English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For  December 08/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
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Bible Quotations For today
The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 11,27-32.
A woman in the crowd raised her voice and said o him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!’ When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on December 07-08/2025
Ecclesiastical Study on the Life of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker/Elias Bejjani/December 06/ 2025
"Parliamentary Forum on Peace and Security held in Ottawa, Canada, on November 20, 2025, focusing on Islamic Extremism represented by the Muslim Brotherhood and its danger to Canada and Global Peace."/The Global Imams Council (GIC)/
Doha Forum/Video-Link/The New Syria One Year On: Assessing Progress, Opportunity & Challenges
DWS News/Video-Link: Netanyahu Reveals Israel’s Strength Amid Global Threats at Ambassadors’ Conference | AC14
Syria, Lebanon seek new chapter in relations amid regional challenges
Lebanon faces ultimatum on Hezbollah weapons as border tensions surge
Barak: Disarming the Party is Not Necessary... The Goal is to Prevent its Use
Adraee: "Brigade 300 Forces Also Destroyed a Combat Means Warehouse"
Israeli Press: Lebanon is Hostage to Iran, and Peace with it is Conditional
Listen Closely, Tom Barrack/Father Tony Bou Assaf /Facebook/December 07/2025
Trump Pushes to Prevent Escalation... and the Deadline for Disarming 'The Party' Ends This Month
Barrack: Washington is Seeking Ways to Solve Problems in Lebanon and Syria
Iran Denies Any Role in Lebanon and Affirms: Hezbollah Decides on its Weaponry
UN Security Council delegation urges all sides to stick to Lebanon truce
Report: Trump, Israeli army tell Netanyahu to seek diplomacy in Lebanon, region
Lebanese PM Salam meets international officials on sidelines of Doha Forum
UNIFIL commander to Israeli Channel 12: No evidence Hezbollah is rebuilding south of Litani
Pressure on Lebanon and Syria: Israel conducts major northern drill
Lebanese PM Salam: Financial gap bill to be finalized this month, elections on schedule
PM Salam, Turkish FM Fidan discuss Lebanon's situation in Doha
Walid Jumblatt rejects negotiations' under fire'
Lebanese MP Yacoubian Files Complaint Against Antoun Sehnaoui Over “Illicit Relations with Israel”
Israel Says It Destroyed a Hezbollah Tunnel and Weapons Depot in South Lebanon

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on December 07-08/2025
Netanyahu says he will not quit politics if he receives a pardon
Israel army chief says withdrawal line in Gaza is ‘new border’
Hamas says will give up arms to a Palestinian authority ‘if occupation ends’
Netanyahu expects to move to Gaza truce second phase soon
Qatar, Egypt urge full Israeli pullout to keep fragile Gaza truce alive
Egypt, Turkey seal shift in relations with display of joint defence products
Syrian refugee returns set to slow as donor support fades
Syria transition ‘fragile’, one year on: UN investigators
Al Arabiya footage shows Bashar al-Assad mocking Putin in new leaks
Leaked videos of Assad and media adviser spark social media storm
UNICEF leaves Sana’a for Aden as relations with Houthis deteriorate
GCC condemns Iranian statements undermining Gulf states’ sovereignty
How Iranian forces abandoned Assad days before collapse of Damascus
Syrian Kurds hail Turkey-PKK peace move, seek dialogue across borders
Israeli government in need of ‘reform,’ Saudi diplomat says
Iran denounces US deportations as dozens of nationals head home
US envoy says Ukraine peace deal is close but Moscow says it wants radical changes
Zohran Mamdani tells immigrant New Yorkers about their right not to comply with ICE

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 07-08/2025
The 'Lions' of Israel/Nils A. Haug/Gatestone Institute/December 7, 2025
Riyadh is not Mediterranean, but is closer to Greece than many assume/Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/December 07, 2025
Gulf states reaffirm their security and regional priorities/Hassan Al-Mustafa/Arab News/December 07, 2025
Macron wants to bring new balance to China-Europe ties/Andrew Hammond/Arab News/December 07, 2025
From austerity to prosperity/Anne-Marie Slaughter/Arab News/December 07, 2025
Selected Face Book & X tweets for /December 07, 2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on December 07-08/2025
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

"Parliamentary Forum on Peace and Security held in Ottawa, Canada, on November 20, 2025, focusing on Islamic Extremism represented by the Muslim Brotherhood and its danger to Canada and Global Peace."
The Global Imams Council (GIC)/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3DOql30PHQ&t=59s
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/12/150012/
Summary of Key Points from the Global Imams Council's Message to Canadian Parliamentarians
The GIC's message, which aligns with Imam Tawhidi's focus on countering extremism, urged Canadian leaders to take the following actions:
Distinguish between Islam and Islamism: They called on the government to draw a clear line between Islam (the personal faith) and Islamism (a political ideology that uses Islamic concepts to foment division and undermine democratic values).
Protect Against Extremism: They asserted that they firmly reject any misinterpretation of the Holy Quran that justifies violence or terror, and urged parliamentarians to implement thoughtful policies to safeguard society from radicalization.
Oppose Hate while Allowing Scrutiny: They opposed anti-Muslim bigotry but maintained that thoughtful criticism of extremist ideologies, including Islamism, must not be blocked or misconstrued as bigotry or "phobia."
Reject Exploitation of Foreign Conflicts: They rejected the use of foreign conflicts as a pretext to undermine common humanity, reaffirmed their Fatwa against Hamas, and condemned public displays of support for extremist groups.
Support Peaceful Co-existence: They urged Canada to support foreign policies, particularly in the Middle East, that advance peaceful co-existence, such as the Abraham Accords.
Context of the Forum
The event, convened by the Global Imams Council in collaboration with TRENDS Research and Advisory, focused on peace and security issues. Imam Mohamad Tawhidi, an advisor on counter-extremism and terrorism affairs at TRENDS and a governing member of the Global Imams Council, was a key speaker.
This forum aimed to bring together political leaders and faith-based organizations to discuss practical measures for promoting peace.
Expected Themes and Summary
Given Imam Tawhidi's public profile as the "Imam of Peace," his address likely centered on the following key areas:
Tackling Islamic Extremism and Ideology: As a scholar who has dedicated his life to this cause, a major part of his keynote would be an ideological and theological critique of extremism and terrorism. He typically calls for a re-interpretation of Islamic texts to promote tolerance and peace.
The Role of Religious Leaders: He would likely discuss the responsibility of imams and other religious figures to actively counter extremist narratives and promote moderate, inclusive forms of religious practice.
Interfaith and Geopolitical Issues: Past comments and events featuring Imam Tawhidi suggest he would have addressed complex geopolitical issues, including the relationship between the Middle East and the West, and his perspectives on Israel, Palestinian Arabs, and antisemitism. He has often advocated for engagement and agreements like the Abraham Accords.
Call to Action for Parliamentarians: The keynote, delivered at a Parliamentary Forum, would have likely included a direct appeal to Canadian lawmakers to implement policies that support moderate voices, cut off funding for extremist groups, and safeguard democratic, inclusive societies against hate and radicalization.
In essence, the speech served to present a counter-extremism perspective from within the Muslim faith, urging political leaders to collaborate with reformist voices to secure peace and stability.

Doha Forum/Video-Link/The New Syria One Year On: Assessing Progress, Opportunity & Challenges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y8reHYw3vI
H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi: Minister of State, State of Qatar
H.E. Asaad Hasan Al-Shaibani: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Syrian Arab Republic
H.E. Espen Barth Eide: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Norway
Amb. Thomas Barrack: Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye and Special Envoy for the Syrian Arab Republic, United States of America
Charles Lister: Director, Syria & Counterterrorism Programs, Middle East Institute (Moderator)
This high-level session will be convened one year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and will assess the progress made by Syria’s transitional government to stabilize the country and chart a path of recovery. The discussion will also discuss the many opportunities being revealed by the new Syria, but also the challenges associated with internal security, geopolitics, sanctions, reconstruction, continuing economic and humanitarian crises and issues of territorial integrity and sovereignty and how they are being tackled.

DWS News/Video-Link: Netanyahu Reveals Israel’s Strength Amid Global Threats at Ambassadors’ Conference | AC14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_NgzIwAIC8
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a powerful statement at the ambassadors’ conference, highlighting Israel’s strengthened security, economic growth, and diplomatic influence amid global challenges. He addresses national resilience, rising threats, and Israel’s role on the world stage. Don’t miss this exclusive coverage of Israel’s top leader sharing insights into strategic defense, international relations, and global impact. For more updates and full coverage, watch the video and subscribe to our channel, DWS News. Israel news, Netanyahu, Gideon Saar, Israeli PM, Israeli FM, Ambassadors Conference, Jerusalem, Israeli diplomacy, Israel foreign policy, Israel government, Middle East news, Diplomats meeting, International relations, Political news, Israel updates, Netanyahu speech, Saar speech, Israel politics, Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, Israel News, Israel Ambassadors Conference, Israeli Diplomacy, Middle East News, Israel Security, Netanyahu Statement, Israel Global Influence, Israel Military, International Relations, Netanyahu Speech, Israel Economy, Middle East Security, Israel Politics, Netanyahu 2025, Israel Strength, Diplomatic Strategy, Israel Defense, Global Politics

Syria, Lebanon seek new chapter in relations amid regional challenges
The Arab Weekly/December 07/2025
In a diplomatic move reflecting significant political and regional shifts, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held a second meeting on Saturday on the sidelines of the Doha Forum in the Qatari capital, continuing dialogue between Damascus and Beirut after years of tension and political stagnation.The meeting, following their first encounter in April during Salam’s official visit to Damascus, signalled a shared determination to rebuild bilateral relations on new foundations, based on direct dialogue and institutional coordination, away from the heavy legacy of political interference and militia influence that marked Syria’s previous regime under Bashar al-Assad. Salam noted on X (formerly Twitter) that discussions focused on enhancing bilateral relations and opening avenues for cooperation across a range of pending issues, reflecting Beirut’s recognition of Syria’s importance as a neighbouring state directly influencing Lebanese security, politics and economy. For Syria under Sharaa, the meeting demonstrates an effort to re-establish its regional presence and improve its international image following years of isolation imposed by the war and previous alliances, particularly Hezbollah’s direct involvement in the Syrian conflict, which profoundly affected the bilateral relationship.The meeting carries clear symbolic significance. It is more than a formal protocol; it represents an attempt to chart a new course that balances Syrian and Lebanese interests at a delicate moment marked by economic, security and humanitarian challenges.
Damascus seeks to reshape its foreign policy, strengthen its legitimacy and expand its regional network, while Lebanon aims to ease internal and external pressures, particularly regarding the large Syrian refugee population, and to ensure security and economic stability conducive to development and reduced domestic tensions. The second Sharaa-Salam meeting continues the path initiated in April, which marked a turning point in bilateral relations and refocused attention on correcting the trajectory after years of deterioration and tension. Hezbollah’s military and political interventions in the Syrian war further complicated relations, alongside the impact of the conflict on Lebanon through refugee waves and mounting social and economic pressures, necessitating a new institutional approach to managing bilateral affairs. Discussions centred on several core issues. Both sides agreed on the strategic importance of controlling the border, long a security challenge. The geographical layout, proliferation of illegal crossings and movement of armed groups during the war made security coordination essential to maintain stability and protect residents in border areas. Both parties committed to enhancing monitoring and developing joint mechanisms to curb smuggling and prevent illegal crossings, reflecting a serious and proactive approach. The issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon was another key topic, posing humanitarian, political and economic challenges. Lebanon has hosted large numbers of refugees over the years, placing significant strain on its economic and social infrastructure, making safe and organised return a pressing necessity. Both sides emphasised coordination with the UN to establish mechanisms ensuring dignified and safe repatriation while providing appropriate conditions within Syria, where partial reconstruction of infrastructure and essential services is underway.
The status of Syrians detained in Lebanese prisons, one of the most sensitive matters, was also addressed. It requires precise judicial coordination between the two countries. Joint ministerial committees demonstrated a clear commitment to manage the issue professionally, without political interference or external pressures, while respecting detainees’ legal and human rights. Economic cooperation emerged as another vital pillar. Lebanon, facing a severe financial crisis, seeks stable trade outlets, while Syria serves as a crucial gateway. Both sides stand to benefit from revitalising economic exchange, making renewed trade lines essential. This focus on the economy forms part of a broader strategic vision to rebuild trust and turn the bilateral relationship into a practical, actionable partnership, beyond previous political disagreements. The meeting also reflected wider regional dynamics, as alliances and balances are being reshaped after years of complex conflicts. Damascus aims to emerge from political and diplomatic isolation, while Lebanon seeks to restore regional ties and secure international support to alleviate refugee and economic pressures. The dialogue signals a desire to reduce the influence of non-state actors, such as Hezbollah, and to institutionalise relations around shared national interests. The potential gains are substantial: enhanced border stability, revitalised trade and economy, reduced political tensions in Lebanon related to Syrian matters, clear mechanisms for managing refugee and detainee files, and restored trust between official institutions, facilitating ongoing cooperation. Challenges remain, including Hezbollah’s continued influence in decision-making, Syria’s economic weaknesses, divergent international positions on refugees, historical and social tensions, and overlapping regional issues affecting bilateral stability.
Overall, the Doha meeting reflects a strategy of pragmatism and institutionalism, focused on practical issues directly affecting security, economy, and society, while dismantling historical obstacles that previously stalled cooperation. The overarching aim is to rebuild a relationship based on shared interests and mutual respect, independent of political polarisation or unofficial partisan influence. As Syria seeks to consolidate its regional position and improve its international image, and Lebanon pursues practical solutions to domestic and economic pressures, this rapprochement represents a strategic step that could redefine the bilateral relationship. Continued coordination through ministerial committees is likely to yield tangible progress in border management, refugee and detainee affairs, and economic collaboration, marking a significant shift in Syrian-Lebanese relations after years of stagnation and tension. The Doha meeting is a clear indicator that both a renewed Syria and a cautious Lebanon, despite complex challenges, are driven by practical necessity to cooperate, and that political, economic and humanitarian intersections require clear pathways for rapprochement, potentially ushering in a new era of stability and mutual understanding in the region, provided both sides remain committed to dialogue and institutional work.

