries and regions most vulnerable to extreme
events. At the same time, efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must
continue. Advancements in addressing climate change through data analytics
should be integrated into public policy as well. And we should strengthen the
mechanisms of international climate governance in order to ensure accountability
and transparency.
In a nutshell, the extreme climate events of 2025 point to the critical
challenges facing the international community. The intensity, scale and
distribution of these events highlight the importance of a multifaceted,
comprehensive, coordinated and urgent response to climate change in order to
protect human life and secure ecosystems.
**Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political
scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh
The Latest English
LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on
December 04-05/2025
Iraq to Correct Asset-freeze List that Included Hezbollah and Houthis, Citing
Publication Error
Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
Iraq will correct a list of groups whose funding it has frozen, the state news
agency reported on Thursday, after Iran-backed Hezbollah and the Houthis were
included in an earlier government publication. The Justice Ministry's official
gazette last month published a list of groups and entities whose funds would be
blocked, naming both Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthis, a move that would
likely have been welcomed in Washington and increased pressure on Tehran. Iraq's
Terrorists' Funds Freezing Committee said the November 17 publication had been
intended to apply only to individuals and entities linked to the ISIS group and
al Qaeda, in response to a request from Malaysia and in line with UN Security
Council Resolution 1373. The Committee said that several unrelated groups were
mistakenly included because the list was released before final revisions were
completed. Those names would be removed in a corrected version to be reissued in
the official gazette, it added. Hezbollah and the Houthis did not immediately
respond to requests for comment. The United States has long sought to reduce
Iran's influence in Iraq and other countries in the Middle East where Tehran has
allies as part of its so-called Axis of Resistance, which has taken a battering
by Israel since the war in Gaza erupted in 2023.
Israel Identifies Body of Returned Hostage, Remains of
Israeli Officer Still in Gaza
Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
Israel has identified the remains of the hostage it received from Hamas on
Wednesday as Thai agricultural worker Sudthisak Rinthalak, the prime minister's
office said on Thursday. The body of Israeli police officer Ran Gvili, the last
of the living and deceased hostages to be returned, is still in Gaza. The
handover of the last hostages' bodies in Gaza would complete a key condition of
the initial part of US President Donald Trump's plan to end the two year Gaza
war. Rinthalak's body was transferred from Gaza by the Red Cross, and was handed
over to the Israeli military to be sent for forensic identification, a statement
from the prime minister's office said. Rinthalak, 42, was killed at Kibbutz
Be’eri during Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas agreed
to hand over all living and deceased hostages held in Gaza under a ceasefire
agreed in October. Since the fragile truce started, the Palestinian group has
returned all 20 living hostages and 27 bodies in exchange for around 2,000
Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners.
UN Chief Guterres Says Israel's Conduct of War in Gaza
'Fundamentally Wrong'
Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
There was something "fundamentally wrong" with how Israel conducted its military
operation in the Gaza Strip and there are "strong reasons to believe" that war
crimes have been committed, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
told Reuters on Wednesday. "I think there was something fundamentally wrong in
the way this operation was conducted with total neglect in relation to the
deaths of civilians and to the destruction of Gaza," Guterres said in an
interview at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York. "The objective was to
destroy Hamas. Gaza is destroyed, but Hamas is not yet destroyed. So there is
something fundamentally wrong with the way this is conducted," he told Reuters
Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni.
WAR CRIMES
More than 70,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the enclave's
health ministry, during the two-year-old conflict between Israel and Palestinian
Hamas. The war was triggered by an October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel that
killed 1,200 people in which 251 hostages were taken. When asked if war crimes
had been committed, Guterres said: "There are strong reasons to believe that
that possibility might be a reality."In response, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny
Danon told Reuters: "The only crime committed is the moral abomination that more
than two years after the horrific massacres of October 7, the UN Secretary
General has still not visited Israel — and has instead used his elevated
platform to lambast and condemn Israel and Israelis at every
opportunity.”However, in October last year, then-Israeli Foreign Minister Israel
Katz - now the defense minister - said he had barred Guterres from entering the
country. A fragile truce has been in place since October 10, but Israel has
continued to strike Gaza and conduct demolitions against what it says is Hamas
infrastructure. Hamas and Israel have traded blame for violating the US-backed
agreement. Guterres praised the United States - an ally of Israel - for being
instrumental in improving aid access in Gaza, where a global hunger monitor said
in August that famine had taken hold. "There is an excellent cooperation in the
humanitarian aid between the UN and the US, and I hope that this will be
maintained and developed," he said. The UN has long complained of obstacles to
delivering and distributing aid in Gaza, blaming impediments on Israel and
lawlessness. Israel has criticized the UN-led operation and accused Hamas of
stealing aid, which the militants denied.
Israel says it killed around 40 Hamas militants trapped in Gaza tunnels
Reuters/December 04/2025
The Israeli military said on Thursday that its forces have killed around 40
Hamas militants who had been trapped in tunnels below Rafah in southern Gaza, in
an area now under Israeli control. Around 200 militants had been trapped in the
tunnels for months, according to Israeli and US officials, although some have
since emerged and been killed in clashes with Israeli forces or have
surrendered, Israeli media has reported. Washington and other mediators had been
seeking to reach a deal for the Hamas fighters to lay down their arms in
exchange for passage to other parts of the enclave, but those talks have
faltered. US special envoy Steve Witkoff had said the deal would be a test for a
broader process to disarm Hamas across Gaza. The killed militants included at
least three local commanders, the Israeli military said on Thursday, as well as
the son of one of Hamas’ exiled leaders, Ghazi Hamad. Some Hamas sources
confirmed the death of at least one commander, Mohammad al-Bawab, though the
group has not officially confirmed the report. Hamas has not officially
confirmed the number of those trapped or how many may remain. A spokesperson for
the group in Gaza declined to comment on Israel’s alleged killing of the 40
gunmen.
New Hamas Security Measures amid Fears of Overseas Assassinations
Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
Hamas is increasingly bracing for what it sees as a looming Israeli
assassination attempt against senior figures operating outside Palestinian
territory. Senior officials in the movement told Asharq Al-Awsat that concern
has been mounting over a potential strike targeting Hamas’s top echelon,
particularly after the killing of senior Lebanese Hezbollah official Haitham
Tabtabai. The sources said that despite “reassurance messages” conveyed by the
United States to several parties, including mediators in Türkiye, Qatar and
Egypt, that last September’s Doha operation will not be repeated, the movement’s
leadership “does not trust Israel”. One source linked “expectations of a new
assassination attempt with the Israeli government’s efforts to obstruct the
second phase of the ceasefire agreement and its claim that the movement has no
intention of advancing toward a deal”.According to the sources, Hamas’s
leadership has tightened security measures since the attempted assassination in
Doha, convinced that “Israel will continue tracking the leadership and locating
them through different methods, foremost of which are advanced technologies”.
A “non-Arab state”
A Hamas source said “there are assessments that the movement’s leaders may be
targeted in a non-Arab state”, declining to identify it. Since the start of the
war on Gaza in October 2023, Israel has threatened and carried out overseas
assassinations against Hamas leaders. It first killed Saleh al-Arouri, the
movement’s deputy leader, in Beirut in January 2024, then killed the head of its
political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran in July 2024. Israel then attempted
to eliminate the movement’s leadership council in the Doha operation. Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later apologized to Qatar after pressure from
US President Donald Trump. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
subsequently met Khalil al-Hayya, head of the Hamas delegation for ceasefire
talks, who had been a primary target in the Doha operation.
