English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For December 07/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Circumcision of the child, John
Luke 01/57-80: Now it was time for Elisabeth to give birth, and
she had a son. And it came to the ears of her neighbours and relations that the
Lord had been very good to her, and they took part in her joy. And on the eighth
day they came to see to the circumcision of the child, and they would have given
him the name of Zacharias, his father’s name; But his mother made answer and
said, No, his name is John. And they said, Not one of your relations has that
name. And they made signs to his father, to say what name was to be given to
him. And he sent for writing materials and put down: His name is John; and they
were all surprised. And straight away his mouth was open and his tongue was free
and he gave praise to God. And fear came on all those who were living round
about them: and there was much talk about all these things in all the
hill-country of Judaea. And all who had word of them kept them in their minds
and said, What will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. And
his father, Zacharias, was full of the Holy Spirit, and with the voice of a
prophet said these words: Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has
come to his people and made them free, Lifting up a horn of salvation for us in
the house of his servant David, (As he said, by the mouth of his holy prophets,
from the earliest times,) Salvation from those who are against us, and from the
hands of those who have hate for us; To do acts of mercy to our fathers and to
keep in mind his holy word, The oath which he made to Abraham, our father, That
we, being made free from the fear of those who are against us, might give him
worship, In righteousness and holy living before him all our days. And you,
child, will be named the prophet of the Most High: you will go before the face
of the Lord, to make ready his ways; To give knowledge of salvation to his
people, through the forgiveness of sins, Because of the loving mercies of our
God, by which the dawn from heaven has come to us, To give light to those in
dark places, and in the shade of death, so that our feet may be guided into the
way of peace. And the child became tall, and strong in spirit; and he was living
in the waste land till the day when he came before the eyes of Israel.
Titles For The
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on
December 06-07/2025
Ecclesiastical Study on the Life of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker/Elias
Bejjani/December 06/ 2025
A video of an important message from the Ambassador of the State of Israel to
America (from this is Beirut Youtube platform)
Israeli Ambassador in Washington: We Don't Want to Work Against Lebanon, But
Against Hezbollah!
Local Anticipation of Repercussions of Karam's Appointment Internationally and
by Israel.
France and Egypt are Following The Lebanese file
Hezbollah Sticks to its Weapons...
Tel Aviv Directs a "Message of Peace to the People of Lebanon"
Salam from Doha: The First Phase of the Army's Plan is Nearing Completion
An Eye on Geagea's Speech
Geagea's Pivotal Speech Today... And Salam: We are Committed to the Decision to
Confine Arms
UN delegation wraps up Lebanon visit with call for international backing for
country at ‘pivotal’ juncture
Lebanon’s Leaders Unite on Technical, Security Track in Talks with Israel
Lebanon arrests six after attack on UN patrol
Lebanon turns to diplomacy as Israel threats loom — can talks hold?
Lebanon–Israel negotiations: Is adding more civilians now on the table?
Heightened border alert in northern Israel as Lebanon diplomacy continues — the
details
US lawmakers urge Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, 'by force if necessary'
Tom Barrack downplays Iraq reports and addresses Lebanese concerns in remarks to
LBCI
PM Salam meets Qatar’s Emir: Lebanon urges Qatar to sustain its vital role and
support international efforts to stabilize the South
Egyptian FM tells LBCI: Cairo backs Lebanon’s efforts to avert escalation with
Israel and restore stability
Hezbollah Challenges Security Council Visit, Army Acts on UNIFIL Attack/Bassam
Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/December 06/2025
Egypt and Russia Discuss Developments in Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on
December 06-07/2025
Bethlehem Christmas tree lit up for first time since Gaza war
Hamas says will give up arms to a Palestinian authority ‘if occupation ends’
Arab, Islamic ‘concern’ over about Israel’s one-way opening of Gaza exit backing
Egypt’s position
Qatar’s PM Says Gaza Ceasefire at Critical Moment
Arab, Muslim States Alarmed by Israeli Plan to Move Gazans to Egypt
Egypt FM urges deployment of stabilization force in Gaza ‘as soon as possible’
Al-Sharaa says Israeli push for buffer zone would endanger Syria
Iran arrests two marathon organizers after hijab breach
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Media Accuse Rouhani of ‘Serving Israel’
Iran Holds Massive Drills in Gulf
Iraq’s New Government Faces Unpredictable Prospects
Yemen Leader Warns against Unilateral Actions Undermining Unity, State
Sovereignty
Macron to Meet Zelenskiy, Starmer and Merz in London on Monday
Russia Unleashes Massive Drone and Missile Attack on Ukraine
Zelenskyy says he had ‘substantive’ phone call with US special envoy Witkoff
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on
December 06-07/2025
Trump’s Phase Two Remarks Revive Questions Over Gaza Article 17/Cairo:
Mohamed Mahmoud/Asharq Al Awsat/December 06/2025
Iran’s Regime Is on Its Knees — Why for God’s Sake Revive It?/Dr. Majid
Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/December 06/2025
Question: “Does God change His mind?”/GotQuestions.org/December 06/2025
Netanyahu might be pardoned but never forgiven/Yossi Mekelberg/Arab
News/December 06, 2025
How reconstruction will be Sudan’s next battlefield/Hafed Al-Ghwell/Arab
News/December 06, 2025
Riyadh is not Mediterranean, but is closer to Greece than many assume/Faisal J.
Abbas/Arab News/December 06, 2025
Selected Face Book & X tweets for /December 06, 2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on
December 06-07/2025
Ecclesiastical Study on the Life of Saint Nicholas
the Wonderworker
Elias Bejjani/December 06/ 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/12/149941/
Today, December 6, the Church celebrates the annual feast of Saint Nicholas the
Wonderworker. Who is he, and what is the story of his ecclesiastical and
spiritual life?
First: Who Is Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker?
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (St. Nicholas of Myra) is one of the most
renowned saints in both Eastern and Western Churches, and among the most
prominent figures in global Christian consciousness. He was known for holiness,
generosity, miracles, and his defense of the true faith. His title “the
Wonderworker” comes from the many miracles attributed to him during his life and
after his repose. He is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, children, and
captives. His life entered Western Christian tradition as well, and he
eventually became the inspiration for the figure of “Santa Claus.”
Second: His Original Name, Family, and Homeland
Name: Nicholas (Νικόλαος in Greek), meaning “victory of the people” or “he who
triumphs for the people.”
Origin and Family: He came from a devout Christian Greek family.
Homeland: He was born in the city of Patara in the region of Lycia in southern
Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), an important early Christian center.
Third: His Birth and Historical Context
He was born between 260–270 AD in Patara, during the period of pagan
persecutions against Christians.
He grew up in a wealthy yet pious household, and his parents dedicated their
wealth to serving the poor.
Fourth: His Ecclesiastical Life and Ministry
From a young age, he was inclined toward piety and asceticism. After the death
of his parents, he secretly distributed much of his inheritance to the needy.
His uncle, the Bishop of Patara, ordained him a deacon and later a priest. After
the death of the Bishop of Myra, the clergy and faithful chose Nicholas as their
bishop—thus becoming Nicholas of Myra the Wonderworker. He became known for wise
leadership, reforming corrupt clergy, and safeguarding the orthodox teachings of
the faith.
Fifth: His Faith and Christian Formation
Saint Nicholas was raised in a devout Christian environment. From childhood, he
was called “the holy boy” for his commitment to prayer, fasting, and helping the
poor. He participated in the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, where he
defended the divinity of Christ against the teachings of Arius. Tradition
recounts that he even struck Arius in defense of the true doctrine.
Sixth: His Works and Miracles
Many miracles and acts of mercy are attributed to Saint Nicholas, including:
Saving three impoverished young women from a life of immorality by secretly
providing their dowries, Calming a storm at sea and rescuing sailors—thus known
as “Patron of Sailors,” Healing the sick and raising the dead, according to
ecclesiastical tradition, Saving three soldiers from execution by proving their
innocence, Miraculously providing grain to feed the people of Myra during a
famine, Casting out demons from those afflicted by evil. For these reasons, he
is called “the Wonderworker” in Eastern Churches.
Seventh: His Personal and Spiritual Qualities
Saint Nicholas was loved by the faithful for his: Mercy and generous charity,
especially in secret giving, Zeal for the true faith and uncompromising defense
of orthodoxy, Humility and asceticism despite being born into wealth, Spiritual
courage in confronting unjust rulers, Wisdom in shepherding his flock andTender
love for children—an image that remains alive today.
Eighth: His Death—Was He Martyred?
Although he endured imprisonment and torture during Emperor Diocletian’s
persecution (303–311 AD), Saint Nicholas was not martyred.
He died a natural death in 343 AD in the city of Myra.
He was buried in his church, which became a shrine known for healing and
miracles.
In 1087, his relics were transferred to Bari, Italy, where they remain today.
Thus, he is not a martyr, but a confessor of the faith for enduring suffering
for Christ.
Ninth: Was He Clergy, Civil, or Military?
Saint Nicholas was entirely a man of the Church: Deacon, Priest, Bishop of
Myra. He held no civil or military roles.
Tenth: Lebanese Traditions Celebrated on His Feast (December 6)
Lebanese Christians maintain ancient customs associated with Saint Nicholas:
Special liturgies in Maronite, Greek Catholic, and Greek Orthodox churches,
Distribution of sweets to children in memory of his generosity, Family visits,
reconciliation, and acts of kindness, Lighting candles for the sick and seeking
his intercession, Maritime rituals in some coastal villages, as he is the patron
of sailors, and Large celebrations and extended liturgies in Sidon, where he is
the patron saint of the city
Eleventh: Churches Named After Him in Lebanon
Lebanon has many churches and monasteries dedicated to Saint Nicholas,
including:
*In Beirut: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral – Achrafieh, St. Nicholas
Greek Catholic Church – Msaytbeh
*In Mount Lebanon: St. Nicholas – Antelias, St. Nicholas Monastery –
Ballouneh,St. Nicholas – Dekwaneh,St. Nicholas – Shweir, St. Nicholas – Aley
*In the North: St. Nicholas – Tripoli, St. Nicholas – Kousba, St. Nicholas –
Ehden,St. Nicholas – Tannourine.
*In the South: St. Nicholas Cathedral – Sidon, St. Nicholas – Jezzine, St.
Nicholas – Maghdousheh.
*In the Bekaa: St. Nicholas – Rachaya, St. Nicholas – Zahle.
The list is long, as Saint Nicholas is among the most widely venerated saints in
Lebanon.
A Prayer for Occupied Lebanon on the Feast of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
O Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, merciful and zealous bishop, lover of the
poor, defender of the oppressed, patron of sailors, travelers, and children—
look upon Lebanon today, this wounded nation torn by wars and occupations,
devoured by the forces of darkness and corruption. We beseech you on your holy
feast to lift your intercession to the Lord Jesus, granting this nation
salvation and peace, restoring to its people freedom and dignity, and protecting
us from injustice, from unlawful weapons, and from every hand that steals the
future of our children.
O Saint Nicholas, shine your grace upon the land of the Cedars, strengthen the
Maronite Church and all churches, and protect the sons and daughters of Lebanon
scattered across the world. Let your feast be a herald of new hope for a
homeland whose resurrection we await.
Amen.
**Note: Some churches celebrate the feast of Saint Nicholas on December 19,
while the Maronite Church and many others celebrate it on December 6 each year.
**The information in this study is cited from various documented ecclesiastical,
theological, research, and media references.
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com
A video of an important message from the Ambassador of
the State of Israel to America (from this is Beirut Youtube platform)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/12/149960/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QLGf_hot3A&t=652s
A video of an important message from the Ambassador of the State of Israel to
America (from this is Beirut Youtube platform) to the Lebanese people, in which
he affirms his country's serious endeavor to reach a lasting peace with Lebanon
based on mutual interests. Through this message, he assures the Lebanese that
Israel has no ambitions for Lebanese territory, and all it seeks and wants is
security, not expansion. In the message, he explained what unites the Lebanese
and Israeli peoples, clarifying that Israel's war is against the terrorist
Hezbollah and the Iranian military arm, and not against Lebanon."
Israeli Ambassador in Washington: We Don't Want to Work
Against Lebanon, But Against Hezbollah!
Al Markaziya/December 6, 2025 (Translated from Arabic)
The account of the Israeli Embassy to the United States of America published an
excerpt from an interview with the Israeli Ambassador in Washington, Yechiel
Leiter, with a Lebanese media outlet, "This Is Beirut," in which he directed a
"message of peace to the people of Lebanon."In the video, Leiter says: "There is
so much we can do together, so why are we allowing extremist actors with
horrific visions to stand in our way?" Leiter spoke directly to the Lebanese
people in the video, noting that the complete disarmament of "Hezbollah" and
cutting off the funding pipeline coming from Iran could open the door to the
peace, economic growth, and shared opportunities envisioned by the Abraham
Accords. He added: "We do not want to work against Lebanon; we want to work
against Hezbollah, against those who fire rockets and threaten the existence of
our state. We do not want to injure civilians, nor do we want our existence
threatened by people acting on behalf of a state or regime in Iran that adopts a
political-religious agenda aimed at eliminating the State of Israel. Their real
goal is to defeat the West and defeat the entire Judeo-Christian civilization."
He concluded: "Moderate Islam wants to live side-by-side with Western
civilization. This is the heart of the conflict. Let us all pray that 2026 will
be the year of the Abraham Accords."
Local Anticipation of Repercussions of Karam's
Appointment Internationally and by Israel.
France and Egypt are Following The Lebanese file
Hezbollah Sticks to its Weapons...