Lebanon faces ultimatum on Hezbollah weapons as border tensions surge
The Arab Weekly/December 07/2025
The deadline set by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz for the Lebanese authorities to disarm Hezbollah by the end of this year is nearing its expiry, amid Israeli preparations along the border for a potential escalation scenario. The recent announcement by President Joseph Aoun naming Lebanon’s former ambassador to the United States Simon Karam, to lead his country’s delegation to the ‘mechanism’ meetings, in the first inclusion of a civilian representative on the US-led committee overseeing the ceasefire, was seen as Beirut’s attempt to buy more time and push Israel to reconsider any escalation plans. However, observers say the step remains insufficient to ward off the spectre of war. Karam has already taken part in a meeting of the mechanism committee held last week in the presence of US envoy Morgan Ortagus. Washington was quick to welcome the move, while the Israeli side, represented by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, praised the talks, describing them as “positive” and saying that such discussions pave the way for economic cooperation with Lebanon. Yet only hours after Netanyahu’s remarks, the Israeli army resumed airstrikes on towns in southern Lebanon.
On Sunday, the Israeli army began large-scale military exercises in the Mount Dov and Hermon areas (the Shebaa Farms and Mount Hermon) in the north of the country, near the border with southern Lebanon. Last Wednesday, Israel’s official public broadcaster announced that the country is preparing for a military escalation to confront a possible deterioration of the security situation in Lebanon in light of what it described as the “growing capabilities of Hezbollah.”Observers believe Israel is waging a psychological war on the Lebanese authorities, noting that the most likely scenario is that Israel will pursue a policy of negotiating with Lebanon under fire, a scenario Netanyahu clearly favours. They point out that the possibility of a major escalation against Lebanon remains on the table despite talk of US pressure urging Israel to show restraint and give Lebanon more time before taking any action. Israeli media reported on Saturday that US President Donald Trump had urged Netanyahu to “shift” from military threats to diplomatic tools regarding Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. The Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth quoted senior officials as saying that Trump contacted Netanyahu and advised him to gradually move from offensive operations and escalation threats in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria to diplomacy and confidence-building measures. It noted that Trump stressed that this shift is necessary for moving forward with the second phase of his 20-point plan for Gaza and for working to end hostilities in a stable and sustainable manner, with the possibility of achieving additional normalisation agreements. The newspaper also reported, citing an Israeli security source, that Netanyahu has received a recommendation from senior military commanders to end the fighting on the various fronts and shift towards rebuilding the army. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the deadline granted to Lebanon to strip Hezbollah of its weapons expires on 31 December. The paper said, quoting Israeli security sources, that Israel has informed Lebanon that if Hezbollah is not disarmed, fighting will escalate. Lebanese political circles believe the country remains in the danger zone and that it is difficult to predict which scenario Netanyahu will adopt, whether he will ease military escalation and limit operations to selective strikes against Hezbollah while awaiting the outcome of talks that are expected to accelerate starting December 19, or whether he will move at full speed and launch a broad campaign against Lebanon. These circles note that the US position will be decisive regarding both scenarios. Meanwhile, the Lebanese state finds itself compelled to accelerate plans to disarm Hezbollah, seeing this as the only way to dispel the clouds of war. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said during a session at the Doha Forum that Israel is waging a war of attrition against his country and therefore “we are not in a state of peace.”He stressed that Israel should have withdrawn ten months ago from all the territories it occupied but did not do so, affirming that he does not believe there is any security necessity for Israeli forces to remain in the positions they have occupied in the south. Salam added, “President Joseph Aoun and I want reforms and the monopoly of weapons, but we have different methods and are aligned on the same goal.”

Barak: Disarming the Party is Not Necessary... The Goal is to Prevent its Use
Adraee: "Brigade 300 Forces Also Destroyed a Combat Means Warehouse"
Al-Modon/December 08/2025 (Translated from Arabic)
Avichay Adraee, the Israeli Army Spokesperson, published a statement this evening on the "X" platform, announcing that Israeli army forces carried out military operations in South Lebanon which resulted in the destruction of a tunnel entrance and a combat means warehouse, which he said "The terrorist Hezbollah" was using.
Adraee explained in his statement that "As part of an operation by Battalion 601 forces, under the command of Brigade 769, a tunnel entrance in the village of Houla, which Hezbollah used, was destroyed after being found and neutralized during the war." He added that "Brigade 300 forces also destroyed a combat means warehouse, which was used by Hezbollah, in the town of Ayta al-Shaab."According to the statement, "The combat means warehouse and the tunnel entrance that were destroyed were part of infrastructure previously used by Hezbollah in South Lebanon. During the war, IDF forces found combat means in the tunnel entrance, including mortar shells, which were planned to be fired toward Israel." Adraee noted that the reference is to "old infrastructure that is currently inactive," but the army, according to him, proceeded to destroy it "to prevent the possibility of their future use."The Israeli Army Spokesperson concluded his statement by stressing that his army "will continue its actions aimed at removing any threat to the State of Israel, and thwarting the attempts of the terrorist Hezbollah to rebuild its capabilities," emphasizing that the Israeli army "remains committed to the understandings reached between the State of Israel and Lebanon."
Barak: Withdrawing the Party's Weaponry is Not Necessary
In a related context, Tom Barrack was quoted as saying that "It is not necessary to disarm the Party; the goal is to prevent it from using its weapons," pointing out the necessity of having "direct dialogue between Lebanon and Israel, other than the 'mechanism' dialogue," noting that "Our ambassador, Issa, will undertake the mission" in this regard.
UNIFIL: Israel Violates the Agreement
For his part, the Commander of "UNIFIL" forces stated to Israeli Channel 12 that "We do not have any evidence that Hezbollah is rehabilitating itself south of the Litani," explaining that the mission of the international forces "is to support the Lebanese Army in creating the conditions that allow it to control South Lebanon," while adding that "Israel is blatantly violating the ceasefire agreement."

Israeli Press: Lebanon is Hostage to Iran, and Peace with it is Conditional
Al-Modon/December 07/2025 (Translated from Arabic)
In the last two days, Israeli newspapers and websites have continued to approach the Lebanese scene from the angle of the border file and "Hezbollah's" weapon, presenting Lebanon as a testing ground for a path of "new peace" with Israel, conditional on fundamental changes in the security equation in the South. The "Times of Israel" published an extensive report about a video message from the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Yehiam Leiter, which was broadcast for the first time via an English-language Lebanese media platform, in which he addressed the Lebanese public directly, using expressions such as "peace with Beirut" and "the possibility of achieving peace in the Abrahamic style between Lebanon and Israel."
According to the newspaper, Leiter presented his speech as a message directed to those he described as "decision-makers and public opinion" in Beirut, considering that Lebanon has a "historic opportunity" to reposition itself on the region's map. As reported by the newspaper, the ambassador linked any potential normalization path with "the full implementation of the ceasefire provisions" on the border, with a special focus on "evacuating South Lebanon from Hezbollah fighters," based on the 2024 truce agreement. The "Times of Israel" adds that Leiter spoke in his message about the possibility of Lebanon transitioning, should these conditions be met, to a phase of "stability and attracting investments" through joint projects in the fields of energy, infrastructure, and tourism, presenting this proposal as part of the atmosphere of the "Abraham Accords" signed by other Arab countries with Israel.
In another report in the past hours, the same newspaper returned to the Lebanese file through an official Lebanese position. It indicated that the Lebanese Foreign Minister acknowledged, in a statement it quoted, that "Hezbollah will not abandon its weapon without a decision from Iran." The "Times of Israel" presented this sentence as the key reading for the future of the weapon in Lebanon, pointing out that the Party "is working to rebuild itself in different ways" after the war, by reorganizing its military and human capabilities, in its expression.
The newspaper presents these statements as additional data regarding what it describes as "the subjugation of the military decision in Lebanon to the Tehran axis," recalling previous Israeli positions, which consider that any border understanding or security arrangements in the South "remain fragile" as long as the decision of war and peace, from the Israeli perspective, "does not emanate from Beirut alone." The coverage links this description with the internal Israeli discussion about "open options" in dealing with the northern front, from the diplomatic path to military scenarios.
In this manner, the Israeli press deliberately highlights three elements repeatedly in its coverage: talking about "conditional peace" based on disarming the South, emphasizing that the decision on the weapon is "outside the hands of the Lebanese state," and directing a direct discourse to the Lebanese people via local media platforms, in an attempt to introduce the message into the heart of the internal debate surrounding the position of "Hezbollah" and its weapons.
In the Foreign Press: Expanded Negotiations and the Upcoming 'UNIFIL' Mandate
In contrast, the foreign press and agencies take a different approach, focusing on the path of indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, and the future of the United Nations Interim Force in the South, "UNIFIL," while highlighting the internal controversy that each of the two files raises in Beirut.
The "Reuters" agency published an extended report about the Lebanese division over "expanding" negotiations with Israel, by broadening the powers of the military committee tasked with supervising the implementation of the ceasefire along the "Blue Line." The agency mentioned that the President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, presented the justifications for the decision to involve civilian representatives in this committee to a delegation from the Security Council, explaining that the presence of civilian figures and experts in international law and borders "helps manage the next stage of negotiation," and deal with complex technical files, especially regarding the disputed points.
According to "Reuters," Aoun affirmed to the delegation that the option of negotiation "is irreversible" at this stage, and that the primary goal is "to stop Israeli hostilities, secure Israel's withdrawal from the occupied territories, and address the disputed points along the Blue Line." The agency noted that these remarks come at a moment when the Lebanese arena is witnessing a sharp debate about the limits of the mandate granted to the military establishment in managing the border file, and about the role of political forces in setting the final ceilings for any potential understanding.
In contrast, "Reuters" conveys the position of the "Hezbollah" leadership on this step, where sources in the Party described what is happening as a "mistake" and a "free concession," and expressed rejection of any expansion in negotiations that could be understood, from their point of view, as a prelude to disarming the resistance or restricting it under new headings. The agency indicates that the Party leadership warned against the repercussions of any attempt to impose disarmament by force, adhering to the option of "retaliation" against any change in the rules of engagement in the South.
In a related context, the "Associated Press" agency and the "Washington Post" newspaper covered the visit of a United Nations delegation to Beirut. They clarified that the delegation's mission is "to explore available options for the border region" as the mandate of the "UNIFIL" forces approaches its end next year, amid an international discussion about the form of the next mandate and the nature of the force that could continue operating in the South. According to these coverages, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam informed the UN delegation that Lebanon will need an "alternative force or follow-up mechanism" after the departure of the international force, "to prevent a security vacuum in the South, and to support the army in controlling the borders and implementing international commitments."
The reports indicate that the talks addressed the possibility of exploring different formulas, whether by modifying the "UNIFIL" mandate, if it is renewed in a new format, or by creating another international mechanism that coordinates directly with the Lebanese Army. These media outlets allocate space to recall that "UNIFIL" has been operating in the South for many years, and that its mandate has been linked at many junctures to the implementation of Resolution 1701, and to missions related to monitoring the cessation of hostilities and supporting the Lebanese Army in its deployment southward. They also pause at the sensitivity of any discussion about an "alternative force" in light of the existing field balances, and how to avoid any security vacuum in the border areas.
The Internal Lebanese Controversy to the Tune of External Messages
In addition to conveying Israeli and international positions, these coverages pause at the features of the internal Lebanese controversy that accompanies every stage of the discussion about the borders, the weapon, and "UNIFIL." The indications contained in the reports of "Reuters," "Associated Press," and the "Washington Post" show that the file is not only raised in the halls of the Security Council but also in government meetings, military command, and within political and partisan frameworks. These coverages indicate that the involvement of the Lebanese Army in the negotiation process, through joint committees including military and civilian personnel, coincides with "Hezbollah's" adherence to its discourse on "the resistance's right to keep its weapons," and with the continued reference in the Israeli press to this weapon as "the central knot" preventing any settlement. Furthermore, in parallel, the ongoing dialogues with the United Nations regarding the form of its future presence in the South, and the accompanying official Lebanese emphasis on "not allowing a security vacuum" and "the need to support the army" in border missions, are highlighted.