“New security instructions”
Asharq Al-Awsat reviewed an internal directive distributed to Hamas leaders
abroad regarding personal security and precautionary measures to prevent
possible assassinations or at least reduce their impact. The new instructions,
which appear to have been drafted by security experts, say all fixed meetings in
a single location must be canceled, and that leaders should resort to irregular
meetings in rotating locations. The instructions also require leaders to “keep
mobile phones completely away from meeting sites by no less than 70 meters, and
to ban the entry of any medical or electronic devices including watches into
meeting venues. There must be no air conditioners, internet routers, television
screens or even home intercom systems.”The guidelines stress the need to
“constantly inspect meeting venues in case miniature cameras have been planted
anywhere through human agents, particularly since Israeli security services
resort to installing cameras and spying devices during maintenance work inside
buildings that they identify as future targets”. The document warns leaders that
“Israel relies on a chain of elements to monitor and track its targets,
including human factors such as cleaning staff or others, or even individuals in
the first circle around the wanted person, as well as mobile phones and other
tools that can be used for surveillance such as screens, air conditioners and
more”. It adds that “switching off phones alone does not prevent tracking,
especially since there is the ability to hack any device operating through
Wi-Fi. Smart watches and similar devices can be used to determine the number of
people in any room. Several types of missiles can also penetrate any wall or
building and reach their target in a very short period”.
Gaza commander survives
Meanwhile, Israel on Wednesday attempted to assassinate a commander in the Rafah
Brigade of the Qassam Brigades, the Hamas military wing, after bombing a tent
sheltering his family in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The
strike came hours after four Israeli soldiers were wounded in a firefight with
Qassam gunmen in Rafah as the troops emerged from tunnels. Sources told Asharq
Al-Awsat that the targeted figure survived. He is the intelligence chief of the
Rafah Brigade. Israel had previously said it succeeded in dismantling the Rafah
Brigade completely and eliminating it, but successive operations carried out by
armed cells from the brigade inside the city, which is under Israeli control,
have fueled significant doubt about Israel’s narrative.
Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Tribal Clashes Behind Killing
of Yasser Abu Shabab
Gaza: Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
Sources in Gaza said the killing of Yasser Abu Shabab, the leader of an armed
militia opposed to Hamas, unfolded against the backdrop of a tribal
confrontation, with two members of his own Tarabin clan implicated in the
attack. The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the two assailants, from the
Debari and Abu Suneima families, both part of the wider Bedouin Tarabin tribe,
had taken part in the shooting that left Abu Shabab fatally wounded. According
to the sources, the incident occurred on Thursday and ended swiftly when Abu
Shabab’s escorts shot dead the men who had targeted him. Abu Shabab, a
controversial figure who emerged during Israel’s war on Gaza and became
prominent during efforts to deliver aid to the blockaded enclave, was killed
after months in the public eye. Israel’s Army Radio said on Thursday, citing
security officials, that Abu Shabab, one of the most prominent tribal leaders
opposed to Hamas in Gaza, died of his wounds at Soroka Medical Center in
Beersheba in southern Israel, where he had been transferred after being injured
earlier. Abu Shabab’s armed group is based in Rafah in southern Gaza. In
previous remarks he insisted that his group’s only link was with the Palestinian
Authority, rejecting accusations that he collaborated with Israel. He had called
for renaming his militia, known as the Popular Forces in Gaza, as a
counterterrorism group. Army Radio said Abu Shabab had declared his cooperation
with Israel and formed the first armed group to confront Hamas in southern Gaza.
It added that he had been targeted by gunmen who opened fire on him. A few
months earlier, with the resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, Abu
Shabab resurfaced after nearly three months of absence from the field and from
his Facebook page. Abu Shabab has frequently stirred controversy. Some Gaza
residents linked his name to the theft of humanitarian aid in past periods,
while others defended him and praised what they considered efforts to secure and
protect aid shipments.
In May last year, he reactivated his Facebook page and announced he had resumed
securing the delivery of aid to residential areas, raising questions about his
sudden reappearance and the purpose behind the announcement, especially given
his past association among many with aid theft. Several sources told Asharq Al-Awsat
that Abu Shabab and the armed group that appeared with him in photos on his page
were primarily present in areas between eastern Rafah and southeastern Khan
Younis.
These areas fall under Israeli control and are inhabited only by a few dozen
members of the Tarabin tribe, to which Abu Shabab and his associates
belong.Humanitarian aid began to enter Gaza last week after Israel yielded to
international pressure and lifted the blockade it had imposed on aid entry on
March 2 last year. A global hunger monitoring body said the blockade had pushed
half a million people in the enclave to the brink of famine. No one knows the
exact size of the armed force he formed. Estimates range from dozens to a few
hundred, based on images and short videos on TikTok and other social media
platforms that show the group with weapons and four-wheel drive vehicles.
Asharq Al-Awsat was unable to reach Abu Shabab directly to clarify his role in
the handling of aid, as all his phone numbers were switched off. Some sources
familiar with him said he was a simple young man who had been detained by Hamas
police on charges of drug possession and trafficking, but escaped with other
inmates after the war broke out and the bombardment intensified. The sources
said he had never been affiliated with any Palestinian faction and that there
was no known record of him spying for Israel. They added that carrying weapons
was common among most members of the Tarabin tribe.
After some residents accused him of stealing aid, Hamas security forces raided
sites he visited with his armed men in November 2024, killing at least twenty
people and wounding dozens. After reports claimed he had been killed when an
anti-armor projectile struck the vehicle he used to flee, it later emerged that
his brother had been inside and was the one killed.
According to some sources, Abu Shabab fled to areas very close to Israeli
military positions east of Rafah. After a period of absence, Abu Shabab
reappeared in recent days as aid deliveries resumed. Videos circulated showing
men said to be from his group securing aid convoys, escorting foreign
delegations and accompanying Red Cross workers. The footage shows people from
the Tarabin tribe speaking with visiting delegations. Each time aid entered the
enclave, Abu Shabab posted messages on his Facebook page about protecting it and
transporting it to the edges of areas outside his control, which he referred to
as “the other side”, meaning the de facto Hamas government. In one recent post
he wrote, “When we distributed aid with dignity they defamed us, when we stood
to protect it they accused us, and here we are today appearing before the
people, we the sons of this nation.”The message was signed “Yasser Abu Shabab,
Popular Forces”. Field sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the stolen aid had not
gone to Hamas. The sources said the shipments entered residential areas without
protection, which contributed to theft. When a group from the Hamas Home Front
security force went to secure the aid in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, an
Israeli strike killed six of its members, allowing an armed gang to seize the
supplies. Hours later, Hamas fighters fired a projectile at the armed men
responsible for the theft, killing six of them, the field sources said.
Some sources said Abu Shabab could barely write and was unlikely to be managing
his Facebook page himself. This raised questions about who might be backing him,
especially since he operated in areas considered extremely dangerous for Gaza
residents due to the presence of Israeli forces. In several posts, Abu Shabab
referred to a media team that managed his page and handled his work
professionally. In one post he not only highlighted aid protection but also
called for unity and urged people to reject Hamas, which he accused of
distorting the image of popular figures. In some of his posts he referred to his
group as the Popular Action Forces. On some TikTok videos, labels such as
Counterterrorism Forces appeared. Some Gaza residents, even jokingly, began
calling him “Mr. President”, while others referred to him as “the state”,
especially after his armed men were seen wearing military fatigues with
Palestinian flags and saluting every convoy carrying visiting delegations. Local
sources said he recently helped evacuate families trapped by Israeli forces in
the Amour area southeast of Khan Younis, enabling them to reach areas west of
the city. Hamas repeatedly accuses Israel of fostering lawlessness in Gaza and
enabling aid theft by armed gangs. Israeli officials have openly encouraged Gaza
residents to break away from Hamas and rise up against it, which has already
occurred in some areas.