Tel Aviv Directs a "Message of Peace to the People of Lebanon"
Salam from Doha: The First Phase of the Army's Plan is Nearing Completion
An Eye on Geagea's Speech
Al Markaziya/December 6, 2025 (Translated from Arabic)
With the cool weather, political activity has relatively cooled down at the end
of the week. All eyes are now on the phase following Lebanon's appointment of
Ambassador Simon Karam as the head of its representative team to the Mechanism
Committee, and the repercussions of this step. So far, the move appears to be
positive, especially in the context of Beirut's relationship with the
international community in general, and the United States in particular. Last
evening, it was reported that the Pentagon approved the potential sale of $90.5
million worth of medium tactical vehicles (M1085A2 and M1078A2) and related
equipment to Lebanon. However, there is still no clear picture of its reflection
on Israel's decision to militarily escalate against Hezbollah if the Lebanese
state does not move to collect its weapons, as indicators coming from Tel Aviv,
and also from Washington, suggest that the start of negotiations is not linked
to the priority of confining arms.
France and Egypt: Following Developments
To keep pace with the accelerating developments on the Lebanon-Israel front,
French Presidential Envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian will arrive in Beirut next Monday.
As for Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty, he confirmed in a press
interview that there is seriousness on the Lebanese side to implement the
decision to cease aggressions, pointing out that his country is working with the
American side to de-escalate and focus on the diplomatic track to support the
Lebanese government's plan. He added that Egypt supports every diplomatic and
political path that wards off the specter of aggression from Lebanon and
achieves stability in the region.
Hezbollah and Washington's Stance
Amidst this atmosphere, and in positions that do not inspire optimism that the
possibility of war has decreased, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem
affirmed yesterday that the party refuses to surrender its weapons and that
there is no such thing as "north of the Litani." Meanwhile, the "Jewish Insider"
website indicated that a bipartisan group of US Congress members (Republicans
and Democrats) sent a letter to President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam,
demanding that they take urgent action to disarm "Hezbollah," using force if
necessary. The group accused the Lebanese government of failing to fulfill its
promises and commitments to disarm "Hezbollah," and threatened to withdraw US
support if it does not change course.
Salam's Message (Israel)
In the meantime, the Israeli Embassy's account in the United States posted an
excerpt from a press interview with the Israeli Ambassador in Washington,
Yechiel Leiter, in which he directed a "message of peace to the people of
Lebanon." Leiter said in the video: "There is so much we can do together, so why
are we allowing extremist actors with horrific visions to stand in our way?"
Leiter addressed the Lebanese people directly in the video, noting that the
complete disarmament of "Hezbollah" and cutting off the funding pipeline from
Iran could open the door to the peace, economic growth, and shared opportunities
envisioned by the Abraham Accords. He added: "We do not want to work against
Lebanon, we want to work against Hezbollah, against those who fire rockets and
threaten the existence of our state. We do not want to hit civilians, and we do
not want our existence threatened by people acting on behalf of a state or
regime in Iran that adopts a political-religious agenda aimed at eliminating the
State of Israel. Their real goal is to defeat the West and defeat the entire
Judeo-Christian civilization." He concluded: "Moderate Islam wants to live
side-by-side with Western civilization. This is the heart of the conflict. Let
us all pray that 2026 will be the year of the Abraham Accords."
The First Phase (Salam in Doha)
While awaiting any official Lebanese position on Qassem's uncompromising stance
regarding the surrender of arms and his criticism of appointing a civilian to
the Mechanism (considering it a failure and a free concession), Prime Minister
Nawaf Salam met with the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al
Thani, in Doha, following the opening session of the Doha Forum. Salam affirmed
his keenness to maintain the best relations between the two countries and
expressed his appreciation for Qatar's continuous support for Lebanon,
particularly in the economic and diplomatic fields. He praised the role played
by Doha in supporting stability efforts in Lebanon and strengthening the
capabilities of its legitimate institutions, noting that "the Lebanese Army
continues to carry out its tasks of extending state authority using its own
capabilities, starting from south of the Litani where the first phase is nearing
completion." Salam also stressed the "necessity of intensifying diplomatic
mobilization to pressure Israel to stop its aggressions and withdraw from the
areas it still occupies," calling on the State of Qatar to continue its vital
role in supporting this endeavor and enhancing international efforts aimed at
consolidating stability in the South. Salam affirmed his government's commitment
to moving forward with implementing reforms and strengthening state sovereignty
over all its territories, expressing his aspiration to expand bilateral
cooperation in the coming phase.
Qatari Support: During the meeting, the Emir of Qatar affirmed the continuation
of Qatar's political and economic support for Lebanon, noting that Doha will
soon announce a new package of support projects designated for Lebanon. Salam
also met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. Sheikh Mohammed bin
Abdulrahman Al Thani affirmed Qatar's continued support for Lebanon, with a new
package of support projects to be announced soon. President Salam, in turn,
expressed his great appreciation for the role played by Qatar in supporting
Lebanon, enhancing its stability, and backing its institutions. Al-Sharaa: Salam
also met with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa at the beginning of the "Doha
Forum." During the meeting, the focus was on ways to enhance cooperation and
develop bilateral relations between Lebanon and Syria.
Ambassadors' Tour and UNIFIL
In the field, the tour of the delegation of ambassadors from the UN Security
Council members in the South stood out today, where they inspected the aftermath
of the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah to assess the situation and
discuss the future of the border situation between Lebanon and Israel, and
between Lebanon and Syria, after the end of the UNIFIL mandate next summer.
Arrest of Assailants: This tour came as the Army Command - Directorate of
Guidance announced in a statement that "on the night of 3-4 / 12 / 2025, a
number of citizens assaulted a patrol of the United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL) on the road of Tyre - Bint Jbeil, resulting in damage to one of
its vehicles, without any injuries among its personnel. The Army immediately
began following up on the matter to pursue the perpetrators, and as a result of
the follow-up, the Intelligence Directorate arrested six people involved in the
assault." The Command stressed the "seriousness of any attack on UNIFIL,
affirming that it will not tolerate pursuing those involved," and highlighted
the essential role UNIFIL plays in the area south of the Litani, the close
coordination relationship between it and the Army, and its effective
contribution to efforts to restore stability. The investigation with the
detainees has commenced under the supervision of the competent judiciary.
Geagea's Speech
On another front, the Lebanese Forces (LF) party is preparing for the party's
first General Conference tomorrow, Sunday, in Maarab. 1,200 participants from
Lebanon and the diaspora are expected to convene at the conference. The
conference represents the LF's spread across 70 countries through delegates from
communities and organizational centers, in addition to 700 centers from various
Lebanese regions, ensuring a complete and present party map. The speech of party
leader Samir Geagea is considered the key event of the conference, where he is
expected to address all national issues and the Lebanese Forces' position in the
political scene, serving as a formal declaration of the party's roadmap and
future directions.
Geagea's Pivotal Speech Today... And Salam: We are
Committed to the Decision to Confine Arms
Nidaa Al-Watan/December 07/2025 (Translated from Arabic)
All eyes are turned today, Sunday afternoon, towards Maarab, where the Lebanese
Forces (LF) party is holding its general conference. The conference will be
attended by 1,200 people from Lebanon and the diaspora, and includes the
presentation of sensitive files that define the party's future, in addition to
papers that will form the basis of its political direction. The conference will
feature a speech by party leader Samir Geagea, and another by the party's
Secretary-General Emile Mekarzil. According to Nidaa Al-Watan sources, Geagea's
speech will be pivotal, carrying many meanings and political messages, as he
will detail the LF's essential role across all eras.
International Support for Lebanon
Meanwhile, the delegation of member states of the UN Security Council concluded
its visit to Lebanon yesterday with a press conference. The current President of
the Security Council, Slovenian Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, spoke during the
conference, saying that the delegation, during its meetings with Lebanese
officials, reiterated the Security Council's support for Lebanon's territorial
integrity, sovereignty, and political independence. He also affirmed commitment
to the full implementation of Resolution 1701, support for the Lebanese
government's decision to ensure the exclusivity of arms in the hands of the
state, and support for economic and institutional reforms in Lebanon with the
aim of paving the way for international support for the recovery and
reconstruction process.
Salam in Doha
In a related context, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in an interview with "Alaraby
Television" on the sidelines of his participation in the "Doha Forum," affirmed
the government's commitment to confining arms in the area south of the Litani
River by the end of the current year. He also considered the participation of a
civilian in the meetings of the "Mechanism" committee an "unprecedented matter"
in the negotiation process, which has "moved to a higher level that transcends
the purely military framework." Salam revealed that Speaker of Parliament Nabih
Berri was aware of Ambassador Simon Karam's participation in the meetings and
did not object to it, stressing that Israeli talk about economic cooperation
with Lebanon is "premature and will only materialize after reaching a
comprehensive and just peace." Yesterday was a busy day of important meetings
for Salam in Qatar. He met with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and discussed
ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries and develop bilateral
Lebanese-Syrian relations. He also met with the Emir of the State of Qatar,
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who reiterated his country's support for
Lebanon, noting that Doha will soon announce a new package of support projects
designated for Lebanon. For his part, Salam affirmed that the "Lebanese Army
continues to carry out its tasks of extending state authority using its own
capabilities, starting from south of the Litani where the first phase is nearing
completion." He also stressed the need to intensify diplomatic mobilization to
pressure Israel to stop its aggressions and withdraw from the areas it still
occupies. In front of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja
Kallas, Salam spoke about the urgent need to support the Lebanese Army to enable
it to complete its missions. He also pointed to the need for a UN force, even of
limited size, to fill any potential vacuum after the end of the UNIFIL mission
and contribute to maintaining stability in the South. Also in Doha, a notable
meeting took place between Salam and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who
received an invitation from the Prime Minister to visit Lebanon next year.
Concurrently, and in the context of Hezbollah's stance rejecting the appointment
of former Ambassador Simon Karam as head of the Lebanese delegation to the
"Mechanism" committee, MP Hussein El Hage Hassan said that "the naming of a
civilian by state pillars is a free concession to the enemy and America, and we
hope this measure does not expose Lebanon to danger." He added, "We in Hezbollah
understand the political circumstances, but we will not understand a free
concession to the enemy."
UN delegation wraps up Lebanon visit
with call for international backing for country at ‘pivotal’ juncture
Ephrem Kossaify/Arab News/December 06, 2025
NEW YORK: A UN Security Council delegation wrapped up its visit to Lebanon on
Friday, saying the trip underscored international backing for the country at
what it described as a pivotal moment for maintaining calm along its southern
border and advancing implementation of long-standing UN resolutions.
Samuel Zbogar, Slovenia’s ambassador to the UN and president of the Security
Council for December, said the delegation had received “warm hospitality” from
Lebanese officials, and highlighted the council’s “strong commitment” to
Lebanon’s stability and that of the wider region. “The council regularly
deliberates on the situation in Lebanon and along the Blue Line,” Zbogar told
reporters in Beirut. He said the visit is a further demonstration of the
council’s commitment, coming at a pivotal time for implementing relevant
resolutions and the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah brokered in
November 2024. During the trip, the delegation held meetings with Lebanon’s
president, parliament speaker, prime minister and foreign minister. Members were
also briefed by the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, the head of the UN
peacekeeping mission, UN officials in Lebanon, and a US general involved in the
ceasefire mechanism.
The delegation also toured the Blue Line area and UNIFIL headquarters. Zbogar
said discussions focused on Lebanon’s political, economic, and security
situation, with particular attention to UNIFIL’s work and the Lebanese Armed
Force’s role in maintaining stability. “This mission is a demonstration of the
international community’s support for Lebanon and its people,” he said,
reaffirming the council’s backing for the country’s territorial integrity,
sovereignty, and political independence. He urged all parties to uphold last
year’s ceasefire agreement and noted “progress achieved by Lebanon this year.”
He also praised UNIFIL and the UN Special Coordinator’s office for their role in
de-escalation efforts, adding that the safety of peacekeepers “must be respected
and they must never be targeted.” Zbogar called for intensified international
support to the Lebanese Armed Forces, including for their continued deployment
south of the Litani River, and welcomed the government’s commitment to ensuring
a state monopoly on arms. He said the council also used the visit to
examine options for implementing Resolution 1701 once UNIFIL leaves Lebanon,
saying that the issue will require “thorough conversation during 2026” and that
members were awaiting recommendations from the UN secretary-general. The
delegation also reiterated support for Lebanon’s economic and institutional
reforms, which international donors have made a condition for unlocking major
recovery and reconstruction assistance.
Lebanon’s Leaders Unite on Technical, Security Track in Talks with Israel
Beirut: Mohamed Choucair/Asharq Al Awsat/December 06/2025
Cabinet sources said Lebanon’s three top leaders remain aligned as negotiations
with Israel move into a new phase, marked by the appointment of a civilian
envoy, former ambassador to Washington and lawyer Simon Karam, to lead Lebanon’s
delegation to the Mechanism Committee. The move is intended to jolt the
committee out of months of stagnation and push it toward a security agreement
anchored in enforcing a cessation of hostilities, after earlier rounds were
dominated by routine tallies of Israeli violations conducted with United Nations
peacekeepers. The sources said the leaders’ agreement to pull the Mechanism out
of its deadlock coincided with drawing political boundaries for the talks. These
boundaries are strictly limited to ending Israeli violations and attacks,
securing a withdrawal from the south, releasing Lebanese detainees, and
revisiting and correcting border demarcation in response to Lebanon’s
reservations over disputed points along the Blue Line that it considers part of
its sovereign territory. The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Lebanon insists
on restricting the negotiations to non-negotiable security issues. It will not
allow the talks to drift into discussions on normalizing relations with Israel
or striking a peace agreement. This position is shared by President Joseph Aoun,
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who was the
first to propose adding civilians to the Mechanism. The three leaders reiterated
their stance ahead of the first round of talks, attended by US envoy Morgan
Ortagus and joined by Karam, in defiance of the agenda set by Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They said Netanyahu is trying to raise the stakes
to provoke Hezbollah against the state and sow confusion, even as the Israeli
army continues its violations to turn the group’s base against it. This became
evident in the targeting of several homes between the banks of the Litani River,
despite containing no weapons depots. The sources said Netanyahu is escalating
militarily to force Lebanon to accept Israeli terms, although he knows the
negotiations will not deviate from their technical and security framework.