Listen Closely, Tom Barrack:
Father Tony Bou Assaf /Facebook/December 07/2025 (Translated from Arabic)
What you said is not merely a passing opinion or a polite diplomatic statement. What you uttered is a Freudian slip that completely exposes what is happening in the international subconscious... and reveals the magnitude of the plot being cooked up for Lebanon in the black kitchens between nations: a project to dissolve the Lebanese identity and drag it into forced integration with others under the titles of "shared civilization" and "one history." Lebanon is not a loose territory that you stick map to map, nor is it an orphaned state wandering at the doors of mandates. Lebanon is a complete entity, a complete people, a complete history, and its independence was paid for with blood. If you dared today to say what was being said secretly, this is not courage as much as it is a dangerous sign of the extent of weakness you believe we have reached... and that some international chefs have come to believe that the moment to "swallow Lebanon" has arrived.
But let everyone know:
Lebanon, which overthrew occupations and established a civilizational message in the region, will not be integrated, will not be canceled, and will not be turned into an appendage of anyone. And whoever believes they can redraw its identity with a sentence in a breaking news bulletin, let them read its history well... and know that this land does not bow, this people does not dissolve, and this state is not summarized by anyone's imagination.
O Lebanese people, beware:
When the world talks about "integration," it means erasure. And when it praises "shared civilization," it wants to swallow the weaker. And statements leaking out in this way mean that the deal is starting to brew... and that eyes are upon us. Lebanon is not integrated... Lebanon is a dagger in the side of the East and the world... Beware....
Father Tony Bou Assaf #Theology_of_Existence

Trump Pushes to Prevent Escalation... and the Deadline for Disarming 'The Party' Ends This Month
Al-Markaziya/December 07/2025 (Translated from Arabic)
"Yedioth Ahronoth" quoted Israeli political sources as saying that "US President Donald Trump recommended that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu move from military threats to diplomacy in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria." It also quoted an Israeli security source as saying that "Netanyahu is receiving a recommendation from senior army commanders to end the fighting and transition to rebuilding the army."
In this context, the Israeli General Staff indicated that "The Israeli army supports going along with Trump's plan in Gaza and transitioning to its civilian phase," according to what Israeli media quoted from it. "Yedioth Ahronoth" quoted diplomatic sources as saying that "Trump's deadline given to Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah ends on December 31st." Israeli security sources also noted that "Israel informed Lebanon that if Hezbollah is not disarmed, the fighting will escalate," pointing out that "The Lebanese Army has nearly succeeded in clearing South Lebanon of Hezbollah's presence." "Yedioth Ahronoth" quoted American sources as saying that "Trump is entering the direct mediation line to prevent a wide escalation in Lebanon."

Barrack: Washington is Seeking Ways to Solve Problems in Lebanon and Syria
Al-Markaziya/December 07, 2025 (Translated from Arabic)
US Envoy Tom Barrack said, in a statement during his participation in the Doha Forum 2025, that "We must bring Syria and Lebanon together because they represent a wonderful civilization," noting that "Washington is seeking ways to solve problems in Lebanon and Syria."Barrack affirmed that "The achievements made in Syria were heroic and those responsible should be encouraged and supported, and US President Donald Trump allowed Damascus to make its own decisions," pointing out the "necessity of giving the Syrians time and opportunity to determine how they build their country and their contribution to civilization." He considered that "All Western decisions regarding the Middle East since 'Sykes-Picot' were wrong." He added: "Israel is in a perplexing situation." He concluded by saying: "Democracy cannot be achieved in 12 months."

Iran Denies Any Role in Lebanon and Affirms: Hezbollah Decides on its Weaponry
Al-Markaziya/December 07/2025 (Translated from Arabic)
The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson affirmed that there is no intervention by Iran in Lebanon, pointing out that "Hezbollah is a deeply rooted institution in Lebanese society, and it is the party that makes its decision regarding its weaponry independently." He also indicated that "Tehran is in direct and continuous contact with the International Atomic Energy Agency," clarifying that no special negotiations are currently taking place with it.

UN Security Council delegation urges all sides to stick to Lebanon truce
Agence France Presse/December 07/2025
A United Nations Security Council delegation has urged all parties to uphold a year-old ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, expressing support for a state weapons monopoly at the end of a Lebanon visit. A November 2024 ceasefire was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, but Israel has kept up strikes on Lebanon. Israel has mainly said it is targeting the Iran-backed group, and has maintained troops in five south Lebanon areas it deems strategic. "We came to Beirut at a pivotal time for the implementation of... the cessation of hostilities agreement of November of last year," Slovenian U.N. ambassador Samuel Zbogar, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the U.N. body, told reporters. "All parties must uphold the November 2024 cessation of hostilities agreement, and we recognize progress achieved by Lebanon this year," he said. "We reaffirm the council's support for Lebanon's territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence." "We also reaffirm commitment to the full implementation of Resolution 1701 in support of Lebanon's -- as well as regional -- security and stability," he added, referring to a 2006 Security Council decision that forms the basis of the current truce. Under heavy U.S. pressure and fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon's government has committed to disarming Hezbollah, and the army is set to dismantle the group's military infrastructure near the border by year end before tackling the rest of the country.
"We support the Lebanese government's decision to ensure the state's monopoly of arms," Zbogar said, also urging "intensified international support" for Lebanon's army. The delegation met senior officials including President Joseph Aoun, and on Saturday went to conflict-hit south Lebanon near the Israeli border, visiting peacekeepers from the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). In August, the Security Council voted to extend UNIFIL's mandate until the end of 2026 and then withdraw the force from Lebanon by the end of the following year. The visit was a chance to "examine options for the implementation of Resolution 1701 following UNIFIL's departure from Lebanon", Zbogar said, adding that "this is a topic that will deserve a thorough conversation during 2026". Zbogar also emphasized that the "safety of peacekeepers must be respected and that they must never be targeted", after Lebanon's army said it arrested six people following an attack by gunmen on UNIFIL personnel this week. Aoun told the delegation on Friday that Lebanon does not want war with Israel, days after civilian representatives from both sides held their first talks in decades.

Report: Trump, Israeli army tell Netanyahu to seek diplomacy in Lebanon, region
Naharnet/December 07/2025
U.S. President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night and urged him to shift gradually from offensive operations and escalation threats in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria to diplomacy and confidence-building measures, senior officials told Israel's Ynet news portal. "The shift, Trump argued, is necessary to advance the civilian stage of his '20-Point Plan' for Gaza and to work toward a stable, long-term end to hostilities, with the possibility of additional normalization agreements," the officials said. Netanyahu is expected to discuss these issues with Trump during a visit to Washington on December 28 or soon afterward. A senior security official said Netanyahu received similar counsel from top Israeli army commanders eager to begin rebuilding the military after extended combat. "Within the General Staff, there is broad support for aligning with Washington’s approach on Gaza and with recommendations from the U.S.-run Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat. In Lebanon, Syria and possibly Iran, many believe Israel can now secure most of its war aims through diplomatic arrangements that codify battlefield gains," Ynet reported.
Noting that Israel has already notified Lebanon that if Hezbollah's disarmament does not occur, the Israeli army will escalate, Ynet added that Trump appears "determined to avoid such a scenario, much as he seeks progress on his Gaza plan." "Trump’s envoy, Morgan Ortagus, visited both Jerusalem and Beirut this week, underscoring Washington’s shift toward active mediation meant to prevent escalation and assist Lebanon’s reconstruction," Ynet said. It added: "Trump appears to be establishing new rules for the postwar period. First, primary efforts in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria should move to diplomacy. Israel may continue enforcing ceasefire understandings and applying selective pressure against Hamas and Hezbollah, but mainly through precise, limited airstrikes, not ground maneuvers.""Under this framework, dismantling terrorist arsenals would be pursued through diplomatic pressure and mediated agreements rather than deep IDF incursions into areas under Hamas or Hezbollah control," Ynet said. It added that Trump appears to be relying on the domestic pressure in Lebanon to push Lebanon toward a durable ceasefire and, eventually, possible normalization modeled on the Abraham Accords.

Lebanese PM Salam meets international officials on sidelines of Doha Forum
LBCI/December 07/2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held a series of high-level diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of the Doha Forum, discussing Lebanon's reform path, support for governance, and the post-UNIFIL phase. Salam met with Helga Schmid, Vice President of the Munich Security Conference, who extended an official invitation for him to participate in next year's conference scheduled for February 14–16. The prime minister also held talks with U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, focusing on the period following UNIFIL's mandate, ongoing reforms, and the refugee file. In a separate meeting, Salam discussed institutional support and governance enhancement in Lebanon with Prince Zeid. Later, the prime minister met with UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo, in the presence of Minister of Administrative Development Fadi Makki and Salam's chief of staff Farah Khatib. The discussions reviewed ongoing UNDP support programs and explored ways to strengthen collaboration to advance Lebanon's reform agenda, economic recovery efforts, and social development initiatives.

UNIFIL commander to Israeli Channel 12: No evidence Hezbollah is rebuilding south of Litani
LBCI/December 07/2025
The commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) told Israel's Channel 12 that the mission has found no evidence suggesting Hezbollah is reconstituting its military presence south of the Litani River, pushing back against recurring Israeli allegations. He said UNIFIL's mandate is centered on supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces and helping create conditions that allow the state to assert control over South Lebanon fully. The commander added that Israel is "blatantly violating the ceasefire agreement," stressing that ongoing breaches complicate the mission's ability to maintain stability along the Blue Line. He noted that UNIFIL faces operational challenges on the ground, including the fact that the area is "filled with private property," which limits the mission's ability to inspect every location. "Our task is to support the Lebanese Army, not to search every private building," he said.

Pressure on Lebanon and Syria: Israel conducts major northern drill
LBCI/December 07/2025
Israel carried out a large-scale military drill on Sunday in the sensitive Shebaa Farms–Mount Hermon area, a zone its security agencies classify as one of the most strategically important along the northern front. The exercise, which included heavy explosives and extensive use of live munitions, sent shockwaves across towns in northern Israel and South Lebanon. The drill was ordered days after the assassination of Hezbollah's No. 2 commander, Haytham Tabtabai, as Israeli forces prepared for any potential response from the group. Simultaneously, Israel's military intelligence claimed Hezbollah continues to expand its capabilities on two tracks: smuggling various types of missiles and anti-armor rockets, as well as parts for drones damaged in fighting with Israel; and constructing new sites, bases, and command posts, while moving portions of its military activity underground. Despite these assessments, Israeli officials maintain that a new round of fighting with Lebanon is unlikely due to sustained American pressure to avoid escalation. Israel's choice of the Shebaa Farms–Mount Hermon area for the drill comes as it prepares to receive U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz on Monday. Tel Aviv plans to discuss the Gaza and Lebanon files with him, as well as the Syrian issue, ahead of the scheduled Netanyahu–Trump meeting in Washington at the end of the month. As part of its diplomatic messaging, Israel is expected to float a proposal that would see it retain control of Mount Hermon in exchange for returning the Shebaa Farms to Damascus, territory it considers Syrian land.

Lebanese PM Salam: Financial gap bill to be finalized this month, elections on schedule
LBCI/December 07/2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the government will present a draft law addressing Lebanon’s financial gap before the end of the month, noting that the legislation aims to address the issue of bank deposits before it is sent to Parliament for approval.
Speaking at the Doha Forum in Qatar on Sunday, Salam affirmed that the upcoming parliamentary elections will be held on time, stressing that the renewal of his mandate depends on the will of the newly elected legislature. He added that both he and President Joseph Aoun are committed to reforms and to consolidating state authority over weapons, even if they come from “different backgrounds and adopt different approaches.” Despite varying speeds and methods, Salam said they are aligned in the same overall direction.

PM Salam, Turkish FM Fidan discuss Lebanon's situation in Doha
LBCI/December 07/2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met in Doha with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss the situation in Lebanon. The two officials also discussed recent developments in Syria and the wider region, as well as ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Lebanon and Turkey.

Walid Jumblatt rejects negotiations' under fire'
LBCI/December 07/2025
Former Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Jumblatt said he rejects any negotiations taking place "under fire," stressing that Lebanese negotiator Simon Karam is "experienced and skilled," and that talks must remain focused on withdrawal, a ceasefire, and the return of southern residents to their lands. Speaking from Ain el-Tineh after meeting Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Jumblatt reaffirmed his commitment to a renewed ceasefire. He noted that the conditions surrounding a truce today differ significantly from those in the past, citing political, military, and technological developments that have "overturned everything." He underscored that Lebanon continues to adhere to fundamental principles, namely land and sovereignty. Jumblatt also voiced support for strengthening the Lebanese Army and for the measures it has been implementing south of the Litani River to enforce the state's authority and restrict weapons to official institutions. He added that such measures should eventually be expanded to all Lebanese territories.