Xi Says China to Provide $100 Million Humanitarian Aid for
Gaza
Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
China will provide $100 million in aid to the Palestinians to help alleviate the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support reconstruction efforts, President Xi
Jinping said on Thursday. Xi was speaking at a joint press conference with
French President Emmanuel Macron after their meeting in Beijing. Xi told Macron
that China remained committed to promoting peace in Gaza. He used Macron's visit
to announce China would provide a further $100 million in aid to the
Palestinians for reconstruction, although far below the 1.6 billion euros ($1.87
billion) the EU pledged in April for the next three years.
Syrian authorities in Aleppo arrest former MP and police
chief under Assad regime
Arab News/December 04, 2025
LONDON: The Syrian Counterterrorism Branch in the northern city of Aleppo
arrested Abdel Razzak Barakat, a former police chief and MP under the defunct
regime of Bashar Assad. The Ministry of Interior said that Barakat was involved
in suppressing peaceful demonstrations in Homs at the beginning of the Syrian
revolution in 2011 while serving as the city’s police commander. Barakat was
transferred to the police command in Tabqa, in the Raqqa governorate of
northeast Syria, and later became a member of parliament, representing the
National Progressive Front, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency. Syrian
authorities affirmed their commitment to prosecuting anyone involved in crimes
against civilians during the former Assad regime. This week, the Internal
Security Forces arrested five former military officials in the coastal Lataika
province. Two of those detained previously acted as military judges and the
three others as military doctors at the former Tishreen Military Hospital in the
capital Damascus. All five face accusations of murder and of hiding crimes
committed against civilians in Syrian prisons before the fall of Assad on Dec.
8, 2024.
Gulf Summits: Strengthening Regional Cooperation over Four
Decades
Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
Over four decades, Gulf Summits have evolved from periodic meetings of Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders into key milestones that strengthen fraternal
ties and promote joint action based on shared goals. This cooperation is rooted
in a legacy of social, historical, and cultural cohesion that predates the
council's establishment, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday. The unity
reflected in these summits is not merely a response to circumstances; it arises
from political awareness and a shared belief that regional stability and
prosperity can only be achieved through solidarity and integrated policies.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime
Minister, is participating in the 46th Session of the GCC Supreme Council on
Wednesday as part of the Kingdom's efforts to deepen joint Gulf action, aligned
with the vision approved by GCC leaders in 2015. The vision established a
framework for integration, particularly in defense, security, and the economy,
reorganizing cooperation tracks and improving coordination among member states.
As the 46th session convenes in Bahrain, GCC states draw on a strong record of
achievements and experiences that showcase their resilience in adapting to
challenges. This summit is an opportunity to consolidate past accomplishments
and set priorities for the future, focusing on economic integration, regional
security, energy, climate, and international partnerships to meet the
aspirations of Gulf peoples for prosperity and stability. The evolution of Gulf
Summits reflects the steadfast political will of GCC leaders. Unity and forward
thinking are pivotal to establishing a cohesive regional system capable of
continual development and adaptation to global changes. Each summit renews this
commitment, stressing that the Gulf Cooperation Council will endure as a vital
model of unity in the Arab region and will continue to advocate for the
security, development, and prosperity of Gulf people
Macron, Merz voiced concern that US may compromise Ukraine
in peace efforts
AFP/December 04/2025
European leaders in a conference call this week voiced distrust of US efforts to
negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to German news weekly Der
Spiegel, which said it had obtained written notes on the call. German Chancellor
Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron had expressed skepticism in
the call Monday with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others that US
negotiators would safeguard Kyiv’s interests, the report said. The magazine
quoted Macron as saying during the call that “there is a chance that the US will
betray Ukraine on territory without clarity on security guarantees.”The French
government did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment, but Der
Spiegel quoted the presidency as saying Macron “did not express himself in these
terms.”According to the report, Merz warned Zelenskyy to be “very careful in the
coming days” and added that “they are playing games with both you and us.”The
German chancellery told AFP that “we cannot comment on individual media reports.
Furthermore, we cannot, as a matter of principle, report on confidential
conversations.”Zelenskyy’s communications advisor Dmytro Lytvyn said in response
to a question from AFP on the report that “we do not comment on provocations.”
According to Der Spiegel, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb also expressed
distrust of US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared
Kushner, who were sent to the Kremlin for negotiations earlier this week.
“We cannot leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys,” Stubb said,
according to Der Spiegel. His office also did not immediately reply to an AFP
request for comment. And NATO chief Mark Rutte agreed that “we must protect
Volodymyr,” Der Spiegel said, citing what it said were notes on the call, not a
verbatim transcript, and without naming the author of the notes. AFP has also
sought comment from NATO. Der Spiegel said Rutte’s office had declined comment.
Washington last month put forward an initial 28-point proposal to halt the war
in Ukraine, drafted without input from Ukraine’s European allies and criticized
as too close a reflection of Moscow’s maximalist demands on Ukrainian territory.
A flurry of diplomacy has followed, with US and Ukrainian negotiators holding
talks in Geneva and Florida before Witkoff and Kushner headed to Moscow on
Tuesday. Der Spiegel said two unnamed participants in the call on Monday had
confirmed that the notes accurately reflected the content of the conversation,
but that they could not confirm the quotes word for word as the leaders’
conservation was confidential.
Putin Says Russia Will Take All of Ukraine's Donbas Region Militarily or
Otherwise
Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
President Vladimir Putin said in an interview published on Thursday that Russia
would take full control of Ukraine's Donbas region by force unless Ukrainian
forces withdraw, something Kyiv has flatly rejected. Putin sent tens of
thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022 after eight years of fighting
between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops in the Donbas, which is
made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, said Reuters. "Either we liberate
these territories by force of arms, or Ukrainian troops leave these
territories," Putin told India Today ahead of a visit to New Delhi, according to
a clip shown on Russian state television. Ukraine says it does not want to gift
Russia its own territory that Moscow has failed to win on the battlefield, and
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Moscow should not be rewarded
for a war it started. Russia currently controls 19.2% of Ukraine, including
Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, all of Luhansk, more than 80% of Donetsk,
about 75% of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and slivers of the Kharkiv, Sumy,
Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. About 5,000 square km (1,900 square miles)
of Donetsk remains under Ukrainian control. In discussions with the United
States over the outline of a possible peace deal to end the war, Russia has
repeatedly said that it wants control over the whole of Donbas - and that the
United States should informally recognize Moscow's control. Russia in 2022
declared that the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and
Zaporizhzhia were now part of Russia after referenda that the West and Kyiv
dismissed as a sham. Most countries recognize the regions - and Crimea - as part
of Ukraine. Putin received US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the
Kremlin on Tuesday, and said that Russia had accepted some US proposals on
Ukraine, and that talks should continue. Russia's RIA state news agency cited
Putin as saying that his meeting with Witkoff and Kushner had been "very useful"
and that it had been based on proposals he and President Donald Trump had
discussed in Alaska in August.
Syria’s growth accelerates as sanctions ease, refugees
return: Central Bank governor
Reuters/December 04/2025
Syria’s economy is growing much faster than the World Bank’s 1 percent estimate
for 2025 as refugees flow back after the end of a 14-year civil war, fueling
plans for the relaunch of its currency and efforts to build a new Middle East
financial hub, central bank Governor AbdulKader Husrieh said on Thursday.
Speaking via video link at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York, Husrieh also
said he welcomed a deal with Visa to establish digital payment systems and added
that the country is working with the International Monetary Fund to develop
methods to accurately measure economic data to reflect the resurgence. The
Syrian central bank chief, who is helping guide the war-torn country’s
reintegration into the global economy after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime
about a year ago, described the repeal of many US sanctions against Syria as “a
miracle.”The US Treasury on November 10 announced another 180-day expansion of
enforcement of the so-called Caesar sanctions against Syria, but lifting them
entirely requires approval by the US Congress. Husrieh said that based on
discussions with US lawmakers, he expects this to be repealed by the end of
2025, ending “the last episode of the sanctions.”“Once this happens, this will
give comfort to our potential correspondent banks about dealing with Syria,” he
added.