Lebanon, they said, remains committed to ensuring that only the state holds
weapons. The sources noted Berri’s insistence that he was the first to propose
adding civilians to the Mechanism and asked where Hezbollah Secretary-General
Sheikh Naim Qassem stands on this proposal. They asked whether he ever objected
to his “older brother’s” suggestion, given that Qassem had declared in an open
letter to the three leaders that he rejects negotiations with Israel. Qassem
later walked back parts of that letter by having a senior Hezbollah official
convey a message that Berri was not its intended target, in an effort to prevent
a rupture within the Shiite political camp. The sources also questioned why
Hezbollah objects to the talks if its “older brother” is the one negotiating on
its behalf and was behind the United States mediated ceasefire agreement
brokered by Amos Hochstein.
They said the only card Hezbollah has left is raising the ceiling of its
objections, since it no longer has the ability to reset the negotiating table at
a time when the balance of power has tilted in Israel’s favor, particularly
after the group’s unilateral support for Gaza cost it its previous deterrence
and rules of engagement.
The sources said Hezbollah lacks alternatives that would allow it to reverse the
balance of power and is limiting itself to loud political objections that it
cannot translate into military action. This comes despite its insistence on
keeping its weapons and its accusation that the Salam government committed a
mistake by agreeing to the principle that arms must be exclusively in the hands
of the state, beginning from north of the Litani to Lebanon’s international
border with Syria, in parallel with progress in the negotiations.
They said Hezbollah is forced to calibrate its position, since it cannot afford
to break with Aoun or jeopardize its alliance with Berri, a rupture that would
leave the group exposed at a moment when it seeks internal protection.
Any strain in these relationships would also create negative repercussions for
the Shiite community. The sources asked why the group does not place its cards
in Berri’s hands, as he is better positioned to navigate Shiite public sentiment
that seeks the liberation of the south and the return of its residents to their
villages. Berri is viewed, even by rivals, as the essential gatekeeper to any
settlement that could restore international attention to Lebanon and open a path
for reconstruction. He enjoys Arab and international ties that Hezbollah lacks,
as the group remains reliant solely on Iran. The sources said the negotiations’
entry into a new phase prompted United States pressure on Israel to prevent the
war from expanding, after Lebanon agreed to Washington’s request to add a
civilian to the Mechanism and task him with leading the delegation. They urged
Hezbollah to stand behind the state’s diplomatic choice and said the group’s
fears that the talks could lead to a peace treaty with Israel are unfounded.
They noted that Berri himself was the first to support bringing civilians into
the process, which should reassure Hezbollah and encourage it to give diplomacy
a chance. They added that Salam is not acting unilaterally and is coordinating
with Aoun. Both leaders are working together to implement the government’s
commitment to ensuring that only the state holds weapons. They also revealed
that communication between Aoun and Berri has not stopped. The two men reviewed
the atmosphere surrounding the Mechanism’s meeting in Naqoura before the latest
cabinet session. According to the sources, Berri instructed his parliamentary
bloc and senior Amal Movement members not to comment on the negotiations,
positively or negatively. The directive came because he wants to centralize the
political message and avoid dragging party members on both sides into disputes
that could spill into the streets. Hezbollah, they said, also wants to protect
its relationship with its sole remaining ally in Lebanon after its former
partners in the so-called Axis of Resistance endorsed the principle of exclusive
state authority over weapons. The sources said Hezbollah knows that avenues for
repairing its Arab and international relations remain closed, unlike Berri who
maintains wide ties. They questioned what Hezbollah is counting on after its
leadership rejected Egypt’s initiative, insisting, according to Western
diplomatic sources cited by Asharq Al-Awsat, on linking its position to US-Iran
negotiations in hopes of safeguarding Iran’s leverage in Lebanon after regional
setbacks for the Axis. They said the government will take note of Hezbollah’s
objection, although it will have no impact on the course of the talks. Hezbollah
will not mobilize its supporters in the streets to avoid friction with Amal,
particularly since Berri does not oppose the launch of negotiations, which
remain tied to liberating the south and implementing Resolution 1701. Any
attempt by Hezbollah to outbid Berri for populist gain would backfire and weaken
the group’s standing within its own community.
Lebanon arrests six after attack on UN patrol
AFP/December 06, 2025
BEIRUT: The Lebanese army has arrested six people after gunmen attacked UN
peacekeepers patrolling in the south of the country, the military said Saturday.
The UN force, known as UNIFIL, had reported that six men riding on three mopeds
opened fire on a patrol vehicle Thursday without hurting anyone. Saturday’s
statement said the army’s intelligence directorate had followed up on the attack
and arrested six Lebanese suspects. The army said it would not tolerate attacks
on UNIFIL, which it said carries out an important stabilising role south of the
Litani river, near the Israeli border. UNIFIL peacekeepers have been tasked with
acting as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon since March 1978, and with
monitoring the November 2024 ceasefire that sought to halt more than a year of
hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The truce was supposed to see Israeli
forces withdraw from Lebanon and refrain from attacks while the Iran-backed
group is disarmed. But Hezbollah is resisting those efforts, and in recent weeks
Israel has stepped up its ongoing strikes, accusing the group of trying to build
its forces. UNIFIL has also recently complained of Israeli forces firing at or
near its peacekeepers. On Wednesday, direct discussions were held for the first
time in decades between Israeli and Lebanese civilian officials under the
auspices of a ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
Lebanon turns to diplomacy as Israel threats loom — can
talks hold?
LBCI/December 06/2025
Lebanon faced two options: a wide, destructive war or a postponement of that
war, pushing back its bitter cup. President Joseph Aoun, in consultation with
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, moved toward the
second option. Israel had threatened Lebanon and gave it until December 31 to
address the issue of restricting Hezbollah’s weapons, warning that it would act
itself if Lebanon failed to do so. But those threats were disputed by Western
and Arab diplomats in Beirut, according to LBCI information. What, then, was
Israel planning to do? Information indicates that the strikes would not have
been limited to Hezbollah targets but would have also hit Lebanese
infrastructure in an attempt to pressure the Lebanese state. This prompted the
decision to open negotiations by sending a civilian representative of the
Lebanese state. Dispatching a civilian elevates representation and raises
questions about which files may be discussed in the future.The civilian
participation — through former Ambassador Simon Karam — pushed away the specter
of war, as President Aoun said. But how? It opened a channel for direct dialogue
with Israel and signaled to the international community — which Lebanese
officials have been urging to pressure Tel Aviv — that Lebanon is ready for
negotiations and dialogue, and does not seek war. The step was welcomed by
ambassadors of the U.N. Security Council member states who met Lebanese
officials, inspected destruction in Naqoura, saw the occupied Labbouneh Hill up
close, and were briefed by UNIFIL on the situation on the ground, the Blue Line,
Israeli violations, and measures taken in coordination with the Lebanese army.
The delegation saw firsthand the reality Lebanon has faced for the past year — a
development expected to put pressure on Israel to offer guarantees against
escalation. Lebanon does not want war, but rather a peace that preserves its
sovereignty and the safety of its territory.
Lebanon–Israel negotiations: Is adding more civilians now
on the table?
LBCI/December 06/2025
The second round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel within the
framework of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism is scheduled for December 19.
Until then, several developments may emerge, especially amid growing talk of
adding more civilians from both sides to the committee. According to LBCI
information, and in response to a question about whether additional Lebanese
civilians may join the delegation, sources familiar with the file said this
would happen if needed. Other Western sources also told LBCI, when asked about
expanding civilian representation on both sides, that this is a right for all
parties, noting that the picture may become clearer in the coming weeks. Iran
has not issued any official comment on the negotiations yet. But in a statement
to LBCI, Iranian official Saeed Khatibzadeh, who was participating in the Doha
Forum, stressed that his country does not intervene in Lebanese affairs.Although
it remains unclear whether these negotiations will succeed in curbing Israeli
attacks on Lebanon, it is certain that they have contributed to delaying the
widespread war Israel is seeking. These developments come as part of broader
efforts led by several countries, foremost among them Egypt. Egypt’s foreign
minister, speaking from Doha to LBCI, said his country supports the negotiation
track between Lebanon and Israel and revealed that the Egyptian prime minister
is expected to visit Beirut soon. Given these developments, all eyes remain on
the second round of negotiations and whether it will offer clearer indications
about the next phase.
Heightened border alert in northern Israel as Lebanon
diplomacy continues — the details
LBCI/December 06/2025
Alongside efforts to advance the diplomatic track with Lebanon at the second
ceasefire monitoring mechanism meeting expected December 19 in Naqoura — for
which Tel Aviv has already begun preparations — northern Israeli leaders and
settlers are living in anxiety over a potential serious security escalation that
could force them to relocate again toward central Israel. Northern settlement
leaders are relying on Israeli security plans they have reviewed, which indicate
that attacks on Lebanon will not stop. The army intends to intensify them to
undermine Hezbollah’s capabilities, keeping the northern region on edge.
According to the details of these plans, Israel intends to conduct intensive
operations to destroy rocket platforms, weapons depots, drones, weapons
production sites, and training facilities as a first stage, aiming to weaken
Hezbollah before seriously moving toward the diplomatic track.
While Israel views weakening Hezbollah as a necessary step to reach future
diplomatic agreements with Lebanon, it has repeatedly stressed that
strengthening the Syrian regime through security understandings with Damascus
will also weaken Hezbollah, specifically to prevent weapons smuggling to the
group. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv is preparing for the anticipated end-of-month meeting
between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu, during which Netanyahu will present his perspective on disputed
points with Syria, potentially paving the way for a security agreement with
Damascus, with expectations that a similar arrangement with Lebanon could also
be discussed. Pending that, the Israeli army is focusing its operations on
Hezbollah and raising alert and monitoring levels along the border, citing fears
of infiltration attempts targeting soldiers and sites in northern areas.
US lawmakers urge Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, 'by force if
necessary'
Naharnet/December 06/2025
A group of U.S. members of Congress have sent a letter to President Joseph Aoun
and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam calling for the disarmament of Hezbollah, saying
the process “must begin now, even by force if necessary.”The lawmakers said
Lebanon committed under the November 2024 ceasefire to launch a gradual process
to dismantle Hezbollah’s military structure and restore state authority across
the country, but argued that “empty promises and partial measures that fall
short of disarmament are nowhere near enough.”They warned that the absence of
real progress has allegedly allowed Hezbollah to rearm and rebuild positions,
including in areas south of the Litani River where it is prohibited from
operating under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. According to the letter,
the ongoing delay brings Lebanon “closer to a new war” and deeper under the
influence of “an armed organization loyal to Iran, not the Lebanese people.”It
said families in the South remain displaced and unable to rebuild, while the
ceasefire has “enabled Hezbollah to rebuild its strength.” The lawmakers argued
that Lebanon cannot achieve reforms, economic stability or long-term prosperity
while Hezbollah remains armed and the national army is “marginalized before a
militia acting as a state within a state.” “The era of unfulfilled promises is
over,” the letter stated, warning that alleged continued Hezbollah rearmament
and threats along the Israeli border could prompt Israel to act. It also said
the United States would find it increasingly difficult to justify continued
support for a government that does not meet its commitments. They urged
Lebanon’s leadership to “seize this moment” and implement Hezbollah’s
disarmament, saying the government has an opportunity to steer the country
toward lasting stability and peace. A copy of the letter was also sent to
Defense Minister Michel Menassa and Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal.
Tom Barrack downplays Iraq reports and addresses Lebanese
concerns in remarks to LBCI
LBCI/December 06/2025
In comments to LBCI, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom
Barrack, confirmed that negotiations between Syria and Israel are continuing,
describing the diplomatic process as “baby steps” given the region’s volatility.
“The dialogue continues,” he said, noting that discussions have remained steady
as the parties work toward a potential resolution. Barrack also addressed his
recent trip to Iraq, rejecting reports that he carried a warning about possible
Israeli action should Iraqi factions intervene in support of Hezbollah.
“Don't believe everything that you read or that you hear in other news,” he
said, adding that he does not comment on private U.S. communications with
foreign counterparts. He emphasised Washington’s concern for Iraq, calling the
regional landscape “very delicate” and describing Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria,
Israel, and Turkey as “five fingers in one glove.”When pressed again on the
purpose of his visit, Barrack offered a lighthearted response: “I like the
food.”Barrack brushed off criticism from some Lebanese voices questioning his
public remarks on Lebanon, saying he had “no comment” and pointing to U.S.
Ambassador Michel Issa. “He's a great ambassador. He's going to do a terrific
job.” Asked about U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus, he replied briefly: “Talk to
Morgan. She works at the U.N.”
PM Salam meets Qatar’s Emir: Lebanon urges Qatar to sustain
its vital role and support international efforts to stabilize the South
LBCI/December 06/2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Metri met with
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani following the opening session of
the Doha Forum. During the meeting, the Emir reaffirmed Qatar’s continued
political and economic support for Lebanon, noting that Doha will soon announce
a new package of assistance projects dedicated to the country. Prime Minister
Salam stressed his commitment to maintaining the strongest possible bilateral
relations, expressing his appreciation for Qatar’s ongoing support, particularly
in the economic and diplomatic fields. He also praised Doha’s role in backing
efforts to stabilize Lebanon and strengthen the capacities of its legitimate
institutions. Salam noted that the Lebanese Army continues to carry out its
mission to assert state authority using its own capabilities, starting from
south of the Litani River, where the first phase of the plan is nearing
completion.