Lebanese MP Yacoubian Files Complaint Against Antoun Sehnaoui Over “Illicit Relations with Israel”
This is Beirut/December 07/2025
Lebanese parliamentarian Paula Yacoubian has filed a complaint with the Ministry of Economy and Trade, specifically with the Office for the Boycott of Israel, against Antoun Sehnaoui, chairman of the board of Société Générale, accusing him of maintaining “illicit relations with the enemy Israeli entity,” according to Lebanon 24. The media outlet reported that the complaint was officially registered on 25 November 2025, prior to the broadcast of an interview granted by Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, to the platform This Is Beirut. Lebanon 24 also published a copy of the complaint submitted by the MP.

Israel Says It Destroyed a Hezbollah Tunnel and Weapons Depot in South Lebanon
This is Beirut/December 07/2025
The Israeli army announced Sundat that it had destroyed “a tunnel opening” and “a weapons storage site” attributed to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, according to a statement posted on X by its Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee.
According to Adraee, forces from the 601st Battalion, under the command of the 769th Brigade, destroyed in Hula “a tunnel opening previously used by Hezbollah,” which had been discovered and neutralized “during the war.” Meanwhile, forces from the 300th Brigade destroyed in Aita al-Shaab “a storage site for combat equipment used by Hezbollah.”These were “old infrastructures, not currently operational,” Adraee noted, but their destruction aims to prevent “any future use.” He added that the Israeli army “will continue its efforts to eliminate any threat” and prevent Hezbollah from “rebuilding its capabilities,” while affirming that it remains “committed to the understandings reached between Israel and Lebanon.”

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on December 07-08/2025
Netanyahu says he will not quit politics if he receives a pardon
Reuters/December 07/2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he would not retire from politics if he receives a pardon from the country’s president in his years-long corruption trial. Asked by a reporter if planned on retiring from political life if he receives a pardon, Netanyahu replied: “no.”Netanyahu last month asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon, with lawyers for the prime minister arguing that frequent court appearances were hindering Netanyahu’s ability to govern and that a pardon would be good for the country. Pardons in Israel have typically been granted only after legal proceedings have concluded and the accused has been convicted. There is no precedent for issuing a pardon mid-trial. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in response to the charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, and his lawyers have said that the prime minister still believes the legal proceedings, if concluded, would result in a complete acquittal. US President Donald Trump wrote to Herzog, before Netanyahu made his request, urging the Israeli president to consider granting the prime minister a pardon. Some Israeli opposition politicians have argued that any pardon should be conditional on Netanyahu retiring from politics and admitting guilt. Others have said the prime minister must first call national elections, which are due by October 2026.

Israel army chief says withdrawal line in Gaza is ‘new border’
AFP/December 07, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel’s army chief, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, said Sunday the demarcation line where Israeli troops have withdrawn behind in Gaza is a “new border,” according to a military statement. “We have operational control over extensive parts of the Gaza Strip and we will remain on those defense lines. The Yellow Line is a new border line — serving as a forward defensive line for our communities and a line of operational activity,” the army quoted Zamir as saying to reserve soldiers in Gaza. Under the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Israeli forces have withdrawn to positions behind the so-called Yellow Line.

Hamas says will give up arms to a Palestinian authority ‘if occupation ends’
AFP/December 07/2025
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, al-Hayya’s bureau said he was referring to a sovereign and independent Palestinian 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,” al-Hayya added, signaling his group’s rejection of the deployment of an international force in the Strip whose mission would be to disarm it.

Netanyahu expects to move to Gaza truce second phase soon
Al Arabiya English/December 07/2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday he expected the second phase of the US-sponsored ceasefire plan for Gaza to begin soon, and said he would meet President Donald Trump this month. The truce, in effect since October 10, has halted the war that began after Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Under the terms of the ceasefire that entered into force on October 10, Palestinian militants committed to releasing the remaining 47 living and dead captives seized on their October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. All of the hostages have so far been released except for the body of an Israeli police officer. The second stage of the Gaza ceasefire plan concerns disarming Hamas, establishing a transitional authority and deploying an international stabilization force. Speaking after meeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said: “We very shortly expect to move into the second phase, which is more difficult.”Netanyahu also said he would meet Trump later in December to discuss “opportunities for peace” in the region. The meeting is expected to take place in Washington after the premier’s office said Trump invited Netanyahu to the White House during a phone call on Monday.
Germany reaffirms support
The German leader, who took power in May this year, has repeatedly criticized Israel’s relentless military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. Merz urged the implementation of the plan’s next steps, adding Germany was providing aid to Gaza and would contribute to the reconstruction efforts. He flew into Israel the day before for his first trip to the country since traditionally solid ties between the two nations were shaken by the Gaza war. Merz reaffirmed Berlin’s support for Israel during his trip that included a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. “Germany must stand up for the existence and security of Israel,” Merz said, after acknowledging his country’s “enduring historical responsibility” for the mass extermination of Jews during the Second World War. During the joint press conference with Netanyahu, Merz said criticism of Israel was “possible and sometimes perhaps even necessary.”“The relationship between Germany and Israel can withstand that. But criticism of the policies of the Israeli government must not be misused as a pretext for antisemitism,” he added. Merz also underscored German support for a two-state solution.
ICC warrant
Germany had in August moved to restrict German sales of weapons for use in Gaza but has since lifted those export restrictions following the ceasefire. Despite the truce, more than 360 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to local health authorities, as well as three Israeli soldiers. Although Merz’s public criticism of Israel was unusual for a German leader, it was measured by international standards. Nevertheless, Merz said Sunday he did not discuss the possibility of Netanyahu’s visit to Germany with the prime minister. The Israeli leader faces an arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza from the International Criminal Court (ICC). “I am not going there because of an ICC decision,” Netanyahu said. Merz this year vowed to invite the Israeli leader and told him he would not be arrested. Past Israel-Germany tensions have not disrupted key military ties. Germany put into operation the first phase of the Israeli-made Arrow missile defense shield this week. The $4.5-billion deal was reportedly the largest arms export agreement in Israeli history. With AFP

Qatar, Egypt urge full Israeli pullout to keep fragile Gaza truce alive
The Arab Weekly/December 07/2025
The long-elusive truce remains delicate as Israel and Hamas accuse each other of breaching its terms. Qatar and Egypt, guarantors of the Gaza ceasefire, called on Saturday for the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the deployment of an international stabilisation force as the necessary next steps in fully implementing the fragile agreement. The measures were spelt out in the US- and UN-backed peace plan that has largely halted fighting, though the warring parties have yet to agree on how to move forward from the deal’s first phase. Its initial steps saw Israeli troops pull back behind a so-called “yellow line” within Gaza’s borders, while Palestinian militant group Hamas released the living hostages it still held and handed over the remains of all but one of the deceased. “Now we are at the critical moment … A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of the Israeli forces (and) there is stability back in Gaza,” Qatari premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference. Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, helped secure the long-elusive truce, which remains delicate as Israel and Hamas accuse each other of breaching its terms. Key sticking points have also emerged over the implementation of the second phase, which has yet to begin, including the question of Hamas’s disarmament. Hamas is supposed to disarm under the 20-point plan first outlined by US President Donald Trump, with members who decommission their weapons allowed to leave Gaza. The group has repeatedly rejected the proposition. Hamas said on Saturday that it was ready to hand over its weapons in the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian authority 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 Khalil al-Hayya said in a statement. “If the occupation ends, these weapons will be placed under the authority of the state,” he added. Hayya’s office said he was referring to a sovereign and independent Palestinian state. Under the plan endorsed by the UN in November, Israel is to withdraw from its positions, Gaza is to be administered by a transitional governing body known as the “Board of Peace,” and an international stabilisation force is to be deployed. “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,” Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said at the Doha Forum. The Egyptian foreign ministry said Abdelatty and Sheikh Mohammed met on Saturday, with both stressing “the importance of continuing efforts to implement” the peace agreement. Arab and Muslim nations, however, have been hesitant to participate in the new force, which could end up fighting Palestinian militants. Trump would theoretically chair the “Board of Peace,” while the identities of the other members have yet to be announced.
‘Main objective’
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the forum that talks on the stabilisation force were ongoing, with critical questions remaining as to its command structure and which countries would contribute. Fidan said its first goal “should be to separate Palestinians from the Israelis.”Abdelatty seconded the idea, calling for the force to be deployed along “the yellow line in order to verify and to monitor” the truce. There have been multiple deadly incidents of Israeli forces firing on Palestinians in the vicinity of the yellow line since the ceasefire went into effect. Turkey, also a guarantor of the truce, has indicated it wants to take part in the stabilisation force, but its efforts are viewed unfavourably in Israel. Fidan said Hamas’s disarmament should not be the main priority in Gaza. “We need to put things in (their) proper order, we have to be realistic,” he said at the forum. He also urged the US to intervene with Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to ensure the plan succeeds. “If they don’t intervene, I’m afraid there is a risk the plan can fail,” Fidan said. “The amount of daily violations of the ceasefire by the Israelis is indescribable at the moment and all indicators are showing that there is a huge risk of stopping the process.”
Rafah crossing
Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar and the other truce guarantors were “getting together in order to force the way forward for the next phase” of the deal. “And this next phase is just also temporary from our perspective,” he said, calling for a “lasting solution that provides justice for both people.” The ceasefire plan calls for Gaza’s Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt to be reopened to allow in aid. Israel this week said it would open the checkpoint, but “exclusively for the exit of residents from the Gaza Strip to Egypt.”
Egypt swiftly denied that it had agreed to such a move, insisting the crossing be opened both ways. Israel’s announcement drew expressions of concern from several Muslim-majority nations, who said they opposed “any attempts to expel the Palestinian people from their land.”Abdelatty insisted on Saturday that Rafah “is not going to be a gateway for displacement.” but only an entry point for aid.

Egypt, Turkey seal shift in relations with display of joint defence products
The Arab Weekly/December 07/2025
The display of defence products jointly manufactured with Egyptian-Turkish expertise has offered a vivid illustration of the profound transformation in relations between Cairo and Ankara, a shift from political spats and media sparring over issues such as Turkey’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as long-running disputes over maritime borders and hydrocarbon exploration in the Mediterranean, to broad-based economic, political and defence cooperation now yielding tangible gains for both sides. The latest concrete outcome of this partnership was showcased at the EDEX 2025 defence exhibition in Cairo, where the unmanned Aqrab vehicle and the Hamza-1 drone, both developed in cooperation between Turkish defence firm Havelsan and Egypt, were unveiled for the first time. Havelsan participated in the exhibition, held from December 1 to 4, presenting its software-driven solutions and advanced technological products, and held talks with delegations from the attending countries. Products manufactured in Egypt through collaboration between Havelsan and the Arab Organisation for Industrialisation drew notable attention, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi inspecting the vehicles and receiving a detailed briefing during his tour of the exhibition. Among the standout innovations was the Hamza-1 drone, capable of vertical take-off and landing and developed as a product of Turkish-Egyptian cooperation. The unmanned ground vehicle Aqrab was designed as a 6×6 platform equipped to carry a remotely operated weapon system. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, the Vice President of International Business Development and Marketing at HAVELSAN Sevket Unal said that, within the framework of joint work with the Arab Organisation for Industrialisation, a prototype of an unmanned ground vehicle had been produced in a short timeframe. Unal added that Aqrab was designed to suit desert conditions in Egypt. “During the same period, the Hamza-1 platform was also developed, in line with the work carried out in the field of autonomous systems,” Unal said. He stated that after the fair, field demonstrations would be conducted for end users to collect feedback, and based on that input, the vehicles would be further developed and made ready for duty. Stressing that Havelsan would contribute to the projects, particularly with its capabilities in command-and-control, artificial intelligence, and autonomy, Unal noted: “We see Egypt as a gateway to Africa. “We anticipate that the products developed here will also be offered to countries in the region.”He added that during the fair, they held meetings with participants from Egypt, various African countries and the Gulf region regarding Havelsan’s capabilities in air, land, sea, and simulation systems. Havelsan is among Turkey’s leading companies in defence and information technologies. Founded in 1982, it develops military software, cyber-security solutions, command-and-control systems and artificial-intelligence-based technologies, and plays a key role in supporting Turkey’s defence industry. Given Egypt’s long-established experience in military manufacturing and the significant advances in Turkish industry more broadly, and in the defence sector in particular, cooperation between the two sides appears both promising and mutually advantageous. Within a broader framework of defence cooperation, the two countries have shown, through their rapprochement and close coordination on several issues, including the war in the Gaza Strip, a shared ambition to build a joint bulwark for regional stability and security, as two of the region’s most influential states. In this context, Turkey and Egypt recently resumed their joint naval drills, Friendship Sea, in the eastern Mediterranean, ending a 13-year hiatus.