Growth prospects
The World Bank in July estimated that Syria’s gross domestic product would grow
by a modest 1 percent in 2025 after contracting 1.5 percent in 2024, amid
security challenges, liquidity constraints and suspensions of foreign
assistance. “I don’t think that reflected the reality of the Syrian economy,
because we have, like, 1.5 million refugees coming back. Just calculate what’s
at the minimum, what such return of refugees could add to GDP,” Husrieh said. He
acknowledged that Syria lacks reliable economic data, but said inflation was
down, and the strengthening of the Syrian pound’s exchange rate was a proxy for
the economy’s performance.
New currency, eight denominations
He said that Syria is preparing to launch a new currency in eight note
denominations and confirmed plans to remove two zeroes from them in a bid to
restore confidence in the battered pound, which was quoted at 11,057 to the
dollar on LSEG Workspace on Thursday. He said that Syria would end seven decades
of central bank financing of its government budget deficits, and restore
confidence in public finances and central bank management. “The new currency
will be a signal and symbol for this financial liberation,” Husrieh said. He
also welcomed a new agreement with Visa announced on Thursday to develop a
digital payments ecosystem that will prompt the company’s return to Syria. “We
are glad that we are working with Visa and Mastercard,” Husrieh said, adding
that country officials have further meetings with Visa on Thursday regarding the
partnership.
“We are working to have a fully finished payment system in which we have global
partners because ... our vision is to have Syria as hub — a financial hub — for
the Levant.”
Syria Tightens Security Ahead of First Liberation
Anniversary
Damascus: Souad Jarous/Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
A charged and fast-moving atmosphere is taking hold across Syria in the days
leading up to the first anniversary of the liberation of Damascus from Bashar
al-Assad’s rule on December 8, a moment that coincides with Christmas and New
Year festivities. Announcements marking the liberation fill the streets, urging
Syrians to unite in rebuilding the country beside Christmas decorations. The
atmosphere comes amid tight security, with a heavy deployment of Interior
Ministry units and patrols to guard against possible attacks on public
gatherings, alongside intensified operations targeting arms and drug traffickers
in the provinces and border regions. In addition to central celebrations called
for by official and popular bodies in major city squares, which include
activities from December 5 to 8 under the slogan “Let us complete the story”,
the Ministry of Religious Endowments invited all mosques to hold dawn prayers
next Monday, December 8, with “victory chants” to begin half an hour before the
call to prayer. Sources said all government agencies are on high alert,
especially the Interior Ministry, adding that there are concerns that extremist
groups, including ISIS or others, could attempt attacks on crowds. The sources
said the Interior Ministry faces a major test one year after the fall of the
regime, noting that it has sought to make significant improvements to internal
security performance and to safeguard “victory” celebrations despite the
challenges ahead. The sources said external and internal parties are still
attempting to disrupt the transitional phase. They also noted increased movement
of returning expatriates, visitors, and Arab and foreign journalists, which has
raised security alert levels. Within less than 24 hours, Syrian authorities
announced the dismantling of two drug trafficking networks in Damascus and
Aleppo, the thwarting of an arms shipment destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon, and
the launch of a campaign to pursue arms and drug traffickers in Deir al Zor. The
Internal Security Directorate in Yabroud in the Qalamoun area in rural Damascus
said it foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of war mines to Lebanon,
seizing the entire shipment, arresting four suspects and killing a fifth during
clashes with patrol units. Khaled Abbas Taktouk, the head of Yabroud security,
said the operation followed precise intelligence work and continuous
surveillance that identified the suspects and tracked them to the smuggling
point in the al Jabbah area north of rural Damascus near the Lebanese border.
He said specialized units carried out a tightly planned raid that resulted in
the seizure of 1,250 war mines equipped with detonators that were prepared for
transfer to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Security assessments in border regions that
were once under Iranian and Hezbollah influence indicate that weapons caches
remain hidden in undisclosed locations and that some of these arms have been
taken by local residents who are now selling them secretly. Smuggling operations
are uncovered periodically. Some of the seized weapons were looted from former
regime military bases during the chaos that followed the fall of the regime,
while others belong to Iranian and Hezbollah militias and are being retrieved
through smugglers. In Aleppo, the Anti Narcotics Branch said on Wednesday it had
dismantled a drug trafficking and distribution network, arresting the ringleader
and four members. The state news agency SANA quoted a police source as saying
officers seized about 31,000 Captagon pills, around 500 grams of crystal meth
and quantities of the same substance in liquid form. Hours earlier, the Anti
Narcotics Branch in Damascus announced it had dismantled another network
operating in the capital, arresting its ringleader and nine members, and seizing
large quantities of drugs including nearly 500,000 Captagon pills, 1,000 grams
of methamphetamine, 12 kilograms of hashish and 3,000 grams of heroin, in
addition to various weapons. In eastern rural Deir al Zor, internal security
forces on Wednesday carried out an operation targeting arms traffickers in the
village of al-Kishma, which is part of the town of Subaykhan near the Iraqi
border, according to the local al Asharah Media Office. Two people were also
arrested after throwing a hand grenade at the courthouse building in the city of
al-Mayadeen.
Iran’s IRGC warns US vessels during drill in Gulf
Al Arabiya English/December 04/2025
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday kicked off naval
wargames in the Gulf, issuing warnings to US warships in the area, more than
five months after the 12-day war with Israel that briefly drew in American
forces.
State TV said the drill showcases the “sacrifice and spirit of resistance” of
the IRGC’s naval forces “to confront any threat” against Iran following the June
war. The strikes, which killed more than a thousand people, including senior
IRGC commanders, prompted Iran to retaliate with drone and missile strikes that
killed dozens in Israel. Naval units “issued warnings to American vessels
present in the region, conveying their firm message,” the report said, though
the content of the messages was not immediately clear and US forces in the Gulf
did not comment. State media added that the IRGC deployed air-defense systems
under electronic-warfare conditions that “were able to detect aerial and
maritime targets using artificial intelligence.”The Gulf, and the strategic
Strait of Hormuz at its bottleneck leading to the Sea of Oman, channels about 20
percent of the world’s oil exports each year. On Wednesday, IRGC deputy
commander in chief Ali Fadavi said “no country can diminish the role of the
Strait of Hormuz,” vowing the IRGC’s protection of the waterway. The security of
the Gulf is Iran’s “red line,” he added, describing Tehran’s adversaries – the
United States and Israel – as the “main drivers of global insecurity,” according
to IRNA state news agency.The IRGC has repeatedly seized foreign-flagged tankers
cruising in the Gulf over what Iranian authorities call fuel smuggling. With AFP
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources
published
on
December 04-05/2025
Sudan’s Army… Not The ‘Kizan Army’!
Osman Mirghani/Asharq Al Awsat/December 04/2025
Sudan is fighting two wars simultaneously. As it wages its war on the ground, it
is fighting another equally grave war in the media. Misleading narratives
slandering the army have been increasing. Their aim is to undermine its
performance on the battlefield, casting doubt on its competence, trivializing
its victories, and inflating its setbacks. In parallel, these campaigns seek to
portray it as an ideological force, denying that it is a national institution
that forms the backbone of the state.