He emphasized the need to intensify diplomatic efforts to pressure Israel to
halt its attacks and withdraw from the areas it continues to occupy, calling on
Qatar to maintain its vital role in supporting this effort and bolstering
international initiatives aimed at reinforcing stability in the south. The prime
minister reiterated his government’s commitment to advancing reforms and
strengthening state authority across all Lebanese territory, expressing his hope
for expanding bilateral cooperation in the coming phase.
Egyptian FM tells LBCI: Cairo backs Lebanon’s efforts to
avert escalation with Israel and restore stability
LBCI/December 06/2025
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told LBCI that Lebanon is demonstrating
genuine commitment to implementing the decision to halt hostilities. The Foreign
Minister emphasized that Egypt is working with the United States to de-escalate
tensions and reinforce diplomatic efforts in support of the Lebanese
government’s plan.Abdelatty added that Egypt supports all diplomatic and
political paths that can spare Lebanon the threat of aggression and help achieve
stability in the region.
Hezbollah Challenges Security Council Visit, Army Acts on
UNIFIL Attack
Bassam Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/December 06/2025
The 15 UN Security Council ambassadors visiting Lebanon received reactions to
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem’s recent speech. In it, he
opposed the appointment of Simon Karam as head of Lebanon’s negotiating
delegation with Israel and reiterated the group’s refusal to disarm, saying that
any impact would be limited to the area south of the Litani River. Diplomatic
sources said the statement surprised the ambassadors, particularly as it
contradicted what they had heard from President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister
Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. More importantly, it conflicts
with UN resolutions 1701 and 1559, as well as the existing ceasefire agreement.
The ambassadors reportedly questioned how a government that, on August 5,
decided to maintain exclusive control of weapons across the country could allow
Hezbollah, represented within that government, to continue discussing the
expansion of its arsenal and preparations to respond to Israeli attacks. These
actions were seen as defying government decisions and attempting to revive a
reality that ended after the last war. The ambassadors also focused on an
incident that occurred on the eve of their visit, when armed Hezbollah members
fired on a UNIFIL patrol in the Bint Jbeil area. One vehicle was hit, but there
were no casualties. Diplomatic sources stressed that Lebanon, which continues to
seek international guarantees for the south and a potential replacement for
UNIFIL, must conduct a thorough investigation and hold the attackers
accountable. Doing so would send a clear message to the international community
that the state maintains control over security on its territory and is committed
to enforcing the ceasefire and relevant UN resolutions. The incident took place
south of the Litani River, where the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) continue
efforts to clear the area of weapons and armed groups. Sources warned that
Lebanese authorities should not treat this incident with the same leniency as
previous similar events. A decisive response would signal that Lebanon has
entered a new phase focused on asserting state authority. In response to these
international observations, the LAF swiftly acted, arresting six suspects
involved in the attack on the UNIFIL patrol. This marks the first such
development since the ceasefire, and the suspects have been referred to the
competent judiciary.Sources indicated that upon returning to New York, UN
Security Council ambassadors will hold several closed-door sessions to review
their observations from Lebanon and develop a realistic, balanced assessment of
the situation. Their discussions could inform future decisions regarding
Lebanon, including a potential replacement for UNIFIL or a mechanism to ensure
an international presence south of the Litani River. Such measures may not
directly go through the Security Council but could be backed by the five
permanent member states, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom,
both of which maintain permanent coordination with Israel.
Egypt and Russia Discuss Developments in Sudan, Syria,
Lebanon, Gaza
Cairo: Asharq Al Awsat/December 06/2025
Egypt and Russia discussed developments in Sudan, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza on
Friday during a phone call between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and
his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, in the latest round of ongoing
coordination and consultations between the two countries on bilateral ties and
regional and international issues of mutual concern. The Egyptian Foreign
Ministry said the call covered the close relationship between Egypt and Russia,
which it said has gained growing momentum across various areas of cooperation,
particularly economic and trade fields. Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s pride in the
strategic partnership binding the two countries, describing it as the governing
framework for bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors. He stressed the
need to continue joint work to advance ongoing projects, notably the Dabaa
nuclear plant, in order to boost Russian investment in Egypt and expand
cooperation between both sides. Last month, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
and Russian President Vladimir Putin witnessed via video conference the
installation of the pressure vessel for the first reactor unit at the nuclear
plant, as well as the signing of the nuclear fuel procurement order. Experts
described the step as the first milestone toward nuclear energy production. El-Dabaa
plant is Egypt’s first nuclear power facility, located in the town of Dabaa in
Marsa Matrouh governorate on the Mediterranean coast. Russia and Egypt signed a
cooperation agreement in November 2015 to build the plant, with the contracts
entering into force in December 2017. Abdelatty underscored during Friday’s call
the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and moving
ahead with the second phase of the US president’s peace plan for Gaza, noting
the need to enable the international stabilization force to carry out its
mandate and consolidate the ceasefire. According to the Foreign Ministry,
Abdelatty outlined Egypt’s efforts within the Quad mechanism to stop the
conflict and preserve the unity and integrity of the Sudanese state. He also
reiterated Egypt’s longstanding position supporting the unity, sovereignty,
security and stability of Lebanon. He renewed Cairo’s call for respecting the
unity and sovereignty of Syrian territory and rejecting any actions or
interventions that could undermine the country’s stability, urging the
activation of a comprehensive political process that meets the aspirations of
the Syrian people. Egypt said in late November that it hoped to see the start of
a political process in Sudan without exclusion and reaffirmed its respect for
Sudanese sovereignty. The Quad, which groups Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United
Arab Emirates and the United States, has been working to secure a ceasefire in
Sudan. It held a ministerial meeting in Washington in September and stressed the
need to exert every effort to resolve the conflict. In August, it proposed a
roadmap calling for a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a permanent
ceasefire, paving the way for a political process and the formation of an
independent civilian government within nine months. The call also touched on
developments related to Iran’s nuclear program. Abdelatty stressed the
importance of continued efforts to de-escalate tensions, build confidence and
create conditions that offer a real opportunity for diplomatic solutions and the
resumption of talks aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement that
accommodates the interests of all parties and contributes to regional security
and stability. Separately, Abdelatty and Lavrov discussed the war in Ukraine.
The Egyptian foreign minister reiterated Cairo’s consistent position that
efforts must continue to pursue peaceful settlements to crises through dialogue
and diplomatic means in a way that preserves security and stability.
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December 06-07/2025
Bethlehem Christmas tree lit up for first time since
Gaza war
AFP/December 06, 2025
BETHLEHEM, Palestinian Territories: Christmas cheer returned to the traditional
birthplace of Jesus Christ on Saturday as Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank
lit up a tree for the first time since the war in Gaza began over two years ago.
Covered in red and gold baubles, the Christmas tree standing meters away from
the Church of the Nativity on Manger Square has become a symbol of hope. At the
end of a two-hour ceremony, the tree was illuminated to cheers, its yellow
lights twinkling and a bright red star on top shining against the clouded night
sky irradiated by a luminescent, almost full moon. It is the first time the city
has held the usual celebrations since the outbreak of the war in Gaza following
Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023. “It’s like a symbol for resilience,”
said 27-year-old Abeer Shtaya, who works at Al-Zaytoonah University of Science
and Technology in Salfit in the West Bank.
She had traveled 100 kilometers (60 miles) with a group of the university’s
students because “we want to celebrate and be with our brothers and sisters in
Bethlehem to enjoy this day.” “It’s a message for the world that it’s calm,”
Mike Shahen, 43, said at his ceramic store on the square, after a handful of
visitors came in for purchases. Thousands of people attended, including
Christians and Muslims, and many who traveled from Palestinian territories and
Israel — some from even further afield — to enjoy the festive spirit return.
Nuns could be seen watching from one roof, while many families including small
children filled balconies and roofs to catch a glimpse of the tree lit up.
Sounds of laughter filled the air as many could not help but smile despite
moments of rain. “This event didn’t happen for the last two years because of the
war and it’s quite emotional after two years of nothing but war and death,” said
50-year-old Liyu Lu, who had traveled from northern Israel, close to the border
with Lebanon. Originally from China but now living in Israel for decades, she
was with a group including Gary Lau, a traveling businessman and Christian
staying in Jerusalem for the past couple of months. “Being here, with the
festivities, is something very nice and special,” Lau, 51, said, adding he was
“taking in the atmosphere.”For the past two years, Bethlehem has celebrated
Christmas in a more somber manner, with no major public festivities.
Tentative return -
Christian pilgrims, especially from Asia, South America and eastern Europe have,
however, slowly returned in the past few months.Fabien Safar, guide and director
of Terra Dei which organizes pilgrimages to the Holy Land, said a few small
groups would come for Christmas this year and he already saw some bookings for
2026. Safar expected a real recovery in 2027 but “this obviously depends on how
the situation evolves” in Gaza and Lebanon. Despite a November 2024 ceasefire
that was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and
militant group Hezbollah, Israel has kept up strikes on Lebanon. Pilgrims
“remain afraid because there’s no official end to the war” in Gaza, Safar said,
adding they were also worried about the situation in Lebanon.
‘Worse than Covid’
But it has all taken a toll on Bethlehem, which had only just cheered the return
of tourists in 2022 after the Covid pandemic, before the war in Gaza broke out.
Bethlehem’s economy relies almost completely on tourism. “Covid was bad but
nothing like the last two years,” said Shahen from the ceramic store. Many
visitors from Israel and the Palestinian territories spent hours on the road to
reach Bethlehem including musician Lu. She woke up at 6 am to get a bus at 7 am
with a large group. They arrived at 12:30 pm, she said, without any trouble. War
isn’t the only reason for Bethlehem’s woes.
Since the 2023 Hamas attack, it is more difficult to travel around the West Bank
with long queues on the roads with Israeli military checkpoints. Violence in the
West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has also surged since the Gaza
war. It has not stopped despite the fragile truce between Israel and Hamas that
began this October.
Hamas says will give up arms to a Palestinian authority ‘if occupation ends’
AFP/December 07, 2025
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Hamas said Saturday it was ready to hand
over its weapons in the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian authority governing the
territory on the condition that the Israeli army’s occupation ends. “Our weapons
are linked to the existence of the occupation and the aggression,” Hamas chief
negotiator and its Gaza chief Khalil Al-Hayya said in a statement, adding: “If
the occupation ends, these weapons will be placed under the authority of the
state.” Asked by AFP, Hayya’s bureau said he was referring to a sovereign and
independent Palestnian state. “We accept the deployment of UN forces as a
separation force, tasked with monitoring the borders and ensuring compliance
with the ceasefire in Gaza,” Hayya added, signalling his group’s rejection of
the deployment of an international force in the Strip whose mission would be to
disarm it.
Arab, Islamic ‘concern’ over about Israel’s one-way opening
of Gaza exit backing Egypt’s position
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia/The Arab Weekly/December 06/2025
The ministers voiced “their absolute rejection of any attempts to expel the
Palestinian people from their land”.
The FM of Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and
the United Arab Emirates urged for the crossing to be opened in both directions.
Gaza mediators Egypt and Qatar and six other Muslim-majority countries said on
Friday they were concerned about Israel stating it would open a one-way crossing
for Palestinians to exit the Strip. The foreign ministers of Egypt, Indonesia,
Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates
“expressed their deep concern regarding the statements issued by the Israeli
side concerning the opening of the Rafah crossing in one direction with the aim
of transferring residents of the Gaza Strip to” Egypt, they said in a joint
statement. The ministers voiced “their absolute rejection of any attempts to
expel the Palestinian people from their land” and said they were against
“compelling any resident of the Gaza Strip to leave”.They urged for the crossing
to be opened in both directions in accordance with US President Donald Trump’s
peace plan. The signatories to the statement backed Egypt’s position as it fears
Israel still harbours plans to push Gazans out of the enclave. Cairo views such
plans as a national security threat. On Wednesday, Israel said it would open the
Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt exclusively to allow residents to exit the
Palestinian territory “in the coming days”. But Egypt swiftly denied that it had
agreed to such a deal, insisting that the key crossing be opened in both
directions. “If an agreement is reached to open the crossing, it will be in both
directions, to enter and exit the Gaza Strip, in accordance with the plan of US
President Donald Trump,” the state information service said in a statement,
quoting an official Egyptian source.
Reopening the Rafah crossing is a part of Trump’s peace plan for the Palestinian
territory, as well as something UN agencies and other humanitarian actors have
long called for. But since the October ceasefire took effect, Israeli
authorities have stalled on the matter, citing Hamas’ failure to return the
bodies of all hostages and the need for coordination with Egypt. Israel’s COGAT,
which oversees civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, said that the
crossing would operate under the supervision of the EU’s Border Assistance
Mission, “similar to the mechanism that operated in January 2025”. The Rafah
crossing into Egypt is a crucial entry point for humanitarian workers and for
lorries transporting aid, food and fuel, which is essential for daily life in a
territory deprived of electricity. For a long time, the crossing was also the
main exit point for Palestinians from Gaza who were authorised to leave the
narrow strip of land, under Israeli blockade since 2007. From 2005 to 2007, it
was the first Palestinian border terminal controlled by the Palestinian
Authority, and later became a symbol of Hamas control over the Gaza Strip after
the militant group seized power. On May 7, 2024, the Israeli army took control
of the Palestinian side, claiming that the crossing was being “used for
terrorist purposes”, amid suspicions of arms trafficking. Trump’s plan, which
underpins the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, stipulates that the
territory would once again become accessible to international humanitarian aid
and that the Rafah crossing would open. But since the ceasefire took effect,
Israeli authorities have stalled on the matter, citing Hamas’ failure to return
the bodies of all hostages and the need for coordination with Egypt. All but one
hostages’ bodies have been returned to Israel.