Syrian refugee returns set to slow as donor support fades
Reuters/December 08, 2025
GENEVA: More than 3 million Syrians have returned home since the collapse of Bashar Assad’s rule a year ago but a decline in global funding could deter others, the UN refugee agency said on Monday. Some 1.2 million refugees in addition to 1.9 million internally displaced people have gone back home following the civil war that ended with Assad’s overthrow, but millions more are yet to return, according to UNHCR. The agency said much more support was needed to ensure the trend continues. “Syrians are ready to rebuild – the question is whether the world is ready to help them do it,” said UNHCR head Filippo Grandi. Over 5 million refugees remain outside Syria’s borders, mostly in neighboring countries like Jordan and Lebanon.
RISK OF REVERSALS
Grandi told donors in Geneva last week that there was a risk that those Syrians who are returning might even reverse their course and come back to host states. “Returns continue in fairly large numbers but unless we step up broader efforts, the risk of (reversals) is very real,” he said. Overall, Syria’s $3.19 billion humanitarian response is 29 percent funded this year, according to UN data, at a time when donors like the United States and others are making major cuts to foreign aid across the board. The World Health Organization sees a gap emerging as aid money drops off before national systems can take over. As of last month, only 58 percent of hospitals were fully functional and some are suffering power outages, affecting cold-chain storage for vaccines. “Returnees are coming back to areas where medicines, staff and infrastructure are limited – adding pressure to already thin services,” Christina Bethke, Acting WHO Representative in Syria, told reporters. The slow pace of removing unexploded ordnance is also a major obstacle to recovery, said the aid group Humanity & Inclusion, which reported over 1,500 deaths and injuries in the last year. Such efforts are just 13 percent funded, it said. Some aid officials say Syria is one of the first crises to be hit by aid funding cuts because the end of the war means it no longer counts as an emergency, eligible for priority funding. Others may have held back as they wait to see if authorities under President Ahmed Al-Sharaa make good on promises of reform and accountability, including for massacres of the Alawite minority in March, they say.

Syria transition ‘fragile’, one year on: UN investigators
AFP/December 07, 2025
GENEVA: Syria’s transition is fragile, one year on from the overthrow of ruler Bashar Assad, and the country’s cycles of vengeance and reprisal need to end, United Nations investigators said Sunday. Syrians have been marking the first anniversary since Islamist-led forces pressed a lightning offensive to topple Assad on December 8, 2024 after nearly 14 years of war. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria investigates and records all international human rights law violations since March 2011 in the country. The panel congratulated Syria on the steps it has taken so far to address the crimes and abuses inflicted during previous decades. But it said violent events since Assad’s downfall had caused renewed displacement and polarization, “raising worries about the future direction of the country.” The commission said the “horrific catalogue” of abuse inflicted by Assad’s regime “amounted to industrial criminal violence” against Syria’s people. “The cycles of vengeance and reprisal must be brought to an end, so that Syria can continue to move toward a future as a state that guarantees full respect for the human rights of all its people, with equality, the rule of law, peace and security for all in name and in deed,” the commission said. “Syria’s transition is fragile. While many across the country will celebrate this anniversary, others are fearing for their present security, and many will sleep in tents again this winter. The unknown fate of many thousands who were forcibly disappeared remains an open wound.”The commission said moving beyond the legacy of war and destruction would take “great strength, patience and support.”“The Syrian people deserve to live in peace, with full respect for rights long denied, and we have no doubt they are up to the task,” it said. The three-person commission is tasked with establishing facts with a view to ensuring that the perpetrators of violations are ultimately held accountable. The UN Human Rights Council extended its mandate for a further year in April.

Al Arabiya footage shows Bashar al-Assad mocking Putin in new leaks
Al Arabiya English/December 07/2025
Former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his former advisor Luna al-Shibl mocked Russian President Vladimir Putin in newly leaked videos obtained by Al Arabiya. Since Saturday, Al Arabiya has been airing exclusive recordings showing al-Assad in private conversations with al-Shibl, in which he ridicules various figures and events inside Syria. The date of the footage is unclear. Al-Assad’s regime was toppled by Syrian opposition forces last year, after which he sought refuge in Russia – the same country that had backed him throughout the Syrian civil war. He is believed to be currently residing in Moscow. The latest leak sheds new light on al-Assad’s relationship with his inner circle and with Russia’s President Putin, his regime’s most important ally. In one clip, al-Shibl, who died in July 2024 after being injured in a car crash, comments derisively on Putin’s appearance and health, saying: “Did you see how bloated Putin looks?”Al-Assad responds: “It’s all procedures.”Al-Shibl adds: “Yes, everything about Putin is procedures. He’s 65 years old… that clip exposed him badly.” In another part of the recording, al-Shibl criticizes Syrian army soldiers, saying: “They look me in the face… I love them, but I’m disgusted by them.” Sources told Al Arabiya that Amjad Issa, al-Shibl’s assistant, was in the car with al-Assad when the recordings were made.

Leaked videos of Assad and media adviser spark social media storm
The Arab Weekly/December 07/2025
Leaked footage of a private conversation between former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his media adviser, Luna Shibl, has ignited widespread debate on social media, particularly X, where interactions surpassed one million views within hours. The clips were first published by Al Arabiya. Dated between 2013 and 2015, the leaks reveal a spontaneous conversation during a car ride in rural Damascus, featuring Assad’s profane remarks about Eastern Ghouta, saying, “Damn Eastern Ghouta.” Other footage shows a dialogue with Shibl, who comments on “Hezbollah boasting about its capabilities,” before adding, “and now we have heard nothing from them.” The recordings also show Assad and Shibl mocking Syrian soldiers seen kissing Assad’s hand during previous encounters. The footage highlights their scorn towards the Syrian police and the interior minister, with Shibl saying, “The interior minister isn’t happy with his police force, and every now and then news about them pops up on Facebook.”In discussing Syria’s situation, Assad is heard saying, “I feel not only ashamed but also disgusted.” At one point, he mocks his own surname, saying, “I need to change my name, not Assad [which translates into Lion], some other animal.” Shibl, meanwhile, ridicules Major General Suhayl al-Hasan, commenting, “He’s busy standing on Mount Qasioun, taking photos with his Russian entourage,” while Assad describes him as “a man of strange theories.”The footage also shows Assad ridiculing the Syrian people, saying, “They spend on mosques but have nothing to eat.” Shibl mocks a military call made by Assad over the radio, and in another video she tells him, “Our fighters looted Jobar and left nothing there.”The leaked recordings, presented exclusively for the first time, also show Shibl telling Assad he “doesn’t have the energy” to discuss humanitarian issues. They offer rare insight into private discussions within Assad’s inner circle. Before her death in a car accident, Shibl was one of Syria’s most prominent media and political figures, having served as a media adviser in the presidential palace and previously working for several Arab television channels. The leaks have become a focal point of public discussion in Syria, revealing, in voice and image, Assad’s mockery of the suffering, wounds and hardships of the Syrian people, while also intensifying suspicions surrounding Shibl’s death. More than a year after her passing, new information and leaks suggest the incident that killed her may not have been an ordinary car accident but a premeditated act to silence a voice no longer welcome within the narrow corridors of power. Accusations point toward the Assad regime, as the journalist had reportedly begun sensing danger from the authorities and had threatened the former Syrian system. According to Syrian media reports, the July 2024 incident on the Yafour road near Damascus was not the result of losing control of the vehicle, as initially reported. Instead, Shibl is said to have suffered a heavy blow to the back of the head, causing fatal skull fractures that killed her instantly. Preliminary examinations of her body, according to the reports, revealed deliberate injuries to the head and neck. The investigation was swiftly closed, and Shibl was buried without official ceremonies or government announcements, adding to the mystery and speculation surrounding her sudden death. Sources close to the matter indicate that the file was reopened after reviewing internal testimonies and investigations, which revealed inconsistencies in the official account, suggesting that Shibl may have been assassinated by an unknown party.
An Al Arabiya correspondent reported that the leaked footage was found in the presidential palace in an envelope marked “Top Secret,” alongside Shibl’s personal documents. Sources also stated that Amjad Issa, al-Shibl’s assistant, was in the car with Assad during the leaked recordings.
The controversy reflects the enduring wounds of the Syrian war, with opinions divided between those who see it as evidence of “brutality” and those who dismiss it as “media propaganda.”Commenting on X, one user (@mjrdzayr337191) wrote, “Anyone who watches the leaked video of Bashar al-Assad with his adviser Luna Shibl realises that some regimes are run like WhatsApp groups, not states. “If Assad had stepped down in 2011 like Mubarak did in Egypt, or fled like Ben Ali in Tunisia, Syrians might have avoided a civil war that burned their country, killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. His grip on power cost Syria its people, land and civilisation,” he added. Conversely, sceptical voices claim the leaks are “fabricated” or exaggerated, particularly among writers and analysts focusing on the political context. Mohammed Howaidi (@mh_Hawa1) commented, “The image presented by a politician, journalist, writer, artist, athlete or even dancer in front of the camera is not necessarily their true self. Every person has another side, hidden from view, which may be light or dark. Similarly, the conversation between Assad and Luna Shibl could be considered a normal private discussion, outside diplomacy and political decorum. “As for the part about Eastern Ghouta, it is not the core issue worth commenting on. Nations have been destroyed and insults targeting religions, sects, cities and villages continue daily through media and social networks. What occurred between Assad and Shibl remains a side conversation, and there is ample evidence elsewhere, including documents implicating Tom Barrack in Epstein’s sexual scandals and the corruption of politicians, athletes and journalists,” he added.

UNICEF leaves Sana’a for Aden as relations with Houthis deteriorate
The Arab Weekly/December 07/2025
The announcement by Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaea Mohsin al-Zindani on Saturday that the UN children’s agency UNICEF is relocating its main headquarters from Sana’a to the city of Aden marks a significant turning point in the trajectory of humanitarian and international operations in Yemen. It reflects intertwined political, security and humanitarian shifts involving the warring parties and the UN agencies operating in the country. The move is significant as it represents the first time one of the largest international organisations working in Yemen has declared the transfer of its principal headquarters out of the traditional capital Sana’a, which remains under Houthi control, to Aden, the interim capital of the internationally-recognised Yemeni government. This development cannot be viewed in isolation from Yemen’s fraught landscape, where massive humanitarian challenges intersect with political ambiguity and mounting tension between international organisations and the Houthi authorities. The minister’s announcement came during his meeting with UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban, on the sidelines of the Doha Forum. The meeting carried particular weight, taking place in an international setting focused on security, peace and development at a moment when Yemen faces increased international pressure on the Houthis over issues related to the detention and mistreatment of UN employees. During the talks, the two sides discussed cooperation between the Yemeni government and UNICEF and reviewed the latest developments in the humanitarian situation, particularly the conditions of children who bear the greatest burden of a war that has dragged on for almost a decade. They also discussed the nature of ongoing humanitarian programmes and the need to increase the effectiveness of the humanitarian response in vital sectors, especially health and education, both of which have suffered extensive collapse as a result of the prolonged conflict. According to official statements, Zindani praised the transfer of the organisation’s headquarters to Aden, describing the move as one that strengthens direct partnership between the government and UNICEF and opens the door for greater coordination and smoother implementation of humanitarian programmes. He also stressed that the organisation’s presence in Aden would enhance rapid responses to citizens’ needs and support the government’s efforts to provide a more stable and neutral operating environment for international agencies. UNICEF’s efforts and its critical role in supporting children and essential public-service sectors were also commended, with praise for its programmes covering most Yemeni provinces despite escalating security and administrative challenges.
But this announcement cannot be seen merely as an administrative or logistical rearrangement of UNICEF’s work. Rather, it signals a shift in the long-standing dynamics that have governed the activities of UN agencies in Yemen over the past years.
Since the outbreak of the war, most international organisations have maintained their main presence in Sana’a despite Houthi control, partly because it remained the administrative capital and closest to the country’s main population centres. However, recent years have witnessed a marked deterioration in relations between the Houthis and international organisations, directly affecting their performance and forcing some agencies to temporarily suspend activities or scale back their operations. At the forefront of this deteriorating relationship is the issue of the Houthis’ detention of dozens of Yemeni UN employees, a case that has drawn widespread international condemnation. Tensions escalated further when Houthi courts in Sana’a issued death sentences against some detainees, accusing them of espionage and collaboration with foreign parties.
Many observers and human rights organisations have questioned the credibility of these accusations, viewing them as part of the group’s broader pattern of restricting humanitarian workers and using international agencies as leverage to extract political and financial concessions. In this environment, Sana’a has become an increasingly hazardous place for humanitarian operations, with repeated Houthi interference in aid distribution mechanisms, restrictions on staff movements and demands for beneficiary lists. These practices have fuelled ongoing tension between the two sides. Given this fraught context, UNICEF’s decision to relocate its headquarters to Aden appears to be a direct response to its inability to operate freely and impartially in Houthi-controlled areas.
The move also reflects a growing UN conviction that continuing to work from Sana’a under current conditions endangers staff safety and undermines the integrity of humanitarian operations. For the Yemeni government, meanwhile, the shift to Aden strengthens its political and administrative presence and underscores its position as a credible international partner capable of providing an appropriate environment for UN agencies. Politically, the move is seen as a clear message to the Houthis that the international community is reassessing how it deals with them as a de facto authority. While international organisations were previously compelled to engage directly with the group to ensure the delivery of aid to millions of Yemenis, it now appears the international community is seeking to recalibrate the relationship in ways that limit Houthi influence over humanitarian work. The decision may also be viewed as a form of soft pressure aimed at pushing the group to release detainees and halt practices that obstruct UN agencies. On the humanitarian level, the relocation to Aden is expected to reorganise response operations and may initially create logistical challenges, especially since Sana’a still hosts the country’s largest population concentration and major distribution networks previously relied on by UNICEF. However, the move could allow the agency to tighten oversight over programme delivery, reduce interference in Houthi-controlled areas and operate from a more stable environment, ultimately enabling faster and more transparent assistance to those in need.
At the same time, the decision reflects a broader UN desire to gradually reposition the humanitarian system in Yemen so that its core structures are located in safer areas, particularly amid growing risks to UN staff in Sanaa. If the Houthis maintain their current approach, the decision could encourage other organisations to take similar steps, potentially reshaping the map of UN presence in Yemen. The move also comes at a time when the Yemeni government is experiencing a relative improvement in its international relations and is striving to rebuild state institutions in liberated areas, developments the UN considers positive and worth supporting. UNICEF’s presence in Aden provides an opportunity to strengthen state institutions’ role in managing the humanitarian portfolio, activate long-term development planning, and support reconstruction projects in key sectors. However, the relocation may also raise concerns about the politicisation of humanitarian work or its use as leverage by rival parties. Thus, the challenge for UNICEF and other UN agencies remains to preserve their neutrality and independence and guarantee the continued delivery of assistance to all those in need without discrimination, including in Houthi-controlled regions, home to millions of children dependent on humanitarian support. Overall, the relocation of UNICEF’s main headquarters from Sana’a to Aden marks a new phase in the management of the humanitarian file in Yemen. It is a step with political weight, humanitarian implications and clear UN messaging, and may be the beginning of a broader reconfiguration of relations between international organisations and the authorities on the ground. It also reflects a growing recognition that the current situation is no longer sustainable, and that humanitarian work cannot remain hostage to an authority that at times uses it as a tool of pressure or extortion. Ultimately, the key questions remain: will UNICEF be able to operate more effectively from Aden? And will the move prompt the Houthis to reconsider their policies toward UN operations? These questions will remain open but what is certain is that the relocation represents a watershed moment for international engagement in Yemen and could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s humanitarian and political landscape in the period ahead.