These campaigns largely rely on saturation: repeating the same narratives until
they begin to sound like unquestionable truths. At the forefront of this
campaign is the narrative of a “Kizan Army” that has not admitted any officers
who were not affiliated with the Islamists since 1989. The frame of “the two
parties to the conflict” also serves to equate the army, as a state institution,
to an armed militia. In turn, the talking point of “reforming the army” is used
to justify insidious projects to facilitate schemes to re-engineer the military,
going so far as to promote the idea of a “new army.” A similar discourse quietly
emerged during the transitional period that followed the December 2018
revolution. It was later articulated more explicitly when the Rapid Support
Forces’ commander, after seizing El-Fasher, declared that the army had been
“ended,” creating the need for “a new army.”
The puzzle: why are the campaigns aimed at sowing doubt about the army
escalating at this particular moment, as it pursues a war many view as an
existential struggle to protect a country targeted from a broad conspiracy
involving many actors?
A truth that cannot be ignored is that any state whose army collapsed or was
dismantled—under any pretext—quickly slid into chaos. And in Sudan’s case, the
army today remains the entity that defends the country, the last barrier
preventing the completion of scenarios aimed at seizing its resources or
fragmenting it. Despite all the disinformation campaigns, the army includes
Sudanese citizens of various ideological persuasions from all segments and
components of society: unionists, independents, and certainly Islamists,
soldiers from the west, east, center, north, and south. Like any large
institution that reflects the country’s political and social diversity, the army
cannot be associated with a particular political movement or reduced to a single
ethnic, tribal, or regional component.
Another important fact to keep in mind: the December Revolution explicitly
called for the dissolution of the Rapid Support Forces, repeating the slogan
“Disband the Janjaweed.” However, it did not call for dissolving the army or
re-engineering it. Rather, it demanded that the army return to the barracks and
focus on its national duty: protecting Sudan and its borders, and defending its
people. This is a logical demand for a state seeking to build strong
institutions, not dismantle them. Those behind the campaign have exposed their
double standards and muddled criteria themselves. Indeed, some of the civil and
political forces now leading the campaign against the army (accusing it of being
the “Kizan Army”) had previously pushed back against the revolution’s demand
that “the army return to the barracks.” They allied themselves with the army’s
leadership and brought it into the coalition after the December Revolution to
secure seats in the transitional government. This was a clear violation of the
constitutional document that broke with their own commitments to refuse
ministerial positions and to ensure that the transitional government would be a
cabinet of independent, professional technocrats.
Today, as we hear some of these forces loudly attacking the army and branding it
the “Kizan Army,” they say nothing about the dismantling of the Rapid Support
Forces despite all the atrocities it has committed. It is not accused of being
“a Kizan force” either, even though many well-known figures linked to the
previous regime are among its ranks. Attacking the army is aggravating the
polarization fueled by the war. Foreign actors have entered this arena as well,
each for its own considerations and interests. This discourse, however, remains
far removed from the sentiments of the majority of the Sudanese population. They
see the army as the only remaining safeguard they have, and they flee to areas
under its control whenever the Rapid Support Forces overrun a town or village.
Some parties are hell bent on settling scores with the army and weakening it.
They believe that this will push the army out of the political arena. However,
this pursuit is detached from reality, because this behavior only keeps the army
at the center of politics and its rivalries. The best thing political forces can
do to keep the army out of politics is to refrain from interfering with the
army, using it as leverage, or from using it to carry out military coups. All
the political forces have, to varying degrees, pushed the army into the heart of
their competitions, and everyone has paid the price.
Sudan does not need a “new” or “ideologized” army today. It needs a
professional, national army that imposes a state monopoly on armament and stays
out of politics, with political forces keeping an equal distance from the army.
This path cannot be safeguarded without raising awareness in a manner that
disrupts the disinformation and allows the public to understand that dismantling
the military institution (whether through rhetoric or action) is, at this
dangerous juncture, nothing less than dismantling the nation itself.
Syrian aid workers have local trust and capacity — we just need the resources
Dr. Abdulkarim Ekzayez, Faddy Sahloul, Dr. Aref Razouk,
Abdullatif Alzalek and Alaa AlBakour/Arab News/December 04, 2025
Sara — not her real name — is a 16-year-old Syrian girl who fled to Lebanon with
her parents and brothers soon after fighting reached her hometown in 2011. While
displaced, Sara’s father died, plunging the family into poverty and forcing her
and her brothers to drop out of school. Life was hard.
However, the situation in Syria changed dramatically in December 2024, when the
country underwent its political transition and a fragile peace returned to
Sara’s hometown. Sara and her family decided to return to see what remained of
their house and livelihoods, but their homecoming was far from a fairytale. Her
house was still standing, but bare, so the family crowded into her uncle’s
house. Neither Sara nor her siblings could afford to go to school and her older
brother developed an eye disease the family could not afford to treat, affecting
his sight and ability to work. Sara’s mother longed to start a cooking business
to support the family but lacked the tools or startup capital. As Syria opens up
after nearly 14 years of conflict, the impact of relentless bombing and
neglected governance is visible
After suffering years of displacement, poverty and trauma, Sara fell into a deep
depression. Sara’s story is not unusual. Over the past 10 months, more than 1
million Syrians have returned to Syria from other countries, while a further 1.8
million internally displaced people have returned to their areas of origin or
choice. Years of often multiple displacements have created profound
psychological and economic instability, with many families returning to find
their homes and farms destroyed, a total lack of infrastructure and a lack of
basic services such as water and electricity.
As Syria opens up after nearly 14 years of conflict, the impact of relentless
bombing and neglected governance is visible in the piles of rubble and skeletal
buildings dotting the countryside. The impact on children has been even more
profound. More than 7,900 schools have been damaged or destroyed, leaving nearly
2.5 million children out of class and more than 7.5 million in need of
humanitarian support. Hunger in Syria is rampant, with about 2 million children
at risk of malnutrition, and the country is contaminated with nearly 300,000
explosive pieces of ordnance, placing children’s lives in constant danger.
Our organizations have the experience, community acceptance and know-how to help
give Syrian children a chance at a future
But there is reason for hope. Throughout the conflict, Syrian organizations,
such as ours, have provided food, water, healthcare, education and protection to
millions of people — built on years of experience, expertise and vital local
trust.
One year on from the political transition, our organizations are entering a new
phase in supporting Syria’s children and families — one in which we must have
the necessary resources to save and protect children’s lives, while helping
their families and communities rebuild, recover and become resilient.
Our organizations have the experience, community acceptance and know-how to help
give Syrian children a chance at a future. What we need now are resources and
multiyear, flexible financing that addresses both the immediate and long-term
needs in Syria — ensuring humanitarian access remains unimpeded, and expanding
sanctions and banking exemptions to enable timely aid delivery. We need the
ability to scale up mine-action programs that find and remove the threat of
explosive ordnance, as well as rehabilitating schools and learning spaces.
As we move forward together, we urge the interim Syrian government to place the
rights, protection and well-being of children at the center of all recovery and
rebuilding efforts.
We know change is possible because we have seen what can be achieved through
targeted support with Sara and her family. Earlier this year, our case
management teams were alerted to Sara’s situation and were able to provide
individual psychosocial support sessions for her and her mother to help them
express their emotions and manage stress.
Sara’s younger brother was able to start school again and her older brother was
referred to one of our medical centers to treat his eye disease. Sara’s mother
was provided basic cooking tools to help start a small business.
As a result, Sara’s mental health has improved significantly. She has become
more engaged with her family, made new friends and regained a sense of stability
and dignity. Sara’s mother is looking forward to one day opening a restaurant.
Together, with support from inside and outside of Syria, our organizations
remain resolute in turning this pivotal moment into one of hope, safety and
opportunity for more children like Sara. It is possible to build a Syria where
every child survives, learns and thrives in peace and dignity, we just need the
commitment to get there.