Qatar’s PM Says Gaza Ceasefire at Critical Moment
Asharq Al Awsat/December 06/2025
Qatar’s Prime Minister on Saturday said the Gaza ceasefire has reached a
“critical moment” as its first phase winds down, with the remains of just one
Israeli hostage still held in Gaza. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani
told an international conference in the Qatari capital that international
mediators, led by the US, are working “to force the way forward” to the second
phase to cement the deal. “What we have just done is a pause,” he told the Doha
Forum. “We cannot consider it yet a ceasefire.”“A ceasefire cannot be completed
unless there is a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, there is stability back in
Gaza, people can go in and out, which is not the case today,” he said. While the
ceasefire halted the heavy fighting of the two-year war, Gaza health officials
say that over 360 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce
took effect in October. The first phase of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point
peace plan took effect Oct. 10. The fighting stopped and dozens of hostages held
in Gaza were exchanged for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prison.
Israel sent a delegation last week to Egypt for talks on returning the remains
of the last hostage. The next phase, which includes the deployment of an
international security force in Gaza, formation of a new technocratic government
for the territory, disarmament of Hamas and an eventual withdrawal of Israeli
forces from Gaza, has not yet begun. Sheikh Mohammed said that even the upcoming
phase should be “temporary” and that peace in the region could only take place
with the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state. “If we are just
resolving what happened in Gaza, the catastrophe that happened in the last two
years, it’s not enough,” he said. “There is a root for this conflict. And this
conflict is not only about Gaza."He added: “It’s about Gaza. It’s about the West
Bank. It’s about the rights of the Palestinians for their state. We are hoping
that we can work together with the US administration to achieve this vision at
the end of the day.”
Arab, Muslim States Alarmed by Israeli Plan to Move Gazans
to Egypt
Riyadh: Asharq Al Awsat/December 06/2025
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan,
Türkiye and Qatar said on Friday they were deeply concerned over Israeli
statements about opening the Rafah crossing in one direction to push Gaza
residents into Egypt. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the eight
countries underlined their total rejection of any attempt to displace the
Palestinian people from their land. They said full adherence was needed to US
President Donald Trump’s plan, which called for opening the Rafah crossing in
both directions, safeguarding freedom of movement and preventing any resident of
the enclave from being forced to leave. The ministers said conditions must be
created for Palestinians to remain on their land and to take part in rebuilding
their homeland within an integrated vision to restore stability and improve
humanitarian conditions. The ministers reiterated their appreciation for Trump’s
commitment to establishing peace in the region, saying it was important to move
forward with the plan and carry out all its requirements without delay or
obstruction in order to achieve security and peace and to strengthen the
foundations of regional stability. They called for a full and lasting ceasefire,
an end to civilian suffering, and unrestricted humanitarian access into Gaza.
They also urged the start of early recovery and reconstruction efforts and the
creation of conditions that would allow the Palestinian Authority to resume its
responsibilities in the territory, paving the way for a new phase of security
and stability in the region. The ministers affirmed their countries’ readiness
to continue working and coordinating with the United States and all relevant
regional and international parties to ensure full implementation of Security
Council Resolution 2803 and all related resolutions. They said the objective was
to provide an environment conducive to achieving a just, comprehensive and
sustainable peace in line with international legitimacy and the two state
solution, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on
the June 4, 1967 borders, including the occupied territories in Gaza and the
West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Egypt FM urges deployment of stabilization force in Gaza
‘as soon as possible’
AFP/December 06/2025
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Saturday urged the rapid deployment
of an international ceasefire monitoring force under the second phase of a peace
deal for the Gaza Strip. “As for the International Stabilization Force, we need
to deploy this force as soon as possible on the ground because one party, which
is Israel, is every day violating the ceasefire... so we need monitors,” the
minister said. He warned that Egypt’s Rafah crossing into Gaza “is not going to
be a gateway for displacement. It’s only for flooding Gaza with humanitarian and
medical care.”
Al-Sharaa says Israeli push for buffer zone would endanger
Syria
Al Arabiya English/December 06/2025
President Ahmed al-Sharaa warned Saturday that Israel’s demand for a
demilitarized zone in southern Syria would endanger his country, as Israeli
forces continue to operate in the area. Israel sent troops into a UN-patrolled
buffer zone which has separated Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights
since 1974. Sharaa’s forces toppled Syria’s longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad’s on
December 8 last year. Israel has also carried out repeated incursions deeper
into Syrian territory since then as well as carrying out bombings, and has said
it wants a demilitarised zone in the country’s south.Al-Sharaa told the Doha
Forum that Syria insists on the importance of the 1974 disengagement agreement
with Israel “that has held for over 50 years - in one way or another it is a
successful agreement.”Tampering with the deal, “which enjoys international
consensus and the consensus of the (UN) Security Council, and seeking other
agreements such as a demilitarized zone... could lead us to a dangerous place,”
he said. The United States is involved in negotiations between Israel and Syria
to address the security concerns of both sides, al-Sharaa said, noting
international support for Syria’s demand that Israel withdrawal to its
pre-December 8 positions. “Syria is the one that is being subjected to Israeli
attack... so who should be the first to request a buffer zone and a withdrawal?”
he said. US President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for a security pact
between Israel and Syria, told Israel on Monday to avoid destabilizing Syria and
its new leadership. The remarks came after Israeli forces late last month killed
at least 13 people in an operation in southern Syria that Israel’s military said
targeted Jama’a Islamiya - a Lebanese Sunni group which fired rockets at Israel
from Lebanon during the Gaza war. The Syrian foreign ministry condemned the
operation as a “war crime” and accused Israel of wanting to “ignite the
region.”In November, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli
troops deployed in the Golan Heights buffer zone, calling their presence
immensely important to their country’s security while drawing a sharp rebuke
from Damascus and others in the region.with AFP
Iran arrests two marathon organizers after hijab breach
AFP/December 06/2025
Iranian authorities have arrested two organizers of a marathon on Kish island,
the judiciary said Saturday, after images emerged of women competing without
hijab. The Islamic Republic’s judicial authorities have faced mounting criticism
from ultraconservatives for failing to properly enforce a mandatory headscarf
law for women, as fears grow of a surge of Western influence. Women in Iran have
in recent years been increasingly ignoring the hijab law, especially since 2022
nationwide protests, while the supreme leader’s office faced backlash last week
for publishing a photo of an unveiled woman killed in the June war with Israel.
Images online of Friday’s marathon showed a number of runners who were not
following the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code for women, which was
enshrined in law in the early 1980s. “Two of the main organizers of the
competition were arrested on warrants,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website
reported on Saturday, the day after the marathon took place. “One of those
arrested is an official in the Kish free zone, and the other works for the
private company that organised the race,” it added. Around 5,000 people took
part in the race, according to local media. The judiciary earlier reported a
criminal case had been opened against the organizers of the race. “Despite
previous warnings regarding the need to comply with the country’s current laws
and regulations, as well as religious, customary and professional principles...
the event was held in a way that violated public decency,” the local prosecutor
was quoted as saying in Mizan Online. “Considering the violations that occurred
and based on the laws and regulations, a criminal case has been filed against
the officials and agents organising this event.”
Condemnation
Conservative-aligned outlets including Tasnim and Fars had earlier condemned the
marathon as indecent and disrespectful to Islamic laws enforced after the 1979
Islamic Revolution that toppled the US-backed shah. Women in Iran are required
to cover their hair and wear modest, loose-fitting clothing in public. But
adherence to the hijab rules has become more sporadic since the protests in 2022
that followed the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman
arrested over an alleged dress-code breach. Earlier this week, a majority of
lawmakers accused the judiciary of failing to uphold the hijab law.Chief Justice
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei later called for stricter enforcement. Iran’s
government under President Masoud Pezeshkian has refused to ratify a bill passed
by the parliament that would have imposed tough penalties for women who do not
observe the dress code. In May 2023, the head of Iran’s athletics federation
resigned after women without headscarves took part in a sporting event in the
southern city of Shiraz.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Media Accuse Rouhani of ‘Serving Israel’
London: Adil Al-Salmi/Asharq Al Awsat/December 06/2025
Media outlets aligned with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have accused former
president Hassan Rouhani and his associates of “doing Israel a service,”
escalating a political backlash triggered by Rouhani’s recent criticism of
Iran’s ability to defend its airspace if last June’s 12-day war with Israel were
to resume. Tasnim, the Guards’ main media arm, protested sharply against
Rouhani’s latest speech and the recommendations he offered to prevent a repeat
of the conflict. The media attack coincided with rising political tensions
inside Iran as Rouhani’s name resurfaced in the debate over who might succeed
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, a succession file that has deepened domestic
polarization. Tasnim opened its weekly analytical supplement with the headline
“Working for Israel,” placing Rouhani’s photograph on the cover. It accused him
of offering “narcissistic, arrogance-filled interpretations” about his claims
that he prevented a war on Iran through diplomacy during his past government
roles. The agency questioned whether Rouhani was suggesting that Iran had no
deterrent other than his negotiations, and whether the United States and Israel
were at full strength at the time while Iran lacked defensive capability.
It further asked why Rouhani’s diplomacy failed to prevent the US withdrawal
from the nuclear agreement under Donald Trump or avert the assassinations of
General Qassem Soleimani and Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the senior nuclear official
killed in late 2020 in an attack attributed to Israel. Rouhani last week
criticized the country’s tightened security climate, saying Iran needed “an
atmosphere of safety, not an atmosphere of securitization.”He warned that Iran
could not remain in a state of “no war and no peace,” citing Khamenei’s own
remarks, and urged efforts to rebuild deterrence across multiple fields to
confront what he called “the conspiracies of enemies.”
He argued that Iran today lacks “broad regional deterrence,” noting that the
airspace of neighboring countries, including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan,
had fallen under US and Israeli influence, making hostile aerial movement near
Iran “safe and free of obstacles.”Rouhani insisted continuation of the nuclear
deal would have prevented the 12-day conflict, calling the nuclear file a
pretext for the attacks and blaming subsequent governments for failing to revive
the accord. Tasnim said Rouhani’s positions “practically serve Israel” because
they place responsibility on internal actors while removing Israel from the
circle of blame. It portrayed his comments as a political act against “sacred
unity,” adding that presenting such views “even within a realistic and careful
framework” ultimately benefits Israel. Tasnim also revived long-standing
criticism that Rouhani’s government did not sufficiently support Iran’s
intervention in Syria in 2013 and 2014, arguing that such reluctance approached
“the level of treason.” It claimed one of General Soleimani’s biggest grievances
was the administration’s lack of cooperation on the Syrian front. Responding to
Rouhani’s remarks on “securitization,” Tasnim said his own administration had
been among the most security-dominated of the Islamic Republic era. The agency
pointed to Rouhani’s intelligence background and argued that his current counsel
contradicted his record in office. Rouhani’s comments were also interpreted as
an indirect response to Khamenei’s November 27 televised speech, in which the
Supreme Leader warned against internal division, repeated his narrative that the
US and Israel had “failed” to achieve their war aims and urged Iranians to
maintain “national alignment.”The renewed criticism comes as Rouhani has faced
months of attacks from rivals, including parliamentarians, who accuse him of
positioning himself to assume the role of Supreme Leader should Khamenei become
unable to carry out his duties, including in the event of an Israeli
assassination attempt. Last month, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
accused Rouhani and former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of damaging
Iran’s strategic ties with Russia. Hardline lawmakers revived the chant “Death
to Fereydoun,” using Rouhani’s birth family name. One conservative MP said the
judiciary should address Rouhani’s “misconduct” so that anyone aspiring to
senior posts would “return to his rightful place behind bars.”After Rouhani’s
latest remarks circulated, discussion of his possible leadership prospects
reemerged, this time in reformist media. Reformist theorist Sadegh Zibakalam
said Rouhani believes he lacks nothing compared to other succession candidates,
including Mojtaba Khamenei, arguing that Rouhani’s executive experience makes
him “more qualified than others.”At the same time, businessman Babak Zanjani,
who was sentenced to death for corruption during Rouhani’s presidency but
released last year, made a harsh post on X rejecting any future political role
for Rouhani. Iran, he wrote, needed a “young, educated and effective” force,
“not holders of fake degrees,” warning that “we will cleanse Iran of
incompetence.”
Iran Holds Massive Drills in Gulf
London:/Asharq Al Awsat/December 06/2025
Iran launched massive missiles in the Sea of Oman and near the strategic Strait
of Hormuz during the second day of a naval drill, state TV reported Friday. The
report said the Revolutionary Guard launched the missiles from the depth of
Iran's mainland, hitting targets in the Oman Sea and neighboring area near
Strait of Hormuz in a drill that began on Thursday. It identified the missiles
as cruise Qadr-110, Qadr-380 and Ghadir that have a range of up to 2,000
kilometers. It said the Guard also launched a ballistic missile identified as
303, without elaborating. The drill is the second one following the Israel-Iran
war in June that killed nearly 1,100 people in Iran, including military
commanders and nuclear scientists. Missile attacks by Iran killed 28 in Israel.