GCC condemns Iranian statements undermining Gulf states’ sovereignty
Al Arabiya English/December 08/2025
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Sunday condemned comments made by Iranian officials that it says undermine the sovereignty of Bahrain, the UAE’s rights over its three islands (Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa), and the sovereignty of the Durra offshore oil field, jointly owned by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. GCC Secretary-General Jasem al-Budaiwi said the Iranian statements were filled with inaccuracies, false claims and baseless allegations. He stressed that these remarks contradict the principles of non-interference and good-neighborly relations – principles Iran violated through its attack on Qatar in June. He added that the statements also run counter to the GCC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen and develop relations with Iran on all levels. The GCC reiterated the importance of adhering to the foundations and principles outlined in the UN Charter and international law. These include good-neighborly relations, respect for state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, resolving disputes peacefully, and avoiding the use or threat of force. Al-Budaiwi noted that Gulf states have consistently shown goodwill toward Iran and have been keen on supporting the security and stability of Tehran in ways that protect the interests of the Iranian people and prevent regional tensions and escalation. He pointed to discussions held during joint meetings between GCC foreign ministers and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and emphasized the importance of continued bilateral communication between GCC countries and Iran to advance mutual interests and safeguard regional stability. The GCC reaffirmed its commitment to peace, coexistence and relying on dialogue and diplomacy in international relations. It called on Iran to stop spreading false claims that undermine trust and obstruct efforts at communication and understanding.

How Iranian forces abandoned Assad days before collapse of Damascus
The Arab Weekly/December 07/2025
As city after city fell to a lightning rebel offensive in Syria last December, Iranian forces and diplomats supporting Bashar al-Assad saw the writing on the wall, abandoning the longtime ruler days before his ousting, sources said. During Syria’s civil war, which erupted in 2011 following the government’s brutal repression of pro-democracy protests, Iran was one of Damascus’s biggest backers, sending Assad military advisers and forces from its Revolutionary Guards. Iranian and allied regional fighters, mainly from Lebanon’s Hezbollah, but also from Iraq and Afghanistan, had held key locations and helped prop up Assad, only to melt away in the face of Islamist-led forces’ headlong rush towards the capital. Syrian officers and soldiers served under the Iranian Guards, whose influence grew during the conflict as Assad’s power waned. A former Syrian officer assigned to one of the Guards’ security headquarters in Damascus said that on December 5 last year, his Iranian superior summoned him to an operations centre in the Mazzeh district the following day to discuss an “important matter.”The former officer, requesting anonymity due to fears for his safety, said his superior, known as Hajj Abu Ibrahim, made a bombshell announcement to around 20 Syrian officers and soldiers gathered for the meeting. “From today, there will be no more Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Syria. We’re leaving,” they were told. “It’s all over. From today, we are no longer responsible for you.”He said they were ordered to burn or otherwise destroy sensitive documents and remove hard drives from computers.
Border bottleneck
The announcement came as the Islamist forces were making huge gains, but it still took the Syrian soldiers by surprise, he said. “We knew things hadn’t been going well, but not to that extent.”They received one month’s salary in advance and went home. Two days later the Islamist forces captured Damascus without a fight after Assad fled to Russia. Two Syrian employees of Iran’s consulate in Damascus, requesting anonymity for security reasons, also described a hasty Iranian exit. The consulate was empty by the evening of December 5 as Iranian diplomats scarpered across the border to Beirut, they said. Several Syrian employees “who held Iranian nationality left with them, accompanied by senior Revolutionary Guards officers”, according to one of the former employees. At Jdeidet Yabus, Syria’s main border crossing with Lebanon, taxi drivers and former staff reported a massive bottleneck on December 5 and 6, with an eight-hour wait to clear the frontier. Both of the former consulate employees said the Iranians told their Syrian personnel to stay home and paid them three months’ salary. The embassy, consulate and all Iranian security positions were deserted by the morning of December 6, they said.
Russian base
During the war, forces under Iranian command were concentrated in sensitive areas inside Damascus and its suburbs, particularly the Sayyida Zeinab area, home to an important Shia Muslim shrine, and around Damascus airport, as well as near the Lebanese and Iraqi borders. Parts of the northern city of Aleppo and locations elsewhere in the province were also major staging areas for personnel and fighters. At a site that used to be a key military base for Iranian forces south of Aleppo, Colonel Mohammad Dibo said that when the city fell early in the rebels’ campaign, “Iran stopped fighting.”Iranian forces “had to withdraw suddenly after the quick collapse” of Assad’s military, said Dibo, who took part in the rebel offensive and now serves in Syria’s new army. On the heavily damaged walls of the abandoned base, a journalist saw Iranian and Hezbollah slogans, and a painting of a sword tearing through an Israeli flag. Tehran’s foe Israel had launched hundreds of strikes on Syria over the course of the war, mainly saying it was targeting Assad’s army and Iran-backed groups. The former Syrian army officer who requested anonymity said that on December 5, a senior Iranian military official known as Hajj Jawad and several Iranian soldiers and officers were evacuated to Russia’s Hmeimim base on the Mediterranean coast, then flown back to Tehran. At the abandoned site near Aleppo, Dibo said that after the city’s fall, “some 4,000 Iranian military personnel were evacuated via Russia’s Hmeimim base” where they had taken refuge. Others fled overland through Iraq or Lebanon, he said. Their exit was so rushed that “when we entered their bases” in Aleppo province, “we found passports and identity documents belonging to Iranian officers who didn’t even have time to retrieve them.”

Syrian Kurds hail Turkey-PKK peace move, seek dialogue across borders
The Arab Weekly/December 07/2025
Efforts to broker peace between Turkey and the Kurdish militant group PKK have had a “positive impact” on Syria’s Kurds who also want dialogue with Ankara, one of its top officials said on Saturday. Earlier this year, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) ended its four-decade armed struggle against Turkey at the urging of its jailed founder Abdullah Ocalan, shifting its focus to a democratic political struggle for the rights of Turkey’s Kurdish minority. The ongoing process has raised hopes among Kurds across the region, notably in Syria where the Kurds control swathes of territory in the north and northeast.
“The peace initiative in Turkey has had a direct impact on northern and eastern Syria,” said Elham Ahmad, a senior official in the Kurdish administration in Syria’s northeast. “We want a dialogue process with Turkey, a dialogue that we understand as Kurds in Syria … We want the borders between us to be opened,” she said, speaking by video link to an Istanbul peace conference organised by Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition DEM party. Speaking in Kurdish, she hailed Turkey for initiating the peace moves, but said releasing Ocalan, who has led the process from his cell on Imrali prison island near Istanbul where he has been serving life in solitary since 1999, would speed things up. “We believe that Abdullah Ocalan being released will let him play a much greater role … that this peace and resolution process will happen faster and better.” She also hailed Ankara for its sensitive approach to dialogue with the new regime in Damascus that emerged after the ousting of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad a year ago. “The Turkish government has a dialogue and a relationship with the Syrian government. They also have open channels with us. We see that there is a careful approach to this matter,” she said. Turkey has long been hostile to the Kurdish SDF force that controls swathes of northeastern Syria, seeing it as an extension of PKK, and pushing for the US-backed force to integrate into the Syrian military and security apparatus. Although a deal was reached to that end in March, its terms were never implemented. “In this historic process, as the Middle East is being reorganised, Turkey has a very important role. Peace in both countries, within Turkish society, Kurdish society and Arab society … will impact the entire Middle East,” Ahmad said. Syria’s Kurdish community believed coexistence was “fundamental” and did not want to see the nation divided, she said. “We do not support the division of Syria or any other country. Such divisions pave the way for new wars. That is why we advocate for peace.”

Israeli government in need of ‘reform,’ Saudi diplomat says
Al Arabiya English/December 07/2025
A senior Saudi diplomat has said that the Israeli government is the one in need of reform, not only the Palestinian Authority, which she stressed has been exerting effort toward changes. She added that Israeli officials continue undermining any path toward peace. Manal Radwan, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Saudi Foreign Ministry, told a panel on Saturday that Palestinians have been “reforming for the past 30 years,” and that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has committed to a reform plan. “President Mahmoud Abbas had put a robust reform plan that he committed himself to, because this is good for the Palestinians,” Radwan said during a panel discussion at the Doha Forum in Qatar. “Saudi Arabia, of course, is committed, and we work on a daily basis with the PA to help in its reform plan, but what we need is actually to really get into a sustainable peace and security and to end this conflict and to implement President Trump’s 20-[point] peace plan and to implement the Security Council resolution is a reformed Israeli government,” she added. “We have an Israeli government that opposes the two-state solution. We have an Israeli government that has officials continuously intice[ing] against Palestinians, against Arabs, against Muslims,” Radwan continued. “We don’t see that we have a partner for peace, not even a partner for a sustainable ceasefire. So that is the actual and the important reform that we are hoping to see.”Saudi Arabia’s position has long been clear and the Kingdom has repeatedly stated that it would not normalize relation with Israel without a Palestinian state. Radwan also underscored that “if we do not ensure the security and the political aspirations of Palestinians being fulfilled, then there is no security for anyone, including Israel and including the rest of the region, but also the world.”The senior diplomat also warned against attempts to “redefine” the Gaza ceasefire terms. “We cannot be open to redefinition and renegotiation of what we have already agreed to,” Radwan said. “So, we cannot go back and redefine what we mean by ceasefire, what we mean even by disarmament, what we mean by a Palestinian-led process in governing Gaza.”She warned that “redefining these things back and forth” will lead to “getting ourselves into a sidetrack that gets us into so many details about what, who, when, and we lose sight of the overall and the core of the conflict.”

Iran denounces US deportations as dozens of nationals head home
The Arab Weekly/December 07/2025
Iran said Sunday over 50 of its nationals were to return from the United States, with President Donald Trump pursuing a crackdown on immigration. “In the coming days, around 50 to 55 Iranian nationals will return,” the spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry Esmaeil Baqaei said during his weekly news conference.
“This is the second group in recent months to be returned to Iran.”According to CNN, the group is expected to arrive in Iran later on Sunday, after a stopover in Kuwait. Baqaei in his remarks slammed what he called US “racist actions against foreign nationals, particularly citizens of our region, and especially Iranians.”“Regarding Iranians, it is evident to us that these pressures are politically motivated and that these anti-immigration policies conflict with human rights laws,” he added. Baqaei said the Iranians, under significant pressure from the relevant US authorities, approached the Iranian Interests Section in Washington and “expressed their willingness to return to their homeland.” “Our Interests Section has facilitated this process, and in the coming days, around 50 to 55 Iranian nationals will return,” he said. Iran and the United States do not have formal diplomatic relations, but Tehran maintains an office within the Pakistani embassy in Washington which deals with consular issues. US authorities this month paused green card and citizenship processing for nationals from 19 countries, including Iran, already subject to travel restrictions announced in June. In September, Iran said 120 of its nationals were deported from the United States under Trump’s immigration crackdown, according to foreign ministry consular affairs official Hossein Noushabadi talking to Tasnim news agency. He then said “the US immigration service has decided to deport around 400 Iranians currently in the United States, most of them after entering illegally.”