**Dr. Abdulkarim Ekzayez is Country Director at Action for Humanity.
**Faddy Sahloul is CEO of Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HIHFAD).
**Dr. Aref Razouk is CEO of Shafak.
**Abdullatif Alzalek is CEO of Takaful Al Sham.
**Alaa AlBakour is CEO of Violet for Relief and Development.
Why Trump's Gaza Plan is Not a Peace Deal
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/December 04/2025
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22096/trump-gaza-plan-not-peace-deal
In the eyes of Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups, the plan is nothing
but another temporary ceasefire, not different than previous ones reached
between Israel and Hamas over the past two decades.
Those who think that Hamas, by agreeing to Trump's "peace plan," has abandoned
its desire to eliminate Israel or has softened its position toward Israel are
unfortunately dead wrong.
Hamas leaders have stressed their opposition to the involvement of any
non-Palestinians in the future administration of the Gaza Strip.
Hamas has also made it clear that the role of any international troops should be
limited to monitoring the ceasefire and safeguarding the borders of the Gaza
Strip, not to disarming the terror groups and their military infrastructure.
Hamas's remarks are a not-so-veiled threat that they intend to launch terrorist
attacks against members of any international force that tries to disarm the
terror groups in the Gaza Strip.
That is doubtless the major reason most Arabs and Muslims appear reluctant to
dispatch soldiers to the Gaza Strip: they do not want a direct confrontation
with Hamas and the other terror groups operating there.
To understand the mindset and intentions of Hamas, it is crucial that one pay
attention to what the terror group says in Arabic, not what some of its leaders
tell US envoys in meetings behind closed doors.
Regrettably, there can be no peace, security, or stability in the area if Hamas
and its allies are left standing on their feet and preparing for more massacres
against Israel.
In the eyes of Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups, President Donald
Trump's plan is nothing but another temporary ceasefire, not different than
previous ones reached between Israel and Hamas over the past two decades.
US President Donald J. Trump's plan for ending the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza
Strip is not a "peace plan." In the eyes of Hamas and other Palestinian terror
groups, the plan is nothing but another temporary ceasefire, not different than
previous ones reached between Israel and Hamas over the past two decades.
It is a mistake even to call it a "peace plan": Hamas has not yet abandoned its
stated goal of destroying Israel and replacing it with an Islamist state.
Hamas, moreover, has never -- to this day -- recognized Israel's right to exist.
Instead, Hamas continues to hold onto the idea that:
"The land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Muslim
generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be
squandered; it, or any part of it, should not be given up. Neither a single Arab
country nor all Arab countries, neither any king or president, nor all kings and
presidents, neither any organization nor all of them, be they Palestinian or
Arab, possess the right to do that." (Hamas Charter, Article 11).
Those who think that Hamas, by agreeing to Trump's "peace plan," has abandoned
its desire to eliminate Israel or has softened its position toward Israel are
unfortunately dead wrong.
Hamas, after suffering heavy casualties in the war it initiated on October 7,
2023, was desperate for a pause in the fighting. In Hamas's attack that day,
more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered and thousands
wounded. Hamas terrorists and "ordinary" Palestinians kidnapped another 251
Israelis and foreign nationals and secreted them to underground tunnels in Gaza,
where the remains of two are still held.
Despite the death and destruction Hamas has brought on the Palestinians from its
reckless decision to invade Israel, the terror group seems determined to thwart
the implementation of the remaining phases of Trump's plan, especially in
establishing an international transitional governing body and deploying an
international security force in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas leaders have stressed their opposition to the involvement of any
non-Palestinians in the future administration of the Gaza Strip.
Hamas has also made it clear that the role of any international troops should be
limited to monitoring the ceasefire and safeguarding the borders of the Gaza
Strip, not to disarming the terror groups and their military infrastructure.
Hamas argued in a recent statement:
"Assigning the international force with tasks and roles inside the Gaza Strip,
including disarming the resistance, strips it of its neutrality, and turns it
into a party to the conflict in favor of the [Israeli] occupation."
Hamas's remarks are a not-so-veiled threat that they intend to launch terrorist
attacks against members of any international force that tries to disarm the
terror groups in the Gaza Strip.
That is doubtless the major reason most Arabs and Muslims appear reluctant to
dispatch soldiers to the Gaza Strip: they do not want a direct confrontation
with Hamas and the other terror groups operating there.
Hamas's leaders are at least being honest about their intentions and goals.
Senior Hamas official Mohammed Nazzal told Reuters that his group aims to keep a
grip on security in the Gaza Strip and cannot commit to laying down its weapons.
Asked if Hamas would give up its arms, Nazzal said:
"I can't answer with a yes or no. Frankly, it depends on the nature of the
project. The disarmament project you're talking about, what does it mean? To
whom will the weapons be handed over?"
Such statements show that Hamas views itself as a primary, legitimate partner in
the civilian and security administration of post-war Gaza. The statements also
demonstrate that Hamas is ready to resort to terrorism to foil Trump's plan.
To understand the mindset and intentions of Hamas, it is crucial that one pay
attention to what the terror group says in Arabic, not what some of its leaders
tell US envoys in meetings behind closed doors.
In Arabic, Hamas sounds even more sincere and determined. In English, Hamas
seems to have persuaded some Americans that it is ready to lay down its weapons
and relinquish control of the Gaza Strip. They are not.
Just this week, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the second largest terror
group in the Gaza Strip, repeated (in Arabic) their call to Palestinians to
continue the "resistance" against Israel. The two Iran-backed groups praised
Palestinian terror attacks against Israelis in the West Bank as "heroic" and
urged Palestinians to step up the fight against Israel. A third Palestinian
terror group, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), also
hailed the perpetrators of the recent terror attacks (a stabbing and a
car-ramming) against Israelis in the West Bank:
"The PFLP salutes with pride and honor the two heroic martyrs who carried out
the two operations, and notes that the blood of these heroes will continue to
illuminate the path of freedom and serve as the spark that will fuel the
resistance and make it continue and escalate."
The Palestinian terror groups evidently feel that the death and destruction they
brought on the Gaza Strip was not enough. They apparently want to sacrifice even
more Palestinians for the sake of advancing their goal of removing the Jews from
their perceived Muslim-owned land.
Regrettably, there can be no peace, security, or stability in the area if Hamas
and its allies are left standing on their feet and preparing for more massacres
against Israel. The terrorists must not be allowed to take advantage of the
current ceasefire to rearm, regroup and rebuild their military capabilities.
**Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
**Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.
Pope Leo’s First Apostolic Journey Delivers Real-World Results
Alberto M. Fernandez/National Catholic Register/December/December04/2025
https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/fernandez-pope-leo-turkey-lebanon-deliverables
COMMENTARY: The Pope’s trip to Turkey and Lebanon yielded tangible results —
strengthening Orthodox-Catholic ties and issuing urgent appeals for peace as
Lebanon faces the threat of another war.
Papal visits are always deeply rewarding to those fortunate enough to be blessed
by one, and they are usually rich in symbolism. But let’s face it: In our cold,
cynical world, they can sometimes be lacking in actual consequences.
That cannot be said of Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic journey, which took him to
Turkey and Lebanon. Both legs of the trip, aside from the protocol and the
diplomatic niceties, mattered in substantial, “real-world” ways — ways that will
have concrete consequences sooner or later.
Although general themes overlapped to some extent in both countries (as we shall
see), each stop had a tangible result, what we former diplomats used to call
“deliverables” when we had a visit by the president or secretary of state.
Apostolic Journey to Lebanon - Meeting with young people in the square in front
of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch in Bkerké
Pope Leo meets with young people in the square in front of the Maronite
Patriarchate of Antioch in Bkerké during his Apostolic Journey to Lebanon.
(Photo: Simone Risoluti)Vatican Media
Turkey — for the commemoration of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea — was all
about ties with the world of Eastern Orthodoxy, a subject that has been of
interest to past popes, and especially to the late Pope Francis.