Earlier, Iran hosted an anti-terrorism drill in its northwestern province of
East Azerbaijan with members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which,
according to state Press TV, was intended to signal both “peace and friendship”
to neighboring states and warn enemies that “any miscalculation would meet a
decisive response.”The SCO, a Eurasian security and economic bloc founded in
2001 to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism, often conducts joint
military exercises among its members. The organization includes China, Russia,
India, Pakistan, and several Central Asian countries, with observer and dialogue
partners such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and others participating in selected
operations.
Iraq’s New Government Faces Unpredictable Prospects
Baghdad: Hamza Mustafa/Asharq Al Awsat/December 06/2025
Tension rippled through Iraq’s ruling Shiite alliance after authorities briefly
listed Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi group as terrorist organizations,
then swiftly reversed the move, at a time when debate over the next government
is intensifying. The decision and the rapid retreat from it revived scrutiny of
a long running point of friction between United States pressure on Baghdad and
Iranian influence in the country. Iraq’s presidency said on Friday it had no
knowledge of the designation of the Houthis and Hezbollah as terrorist entities
and no role in freezing their assets. It said such decisions are not sent to the
presidency and that it only reviews and endorses laws approved by parliament and
presidential decrees. The statement added that decisions by the cabinet, the
committee that freezes terrorist assets, and anti money laundering directives
are not referred to the presidency for approval and that it learned of the
designation only through social media, prompting the clarification. The listing
appeared in the 17 November 2025 edition of the official Gazette, which cited
the government’s counterterrorism obligations under a series of United Nations
Security Council resolutions. Authorities then moved to roll back the
designation after a statement and a document from the Central Bank of Iraq
confirmed that Baghdad’s approval had been limited to entities and individuals
tied to ISIS and Al-Qaeda only.
Tension inside the Coordination Framework
Political figures and legal experts said the central bank operates as an
independent institution and does not fall under direct government control. But
they said a corrective step taken by outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani,
including public clarification and an urgent investigation, escalated the
dispute inside the Coordination Framework as negotiations over the next premier
intensify. Although the alliance issued no unified position, parties and
factions close to it accused the government of making a deliberate move meant to
signal alignment with the demands of the administration of President Donald
Trump. They made the accusation as presidential envoy Mark Savaya was expected
in Baghdad after a similar visit by Washington’s envoy to Syria and Lebanon.
Sudani, who faces mounting pressure within his coalition and was even removed
from an internal WhatsApp group by some Coordination Framework leaders according
to political sources, issued a brief statement saying there would be no
compromise on Iraq’s support for what he called peoples’ rights and sacrifices,
a veiled reference to Hezbollah and the Houthis. Former deputy prime minister
Bahaa Araji, a political ally of Sudani, defended him. He said the incident was
a technical error in a decision issued by a committee tied to the central bank
which he described as an independent institution not subject to government will.
He said on X that the mistake would be corrected and that the investigation
would prevent opportunists from exploiting it politically.
Impact on government formation
The episode unfolded as the Coordination Framework attempts to settle on a
nominee for prime minister, amid clear divisions over whether to keep Sudani for
a second term or replace him. The uproar over what is now known as the central
bank error has further complicated the alliance’s internal bargaining and opened
the door to unexpected scenarios, political sources said. At the same time,
Shiite armed factions escalated their criticism. Ali al-Asadi, head of the
political bureau of Harakat al-Nujaba, said listing the two groups as terrorists
was an act of betrayal. He also claimed Iraq had nominated US President Donald
Trump for the Nobel Prize, which he called an insult to sacrifices. He said such
a government does not represent the Iraqi people and posted a hashtag calling
the move a death sentence for a second term. The incident, which began as an
administrative oversight and morphed into a political crisis, underscored the
fragility of the balance Baghdad tries to maintain between its ties with the
United States, its main financial and military partner, and its relations with
groups aligned with Iran.
Yemen Leader Warns against Unilateral Actions Undermining
Unity, State Sovereignty
Asharq Al Awsat/December 06/2025
Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council chief Rashad al-Alimi warned on Friday
that unilateral actions and internal disputes within government-controlled areas
risk undermining state sovereignty and strengthening the Iran-backed Houthi
group. Al-Alimi made the remarks before leaving the interim capital Aden for
Saudi Arabia, where he is set to hold high-level consultations with regional and
international partners amid sensitive developments in eastern Yemen,
particularly Hadramout. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to national
partnership and collective responsibility to complete the transitional phase in
line with the 2022 power-transfer declaration and the Riyadh Agreement. “The
state alone bears responsibility for protecting its national institutions and
safeguarding citizens’ interests,” Al-Alimi said, warning against any measures
that would challenge the government’s or local authorities’ exclusive powers,
harm security and stability, deepen humanitarian suffering, or undermine
economic recovery and international confidence. The council chief said restoring
state institutions, ending Houthi militia control, and pursuing economic reforms
would remain top national priorities. He cautioned that any distraction by side
conflicts “only serves the Iranian project and its destructive tools,” according
to the state-run Saba news agency. Al-Alimi praised Saudi Arabia for mediating
the latest truce agreement in Hadramout and urged full adherence to its terms.
He said the deal should serve as a foundation for stability in Hadramout and the
wider region, describing the province as “a cornerstone of Yemen’s and the
region’s stability.”He voiced full support for local authorities and tribal
leaders seeking to restore calm and enable Hadramout residents to manage their
own local affairs in line with the PLC’s pledges and plan to normalize
conditions in the province. Al-Alimi also instructed the local authorities and
relevant ministries to form a committee to investigate alleged human rights and
humanitarian law violations and damages to public and private property in the
province’s Wadi and desert districts, and to ensure victims receive redress. The
Yemeni leader urged all political and social groups to put aside differences,
act responsibly, and unite in facing common challenges. He called for rallying
behind the government to fulfill its obligations and place citizens’ welfare and
dignity above all else.
Macron to Meet Zelenskiy, Starmer and Merz in London on
Monday
Asharq Al Awsat/December 06/2025
French President Emmanuel Macron said he would travel to London on Monday to
meet Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy as well as the British and German
leaders, to discuss the situation in Ukraine and ongoing negotiations under US
mediation.
"Ukraine can count on our unwavering support. That is the whole point of the
efforts we have undertaken as part of the Coalition of the Willing," Macron said
on X. "We will continue these efforts alongside the Americans to provide Ukraine
with security guarantees, without which there can be no robust and lasting
peace. For what is at stake in Ukraine is also the security of Europe as a
whole," he added. Macron also condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the
strikes that targeted Ukraine last night, in particular its energy and rail
infrastructure. "Russia is locked into an escalatory approach and is not seeking
peace ... We must continue to put pressure on Russia to force it to make peace,"
he added, according to Reuters. Widespread military activities overnight
affected Ukraine's electricity grid and prompted operating nuclear power plants
to reduce output, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Saturday.
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant temporarily lost all off-site power
overnight, the IAEA said, citing its Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.
Russia Unleashes Massive Drone and Missile Attack on
Ukraine
Asharq Al Awsat/December 06/2025
Russia unleashed a major missile and drone barrage on Ukraine overnight into
Saturday, after US and Ukrainian officials said they’ll meet on Saturday for a
third day of talks aimed at ending the nearly 4-year-old war. Following talks
that made progress on a security framework for postwar Ukraine, the two sides
also offered the sober assessment that any “real progress toward any agreement”
ultimately will depend “on Russia’s readiness to show serious commitment to
long-term peace.”The statement from US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s
son-in-law Jared Kushner as well as Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and
Andriy Hnatov came after they met for a second day in Florida on Friday. They
offered only broad brushstrokes about the progress they say has been made as
Trump pushes Kyiv and Moscow to agree to a US-mediated proposal to end the war.
Russia used 653 drones and 51 missiles in the wide-reaching overnight attack on
Ukraine, which triggered air raid alerts across the country and came as Ukraine
marked Armed Forces Day, the country’s air force said Saturday morning.
Ukrainian forces shot down and neutralized 585 drones and 30 missiles, the air
force said, adding that 29 locations were struck, The Associated Press reported.
At least eight people were wounded in the attacks, Ukrainian Minister of
Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko said. Among these, at least three people were
wounded in the Kyiv region, according to local officials. Drone sightings were
reported as far west as Ukraine’s Lviv region. Russia carried out a “massive
missile-drone attack” on power stations and other energy infrastructure in
several Ukrainian regions, Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, wrote
on Telegram.
Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant temporarily lost all off-site power
overnight, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Saturday, citing its
Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. The plant is in an area that has been
under Russian control since early in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and is not in
service, but it needs reliable power to cool its six shut-down reactors and
spent fuel, to avoid any catastrophic nuclear incidents. Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that energy facilities were the main targets of the
attacks, also noting that a drone strike had “burned down” the train station in
the city of Fastiv, located in the Kyiv region. Russia’s Ministry of Defense
said its air defenses had shot down 116 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory
overnight into Saturday. Russian Telegram news channel Astra said Ukraine struck
Russia’s Ryazan Oil Refinery, sharing footage appearing to show a fire breaking
out and plumes of smoke rising above the refinery. The Associated Press could
not independently verify the video. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed
Forces later said Ukrainian forces had struck the refinery. Ryazan regional Gov.
Pavel Malkov said a residential building had been damaged in a drone attack and
that drone debris had fallen on the grounds of an “industrial facility,” but did
not mention the refinery. Months of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on
Russian refineries have aimed to deprive Moscow of the oil export revenue it
needs to pursue the war. Meanwhile, Kyiv and its western allies say Russia is
trying to cripple the Ukrainian power grid and deny civilians access to heat,
light and running water for a fourth consecutive winter, in what Ukrainian
officials call “weaponizing” the cold. The latest round of attacks came as US
President Donald Trump’s advisers and Ukrainian officials said they’ll meet for
a third day of talks on Saturday, after making progress on finding agreement on
a security framework for postwar Ukraine.Following Friday’s talks, the two sides
also offered the sober assessment that any “real progress toward any agreement”
ultimately will depend “on Russia’s readiness to show serious commitment to
long-term peace.”The statement from US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s
son-in-law Jared Kushner as well as Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and
Andriy Hnatov came after they met for a second day in Florida on Friday. They
offered only broad brushstrokes about the progress they say has been made as
Trump pushes Kyiv and Moscow to agree to a US-mediated proposal to end nearly
four years of war.
Zelenskyy says he had ‘substantive’ phone call with US special envoy Witkoff
Reuters/December 06/2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that he had had a long
and “substantive” phone call with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy
Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. “Ukraine is determined to
keep working in good faith with the American side to genuinely achieve peace. We
agreed on the next steps and formats for talks with the United States,”
Zelenskyy said on X. Witkoff and Kushner had held two days of talks with
Ukraine’s senior negotiator Rustem Umerov in Miami this week, which both sides
called “constructive discussions on advancing a credible pathway toward a
durable and just peace in Ukraine.”Witkoff had been expected to brief Umerov on
his meeting in Moscow this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy
said he was waiting for Umerov to give him a detailed report in person in Kyiv.
“Not everything can be discussed over the phone, so we need to work closely with
our teams on ideas and proposals,” Zelenskyy said. “Our approach is that
everything must be workable – every crucial measure for peace, security, and
reconstruction.”
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources
published on
December 06-07/2025
Trump’s Phase Two Remarks Revive
Questions Over Gaza Article 17
Cairo: Mohamed Mahmoud/Asharq Al Awsat/December 06/2025
A brief and cryptic remark by US President Donald Trump about modifying phase
two of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, offered without any details, has stirred
questions over how the accord will be executed. Analysts say the comment points
to a possible change in implementing the deal’s provisions rather than adjusting
its core terms.
Instead of moving toward an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave, where Israel
controls about 55% of the territory, and the disarmament of Hamas, they expect
Washington to pivot to article 17, which allows for unilateral application of
the peace plan without adhering to its sequencing. They said phase two will be
difficult to reach while key issues remain unresolved, including forming a peace
council, establishing a Gaza administrative committee and deploying a
stabilization force.
Article 17 of the ceasefire agreement, which took effect on October 10, states
that if Hamas delays or rejects the proposal, the measures listed above,
including an expanded aid operation, will be carried out in areas free of
terrorism that the Israeli army hands over to the international stabilization
force. The peace document signed in October by Hamas and Israel covered only the
provisions of what is known as phase one.
This includes an initial truce, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, conditions for
exchanging detainees and prisoners and facilitating humanitarian aid. No formal
agreement has been reached on phase two, which relates to governing Gaza after
the war.
Trump said on Thursday that phase two of his Gaza peace plan will be modified
very soon, amid growing concern over its stalled implementation. He did not
specify what the changes would entail.
Saeed Okasha, an Israeli affairs analyst at the Al-Ahram Center for Political
and Strategic Studies, said Trump may be considering an adjustment anchored in
article 17 to prevent the agreement from collapsing. He said the article opens
the way for dividing Gaza into an old Gaza and a new Gaza, an idea recently
circulated by US envoy Steve Witkoff in several meetings last month. Okasha said
the amendment remains possible since the agreement was endorsed by the United
Nations Security Council last month.
He said article 17 could be reactivated on grounds that Hamas has not met
requirements for disarmament or other commitments, adding that such a shift
could create a situation of neither war nor peace. Ayman Al-Raqab, a Palestinian
political analyst, said the lack of clarity over Trump’s intended changes has
fueled concerns that any adjustment may entrench a division of Gaza at a time
when Israel seeks to maintain a long term presence in the enclave. He said this
aligns with proposals characterizing a new Gaza and an old Gaza.
Amid the uncertainty, the Axios news site reported that Trump plans to announce
the start of phase two and unveil the new governance structure for Gaza before
December 25. The site quoted two US officials as saying the formation of the
international force and the governing body is in its final stages. They expect
Trump to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the end of
December to discuss the steps.