US envoy says Ukraine peace deal is close but Moscow says it wants radical changes
Reuters/December 07/2025
US President Donald Trump’s outgoing Ukraine envoy said a deal to end the Ukraine war was “really close” and depended on resolving just two major issues but the Kremlin said there had to be radical changes to some of the US proposals. Trump, who says he wants to be remembered as a “peacemaker” president, says that ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two has so far been the most elusive foreign policy aim of his presidency. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 after eight years of fighting between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops in the Donbas, which is made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, who is due to step down in January, told the Reagan National Defense Forum that efforts to resolve the conflict were in “the last 10 meters” which he said was always the hardest.
Donbas and nuclear power plant the key issues now
The two main outstanding issues, Kellogg said, were on territory - primarily the future of the Donbas - and the future of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, which is under Russian control. “If we get those two issues settled, I think the rest of the things will work out fairly well,” Kellogg said on Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California. “We’re almost there.”
“We’re really, really close,” said Kellogg.
After President Vladimir Putin held four hours of Kremlin talks last week with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, said “territorial problems” were discussed. That is Kremlin shorthand for Russian claims to the whole of Donbas, though Ukraine is still in control of at least 5,000 square km (1,900 square miles) of the area. Almost all countries recognize Donbas as part of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that handing over the rest of Donetsk would be illegal without a referendum and would give Russia a platform to launch assaults deeper into Ukraine in the future. Ushakov was quoted by Russian media on Sunday as saying that the United States would have to “make serious, I would say, radical changes to their papers” on Ukraine. He did not clarify what changes Moscow wanted Washington to make. Zelenskyy said on Saturday that he had had a long and “substantive” phone call with Witkoff and Kushner. The Kremlin has said it expects Kushner to be doing the main work on drafting a possible deal.
Two million men killed or injured, Kellogg says
Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general who served in Vietnam, Panama and Iraq, said the scale of the death and injuries caused by the Ukraine war was “horrific” and unprecedented in terms of a regional war. Kellogg said that, together, Russia and Ukraine have suffered more than 2 million casualties, including dead and wounded since the war began. Neither Russia nor Ukraine disclose credible estimates of their losses. Russia currently controls 19.2 percent of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, all of Luhansk, more than 80 percent of Donetsk, about 75 percent of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and slivers of the Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. A leaked set of 28 US draft peace proposals emerged last month, alarming Ukrainian and European officials who said it bowed to Moscow’s main demands on NATO, Russian control of a fifth of Ukraine and restrictions on Ukraine’s army.

Zohran Mamdani tells immigrant New Yorkers about their right not to comply with ICE
AP/December 08, 2025
NEW YORK: New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani posted a video to social media on Sunday explaining immigrants’ right to refuse to speak to or comply with agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, days after federal agents carried out a raid in Manhattan. In the video, Mamdani vowed to protect the city’s 3 million immigrants, saying, “We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.”He explained that people in the US can chose not to speak to federal immigration agents, film them without interfering and refuse their requests to enter private spaces. ICE agents cannot enter spaces like a home, school or private area of a workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge, Mamdani said. “ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent. If you’re being detained, you may always ask, ‘Am I free to go?’ repeatedly until they answer you,” said Mamdani, who will be sworn in as mayor on Jan 1. His comments came a week after demonstrators gathered as ICE attempted to detain people on Canal Street near New York’s Chinatown. A similar immigration sweep in the same neighborhood last October was also met with protests.
“New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support, and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters,” Mamdani said in Sunday’s video. Weeks earlier, Mamdani had a surprisingly cordial Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump, whose administration is carrying out federal immigration enforcement operations in several US cities, most recently in New Orleans.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 07-08/2025
The 'Lions' of Israel
Nils A. Haug/Gatestone Institute/December 7, 2025
It may not be generally known that, immediately after WWII, as many as 48,000 volunteers, both Jews and non-Jews, from 59 nations arrived in Israel to fight for its independence. About 90% of Israel's fledging Air Force pilots were new arrivals – the often-overlooked heroes of their time. In many Western countries, the present cohort of military-age young people generally seems to display an ignorance of integrity, the indispensable value of freedom of speech, Judeo-Christian values, and patriotism. Instead, despite having the comfort of food, shelter, advanced technology, and no military obligations, they appear to be self-absorbed and resentful of how extremely hard they supposedly have it. Destructive rather than creative, many appear, at best, disinclined to contribute meaningfully to the common good of the societies that provide them with so much. Is it possible that we are infantilizing them -- depriving them of the most important education of all - by no longer requiring a military draft, a Peace Corps, or at least mandatory civilian national service to enable them to participate in "repairing" the world and seeing how most people actually live?
"These young men and women, raised in the age of social media and short attention spans, are showing the world what true clarity and courage look like. They're not confused by decades of failed appeasement or the lies of global media narratives. They know why we are fighting. They have seen with their own eyes the evil we are fighting against.... They are... standing with a strength and moral clarity that cuts through the noise...." — Avi Abelow, JNS, October 19, 2025.
Journalist Jonathan Tobin notes that these men and women (many of them reservists who in everyday life work at everyday jobs) went on to defeat their "Iranian, Hezbollah and Hamas foes, and did so while still preserving [Israel's] standards and humanity." They are a credit to their people and to the Judeo-Christian ethos underpinning Western civilization itself. Almost every generation in history has a group of courageous men and women, of all ages, who deserve their place among the greatest and bravest of their time. The present cadre of Israeli warriors is no exception. Pictured: IDF soldiers in southern Israel are briefed as they prepare to go into battle against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, on December 13, 2023. (Photo by Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)
When the Greatest Generation is mentioned, reference is invariably to those who went through the Great Depression and participated in the Second World War and who emerged victorious, at great personal cost, against various enemies bent on bringing America down.
It may not be generally known that, immediately after WWII, as many as 48,000 volunteers, both Jews and non-Jews, from 59 nations arrived in Israel to fight for its independence. About 90% of Israel's fledging Air Force pilots were new arrivals – the often-overlooked heroes of their time.
The influence and virtues of those generations are "fading into permanent silence," suggests political commentator Sean Patrick Calabria. "With each passing, we not only lose a life, but also a visceral link to the sacrifices that forged the free and prosperous world we inherited. We likewise take one step closer to forgetting their valor altogether, drifting towards the complacency they would warn us of. The result will inevitably be an America perilously blind to history's hard-won lessons and too afraid or ill-prepared to confront the tyrants gathering anew."In many Western countries, the present cohort of military-age young people generally seems to display an ignorance of integrity, the indispensable value of freedom of speech, Judeo-Christian values, and patriotism.
Instead, despite having the comfort of food, shelter, advanced technology, and no military obligations, they appear to be self-absorbed and resentful of how extremely hard they supposedly have it. Destructive rather than creative, many appear, at best, disinclined to contribute meaningfully to the common good of the societies that provide them with so much. Is it possible that we are infantilizing them -- depriving them of the most important education of all - by no longer requiring a military draft, a Peace Corps, or at least mandatory civilian national service to enable them to participate in "repairing" the world and seeing how most people actually live?
Taking full advantage of the freedoms an open society offers – achieved by the courage and sacrifice of generations past – they misuse democracy and human rights. They support misogyny, terrorism masquerading as human rights, and silencing those with whom they disagree rather than respectfully hearing them out, a courtesy they seem to assume should be accorded only to them. Heterosexual white males, women competing in sports, and Jewish fellow citizens, specifically, are among those who suffer public denigration.
The desperate years of World War II forged a steely character and strong work ethic. US Army Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds of Tennessee, for instance, was captured by German soldiers during WWII and incarcerated with thousands of fellow prisoners of war in Stalag IXA, a camp near Ziegenhain, Germany. As the highest-ranking POW at the camp, when the German camp commander ordered him to arrange that all Jewish POWs be assembled the following morning for transportation to concentration camps, Edmonds secretly arranged for all the inmates of the camp to assemble, not only the Jews among them. The next day, when the German officer saw the large gathering, he said to Edmonds "They cannot all be Jews."
Edwards replied simply, "We are all Jews... If you shoot me, you will have to shoot all of us, and after the war you will be tried for war crimes." The officer left. Many years later, in 2015, Edmonds, among many other heroes, was posthumously recognized by the State of Israel as "Righteous Among the Nations."
Almost every generation in history has a group of courageous men and women, of all ages, who deserve their place among the greatest and bravest of their time. The present cadre of Israeli warriors is no exception.
The warrior spirit of early Israelites was evident as far back as 3,000 years ago. King David and his band of warriors formed their resolve in times of great hardship while gathered as outlaws in the caves of Adullam in Judea. Under David's leadership, they became the mighty, the undefeated, preeminently heroic men of their age. These great fighters, exemplifying the continuing "spirit of Zion," endure as role models to the soldiers of Israel today. It is these who have the world's attention at present. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) battalion commander Lt. Col. Almog Rotem recalled of his soldiers' actions in Gaza:
"We're in a grueling, challenging war. We fight shoulder-to-shoulder with our armored corps brethren and embrace them; throughout this war, their actions have saved dozens of soldiers' lives. My heart goes out to the families of the fallen; we will embrace them and push forward to complete the mission.
"I fight side-by-side with my troops; they possess remarkable mental and personal fortitude. They endure harsh experiences, but I see a glimmer in their eyes, their dedication, how they attack and never stop. Not a single soldier has said, 'I don't want to continue.'"Their jihadist enemies – relieved by vast international donations from having to concentrate on actually building their societies -- were therefore free for years to focus on preparing for war. Instead of building great institutions and businesses, they used these financial windfalls to build "a city under a city": 350-450 miles of tunnels used to protect the terrorists – not the Gazan civilians – and to store weapons and plan attacks.
The Israelis were forced to engage enemies in close combat in dark tunnels full of deadly traps. The men and women of the IDF have proven to be the greatest generation of this era. They are worthy successors to King David and his mighty men. They are today's "lions" of Israel.
According to commentator Avi Abelow:
"The TikTok generation in Israel, so often dismissed as distracted or disconnected, has proven itself to be made of the strongest steel. These young men and women, raised in the age of social media and short attention spans, are showing the world what true clarity and courage look like. They're not confused by decades of failed appeasement or the lies of global media narratives. They know why we are fighting. They have seen with their own eyes the evil we are fighting against.... They are proving to be the true lions of Zion, standing with a strength and moral clarity that cuts through the noise.... they are the living, breathing spirit of Zion...."Journalist Jonathan Tobin notes that these men and women (many of them reservists who in everyday life work at everyday jobs) went on to defeat their "Iranian, Hezbollah and Hamas foes, and did so while still preserving [Israel's] standards and humanity." They are a credit to their people and to the Judeo-Christian ethos underpinning Western civilization itself.
**This essay is dedicated to those who have fought and sacrificed much, resisting tyranny in the wars and conflicts of their times and, specifically, those who continue to protect their nations and traditional values against the dark forces again confronting Israel and the West. I also dedicate this essay to the memory of my father, who, though not Jewish, fortunately managed to escape the German occupation in France, and to my mother and her family, consigned to the basement of their lovely home when it was commandeered as the headquarters of the occupying German forces on Norway's west coast. I would be remiss if I did not mention the Wehrmacht officer, Günther Hanfland, who extended kindness to my mother, her family, and others, and who exhibited courage and integrity in returning to the village after the war to seek amends.
**Nils A. Haug is an author and columnist. A Lawyer by profession, he is member of the International Bar Association, the National Association of Scholars, the Academy of Philosophy and Letters. Dr. Haug holds a Ph.D. in Apologetical Theology and is author of 'Politics, Law, and Disorder in the Garden of Eden – the Quest for Identity'; and 'Enemies of the Innocent – Life, Truth, and Meaning in a Dark Age.' His work has been published by First Things Journal, The American Mind, Quadrant, Minding the Campus, Gatestone Institute, National Association of Scholars, Jewish Journal, James Wilson Institute (Anchoring Truths), Jewish News Syndicate, Tribune Juive, Document Danmark, Zwiedzaj Polske, Schlaglicht Israel, and many others.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22080/lions-of-israel
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute

Riyadh is not Mediterranean, but is closer to Greece than many assume
Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/December 07, 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