We are seeing concrete steps to heal the breach of the Great Schism of 1054. It
was 60 years ago this year that Pope St. Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch
Athenagoras lifted the mutual excommunications of 1,000 years ago. In Istanbul,
Pope Leo and the current patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, signed a
document pledging greater unity, including working toward a common date for
Easter. Both reaffirmed their support for the joint theological commission of
Catholics and Orthodox currently examining the thorniest issues between the two
Churches.
This theme of closeness with the Eastern Churches carried over to Beirut, where,
on Dec. 1, Pope Leo met with the four Catholic patriarchs resident in Lebanon —
Maronite Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syriac Catholic and Melkite Catholic — and
the other Catholic patriarchs in the East — Chaldean Catholic (resident in
Baghdad), Coptic Catholic (based in Cairo) and the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem,
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. They were later joined by three key
non-Catholic patriarchs — Aram I of the Armenian Orthodox, Aphrem II of the
Syriac Orthodox, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, John X, who is
based in Damascus.
While the date for Easter was certainly discussed, many other burning topics
would have been as well. All the Eastern Churches face the same challenge of
emigration and of confronting anti-Christian religious or nationalist extremism.
The Istanbul/Beirut meetings would have been the largest papal meeting with the
Eastern Churches since Pope Francis’ meeting in Bari, Italy, in July 2018. The
theme in Bari was to pray for the persecuted Christians of the Middle East,
which is still quite timely — unfortunately. There were important absentees, of
course. Neither the largest of the Orthodox Churches — the Russian Orthodox,
currently in conflict with Constantinople — nor the patriarch of the largest of
the Middle East Churches — Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II of Egypt — was
present.
If a focus on Church unity dominated the Turkish part of the trip (and was also
present in Beirut), the dominant public papal message to Lebanon was one of
peace. Now, popes talk about peace all the time. But the difference here is that
he was talking to a country and its leaders that could be on the verge of
another open-ended, destructive war within days or weeks of the Pope’s
departure. It was not peace in the abstract, or “peace in the nice to have but
not an immediate concern” category, but an emergency message.
In October 2023, the Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah decided
to join in on the war between Hamas and Israel. Hezbollah received a battering,
and, eventually, a 60-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon was
signed on Nov. 27, 2024. The ceasefire expired the week after the new Trump
administration entered office. Neither Lebanon, which was to disarm Hezbollah,
nor Israel, which was supposed to withdraw from Lebanon once Hezbollah had been
disarmed, has kept up its part of the deal.
Iran has reportedly rushed $1 billion in cash and more weapons to keep Hezbollah
viable. Israel has struck Hezbollah targets of opportunity in Lebanon when they
present themselves, including eliminating a senior Hezbollah military leader in
Beirut less than a week before the arrival of the Pope.
Melkite Catholic Patriarch Youssef Absi said that Pope Leo had come “to
strengthen his brothers and sisters in Lebanon and the troubled East,”
consciously echoing the Lord’s words to Peter: “I have prayed for you that your
own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your
brothers” (Luke 22:32). Calling for peace in the face of possible imminent war
and strengthening the brethren before a rising storm is not hypothetical or
symbolic but urgent and real.
While the Lebanese government set for itself a deadline of the end of 2025 for
disarming Hezbollah, no one sees that happening. The government is treating the
2024 ceasefire the same way it treated U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701,
which ended a past war in 2006: as a document to agree to but not actually
implement. The resolution called for demilitarizing southern Lebanon and
disarming Hezbollah. The government seems to expect others — Israel, the
Americans — to do the heavy lifting for them.
Pope Leo boards the papal plane to head back to Rome after an historic trip to
Lebanon and Turkey.
Pope Leo remarked on the plane back to Rome that he had “begun, in a very small
way, a few conversations” with international leaders on peace in Lebanon. He
added that he believed that it is possible that peace can once again come to
Lebanon and the region. But such a peace is not going to come through the
continued armed presence of Hezbollah, an engine fabricated by Iran as a
perpetual war machine.
The Pope was in Lebanon, to paraphrase Tolkien, speaking to the faithful at the
point of “the deep breath before the plunge,” right before the looming crisis,
one that could remake Lebanon, as a brand plucked from the fire, or break it
forever.
**Alberto M. Fernandez Alberto M. Fernandez is a former U.S. diplomat and a
contributor at EWTN News.
UNRWA in Gaza Has Been Replaced; It’s Time to Shutter the Agency
Enia Krivine/The Algemeiner/December04/2025
https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/12/03/unrwa-in-gaza-has-been-replaced-its-time-to-shutter-the-agency/
The UN Relief and Works Agency — or UNRWA — in Gaza has been replaced by over a
dozen other aid organizations. UNRWA’s decades-long monopoly on aid and services
has finally been broken, presenting a rare opportunity for deradicalization and,
eventually, peace. What’s more, the international community now has a model for
how to replace UNRWA everywhere it operates, not just in Gaza. The UN Security
Council approved President Donald Trump’s proposal to build a “Board of Peace”
on November 17 that will oversee the deradicalization of Gaza and the
dismantlement of Hamas’ terror state. But Trump’s vision will not succeed until
UNRWA is shuttered.
UNRWA was created with a temporary mandate after Israel’s 1947-1948 War of
Independence to provide aid and services to approximately 750,000 Palestinian
Arabs displaced by the war. Over the past 75 years, UNRWA’s mandate has
ballooned. Not only does UNRWA continue to provide a myriad of services in the
jurisdictions where Arab refugees from 1948 immigrated, but refugee status has
been passed from generation to generation. As a result, what was a relatively
small refugee population in 1948 (compared to other 20th century refugee
populations) is today a large and growing 21st century refugee population with
no end in sight. UNRWA counts 5.9 million Palestinian refugees and has an annual
budget of over a billion and half dollars.
UNRWA schools teach the belief that Palestinian refugees and their millions of
descendants would all return to the modern state of Israel — an outcome that
would immediately erase Israel’s Jewish majority. The focus on “return,” coupled
with the well-documented glorification of terror and incitement — including
arithmetic problems involving numbers of Palestinian “martyrs,” antisemitic
tropes, and naming schools and soccer fields after suicide bombers — has
produced generations of indoctrinated and radicalized Palestinian children.
UNRWA staff participated in the horrors of October 7, praised the violence on
social media, and Israeli hostages were held captive in UNRWA facilities for
months during the war. Once Israel exposed the extent of UNRWA’s involvement in
terror, Israel’s Knesset passed legislation in October 2024 to end coordination
with UNRWA and to rescind the special privileges and immunities that Israel
granted the organization. Israel’s actions made it difficult for UNRWA — which
had used the Jewish State as its base of operations for decades — to continue
delivering its services.
UNRWA advocates warned that Israel’s new law would have catastrophic
consequences. It didn’t. Israel’s justified decision to cease cooperating with
UNRWA demonstrated quickly that other organizations and state actors — without
the proclivity towards terror — were willing and able to step in. UNRWA candidly
describes itself as a quasi-state actor. This is true. For decades, UNRWA in
Gaza provided services — like trash collection, education, and health clinics —
that should be the responsibility of the state. In Gaza, this meant that Hamas
outsourced its governmental obligations to UNRWA — with the international
community picking up the bill — financially freeing Hamas terrorists to hoard
weapons and build a terror fortress underneath Gaza.
Before October 7, UNRWA was the second biggest employer in Gaza and provided
basic services like sanitation, health, and education to over a million people.
After Hamas launched the war, UNRWA — swiftly announcing that it was not the
terror organization’s responsibility to care for distressed Gazan civilians —
went into high gear, taking over additional aid distribution functions. In
January 2025, when Trump negotiated the first ceasefire between Israel and Gaza,
the UN established a new initiative with a dedicated online tracker to monitor
aid entering Gaza. The tracker reports that UNRWA has not brought any aid into
Gaza since January.