Al-Raqab said phase two still faces hurdles, including the absence of a peace
council and a technocratic government, the lack of a police force to assume its
duties and the pending formation of a stabilization force. He said no major
moves are likely before January.
Okasha said he sees no immediate prospect other than Israel expanding the areas
it controls in the enclave to about 60% as long as implementation of the
agreement remains stalled, though without a major escalation similar to what
Israel is carrying out in southern Lebanon. Several days ago, the Israeli
newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on an Israeli plan to resettle about two
million Palestinians in new areas under Israeli control east of the Yellow Line
and to empty areas held by Hamas of all civilians while pursuing Hamas members
there over time.
British newspaper The Telegraph also quoted Western diplomats as saying the US
plan for Gaza carries the risk of dividing the enclave permanently, entrenching
the presence of Israeli forces in the devastated strip. About a week ago,
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty underscored during a meeting in
Barcelona with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas the importance of
preserving the territorial unity of Palestine, including the West Bank and Gaza,
and rejected any measures that would entrench separation or undermine prospects
for a two state solution. Abdelatty reiterated that position on Wednesday,
saying, “There is no place for talk of dividing Gaza. Gaza is an integrated
territorial unit and is an inseparable part of the future Palestinian state
together with the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. These are binding
international legitimacy resolutions and certainly must be upheld.”He said
consultations continue with relevant parties on forming a Gaza administrative
committee made up of technocrats to manage affairs on the ground. Okasha said
Egyptian efforts will continue to prevent any division of Gaza or any amendment
that would undermine the agreement, adding that various scenarios remain
possible as developments unfold around Trump’s plan.
Iran’s Regime Is on Its Knees — Why for God’s Sake Revive It?
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/December 06/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/12/149987/
The European Union is reportedly preparing to sit down with Iran
to negotiate on its nuclear program -- again. On the surface, this international
charm offensive may appear to be a constructive effort toward dialogue, but a
dryer analysis suggests that such negotiations risk handing a monumental victory
to a vicious regime that is vulnerable and weak -- and rabidly opportunistic. By
offering Iran another platform for legitimacy, the EU and the UN are shoring up
a monumentally brutal regime at a time when, for the West's own good, it should
be applying pressure, not extending a hand.
By granting legitimacy to a regime that represses its own citizens, the EU and
UN disgrace themselves as well as betraying those Iranians fighting for basic
human rights.
The efforts by the EU and the IAEA to resume talks with Iran are misguided and,
frankly, dangerous. Iran's regime apparently does not see a need for reforming
or have the slightest intention of doing so.
The European Union is reportedly preparing to sit down with Iran to negotiate on
its nuclear program -- again. By offering Iran another platform for legitimacy,
the EU and the UN are shoring up a monumentally brutal regime at a time when,
for the West's own good, it should be applying pressure, not extending a hand.
The European Union is reportedly preparing to sit down with Iran to negotiate on
its nuclear program -- again. Even Rafael Grossi, head of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) -- the UN's nuclear watchdog -- seems interested in
engaging Iran in "diplomacy" again.
Iran's regime, not surprisingly, appears more than happy to accept these
overtures. On the surface, this international charm offensive may appear to be a
constructive effort toward dialogue, but a dryer analysis suggests that such
negotiations risk handing a monumental victory to a vicious regime that is
vulnerable and weak -- and rabidly opportunistic. By offering Iran another
platform for legitimacy, the EU and the UN are shoring up a monumentally brutal
regime at a time when, for the West's own good, it should be applying pressure,
not extending a hand.
Iran's nuclear program was, after half a century of international
procrastination, finally damaged in a significant way by strikes carried out by
Israel and the United States. The damage has left the regime not much to offer
in return for concessions, although the only concession called for is to stop
building nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. In a normal negotiation, a
party with strong assets might offer something other than what the other party
wants, in exchange for sanctions relief, but this is not Iran's situation at the
time.
Paradoxically, its vulnerability is precisely why Tehran is in a position to
gain from any talks: it can accept almost any terms, secure relief from
sanctions, and breathe new life into its struggling economy, its ballistic
missile program and its nuclear weapons program, all without giving up anything
of real value. That is why engaging in talks now is strategically flawed: it
would literally reward bellicosity and hand the regime an opportunity to
re-consolidate its power.
Engaging with Iran in formal negotiations setting also confers legitimacy on a
regime whose human rights record is deeply troubling, if not abysmal. Over the
past year, both the regime's executions -- more than 1,000 just in 2025 -- and
its repressive measures have raised alarms across the globe, yet EU and UN
officials nevertheless appear eager to sit down with the very leaders
responsible for those atrocities. Every handshake and photo opportunity signals
normalizing the regime's actions and, by extension, disempowering the moral
authority of the international community. The West would be empowering hardline
factions, boosting the morale of Iran's military and paramilitary forces, and
sending a message that ruthless repression is acceptable -- so long as Iran will
sit down to talk and buy itself more time.
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ("nuclear deal"), negotiated under
the Obama administration and European powers, was intended to curb Iran's
nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief. On paper, it was a
diplomatic triumph; in practice, the economic and political empowerment
resulting from the deal allowed Iran to expand its influence across the Middle
East, and support terrorist groups and militias that destabilized the region,
culminating with the Hamas invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023.
Rewarding the Iranian regime with international legitimacy and economic relief
reinforces its aggression; it does not restrain it. Western powers, therefore,
should focus not on negotiations, which validate the Iranian regime, but on
applying sustained pressure where it is most effective – in particular targeting
Iran's oil sector and the financial networks that sustain the regime. These
measures would limit Iran's ability to fund its nuclear program, ballistic
missile production, and network of proxy terrorist groups and militias. At the
same time, there should be a push for a total, extremely verifiable,
dismantlement of its nuclear and missile programs, and full cooperation with
international inspectors.
Anything short of complete transparency and disarmament simply repeats past
mistakes, where concessions were not meaningful guarantees, to say the least,
and in fact provided a pathway for Iran to continue developing nuclear weapons.
There is an imperative to consider the voices of the Iranian people, who have
risked their lives, again and again, for justice and freedom. Tens of thousands
of Iranian citizens have taken to the streets to oppose the Iranian regime over
the years despite severe consequences, yet negotiations with Tehran often occur
without the slightest interest in their plight. By granting legitimacy to a
regime that represses its own citizens, the EU and UN disgrace themselves as
well as betraying those Iranians fighting for basic human rights.
The efforts by the EU and the IAEA to resume talks with Iran are misguided and,
frankly, dangerous. Iran's regime apparently does not see a need for reforming
or have the slightest intention of doing so.
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a political scientist, Harvard-educated analyst, and
board member of Harvard International Review. He has authored several books on
the US foreign policy. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu
Follow Majid Rafizadeh on X (formerly Twitter)
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22097/iran-on-its-knees
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.
Question: “Does God change His mind?”
GotQuestions.org/December 06/2025
Answer: Malachi 3:6 declares, “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants
of Jacob, are not destroyed.” Similarly, James 1:17 tells us, “Every good and
perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.” Numbers 23:19 is clear: “God is not
a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.
Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” Based on these
verses, no, God does not change. God is unchanging and unchangeable. He is also
all-wise. So He cannot “change His mind” in the sense of realizing a mistake,
backtracking, and trying a new tack.
How then do we explain verses that seem to say that God does change His mind?
Verses such as Genesis 6:6, “The LORD was grieved that He had made man on the
earth, and His heart was filled with pain.” Also, Exodus 32:14 proclaims, “Then
the LORD relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had
threatened.” These verses speak of the Lord “repenting” or “relenting” of
something and seem to contradict the doctrine of God’s immutability.
Another passage that is often used to show that God changes His mind is the
story of Jonah. Through His prophet, God had told Nineveh He would destroy the
city in forty days (Jonah 3:4). However, Nineveh repented of their sin (verses
5–9). In response to the Assyrians’ repentance, God relented: “He had compassion
and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened” (verse 10).There
are two important considerations involving the passages that say God changed His
mind. First, we can say statements such as “the LORD was grieved that He had
made man on the earth” (Genesis 6:6) are examples of anthropopathism (or
anthropopatheia). Anthropopathism is a figure of speech in which the feelings or
thought processes of finite humanity are ascribed to the infinite God. It’s a
way to help us understand God’s work from a human perspective. In Genesis 6:6
specifically, we understand God’s sorrow over man’s sin. God obviously did not
reverse His decision to create man. The fact that we are alive today is proof
that God did not “change His mind” about the creation.
Second, we must make a distinction between conditional declarations of God and
unconditional determinations of God. In other words, when God said, “I will
destroy Nineveh in forty days,” He was speaking conditionally upon the
Assyrians’ response. We know this because the Assyrians repented and God did
not, in fact, mete out the judgment. God did not change His mind; rather, His
message to Nineveh was a warning meant to provoke repentance, and His warning
was successful.
An example of an unconditional declaration of God is the Lord’s promise to
David, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne
will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16). There is no qualification
expressed or implied in this declaration. No matter what David did or did not
do, the word of the Lord would come to pass.
God tells us of the cautionary nature of some of His declarations and the fact
that He will act in accordance with our choices: “If at any time I announce that
a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that
nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it
the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or
kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does
not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it. Now
therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘This is
what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan
against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways
and your actions’” (Jeremiah 18:7–11). Note the conditional word if: “If that
nation I warned repents [like Assyria in Jonah 3] . . . then I will relent.”
Conversely, God may tell a nation they will be blessed, but “if it does evil in
my sight [like Israel in Micah 1] . . . then I will reconsider the good I had
intended to do.”
The bottom line is that God is entirely consistent. In His holiness, God was
going to judge Nineveh. However, Nineveh repented and changed its ways. As a
result, God, in His holiness, had mercy on Nineveh and spared them. This “change
of mind” is entirely consistent with His character. His holiness did not waver
one iota. The fact that God changes His treatment of us in response to our
choices has nothing to do with His character. In fact, because God does not
change, He must treat the righteous differently from the unrighteous. If someone
repents, God consistently forgives; if someone refuses to repent, God
consistently judges. He is unchanging in His nature, His plan, and His being. He
cannot one day be pleased with the contrite and the next day be angry with the
contrite. That would show Him to be mutable and untrustworthy. For God to tell
Nineveh, “I’m going to judge you,” and then (after they repent) refuse to judge
them may look like God changed His mind. In reality, God was simply staying true
to His character. He loves mercy and forgives the penitent. “Has God forgotten
to be merciful?” (Psalm 77:9). The answer is, no.
At one time we were all enemies of God due to our sin (Romans 8:7). God warned
us of the wages of sin (Romans 6:23) in order to cause us to repent. When we
repented and trusted Christ for salvation, God “changed His mind” about us, and
now we are no longer enemies but His beloved children (John 1:12). As it would
be contrary to God’s character to not punish us had we continued in sin, so it
would be contrary to His character to punish us after we repent. Does our change
of heart mean that God changes? No, if anything, our salvation points to the
fact that God does not change, because had He not saved us for the sake of
Christ, He would have acted contrary to His character.
Netanyahu might be pardoned but never forgiven
Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/December 06, 2025
For a split second, when the breaking news of Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s request to be pardoned by the Israeli president of charges in his
corruption trial flashed on my phone’s screen, I thought that at last the
Israeli leader had seen sense and understood that the only guaranteed way for
him to avoid conviction was to admit at least some guilt and walk toward the
sunset of his political life. Was I naive? Was it wishful thinking? Maybe both,
although, having observed his behavior throughout his political career, I should
have known better.
In his more than 100 pages of argumentation why he should be pardoned,
accompanied by a recorded message, there was no trace of regret, remorse,
contrition, or admission of guilt, which could have started the process of
liberating first and foremost his people from the destructive hold he has on
them and the country. Nor did he outline any path toward leaving politics.
Netanyahu did not genuinely request a pardon — he demanded, and on shaky legal
grounds, that his court case be stopped. There is only one case in Israel’s
legal history in which the president granted a pardon before a trial concluded,
and that was when operatives of Shin Beit, Israel’s internal security service,
were charged with murdering two Palestinian militants who hijacked a bus, and
for Shin Beit’s cover-up of the murder. It was impossible to justify the lenient
approach, then, but at least all those involved were forced to leave the
service, including the organization’s head. Interestingly enough, the president
at the time was Chaim Herzog, father of the current President, Isaac Herzog.
After all, one can be pardoned only if one is convicted; if a trial is stopped,
there is no conviction, and the defendant walks free, although the court of
history would most likely take a dim view of both the pardoned and the pardoner.
In their arrogance, Netanyahu and his lawyers do not give the president and the
team at the Justice Ministry that handles such requests the slightest legal or
moral justification to accept his request. Instead, we are witnessing a
shameless, cynical and manipulative last stand by a defendant in three cases of
bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, attacking those who investigated him and
those who charged him in these cases, while questioning his judges’ fitness to
oversee his case. This unrestrained attack on those in charge of law and order
suggests that the prime minister and his legal team are not entirely convinced
he could win this court case, and instead, he is falling back on what he does
best: demagogy, dishonesty, and disseminating fear and lies. Netanyahu is
correct in one of his contentions: that the burden of appearing in court several
days a week while serving as prime minister is both physically and mentally too
demanding, and so he cannot do both. This is precisely what he was told by many,
including those who appealed to the Supreme Court of Justice, to suspend himself
from office for the duration of his trial, a request the court did not accept.
One suspects that, in hindsight, the judges in this case must regret their
decision. The answer to the inability to be both defendant in a corruption trial
and serving as prime minister is not to abolish justice, but to put Netanyahu on
extended leave until he clears up his legal affairs.