Gulf states reaffirm their security and regional priorities
Hassan Al-Mustafa/Arab News/December 07, 2025
The final communique of the 46th Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, held in the Bahraini capital Manama on Dec. 3, was a detailed political document in an exceptionally complex regional context, indicating a shift in how the governments of the Gulf perceive the structural changes that have affected the Middle East since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Oct. 7, 2023. The communique’s emphasis on the fact that “the security of the GCC states is indivisible and that any aggression against any one of them is an aggression against all of them, in accordance with the GCC Charter and the Joint Defense Agreement” did not come this time as a repeated preamble without practical significance. Rather, it followed an extremely dangerous test, represented by the Israeli-Iranian war and the direct Iranian bombing that targeted the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, followed later by an Israeli strike deep inside Doha. These developments effectively ended the assumption of the Gulf’s geographic neutrality and pushed the GCC to reconsider its self-security as an existential matter, not merely a formal political solidarity among its states.
Within this context, the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict occupied a central position in the Gulf communique, which held Israel “fully responsible for its violations and ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip,” rejecting “any justifications or pretexts portraying the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip as self-defense.” It also considered what is taking place to be “a crime of genocide,” accompanied by policies of ethnic cleansing and collective punishment. This very explicit language represents a Gulf position that moves away from passive neutrality and political caution toward a clear legal stance and precise description of the extremist Israeli government’s violations of international law. However, this emphasis is not separate from a parallel practical approach, manifested in welcoming UN Security Council Resolution 2803, issued on Nov. 17, which adopted the US plan for peace in Gaza and established the “Board of Peace as a transitional administrative body with international legal personality tasked with coordinating funding and the redevelopment of Gaza.”Here, Gulf policy operates on two parallel levels: first, a clear moral-legal position toward Israel; and, second, a pragmatic engagement in shaping the postwar phase through internationally viable mechanisms, with the aim of finding a lasting solution to end the cycle of violence that has persisted for decades.
Also addressed in the Gulf communique was the relationship with Iran, which represents the most sensitive challenge to Gulf security because it directly affects the essence of regional stability. This is especially so given the negative experiences over many years, when Tehran engaged in activities that harmed the security of several neighboring states. The communique defined the political basis of the relationship when it stressed “the necessity of Iran’s adherence to the foundations and fundamental principles based on the United Nations Charter and international law, the principles of good neighborliness, respect for the sovereignty of states (and) noninterference in internal affairs.”The issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict occupied a central position in the Gulf communique. At the same time, it moved from general themes to specific sovereign issues, as it reiterated “the condemnation of Iran’s continued occupation of the three islands belonging to the United Arab Emirates” and stressed that the Al-Durra natural gas field lies “entirely within the maritime areas of the State of Kuwait and that ownership of the natural resources therein … is a joint ownership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait only.” The communique “reaffirmed its categorical rejection of any claims of rights by any other party.”This shift from general discourse to precise detail on specific contentious issues reflects that the crisis of trust with Tehran must be resolved. The GCC holds Iran responsible for undertaking this task, as it is the party that has committed transgressions in more than one issue, which is something that several Iranian politicians openly deny. Despite this firm stance, the communique does not adopt a logic of severance with Iran. It commends the efforts of Oman in facilitating the nuclear dialogue between Iran and the US and affirms “the importance of continuing constructive negotiations to reach a comprehensive solution to this issue, one that includes all concerns and security issues of the GCC states.”Likewise, in the closing press conference, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani summarized this Gulf approach by saying: “Iran is a neighboring state and the Kingdom of Bahrain will not be an obstacle to the restoration of normal relations with it.”This flexible stance from Manama does not mean unconditional normalization of relations, but rather points to a political openness conditioned on a fundamental change in regional behavior — namely, halting support for transnational militias, dismantling sleeper cells, respecting state sovereignty and refraining from conspiring against internal security. All this makes it important to pause at the issue of military and security cooperation among the Arab Gulf states, as the communique reflected a desire to develop the coordination that has existed for decades and advance it through institutional work based on a long-term plan. It emphasized “the completion of the components of the joint defense and security systems” and reinforced the concept of expanded security. Nevertheless, the regional landscape remains governed by simultaneous pressures: the Gaza war is open to escalation scenarios; uncertainty looms over the Iranian track and negotiations with the US; and maritime security in the Red Sea is fragile — not to mention the complications in arenas such as Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. These challenges make defense and integration projects operate under crisis pressure rather than in a stable strategic environment and, therefore, they require speed and precision on the one hand and a wise, strong and unconventional vision on the other.
**Hassan Al-Mustafa is a Saudi writer and researcher interested in Islamic movements, the development of religious discourse, and the relationship between Gulf Cooperation Council states and Iran. X: @Halmustafa

Macron wants to bring new balance to China-Europe ties
Andrew Hammond/Arab News/December 07, 2025
French President Emmanuel Macron went to China last week for what was technically a bilateral state visit. However, he has higher hopes of a much bigger reconfiguration of Europe’s relationship with the emerging superpower. Macron, who was making his fourth trip to China, is rarely short of confidence in his ability to win world leaders around. And he clearly enjoys a positive relationship with Xi Jinping. On Friday, the Chinese president hosted his French counterpart in the southwestern city of Chengdu, a relatively rare example of Xi accompanying a foreign guest beyond Beijing. This followed an earlier leg of the trip in the capital. There, the two sides signed a dozen cooperation agreements covering topics like population aging and nuclear energy. There were also business deals for French firms that joined Macron and are keen to secure greater access to the huge Chinese market.
Also on the agenda for the French president was the bigger prize of a new framework for Europe’s future relationship with China. On Thursday, he argued that “we are facing the risk of the disintegration of the international order that brought peace to the world for decades and, in this context, the dialogue between China and France is even more essential than ever.”Macron’s ambition is to bring new balance to China-Europe ties not only in terms of economics, but also security. This is in a context where bilateral relations have been on a generally downward trajectory since the pandemic, including as a result of China’s qualified support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Ultimately, Macron is pushing for a reset of ties toward a new relationship independent of the ones these two powers have with others, including the US and Russia. He hopes this could be based on respect and reciprocity, with the two sides having complementary interests, such as Europe’s need for greater supplies of rare earths and China’s desire for sophisticated microchips.
This strategic shift would see China consume more and export less, with EU producers filling the gap — a long-standing ambition of many European policymakers. This is in a context where the EU’s trade deficit with China was almost $350 billion in 2024. For France, China alone makes up about 46 percent of its total bilateral trade deficit. Before the trip began, it appeared there could be some movement toward these goals by China, which would welcome greater clarity over Europe’s strategy toward Beijing. Chinese Ambassador to France Deng Li made this point when he said that the EU’s characterization of Beijing as both a competitor and a partner is akin to being at a “crossroads with the red, green and yellow traffic lights all on at the same time.”
Another signal for potential movement on the trip was that, unlike several previous Macron visits to China, his last being in 2023, he was not accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She has been more hawkish than Macron on relations with China. This includes helping devise what she calls the EU’s “de-risking” strategy toward Beijing to minimize “dangerous dependencies” in areas like tech equipment and the raw minerals used to make items such as batteries and solar panels.
Macron’s ambition is to bring new balance to China-Europe ties not only in terms of economics, but also security.  Nevertheless, when push came to shove, Macron made little progress on this agenda during his trip. This is, in part, because Xi knows that the French president does not speak for a unified Europe. It is not just Von der Leyen who has a more skeptical stance than Macron toward China. For instance, Poland tends to be much more negative about ties with Beijing, while Lithuania even allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius in 2021. These divided EU views have not only given rise to perceptions of intra-European splits on China, but intra-Western schisms too, especially compared to the generally more hawkish US. Outside of economics, last week’s talking points included foreign policy. This is an agenda where Macron has, in the past, said that the EU should aim to become a “third pole” in world affairs alongside Washington and Beijing, with greater “strategic autonomy.”Top of the international agenda for the French president with Xi was Ukraine, at a time when the US administration is seeking a breakthrough in negotiations to end the war. Macron said on Thursday: “I hope that China will join our call, our efforts to achieve, as soon as possible, at the very least a ceasefire in the form of a moratorium on strikes targeting critical infrastructure.” However, while Xi said that “China supports all efforts that work toward peace,” he did not shift policy on this issue away from Russia. Another key foreign policy topic raised was Taiwan. Macron received much criticism in the West when he asserted, on a previous China trip, that this issue should not be one that Europe should focus too strongly on. Last week’s discussion between Xi and Macron on this issue followed the recent assertion of new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a key G7 ally, that any Chinese blockade or invasion of Taiwan would necessitate Tokyo deploying its military overseas. This statement irritated Beijing so much that it reportedly pressed US President Donald Trump to rein in Takaichi. Macron’s trip showed that Europe and China can still gain from partnerships on issues of common interest. While he did not deliver on much of his grand agenda, his goal remains to show that, despite significant tensions, it is not inevitable that relations with Beijing will continue to sour and that a different future is possible.
**Andrew Hammond is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.

From austerity to prosperity
Anne-Marie Slaughter/Arab News/December 07, 2025
In 1999, thousands of activists descended on Seattle to protest a World Trade Organization gathering of finance and trade ministers. The “Battle in Seattle,” as it came to be known, was a shock for many Democrats, not least those who had grown up on the gospel of free trade. After all, it was a Democrat, President Bill Clinton, who had advocated “free and fair trade” and presided over the WTO’s creation, fulfilling the postwar aspiration to create a global trade organization to match the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The Seattle protesters objected not only to trade globalization but also to the “Washington Consensus” — the economist John Williamson’s 1989 coinage for the 10 economic policy reforms that US policymakers wanted to apply to distressed Latin American countries. Many people (though not Williamson) quickly globalized the consensus, pushing it as the right medicine for economically troubled countries everywhere. In each case, the recipe was basically the same: fiscal discipline, market liberalization, privatization, deregulation and openness to global capital. Unfortunately, the result in each case was also the same: an austerity straitjacket that inflicted enormous economic pain on ordinary people in debtor countries around the world. Given this track record, economists, activists and policymakers should take note of a recent publication from LSE Press, “The London Consensus: Economic Principles for the 21st Century.” Edited by the London School of Economics’ Tim Besley, Irene Bucelli and Andres Velasco (Chile’s finance minister from 2006 to 2010), the book includes 17 chapters authored by a global roster of economists, policy professionals and political scientists on a wide range of economic and political subjects.
Rather than try to summarize the full volume (which can be downloaded for free), I will stress its value to anyone interested in the future of capitalism in this century. The book’s five core principles are highly relevant to all global efforts to renovate or reinvent economic policymaking. First is the proposition that, “it’s not just the money: wellbeing is the key.” This is radical stuff coming from mainstream economists. Economics 101 proudly teaches that economists are concerned with increasing the “size of the pie,” principally through markets, whereas distributing the pie is a matter for politics.
This implied “separation of equity and efficiency” was a guiding principle of the Washington Consensus. The authors of the London Consensus, however, are willing to look beyond money as the measure of happiness. “Self-worth, respect, social status and public recognition,” the editors write, “matter a great deal too. They are intrinsically important and cannot simply be written off by a materialist conception of well-being.”
This intellectual shift builds on a body of Nobel Prize-winning work in behavioral economics and econometrics. Today, that work informs efforts to develop metrics beyond gross domestic product and unemployment, and to track a “well-being economy” rather than simply measuring growth. It was in this spirit that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern introduced a “well-being budget” in 2019 and that Wales passed its Well-being of Future Generations Act. A corollary to this focus on well-being is another London Consensus principle: that governments must help build resilience against socioeconomic turbulence and instability. “Policymakers must put countering volatility of all kinds at the center of their concerns,” designing policies, such as social insurance, accordingly. The authors of the London Consensus are willing to look beyond money as the measure of happiness. The Washington Consensus focused only on the dramatic disruptions caused by rapid and high inflation, which generally followed government injections of too much money into the economy. But the London Consensus recognizes that many other sources of volatility can upend individual lives, from the loss of a job, sickness or disability to outliving one’s retirement savings. All of these can create “serious consequences for health and well-being,” for which the market typically cannot or will not provide affordable insurance, so the government must step in.
The London Consensus also affirms that “there is no good economics without good politics” and that no economy or society can flourish without a “capable state.” These two principles are closely related. The classic joke about economists is that when confronted with the problem of how to open a can, they begin by saying, “assume a can opener.” The messy, often unpredictable business of politics is that can opener. Instead of seeing politics as “the great constraint whereby survival-obsessed and special interest-influenced politicians keep benevolent technocrats from implementing the ‘right’ economic policy,” those same technocrats should think about politics as “the great enabler.” Good politics can lead to good economics, because politics pursues goals that include “status, respect and dignity,” not just monetary rewards.
Of course, once politically deft governments do succeed in enacting good economic and social policies, those policies must be implemented and sustained. This may sound obvious, but one must remember that implementation requires a capable state, which in turn requires honest institutions staffed with public servants who have the knowledge and resources to do their jobs. This is a lesson for everyone. While the authors of the London Consensus focus on developing countries, the “Abundance Agenda” that is gaining traction in the US is similarly concerned with state capacity. The problem is not necessarily a lack of resources, considering that some poor countries still manage to educate their children, while others do not. Rather, it is about where and how governments decide to invest the resources they have and whether they are supported by global lenders and investors who understand the value of committed and talented public servants.Moving from the Washington Consensus to the London Consensus reflects not just an economic but also a geopolitical shift. At a time when the US is rejecting principles in favor of raw power, a multinational group of economists in London is taking account of how real people live and feel. Let us hope they can move more countries from austerity to prosperity.
**Anne-Marie Slaughter, a former director of policy planning in the US State Department, is CEO of the think tank New America, Professor Emerita of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University, and the author of “Renewal: From Crisis to Transformation in Our Lives, Work, and Politics” (Princeton University Press, 2021). ©Project Syndicate

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