According to an Israeli official familiar with aid delivery in Gaza, the basic
services performed by UNRWA before and during the first year of the war are now
performed by other actors in the enclave. The United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) is managing most of the waste management in the enclave. Fuel
distribution is managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services
(UNOPS). The World Central Kitchen has been effective at delivering food
alongside the World Food Program (WFP), which is also handling the broader
logistics function for aid delivery in Gaza — a function WFP performs worldwide.
UNICEF has taken a larger role in children-related humanitarian responses, and
the World Health Organization (WHO) is providing medical aid to field clinics
and hospitals. This is how the rest of the world manages humanitarian crises
caused by wars and natural disasters, and the correct way to manage the crisis
in Gaza: with organizations that have a temporary mandate to deliver aid. Once
the crisis has passed, those services should once again be the responsibility of
the state.
Funding UNRWA — a self-described quasi-state — for over three quarters of a
century to run services that should be the responsibility of a state government
has been a calamity for Gaza and the region. US taxpayers have historically been
UNRWA’s largest donor, and have contributed over seven billion dollars to the UN
agency since its creation. Congress has voiced consistent but limited support
for ending UNRWA funding, and both Presidents Trump and Biden previously cut
taxpayer dollars to the UN agency.
UNRWA supporters — including UNRWA’s US organization that lobbies Washington for
support and funding — railed against attempts to cut funding, arguing that
“UNRWA is irreplaceable,” a slogan often employed by UNRWA staff and advocates.
The reality is that UNRWA in Gaza has already been replaced.
Sadly, UNRWA’s multi-generation radicalization campaign in Gaza is not unique.
The same brainwashing is happening wherever UNRWA operates, breeding terrorists
and terror sympathizers across the region. The UN and the international
community can use the Gaza model to replace UNRWA’s corrosive monopoly on aid to
Palestinians across the region. The Trump administration now has an opportunity
to wield its influence with other major UNRWA donors — namely the EU, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Canada, and Japan — to redirect their UNRWA funding to
relief organizations that can deliver the much-needed aid and services without
the radicalizing agenda. This critical reform should be implemented if the world
truly wants to bring about peace. Enia Krivine is the senior director of the
Israel Program and the National Security Network at the Foundation for Defense
of Democracies. Follow her on X @EKrivine.
Is Qatari Money Corrupting American Education?
Natalie Ecanow/Townhall/December 04/2025
History was made days before Thanksgiving when President Donald Trump issued an
executive order targeting the Muslim Brotherhood. The order creates a framework
for gradually hobbling the global Islamist movement. Seen to fruition, the
administration’s campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood will become
particularly important for protecting the U.S. education system. The Muslim
Brotherhood’s bigoted Islamist ideology is seeping into the American higher
education system, and Qatari money may partly be to blame.
Foreign funding disclosures submitted to the U.S. Department of Education
indicate that Qatar has pumped upward of $6.5 billion into American colleges and
universities since the early 2000s. That sum places Qatar among the top foreign
funders of American colleges and universities, neck-and-neck with China — a
country with a GDP 85 times the size of Qatar’s and a population nearly 500
times larger.
While Chinese money in American classrooms has raised alarm bells, Qatar’s money
hasn’t. It should. Despite its status as a Major Non-NATO Ally, Qatar is a
leading sponsor of the Muslim Brotherhood, including its Palestinian wing,
Hamas. And Qatar-owned Al Jazeera functions as a bullhorn for Hamas and the
broader Muslim Brotherhood.
This ideological baggage can corrupt the American universities that Qatar
supports. The most notable example is Georgetown University, which has soaked up
nearly $1 billion from Qatar since 2005. That year, Georgetown established a
campus in Doha (GU-Q) in partnership with the Qatar Foundation, a nonprofit
organization founded by the Qatari royal family. A large portion of Qatar’s
funding to Georgetown has underwritten GU-Q, but not all of it. Qatar funds a
post-doctoral fellowship at Georgetown’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies in
Washington, D.C. Qatari Minister of State Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Saud Al Thani
sits on the center’s board of advisors. Qatar also funds positions in Muslim
Societies and Indian Politics at Georgetown’s Washington campus. Qatari royal
Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali al-Thani is a member of the university’s board of
directors.
It should come as no surprise, then, that Georgetown chose to award the
university’s President’s Medal in April 2025 to Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the
mother of Qatar’s emir. Georgetown Interim President Robert M. Groves, who
presented the award to Moza at a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of GU-Q,
says that the medal “is reserved for individuals whose contributions reflect the
university’s deepest commitments.” Months before accepting the award, Sheikha
Moza posted a eulogy on X for Hamas mastermind Yahya Sinwar. Surely, mourning
the death of a terror chieftain with American blood on his hands is not
reflective of Georgetown’s “deepest commitments.” As if the optics couldn’t get
worse, Groves defended the decision to honor Sheikha Moza during a July 2025
congressional hearing.
Alas, this was not the first time Georgetown failed to live up to its values. In
September 2024, GU-Q hosted former Al Jazeera executive Wadah Khanfar at a
conference called “Reimagining Palestine.” Among Khanfar’s views is that Hamas’s
October 7 massacre “came at the perfect moment for a radical and real shift in
the path of struggle and liberation.” This position was hardly an intellectual
leap for Khanfar, who previously delivered a eulogy for Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the
Muslim Brotherhood’s de facto spiritual guide who died in 2022. Qaradawi
endorsed suicide bombings against Israelis and preached that “the abduction and
killing of Americans in Iraq is a [religious] duty.” He hosted a long-running
talk show on Al Jazeera.
Georgetown is not the only university stained by Qatari money. Northwestern
University also operates a satellite campus in Doha (NU-Q) and is a top
recipient of Qatari funds. Among Northwestern’s self-stated “priorities” is
fostering community “with a focus on free speech and academic freedom.” That
Northwestern has fostered a relationship with Qatar, a country that forbids
criticism of the government, is ironic. Worse yet, Northwestern’s agreement with
Qatar reportedly stipulates that “NU, NU-Q, and their respective employees,
students, faculty, families, contractors and agents, shall be subject to the
applicable laws and regulations of the State of Qatar” — the same laws and
regulations that stifle free speech.
One course at NU-Q that “discusses issues relevant to Qatar and the Gulf” was
taught in the fall 2024 semester by Associate Professor in Residence Ibrahim
Abusharif. Court documents name Abusharif as the former treasurer of the Quranic
Literacy Institute (QLI) — a now-defunct Chicago nonprofit that the court held
liable for helping fundraise for Hamas.
Downstream, Qatari influence has started to infect K-12 classrooms. The tens of
millions of dollars Qatar has contributed to American elementary, middle, and
high school education are modest compared to what it has spent at the university
level. But Qatar’s money packs a punch. In one Brooklyn public school (P.S.
261), a Qatar-funded Arab arts and culture program presented students with a map
of the “Arab World” that falsely labeled Israel as “Palestine.” Sheikha Moza,
the Qatari royal-cum-Hamas apologist, visited P.S. 261 in April 2018.
Just as the Trump administration is aware of the Muslim Brotherhood threat, so
too is it aware that foreign money is harming the integrity of American schools.
In April, Trump issued an executive order committing to “protect the marketplace
of ideas from propaganda sponsored by foreign governments, and safeguard
America’s students and research from foreign exploitation.” Yet bizarrely, the
administration continues to hold Qatar in high regard. The Trump administration
needs to start connecting the dots, and fast.
**Natalie Ecanow is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies (FDD). Follow Natalie on X @NatalieEcanow and FDD @FDD.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/natalie-ecanow/2025/12/03/is-qatari-money-corrupting-american-education-n2667299
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