Netanyahu’s alternative to remorse is blackmailing the president and the nation
by warning them that there is only one path to end the divisions and discord in
Israeli society, and this is by declaring him innocent. In other words, if the
legal proceedings against him do not stop immediately, society will tear itself
apart, and guess who will be behind it? The request to pardon him for the sake
of the country is hypocritical, as no one has contributed to the polarization of
the nation more than he, including legitimizing the most extreme elements in
Israel’s political and social life, and bringing them to the heart of Israel’s
political system and decision-making process.
The brazen request to stop the trial was an opening gambit.
If Netanyahu succeeds in his latest manipulative move to end his corruption
trial, he will further divide society, and one can envisage people returning to
the streets in their hundreds of thousands in protest. Moreover, it would give
him even more of a sense of authoritarian invincibility, while at the same time
making him a pariah in some quarters of Israeli society and abroad. This would
result in his further reliance on the far-right messianic and ultra-orthodox
elements in his government, which would mean a further expansion of settlements,
more oppression in the Palestinian territories, the perpetuation of the
occupation, and continuing the aggressive foreign policy toward neighbors. Most
likely, the brazen request to stop the trial was the opening gambit in
negotiations between the two institutions of the prime minister and the
president on the terms of any so-called pardoning of Netanyahu. If Herzog
accepts Netanyahu’s demands as presented in the first instance, he will fatally
wound the principles of the supremacy of the rule of law and the equality of
everyone in the eyes of the law, and in the process legitimize corruption as a
way of life in government. Allowing Netanyahu to stay in power would also mean
burying the establishment of an independent state inquiry into the disaster of
Oct. 7, 2023, which happened on his watch, and for which he blames the military,
the other security forces, those who opposed his assault on the judiciary, and
his political opponents. He conveniently forgets that he was the prime minister
on that terrible day and for most of the 15 years before it. There has been more
than convincing evidence over the years that Netanyahu is not fit to govern, and
even more so since he formed his latest coalition government three years ago.
Yet, in his latest act, in which he presents himself as above the law and as an
irreplaceable leader without whom the country could hardly have a future, he has
shown disrespect for the law and the state’s democratic institutions, and
contempt for the intelligence of the Israeli people. For this alone, not to
mention all his many past sins and misdemeanors against them, he must vacate the
prime minister’s office and be banished from political life. Only this could
start the healing process that the nation so desperately needs and bring about a
government that would aspire to live in peace with its neighbors both close and
far from home, although this process might well take more than one election.
***Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations and an associate
fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. X: @YMekelberg
How reconstruction will be Sudan’s next battlefield
Hafed Al-Ghwell/Arab News/December 06, 2025
Reconstruction in Sudan has begun long before the war has ended, and this timing
matters. It matters because the act of rebuilding roads, grids, hospitals,
capital districts, is no longer an inevitable post-conflict exercise. It is now
a tool of political power, a contest for legitimacy, and a preview of Sudan’s
next struggle. The country is rebuilding in fragments and at different speeds,
with Khartoum advancing the fastest, even as Darfur, Kordofan, and the east
remain trapped in cycles of siege, displacement, and hunger. Such unevenness is
no accident, and some would argue, rather natural. However, it also lays the
foundations of a postwar order that risks reproducing the very fractures that
has brought Sudan to collapse. After the Sudanese Armed Forces retook the
capital in early 2025, the government launched an aggressive reconstruction
drive, promising to fully rehabilitate the city within nine months. Yet the
symbolic value of that created an urgency that the rest of Sudan does not enjoy.
In just a few months, police stations reopened, ministries returned,
debris-clearing campaigns were launched, and nearly 2 million Sudanese were
expected to return by year’s end.
Of course, the principle that the capital must rise first is one many
governments adopt after conflict. But in Sudan, where more than 80 percent of
citizens live outside Khartoum, the choice follows an all-too-familiar logic:
centralization at the expense of the periphery. It is a pattern further
amplified by the army’s Higher Committee focused almost exclusively on the
capital, while governors from impoverished and devastated states travel to
Khartoum to pledge support for its revival, despite their own regions receiving
little relief. Inevitably, these spatial politics of reconstruction are already
producing a divided country. By mid-2025, parts of Khartoum had restored around
one-third of their water supply, reopened markets, and re-established sections
of the grid. In Omdurman, neighborhoods began organizing fundraisers to install
solar water pumps and rebuild local clinics. But in Al-Fasher, Zamzam camp,
Tawila, and other places where hundreds of thousands are trapped, clinics have
been destroyed, cholera is spreading, and famine conditions remain constant. One
sector where reconstruction risks are already entrenching inequality is the
energy sector. Even before the war, roughly two-thirds of the country lacked
electricity access, with Greater Khartoum receiving nearly half of the national
supply. With the conflict having destroyed about 40 percent of generation
capacity, the focus is now on restoring the “technically easier” grid in the
capital, given the demand, pre-existing substations, and politicking that
combine to make Khartoum a natural focus.
Elsewhere, however, hybrid solar-diesel plants are failing due to fuel
shortages, while mini-grids in rural towns are collapsing due to lack of
maintenance. Some communities are even forced to turn to small solar kits, yet
these barely power a light bulb or a phone charger. Without stable,
uninterrupted electricity, hospitals cannot refrigerate medicines; irrigation
pumps cannot run, and some critical government functions may even cease. The
result is a widening gap: Some zones rebuild and attract investment, while
others slip further into deprivation. In effect, Sudan is creating islands of
reconstruction in a sea of abandonment. Reconstruction is not merely a technical
challenge; it is where the next struggles over representation, inclusion, and
national identity will be fought.
Given such an environment, reconstruction becomes a magnet for population
movement. Desperate Sudanese will naturally gravitate toward functioning
infrastructure — electricity, water, clinics, schools — just as they flee siege
zones, famine corridors, and areas where violence continues. When people return
to Khartoum but then send families back to Atbara, or when returnees leave again
after new waves of insecurity, it will guarantee that future Sudanese mobility
will track the geography of reconstruction, not necessarily ethnicity or
political allegiance. Communities that settle in rebuilt corridors may stabilize
and generate economic activity, while war-torn areas in Darfur, Kordofan, and
the east could face depopulation and neglect. The uneven recovery carries
long-term implications. A Sudan where some states receive new roads, functioning
grids, and investment, while others inherit razed villages, mass graves, and
hunger, will struggle to build a shared political future. Postwar grievances
often revolve around the distribution of power and resources. In Sudan, these
divisions were already deep. The war has sharpened them, and reconstruction may
harden them further. A rebuilt capital surrounded by marginalization would
repeat the governing imbalances that produced multiple rebellions over decades.
The next wave of conflict may not be fought over ideology but over access:
Access to electricity, water, land, jobs, and public services. Yet again, the
energy sector is already showcasing how easily reconstruction can become
exclusionary. New solar projects in Darfur have already underperformed because
planners built without local consultation and left communities without training
or maintenance tools. Where solar irrigation schemes could transform
agriculture, they are stalled by financing gaps and lack of spare parts. A
similar issue emerges in Khartoum’s reconstruction policies. The campaign to
remove informal housing, primarily affecting thousands of poor, displaced, or
migrant families, is the clearest sign that the capital’s revival is not just
about rebuilding. It is also about reengineering the city’s social makeup. The
government’s deportation of refugees to other states, accompanied by xenophobic
rhetoric, adds another layer. Actions that reveal a vision of reconstruction
that privileges some and excludes others. If replicated nationwide, that model
will undoubtedly invite backlash.
Yet Sudan is not doomed to an uneven future.
What the war has revealed, through community-led debris clearing, local repair
markets, neighborhood solar initiatives, is that Sudanese society still
possesses resilience and organizational capacity. However, resilience alone
cannot offset structural gaps. A credible national recovery effort would require
a different order of priorities: Restoring essential services in war-torn
regions, protecting civilians from ongoing violence, and ensuring reconstruction
funds do not overwhelmingly flow to the capital at the expense of the periphery.
Sudan cannot afford a lopsided recovery. If Khartoum becomes the face of
progress while Darfur, Kordofan, and the east remain locked in emergency
conditions, the country will emerge from war with a developmental divide so deep
it becomes ungovernable. A future where millions cluster in a rebuilt capital
while vast regions remain disconnected from electricity, healthcare, and state
presence would create a new political economy of grievance. Reconstruction is
therefore not merely a technical challenge; it is where the next struggles over
representation, inclusion, and national identity will be fought. In Sudan, the
war’s frontlines may shift, but the contest over who benefits from recovery has
already begun. The choices made now, where to build, whom to include, and how to
distribute services, will shape whether reconstruction becomes a bridge to a
stable future or the trigger for the next conflict.
**Hafed Al-Ghwell is senior fellow and program director at the Stimson Center in
Washington and senior fellow at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian
Studies. X: @HafedAlGhwell
Riyadh is not Mediterranean, but is closer to Greece than
many assume
Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/December 06, 2025
The Athens Policy Dialogues held recently in the Greek capital featured engaging
and candid discussions with policymakers, think-tankers, and leading journalists
from Greece, other European countries and the wider Middle East, including
Egypt, Israel, and Turkiye. Notably missing were speakers (apart from yours
truly) from the Gulf, or the US for that matter. Of course, neither Saudi Arabia
or the US are part of the Eastern Mediterranean. Still there was barely a
session that did not mention both or either country one way or another. I say
this as an eye-opener for politicians across Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean,
and the Gulf; a reminder of where paths have always been and will continue to be
intertwined — now more than ever. A major theme during the two-day event was the
recent events in Gaza, and the subsequent Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit. This is
unsurprising given that what happens in the Middle East affects Greece perhaps
sooner than it does other European countries. Previous crises in Egypt, Libya,
Syria, and Lebanon are evidence of this.On that note, it was not surprising that
Konstantinos Tasoulas, president of the Hellenic Republic, highlighted in his
opening remarks that “Greece, due to its position on the frontline of
developments, even if it had wanted to, it could not remain outside the storms
that shook the region.”What was surprising though, and slightly disappointing
for me as an observer, was that while Tasoulas praised the long and strategic
relationship Athens enjoys with Israel, it may have slipped his mind to
highlight the importance of the rapidly improving Saudi-Greek ties, and indeed,
the good it could bring for the Eastern Mediterranean. A country that wants
international law to be adhered to, opposes illegal occupations, and wants to
protect Christians in the Middle East, must surely give the current Israeli
government more tough love as a close ally. I say this for several reasons.
First, not only is the Kingdom an actual strategic ally (along with the US,
France, and a few others); but with the continued alignment of Vision 2030 and
Greece’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Greece 2.0), the relationship is
promising to be a “game-changer” for Athens, as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman said during his 2022 visit to the Greek capital, when projects such as
the East to Med data corridor were announced.
For the president not to echo in Athens what his Prime Minister Kyriakos
Mitsotakis said only 11 months ago during a visit to Saudi Arabia — that the
Kingdom “is a strategic partner for Greece and the EU, and a key player for
stability and prosperity in the entire region” — was slightly odd. Now, do not
get me wrong. This is not an either-or argument, and in recent years Riyadh has
proven to the world how it can receive a red carpet treatment in Washington, the
Kingdom’s primary strategic ally, while also maintaining excellent ties with
China and Russia. At the same time it can also develop a working relationship
with Iran — all of which have been used to de-escalate tensions and stabilize
the region. I say odd because during his keynote speech, Tasoulas criticized
“longstanding problems that continue to create instability and undermine any
effort at cooperation,” and called for an end to illegal occupations and for
world order to be respected. Yet in the same speech, emphasizing the strength of
the relationship with Israel, he also acknowledged that its response to the Oct.
7 terror attacks was disproportionate, and briefly hinted that Greece supports a
two-state solution when the time is right.
Of course, neither Saudi Arabia nor the US are part of the Eastern
Mediterranean. Still, there was barely a session that did not mention both or
either country one way or another. However, a country that wants international
law to be adhered to, opposes illegal occupations, and wants to protect
Christians in the Middle East must surely give the current Israeli government
more tough love as a close ally.
Why tough love with Israel? Well, in his own words, the president said the
Israeli response was disproportionate. Legal and even Holocaust experts, along
with UN committees, have described what occurred in Gaza as a genocide, and in
the West Bank, more settlements and harassment are risking the lives not only of
Muslim Palestinians but also Christian ones, according to Rev. Munther Isaac of
the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem. “In the West Bank, many
Palestinian Christian families have already left out of fear. They look at what
was happening in Gaza and they think, ‘could this happen to us one day?’ It is
impossible to thrive as a community in the midst of conflict, oppression, and
occupation,” he said in an interview with Arab News. And why do I argue that the
president should have highlighted Riyadh specifically? Just look at what the
Kingdom and America managed to achieve in recent months. Closer coordination has
led to steps toward regional stability by lifting sanctions on Syria — turning
Damascus from foe to friend and a member of the coalition against Daesh — and
encouraged Washington to intervene in a bid to stop the war in Sudan. Greece can
also play a role. It has exceptional soft power and no colonial history in the
Arab world. It could be a member of the International Stabilization Force, using
its proximity to Israel to convince the Israelis to accept adhering to a path to
a two-state solution.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by default is an outward-facing plan, and we will
rely heavily on our partners and friends, especially strategic ones, to help
build not only cities, World Cup venues, and Expo 2030 landmarks, but more
importantly, an integrated, peaceful, and prosperous region.
**Faisal J. Abbas is the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News. X: @FaisalJAbbas
Selected Face Book & X tweets
for
/December 06,
2025
Antoine Breidy
Lebanon, cradle of peace and love, Where cedar trees whisper resilience above. A
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Productive hands, progressive minds,
Unity and strength in all we find. Lebanon — heart of the world’s embrace,
Forever shining with dignity and grace.
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